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New York Health Careers

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

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.

How Much 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

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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