Post job

Medical examiner vs medical assisting extern

The differences between medical examiners and medical assisting externs 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 examiner and a medical assisting extern. Additionally, a medical examiner has an average salary of $156,092, which is higher than the $35,737 average annual salary of a medical assisting extern.

The top three skills for a medical examiner include EKG, medical history and vital signs. The most important skills for a medical assisting extern are patients, vital signs, and EKG.

Medical examiner vs medical assisting extern overview

Medical ExaminerMedical Assisting Extern
Yearly salary$156,092$35,737
Hourly rate$75.04$17.18
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs47,42881,077
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a medical examiner do?

A medical examiner works with deceased bodies to determine the cause and time of death. They analyze available information, testify in court, act as an expert witness in various criminal and civil cases, and provide forensic evidence. They are generally only expected to investigate deaths that occur under suspicious circumstances, as not all deaths will require an autopsy.

What does a medical assisting extern do?

A medical assisting extern is responsible for supporting the medical team in ensuring that the patients are offered the best care services by providing treatments and medications. Medical assisting externs' duties include practicing their medical skills by shadowing on medical professionals' activities, assisting patients with their inquiries and concerns, facilitating medical procedures with the doctor's supervision, and learning to operate medical tools and equipment as needed. A medical assisting extern must have excellent knowledge in the health industry, as well as a fast-learner to be familiarized with the complexities of medical processes and procedures.

Medical examiner vs medical assisting extern salary

Medical examiners and medical assisting externs have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical ExaminerMedical Assisting Extern
Average salary$156,092$35,737
Salary rangeBetween $78,000 And $308,000Between $26,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MA-
Highest paying stateMassachusetts-
Best paying companyBexar County-
Best paying industry--

Differences between medical examiner and medical assisting extern education

There are a few differences between a medical examiner and a medical assisting extern in terms of educational background:

Medical ExaminerMedical Assisting Extern
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorNursingMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Medical examiner vs medical assisting extern demographics

Here are the differences between medical examiners' and medical assisting externs' demographics:

Medical ExaminerMedical Assisting Extern
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 33.0% Female, 67.0%Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 9.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 9.6% White, 50.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical examiner and medical assisting extern duties and responsibilities

Medical examiner example responsibilities.

  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Perform medical exams such as EKG's, blood work, vitals and review medical history and paperwork with patients.
  • Assist in DNA case file management.
  • Train in phlebotomy and OSHA/HIPPA regulatory compliance procedures.
  • Perform independent thesis research to compare paraffin embed healthy and malignant tissue using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA testing.
  • Audit income and financial resources of elderly adults and disable applicants to determine financial eligibility for various levels of Medicaid coverage.
  • Show more

Medical assisting extern example responsibilities.

  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Front office duties - appointments reminders, filing, EMR, patient check- in/check-outs, scans forms, and phone triage.
  • Perform and record triage information, explain treatment procedures prepare patients for exams and assist physicians during exams.
  • Experience also include patient encounter chart, patient education, vital sign assessment, phlebotomy, medication administration and injections.
  • Assist gynecologists with clinical and clerical tasks while recording patient medical histories using CureMD, EHR system.
  • Take vitals, input information using EHR, prep equipment for the doctor and present patient to the doctor.
  • Show more

Medical examiner vs medical assisting extern skills

Common medical examiner skills
  • EKG, 16%
  • Medical History, 10%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Blood Pressure, 7%
  • Medical Exams, 7%
  • Death Certificates, 6%
Common medical assisting extern skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • EKG, 7%
  • Office Procedures, 7%
  • Exam Rooms, 5%
  • Laboratory Specimens, 4%

Browse healthcare support jobs