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Medical assistant vs student medical assistant

The differences between medical assistants and student 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 medical assistant and a student medical assistant. Additionally, a student medical assistant has an average salary of $37,781, which is higher than the $34,900 average annual salary of a medical assistant.

The top three skills for a medical assistant include patients, vital signs and patient care. The most important skills for a student medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and laboratory specimens.

Medical assistant vs student medical assistant overview

Medical AssistantStudent Medical Assistant
Yearly salary$34,900$37,781
Hourly rate$16.78$18.16
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs189,915181,396
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 24%Associate Degree, 28%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

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.

What does a student medical assistant do?

It is evident that the student medical assistant does work for the administration and clinical expertise. One must know that they are known as medical analysts and devote themselves to addressing the problem of patients and medical assistants.

Medical assistant vs student medical assistant salary

Medical assistants and student medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical AssistantStudent Medical Assistant
Average salary$34,900$37,781
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $43,000Between $26,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityVancouver, WA-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New York-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between medical assistant and student medical assistant education

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

Medical AssistantStudent Medical Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 24%Associate Degree, 28%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Medical assistant vs student medical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between medical assistants' and student medical assistants' demographics:

Medical AssistantStudent Medical Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 10.4% Female, 89.6%Male, 21.1% Female, 78.9%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.4% Asian, 9.2% White, 50.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical assistant and student medical assistant duties and responsibilities

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.
  • Show more

Student medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Provide supportive counseling and utilize motivation interviewing to improve patients' ability to manage their medical diagnoses
  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Assist patients with consent forms, HIPAA questions and insurance verification to ensure accurate and timely care.
  • Used word processor and gain experience in EHR software.
  • Prepare examination rooms, take patient vitals, and update EHR.
  • Perform routine tests such as hearing tests, EKG's, vision tests, and specimen collection.
  • Show more

Medical assistant vs student medical assistant skills

Common medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Vital Signs, 10%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Phlebotomy, 4%
  • CPR, 4%
  • EKG, 4%
Common student medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Vital Signs, 11%
  • Laboratory Specimens, 6%
  • EKG, 5%
  • Surgical Procedures, 5%
  • Patient History, 4%

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