Medical records administrator vs practice manager

The differences between medical records administrators and practice managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a medical records administrator and a practice manager. Additionally, a practice manager has an average salary of $107,374, which is higher than the $80,519 average annual salary of a medical records administrator.

The top three skills for a medical records administrator include patients, medical terminology and HIPAA. The most important skills for a practice manager are patients, patient care, and customer service.

Medical records administrator vs practice manager overview

	Medical Records Administrator	Practice Manager
Yearly salary	$80,519	$107,374
Hourly rate	$38.71	$51.62
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	103,325	38,196
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a medical records administrator do?

Medical records administrators oversee written and electronic medical records and reports. The duties of a medical records administrator are to maintain patient records, collect admission reports, liaise with other medical staff, compile documentation from different medical records, respond to enquiries and records requests from patients and physicians, and create a database for patient records. They are also tasked with ensuring the records comply with all policies protecting patient privacy and confidentiality.

What does a practice manager do?

A practice manager is responsible for supervising daily operations, especially on the side of the medical industry. Practice managers monitor staffing needs, train new employees, and evaluate the employees' productivity and performance. They also enforce strict guidelines and procedures, ensuring that the processes adhere to the legal standards and regulatory requirements. Practice managers also maintain budget goals, creating cost estimates and expense reports. A practice manager must have strong communication, analytical, and critical-thinking skills, as well as comprehensive knowledge of the medical industry practices.

Medical records administrator vs practice manager salary

Medical records administrators and practice managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Records Administrator	Practice Manager
Average salary	$80,519	$107,374
Salary range	Between $59,000 And $108,000	Between $65,000 And $175,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Providence, RI
Highest paying state	Delaware	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Long Island, FQHC, Inc	Davis Wright Tremaine
Best paying industry	Health Care	Technology

Differences between medical records administrator and practice manager education

There are a few differences between a medical records administrator and a practice manager in terms of educational background:

	Medical Records Administrator	Practice Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Medical records administrator vs practice manager demographics

Here are the differences between medical records administrators' and practice managers' demographics:

	Medical Records Administrator	Practice Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 21.2% Female, 78.8%	Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.9% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between medical records administrator and practice manager duties and responsibilities

Medical records administrator example responsibilities.

Manage medical records in accordance with federal and state HIPAA guidelines, maintaining confidentiality of patient information.
Bill Medicaid and pertinent insurance companies for payment on services.
Respond swiftly to provider questions and ensure claims are processed through MMIS system properly to meet Medicaid eligibility.
Demonstrate knowledge of HIPAA privacy and security regulations by appropriately handling patient information.
Ensure evacuated patients are moved to the appropriate medical treatment facility or warrior transition units.
Interact with patients and associate medical professionals in order to supply and forward correct documentation for clinical visits.

Practice manager example responsibilities.

Secure new engagements worldwide, and lead numerous ERP and CRM initiatives.
Manage a great team of 7 consultants that deliver outstanding ERP solutions.
Supervise and manage a staff of 12.5 FTE personnel and 4 FTE physicians.
Accomplish at applying knowledge of veterinary science and compassion for animals to ensure optimal care.
Manage all aspects of establishing, setting and implementing standards and work processes to ensure well running PMO.
Manage the selection process and implementation of the practice's EMR by reviewing and updating the system as needed.

Medical records administrator vs practice manager skills

Common medical records administrator skills

Patients, 28%
Medical Terminology, 12%
HIPAA, 7%
Patient Care, 7%
Patient Charts, 7%
Transcription, 4%

Common practice manager skills

Patients, 17%
Patient Care, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
PET, 5%
Practice Management, 4%
Payroll, 3%

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Medical Records Administrator
Medical Records Administrator vs Practice Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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