Life As a Medical Records or Health Information Technician
Job Description: 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.
Medical Records or Health Information Tech Responsibilities
- Release information to persons or agencies according to regulations.
- Consult classification manuals to locate information about disease processes.
- Post medical insurance billings.
- Assign the patient to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), using appropriate computer software.
- Enter data, such as demographic characteristics, history and extent of disease, diagnostic procedures, or treatment into computer.
- Identify, compile, abstract, and code patient data, using standard classification systems.
What a Medical Records or Health Information Tech Should Know
These are the skills Medical Records and Health Information Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Related Job Titles
- Compliance Coordinator
- Medical Records Supervisor
- Medical Claims Processor
- HIM Inpatient Coding Auditor (Health Information Management Inpatient Coding Auditors)
Job Opportunities for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 206,300 jobs in the United States for Medical Records or Health Information Technician. 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. There will be an estimated 15,800 positions for Medical Records or Health Information Tech per year.
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.
Medical Records or Health Information Tech Salary
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians make between $26,550 and $66,260 a year.
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|
|District of Columbia||$53,430|
What Tools do Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Medical Records and Health Information Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- 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
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft SQL Server
Becoming a Medical Records or Health Information Tech
What education or degrees do I need to become a Medical Records or Health Information Technician?
What work experience do I need to become a Medical Records or Health Information Tech?
Where Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Work
Below are examples of industries where Medical Records and Health Information Technicians work:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Medical Records or Health Information Technician might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Medical Records or Health Information Technician in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Health Information Systems Schools
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