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Health unit clerk vs medical records technician

The differences between health unit clerks and medical records technicians 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 unit clerk and a medical records technician. Additionally, a medical records technician has an average salary of $37,087, which is higher than the $31,986 average annual salary of a health unit clerk.

The top three skills for a health unit clerk include patients, patient care and medical terminology. The most important skills for a medical records technician are patients, medical terminology, and HIPAA.

Health unit clerk vs medical records technician overview

Health Unit ClerkMedical Records Technician
Yearly salary$31,986$37,087
Hourly rate$15.38$17.83
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs130,92067,660
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Associate Degree, 34%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

Health unit clerk vs medical records technician salary

Health unit clerks and medical records technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health Unit ClerkMedical Records Technician
Average salary$31,986$37,087
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $38,000Between $28,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City-Long Branch, NJ
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Guidehouse
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between health unit clerk and medical records technician education

There are a few differences between a health unit clerk and a medical records technician in terms of educational background:

Health Unit ClerkMedical Records Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Associate Degree, 34%
Most common majorBusinessHealth Care Administration
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Health unit clerk vs medical records technician demographics

Here are the differences between health unit clerks' and medical records technicians' demographics:

Health Unit ClerkMedical Records Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 12.2% Female, 87.8%Male, 18.8% Female, 81.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 8.0% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between health unit clerk and medical records technician duties and responsibilities

Health unit clerk example responsibilities.

  • Manage inpatient transfers to rehabilitation and medical facilities, along with preparing and monitoring outpatient billings insurance verification and referrals.
  • Perform debt collections, copy and file medical information, and administer affidavits and subpoenas on patient orders.
  • Organize, analyze and technically evaluate inpatient and outpatient medical records for physician completeness according to hospital bylaws and JCAHO standards.
  • Safeguard patient information according to the HIPPA policy.
  • Remain up to date on HIPPA regulations and utilize them to obtain inmate medical records from outside providers.
  • Comply with the rule and regulations of HIPAA.
  • Show more

Medical records technician example responsibilities.

  • Enter all patient in-take into EMR, manage triage, scheduling, and maintain a sterile clinic setting.
  • Manage medical treatment authorizations and durable medical equipment (DME) requests and verify medical eligibility for all patients requesting treatment.
  • Perform examinations in the ER, main radiology area and surgery.
  • Order medical records for patients, medical staff, outside entities, and court subpoenas for certain dates of services.
  • Audited/Validate daily outpatient medical coding accounts involving emergency rooms, surgery, interventional radiology, radiology, and ancillary services.
  • Staff education on EMR and industry regulations.
  • Show more

Health unit clerk vs medical records technician skills

Common health unit clerk skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Patient Care, 19%
  • Medical Terminology, 13%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Computer Programs, 3%
Common medical records technician skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Medical Terminology, 11%
  • HIPAA, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Medical Facilities, 4%

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