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Medical office assistant vs medical assisting extern

The differences between medical office assistants 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 office assistant and a medical assisting extern. Additionally, a medical assisting extern has an average salary of $35,737, which is higher than the $33,025 average annual salary of a medical office assistant.

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

Medical office assistant vs medical assisting extern overview

Medical Office AssistantMedical Assisting Extern
Yearly salary$33,025$35,737
Hourly rate$15.88$17.18
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs199,61181,077
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 28%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a medical office assistant do?

A medical office assistant, or sometimes known as a medical administrative assistant, is an individual who performs administrative functions for a hospital or clinic. Medical office assistants are responsible for all office duties such as accounting, medical transcription, and filing insurance claims. They interview their patients about medical case history and critical information and must also compile their medical records. They must also possess knowledge in topics such as medical terminology and medical law and ethics.

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 office assistant vs medical assisting extern salary

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

Medical Office AssistantMedical Assisting Extern
Average salary$33,025$35,737
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $38,000Between $26,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DC-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyErickson Senior Living-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between medical office assistant and medical assisting extern education

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

Medical Office AssistantMedical Assisting Extern
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 28%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Medical office assistant vs medical assisting extern demographics

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

Medical Office AssistantMedical Assisting Extern
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 8.3% Female, 91.7%Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 9.0% White, 52.4% 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 office assistant and medical assisting extern duties and responsibilities

Medical office assistant example responsibilities.

  • Experience with manage care, Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial carriers.
  • Communicate closely with patients to ensure they are managing their current medications properly, and maintain accurate, up-to-date medical records.
  • Conduct preliminary patient screenings by assessing vital signs, recording patient information, preparing patient rooms, and performing EKG tests.
  • Protect patients' rights by maintaining confidentiality of personal information follows policies and procedures including HIPAA regulations.
  • Perform medical office duties including checking vital signs, history gathering, phlebotomy, and assisting physician with medical/neurological procedures.
  • Implement a new EHR system; provide leadership and mentoring to staff and physician during transition.
  • 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 office assistant vs medical assisting extern skills

Common medical office assistant skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Patient Care, 11%
  • Vital Signs, 7%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Medical Terminology, 4%
  • Phlebotomy, 4%
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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