Do you have a strong interest in the medical field and enjoy working with technology?
If so, a career as a Medical Records Technician may be perfect for you! This is an exciting and fast-paced field that involves maintaining patient medical records.
In this in-depth Medical Records Technician Job Description, you will see what this career entails, as well as the average wage and what qualifications are necessary to enter this profession.
What Is A Medical Records Technician?
A Medical Records Technician is responsible for maintaining patient medical records. They work with a variety of software programs to input information, track patient care, and generate reports. This position may also involve retrieving medical records from other facilities or scanning documents into the electronic health record.
Medical Records Technicians are found in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and physician offices. They may also work for insurance companies or health information management (HIM) firms.
What Qualifications Do I Need?
To become a Medical Records Technician, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. However, some employers may require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in health information technology. You will also need to be familiar with medical terminology and have strong computer skills.
Skills needed for this profession include
- Organizational skills.
- Attention to detail.
- Familiarity with medical terminology.
- Computer skills.
- Strong communication skills.
What is the typical wage for a Medical Records Technician?
The median wage for a Medical Records Technician is $37,110 per year or $16.00 per hour. However, wages can vary depending on the employer, location, and experience.
Duties And Responsibilities
The duties of a Medical Records Technician vary depending on the employer, but may include:
- Inputting patient data into the electronic health record.
- Tracking patient care.
- Generating reports.
- Retrieving medical records from other facilities.
- Scanning documents into the electronic health record.
A day in the life of a Medical Records Technician
A typical day for a Medical Records Technician may start at a hospital where they input patient data into the electronic health record. They may then track patient care and generate reports.
Later in the day, they may retrieve medical records from another facility or scan documents into the electronic health record. They tend to work typical business hours but may be required to work overtime depending on the employer.
Companies That Hire Medical Records Technicians
Some of the companies and organizations that employ Medical Records Technicians include:
- Hospitals.
- Clinics.
- Long-term care facilities.
- Physician offices.
- Insurance companies.
- Health information management firms.
Job Description Example:
“We are looking for a Medical Records Technician to work in ABC clinic. The position involves inputting patient data into the electronic health record, tracking patient care, generating reports, retrieving medical records from other facilities, and scanning documents into the electronic health record. The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma or equivalent and be familiar with medical terminology.
They must also have strong computer skills and organizational skills. The candidate must be able to work independently and have strong communication skills.
Responsibilities:
- Input patient data into the electronic health record
- Track patient care
- Generate reports
- Retrieve medical records from other facilities
- Scan documents into the electronic health record
Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Familiarity with medical terminology
- Strong computer skills
- Organizational skills
- Strong communication skills
- Experience in an office environment
If you are interested in this position, please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]”
Study And Prep Guides To Ace Your Exams!
Entering the medical field is no easy task, so we found the series of Health Record Technician I: Passbooks Study Guide (4183) (Career Examination Series) and the Health Record Technician II: Passbooks Study Guide (4184) (Career Examination Series) to start with.
As well as the Newman’s Certified Electronic Health Record Technicians Study Guide, the Registered Health Information Technician (Rhit) Exam Preparation, along with the Healthcare Information Technology Exam Guide for CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician and HIT Pro Certifications all available online in 2023.
Of course, you need to be uber-organized working in this position; I recommend the Medical Record & Health Information Technician Professional Notebook, The Book for Medical Records Technicians – Pro Series Three, and the Medical Records Technician Log; to stay on top of things!
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a career in the medical field, becoming a Medical Records Technician may be right for you.
This position offers a variety of duties and responsibilities, as well as opportunities to learn new skills. We hope you use this Job Description to see if you fit the role! Therefore, if you have a strong interest in computers and organizing information, this may be the perfect career for you.
All the very best with your Medical Records Technician career!
