Medical Administration

Medical Administration Careers > Medical Records Specialist

See Available Medical Records Specialist Schools

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.

Medical Records Specialist Schools:

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

California
DeVry University* (Fremont, Irvine, Pomona, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco Downtown, West Hills) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Tech, Biomedical Informatics
Heald College (Concord, Fresno, Hayward, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Salinas, San Francisco, San Jose, Stockton) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Admin, Health Info Tech.

Colorado
DeVry University * (Colorado Springs, Westminster) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

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

Georgia
DeVry University* (Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cobb/Galleria, Perimeter) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

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

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

Indiana
DeVry University* (Indianapolis, Merrillville) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

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

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

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

Maryland Schools
DeVry University* (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

Minnesota Schools
DeVry University (Edina) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics
Rasmussen College* (Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Mankato, Minnetonka, St. Cloud) - Child Care, Health Information Technician, Health Unit Coordinator, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Administration: Medical, Legal and Executive Office

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

New Jersey Schools
DeVry University (North Brunswick) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics
Harris School of Business (Cherry Hill) - Health Information Technology, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant

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

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

Ohio Schools
DeVry University* (Columbus, Rockside, Cleveland, Columbus - Polaris) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Oregon Schools
DeVry University (Portland) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

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

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

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

Virginia Schools
DeVry University* (Crystal City, Tysons Corner) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Washington Schools
DeVry University* (Seattle) -Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

Washington Schools
DeVry University* (Milwaukee) - Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Biomedical Informatics

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