Brief Description

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians work diligently to organize and input medical health information. Information that is inputed by the technician must checked for accuracy, accessibility, and secured in order to ensure patient care and privacy. Typical duties of a technician include: track patient outcomes, review patient records, organize and maintain data, maintain confidentiality, and use clinical codes for reimbursement and data analysis.

How Do I Become a Health Career Administrator?

Postsecondary certificate is required and some settings an associates degree in health information. It is advantageous to complete coursework in medical terminology, health data requirements and standards, anatomy and physiology, healthcare reimbursement methods, healthcare statistics, and computer systems. Employers look favorably upon those who possess an associates degree in health information technology, and this will also include on the job training. Employers also look favorably upon those who possess a certificate and health information, but this can be achieved after employment.

Important Qualities

A medical record technician must use analytical skills to organize the demanding work as a medical record technician. The technician must be meticulous for detail as information input into the health system will have major implication in billing and efficient continuation of patient care. A medical record technician often work in an office setting and therefore require interpersonal skills to ensure success with job duties.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Certificate in health information can be possess in:

  • Registered Health Information Technician
  • Certified Tumor Registrar
  • Must renew certification regularly

Life After Graduation

Medical records and health information technicians work in a variety of environment which include:

Hospital (state, local, private):                                  38%

Office of physicians:                                                  21%

Nursing Care Facilities:                                              7%

Administrative and Support Services:                         6%

Professional, scientific, & technical services:             5%

Typically technicians work full time, but this variable depending upon facility.

 Salary

Median wage as of May 2014                                                   $35,900

Range of wage as of May 2014                                  $23,340-$59,160

 

Median wage based upon facility as of May 2014:

Hospital (state, local, private):                          $39,410

Office of physicians:                                           $38,090

Nursing Care Facilities:                                      $35,260

Administrative and Support Services:                $34,760

Professional, scientific, & technical services:     $31,060

Professional Information Services

American Health Information Management Association

http://www.ahima.org

American Medical Informatics Association

https://www.amia.org

Certification Commission for Health Information Technology

http://www.cchit.org

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

http://www.himss.org

The Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel

http://www.hitsp.org