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Medical data analyst vs health information technician

The differences between medical data analysts and health information 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 medical data analyst and a health information technician. Additionally, a medical data analyst has an average salary of $56,595, which is higher than the $34,604 average annual salary of a health information technician.

The top three skills for a medical data analyst include patients, data analysis and medical terminology. The most important skills for a health information technician are patients, medical terminology, and customer service.

Medical data analyst vs health information technician overview

Medical Data AnalystHealth Information Technician
Yearly salary$56,595$34,604
Hourly rate$27.21$16.64
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs129,290120,786
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Associate Degree, 41%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

What does a medical data analyst do?

A medical data analyst uses a number of applications to improve the quality of healthcare. Their job entails operating an electronic health record system, coding information to be passed on to insurance companies for billing, and organizing patient information to guide the treatment suggestions. The qualifications for this position are knowledge of computer analytics software, experience with database systems, and familiarity with medical terms.

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.

Medical data analyst vs health information technician salary

Medical data analysts and health information technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Data AnalystHealth Information Technician
Average salary$56,595$34,604
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $80,000Between $26,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CityTrenton, NJFairbanks, AK
Highest paying stateNew JerseyAlaska
Best paying companyUniversity of CaliforniaStifel Financial
Best paying industryManufacturingGovernment

Differences between medical data analyst and health information technician education

There are a few differences between a medical data analyst and a health information technician in terms of educational background:

Medical Data AnalystHealth Information Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Associate Degree, 41%
Most common majorBusinessHealth Care Administration
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Medical data analyst vs health information technician demographics

Here are the differences between medical data analysts' and health information technicians' demographics:

Medical Data AnalystHealth Information Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 31.3% Female, 68.7%Male, 16.5% Female, 83.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 8.5% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between medical data analyst and health information technician duties and responsibilities

Medical data analyst example responsibilities.

  • Manage cases by aggressively directing the litigation process.
  • Maintain priority levels of confidentiality with HIPAA and patient rights in all reviews and aspects of work.
  • Process records for subpoena, learned deposition process, attend court for subpoenas and processing of records.
  • Review and interpret diagnosis and procedure codes through ICD-9 and CPT-4, HCPS claims to avoid provider and facility up-coding.
  • Complete understanding of HIPPA confidentiality requirements, regulations.
  • Serve as departmental liaison to internal operational committees for Medicare and Medicaid.
  • Show more

Health information technician example responsibilities.

  • 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.
  • Show more

Medical data analyst vs health information technician skills

Common medical data analyst skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Data Analysis, 7%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • ICD-10, 5%
  • EMR, 5%
  • SQL, 4%
Common health information technician skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Medical Terminology, 13%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • HIPAA, 9%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Data Entry, 5%

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