Medical Records Clerk

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How to Become a

Medical Records Clerk

The complete career guide to be a Medical Records Clerk: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started.

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Why We Love It

$29,900

Potential Avg. Salary

• 5.6%
  
  

Job Growth Rate

Dependable Daily Workload

Career Attribute

Growing Industry

Career Attribute

A medical records assistant or clerk is responsible for maintaining medical files, including the patients medical history, symptoms, exam reports, diagnosis, diagnostic tests and treatments while adhering to the privacy practices of the medical institution.

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What is a Medical Records Clerk?

The Following Responsibilities Are Common Foe Medical Records Clerks

• Compiles, verifies, records and verifies medical records of patients in a healthcare facility
• Reviews records to make sure they are completed and files records into the designated positions for them
• Locates and delivers medical records requested by physicians or facilities
• Compiles statistical data like admissions, births, deaths and treatments
• Assists other employees with coding, entering data and results into medical reports
  
  

A Day In The Life

A medical records assistant creates new medical records and maintains and retrieves existing medical records by gather the appropriate patients data and enters the patients data into a patients medical record. It is their responsibility to determine and confirm that all the information in the patients file is as truthful, accurate and complete as possible.

Throughout their day, these individuals with gather patients information and statistical data like diagnosis, treatments and other demographic data from physicians offices, insurance offices and healthcare facilities. They must be proficient with different computer software programs as well as ensuring that no inaccuracies are present in the patients files. These individuals will often preform medical coding on a patients chart in order to submit the patients treatment to the insurance company for financial reimbursement. Accuracy and security are important requirements for this individual. They must also maintain all HIPPA privacy policies while gathering and recording each patients information. If these practices are not kept, the disclosure of a patients medical information could possibly become a large liability.

Typical Work Schedule

This is an office based, full-time position, with little to no contact or interaction with patients.

Projected Job Growth

With the increasing aging population the need for physicians and their staff is expected to grow exponentially.

Typical Employers

All types of healthcare facilities are in demand for medical records clerks. Physicians offices, hospitals, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation hospitals and institutions all employ these individuals.

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How To Become a Medical Records Clerk

Most employers prefer to hire individuals with an associates degree in health information management or a related field, along with some additional certifications. Coursework should include classes in medical coding, medical terminology, anatomy & physiology and data systems along with computer sciences. They can earn their certifications in things like medical coding, health information or registry services. Graduates of a health information management program are then qualified to take the certification exam to earn their certification to become a registered medical information clerk.

It is essential that the individual is capable of understanding both the information contained within the medical records as well as possessing the appropriate skills to efficiently handle and direct all medical information to the appropriate places. These individuals must be extremely detail-oriented. They must also have capabilities and proficiency in technology and computer system programs. They must also be familiar with medical terminology and general medical concepts and procedures as well. These individuals perform a wide range of various duties within the healthcare facility where the individual is employed.

Medical Records Clerk Salary Data

We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.

National Anual Salary

Low Range

$22,090

Average

$29,900

High Range

$45,230

National Hourly Wage

Low Range

$11/hr

Average

$14/hr

High Range

$22/hr

How do Medical Records Clerk salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Medical Records Clerk's can make an average annual salary of $29,900, or $14 per hour. This makes it an Above Average Salary. On the lower end, they can make $22,090 or $11 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.

Salary Rankings And Facts

• #703 Nationally for All Careers
  
  

Highest Education Among Medical Records Clerks

• 0.7% Doctorate
• 4% Masters
• 17.9% Bachelors
• 13.1% Associates
• 32.1% College
• 27.9% High School
• 4.2% Less than High School
  
  

Job Growth Projections and Forecast

2014 Total Jobs

159,000

2024 Est. Jobs

150,100

Job Growth Rate

• 5.6%
  
  

Est. New Jobs

• 8,900
  
  

How does Medical Records Clerk job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of -8,900 jobs for a total of 150,100 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a -5.6% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Below Average.

Growth Rankings And Facts

• #708 Nationally for All Careers
  
  

What Companies Employ The Most Medical Records Clerks

Industry Current Jobs New Jobs Needed % Increase Offices of physicians 21,500 900 1% Legal services 15,000 -2,200 -2% Local government, excluding education and hospitals 14,700 -1,500 -2%

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