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Health information coder vs records manager

The differences between health information coders and records managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a health information coder and a records manager. Additionally, a health information coder has an average salary of $54,353, which is higher than the $47,265 average annual salary of a records manager.

The top three skills for a health information coder include medical terminology, ICD-10-CM and CPC. The most important skills for a records manager are office equipment, access database, and sharepoint.

Health information coder vs records manager overview

Health Information CoderRecords Manager
Yearly salary$54,353$47,265
Hourly rate$26.13$22.72
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs112,2383,204
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

What does a health information coder do?

A health information coder is responsible for translating the reports of physicians into beneficial medical codes. Health information coders make sure that all important information is appropriately coded for accuracy and consistency. The coders read the medical chart of a patient and analyze it and identify patient diagnoses and medical procedures. They categorize the diagnoses and the necessary procedures based on a national classification system. Also, they assign particular alphanumeric or numeric code to each procedure or diagnosis.

What does a records manager do?

The records manager is an important position that handles the creation, organization, and disposal of records. They are also responsible for establishing systems for their management and the maintenance, verification, and evaluation of extant systems. It will require technical and analytical skills, as well as a great deal of integrity for handling sensitive information.

Health information coder vs records manager salary

Health information coders and records managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health Information CoderRecords Manager
Average salary$54,353$47,265
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $78,000Between $32,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City-Paramus, NJ
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Accenture
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between health information coder and records manager education

There are a few differences between a health information coder and a records manager in terms of educational background:

Health Information CoderRecords Manager
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationBusiness
Most common collegeGeorgetown UniversityStanford University

Health information coder vs records manager demographics

Here are the differences between health information coders' and records managers' demographics:

Health Information CoderRecords Manager
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 12.0% Female, 88.0%Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 8.1% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between health information coder and records manager duties and responsibilities

Health information coder example responsibilities.

  • Create documentation education classes to general surgery residents, increasing the leveling of reporting which lead to increase revenues.
  • Provide clerical services in registering patients and guests in ambulatory surgery facility.
  • Train staff on the HIPAA regulations.
  • Assist in instructing students for exam preparation for the CPC exam.
  • Maintain establish department policies and procedures, objectives, QA program, HIPAA compliance, environmental and infection control standards.
  • Code charts (Inpatient/Outpatient/Observation) according to EHR records to ensure all charges are accurately capture; hydration/infusion/EM levels & procedures.
  • Show more

Records manager example responsibilities.

  • Implement and manage projects with complex HL7 interfaces between multiple clinical systems including writing project plans.
  • Establish compliant records training program to meet objectives in standards such as HIPAA, FOIA.
  • Develop and execute recordkeeping and docketing system to track activities of multi-district class action litigation, and introduce records retention policies/procedures.
  • Ensure record privacy, confidentiality, and HIPAA compliance.
  • Maintain all student records in compliance with HIPPA and Medicaid.
  • Ensure records are readily available for re-use, regulatory review, audit, and litigation.
  • Show more

Health information coder vs records manager skills

Common health information coder skills
  • Medical Terminology, 11%
  • ICD-10-CM, 9%
  • CPC, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Quality Standards, 6%
  • AHIMA, 6%
Common records manager skills
  • Office Equipment, 16%
  • Access Database, 12%
  • SharePoint, 10%
  • DOD, 7%
  • Nara, 5%
  • Payroll, 4%

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