Is A Clinical Assistant The Same As A Medical Assistant?

A career in healthcare is one of the most in-demand and fast-paced fields for a lot of people. However, with numerous healthcare job titles out there, it can get confusing. Two positions that are commonly confused with each other are clinical assistant (CA) and medical assistant (MA). Both are essential members of the healthcare team, but what sets them apart? In this article, we will discuss the difference between a clinical assistant and medical assistant, their job duties, skills needed, education and certification requirements, salary, and job outlook.

Difference Between A Clinical Assistant And Medical Assistant

The primary difference between a clinical assistant and a medical assistant lies in the workplace they serve. Medical assistants typically work in physician offices, clinics, and outpatient centers, while clinical assistants work in hospitals.

What Is A Medical Assistant?

Medical assistants are trained healthcare professionals who work under physicians’ supervision and help with patient care and administrative tasks. They typically work in physician offices, clinics, and outpatient centers. Daily tasks include taking patients’ vital signs, preparing exam rooms, assisting with medical procedures, collecting medical histories, and entering patient data into electronic health records (EHRs). Medical assistants also answer phones, schedule appointments, and manage medical records.

What Is A Clinical Assistant?

Clinical assistants, on the other hand, work in hospital settings, including surgical and clinical areas. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals to assist in diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients. They may also interact with other hospital departments in providing patient care services. Clinical Assistants’ duties include but are not limited to administering medications, assisting with procedures and surgeries, preparing patients for diagnostic tests, monitoring patients’ progress, and entering data into EHRs.

Job Duties And Skills Of Medical Assistants

What Are The Job Duties Of Medical Assistants?

Medical assistants have a wide range of responsibilities that involve both clinical and clerical tasks, depending on their specialty, location, and employer. Common duties include measuring vital signs, administering medications, recording patient medical history, preparing and maintaining medical records, scheduling appointments, updating insurance information, and handling financial and billing matters.

What Skills Are Necessary To Become A Medical Assistant?

To become a medical assistant, a person needs to have a combination of technical skills, interpersonal skills, and soft skills. Essential technical skills include medical terminology, coding and billing, electronic health records (EHRs), and diagnostic procedures like phlebotomy and electrocardiogram (EKG).

Medical assistants should have excellent interpersonal skills that include communication, active listening, empathy, and teamwork. They should be able to interact with patients, doctors, and other healthcare professionals with care and professionalism.

Lastly, soft skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, time management, and attention to detail are crucial for medical assistants. They should be well-organized, efficient, and able to multitask to handle their responsibilities effectively.

Job Duties And Skills Of Clinical Assistants

What Are The Job Duties Of Clinical Assistants?

Clinical Assistants’ duties vary by specialty, department, and hospital. They are trained to provide direct patient care, surgical assistance, and diagnostic support. They work with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure patient safety and recovery.

Their responsibilities may include setting up the surgical area, preparing patients, and providing surgical equipment. They may also perform tasks like monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and documenting patient data.

Clinical Assistants may also have responsibility of daily patient rounds, assisting doctors and nurses in conducting patient examination, performing nursing procedures, carrying out basic medical and surgical procedures, and following up on patients’ treatment plans.

What Skills Are Necessary To Become A Clinical Assistant?

To become a Clinical Assistant, a person needs a combination of general medical skills and technical expertise. They need to have good knowledge of medical terminologies and pharmacology and know how to use medical equipment and devices. Clinical assistants also need to have excellent patient care skills, such as the ability to communicate with patients of all ages and backgrounds, handle emergency medical situations.

Other key skills required for clinical assistants include strong organization and observation skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Educational And Certification Requirements

What Is The Educational Requirement For Medical Assistants?

Most medical assistants receive on-the-job training, although many employers prefer medical assistants to have a diploma, certificate, or associate degree from an accredited program. Programs typically take about one year to complete and include coursework in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and clinical and administrative procedures.

What Is The Educational Requirement For Clinical Assistants?

To become a clinical assistant, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent GED certificate. Most clinical assistants receive on-the-job training or complete a clinical assistant certification program. Certification programs may take around one year to complete and cover topics such as anatomy and physiology, patient care, general laboratory procedures, pharmacology, and medical terminology.

Is Certification Required For Both Medical And Clinical Assistants?

While certification is not required for medical assistants, some employers may prefer or require it, especially for certain medical specialties. Some widely recognized certifications for medical assistants include the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), and the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification offered by American Medical Technologists (AMT).

Clinical assistants, on the other hand, may need certification to land a job. Some states require clinical assistants to have certification from the American Medical Technologists (AMT) or the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Salary And Job Outlook

What Is The Salary Range For Medical Assistants?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for medical assistants was $34,800 in 2019. Salaries can vary depending on the location, specialty, experience, and education level. The lowest 10% of medical assistants earned less than $25,820, while the top 10% earned more than $48,720.

What Is The Salary Range For Clinical Assistants?

The BLS doesn’t provide specific salary information for clinical assistants. However, since clinical assistants work in hospital settings, they typically earn more than medical assistants. Different departments may offer different levels of pay based on the job requirements and the facility’s needs.

What Is The Job Outlook For Both Medical And Clinical Assistants?

As the healthcare industry continues to grow, so does the demand for medical and clinical assistants. The BLS predicts that medical assistant jobs will increase by 19%, adding approximately 183,900 more jobs from 2019 to 2029. Clinical assistants also have excellent job prospects, especially in hospitals and surgical centers that are expanding their staff.

Conclusion

Clinical assistants and medical assistants both have crucial roles in the healthcare industry. Although sometimes used interchangeably, their work settings and job responsibilities differ. A medical assistant works in physician clinics, while a clinical assistant works in hospital settings. They also have different duties, education requirements, and certification standards. We hope the information provided in this article has clarified the differences between these two well-respected professions.