Medical Records Education Requirements and Career Information
Patients admitted into a hospital or another health care institution have information that details their medical histories. A medical records technician is responsible for ensuring that these medical records are assembled properly and are accurate. An associate's degree in health information technology is typically required for students entering into this profession.
Education Requirements
An associate's degree in health information technology focuses on the management of electronic medical records. Completion of the degree requires that students be comfortable using computers and have strong organizational skills. Once a student graduates, he or she can choose to pursue certification.
Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology
Students enrolled in an associate's degree program in health information technology learn how to handle patient data by using various electronic health care systems and databases. Courses address how to correctly collect, maintain and analyze health data. Students also learn about regulatory standards, and how to ensure that the processes that use medical data for billing and coding meet legal guidelines. Courses address topics such as medical office pharmacology, alternate health records, medical transcription, health care documentation and health information systems.
Certification Requirements
Certification is an option for graduates of an associate's degree program in health information technology. Currently, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential. To be eligible for this credential, a candidate must graduate from an associate's degree program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The RHIT credential is awarded after a candidate successfully passes a written examination.
Career Information
Medical records technicians collect, organize and analyze patients' health records data. This data consists of a patient's medical history. Medical records are increasingly being stored in electronic health records (EHR) systems. This requires that medical records technicians be familiar and comfortable with computer software systems used to collect and organize patient data.
Job Duties
In some instances, a medical records technician may suggest improvements to an electronics health records system. Also, if a patient's health record is deemed incomplete by a medical records technician, the technician may consult with a physician or another health care professional to acquire the missing information.
Employment Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a 20% increase in the employment of medical records technicians is expected between 2008 and 2018 (www.bls.gov). The BLS also reports that the median annual salary of a medical records technician was $30,610 in May of 2008.
Related to Medical Records Education
- Related
- Recently Updated
- Popular
Medical Decoding Career Information and Education Requirements
Medical decoders, also known as medical coders or coding specialists, utilize different code sets to classify...
Medical Transcriber: Job Description and Education Requirements
Medical transcribers are responsible for creating errorless medical records for patient files from dictated audio. In...
Careers in Medical Sociology: Options and Education Requirements
Medical sociology is a specialized field of study that equips professionals to work together to improve systems and...
Open Education Around the World: Education Portal Speaks with Taipei Medical University
In the pursuit of increasing access to education, Education-Portal.com has recently launched an interview series with...
Medical Biology Education Requirements and Career Information
- Medical Bioengineering Education and Training Program Information
- Medical Translation Certificate and Education Program Info
- Medical Interpreter: Job Description and Education Requirements
- Top Ranked Marketing MBA Degree Program - Columbus, OH
- Top Ranked Culinary School - Charlotte, NC
- Top Ranked School for a Degree in Health Care Administration - Bakersfield, CA
- Top Master's Programs for Human Resource Management - Jacksonville, FL
- How to Become a Medical Lawyer: Education and Career Roadmap
- Dental Assistant Vs. Medical Assistant: Education and Career Differences
- Top Ranked School for Healthcare Management - Chicago, IL
- Top Master's Degree Programs in Public Administration - Chicago, IL
- Top Ranked Computer Security and Network Security Degree Program - Atlanta, GA
30 Popular Schools
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applications from Texas residents
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
-
- MBA Dual Concentration: Healthcare Management and Technology Management
- MBA Dual Concentration: Healthcare Management and Project Management
-
- MBA Dual Concentration: Healthcare Management and Public Safety Leadership
-
- Bachelor
- Associate
- Non-Degree
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
-
- MBA in Healthcare Informatics
- International MBA in Healthcare Informatics
- International MBA in Healthcare Management
-
- MBA in Healthcare Management
- MS in Information Technology - Healthcare Informatics Concentration
- MSM in Healthcare Administration
-
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must have either two or more years of college or active military status if you are under 24 years of age
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must live within close proximity to school locations
- Must be graduated from high school by 2011
School locations:
- Arizona (1 campus)
- Florida (2 campuses)
- Georgia (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New York (4)
- Ohio (1)
- Texas (3)
Classroom-Based Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Alabama (1 campus)
- Arkansas (2)
- Arizona (6)
- California (25)
- Colorado (3)
- Columbia (D.C.) (1)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (5)
- Hawaii (2)
- Idaho (1)
- Indiana (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (2)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (3)
- New Mexico (1)
- Nevada (2)
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (9)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Doctorate
- Master
- Bachelor
-
Associate
-
- AA in Health Care Administration - Electronic Health Records
- AA in Health Care Administration - Health & Wellness Administration
- Associate of Arts Foundations in Health Care Administration
-
- Associate of Arts Foundations in Health Care Administration/Medical Records
- AA in Health Care Administration
- AA in Health Care Administration - Medical Records
-
- Non-Degree
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Alabama (2 campuses)
- Arkansas (1)
- Columbia (D.C.) (1)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (9)
- Georgia (8)
- Illinois (4)
- Indiana (1)
- Kentucky (3)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maryland (5)
- Minnesota (2)
- Missouri (1)
- Mississippi (1)
- North Carolina (5)
- New Jersey (4)
- Ohio (6)
- Pennsylvania (7)
- South Carolina (3)
- Tennessee (3)
- Texas (8)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (11)
- Wisconsin (1)
- West Virginia (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
- Associate
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
