What Education Do I Need for a Medical Records Management Career?
Medical records technicians and managers handle and organize medical records and other data. They are also responsible for ensuring the quality and accuracy of all data. Read on for more information about the education requirements for a career in this healthcare management field.
Overview
Students pursuing a career in medical records management generally earn an associate's degree from a two-year college or technical school. After the first year, some schools award a diploma, enabling medical records management students to work in the field while continuing their education.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutMedicalRecordsManagementEducation">Important Facts about Medical Records Management Education</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td>Prerequisites</td><td> High school diploma or GED</td></tr>
<tr><td>Common Courses</td><td> Medical terminology, medical law and ethics, health information technologies</td></tr>
<tr><td>Possible Careers</td><td> Medical administrative specialist, health information technicians, medical secretary</td></tr>
<tr><td>Continuing Education</td><td> Required for RHIT certification renewal</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td> $46,660 (medical records and health information technicians)*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td> 7% (medical records and health information technicians)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---Diploma">Diploma</h3><p>Schools that issue a diploma in medical records management require students to complete the same first year of coursework that's required in an associate's degree program in medical records management, health information management, or health information technology. First-year courses usually cover the following topics:
</p><ul><li>Medical records management
</li><li>Medical terminology
</li><li>Medical coding and classifications
</li><li>Health information technology
</li><li>Microcomputer applications
</li><li>Anatomy and physiology
</li></ul><h3 id="section---AssociateSDegree">Associate's Degree</h3><p>Many schools offer both online and on-campus programs leading to an Associate of Science or an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Records Management. After completing the first-year courses listed above, students can expect to continue on with coursework in the following subject areas:
</p><ul><li>Legal issues in health information
</li><li>Health statistics and database management
</li><li>Intermediate and advanced coding
</li><li>Electronic health records
</li><li>Pathology and pathophysiology
</li><li>Data analysis
</li></ul><h3 id="section---Certification">Certification</h3><p>Students who have earned an associate's degree in medical records management through a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) are qualified to pursue professional certification as Registered Health Information Technicians (RHITs). The RHIT exam is administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
</p><p>Advanced coding certification is available from the Board of Medical Specialty Coding, the Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists (PAHCS), and the American Academy of Professional Coders. AHIMA offers a Certified Healthcare Privacy and Security designation, and the National Cancer Registrars Association offers cancer registry certification for medical records technicians.</p>