HEALTH INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS
Medical Records Technician
To be a successful Medical Records Technician you should...
have ability for problem solving and analysis; have ability to work at one station for extended periods of time; work well under pressure and are able to observe deadlines; have the ability to communicate in writing and verbally; pay close attention to detail.
What will my job be like?
Medical record technician (also known as health information technicians) review, organize, and evaluate patients’ records for completeness and accuracy. They may use patient related information to help monitor health care costs, patterns of illness, and medical research.
Where could I work?
Health information technicians usually work a 40-hour week. Some overtime may be required. In hospitals where health information departments are open 18-24 hours a day, 7 days a week, they may work day, evening, and night shifts.
Other workplace settings:
- Clinics
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Home Health Agencies
- Insurance Companies
- Long-Term Care Centers
- Medical Group Practices
- Mental Health Facilities
- Nursing Homes
- Public Health Departments
- State and Federal Health Agencies
Average Annual Salary
$48,780 per year
What is the future of this career?
Employment of medical records specialists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2023 to 2033, much 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.
Type of Education/Training
Health information technicians entering the field usually have an associate degree from a community or junior college. Hospitals sometimes advance promising health information clerks to jobs as health information technicians, although this practice may be less common in the future. Advancement usually requires 2-4 years of job experience and completion of a hospital’s in-house training program.
Where could I get the education/training?
- CT State Middlesex
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- Sacred Heart University
Licensing/Certification
Licensure not required in the state of Connecticut.
More Information
American Health Information Management Association
35 W. Wacker, 16th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
312-233-1100
