What You Need to Know About Medical Records or Health Information Technician
Medical Records or Health Information Tech Definition Compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. Process, maintain, compile, and report patient information for health requirements and standards in a manner consistent with the healthcare industry’s numerical coding system.
Life As a Medical Records or Health Information Tech
- Review records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulations.
- Assign the patient to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), using appropriate computer software.
- Release information to persons or agencies according to regulations.
- Post medical insurance billings.
- Compile and maintain patients' medical records to document condition and treatment and to provide data for research or cost control and care improvement efforts.
- Retrieve patient medical records for physicians, technicians, or other medical personnel.
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Qualities of a Medical Records or Health Information Tech
When polled, Medical Records and Health Information Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Medical Records or Health Information Technician
- Cancer Registrar
- Healthcare Data Analyst
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
- Health Information Administrator
- Medical Records Custodian
Are There Job Opportunities for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians?
In the United States, there were 206,300 jobs for Medical Records or Health Information Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 27,800 new jobs for Medical Records or Health Information Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 15,800 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Medical Records or Health Information Tech are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Illinois, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Medical Records or Health Information Tech Make?
The typical yearly salary for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians is somewhere between $26,550 and $66,260.
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians who work in New Jersey, District of Columbia, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Medical Records and Health Information Technicians make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,470 |
| Alaska | $50,250 |
| Arizona | $40,800 |
| Arkansas | $34,610 |
| California | $51,880 |
| Colorado | $49,340 |
| Connecticut | $51,400 |
| Delaware | $45,390 |
| District of Columbia | $53,430 |
| Florida | $41,340 |
| Georgia | $39,080 |
| Hawaii | $50,940 |
| Idaho | $39,400 |
| Illinois | $45,800 |
| Indiana | $42,350 |
| Iowa | $41,190 |
| Kansas | $39,070 |
| Kentucky | $38,130 |
| Louisiana | $37,430 |
| Maine | $39,030 |
| Maryland | $50,460 |
| Massachusetts | $50,740 |
| Michigan | $41,100 |
| Minnesota | $50,060 |
| Mississippi | $35,300 |
| Missouri | $42,460 |
| Montana | $39,500 |
| Nebraska | $40,430 |
| Nevada | $43,100 |
| New Hampshire | $43,120 |
| New Jersey | $54,020 |
| New Mexico | $38,520 |
| New York | $47,420 |
| North Carolina | $39,740 |
| North Dakota | $43,380 |
| Ohio | $43,980 |
| Oklahoma | $38,140 |
| Oregon | $48,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,320 |
| Rhode Island | $47,990 |
| South Carolina | $41,040 |
| South Dakota | $40,170 |
| Tennessee | $43,050 |
| Texas | $41,950 |
| Utah | $42,150 |
| Vermont | $42,480 |
| Virginia | $43,590 |
| Washington | $46,160 |
| West Virginia | $39,430 |
| Wisconsin | $41,810 |
| Wyoming | $42,090 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Medical Records and Health Information Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Visio
- Structured query language SQL
- Microsoft Dynamics
- SAS
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft SQL Server
- R
How do I Become a Medical Records or Health Information Tech?
Learn what Medical Records or Health Information Technician education requirements there are.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Medical Records or Health Information Tech?
Where do Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Work?
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians work in the following industries:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Medical Records or Health Information Technician may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Medical Records or Health Information Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via Public domain
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