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Medic vs medical records technician

The differences between medics and medical records technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a medical records technician has an average salary of $37,087, which is higher than the $35,815 average annual salary of a medic.

The top three skills for a medic include patients, patient care and customer service. The most important skills for a medical records technician are patients, medical terminology, and HIPAA.

Medic vs medical records technician overview

MedicMedical Records Technician
Yearly salary$35,815$37,087
Hourly rate$17.22$17.83
Growth rate7%11%
Number of jobs17,38467,660
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 31%Associate Degree, 34%
Average age3645
Years of experience-12

What does a medic do?

A medic, or often called combat medic, is a healthcare professional responsible for providing continuous medical care to military personnel who are injured on the battlefield. In the absence of physicians, medics are typically co-located with the combat troops. This is so that military men's movement is convenient and administering emergency medical treatment to battlefield casualties is achievable. They provide combat lifesaver training courses to military personnel and manage medical supplies and equipment. To be a medic, candidates must take basic combat and advanced individual training, including patient care.

What does a medical records technician do?

A medical records technician is responsible for performing administrative duties, handling patients' medical records for medical purposes. Medical records technicians keep an organized database of patients' information, including medical history, diagnosis, healthcare treatments, laboratory schedules, and insurance details using specific healthcare coding procedures. Medical records technicians must be detail-oriented and highly organizational, especially on maintaining the accuracy and confidentiality of patients' information. This job is critical in the healthcare industry for the doctors' reference and determining treatment costs.

Medic vs medical records technician salary

Medics and medical records technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

MedicMedical Records Technician
Average salary$35,815$37,087
Salary rangeBetween $19,000 And $66,000Between $28,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYLong Branch, NJ
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew Jersey
Best paying companyRegeneronGuidehouse
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between medic and medical records technician education

There are a few differences between a medic and a medical records technician in terms of educational background:

MedicMedical Records Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 31%Associate Degree, 34%
Most common majorNursingHealth Care Administration
Most common college-University of Pennsylvania

Medic vs medical records technician demographics

Here are the differences between medics' and medical records technicians' demographics:

MedicMedical Records Technician
Average age3645
Gender ratioMale, 43.4% Female, 56.6%Male, 18.8% Female, 81.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage8%9%

Differences between medic and medical records technician duties and responsibilities

Medic example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Provide Foley catheter care to patients.
  • Provide instruction to EMT's and firefighters in emergency services training, basic fire prevention and protection methods.
  • Perform structural firefighting and rescue operations to eliminate or reduce fire hazards, protect people, property and the environment.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in establishing patient medical histories, taking accurate vital signs, venipuncture, injections, and various diagnostic procedures.
  • Monitor, perform, and interpret EKGs.
  • Show more

Medical records technician example responsibilities.

  • Enter all patient in-take into EMR, manage triage, scheduling, and maintain a sterile clinic setting.
  • Manage medical treatment authorizations and durable medical equipment (DME) requests and verify medical eligibility for all patients requesting treatment.
  • Perform examinations in the ER, main radiology area and surgery.
  • Order medical records for patients, medical staff, outside entities, and court subpoenas for certain dates of services.
  • Audited/Validate daily outpatient medical coding accounts involving emergency rooms, surgery, interventional radiology, radiology, and ancillary services.
  • Staff education on EMR and industry regulations.
  • Show more

Medic vs medical records technician skills

Common medic skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
  • Data Entry, 3%
Common medical records technician skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Medical Terminology, 11%
  • HIPAA, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Medical Facilities, 4%

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