Medical Records Technician
A medical records technician maintains patient records, makes sure medical charts are accurate, and notates treatment options and outcomes. Technicians are responsible for handling patient paperwork, admittance forms, insurance filings, and entering all necessary data into computer programs. He or she may also be required to locate patient records from other sources, transport records between hospitals and physicians, perform clerical office duties, ensure medical record safety and security is complied with, and ensure only those with proper clearance and authority have access to records.
Medical records technicians are required to hold an Associate’s degree in medical records, or other health information related field. Technicians are also required to pass a board examination and become registered. Training in medical terminology, and medical records keeping is also necessary. Other highly recommended skills include: data entry skills, computer skills, typing skills, communication skills, and customer service skills. This field is currently growing with continued growth expected for the foreseeable future.
The typical average salary of an experienced medical records technician is about $28,000 per year. Individuals who advance their careers by specializing in a particular area such as cancer registry, or by branching into the medical coding area have a higher earning potential.
