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Medical examiner vs medical scribe

The differences between medical examiners 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 examiner and a medical scribe. Additionally, a medical examiner has an average salary of $156,092, which is higher than the $30,045 average annual salary of a medical scribe.

The top three skills for a medical examiner include EKG, medical history and vital signs. The most important skills for a medical scribe are patients, medical terminology, and excellent organizational.

Medical examiner vs medical scribe overview

Medical ExaminerMedical Scribe
Yearly salary$156,092$30,045
Hourly rate$75.04$14.44
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs47,42880,035
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
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 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 examiner vs medical scribe salary

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

Medical ExaminerMedical Scribe
Average salary$156,092$30,045
Salary rangeBetween $78,000 And $308,000Between $23,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MABoston, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyBexar CountyBoston Medical Center
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between medical examiner and medical scribe education

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

Medical ExaminerMedical Scribe
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorNursingBiology
Most common college--

Medical examiner vs medical scribe demographics

Here are the differences between medical examiners' and medical scribes' demographics:

Medical ExaminerMedical Scribe
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 33.0% Female, 67.0%Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%
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, 10.0% 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 examiner and medical scribe 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 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 examiner vs medical scribe skills

Common medical examiner skills
  • EKG, 16%
  • Medical History, 10%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Blood Pressure, 7%
  • Medical Exams, 7%
  • Death Certificates, 6%
Common medical scribe skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Medical Terminology, 17%
  • Excellent Organizational, 10%
  • Physician Assistants, 8%
  • Emergency Medicine, 6%
  • HIPAA, 4%

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