EMT Vs Medical Assistant: What Are the Differences?

The most critical role of every technician is to save a life. But do they all have the same skills and knowledge? Definitely, this will be dealt with by the patient. An emergency medical technician is trained and skilled in handling critical injuries and illnesses.

Unfortunately, these two personnel differ in profession and documentation. EMTs are more knowledgeable at handling critical operations like accident injuries, chronic heart diseases, and health issues requiring fast attention. Let’s further look into EMT vs medical assistant.

Table of Content:

Our article presents information about the differences between EMT and medical assistants. By visiting this section you will get a quick overview.

EMT Vs Medical Assistant: What Are the Differences?

The healthcare industry is composed of different specialists working in various departments to establish patients’ solutions. Let’s look deeper at EMT vs medical assistant in this article.

EMT Vs Medical Assistant: What Are the Differences?

Who Are They?

EMT

The most common place you can find an EMT is in an ambulance. EMTs are skilled specialists entitled or trained to handle emergency issues. They are also called ambulance technicians since they respond to emergency calls and determine the treatment course.

EMT

Medical Assistants

The medical assistants are also specialists in their health departments but they work as support members to the senior physicians. They carry out procedures and tasks that give records of the patient’s illness and also record vital signs.

Medical Assistants

Their curriculum is diverse, meaning that their work varies with their size of the practice, location, and specialization. Precisely, these healthcare professionals keep medical facilities running smoothly.

Where Do They Work?

EMT

Based on their call of duty, EMTs aren’t employees seated in an office awaiting a patient. They are meant to work in different places that an emergency medical technician should attend. These specialists can as well attend an accident site for first-line medical care.

Although their most frequent place of work is in an ambulance. Here, they attend to the patient on a life support machine on their way to a medical facility. Emergency medical technicians do not have a specific schedule of work. They respond to emergencies with immediate effect to administer effective first aid measures.

Medical Assistants

Unlike emergency medical technicians, medical assistants mostly work inside healthcare facilities. It might be a hospital, physician’s offices, outpatient clinics, and many other organizations. Especially those that hold people like schools and weight loss centers. Generally, their work environment will vary with their daily duties. Their role won’t typically allow them to attend to a vital patient.

Medical assistants can as well work in a nursing home or even a private residence. They can specialize and shift to the leadership level, but if only they advance their studies. Most of them work full time depending on how busy their place of work, meanwhile their availability is most important. This is because they are the facility’s front lines with knowledge of the patient’s records and information.

Working Responsibilities

EMT

An emergency medical assistant responds to 911 calls related to accidents. They usually employ Stethoscope for Emt to identify problems to provide first-line treatment. These specialists attend to patients with vital injuries such as blood loss and breakages for bandaging and first aid measures. EMTs transport patients in an ambulance as they offer life support stabilization on their way to a medical facility.

EMT

They should also attend training, seminars, and classes that equip them with the medical skills of handling critical medical emergencies. Consequently, emergency medical technicians should make orders of any supplies needed as they leave out for their shift.

Medical Assistants

Most of the duties carried out by a medical assistant are administrative. They receive phone calls and answer patients on medical-related issues. Records and insurance forms of patients should remain duly filled and updated by the medical assistant team. On the contrary, they make arrangements for admissions and laboratory services such as collecting specimens and examining them.

Medical Assistants

It is their duty to perform any laboratory test and prepare patients for examination. Medical assistants instruct patients on medication and dieting. They are supposed to accompany physicians for assistance, but their primary role is to keep patients’ records.

Educational Requirements

EMT

For someone to qualify as an emergency medical technician, you have to be certified with an EMT-B. This is the first basic level after the six months of training, whereby you are given a state certification test. The educational background is quite tremendous, and most colleges have a program of two years degree. This curriculum consists of both classroom training and field experience.

EMT

Medical Assistants

On the other hand, a medical assistant must train as well as acquire a minimum of high school diploma. Although in other states, training and examination are required, especially for those who do clinical work. Other employers will consider assistants with certification.

Medical Assistants

Licensing Requirements

EMT

Authorities in the healthcare industry provide operating licenses to people of over 18 years. Moreover, people looking for licenses should provide proof of training with a certificate from a recognized healthcare institute. Moreover, your experience as skilled personnel is also a significant consideration.

Medical Assistants

A medical assistant also requires proof attending and completed high school education. Complete a certain program in the medical assistant study. Pass the certified medical assistant examination and maintain course credentials.

Conclusion

Understood the ideas in the topic about EMT vs medical assistant? Generally, emergency medical technician services in medical facilities and emergency sites are pretty sedate. Saving a life and bringing back health is like a dream come true. Emergency medical technicians can vie to become paramedics and can sometimes find employment in doctor’s positions since they are knowledgeable.

On the other case, medical assistants are on the fringes of healthcare success. They make work run smoothly and are the second EMTs who stand in the absence of the paramedics. Healthcare life-line shouldn’t worry you in their presence.

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Author - James Cates

Hi, I am James Cates, I am a blog writer and a businessman. I operate a business, where I sell all the latest and emergency tools and kits like the best car emergency kit, roadside emergency kit, emergency walkie talkie, emergency lantern, emergency flashlight, etc. Because of my business, I have to deal with so many customers of these tools and kit users. 

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