Medical Records Technician
How to Become a Medical Records Technician
Medical Records Technician Job Duties
Skills and Qualities of Medical Records Technicians
Medical Records Technician Salaries
Influential Professional Medical Records Technicians
Leading Organizations for Medical Records Technicians
Top Cities for Medical Records Technician Jobs
Other Careers of Interest
How to become a Medical Records Technician
If you are interested in becoming a medical records technician, take advantage of any computer word processing classes that are available to you in high school (provided you are still in high school). Specifically, training in Microsoft Word or WordPerfect can be helpful.
If you are able to pick up a part-time job in a hospital or medical facility this may assist you in learning medical terminology. If this is not a viable option, there are various classes that can be taken at your local community college or online that will help you learn the terminology.
A certificate program for a budding medical records technician can be completed in three to six months while an associate's degree program will take approximately two years. After completing your formal training, American Association of Medical Transcriptionists will grant you a Certificate of Medical Transcription (CMT) upon passing a written and practice examination.
If you are able to pick up a part-time job in a hospital or medical facility this may assist you in learning medical terminology. If this is not a viable option, there are various classes that can be taken at your local community college or online that will help you learn the terminology.
A certificate program for a budding medical records technician can be completed in three to six months while an associate's degree program will take approximately two years. After completing your formal training, American Association of Medical Transcriptionists will grant you a Certificate of Medical Transcription (CMT) upon passing a written and practice examination.
What does a Medical Records Technician do?
A medical records technician is sometimes known as a medical transcriptionist because their job is to transcribe various medical records such as patient's medical histories, lab reports, operative reports, etc. from audio tape recordings to print. Medical records technicians work in hospitals, doctor's offices, and medical clinics.
When transcribing these records, it is also the responsibility of the medical records technician to ensure the written records are correct and complete. The actual duties of a medical records technician can sometimes vary based on the size of the facility where they work. In larger facilities, a technician may specialize in a particular area of health information while in a small facility one medical records technician may manage the entire department.
Additionally, some medical records technicians may specialize in coding patient's information for insurance purposes. These technicians are also called medical record recorders.
Medical records technicians may also specialize in cancer registry. These technicians are sometimes known as "cancer registrars," and they maintain facility, regional and national information databases for cancer patients.
When transcribing these records, it is also the responsibility of the medical records technician to ensure the written records are correct and complete. The actual duties of a medical records technician can sometimes vary based on the size of the facility where they work. In larger facilities, a technician may specialize in a particular area of health information while in a small facility one medical records technician may manage the entire department.
Additionally, some medical records technicians may specialize in coding patient's information for insurance purposes. These technicians are also called medical record recorders.
Medical records technicians may also specialize in cancer registry. These technicians are sometimes known as "cancer registrars," and they maintain facility, regional and national information databases for cancer patients.
What skills or qualities do I need to become a Medical Records Technician?
As noted earlier, medical records technicians need to be computer literate, especially in regards to word processing. They also need to be able to work under deadlines and be able to process large amounts of information without significant errors.
While a college degree is not required, associates degrees are available. At the very least, a high school diploma or equivalent is a must and completion of a medical transcription course is highly recommended to ease the process of becoming certified.
Unlike with most occupations within the healthcare field, medical records technicians do not have much direct contact with patients, therefore interpersonal skills (while always helpful) are not a necessity.
While most medical records technicians are only required to work 40-hour workweeks, flexibility in scheduling can be a plus if you are going for a job in a hospital or other facility where the records departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In such a setting, you may be asked to work evenings, nights, weekends, or any combination thereof.
While a college degree is not required, associates degrees are available. At the very least, a high school diploma or equivalent is a must and completion of a medical transcription course is highly recommended to ease the process of becoming certified.
Unlike with most occupations within the healthcare field, medical records technicians do not have much direct contact with patients, therefore interpersonal skills (while always helpful) are not a necessity.
While most medical records technicians are only required to work 40-hour workweeks, flexibility in scheduling can be a plus if you are going for a job in a hospital or other facility where the records departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In such a setting, you may be asked to work evenings, nights, weekends, or any combination thereof.
How much do Medical Records Technicians make?
Based on data obtained from the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a medical records technician in the United States is $28,030. The middle 50% earned between $22,420 and $35,990. These figures are as of May 2006, which is the most recent information available from this source.
Factors that can affect the amount a medical records technician earns include level of experience and the type of facility where they work. Entry level workers sometimes struggle with their new position and generally start with a lower salary. With a few years of experience and the improved skill levels that go with them, however, salaries can increase significantly. Additionally, medical records technicians who are required to work nights, weekends, or both may also earn more than someone working in a doctor's office during traditional business hours.
Factors that can affect the amount a medical records technician earns include level of experience and the type of facility where they work. Entry level workers sometimes struggle with their new position and generally start with a lower salary. With a few years of experience and the improved skill levels that go with them, however, salaries can increase significantly. Additionally, medical records technicians who are required to work nights, weekends, or both may also earn more than someone working in a doctor's office during traditional business hours.
Who are some influential professionals in this field?
While the job of a medical records technician is a very important one, it is also relatively anonymous. Medical records technicians are currently employed at every major hospital and medical facility in the world. Even so, they are generally not acknowledged by name on their employer's websites. Additionally, there are no known professional organizations or associations for medical records technicians listed on the internet.
What are some leading organizations in this field?
Again, there are currently no professional organizations designated specifically for medical records technicians. Generally, they work for hospitals or medical facilities. There are no major employers dedicated solely to medical records technicians. They can be found in every major hospital and medical facility in the country, including such notables as Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital, The May Clinic, and Johns Hopkins Hospital, to name a few.
All Allied Health Schools provides a comprehensive list of schools that offer degrees or certificate programs for medical records technicians. Some of the schools who offer such programs are Kaplan University's School of Health Sciences (online), IntelliTec Colleges - Grand Junction (Colorado), and Rasmussen College - Rockford (IL).
All Allied Health Schools provides a comprehensive list of schools that offer degrees or certificate programs for medical records technicians. Some of the schools who offer such programs are Kaplan University's School of Health Sciences (online), IntelliTec Colleges - Grand Junction (Colorado), and Rasmussen College - Rockford (IL).
What are the top cities for Medical Records Technician jobs?
The three top cities for medical record technician jobs are all in the southwest: Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; and Dallas, Texas. Tied for fourth on the list are Chicago, Illinois and Baltimore, Maryland with Cincinnati, Ohio, Los Angeles, California, Charlotte, North Carolina, St. Louis, Missouri, and Indianapolis, Indiana rounding out the top ten.
While these cities currently offer the most opportunities, medical record technicians work in every major metropolitan area in the nation as well as many small cities and towns as well. Wherever there is a hospital or a medical facility, you will find at least one medical record technician. Of course these jobs, especially in smaller areas, are always subject to availability.
While these cities currently offer the most opportunities, medical record technicians work in every major metropolitan area in the nation as well as many small cities and towns as well. Wherever there is a hospital or a medical facility, you will find at least one medical record technician. Of course these jobs, especially in smaller areas, are always subject to availability.
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