A career in medical records technology could be ideal for you. It’s an exciting career, and there are plenty of benefits that come with it. To figure out if this is the path for your future, read on.
What is medical records technology?
Medical records technology refers to all the different computer software, processes and systems that are used to store medical records digitally. The storage and management of medical records is an essential part of the healthcare industry. Everyone that’s ever been to see a medical professional will have records drawn up and placed in these computer systems. If these ever go missing, it could create huge problems for doctors and patients alike. That’s why a few years ago, laws were passed to ensure that medical records were all digitized and stored on server networks with security and data backup.
Therefore, it’s vital that people are trained in this field, so they know how to store and manage the records appropriately. This enables them to find any medical records as quickly as possible, to avoid any delays, and to do so with privacy in mind.
If you want to pursue a career in medical records technology, then you’ll likely become a Medical Records Technician. What can you expect from this type of job?
Medical Records Technicians: What do they do?
As you can imagine, your main line of work is managing all the records on a digital system. To do this, you’ll be working in various medical, insurance or healthcare facilities. You may be situated in a hospital, and be in charge of updating records when required, and adding new ones to the system. Not only that, but a lot of medical professionals still use paper-based recording models. So, part of your work will include transferring any paper records onto a new computer-based system. You might also work in a healthcare office or clinic, insurance company, medical records management company, prison or dental office.
Most of your time will be spent working on a computer and using different software to deal with all the records you’re in charge of managing. You’ll also test the software and ensure that no issues arise with it. If they do, then you’re the one who’ll troubleshoot it with the help desk or software vendor, and fix the problems before they cause issues in that medical facility.
What are the benefits of this career?
One of the primary benefits of this career is that you’re doing a job that helps people. You work as part of the healthcare industry, and ensure that everyone’s medical records are up-to-date and in the right place – and accessible. This ensures the coordination of care across doctors for their patients.
Furthermore, the job prospects are excellent as well, with the BLS expecting that the U.S. economy will generate 27,800 new jobs in this space by 2026. When you have a Medical Records Technician degree, then you open the doors to many potential jobs. Technology is continually changing, and this is reflected in how medical institutions are changing the way they store records and data. More and more hospitals’ and doctors’ surgeries require technicians to work with them and integrate a digital system in their workplace.
How to get started
If you like the sound of this career, then you can get started by pursuing the relevant associate degree. The beauty of this degree program is that it can be completed as an online education program, so you can generally study and complete the work on your schedule – perfect for working adults, busy parents, or if you don’t want to commute to a campus.
Check out this school’s associate degree today if you think you’ve got what it takes to excel in the field of medical records technology.