Future of health record technicians

Future of Health Record Technicians Medical records technicians and health information commonly known as health information technicians organize and manage health information data, maintaining quality, accessibility and security in both electronic and print systems. They use a variety of rating systems to code and categorize patient information for insurance refunds, records, and databases, and to maintain patient medical histories and treatments.

Responsibilities: Medical records technicians and health information usually deal with the following: • Review patient records for data update, completeness, accuracy, and relevance • Organize and maintain data for databases and clinical records • They monitor patient outcomes to achieve a qualitative assessment • They use classification software to assign clinical codes to data analyses and repayments • Records data electronically for collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and presentation • Protect patient health information for confidentiality, authorized access to treatment, and data security All health record technicians document patient information, including medical history, symptoms, test and test results, treatments, and other information about the health services offered to patients. Their functions vary according to the size of the facility in which they work.

Although medical record technicians do not provide direct patient care, they work periodically with registered nurses and other health professionals. They meet with these workers to clarify the diagnoses or to obtain additional information to make sure the records are complete and accurate.

Medical records technicians and health information specialists can specialize in many aspects of health information. Most work as health information coders sometimes called coding specialists or as cancer registry managers.

Health information coders do the following: • Review patient information for past conditions such as diabetes • Recover patient records for medical staff • They work as a bridge between the health clinician and the billing offices The registrars of cancer patients usually do the following: • Review patient records and pathology reports checking for completeness and accuracy • Assign classification codes to summarize the diagnosis and treatment of benign cancers and tumors • Carry out annual follow-ups to keep records of treatment, survival, and recovery

• Analyze and compile patient cancer information for research purposes • Maintain facilities, regional and national databases of cancer patients The employment of medical records technicians and health information is projected to increase by 22 percent between the years 2012 to 2022, much quicker than the average for all occupations. Demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages. The aging population will need more testing, treatment, and medical procedures. This also means that there will be more claims for reimbursements from public and private insurance. Additional records, paired with the widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs) by all types of health care providers, should lead to a greater demand of medical records and health information technician jobs to organize and manage associated information in all areas of health care.

The high demand for oncology patient registry is expected to continue. As the population ages, more types of special purpose registries are likely to exist, as more classes of disease are detected and treated in later years.

Employment opportunities Prospects will be best for people with medical records career, such as RHIT or CTR. As EHR systems become increasingly common, there will be a greater demand for technicians with computer skills.