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Student medical assistant vs lead medical assistant

The differences between student medical assistants and lead 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 student medical assistant and a lead medical assistant. Additionally, a lead medical assistant has an average salary of $38,303, which is higher than the $37,781 average annual salary of a student medical assistant.

The top three skills for a student medical assistant include patients, vital signs and laboratory specimens. The most important skills for a lead medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and patient care.

Student medical assistant vs lead medical assistant overview

Student Medical AssistantLead Medical Assistant
Yearly salary$37,781$38,303
Hourly rate$18.16$18.41
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs181,396163,228
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 28%Associate Degree, 27%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a student medical assistant do?

It is evident that the student medical assistant does work for the administration and clinical expertise. One must know that they are known as medical analysts and devote themselves to addressing the problem of patients and medical assistants.

What does a lead medical assistant do?

A lead medical assistant performs administrative support tasks for clinical teams to provide optimal care and services to patients. They work under the supervision of a clinical manager whom they report to regularly. Among their responsibilities include establishing staff schedules and guidelines, conducting research and analysis, coordinating staff, reviewing medical charts and reports, organizing documents, and training new members of the workforce. Moreover, they may also assist patients by answering inquiries, performing follow-up calls to confirm appointment schedules, and preparing patients by giving them the information they need.

Student medical assistant vs lead medical assistant salary

Student medical assistants and lead medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Student Medical AssistantLead Medical Assistant
Average salary$37,781$38,303
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $53,000Between $23,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between student medical assistant and lead medical assistant education

There are a few differences between a student medical assistant and a lead medical assistant in terms of educational background:

Student Medical AssistantLead Medical Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 28%Associate Degree, 27%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Student medical assistant vs lead medical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between student medical assistants' and lead medical assistants' demographics:

Student Medical AssistantLead Medical Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 21.1% Female, 78.9%Male, 11.9% Female, 88.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.4% Asian, 9.2% White, 50.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 26.6% Asian, 8.7% White, 49.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between student medical assistant and lead medical assistant duties and responsibilities

Student medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Provide supportive counseling and utilize motivation interviewing to improve patients' ability to manage their medical diagnoses
  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Assist patients with consent forms, HIPAA questions and insurance verification to ensure accurate and timely care.
  • Used word processor and gain experience in EHR software.
  • Prepare examination rooms, take patient vitals, and update EHR.
  • Perform routine tests such as hearing tests, EKG's, vision tests, and specimen collection.
  • Show more

Lead medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage company financial accounts, including employee payroll and tax document preparations.
  • Ensure the laboratory is CLIA compliant for semi-annual certification, provide annual CLIA waive competence.
  • Perform all staff yearly reviews and yearly competencies on the CLIA waive testing done in the office.
  • Alphabetize medications, accurately update and record patient medications and allergies in patient chart upon each visit.
  • Learned basic human anatomy and physiology.
  • Follow OSHA laboratory safety policies and procedures.
  • Show more

Student medical assistant vs lead medical assistant skills

Common student medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Vital Signs, 11%
  • Laboratory Specimens, 6%
  • EKG, 5%
  • Surgical Procedures, 5%
  • Patient History, 4%
Common lead medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Surgical Procedures, 5%
  • EKG, 5%
  • Phlebotomy, 4%

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