Career Profile: Medical Records Specialist

See Available Medical Transcriptionist Schools

Job Description:

Also Called: Medical Records Technician, Health Information Technician

The Medical Records Specialist's primary area of responsibility is to organize and update the medical records of patients every time a patient receives some form of medical care. Medical records contain all patient observations including the initial medical chart data, all historic health treatments, appointments, payments, insurance records, inoculations, and more. A patient's medical record can often be the key factor used when a doctor prescribes the specific type of treatment. There's absolutely no room for error in this profession, which is why this role is key to the success of every medical institution.

Digital Medical Records:

A very exciting change is about to revolutionize the medical record field. The healthcare industry is finally ready to migrate from paper to an all digital medical record keeping system. This will eventually mean that a patient can carry an electronic copy of their medical history with them all times. Only the medical record tech will have the ability to add or modify this data. During this transition over to digital medical record keeping, the recent grads of Medical Record schools will have a distinct advantage, given their exposure to the new electronic recordkeeping. It’s expected that demand for trained technicians will far exceed the available supply, thus driving up salaries and expectations as well.

Working Environment:

Medical records and health information technicians usually work a 40-hour week. If the work is hospital-based, shifts can be morning, afternoon and evening, as hospital records departments are often open 24 hours a day. Medical record specialists generally work in comfortable office settings. The majority of their work is done on a computer and this will only increase as the migration takes place from paper to digital medical record keeping.

Education and Training Requirements

Employers are looking for well organized individuals with an associate's degree from a community or junior college. Coursework in a typical degree program includes medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, statistics, database management, and computer science, among others.

Salary Range:

Medical Records Specialists can earn up to $45,000 but it's expected after the migration over to pure digital, salaries will increase as the supply of new grads falls short of industry demand.

Job Outlook:

Very good. Like all medical administrative careers, employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations for the rest of the decade. Many jobs will be created outside of a hospital setting, in such settings as physicians' offices, nursing care facilities, and outpatient centers, due to an increased demand for detailed medical records.

 

Arizona Schools
	(Mesa, Phoenix) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

California Schools
	(Mesa, Phoenix) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics
	(Concord, Fresno, Hayward, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Salinas, San Francisco, San Jose, Stockton) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Admin, Health Info Tech.

Colorado Schools
	(Colorado Springs, Westminster) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Florida Schools
Central Florida College	(Winter Park) - Health Information Technologies, Medical Assisting, Medical Coding Specialist, Patient Care Technician
North Florida Institute	(Orange Park) - Health Information Technologies, Medical Assisting, Medical Coding Specialist, Patient Care Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technology
	(Miramar, Orlando, Miami, Orlando North, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Giorgia Schools
	(Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cobb/Galleria, Perimeter) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Hawaii Schools
	(Honolulu) - Dental Assisting, Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration

Illinois Schools
	(Chicago, DuPage, Gurnee, Tinley Park) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Indiana Schools
	(Indianapolis, Merrillville) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Kentucky Schools
Draughons Junior College	(Bowling Green) - Cardiographic Technician, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technology

Maine Schools
	(Scarborough, Hermon) - Health Information Management, Medical Coding and Billing, Medical Office Assistant, Medical Transcription, Clinical Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician

Massachusetts Schools
	(Haverhill) - Clinical Medical Assistant, Health Information Management, Medical Coding and Billing, Medical Office Assistant, Medical Transcription

Maryland Schools
	(Bethesda) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics
Hagerstown Business College*	(Hagerstown, Frederick) - Health Information Technology, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing/Coding, Medical Receptionist, Medical Receptionist/Transcriptionist, Medical Secretary/Assistant, Medical Transcriptionist, Phlebotomist, Dental Assistant

Minnesotta Schools
	(Edina) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Missouri Schools
	(Fenton, St. Charles, Hazelwood) - Healthcare Administration, Respiratory Therapy, Radiography, Medical Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing, Nursing, Surgical Technology, Health Information Technology, Dental Assistant
	(Kansas City, Kansas City - Downtown, St. Louis) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

New Jersey Schools
	(North Brunswick) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics
	(Cherry Hill) - Health Information Technology, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant

New York Schools
	(New York) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics
Berkeley College	(White Plains) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics
Technical Career Institute	(New York City) - Medical Office Administration, Health Information Technology

North Carolina Schools
	(Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh) - Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Transcription, Medical Office Administration, Pharmacy Technician

Ohio Schools
	(New York) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Oregon Schools
	(New York) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Pennsylvania Schools
	(Fort Washington, Valley Forge, Pittsburgh) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Tennessee Schools
Draughons Junior College*	(Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Nashville) - Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technology, Health Information Technology

Texas Schools
	(Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Houston/Galleria, Plano) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Virgina Schools
	(Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Houston/Galleria, Plano) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Washington Schools
	(Milwaukee) (Seattle) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Online Schools:
	(Online) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

* DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC. www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus - 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211 Program availability varies by location.©2010 DeVry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved