AHEC Connecticut
HEALTH INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS - Medical Records Technician
To be a successful Medical Records Technician you should...
- have ability for problem solving and analysis
- have ability to work at one station for extended periods of time
- work well under pressure and are able to observe dead lines
- have the ability to communicate in writing and verbally
- pay close attention to detail
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What will my job be like?
Medical record technician (also known as health information technicians) review, organize, and evaluate patients' records for completeness and accuracy. They may use patient related information to help monitor health care costs, patterns of illness, and medical research.
Where could I work?
Health information technicians usually work a 40-hour week. Some overtime may be required. In hospitals where health information departments are open 18-24 hours a day, 7 days a week, they may work day, evening, and night shifts.
Other workplace settings:
- Clinics
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Home Health Agencies
- Insurance Companies
- Long-Term Care Centers
- Medical Group Practices
- Mental Health Facilities
- Nursing Homes
- Public Health Departments
- State and Federal Health Agencies
What is the average annual salary?
$31,000
What is the future of this career?
Job prospects should be very good. Employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014 because of rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures that will be increasingly scrutinized by health insurance companies, regulators, courts, and consumers. Also, technicians will be needed to enter patient information into computer databases to comply with Federal legislation regulating the use of electronic patient records.
What type of education and/or training do I need?
Health information technicians entering the field usually have an associate degree from a community or junior college. Hospitals sometimes advance promising health information clerks to jobs as health information technicians, although this practice may be less common in the future. Advancement usually requires 2-4 years of job experience and completion of a hospital’s in-house training program.
Where can I get the education and/or training?
- Briarwood College, Southington
- Capital Community College, Hartford
- Gateway Community College, New Haven
- Manchester Community College, Manchester
- Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury
- Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted
- Norwalk Community College, Norwalk
- Quinebaug Valley Community College, Danielson
- Tunxis Community College, Farmington
- University of Connecticut, Storrs
Do I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure not required in the state of Connecticut.
Where can I get more information?
American Health Information Management Association
233 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2150
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 787-2672
www.ahima.org