Medical Records and Health Information Technician

What is a Medical Records and Health Information Technician?

A medical records and health information technician is the person in a medical office who manages the office records and data. This is important because physicians and health care facilities are constantly collecting data. They store everything from your personal vital signs to overarching health statistics for your community. Whether it’s tracking instances of the flu this season or evaluating your treatment history over the last few years, having the right information on hand makes every aspect of a doctor’s job easier. 

Medical records and health information technicians help manage all this data. They collect, organize, and store essential health information in paper files and electronic systems. They and others in the healthcare system may later refer to this data to: 

• Process insurance claims 
• Track patient outcomes 
• Determine treatment plans 
• Provide data for clinical registries 
• Determine patient eligibility for trials or treatments 
• Analyze healthcare strategies 
• Evaluate community health 

Medical records and health information technicians are not licensed to provide healthcare, but they work closely with nurses, physicians, and others who do. As a health information technician, you’ll play a vital role in keeping data accurate, easily accessible to healthcare providers, and secure from others. 

How Do I Become a Medical Records and Health Information Technician? 

To become a medical records and health information technician, you’ll need a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent and a postsecondary certificate or associate’s degree. You should look for a program that offers courses in: 

• Medical terminology 
• Health data management 
• Coding systems 
• Healthcare statistics 
• Communication 
• Anatomy and physiology 
• Healthcare reimbursement 

The Medical Reimbursement and Coding associate degree program from Bryant & Stratton College is a good example of a well-rounded educational path that will equip you for a career in medical records and health information. 

What can I do with a Medical Reimbursement and Coding degree? 

Careers related to medical records and health information technology can go by many names. With your associate’s degree in Medical Reimbursement and Coding, you’ll have the necessary requirements for many positions in this area. During your job search, you should look for related titles such as: 

• Health Information Clerk 
• Medical Records Clerk 
• Medical Records Coordinator 
• Medical Records Technician 
• Health Information Technician 
• Health Information Specialist 
• Coder 

These are all reported job titles associated with the position of a medical records and health information technician. Job responsibilities will be similar to those outlined here, though these will naturally vary with the size of the practice and scope of the medical services that are provided there. 

What is the Job Outlook for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians? 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that employment of medical records specialists is projected to grow 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.  

About 15,000 openings for medical records specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.  

An increasing share of the population is entering older age groups, which typically require more medical services. In addition, there is a growing prevalence of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. As a result, more medical records specialists will be needed to translate patient information and services delivered into standardized codes to be used for insurance reimbursement and other purposes. 

If you’re interested in a career as a medical records and health information technician, you can begin preparing for your future now. Our program is available in every state except Ohio and meets the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) standards, so you will be equipped to earn certification from either of these bodies upon graduation. For more insights into the field of Medical Records & Health Information, visit the Healthcare Degrees section on the blog for further career insights.