Dialysis social worker vs certified medical technician

The differences between dialysis social workers and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a dialysis social worker, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a dialysis social worker has an average salary of $52,616, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a dialysis social worker include social work, patients and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Dialysis social worker vs certified medical technician overview

	Dialysis Social Worker	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$52,616	$38,859
Hourly rate	$25.30	$18.68
Growth rate	9%	5%
Number of jobs	100,651	164,424
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	45	44
Years of experience	2	12

What does a dialysis social worker do?

A dialysis social worker supports patients undergoing dialysis, educating and helping them cope with the changes brought by their disease and treatment. They conduct initial interviews and assessments to identify the patients' needs and develop plans to meet them, help patients understand and navigate through the healthcare system, coordinate services for the patients, and work together with healthcare providers to ensure the patients get to receive optimal care. They may also communicate with insurance providers and coordinate with families to help them adjust to having a loved one in dialysis.

What does a certified medical technician do?

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

Dialysis social worker vs certified medical technician salary

Dialysis social workers and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Dialysis Social Worker	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$52,616	$38,859
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $69,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between dialysis social worker and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a dialysis social worker and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Dialysis Social Worker	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Social Work	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Connecticut

Dialysis social worker vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between dialysis social workers' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Dialysis Social Worker	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	45	44
Gender ratio	Male, 18.5% Female, 81.5%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	13%	8%

Differences between dialysis social worker and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Dialysis social worker example responsibilities.

Teach and supervise MSW and BSW students in educational practicums.
Position involve interdisciplinary collaboration and working with the patients and their families by providing assistance with emotional adjustment to illness.
Facilitate assistance to both permanent and guest patients in the arrangement of dialysis treatment when traveling and ensure completion of arrangements.
Work with a complex interdisciplinary team facilitating treatment for patients on medical floors including oncology, dialysis, cardiac and maternity.
Analyze psychological / psycho-social evaluations, IEP's, and medical histories within a referral packet to determine eligibility.

Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.

Dialysis social worker vs certified medical technician skills

Common dialysis social worker skills

Social Work, 46%
Patients, 29%
Rehabilitation, 3%
Hemodialysis, 3%
ESRD, 3%
Social Services, 2%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Dialysis Social Worker
Dialysis Social Worker vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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