Pictured here: Deandra LopezSilver City, New Mexico, March 9, 2023: Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) is committed to high quality services as it serves both Hidalgo and Grant County residents. As part of this commitment, HMS developed their own Medical Assistant (MA) Career Ladder Program to ensure each of its approximately 30 medical assistants receive the best education and support needed to deliver high-quality and safe clinical care. 

Medical assistants work directly with medical and behavioral health licensed practitioners as part of their daily duties. In New Mexico, a medical assistant can enter the workforce without any formal healthcare education and can perform medical services under the direction of a licensed practitioner, and as per HMS policy.

The educational entry requirements for a medical assistant at HMS is a high school diploma or G.E.D. Once an individual completes the hiring requirements at HMS, the medical assistant then begins their career journey which includes a formal seven-day didactic training program with HMS’s Education Specialist. This classroom education is then followed up by the required clinical rotation which must be completed under the direction of their practitioner, registered nurse supervisor, and an experienced medical assistant preceptor. The successful completion of both their didactic and clinical internship are required prior to the medical assistant working solo with their practitioner. “Preparing our medical assistants to be successful and feel part of a great team that provides high quality person-centered care is our number one priority,” stated Albert Diaz, RN and Chief Nursing Officer. 

Following this initial employment education, the medical assistant is required to prepare for, and pass their medical assistant certification exam from National Healthcareer Association (NHA), within six months of their hire date. HMS provides the human and financial resources to complete this certification. Once the medical assistant completes their certification they receive a $2.00 an hour salary increase. Their baseline salary is set by utilizing third party data sources to ensure competitive local and regional salaries. The HMS Medical Assistant Career Ladder program continues post NHA certification and six months’ timeframe by offering additional educational goals leading to additional pay. These include phlebotomy and EKG certifications. HMS intends to add additional certifications in the future in support of developing our medical assistant team in providing the best care possible while simultaneously providing a career path that rewards education and committed service to the communities served by HMS.