What does a Medical Records Clerk do?
Published 3 min read
A medical records clerk is responsible for organizing and maintaining patient records in a healthcare setting. They may also be responsible for scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, and billing patients.
Medical Records Clerk job duties include:
- Maintaining medical records
- Filing and retrieving medical records
- Scanning and indexing medical records
- Updating medical records
- Tracking medical records
- Coordinating with other departments to obtain missing information
- Answering patient inquiries regarding their medical records
- Maintaining confidentiality of patient information
- Following HIPAA guidelines
- Completing chart audits
Medical Records Clerk Job Requirements
There are no formal education requirements for medical records clerks, but most employers prefer to hire candidates who have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers may require medical records clerks to have completed a postsecondary certificate program in medical coding or health information technology. Medical records clerks typically need to have previous experience working in a healthcare setting and be familiar with medical terminology. Many employers also require medical records clerks to be certified through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Medical Records Clerk Skills
- Filing
- Records Management
- Data Entry
- Medical Terminology
- HIPAA
- Patient Confidentiality
- Attention to Detail
- Organizational Skills
- Time Management
- Multi-tasking
- Problem Solving
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How to become a Medical Records Clerk
There are many ways to become a medical records clerk. One way is to attend a community college and take classes in medical office administration or health information management. Many employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed a formal education program.
Another way to become a medical records clerk is to have previous experience working in a medical office. This could include working as a receptionist, medical assistant, or billing and coding specialist. Employers often value candidates with on-the-job experience.
Some medical records clerks may also need to be certified. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers a Certified Medical Records Technician (CMRT) credential. To earn this credential, candidates must pass an exam and have at least two years of experience working with medical records.
Those interested in becoming a medical records clerk should have strong organizational skills and be detail oriented. They should also be comfortable working with computers and able to type quickly. Good customer service skills are also important, as medical records clerks often interact with patients and other healthcare providers.
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