How to Become a Medical Records Technician
If you enjoy working with computers and want to work in healthcare, becoming a medical records technician is one good option. You’ve probably noticed your medical record is now digital. When you have an appointment with a medical practitioner, they enter medical information into your electronic medical record. Handling medical records requires accuracy, confidentiality, and experience with Internet technology.
At Northwestern College, students in Oak Lawn, IL, and the greater Chicago area can earn an associate degree in Health Information Technology. Here, you can learn how to work in this high-demand field.
What Does a Medical Records Technician Do?
Medical records technicians carefully review the information contained in medical records. They also make sure the records are properly up-to-date and stored in compliance with regulations and laws. One of the many benefits of an electronic medical record is that it can easily travel among practitioners who care for the same patient. For example, if you are referred to a specialist, they can access your medical record electronically. However, first you must give your permission because medical records are confidential documents. Therefore, medical records technicians must always follow the ethical and legal rules that guide their profession.
Working with medical practitioners, including doctors, nurses, technologists, and medical assistants, the medical records technician ensures the information in the medical record is accurate. This is important for all medical information, including diagnosis, treatment, and test results. This is accomplished partly by using their skills as coding specialists, in a worldwide classification system used for medical, billing, and research purposes. These digital professionals also safely store and maintain patient medical records and make them available when necessary for insurance and other billing services.
Medical Records Technician Training
The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Information Technology at Northwestern College can be completed in about two years. Our school is in Oak Lawn, IL, and serves the greater Chicago area. Students are required to finish 94 credit hours in the associate degree program, which includes an externship that provides professional experience working in the field. The curriculum has been developed collaboratively with Chicago-area hospitals and medical centers to ensure the medical records technology taught in class is up-to-date and applies to area healthcare work sites. Northwestern College students who enroll in the Health Information Technology program can earn a specialist certificate in medical coding, as well.
The college catalog for the health information technology degree program includes general education credits in communications, social sciences, humanities, and mathematics. Medical records technician students also take classes in the following:
- Medical terminology
- Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology
- Healthcare statistics and data literacy
- Medical law and ethics
- Introduction to psychology
- Professional development
Enroll in Health Information Technology for Medical Records Technician Training
Medical records technicians are in high demand. Access to accurate records is key to outstanding medical care. Proper storage and protection of these confidential records are also necessary to safeguard the trust of patients. Medical record technicians and other health information technology specialists are in demand because of the crucial role that accurate electronic medical records play in patient-centered care. Through their knowledge of medical coding classifications, the healthcare specialties in which they work, and modern digital technology, medical records technicians make a big impact in healthcare every day. Request information about how you can apply to this exciting career program today.