Health Information Technicians

Career summary

#match with 1431 medical records technicians, checked 2/12/15 lh

Health information technicians are also called medical records technicians. Medical records include information about patients' visits to hospitals or doctors. For each patient this information includes:

• Symptoms
• Medical history
• Test results
• X-rays
• Diagnoses
• Treatment plans

Health information technicians gather and organize this information. They make sure records are complete and accurate. They also develop organized filing and storage systems to store and retrieve files. They make sure that files are secure and confidential.

Technicians assign a code to each diagnosis and procedure. They may consult with doctors to resolve or clarify information in the record.

Health information technicians may be responsible for providing patient records to agencies, insurance companies, and lawyers. Some technicians maintain special records, called registries. These records are for specific groups of patients, such as those who have cancer, heart disease, or organ transplants.

Health information technicians also perform other related duties. These include transcribing medical reports, processing insurance bills, and handling patient admission and discharge forms. Experienced technicians may train or supervise other medical records staff.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Bank Tellers
• Billing Clerks
• Court Clerks
• Customer Service Representatives
• General Office Clerks
• Hotel Desk Clerks
• Human Resources Assistants
• Insurance Policy and Claims Clerks
• Interviewing Clerks
• Legal Secretaries
• License Clerks
• Medical Coders and Billers
• Medical Secretaries
• Medical Transcriptionists
• Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
• Postal Clerks
• Receptionists

Military careers

• Medical Record Technicians

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to health information technicians.

• Gather and organize information for patients' medical records.
• Process patient admission and discharge forms.
• Make sure medical records are secure and kept confidential.
• Review patients' medical records for completeness and accuracy.
• Talk to doctors and other health care workers to get more information.
• Enter information, such as diagnoses and treatments, from medical records into computers.
• Assign a code to each diagnosis and procedure, using standard coding systems.
• Use computers to assign patients to a “diagnosis-related group” (DRG).
• Create a filing and storage system to manage records and information. Maintain medical record indexes.
• Compile and maintain records of patients who have certain health problems. Analyze data to provide research information.
• Assemble and analyze patient data to help improve patient care or control costs.
• Prepare medical records for release to authorized parties.
• May specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures.
• May supervise and train other medical records staff.
• May bill insurance companies and prepare patients' invoices.
• May perform medical transcription.

Common work activities

Health information technicians perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Process information
• Document and record information
• Use computers
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Evaluate information against standards
• Perform administrative tasks
• Analyze data or information
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Make decisions and solve problems

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, health information technicians:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a medium level of social contact. They regularly talk to doctors and insurance workers.
• Communicate by telephone and in person on a daily basis. They communicate less often by writing letters and e-mail.
• Often work in a group or as part of a team.
• Are moderately responsible for outcomes and results.
• On occasion deal with angry, unpleasant, or discourteous people.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors.
• May work in a noisy and distracting environment.
• Work very near others. They often share the same work space. In addition, file rooms may be small.

Work performance

• Must be very exact in their work. Errors could have serious results. This is because medical records are used for research and to determine insurance payments.
• Make decisions that affect others on a weekly basis. They don't usually consult a supervisor before deciding a course of action, but for larger decisions, may seek advice first.
• Set most of their tasks and goals for the day without talking to a supervisor first.
• Abide by weekly deadlines.
• Often repeat the same physical activities, such as entering information or pulling files.

Hours/travel

• May work part time or full time. Most work full time.
• Usually work a regular, set schedule.
• May work day, evening, or night shifts.

Physical demands

Health information technicians frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for health information technicians to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for health information technicians to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.

Skills and abilities

Health information technicians need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Health Records Administration
• Health Records Technology
• Medical Billing and Coding

Other programs of study to consider

• Medical Informatics
• Medical Office Support
• Medical Secretarial Studies

Training

To work as a health information technician, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• graduate from a medical records technology program.

Education after high school

Most health information technicians have a certificate from a medical records technology program. Some have an associate degree in medical records technology. These programs include courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and statistics. Courses in database management and coding are also helpful. Some employers may prefer applicants who have a bachelor's degree.

On-the-job training

Some hospitals and clinics offer on-the-job training to employees who have worked as medical records clerks. Training usually lasts two to three months. However, this type of training is becoming less common.

Work experience

It is very helpful to have at least two years of experience as a medical records clerk. If you have this experience, you will be a good candidate for health information technology training offered through an employer.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be medical record technicians. Training lasts for six to 18 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Computer Applications
• Introduction to Health Care
• Medical Office
• Probability and Statistics

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most employers prefer to hire technicians who have completed formal training programs. They also prefer to hire technicians who are a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). To become registered, candidates must pass a written exam that is given by the American Health Information Management Association.

Employers look for applicants who have good attention to detail. They also look for applicants who have good communication skills. In addition, many employers prefer candidates with one to two years of work experience or a bachelor's degree.

Some employers may require a one-year apprenticeship. It is also important to keep up to date with the changes in medical technology and current legislation.

Tips

High school graduates who have basic secretarial skills can enter the medical records field as clerks. Summer job experience working for insurance companies or medical record departments will greatly increase your chances of getting your foot in the door. Getting experience in a variety of areas before specializing is helpful.

Costs to workers

After entering this field, a worker may wish to join a professional association, which may have annual dues. Certification requires application, examination, and renewal fees. Some health information technicians may be required to join a union and pay an initiation fee. Continuing education is required to maintain certification.

Licensing/certification

It is possible to become a Registered Heath Information Technicians (RHIT). To do so, an individual must complete an accredited two-year degree program and pass a written exam.

For more information about optional registration, contact:

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) 

#fine. not a secure link 2/24/19 lh

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Medical Records and Health Information Technicians 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Pay varies by employer and area of the country. The technician's level of education and experience also affect wages.

Health information technicians who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include paid vacation, life and health insurance, and sick leave. Some employers also provide a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

In Washington, employment for health information technicians is expected to grow due to an aging population, the increasing number of health care facilities, and greater demand for quality and cost control in health care.

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About one third of all health information technicians work in hospitals.

Major employers:

• Hospitals and clinics
• Doctors' offices
• Nursing homes
• Outpatient care centers

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will be strong. Much of the growth is due to new health care policies and the growing aging population. The number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures performed each year will increase and this leads to more health insurance claims.

Job prospects will be best in hospitals and health clinics. Many new jobs are also expected in nursing homes and home health agencies. Those with health information certifications will have the best job opportunities.

Other resources

American Health Information Management Association 
233 North Michigan Avenue, 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
312.233.1100

American Health Information Management Association Career Page 
What is Health Information?

American Medical Informatics Association 

Medical librarian career exploration 

Washington State Health Information Management Association 

References

Career cluster

• Health Science

Career path

• Conventional (Business Operations)

O*Net  occupation

• Medical Records and Health Information Technicians (29-2071.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Medical Record Coder (079.262-014) 
• Medical Record Technician (079.362-014) 
• Public Health Registrar (169.167-046) 
• Tumor Registrar (079.362-018) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Health Information Specialist

Holland occupational cluster

• Conventional/Enterprising/Social

COPSystem

• Clerical