I am sure everyone's situation is different, but before PCI, I felt stuck at a job I did not like, making hardly any money for the work I was doing.  I decided to go back to school because the medical field really interested me.  The instructors were great and the hours were set up to let me still be able to work.  I met all kinds of new people and it was actually fun.  When I left PCI I had the confidence to go and interview, and got hired on my externship site.  Now a year later I am still here with great money and benefits.  I am very grateful for PCI for changing the direction of my life.

Susannah, Medical Office Assistant Graduate, April 2007, Dallas campus

I came to PCI looking to make a career change.  I previously worked in the banking field for 10 years.  Due to technology and going from paper to electronic the financial field was looking grim.  I began my search for the best medical office assistant program.  I came accross PCI because the school provided job placement assistance through their great externship program.  I found that their personable instructors, hands-on learning, and job placement to be among the high points for PCI.  The journey took hard work, determination and focus.  Today you can find me working at the Renaissance Hospital as the Intake Coordinator.  PCI has prepared me to handle all of the pros and cons of the medical office.  I hope you enjoy your experience at PCI and your new career in the medical field.

Sincerely,

Carmen, Medical Office Assistant Graduate, August 2007, Dallas Campus

I started my career in the medical field May 2001 as a medical receptionist at the Pediatric Clinic of Mesquite.  At the time I was comfortable with my position but as the months went by I realized I liked what the Medical Assistants did.  I would ask for advice and they would tell me to go for it, and that it was a nice field to go into.  Months passed by with personal problems and at my age I wasn't very serious about going to school for Medical Assistant.  As the years went by and job after job in corporate America, I realized that the medical field was for me.  After applying numerous times at hospitals, Parkland and Presbytarian, in the Dallas area, never got a call back, I was running out of options and getting impatient.

Children's Medical Center Dallas was my dream job.  I also applied at Children's numerous times but I never got a chance.  Finally after the last attempt and a bad experience at my last job, I finally made the decision to enroll in the Medical Assistant program at PCI Health Training Center.  I learned vital signs, Injections, First Aid, CPR, ESR, phlbotomy, triage, Microanalysis, urinalysis, EKG,  and glucose testing. Administrative skills from insurance forms, CPT, ICD-9cm coding, OSHA regulations, Insurance referrals, scheduling, charting, spreadsheets, filing, and record keeping.

After I finished my externship I applied one last time at Children's Medical Center.   Two weeks later I got a call from the HR Department at Children's Medical Center-Dallas.  It was the happiest day of my life!!!  Before that I do not think HR looked at my resume having five to six years of experience in the medical field until they saw I attended an accredited school for medical assistant.  At that point we scheduled an interview.  I interviewed with two Registered Nurses, they informed me they would call me back.  Two weeks passed by and they called me again.  I interviewed with the manager for the Pulmonary Practice, she told me well you already interviewed with the nurses and I gave them a list of 10 candidates and told them to pick the Top Three.  I was very flattered to be in the Top Three.  Last but not least my third interview was with the Director.  I had a feeling I got the job.  Sure enough, a week later I got the job offer.  I was ecstatic, my dream of doing what I love to do with children and taking care of them.  The process was long but in the end it was all worth it. 

My point to this is follow your dreams, it is never too late, and be patient, in the end it is all worth it.  I would like to thank PCI for accepting me as a student, there were many bumps in the road as I attended school, from personal to financial, but I stayed positive and strong minded and didn't let anything get in the way of becoming a Medical Assistant.  Thank You Again to PCI for making my dream come true.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth, Medical Assistant, Children's Medical Center of Dallas, Pulmonary Clinic