Medical Record Technician Career

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What You Do in This Career

Medical Record Technicians gather and organize patient information, like medical history, symptoms, test results, treatments, and medications. Technicians are responsible for making sure the data is accurate and organized for easy retrieval. File cabinets are things of the past, so medical records technicians have to be familiar with HER software, which maintains data on patterns of disease, treatments and results. Technicians can specialize in codifying patients’ medical information (called medical coders) using classification software. Classification determines how reimbursement works with Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance programs, which is information vital for any doctor’s office. At least a cursory understanding of health IT or health informatics is crucial to success in this field.

Salary and Career Path

Medical records and health information technicians earn an average of $30,600 per year, although the highest paid technicians earn over $50,000 per year. Those who earn the most tend to work in hospitals and nursing care facilities. After having gained experience in the workplace, some technicians advance their careers by getting bachelor’s or master’s degrees, or by specializing. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree allows technicians to become health information managers. Specialty certification is usually based on work experience, but sometimes requires formal education.

What Kind of Degree or Coursework You Need

Entry-level medical information technicians have associate degrees, however, having a Registered Health Information Technicians credential is often preferred by employers. Coursework in health information technology teaches database management, how insurance reimbursement works, classification and coding systems for different types of insurance, medical terminology, and basic anatomy and physiology. Those who took biology, math, chemistry, health, and computer science in high school will have an advantage in class. Credentials are often based on passing an exam, and programs teach the information that will be on it. Coding credentials, however, usually require work experience in coding. But, it’s not only math and computer skills that are valued by employers; this job requires good communication skills since health information technicians have to communicate with healthcare facilities, insurance companies.

Top Online Health Services Programs

There are multiple educational paths that can be taken to become an ultrasound technician or diagnostic medical sonographer. The schools below do not offer ultrasound-specific training, but they do offer medical assisting and other healthcare programs closely related to sonography. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

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DeVry University
AS in Health IT
 		DeVry University — Although DeVry University's online associate's degree in health information technology program is not specifically an ultrasound training program, it does prepare students to be HIT leaders in contemporary hospitals, physician's offices, medical clinics, and more.
Virginia College Online
BS in Health Services Mgmt
 		Virginia College Online — If you want to complete a health-based interdisciplinary studies degree online that will prepare you for ultrasound technology as well as for management, then apply for Virginia College's bachelor's degree in Health Services Management or associate's degree in medical office administration. The tuition for each program includes the cost of every textbook for every course. After earning this degree, additional training may be required to become an ultrasound technician.
Herzing University
AS in Medical Assisting
 		Herzing University — The AS in medical assisting degree program from Herzing University is not an ultrasound training program, but it does present students with an introduction to a physician's office, and can help lead to careers in sonography. Students learn how to assist doctors and nurses in the exam room as well as perform routine medical laboratory procedures.
Hodges University
AS in Health Info Mgmt
AS in Health Admin
 		Hodges University — Hodges University's AS in Health Information Technology and AS in Health Administration programs, while not purely an ultrasound training program, do teach students how to use the latest information technology to meet the needs of the healthcare industry. Health information technology allows medical offices to collect and analyze data from patients and doctors, a vital part of the medical process. Students learn to manage patient health information, medical records, administer computer information systems, and code diagnoses and procedures.
Lincoln College
AAS in Health IT
 		Lincoln College — The AAS in Health IT degree program from Lincoln College Online teaches students the ins and outs of technological-related medical work such as data tracking, organizing, and recorded. This degree is useful for anyone wishing to advance in his/her career within a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, ultrasound clinics, physician offices, and more. Additional training is required before becoming an ultrasound technician.

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DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC. www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus - 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211. Program availability varies by location.

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