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Md vs clinical medical assistant

The differences between mds and clinical 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 an md and a clinical medical assistant. Additionally, an md has an average salary of $75,011, which is higher than the $37,052 average annual salary of a clinical medical assistant.

The top three skills for an md include patients, customer service and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a clinical medical assistant are patients, patient care, and vital signs.

Md vs clinical medical assistant overview

MDClinical Medical Assistant
Yearly salary$75,011$37,052
Hourly rate$36.06$17.81
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs58,569233,464
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Associate Degree, 27%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does an md do?

A Doctor of Medicine or MD is the designation of a person who completed medical education. Generally, MDs focus on the treatment of conditions in need of medication. These doctors do health assessments, prescribe medication, run diagnostic tests, treat patients, and offer health and wellness advice. Among their health specialties are in the areas of neurology, gynecology, and dermatology. They may also perform surgery when necessary. All these are made possible with their knowledge and skills in medicine.

What does a clinical medical assistant do?

A clinical medical assistant specializes in performing administrative and clinical tasks in a hospital or similar setting. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering a patient's information, medical history, test results, and other essential documentation, and updating patient medical records. Other tasks include reaching out to patients' families and guardians, assisting health workers with room preparation and patient care, and preparing medications and other treatments, all in adherence to a physician's directives. Furthermore, a clinical medical assistant may conduct inspections to ensure that the hospital complies with government regulations.

Md vs clinical medical assistant salary

Mds and clinical medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

MDClinical Medical Assistant
Average salary$75,011$37,052
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $224,000Between $29,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CityVancouver, WAVancouver, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyAtrium Health FloydBrigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between md and clinical medical assistant education

There are a few differences between an md and a clinical medical assistant in terms of educational background:

MDClinical Medical Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Associate Degree, 27%
Most common majorNursingMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Md vs clinical medical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between mds' and clinical medical assistants' demographics:

MDClinical Medical Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 37.5% Female, 62.5%Male, 10.8% Female, 89.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 47.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 9.1% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between md and clinical medical assistant duties and responsibilities

Md example responsibilities.

  • Manage the office regarding Clia and OSHA laws and regulations
  • Manage on call pager for after hours triage and urgent matters while staying in complete communication with the physician.
  • Manage patient files by making new charts, keying all encounters through ICD-9 coding procedures and posting in patient database.
  • Operate electrocardiograph (EKG), call to schedule test for patients and routine office visits.
  • Back office responsibilities include rooming patients, obtaining vitals, chief complaint and documenting into EMR system.
  • Assist physicians in exams rooms, administer intramuscular injections and perform venipuncture on adult and pediatric patients.
  • Show more

Clinical medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Obtain vital signs, calculate body mass indexes, administer intramuscular injections, administer venipuncture on patients using aseptic technique.
  • Treat patients and coworkers with dignity, respect and compassion.
  • Obtain EKG's and vitals along with medical history, family history, current medications and chief complaints.
  • Present data in a Powerpoint presentation in mentoring professor's classes.
  • Process super-bills for submission to CPR billing, and daily bank deposits.
  • Order new equipment and work with word, excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Show more

Md vs clinical medical assistant skills

Common md skills
  • Patients, 33%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Surgical Procedures, 6%
  • Surgery, 5%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
Common clinical medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Patient Care, 12%
  • Vital Signs, 10%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Medical Assistants, 4%

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