Medical Records Technician  Online Degree

Medical Records Technicians, or MRTs, manage medical records for lab tests, x-rays, and more. They assign ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS, and PCS codes to each diagnosis and procedure that determine costs and payments for hospitals, clinics, physicians, and nursing homes.

Medical records are computer-based, so you will learn how to use software for record keeping and how to help offices run efficiently.

As a student in this program, you’ll learn about the preparation, maintenance, and security of patient medical records. You will develop core medical knowledge such as medical terms, anatomy, and physiology. Students will explore electronic healthcare records (EHR) and the systems used to store and manage them.

Since this is a specialized associate degree program (A.S.T.), you will also take general education courses, such as psychology, public speaking, and more.

Toward the completion of your program, all students will participate in an internship (campus students) or practicum (online students) that lets you practice  in a real healthcare setting with professional supervision. Some medical internship sites and employers may require a criminal background check. Please speak with your admissions representative prior to enrolling in this program if a background check presents an obstacle for you.

Finally, upon the successful completion of your program, you will be prepared to seek a certification to demonstrate your mastery of the course material.

There are two optional certifications:

• The Nationally Registered Certified Coding Specialist (NRCCS), administered by the National Association for Health Professionals (NAHP)
• The Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS), administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Certification exams are not required for employment. For Pittsburgh and Erie students, the costs are included in your program; for online students, the cost of the certification exams is paid for by IMBC when the student qualifies and meets the IMBC guidelines. Students who pass voluntary third-party certification exams validate their competencies, skills, and abilities in the specialized field of study. IMBC believes students passing certification exams have a more competitive employment advantage for being hired over students with no certification.