EKG Technician vs. Medical Assistant: What Are the Differences?

EKG technicians and medical assistants are both vital members of the healthcare team. They both provide important patient care services and have many similarities. However, there are also some key differences between these two roles. In this article, we’ll discuss the similarities and differences between EKG technicians and medical assistants, and we’ll provide some tips on how to choose the right career for you.

What is an EKG Technician?

An EKG Technician is a medical professional who is responsible for administering electrocardiograms (EKGs) and monitoring patients for heart irregularities. EKG Technicians typically work in hospitals or clinics, and they may also travel to patients’ homes to provide care. They hook patients up to EKG machines and record their heart activity. They then analyze the readings to look for any abnormalities. If they find anything abnormal, they report their findings to the patient’s doctor. EKG Technicians must be able to maintain a calm and professional demeanor, as they work with patients who may be anxious about their heart health.

What is a Medical Assistant?

Medical Assistants are multi-skilled health professionals who perform both administrative and clinical duties in medical offices, clinics and other healthcare settings. They work closely with physicians, nurses and other medical staff to provide patient care. Medical Assistants typically take medical histories and record vital signs, prepare patients for examination, assist with procedures and provide instructions for follow-up care. They also schedule appointments, arrange for laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures, bill patients and handle other office duties as needed. Medical Assistants must be able to multi-task and be detail-oriented to excel in their role.

EKG Technician vs. Medical Assistant

Here are the main differences between an EKG technician and a medical assistant.

Job Duties

While both EKG technicians and medical assistants perform a variety of tasks to help doctors, there are some differences in the duties they carry out. For example, an EKG technician may only work with patients who have irregular heartbeats or chest pain. Their job is to run electrocardiograms and interpret them for the doctor so that they can determine the next course of treatment. In contrast, medical assistants may assist a variety of different physicians in various departments. They may perform many different tasks for the physician such as taking vitals, drawing blood or preparing patients for surgery.

Job Requirements

EKG technicians typically need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, although some employers may prefer candidates who have completed a postsecondary certificate program. These programs usually take one year or less to complete and cover topics like medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and patient care. After completing a certificate program, EKG technicians can earn certification through organizations like the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical assistants typically need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, although some employers may prefer candidates who have completed an accredited postsecondary certificate or associate degree program. These programs usually take one to two years to complete and cover topics like medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and patient care. After completing their education, medical assistants can earn certification through organizations like the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Work Environment

Medical assistants and ekg technicians work in a variety of environments. Ekg technicians typically work in hospitals, clinics or physician offices. They may travel to different locations depending on where they’re needed. Medical assistants can also work in these settings but may also find employment in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools, community health programs and other healthcare facilities.

Ekg technicians usually work during regular business hours, although some employers require them to be available for after-hours calls. This means that you may need to work evenings, weekends and holidays. Medical assistants often work similar hours as well. However, medical assistants who work in nursing homes or assisted living facilities may have more irregular schedules because their patients’ needs are more varied.

Skills

Both EKG technicians and medical assistants need to have customer service skills. They will be interacting with patients on a daily basis, so it is important that they are able to build rapport, answer questions and provide support.

EKG technicians need to have strong attention to detail because they are responsible for hooking up patients to the EKG machine and ensuring that the machine is working properly. They also need to be able to follow instructions from doctors in order to accurately interpret the results of the EKG.

Medical assistants need to have good organizational skills as they often are responsible for scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records and handling billing and insurance paperwork. They also may need to have basic knowledge of medical coding. Like EKG technicians, medical assistants need to be able to follow instructions from doctors and other medical professionals.

Salary

The average salary for an EKG technician is $46,325 per year, while the average salary for a medical assistant is $41,159 per year. Both of these salaries can vary depending on the location of the job, the size of the company and the level of experience the employee has.