Medical Records Technician Job Description, Duties, and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the medical records technician job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they typically perform.

It also highlights the major requirements that you may be expected to fulfill to be hired for the medical records technician role.

What Does a Medical Records Technician Do?

A medical records technician, also known as health record technician, medical records clerk, health information clerk, or medical records analyst is a person who works in a hospital or other health facility to maintain the medical records of clients for future references and use.

By their Job description, medical records technicians do not have to interact directly with patients. They rather focus their attention and skills on accurately recording and organizing the medical histories, symptoms, diagnoses, and prescribed treatment and procedures for insurance billing.

Their role involves liaising with medical practitioners to obtain data on the health of patients, and analyzing the medical records of patients for future references.

Medical records technicians are also responsible for ensuring that medical records of patients do not get into wrong hands; they are detailed to properly file medical records.

The technician ensures that inadequate pieces of information are properly filled by liaising with the appropriate medical officer and/or patient.

His/her work description also entails classifying patients’ diseases, prescribed treatment, and their response to the prescribed treatment.

He/she ensures that the medical records of patients are readily available to accredited persons when necessary.

He/she also maintains a system that ensures that medical records are easily retrievable; and uses a standard classification system to abstract and code health data.

Medical Records Technician Job Description Example/Sample/Template

Medical records technicians perform various functions in hospitals and other healthcare facilities in ensuring patients’ records are accurately maintained.

The duties, tasks, and responsibilities commonly assigned to medical records technicians are shown in the job description example below:

• Prepares statistics on the prevalence of certain diseases; the predisposition of certain patients to certain diseases, the prescription of a medical practitioner, as well as the response of the patient
• Complies with legal as well as regulatory requirements on the sharing of a patient’s medical record to ensure that the hospital’s reputation is maintained and it is free from legal liability
• Suggests means by which procedures for maintaining medical records can be improved upon
• Codifies patients’ medical records in order to enable them get reimbursement from their employers and/or insurance company
• Provides regional and/or national databases on cancer, hypertension, diabetes, etc. with data on specific diseases and/or the efficacy of prescribed treatment procedure
• Maintains and regularly updates medical records in soft copy and in easily retrievable form
• Ensures that it is easy to troubleshoot problems relating to the maintenance and regular update of medical records.

Requirements – Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge – for Medical Records Technician Role

When hiring for the role of a medical records technician, most employers commonly set certain requirements for interested candidates to meet to be qualified to access the position.

If you are seeking the medical records technician job, here are major requirements you may have to satisfy with most recruiters:

• Ability to keep the medical records of patients in confidence without divulging same to unauthorized persons
• Possession of proven organization, mathematical, and analytical skills
• Proven ability and/or inclination to follow instructions
• Proven ability to work with or without regular supervision
• A strong understanding of the English language
• A certificate or associate’s degree in Medical Technology
• The ability to maintain an open mind to the acquisition of new skills and knowledge while on the job, especially the use of chemicals and understanding of basic safety procedures
• Possession of leadership skills, including the ability to take the initiative where and when necessary
• Possess effective interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• The ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Strong time management skill, and the ability to be effective working as part of a team
• Ability to pay attention to detail and maintain quality focus and professionalism
• Computer literacy with dexterity in the use of Microsoft Applications like Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, etc.
• Proven documentation and data entry management skills.

Conclusion

The information contained in this post, including the sample medical records technician job description provided is helpful to employers in the process of hiring for the position.

They will be able to make the description that perfectly fit the role in their health facility, which will enable them to attract the right applicants.

This post is also beneficial to individuals interested in the medical records career to learn more about the duties and responsibilities that characterize the position of the technician and get better prepared ahead for the job.