Physician extender vs rehabilitation technician

The differences between physician extenders and rehabilitation technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physician extender has an average salary of $244,718, which is higher than the $29,533 average annual salary of a rehabilitation technician.

The top three skills for a physician extender include patients, patient care and medical care. The most important skills for a rehabilitation technician are patients, rehabilitation, and physical therapy.

Physician extender vs rehabilitation technician overview

	Physician Extender	Rehabilitation Technician
Yearly salary	$244,718	$29,533
Hourly rate	$117.65	$14.20
Growth rate	28%	24%
Number of jobs	73,599	31,196
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	39	43
Years of experience	-	-

What does a physician extender do?

Physician extenders are not physicians. However, physician extenders perform a vital task in the overall care of patients. They diagnose and treat medical conditions, document and update patient records, consult patients, and perform physical exams. They may serve either as physician assistants or nurse practitioners. In becoming a physician extender, they must be a registered nurse or must have medical experience by working in the medical field even at a lower level. They need to be a regulatory agency certified and licensed instructor in their region or state.

What does a rehabilitation technician do?

A rehabilitation technician is responsible for assisting therapists and other medical personnel on supporting the patients in their daily activities and physical therapy sessions. Rehabilitation technicians provide high-quality care services for the patients by administering medications, accompanying them on medical appointments, and ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of all equipment and facilities to prevent hazards within the premises. They may also perform administrative and clerical duties such as updating patients' information on the database, writing reports, processing payments for medical procedures, and maintaining medical charts for reference.

Physician extender vs rehabilitation technician salary

Physician extenders and rehabilitation technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Physician Extender	Rehabilitation Technician
Average salary	$244,718	$29,533
Salary range	Between $125,000 And $476,000	Between $23,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City	Des Moines, IA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	New Mexico	Washington
Best paying company	UnitedHealth Group	Lawrence General Hospital
Best paying industry	Professional	Health Care

Differences between physician extender and rehabilitation technician education

There are a few differences between a physician extender and a rehabilitation technician in terms of educational background:

	Physician Extender	Rehabilitation Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Athletic Training	Kinesiology
Most common college	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Physician extender vs rehabilitation technician demographics

Here are the differences between physician extenders' and rehabilitation technicians' demographics:

	Physician Extender	Rehabilitation Technician
Average age	39	43
Gender ratio	Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6%	Male, 31.0% Female, 69.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 14.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.5% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	8%

Differences between physician extender and rehabilitation technician duties and responsibilities

Physician extender example responsibilities.

Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Render emergency medical treatment and transport patients.
Initial reading of EKG's.
Assess patients' symptoms while conducting initial injury evaluation.
Work in an outpatient orthopedic clinic with emphasis on physical medicine, rehabilitation of both chronic and acute orthopedic conditions.
Perform wound care.perform laceration repair including suturing.

Rehabilitation technician example responsibilities.

Manage organization and cleanliness of therapy room and equipment.
Record vital signs and assist patients in performing their ADL's as directed by medical or nursing staff.
Assist patients with neurological conditions with different mobility training, ADL training, and strengthening exercises.
Assist with the modification of therapy plans, assist with manual stretching and traction of patients.
Prepare patients for electrical stimulation, mechanical traction, and ultrasounds.
Assist in operating a physical therapy facility by helping patients improve their movement, stamina, coordination, and intellectual capacity.

Physician extender vs rehabilitation technician skills

Common physician extender skills

Patients, 43%
Patient Care, 15%
Medical Care, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%
Physical Therapy, 3%
Clinical Care, 3%

Common rehabilitation technician skills

Patients, 23%
Rehabilitation, 18%
Physical Therapy, 12%
CPR, 9%
Customer Service, 5%
Occupational Therapy, 4%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Physician Extender
Physician Extender vs Rehabilitation Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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