Career Advice on How to Become A Medical Records and Health Information Technician |
General Career Information |
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Medical records and health information technicians never met a medical record that they didn’t like. Yes, those who enter this exciting fast paced medical profession will tell you that its just like you see in the movies. If you have seen movies where medical records have been filed and stored, well you’ll be happy to hear that it is just as exciting in real life as well. Medical records and health information technicians are part of the machine that keeps detailed records on all medical procedures done so that doctors and insurance companies have all the information they need. The computer era has made the job of the medical records and health information technician vastly different than a generation ago. Now medical records and health information technicians, doctors and of course, friendly and helpful insurance companies, all have instant access to any and all medical records. Why if you broke a toe on vacation in Tokyo, well, they know about that too. The medical records and health information technician plays their part in this process. They make sure that all of this information is coded and entered correctly for all those who need it. |
Career Facts: |
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Much of the work of the medical records and health information technician centers on making sure that proper medical records get into doctor’s hands. Another major function of the medical records and health information technician is to help keep those pesky costs down. Without them, we would all be paying $12 per aspirin instead of $8. While some might think of the job of medical records and health information technician as being a bit boring, it does allow one to bypass having to see sick people. Whereas, nurses might have to look at all sorts of gross “things” and clean up vomit or even give the stray enema every now and again, the medical records and health information technician is able to bypass the sick and the dying. Their function is strictly paper pusher. |
Career Opportunities and Job Outlook- Above Average: |
| The career of medical records and health information technician is expected to have a better than average growth rate of about eighteen percent. In 2006, there were roughly 170,000 medical paper pushers spread out across the United States feeding valuable medical information to doctors and insurance companies alike. By 2016, this tiny army will top 200,000. |
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A Day in The Life: |
| The average salary for a medical records and health information technician is about $28,000. As a result, the medical records and health information technician is likely to start his or her day speaking to a parent or one of several annoying roommates. “The American Dream” is personified in this job, well, isn’t. Once the reality sinks in, every day the medical records and health information technician goes to work, fills out the paperwork and is thankful they don’t have to change any adult diapers. |
Average Salary: |
| The average salary for a medical records and health information technician is a paltry $28,000. The top ten percent of medical records and health information technicians averages about $45,000. |
$28k - $45k |
Career Training and Qualifications: |
| Most medical records and health information technician hold an Associate’s Degree. |
