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The differences between medical record assistants and medical research assistants 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 record assistant and a medical research assistant. Additionally, a medical research assistant has an average salary of $40,303, which is higher than the $34,870 average annual salary of a medical record assistant.
The top three skills for a medical record assistant include patients, data entry and HIPAA. The most important skills for a medical research assistant are patients, patient care, and DR.
| Medical Record Assistant | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $34,870 | $40,303 |
| Hourly rate | $16.76 | $19.38 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 91,238 | 125,533 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 45 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A medical record assistant is responsible for the proper documentation of the patients' information and medical records for reference to the attending physician or other medical professionals. Medical record assistants also track the patient's medical treatments and progress, as well as their health insurance details and coverage. They also respond to the patient's inquiries and concerns, including scheduling physician's appointments and updating the patients for any released medical results. A medical record assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, categorizing documents, and retrieving files for medical needs.
A medical research assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar environment. Their responsibilities include gathering and organizing samples, preparing the laboratories and other facilities, compiling and managing data, updating databases, and conducting examinations and analysis, all while adhering to the laboratory's policies and regulations. They may also liaise with clients, answering inquiries as necessary. Furthermore, it is vital to maintain an active line with researchers, coordinating with them every step of the way to ensure an efficient workflow.
Medical record assistants and medical research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Record Assistant | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $34,870 | $40,303 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $43,000 | Between $25,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Napa, CA | Worcester, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough | Norton Rose Fulbright |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a medical record assistant and a medical research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Medical Record Assistant | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | - |
Here are the differences between medical record assistants' and medical research assistants' demographics:
| Medical Record Assistant | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 45 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.3% Female, 82.7% | Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 8.5% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.3% Asian, 9.7% White, 50.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |