What Is a Medical Records Technician? (+ How to Become One)

Medical records technicians (MRTs), sometimes known as health information techs, are the administrators who manage patient records in a hospital or clinic. 

Technology has helped health care organizations digitize their medical records, making them more efficient and accessible for the patient, the health care provider, and the insurance company. Medical records technicians play a critical role in ensuring patients’ confidentiality and optimizing record-keeping systems so that health care organizations can run smoothly.

Explore the tasks and responsibilities of a medical records technician and how to start your career.

What is a medical records technician?

A medical records technician is responsible for the administrative tasks of maintaining patient records. Rather than dealing with diagnoses or treatments, these technicians update and organize information, ensuring that records comply with health care system standards.

What medical records specialists do: Tasks and responsibilities

As a medical records technician, these are the typical tasks you’d be responsible for: 

• Recording patient records, including data entry of classification codes for symptoms, diagnoses, procedures, treatments, and prescriptions for insurance reimbursement and further data analysis

• Inputting this information into electronic databases and registries

• Ensuring these records are confidentially collected, stored, and analyzed, as well as easily transferred to other medical providers’ offices

Skills needed

You'll need technical and workplace skills to become a successful medical records technician. Explore the commonly required skills:

Technical skills 

• Familiarity with computer systems and software applications

• Expertise in Excel, Word, code selection software, and medical record applications like Vista and CPRS

Workplace skills

• Attention to detail: Be precise about coding and verifying patient information

• Organization: Keep track of all the systems, records, and databases

• Trustworthiness: Maintain patients’ confidentiality

• Analytical skills: Solve problems and analyze data

• Interpersonal skills: Discuss record-keeping with doctors, finance professionals, and health insurance providers

Types of medical records technicians

In addition to medical records technicians, two other types of medical records technicians and health information specialists include the following:

• Cancer registrars are similar to general technicians, except they focus on assigning classification codes to keep track of patients’ cancer or tumor diagnoses and treatments and maintain facility and national databases. They may also use this information data analysis to further research on cancer treatments and recovery.

• Medical coders are the individuals who assign codes for patient care, population health statistics, and billing. They review the data to determine whether a patient has preexisting conditions or concurrent treatments and ensure that they’re coded properly. They also act as the liaison between health care providers, billing offices, and insurance companies.

To learn more about electronic health records (EHR), watch this video:

Salary and job outlook

As a medical records technician, you can expect to make a median salary of $48,780, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [1]. The predicted job growth for this role between 2023 and 2033 is 9 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations in the US [1].

How to become a medical records technician

To become a medical records technician, you’ll need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Discover the other requirements for becoming a medical records technician, such as building your skills and earning a certification.

Do I need a bachelor’s degree?

No, you’ll only need a high school diploma or equivalent to become a medical records technician. Some employers may prefer that you have earned a certification in the health care field to qualify for this role. However, a bachelor’s degree may help you catch the attention of employers, and earning an associate degree (with typically shorter programs) may be just as effective in elevating your resume and employability.

1. Gain the skills you need.

You may learn many of the technical skills you’ll need as a medical records technician. Transferable skills, such as familiarity with coding software applications, organizing and analyzing data on Excel spreadsheets, and workplace skills, such as organization, time management, and attention to detail, should be present in your resume, cover letter, and interview.

Taking online courses may boost your skill set. Earning an associate degree, preferably from an accredited program recognized by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education, can also be beneficial. This national group ensures that universities stay up-to-date with the standards of medical information management. 

2. Complete a certification.

To become a medical records technician, consider training programs that provide accredited certifications, for which you’ll have to learn the material and pass the certification exam. The Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) program gives licenses through the American Health Information Management Association, and the Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) program provides licenses from the National Cancer Registrars Association and the American Academy of Professional Coders.

• RHIT: This exam focuses on seven categories: revenue cycles, legal matters, quality assurance, information technology, compliance, coding, and data analysis. Exam takers have 3.5 hours to complete 150 questions [2]. You’ll need a score of at least 300 out of 400 to pass the exam [2].

• ODS: This exam focuses on four categories: legality, operations, data identification, and coding and abstraction. In addition to paying a fee, exam takers must answer 180 questions and complete 20 hours of continuing education credits every two years [3].

Is medical records specialist a remote job? 

You may work remotely as a medical records specialist, depending on the company you work for. If a remote role interests you, consider refining your job search by filtering for jobs that have 100 percent remote capabilities, as opposed to in-office or hybrid roles.

3. Choose where you’ll work.

Medical records technicians may work for a hospital, clinic, doctor’s office, nursing home, insurance company, or public health organization. Because MRTs typically only need a computer and a phone and mainly deal with electronic records, you may also be able to work remotely. 

When applying for jobs, read through job listings to ensure they are entry-level positions. If you have similar experience and transferable skills, you may have the qualifications for a more advanced or specialized role.

Learn more: 12 Best Paying Jobs in Health Care

4. Continue learning.

Learn on the job and ask your manager for more projects if you want to continue advancing into managerial or specialist roles. You may be interested in pursuing higher education, such as a bachelor’s, associate, or master’s degree, to get higher, better-paying roles. 

The field of health information technology is vast and in demand. Building your skills in coding and systems is a great start to advance your career.

Build your medical records technician skills with Coursera.

Medical records technicians manage patient records, ensure confidentiality, and support efficient record-keeping within health care organizations. If you’re interested in what medical records specialists do and beginning a career in the health care industry, consider building your skills and gaining certifications to qualify for a medical records technician role.

Explore Johns Hopkins’ Specialization in Healthcare IT Support, where you can learn how to solve technical problems that help support public health in this ever-evolving field.