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Public health technician vs medical record assistant

The differences between public health technicians and medical record 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 technician and a medical record assistant. Additionally, a public health technician has an average salary of $35,972, which is higher than the $34,870 average annual salary of a medical record assistant.

The top three skills for a public health technician include food safety, patients and OSHA. The most important skills for a medical record assistant are patients, data entry, and HIPAA.

Public health technician vs medical record assistant overview

Public Health TechnicianMedical Record Assistant
Yearly salary$35,972$34,870
Hourly rate$17.29$16.76
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs64,36891,238
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

Public health technician vs medical record assistant salary

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

Public Health TechnicianMedical Record Assistant
Average salary$35,972$34,870
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $49,000Between $28,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City-Napa, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between public health technician and medical record assistant education

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

Public Health TechnicianMedical Record Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorPublic HealthBusiness
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Public health technician vs medical record assistant demographics

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

Public Health TechnicianMedical Record Assistant
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 34.2% Female, 65.8%Male, 17.3% Female, 82.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 7.9% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 8.5% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between public health technician and medical record assistant duties and responsibilities

Public health technician example responsibilities.

  • Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and upload patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
  • Manage and conduct wartime decontamination procedures for patients, medical personnel and facilities.
  • Assist with immunization clinics and screening at local schools.
  • Visit work sites to ensure OSHA requirements are complied with.
  • Safeguard all records to protect patient confidentiality per HIPAA standards.
  • Educate food handlers and supervisors on changes in FDA requirements and track required changes as necessary.
  • Show more

Medical record assistant example responsibilities.

  • Lead special department-wide task force initiative to minimize abuse of Oxycontin prescriptions bill to Medicaid.
  • Manage and organize all paperwork concerning caregivers and patients; organize filing system; ensure operation of electronic filing systems.
  • Work with EHR, provide medical records to patients and specialty centers.
  • Guide department through transition from paper charts to EHR system scan all patient records into database.
  • Scan documents into electronic medical records system and certify HIPAA compliance
  • Implement HIPAA guidelines in keeping patient information secure and confidential.
  • Show more

Public health technician vs medical record assistant skills

Common public health technician skills
  • Food Safety, 11%
  • Patients, 8%
  • OSHA, 8%
  • Public Health, 7%
  • Hearing Conservation, 5%
  • Communicable Disease Prevention, 5%
Common medical record assistant skills
  • Patients, 37%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • HIPAA, 6%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
  • Medical Terminology, 3%

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