If you’re a detail-oriented person who’s looking for an entry-level position in the health care industry, then a career as a medical records specialist may be for you. There were 194,300 medical records specialists employed in the U.S. in 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports, and the number of jobs is growing. The BLS projects that employment of medical records specialists will grow 8% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
With a positive job outlook for the medical billing and coding field, this could be an excellent time to explore this career.
What Does a Medical Records Specialist Do?
A medical records specialist takes a patient’s medical record from an encounter at a health care facility and creates the bill for reimbursement from the insurance companies. Because diagnosis and procedure codes are a big part of this job, an exceptional eye for detail is needed.
The BLS reports that typical job duties for a medical records specialist include:
- Reviewing patients’ records for timeliness, completeness, and accuracy
- Using classification systems to assign clinical codes for patients’ diagnoses, procedures, medical services, and related information
- Maintaining and retrieving records for insurance reimbursement and data analysis
- Electronically recording data for collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and reporting
- Ensuring confidentiality of patients’ records
How Do You Become a Medical Records Specialist?
You can train for this role by enrolling in a medical billing and coding certificate program, which typically takes about a year to complete. Make sure to choose a certificate program that is approved by a recognized accreditation body. The quality of the program is determined by the curriculum standards of the approving organization.
Certification is not required, but according to the BLS, employers may prefer to hire medical records specialists who have a certification, or they may expect applicants to earn a certification shortly after being hired. There are two main organizations that provide certification for medical billers and coders:
Where Do Medical Records Specialists Work?
Medical records specialists work with members of a health care team in hospitals, physicians’ offices, insurance companies, health care facilities, and billing companies. Employment as an independent contractor is possible, too.
Some small offices need only one person in the billing department. In this environment, a medical records specialist can expect to work with the receptionist, office manager, physicians, and sometimes patients. In a hospital setting, most medical records specialists interact with other billers and coders, supervisors in the coding department, and possibly physicians and nurses.
Both full- and part-time positions are available, and hours will vary depending on the workplace.
If you work in an office, expect to wear casual business wear and closed-toe shoes — though these guidelines will also vary, depending on the particular workplace.
What Does a Career Path in This Field Look Like?
If you wish to advance in the medical billing and coding field, a possible career path could look like:
- Earn a medical billing and coding certificate and gain experience working as a medical records specialist.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in health information management (HIM) to learn how to apply best practices in health information management decision-making and prepare for advanced opportunities, including coordinator and supervisory roles in HIM.
- You could then earn a master of health informatics to learn how to design effective health informatics strategies and master the related tools and processes.
What Is the Career Outlook for Medical Records Specialists?
According to the BLS, the job outlook for medical records specialists, also known as medical records clerks, is positive.
General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global’s control.
Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.
Launch Your Medical Records Specialist Career Today
If you’re ready to take the next step toward this career, learn more about Purdue Global’s online Medical Billing and Coding Certificate. It is an approved coding program through AHIMA’s Professional Certificate Approval Program (PCAP), and our flexible online format gives you the convenience you need to work while going to school. Request more information today.
