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Medical specialist vs health care specialist

The differences between medical specialists and health care specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a health care specialist has an average salary of $53,766, which is higher than the $40,277 average annual salary of a medical specialist.

The top three skills for a medical specialist include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a health care specialist are patient care, rehabilitation, and medical care.

Medical specialist vs health care specialist overview

Medical SpecialistHealth Care Specialist
Yearly salary$40,277$53,766
Hourly rate$19.36$25.85
Growth rate16%36%
Number of jobs68,607118,429
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age3750
Years of experience12-

What does a medical specialist do?

Medical specialists are responsible for diagnosing patients and performing medical procedures according to their areas of expertise. They coordinate with the clinical team on administering medications, conducting laboratory examinations, and monitoring admitted patients, ensuring that they receive high-quality care services from the medical staff. A medical specialist also communicates with the patients' families to respond to their medical inquiries and concerns, as well as providing them with updates on the patients' progress. A medical specialist observes the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities at all times, including the inspection of medical tools and equipment for operations.

What does a health care specialist do?

Health care specialists are medical professionals working in the health care industry. These medical specialists handle their subordinate corpsmen while maintaining their administrative records during deployment. They work hand in hand with patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's, paralysis, and dementia. It is part of their job to provide nursing care to patients, which may include immunization and medical examination. They need to develop skills and knowledge in patient care, military health care, and routine medical treatment.

Medical specialist vs health care specialist salary

Medical specialists and health care specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical SpecialistHealth Care Specialist
Average salary$40,277$53,766
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $75,000Between $30,000 And $94,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyAdobeMoss Adams
Best paying industry--

Differences between medical specialist and health care specialist education

There are a few differences between a medical specialist and a health care specialist in terms of educational background:

Medical SpecialistHealth Care Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Medical specialist vs health care specialist demographics

Here are the differences between medical specialists' and health care specialists' demographics:

Medical SpecialistHealth Care Specialist
Average age3750
Gender ratioMale, 42.6% Female, 57.4%Male, 51.2% Female, 48.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 9.0% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 24.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 35.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage6%5%

Differences between medical specialist and health care specialist duties and responsibilities

Medical specialist example responsibilities.

  • Administer first aid, medication, emergency medical treatment, CPR, triage, and evacuation procedures.
  • Provide tactical medical instruction and services in emergency medical care of patients in austere and complex, out-of-hospital environments.
  • Provide mass casualty triage support, including administering emergency treatment, stabilizing patients, and routing them to appropriate medical facilities.
  • Provide wound care, sutures, injections, and CPR as needed.
  • Take vitals, = collecting co-pays, appt scheduling, radiology scheduling, triage, etc.
  • Operate equipment such as: electrocardiograms (EKGs), external defibrillators, and bag-valve mask resuscitators in advance life-support environments.
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Health care specialist example responsibilities.

  • Train and certify soldiers in CPR and first aid classes and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
  • Manage a team of 12 sailors in three departments including manpower, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health, and pediatrics.
  • Manage ventilator settings, suction tracheostomy, tube-feeding assistance.
  • Provide nursing care of patients including medical examinations, administering immunizations, and assisting with triage of mass casualties.
  • Ensure compliance with CLIA, EMA, and FDA operating guidelines.
  • Provide emotional support and companionship to clients.
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Medical specialist vs health care specialist skills

Common medical specialist skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Utilization Management, 5%
  • Medical Management, 4%
  • Patient Education, 4%
Common health care specialist skills
  • Patient Care, 26%
  • Rehabilitation, 23%
  • Medical Care, 18%
  • Emergency Care, 14%
  • Medical Readiness, 5%
  • Patients, 4%

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