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Dialysis technician vs medical assistant

The differences between dialysis technicians and medical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a dialysis technician and a medical assistant. Additionally, a dialysis technician has an average salary of $40,195, which is higher than the $34,900 average annual salary of a medical assistant.

The top three skills for a dialysis technician include patients, vital signs and direct patient care. The most important skills for a medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and patient care.

Dialysis technician vs medical assistant overview

Dialysis TechnicianMedical Assistant
Yearly salary$40,195$34,900
Hourly rate$19.32$16.78
Growth rate9%16%
Number of jobs100,653189,915
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 25%Associate Degree, 24%
Average age4437
Years of experience1212

What does a dialysis technician do?

A dialysis technician is responsible for the control and maintenance of a dialysis machine. Dialysis technicians' duties include monitoring the stable performance of the equipment, assisting patients on the dialysis process, and adhering to the safety standards and protocols on the dialysis operation all the time. A dialysis technician also reports to the respective doctors and nurses for any concerns and possible emergency scenarios. Dialysis technicians must also sterilize all equipment before usage to ensure its cleanliness, avoiding possible infection for patients.

What does a medical assistant do?

Medical assistants provide support to medical practitioners in both administrative and clerical tasks. They keep and update the patient's medical records, administer medicines under the supervision of a physician, assist during medical examinations, prepare medical samples for laboratory testing, manage the schedule of appointments, and assist the patients with their bills and in filling out needed forms, such as insurance-related documents. Medical assistants should have good communication skills and analytical skills, be organized, and be flexible. They should also have knowledge of how to operate some medical equipment such as x-ray machines.

Dialysis technician vs medical assistant salary

Dialysis technicians and medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Dialysis TechnicianMedical Assistant
Average salary$40,195$34,900
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $54,000Between $27,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityFresno, CAVancouver, WA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyAmerican Mobile HealthcareColumbia University in the City of New York
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between dialysis technician and medical assistant education

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

Dialysis TechnicianMedical Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 25%Associate Degree, 24%
Most common majorNursingMedical Assisting Services
Most common collegeUniversity of Connecticut-

Dialysis technician vs medical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between dialysis technicians' and medical assistants' demographics:

Dialysis TechnicianMedical Assistant
Average age4437
Gender ratioMale, 25.1% Female, 74.9%Male, 10.4% Female, 89.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 25.7% Asian, 8.8% White, 49.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between dialysis technician and medical assistant duties and responsibilities

Dialysis technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain national certification as CCHT and attain CE's as required.
  • Practice guidelines require by national standard and regulatory agencies and infection control when sterilizing equipment, catheter sites, puncture sites.
  • Initiate, monitor, and terminate dialysis treatments for individual patients through intravenous and/or catheter ports.
  • Observe patients during hemodialysis treatments and identify patient problems and/or complications and report any unusual findings to the nurse supervisor.
  • Operate hemodialysis machines, calculate fluid removal/replacement, monitor venous and arterial pressures, and check patients for adverse reactions.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in laboratory procedures and equipment functions to perform duties accurately; comply with standard procedures and cleanliness guidelines.
  • Show more

Medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management for the purposes of meaningful use.
  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Participate in emergency surgical intervention in obstetrics and gynecology patients.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in taking patient history and vitals, venipuncture, injections, urinalysis and preparing examination trays.
  • Attend to new out patients in gynecology clinic, make clinical diagnosis and follow up.
  • Provide RMA support to physician, and patients, including but not limit to vitals and patient history.
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Dialysis technician vs medical assistant skills

Common dialysis technician skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • Vital Signs, 13%
  • Direct Patient Care, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Phlebotomy, 4%
  • Catheter, 3%
Common medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Vital Signs, 10%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Phlebotomy, 4%
  • CPR, 4%
  • EKG, 4%

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