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Medical Records Specialists in Arizona
Want to work as a Medical Records Specialists in Arizona? Below are the key facts. 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 healthcare system. Classify medical and healthcare concepts, including diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment, into the healthcare industry’s numerical coding system. Includes medical coders. Excludes “Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars” (29-9021) and “File Clerks” (43-4071).
What do Medical Records Specialists Make in Arizona?
For medical records specialists working in Arizona, the median annual wage is $49,790 per year (or roughly $23.94/hour).Earnings range from $37,460 at the 10th percentile to $68,890 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| 25th percentile | $40,670 | $19.55 |
| Median (50th) | $49,790 | $23.94 |
| 75th percentile | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| 90th percentile | $68,890 | $33.12 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Arizona compared to the national average — is 0.86, indicating fewer medical records specialists per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, medical records specialists earn a median of $153,246 per year ($73.68/hour), lower than the Arizona median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 343,852 medical records specialists in the U.S.. In Arizona alone, about 3,370 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 2,590 medical records specialists.
Top Arizona Metros for Medical Records Specialists
The largest metro-area employers of medical records specialists in Arizona.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,030 | $50,810 |
| Tucson, AZ | 550 | $48,780 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | 110 | $48,670 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | 90 | $40,070 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 80 | $53,270 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | 60 | $43,150 |
| Yuma, AZ | 50 | $37,160 |
Top States for Medical Records Specialists Employment
The table below shows the states where the most medical records specialists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 20,390 |
| California | 19,750 |
| Florida | 15,510 |
| New York | 8,510 |
| Ohio | 8,180 |
| Pennsylvania | 7,220 |
| North Carolina | 5,960 |
| Washington | 5,280 |
| Georgia | 5,280 |
| Illinois | 4,990 |
| Virginia | 4,980 |
| Michigan | 4,720 |
| Kentucky | 4,040 |
| Indiana | 3,840 |
| New Jersey | 3,690 |
| Tennessee | 3,580 |
| Massachusetts | 3,450 |
| Arizona | 3,370 |
| Wisconsin | 3,290 |
| Minnesota | 3,250 |
Highest-Paying States for Medical Records Specialists
These states pay the most for medical records specialists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,690 |
| Rhode Island | $63,330 |
| Hawaii | $62,990 |
| Washington | $62,250 |
| Nevada | $60,530 |
| New York | $59,750 |
| California | $59,700 |
| Minnesota | $59,310 |
| Maryland | $59,140 |
| South Carolina | $58,510 |
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, medical records specialists typically:
- Assign the patient to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), using appropriate computer software.
- Compile and maintain patients' medical records to document condition and treatment and to provide data for research or cost control and care improvement efforts.
- Consult classification manuals to locate information about disease processes.
- 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.
- Maintain or operate a variety of health record indexes or storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store, or analyze information.
- Post medical insurance billings.
- Process and prepare business or government forms.
- Process patient admission or discharge documents.
- Protect the security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
- Release information to persons or agencies according to regulations.
- Resolve or clarify codes or diagnoses with conflicting, missing, or unclear information by consulting with doctors or others or by participating in the coding team's regular meetings.
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: eClinicalWorks EHR software, Epic Systems, Henry Schein Dentrix In-demand technologies: Epic Systems
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
Related Careers
Careers similar to medical records specialists include:
- Management Analysts
- Health Informatics Specialists
- Document Management Specialists
- Physician Assistants
- Registered Nurses
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
Also Known As
Certified Coding Specialist, Certified Medical Coder, Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Clinical Documentation Specialist, Clinical Office Technician (Clinical Office Tech), Coder, Coding Consultant, Coding Specialist, Disability Rater, Electronic Health Records Specialist (EHR Specialist), Fee Coder, Health Informatics Specialist, Health Information Clerk, Health Information Coder, Health Information Management Hospital Coder (HIM Hospital Coder).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-2072.00
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