Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians in the South Plains
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. They also process, maintain, compile, and report patient information for health requirements and standards in a manner consistent with the healthcare industry’s numerical coding system.
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians in the South Plains are typically employed by these industries:
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
- Offices of Physicians
- Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)
- Home Health Care Services
- Outpatient Care Centers
In 2016 there were an average of 314 Medical Records and Health Information Technicians working in the South Plains. This occupation is expected to grow by 11.8% in the next ten years.
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians earn an average of $34,300 annually in the South Plains. Entry level workers earn approximately $21,400 compared to an average of $40,800 for experienced workers.
Education, Experience and Licensing
DEGREES
People in this career usually begin with an associate’s degree or an industry-recognized certificate or credential and no previous work experience.
PROGRAMS
Training programs for this career are coming soon to your area!
Important Qualities
- Analytical skills. Health information technicians must understand and follow medical records and diagnoses, and then decide how best to code them in a patient’s medical records.
- Detail oriented. Health information technicians must be accurate when recording and coding patient information.
- Integrity. Health information technicians work with patient data that are required, by law, to be kept confidential. They must exercise discretion and a strong sense of ethics when working with this information in order to protect patient confidentiality.
- Interpersonal skills. Health information technicians need to be able to discuss patient information, discrepancies, and data requirements with other professionals such as physicians and finance personnel.
- Technical skills. Health information technicians must use coding and classification software and the electronic health record (EHR) system that their healthcare organization or physician practice has adopted.
