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Public health assistant vs clinical medical assistant

The differences between public health assistants and clinical medical 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 public health assistant and a clinical medical assistant. Additionally, a public health assistant has an average salary of $38,433, which is higher than the $37,052 average annual salary of a clinical medical assistant.

The top three skills for a public health assistant include NYC, school health and patients. The most important skills for a clinical medical assistant are patients, patient care, and vital signs.

Public health assistant vs clinical medical assistant overview

Public Health AssistantClinical Medical Assistant
Yearly salary$38,433$37,052
Hourly rate$18.48$17.81
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs105,104233,464
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Associate Degree, 27%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a public health assistant do?

Public Health Assistants will require good communication, teamwork, initiative, interpersonal, problem-solving, and analytical skills for this career choice, as well as a strong work ethic and the ability to be flexible and adaptable. Applicants can expect a payout of around $34K per year in this career choice, which will also require a diploma or GED, plus a master's degree in public health, after which they will be required to improve individual and societal health by monitoring healthy lifestyles, as well as practice preventative measures for injuries and disease and controlling infectious diseases. Their health concerns range from small communities to the entire planet.

What does a clinical medical assistant do?

A clinical medical assistant specializes in performing administrative and clinical tasks in a hospital or similar setting. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering a patient's information, medical history, test results, and other essential documentation, and updating patient medical records. Other tasks include reaching out to patients' families and guardians, assisting health workers with room preparation and patient care, and preparing medications and other treatments, all in adherence to a physician's directives. Furthermore, a clinical medical assistant may conduct inspections to ensure that the hospital complies with government regulations.

Public health assistant vs clinical medical assistant salary

Public health assistants and clinical medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Public Health AssistantClinical Medical Assistant
Average salary$38,433$37,052
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $54,000Between $29,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAVancouver, WA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyEmory HealthcareBrigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industryNon ProfitsHealth Care

Differences between public health assistant and clinical medical assistant education

There are a few differences between a public health assistant and a clinical medical assistant in terms of educational background:

Public Health AssistantClinical Medical Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Associate Degree, 27%
Most common majorPublic HealthMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Public health assistant vs clinical medical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between public health assistants' and clinical medical assistants' demographics:

Public Health AssistantClinical Medical Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 21.6% Female, 78.4%Male, 10.8% Female, 89.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 9.3% White, 50.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 9.1% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between public health assistant and clinical medical assistant duties and responsibilities

Public health assistant example responsibilities.

  • Monitor / enforce OSHA standards and coordinate / lead daily, weekly, and monthly safety meetings to educate staff.
  • Adhere to all Hippa policy.
  • Adhere to HIPAA policies and procedures.
  • Fax medical records and various documents following strict HIPPA guidelines and regulations.
  • Note and report safety hazards discover on patrol and stand by until condition is redirected.
  • Research and identify activities and specialize diets that will help elderly diabetic patients improve their metabolic health.
  • Show more

Clinical medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Obtain vital signs, calculate body mass indexes, administer intramuscular injections, administer venipuncture on patients using aseptic technique.
  • Treat patients and coworkers with dignity, respect and compassion.
  • Obtain EKG's and vitals along with medical history, family history, current medications and chief complaints.
  • Present data in a Powerpoint presentation in mentoring professor's classes.
  • Process super-bills for submission to CPR billing, and daily bank deposits.
  • Order new equipment and work with word, excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Show more

Public health assistant vs clinical medical assistant skills

Common public health assistant skills
  • NYC, 12%
  • School Health, 10%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Phone Calls, 7%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Health Education, 6%
Common clinical medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Patient Care, 12%
  • Vital Signs, 10%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Medical Assistants, 4%

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