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Resident care assistant vs patient services assistant

The differences between resident care assistants and patient services assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-3 months to become both a resident care assistant and a patient services assistant. Additionally, a patient services assistant has an average salary of $33,879, which is higher than the $30,930 average annual salary of a resident care assistant.

The top three skills for a resident care assistant include resident care, customer service and patients. The most important skills for a patient services assistant are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Resident care assistant vs patient services assistant overview

Resident Care AssistantPatient Services Assistant
Yearly salary$30,930$33,879
Hourly rate$14.87$16.29
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs199,892273,881
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 28%Bachelor's Degree, 26%
Average age4242
Years of experience33

What does a resident care assistant do?

Resident care assistants work with a group to care for residents with Alzheimer's disease, administer treatments, and chart their conditions. They manage intermediate care patients with EKG monitoring and epidural infusions. They assist residents with various forms of dementia to live while providing for their well-being. The assistants may also facilitate activities and games to engage residents with dementia. They assist residents in the dementia care unit with including dressing, showers, and bed baths. This position may require traits like integrity, compassion, and physical stamina.

What does a patient services assistant do?

A patient services assistant is responsible for handling initial patients' assessments by scheduling appointments. They also are responsible for processing patients' referrals to the appropriate medical professional and admission payments, validating health insurance details, recording patient's information on the database, and assessing medical history and related health information. A patient services assistant also responds to the patients' inquiries and concerns, provides health services recommendations, and processes medical procedures. A patient services assistant must have excellent communication and time-management skills and the ability to perform administrative and clerical tasks as needed.

Resident care assistant vs patient services assistant salary

Resident care assistants and patient services assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Resident Care AssistantPatient Services Assistant
Average salary$30,930$33,879
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $39,000Between $24,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CityChelsea, MASan Mateo, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyBrigham and Women's HospitalAdobe
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between resident care assistant and patient services assistant education

There are a few differences between a resident care assistant and a patient services assistant in terms of educational background:

Resident Care AssistantPatient Services Assistant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 28%Bachelor's Degree, 26%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Resident care assistant vs patient services assistant demographics

Here are the differences between resident care assistants' and patient services assistants' demographics:

Resident Care AssistantPatient Services Assistant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 12.4% Female, 87.6%Male, 18.2% Female, 81.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 6.6% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 7.1% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between resident care assistant and patient services assistant duties and responsibilities

Resident care assistant example responsibilities.

  • Conduct and facilitate PCA lead group activities as scheduled
  • Perform patient care, to include ADL's and assistance with ambulation and activities in an Alzheimer's unit.
  • Provide care and assistance with ADL's to the residents of the memory care and rehab units.
  • Work with a team to care for 48 residents with Alzheimer's disease, chart conditions, administer treatments
  • Assist client with: elastic support hose, condom catheter, indwelling catheter, emptying collection bag, hygiene.
  • Maintain distribution and tracking of telemetry packs for entire hospital.
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Patient services assistant example responsibilities.

  • Conduct and facilitate PCA lead group activities as scheduled
  • Assist patients with daily care needs such as ADL's, mobility assistance, nutritional support, and emotional support.
  • Assist the MD during clinic by taking vitals on patients, running EKG's, handling medication reviews/refills.
  • Perform food, bed and bath needs as well as colostomy and catheter care.
  • Experience with patents ranging from ambulatory to immobile, specializing in Alzheimer and dementia patients.
  • Assist PT/OT to provide therapy and cue's on how to ambulate during and after surgery.
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Resident care assistant vs patient services assistant skills

Common resident care assistant skills
  • Resident Care, 18%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Home Health, 8%
  • Compassion, 6%
  • Assist Residents, 5%
Common patient services assistant skills
  • Patients, 38%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Vital Signs, 6%
  • CPR, 3%
  • Medical Terminology, 3%

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