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Every patient has a health care record which is updated during each visit to a health care provider. The record includes everything from symptoms, observations, tests, allergies and diagnosis to treatment and results. Medical Records and Health Information Technicians (HI Techs) are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of these vital records.
HI Techs organize patient information and contact the patient or care provider for anything that needs to be completed, identified or validated. A solid knowledge of medical terminology is needed for correct translation into computer codes. HI Techs also use computers to help classify patients, compile statistics and provide data reports. This is one of the few health occupations that has little or no direct contact with patients, yet viable records are an extremely important component of quality patient care, cost analysis, research for treatment evaluation, and documentation for insurance, legal and public health matters.
There are career paths or specialties within the Medical Records and Health Information Technician occupation; coder, insurance biller and health information specialist are just a few of the many. HI Tech duties also vary with the kind and size of their employer. Advancement tends to come with experience and specialization, in cancer information or coding, for example. A management position usually requires at least bachelor's degree and might include supervision of clerks and coders.
Valuable HI Techs are good with computers, knowledgeable about medical terms, detail-oriented, and able to communicate well with providers, insurance agencies and care facilities. They also comply with administrative, ethical, legal and regulatory requirements for medical records and the health system to ensure security and privacy. Improving efficiency and ensuring quality management are increasing responsibilities for HI Techs.
Video Description of Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
Source: CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)
Where Medical Records and Health Information Techs Work
- Hospitals
- Physician Offices and Clinics
- Nursing Care Facilities
- Home Health Care Services
- Private Industry including Insurance Companies
- Public Health
Educational Requirements
Postsecondary training affords the skills for this occupation, however, employers favor HI Techs who have an associate degree and certification. For Medical Records and Health Information Technician educational programs, see the following Oregon Employment Department's (OED) page:
Career Pathway Roadmaps
Certification
There is no statewide license for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians, however, many employers prefer certification. See the following associations to explore the benefits that certification offers overall and within specialties of the occupation:
Medical Records and Health Information Technician Earnings
The OED reports that in 2009 in Oregon, HI Techs earned an average hourly wage of $16.45 and an average annual salary of $34,225.
Employment Outlook for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
The OED estimates that between 2008 and 2018, there will be 1238 job openings for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians in Oregon.
Health care reform and advances in technology have pushed the need for the health information technology workforce to a tipping point. The United States has established a goal of an Electronic Health Record for every resident by 2014 in order to increase efficiency, decrease costs and medical errors, improve communication across providers and allow for better medical studies to help the advancement of health care. HI Techs will be a big part of this realization.
Occupations with Skills Similar to Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
- Medical Secretaries
- File Clerks
Explore the following sources for this page for more information:
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