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Medical internship vs medical assisting extern

The differences between medical interns 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 internship and a medical assisting extern. Additionally, a medical internship has an average salary of $50,843, which is higher than the $35,737 average annual salary of a medical assisting extern.

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

Medical internship vs medical assisting extern overview

Medical InternshipMedical Assisting Extern
Yearly salary$50,843$35,737
Hourly rate$24.44$17.18
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs127,69281,077
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a medical internship do?

When it comes to a medical internship, one of the primary duties is to attend to the patients' needs while under a more experienced physician's supervision. During this period, the medical interns must rotate in various fields of specialties or departments for exposure. Aside from learning and observing, there are also instances when medical interns are required to produce necessary reports and documentation, communicate with patients and families, and take part in more challenging cases.

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 internship vs medical assisting extern salary

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

Medical InternshipMedical Assisting Extern
Average salary$50,843$35,737
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $77,000Between $26,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MA-
Highest paying stateNew York-
Best paying companyTakeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.-
Best paying industry--

Differences between medical internship and medical assisting extern education

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

Medical InternshipMedical Assisting Extern
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Medical internship vs medical assisting extern demographics

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

Medical InternshipMedical Assisting Extern
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 24.9% Female, 75.1%Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.2% Asian, 9.7% White, 50.2% 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 internship and medical assisting extern duties and responsibilities

Medical internship example responsibilities.

  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Room patients, vitals, schedule, injections, clia waive tests, womb care ,
  • Learned how to triage patients and make sure they are ready for the doctor to see.
  • Organize and fill patient medical records, telephone triage, schedule appointments, and provide patient education.
  • Organize, prep, and assist patients in putting on heart monitors for EKG and heart rate readings in the lab.
  • Assist physicians in taking blood pressure, EKG, ultrasound, measuring heart beat and recording all vitals in physical examinations.
  • 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 internship vs medical assisting extern skills

Common medical internship skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Vital Signs, 6%
  • Surgical Procedures, 4%
  • Surgery, 4%
  • EKG, 3%
Common medical assisting extern skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • EKG, 7%
  • Office Procedures, 7%
  • Exam Rooms, 5%
  • Laboratory Specimens, 4%

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