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CMA (AAMA) Profiles
Julie Rieder, CMA (AAMA), began her health care career as a licensed practical nurse student, but due to unforeseen circumstances she stepped out of the medical realm and into secretarial work for five years. Then she heard about medical assisting. "I really missed working in a clinical setting, and medical assisting seemed like a great way to also utilize the administrative skills I had developed." Rieder entered the profession in full force. She graduated from Bryant & Stratton College in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1990, received her CMA (AAMA) credential shortly thereafter, and began a career with Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. "My first job with Froedtert was working on AIDS research," she says. "At that time, not much was known about AIDS, so it was a fascinating experience," she adds. Rieder drew blood and collected data from study participants. She then went on to work with the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, which involved clinical trials designed to test the effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy, diet modification, and calcium and vitamin D supplements on heart disease, fractures, and breast and colorectal cancer. Rieder roomed participants, checked their vital signs, performed blood draws, and collected data. She was also the coordinator for a memory analysis aspect of the WHI study, which required specialized training in administration of tests and data collection. "I'm proud that I took part in such a groundbreaking study for women," she says. For the past 10 years, Rieder has worked at a satellite primary care clinic affiliated with Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she works with 19 physicians, two physician assistants, one nurse practitioner, and 14 medical assistants, six of whom are CMAs (AAMA). "I love being part of this dynamic team and the clinic's academic affiliation with the hospital," she says. "When something new develops, we learn about it right away. For instance, we do blood pressures on the right arm because research done here has proven that the right arm is more stable," she adds. Rieder's days are filled performing clinical tasks, including injections, EKGs, hearing and vision testing, peak flows, and assisting with minor surgeries. She also oversees the quality assurance of equipment and in-house testing and is an extern mentor for medical assisting students. She even finds time for her greatest passion: spreading the word about medical assisting. When Rieder learned that once a month, third-year medical students tour the clinic to learn how the physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioner work together, she suggested that medical assistants get into the mix. "I asked the medical director if I could talk with the students during their visit and he agreed," she says. So for the past six years, Rieder's been talking up the profession to future physicians. "I tell them about our skills, how we're different from RNs, and how valuable we are due to our varied background," she says. "I even encourage them to hire CMAs (AAMA) when [the medical students] become practicing doctors!" Rieder plans to find more ways to promote the profession in the workplace and through the AAMA. As a past president of the Waukesha County of Medical Assistants, she hopes to become involved at the state level and beyond. "My career has given me a wealth of gratifying experiences," she says. "It's time to pay it forward."
"I know what it's like to unexpectedly lose your dad and suddenly gain the responsibility of your mom who suffers from Alzheimer's," says Debbi Scarborough, CMA (AAMA), CSA, CIRS-A, in Pickens, S.C. That's why she started Elder Care Consulting, a one-stop-shop to help caregivers find services for their loved ones. Scarborough assists families throughout South Carolina by finding them in-home services, such as meal delivery, transportation, and caretaker options. "I also make sure that they understand they have the right to ask for a criminal background check, driving record, and drug screening for any person who is working in the home," she states. She also performs in-home safety checks by inspecting the lighting, removing dangerous items, and suggesting organizational processes, such as logs for doctor visits and medications. Scarborough even offers her services to out-of-state clients who have elderly family members living in South Carolina. "I might do periodic check-ins during extreme weather to make sure they have proper clothing or bring them a cake on their birthday." For families looking for assisted living communities, Scarborough works hard to find the right fit. "I have a 100-question survey that I use when I visit communities and I usually leave there knowing more about the facility than the employees do!" she says. Always keeping her clients' best interests in mind, Scarborough says she turns down placement fees. "When I'm offered a finder's fee from communites, I work with them to put that money toward my client's down payment or off their first month's rent." Finding financial assistance for families is a forte of Scarborough's. "The cost of caring for an elderly person can be extremely stressful, and many people aren't aware of offerings through Medicaid, VA benefits, or vouchers offered by the Alzheimer's Association and other organizations," she notes. "So I help them make use of everything that's out there." Clients also can get stuck in the quagmire of legal issues, according to Scarborough. "The decisions that families have to make for an elderly loved one can be daunting, so it's important that they are educated on all issues," she says. For questions with directives, power of attorney, health care power of attorney, and living wills, Scarborough connects families with an elder law attorney. Scarborough credits her eight years of medical assisting experience for her resourcefulness. "A lot of times families don't understand the disease process, medications, side effects, billing and insurance issues, or when to call the doctor," she says. "Thanks to my medical assisting skills, I'm able to guide them in the right direction to find answers." In addition to her CMA (AAMA) certification, Scarborough is also a certified senior advisor, a certified information and referral specialist in aging, holds a training certification for dementia dialogue, and is a facilitator with the Alzheimer's Association. "All of this combined helps me provide a well-rounded service for my customers." Elder Care Consulting has assisted over 150 clients in its three years of business, but Scarborough says she's far from done. "There are so many people who are in a crisis situation like I was with my parents, and they can't think clearly or utilize everything they have at their fingertips," she states. "I'll be a success when I've brought peace of mind to as many caregivers as I possibly can."
"I'm always telling stories," says Elvera Fischer, RN, CMA-C (AAMA). And she sure knows how to tell them. Fischer began writing memoirs solely for her family, but before she knew it her personal writings became a public pastime. "I never, ever imagined that stories about my life would be published," Fischer says. But when she shared her stories with good friend Bob Jagoda, the unexpected happened. "Bob was an editor at Reader's Digest years ago, so I was afraid he would find all kinds of things wrong with it," states Fischer. He didn't. Jagoda discovered a charming collection worthy of publication and helped Fischer find a publisher. Sentimental Journey hit www.virtualbookworm.com in December 2008—a few months shy of Fischer's 90th birthday. The memoirs begin with Fischer's premature birth. "When the doctor came on horseback because the roads were impassable with snow, I was already born, but not moving," says Fischer. So her grandmother told the doctor to attend to Fischer's mom. Then suddenly Fischer began whimpering. "I used to tease my mother that I had to whimper to get her attention. It was our little joke," Fischer says with a laugh. The memoirs continue on with stories of Fischer growing up on a farm in Iowa, attending the University of Iowa, studying nursing at the Mayo clinic, and working as a visiting nurse in Chicago. She also writes about being recruited by United Airlines as a member of DC-3 Rare Birds, a social group of stewardesses that would volunteer and fundraise for charities. She was also named "Miss West" to represent the airline's first flight originating out of South Bend, Indiana. A large portion of the book recounts Fischer's life with her husband Ritz, their travels to 70 countries, and his unexpected death in 1974. "We had 31 years of enchantment," Fischer states. "Ritz was always very supportive of everything I did, especially encouraging me to get involved with my profession." Her entry into medical assisting is a story worth telling. In 1948, 14 years after Fischer retired from nursing, her physician friend asked if she would manage his office during his physician-partner's maternity leave. Fischer agreed and found herself thrilled with the position. "The American Medical Association was having leadership training courses for women working in doctors' offices so I went," says Fischer. "They talked about how small groups of medical assistants were organizing in Quincy, Illinois, and Kansas," she adds. So with the support of her boss and local medical assisting friends, she organized a Chicago medical assisting group. The first session included 20 attendees. "Each meeting got bigger and bigger so we started having monthly meetings, then we eventually wrote a constitution and bylaws, and I was voted in as first president. The rest is history," she says. Fischer went on to become a charter member and president of the American Association of Medical Assistants, and an Illinois state president. Recollections of her medical assisting career appear in the memoirs. "For 20 years, I was completely dedicated to the AAMA on all levels. It was a huge part of my life," she says. Fischer is humbled by her newfound stardom. "I just think of myself as a girl from West Point, Iowa," she says. "I never thought that I'd find true love, see the world, help start a medical association, and then have it all on paper for people to read about."
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