What does a health information technician do?
A health information technician is primarily responsible for managing and handling patient information, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality. They coordinate with various health care workers to gather patient data, laboratory results, test findings, and medical histories, encoding them in clinical databases in a timely and efficient manner. They must analyze every information to detect any inconsistencies, performing corrective measures right away. Furthermore, as a health information technician, it is essential to utilize particular software and systems when processing information, all while adhering to the hospital's policies and regulations.
Health information technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real health information technician resumes:
- Maximize ROI by effectively managing the microfiche process.
- Assist patients and staff on filling out ROI's, and explain what exactly are being release or obtain.
- Perform analysis and assembly of emergency room and surgery records and release records according to HIPAA regulations and confidentially.
- Input data into a windows base in-house system.
- Scan medical records in the EHR using the NEXTGEN software.
- Attend advanced SQL coding workshops to optimize and refine database infrastructure.
- Integrate third party Travelport GTA API to get the hotels information.
- Assign and enter correct ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes for billing purposes.
- Oversee servers, workstations and user training including basic AS400 and UNIX functions.
- Process bills and claims through Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance for payments of services.
- Coordinate procedure requests with other departments (radiology, labs, pathology, etc).
- Assist radiology staff with locating, reporting, filing and recording patient data utilizing healthcare software.
- Produce protect health information using a variety of technologies, including EHR, scanners and facsimiles.
- Code admission diagnoses according to ICD-9-CM guidelines and principles and enter the ICD-9-CM codes into the CPCS system.
- Lead data migration to SharePoint and serve as SharePoint content manager, maintaining the metadata of project documents.
Health information technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Health Information Technicians are proficient in Patients, Medical Terminology, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Detail oriented, and Integrity.
We break down the percentage of Health Information Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 20%
Reviewed and completed transformation, organized and verified individual patients records into electronic medical database and registry.
- Medical Terminology, 13%
Locate and extract information from medical files utilizing a thorough knowledge of medical terminology with my experience as a Medical Assistant.
- Customer Service, 9%
Provide customer service with patient/physician/insurance/medical office requests.
- HIPAA, 9%
Performed analysis and assembly of emergency room and surgery records and release records according to HIPAA regulations and confidentially.
- Patient Care, 7%
Managed release of information duties while maintaining confidentiality medical records for continuum of patient care.
- Data Entry, 5%
Compiled and maintained electronic patient records to ensure data entry and search efficiency.
Common skills that a health information technician uses to do their job include "patients," "medical terminology," and "customer service." You can find details on the most important health information technician responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a health information technician to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "health information technicians must understand and follow medical records and diagnoses, and then decide how best to code them in a patient’s medical records." Health information technicians often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "organized, filed and processed confidential, time-sensitive documentation, performed data entry, and maintained complete and accurate clinical records. "
Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling health information technician duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "health information technicians must be accurate when recording and coding patient information." According to a health information technician resume, here's how health information technicians can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "created written guidelines detailing transcription department processes. "
Integrity. This is an important skill for health information technicians to perform their duties. For an example of how health information technician responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "health information technicians work with patient data that are required, by law, to be kept confidential." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a health information technician: "perform quality search of medical chart, ensuring integrity of patients' medical records verifying both accuracy and legibility. ".
Interpersonal skills. A big part of what health information technicians do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to health information technician responsibilities because "health information technicians need to be able to discuss patient information, discrepancies, and data requirements with other professionals such as physicians and finance personnel." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical health information technician tasks: "possess strong customer/goal orientation and excellent interpersonal communication and pc skills. "
Technical skills. Another common skill required for health information technician responsibilities is "technical skills." This skill comes up in the duties of health information technicians all the time, as "health information technicians must use coding and classification software and the electronic health record (ehr) system that their healthcare organization or physician practice has adopted." An excerpt from a real health information technician resume shows how this skill is central to what a health information technician does: "organized, analyzed and technically evaluated inpatient and outpatient medical records for physician completeness according to hospital bylaws and jcaho standards. "
The three companies that hire the most health information technicians are:
- University of Maryland Medical System16 health information technicians jobs
- Tenet Healthcare15 health information technicians jobs
- LifePoint Health13 health information technicians jobs
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Compare different health information technicians
Health information technician vs. Records analyst
A records analyst is responsible for maintaining the security and efficiency of record management processes for storing information and files in the database. Records analysts review documents and sort data accordingly, following organizational procedures in proper disposal of outdated documents. They also update client accounts and business information in the system, managing retention schedules, and strategizing effective data management techniques. A records analyst must have excellent knowledge of computer navigation, especially in using software applications for filing and coding data.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, health information technician responsibilities require skills like "patients," "medical terminology," "customer service," and "patient care." Meanwhile a typical records analyst has skills in areas such as "powerpoint," "sharepoint," "retention schedules," and "hard copy." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Records analysts really shine in the professional industry with an average salary of $54,922. Comparatively, health information technicians tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $35,705.The education levels that records analysts earn slightly differ from health information technicians. In particular, records analysts are 5.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a health information technician. Additionally, they're 0.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Health information technician vs. Medical biller coder
A medical biller coder is responsible for handling the billing processes and insurance within a hospital, clinic, or similar facility. They must gather patient information and records to analyze and translate them into codes according to the insurance and medical guidelines. Moreover, it is crucial to verify all patient forms and ensure their accuracy as it will serve as a basis on essential documents and medical record-keeping. There may also be instances where a medical biller coder must devise payment plans for patients, communicate with families and guardians, and coordinate with physicians.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, health information technician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patient care," "office equipment," "transcription," and "rehabilitation." Meanwhile, a medical biller coder has duties that require skills in areas such as "medical billing," "icd-10," "cpt-4," and "hcpcs." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Medical biller coders earn a higher average salary than health information technicians. But medical biller coders earn the highest pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $39,875. Additionally, health information technicians earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $35,705 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Medical biller coders tend to reach similar levels of education than health information technicians. In fact, they're 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Health information technician vs. Records coordinator
A records coordinator takes responsibility for doing administrative and clerical work. Records coordinators maintain the filing system of the central records. They monitor, post, and process university forms for personnel and budgetary actions. It is their job to maintain an organized central filing system. They must know the requirements applicable to their organization. There are certain skills every records coordinator should acquire. Some of them are skills in procurement management, organizational, negotiation, finance and accounting, and analytical.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a health information technician is likely to be skilled in "medical terminology," "patient care," "office equipment," and "transcription," while a typical records coordinator is skilled in "excellent organizational," "hard copy," "federal regulations," and "ferpa."
Records coordinators earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $47,277. Comparatively, health information technicians have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $35,705.When it comes to education, records coordinators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to health information technicians. In fact, they're 4.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Health information technician vs. Reimbursement specialist
A reimbursement specialist is responsible for analyzing insurance documents, processing reimbursement claims, and releasing accurate billing statements for insurance claims. Reimbursement specialists must have excellent analytical skills, especially on performing clerical tasks to evaluate insurance cases, investigate cases, and update the account information of the clients on the database. They should also have impeccable communication skills and understanding of the insurance processes to be able to coordinate with the clients, explaining the procedures of their claims accurately, and coordinate with the insurance management to improve the claims processes.
Types of health information technician
Updated January 8, 2025
