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Public health assistant vs medical assisting extern

The differences between public health assistants and medical assisting externs 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 medical assisting extern. Additionally, a public health assistant has an average salary of $38,433, which is higher than the $35,737 average annual salary of a medical assisting extern.

The top three skills for a public health assistant include NYC, school health and patients. The most important skills for a medical assisting extern are patients, vital signs, and EKG.

Public health assistant vs medical assisting extern overview

Public Health AssistantMedical Assisting Extern
Yearly salary$38,433$35,737
Hourly rate$18.48$17.18
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs105,10481,077
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
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 medical assisting extern do?

A medical assisting extern is responsible for supporting the medical team in ensuring that the patients are offered the best care services by providing treatments and medications. Medical assisting externs' duties include practicing their medical skills by shadowing on medical professionals' activities, assisting patients with their inquiries and concerns, facilitating medical procedures with the doctor's supervision, and learning to operate medical tools and equipment as needed. A medical assisting extern must have excellent knowledge in the health industry, as well as a fast-learner to be familiarized with the complexities of medical processes and procedures.

Public health assistant vs medical assisting extern salary

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

Public Health AssistantMedical Assisting Extern
Average salary$38,433$35,737
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $54,000Between $26,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MA-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyEmory Healthcare-
Best paying industryNon Profits-

Differences between public health assistant and medical assisting extern education

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

Public Health AssistantMedical Assisting Extern
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorPublic HealthMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Public health assistant vs medical assisting extern demographics

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

Public Health AssistantMedical Assisting Extern
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 21.6% Female, 78.4%Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7%
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, 10.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 9.6% White, 50.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between public health assistant and medical assisting extern 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

Medical assisting extern example responsibilities.

  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Front office duties - appointments reminders, filing, EMR, patient check- in/check-outs, scans forms, and phone triage.
  • Perform and record triage information, explain treatment procedures prepare patients for exams and assist physicians during exams.
  • Experience also include patient encounter chart, patient education, vital sign assessment, phlebotomy, medication administration and injections.
  • Assist gynecologists with clinical and clerical tasks while recording patient medical histories using CureMD, EHR system.
  • Take vitals, input information using EHR, prep equipment for the doctor and present patient to the doctor.
  • Show more

Public health assistant vs medical assisting extern skills

Common public health assistant skills
  • NYC, 12%
  • School Health, 10%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Phone Calls, 7%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Health Education, 6%
Common medical assisting extern skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • EKG, 7%
  • Office Procedures, 7%
  • Exam Rooms, 5%
  • Laboratory Specimens, 4%

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