Healthcare staff are not only a vital part of our society, but their numbers are also growing fast. Many critical healthcare staff members are behind-the-scenes professionals who work with information systems.
The coordinators of medical records provide a vital role within the healthcare system. Their work can have an important effect on how well doctors can treat their patients.
Medical records coordinators help keep health background data up to date and even help collect large amounts of data for medical studies. If you want to know more about this career, read on.
Job Description: Overview
A medical record coordinator works in the field of medical records and information management for health. A medical record coordinator may also be known as a medical record manager or a medical record technician.
These practitioners collect, process, and hold medical records by whatever name. While this may sound like straightforward administrative work, medical record coordinators need a nuanced understanding of numerous areas.
Knowledge about medical, financial, ethical, legal, and regulatory standards within the healthcare system is necessary. Coordinators of medical records manage extremely confidential information.
Properly preserving these documents ensures that healthcare professionals and medical experts are presented with the most up-to-date and reliable information required to manage particular patients and populations successfully.
Duties and Responsibilities
The coordinators of medical records are responsible for introducing security measures to protect patient’s privacy. This also requires software security and ensuring that all those with access to medical records have adequate practice.
The right to privacy regarding confidential medical details is constitutionally protected, and procedure violations can result in significant fines for individuals and institutions.
Maintaining a right to privacy also protects patients in profoundly important and even life-saving ways. This influence is one of the vital aspects of the professional role of a Medical records coordinator.
Also Read: Job Description – Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Education Necessary
Coordinators of medical records are expected to hold a bachelor’s degree for at least four years before accepting the position.
Many potential coordinators of medical records are seeking a major undergraduate degree in health information management, health care administration, health informatics, or information systems.
It would be worthwhile to join a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Education in Information Management (CAHIIM).
Complete your schedule with courses in medical law, ethics, patient confidentiality, statistics, coding, medical terms, pathophysiology, reimbursement for administration, and insurance.
Where Do They Work
Medical records coordinators operate primarily in health care facilities such as hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, treatment centers, and nursing homes.
A Medical Record Coordinator can be employed anywhere medical records are used. These practitioners do not deal directly with patients but are vital to delivering healthcare services on the administrative side.
Expected Salary
According to the job statistics on Salary.com, the median annual wage for medical records coordinators and supervisors in the United States is $83,267. This could be equated with a $40 monthly hourly wage or a $1,601 weekly salary.
In addition to the base pay, medical records coordinators typically receive incentives, social security, health benefits, pensions, and time off, for a total annual compensation of $116,143.
If you were to take on the position of coordinator of medical records, you’d likely earn about $61,337 in the bottom 10th percentile of earnings for an annual salary.
Where to Apply for a Job
You can apply as a medical records coordinator through the following websites:
Conclusion
If you are interested in opportunities in the coordination of medical records, such as medical coding, you might need additional certifications in those areas.
Overall, medical record coordinators are experts in administering computer systems that organize health information electronically and accurately.