All About Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
Occupation 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.
Life As a Medical Records or Health Information Tech
- Develop in-service educational materials.
- Process patient admission or discharge documents.
- Identify, compile, abstract, and code patient data, using standard classification systems.
- Consult classification manuals to locate information about disease processes.
- Review records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulations.
- Compile medical care and census data for statistical reports on diseases treated, surgery performed, or use of hospital beds.
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What Every Medical Records or Health Information Tech Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Medical Records and Health Information Technicians say are important on the job.
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.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Types of Medical Records or Health Information Technician
- Health Information Management Technician
- Historian
- Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist (CDIS)
- Tumor Registrar
- Disability Rater
Medical Records or Health Information Tech Job Outlook
There were about 206,300 jobs for Medical Records or Health Information Technician in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Salary for a Medical Records or Health Information Tech
The average yearly salary of a Medical Records or Health Information Tech ranges 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.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians in different U.S. states.
| 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 |
What Tools & Technology 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
- SAS
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft SQL Server
- R
Becoming a Medical Records or Health Information Tech
Individuals working as a Medical Records or Health Information Technician have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Medical Records and Health Information Technicians?
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians work in the following industries:
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Medical Records or Health Information Technician may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Medical Records or Health Information Technician sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via Public domain
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