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Medical records analyst vs records specialist

The differences between medical records analysts and records specialists 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 records specialist. Additionally, a medical records analyst has an average salary of $73,609, which is higher than the $33,273 average annual salary of a records specialist.

The top three skills for a medical records analyst include patients, patient care and medical terminology. The most important skills for a records specialist are customer service, data entry, and office equipment.

Medical records analyst vs records specialist overview

Medical Records AnalystRecords Specialist
Yearly salary$73,609$33,273
Hourly rate$35.39$16.00
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs61,14528,647
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
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 records specialist do?

Records Specialists are administrative professionals who help manage the records of the company. These records may be physical documents or digital copies that are stored in a database. Records Specialists may assist in creating filing systems and knowledge management systems to ensure that the records they keep are easily accessible. They also keep an organized list or database of all the documents that are with them. Records Specialists are in charge of pulling up records upon the request of different departments or individuals. If they are working with physical copies, they ensure that these documents are returned to them. If they are working with digital copies, they ensure that the files they share are kept confidential. Records Specialists may also be in charge of analyzing trends and creating records-related reports.

Medical records analyst vs records specialist salary

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

Medical Records AnalystRecords Specialist
Average salary$73,609$33,273
Salary rangeBetween $53,000 And $101,000Between $26,000 And $42,000
Highest paying CityManchester, CTSan Mateo, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutOregon
Best paying companyMayo ClinicMt. San Antonio College
Best paying industryFinanceGovernment

Differences between medical records analyst and records specialist education

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

Medical Records AnalystRecords Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaStanford University

Medical records analyst vs records specialist demographics

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

Medical Records AnalystRecords Specialist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 19.8% Female, 80.2%Male, 29.8% Female, 70.2%
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, 8.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 8.5% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between medical records analyst and records specialist 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

Records specialist example responsibilities.

  • Develop numerous SQL scripts/queries for monitoring and managing the system.
  • Manage thousands of cases for several firms with deadlines for depositions while ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and HIPAA compliance.
  • Train and mentore employees in EDMS.
  • Process project records for retention in EDMS.
  • Represent DOJ at an ODNI language training conference.
  • Liaise with GIS group to resolve mapping issues.
  • Show more

Medical records analyst vs records specialist skills

Common medical records analyst skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Medical Terminology, 8%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • HIPAA, 5%
  • CPT, 4%
Common records specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 25%
  • Data Entry, 14%
  • Office Equipment, 5%
  • Word Processing, 5%
  • Database Systems, 5%
  • Management System, 5%

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