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Medical records analyst vs medical records technician

The differences between medical records analysts 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 medical records analyst and a medical records technician. Additionally, a medical records analyst has an average salary of $73,609, which is higher than the $37,087 average annual salary of a medical records technician.

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

Medical records analyst vs medical records technician overview

Medical Records AnalystMedical Records Technician
Yearly salary$73,609$37,087
Hourly rate$35.39$17.83
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs61,14567,660
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Associate Degree, 34%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

What does a medical records analyst do?

A medical records analyst oversees healthcare records and data within an organization. Their job duties include creating reports and using records to determine how to better streamline processes. They also need to compile, calculate, audit, verify and organize information. They review the records to ensure they are accurate, interpret billing and payment information, and generate reports to be used by the management for review. The main qualification for this position is a degree in health information management.

What does a medical records technician do?

A medical records technician is responsible for performing administrative duties, handling patients' medical records for medical purposes. Medical records technicians keep an organized database of patients' information, including medical history, diagnosis, healthcare treatments, laboratory schedules, and insurance details using specific healthcare coding procedures. Medical records technicians must be detail-oriented and highly organizational, especially on maintaining the accuracy and confidentiality of patients' information. This job is critical in the healthcare industry for the doctors' reference and determining treatment costs.

Medical records analyst vs medical records technician salary

Medical records analysts and medical records technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Records AnalystMedical Records Technician
Average salary$73,609$37,087
Salary rangeBetween $53,000 And $101,000Between $28,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityManchester, CTLong Branch, NJ
Highest paying stateConnecticutNew Jersey
Best paying companyMayo ClinicGuidehouse
Best paying industryFinanceGovernment

Differences between medical records analyst and medical records technician education

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

Medical Records AnalystMedical Records Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Associate Degree, 34%
Most common majorBusinessHealth Care Administration
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Medical records analyst vs medical records technician demographics

Here are the differences between medical records analysts' and medical records technicians' demographics:

Medical Records AnalystMedical Records Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 19.8% Female, 80.2%Male, 18.8% Female, 81.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 8.8% White, 58.6% 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 medical records analyst and medical records technician duties and responsibilities

Medical records analyst example responsibilities.

  • Implement policies and procedures to achieve optimum DRG reimbursement.
  • Manage and transfer health records as requested following HIPAA regulations and internal procedures.
  • Attend state and local AHIMA, Medicare, CPT-4 and ICD-9 meetings/seminars.
  • Support user on ICU units.
  • Write appeals for claim denials.
  • Head up the ICD-10-CM preparation project.
  • 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

Medical records analyst vs medical records technician skills

Common medical records analyst skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Medical Terminology, 8%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • HIPAA, 5%
  • CPT, 4%
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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