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Public health assistant vs unit assistant

The differences between public health assistants and unit 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 unit assistant. Additionally, a public health assistant has an average salary of $38,433, which is higher than the $33,802 average annual salary of a unit assistant.

The top three skills for a public health assistant include NYC, school health and patients. The most important skills for a unit assistant are patients, customer service, and HIPAA.

Public health assistant vs unit assistant overview

Public Health AssistantUnit Assistant
Yearly salary$38,433$33,802
Hourly rate$18.48$16.25
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs105,104174,425
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
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 unit assistant do?

A unit assistant is responsible for performing administrative duties within a department of a health care institution, ensuring that the patients receive the highest quality care services for their concerns and needs. Unit assistants assist the patients and the visitors, confirm their appointments, and direct them to the correct personnel or medical department. They also manage the adequacy of medical supplies and report defective equipment and machine to the maintenance for immediate repairs or replacements. A unit assistant must be highly organizational, especially on storing medical records and updating patients' information on the database.

Public health assistant vs unit assistant salary

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

Public Health AssistantUnit Assistant
Average salary$38,433$33,802
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $54,000Between $25,000 And $44,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAWestfield, MA
Highest paying stateAlaskaMassachusetts
Best paying companyEmory HealthcareUC Santa Barbara
Best paying industryNon ProfitsNon Profits

Differences between public health assistant and unit assistant education

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

Public Health AssistantUnit Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorPublic HealthNursing
Most common college--

Public health assistant vs unit assistant demographics

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

Public Health AssistantUnit Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 21.6% Female, 78.4%Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0%
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, 10.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 9.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between public health assistant and unit 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

Unit assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
  • Carry out necessary duties for post surgery patients which result in quicker test results and recovery time for patients.
  • Follow HIPAA laws and assist patients.
  • Qualify in 12 lead EKG's, and applying 6 lead telemetry monitors.
  • Report any personal or medical complaints and concerns of the patients to the supervising nursing and rehabilitation staff members.
  • Assist patients in activities of daily living, assist in rehabilitation of patients, doctors & nurses in ER department.
  • Show more

Public health assistant vs unit assistant skills

Common public health assistant skills
  • NYC, 12%
  • School Health, 10%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Phone Calls, 7%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Health Education, 6%
Common unit assistant skills
  • Patients, 37%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • HIPAA, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • Medical Terminology, 5%
  • ADL, 4%

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