What Do Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Do?
Medical records and health information technicians compile, process, organize, and maintain health information data and medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. They ensure that health information data is complete, accurate, and secure in both paper and electronic systems. They use various classification systems to code and categorize patient information for reimbursement purposes, for databases and registries, and to maintain patients’ medical and treatment histories.
For additional information, please go to: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm.
Where Do Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Work?
Medical records and health information technicians may work in hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care facilities, physicians’ offices, government agencies involved in health care, insurance companies, attorneys’ offices, industry, correctional facilities, medical research companies, pharmaceutical companies, even veterinary facilities–generally, any health setting that collects health information data or patient records.
What Do Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Earn?
In 2022, the average annual income reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for medical records specialists in the United States was $51,090. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) reports that, in 2023, medical records specialists in New York earned a median annual salary of $51,289 (medical records specialists in the 25th percentile made approximately $39,360 while those in the 75th percentile made approximately $66,614).
Supply and Demand
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of jobs for medical records specialists in the U.S. will increase by 7% between 2021 and 2031. The New York State Department of Labor projects that the number of jobs for medical records specialists in the state will increase by 16% between 2020 and 2030.
Demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages and has more health-related problems. Employment for medical records and health information technicians will grow as a result of an aging population that will need more medical tests, treatments, and procedures. This will also mean more claims for reimbursement from private and public insurance. Additional records, coupled with widespread use of electronic health records by all types of health care providers, will likely lead to an increased need for medical records and health information technicians to organize and manage the associated information in all areas of the health care industry.
For more information on the need for medical records and health information technicians by New York State labor regions, 2018-2028, click here.
New York Educational Requirements
Medical records and health information technicians usually have a bachelor’s degree, although some may have an associate degree. Some employers may require professional certification. Degree programs for medical records and health information technicians may include courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, health data requirements and standards, classification and coding systems, health care reimbursement methods, health care statistics, and computer systems. Applicants to medical records and health information technicians degree programs increase their chances of admission by taking courses in math, computer science, health, and biology in high school.
New York Licensure Requirements
New York does not license medical records and health information technicians. Individuals wishing to demonstrate proficiency may receive certification through the American Health Information Management Association: www.ahima.org
Financial Support
Some scholarships and grants for students wishing to become medical records and health information technicians are available through the AHIMA Foundation. Go to their website for more information: http://ahimafoundation.org/
Education Programs in New York (subject to change)
| ASA College Manhattan Campus 1293 Broadway (One Herald Center) New York, NY 10001 (866) 990-6148 |
Borough of Manhattan Community College 199 Chambers Street New York, NY 10007 (212) 220-8000 |
| Broome Community College Upper Front Street Binghamton, NY 13902 (607) 778-5063 |
Erie Community College – North Campus 6205 Main Street Williamsville, NY 14221 (716) 851-1513 or (716) 851-1322 |
| Hudson Valley Community College 80 Vandenburgh Ave. Troy, NY 12180 (518) 629-4822 |
Jamestown Community College 525 Falconer St Jamestown, NY 14701 (800) 388-8557 |
| Monroe Community College 1000 East Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14623 (585) 292-2200 |
SUNY Oswego 7060 State Route 104 Oswego, NY 13126 (315) 312-2500 |
| Suffolk County Community College Grant Campus Crooked Hill Road Brentwood, NY 11717 (631) 851-6700 |
Onondaga Community College 4585 West Seneca Turnpike Syracuse, NY 13215-4585 (315) 498-2000 |
| Trocaire College 360 Chroate Avenue Buffalo, NY 14220-2094 (716) 826-1200 |
SUNY Polytechnic Institute 100 Seymour Road Utica, NY 13502 (315) 792-7500 |
| Hofstra University Continuing Education 250 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549-2500 (516) 463-7200 |
Plaza College 118-33 Queens Blvd Forest Hills, NY 11375 (718) 779-1430 |
| Alfred State College of Technology 10 Upper College Drive Alfred, NY 14802 1-800-425-3733 |
Brooklyn Educ Opportunity Center Certificate Program 111 Livingston St. Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 802-3358 |
| Nassau Community College One Education Drive Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 572-7501 |
The College of Westchester 325 Central Ave White Plains, NY 10606 (914) 559-2398 |
| St. Joseph’s University 155 W. Roe Blvd. Patchogue, NY 11772 (631) 687-4539 |
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Additional Web Links
For more information about health information management, go to the American Health Information Management Association website: www.ahima.org
For more information about health information management in New York, go to the New York Health Information Management Association’s website: http://www.nyhima.org/
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