Post job

Medical assistant/phlebotomist vs medical scribe

The differences between medical assistant/phlebotomists and medical scribes 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/phlebotomist and a medical scribe. Additionally, a medical assistant/phlebotomist has an average salary of $33,674, which is higher than the $30,045 average annual salary of a medical scribe.

The top three skills for a medical assistant/phlebotomist include patients, vital signs and customer service. The most important skills for a medical scribe are patients, medical terminology, and excellent organizational.

Medical assistant/phlebotomist vs medical scribe overview

Medical Assistant/PhlebotomistMedical Scribe
Yearly salary$33,674$30,045
Hourly rate$16.19$14.44
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs189,20680,035
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 23%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a medical assistant/phlebotomist do?

Medical assistants/phlebotomists are medical personnel who execute administrative and clinical tasks in healthcare facilities or units. They are responsible for providing healthcare to patients such as immunization administration, orthopedic supplies, and wound care. It is part of their job to take the blood of patients for blood testing. They also take charge of handling other medical tests for the upkeep of patients' health. These professionals should exhibit compatibility, initiative, and cohesiveness within the team.

What does a medical scribe do?

As a medical scribe, their main responsibility is to follow a physician's daily work and do charting of patient encounters in real-time by accessing their medical electronic health record (EHR). It is their duty to make sure the patient schedules are followed, generate referral letters for physicians and manage and sort medical documents within the EHR. Medical scribes can be held as data custodians, medical assistants, and nurses to focus on patient in-take and care throughout clinic hours. In addition, they manage patient flow through the clinic and increase productivity to cater to more patients.

Medical assistant/phlebotomist vs medical scribe salary

Medical assistant/phlebotomists and medical scribes have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Assistant/PhlebotomistMedical Scribe
Average salary$33,674$30,045
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $41,000Between $23,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MABoston, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyConvivaBoston Medical Center
Best paying industryFinanceHealth Care

Differences between medical assistant/phlebotomist and medical scribe education

There are a few differences between a medical assistant/phlebotomist and a medical scribe in terms of educational background:

Medical Assistant/PhlebotomistMedical Scribe
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 23%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesBiology
Most common college--

Medical assistant/phlebotomist vs medical scribe demographics

Here are the differences between medical assistant/phlebotomists' and medical scribes' demographics:

Medical Assistant/PhlebotomistMedical Scribe
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 11.4% Female, 88.6%Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 8.6% White, 51.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.3% Asian, 9.7% White, 50.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical assistant/phlebotomist and medical scribe duties and responsibilities

Medical assistant/phlebotomist example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Provide back-office support, inventory control, training and supervision to ensure compliance with HIPAA and OSHA regulations.
  • Used CPR training on several occasions.
  • Assist physician in the operating room during surgery and delivery.
  • Validate and ensure that forms for the releases of information are current, accurate and complete as defined by HIPAA.
  • Sanitize equipment and follow OSHA guidelines.
  • Show more

Medical scribe example responsibilities.

  • Manage sensitive and confidential materials such as patient health records following HIPAA regulations.
  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Rotate in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedic surgery, and burn medicine departments
  • Transcribe patient orders including laboratory tests results, radiology test findings, medications, allergies.
  • Utilize PC and LIS to enter and retrieve patient data, includes verifying orders and retrieving results using HIPAA compliance.
  • Perform Phlebotomy procedures on patients.
  • Show more

Medical assistant/phlebotomist vs medical scribe skills

Common medical assistant/phlebotomist skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Blood Pressure, 6%
  • Office Procedures, 4%
  • Venipuncture, 4%
Common medical scribe skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Medical Terminology, 17%
  • Excellent Organizational, 10%
  • Physician Assistants, 8%
  • Emergency Medicine, 6%
  • HIPAA, 4%

Browse healthcare support jobs