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Patient Care Technician Vs Emergency Room Technician

The differences between patient care technicians and emergency room technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an emergency room technician has an average salary of $35,967, which is higher than the $32,806 average annual salary of a patient care technician.

The top three skills for a patient care technician include patients, vital signs and phlebotomy. The most important skills for an emergency room technician are patients, EMT, and BLS.

Patient care technician vs emergency room technician overview

Patient Care TechnicianEmergency Room Technician
Yearly Salary$32,806$35,967
Hourly rate$15.77$17.29
Growth Rate9%7%
Number Of Jobs167,520129,444
Job Satisfaction5-
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 27%Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Average Age3436
Years Of Experience--

What does a Patient Care Technician do?

Patient care technicians are medical workers who work in clinics, hospitals, or other medical facilities under the supervision of doctors or other health professionals. They provide assistance to health professionals and patients. They help patients with mobility concerns get into hospital beds, bathrooms, wheelchairs, and more. They also help patients with their physical therapy sessions and other physical needs. They handle patient concerns and communicate these to attending physicians. They may be assigned to administer basic medical procedures such as checking vital signs and collecting samples from patients, among others.

What does an emergency room technician do?

An Emergency Room Technician works in emergency departments dealing with patients who suffer from medical emergencies. They also assist with transporting patients into and out of the department for different medical tests.

Patient care technician vs emergency room technician salary

Patient care technicians and emergency room technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Patient Care TechnicianEmergency Room Technician
Average Salary$32,806$35,967
Salary RangeBetween $24,000 And $43,000Between $28,000 And $45,000
Highest Paying CityRochester, NH-
Highest Paying StateVermont-
Best Paying CompanyBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center-
Best Paying IndustryHealth Care-

Differences between patient care technician and emergency room technician education

There are a few differences between a patient care technician and an emergency room technician in terms of educational background:

Patient Care TechnicianEmergency Room Technician
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 27%Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Most Common MajorNursingNursing
Most Common CollegeEmory University-

Patient care technician vs emergency room technician demographics

Here are the differences between patient care technicians' and emergency room technicians' demographics:

Patient Care TechnicianEmergency Room Technician
Average Age3436
Gender RatioMale, 19.0% Female, 81.0%Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5%
Race RatioBlack or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage15%8%

Differences between patient care technician and emergency room technician duties and responsibilities

Patient Care Technician Example Responsibilities.

  • Manage care and prepare medical records, transcription and supply orders.
  • Manage daily care of high acuity patients with neurological trauma/disorders and post-surgery.
  • Qualify to perform patient care responsibilities on catheter patients.
  • Transport patients using wheelchairs and stretchers and assist patients to ambulate safely.
  • Assist with transferring patients in and out of wheelchairs, recliners, and stretchers.
  • Apply protective restraints safely and appropriately, assist in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients as needed.
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Emergency Room Technician Example Responsibilities.

  • Perform CPR and other emergency care as directed (O2therapy, EKG monitoring, use of other specialize medical equipment).
  • Ensure required brochures and pamphlets of HIPPA are available to patients in all clinics.
  • Transport patients from ER to various areas of the hospital such as radiology, oncology, or ICU.
  • Demonstrate compassion and sensitivity to patients and family.
  • Perform and interpret all electrocardiograms (ECG's) on cardiac patients.
  • Assist orthopedic MD and fellows with traction pins, casting, splinting and amputations.
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Patient care technician vs emergency room technician skills

Common Patient Care Technician Skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Vital Signs, 9%
  • Phlebotomy, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Direct Patient Care, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
Common Emergency Room Technician Skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • EMT, 9%
  • BLS, 7%
  • Emergency Room, 6%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Phlebotomy, 6%

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