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What does a medical records analyst do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read

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.

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Medical records analyst responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real medical records analyst resumes:

  • 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.
  • Assign HCC codes within spreadsheets from assessments.
  • Assist ICU nurses with the overall charting on patients.
  • Coordinate all ICD-10 readiness activities require to complete project goals.
  • Instruct in PowerChart, FirstNet, PowerPlans PowerNotes, SurgiNet.
  • Conduct retrospective audits to capture past year expiring HCC codes.
  • Audit and train physicians relate to E/M documentation for compliance purposes.
  • Answer billing office requests and/or appeals to expedite resolution of coding errors.
  • Document the quality case reviews and the blood and tissue reviews for JCAHO.
  • Abstract clinical information from outpatient charts and assign appropriate ICD-9 and CPT-4 codes.

Medical records analyst skills and personality traits

We calculated that 24% of Medical Records Analysts are proficient in Patients, Patient Care, and Medical Terminology. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Detail oriented, and Integrity.

We break down the percentage of Medical Records Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 24%

    Assisted patients in understanding specific regulations as these pertained to patient access, confidentiality and obtaining of information.

  • Patient Care, 8%

    Worked with Providers and Patient Care Manager to resolve issues regarding chart deficiencies and compliance with documentation requirements.

  • Medical Terminology, 8%

    Review and interpret medical terminology for accurate.

  • Data Entry, 7%

    Work in tandem with 12 other people and in charge of supervising overall accuracy of the electronic entries /Data entry.

  • HIPAA, 5%

    Managed and transferred health records as requested following HIPAA regulations and internal procedures.

  • CPT, 4%

    Assign appropriate medical codes to all diagnosis and services on records by following prescribed coding standards such as ICD-9 and CPT.

Common skills that a medical records analyst uses to do their job include "patients," "patient care," and "medical terminology." You can find details on the most important medical records analyst responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a medical records analyst to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "health information technicians must understand and follow medical records and diagnoses, and then decide how best to code them in a patient’s medical records." Medical records analysts often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provided administrative support, including data entry for the director of medical records and staff, handled sensitive and confidential information. "

Detail oriented. Many medical records analyst duties rely on detail oriented. "health information technicians must be accurate when recording and coding patient information.," so a medical records analyst will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways medical records analyst responsibilities rely on detail oriented: "demonstrated listening and clarification skills, data entry skills, and attention for detail to deal with a high-volume workload. "

Integrity. medical records analysts are also known for integrity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to medical records analyst responsibilities, because "health information technicians work with patient data that are required, by law, to be kept confidential." A medical records analyst resume example shows how integrity is used in the workplace: "ensured data integrity and patient identifiers were consistent between computer systems that comprised the patient health record. "

Interpersonal skills. medical records analyst responsibilities often require "interpersonal skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "health information technicians need to be able to discuss patient information, discrepancies, and data requirements with other professionals such as physicians and finance personnel." This resume example shows what medical records analysts do with interpersonal skills on a typical day: "detail-oriented strong customer service and interpersonal skills. "

Technical skills. Another crucial skill for a medical records analyst to carry out their responsibilities is "technical skills." A big part of what medical records analysts relies on this skill, since "health information technicians must use coding and classification software and the electronic health record (ehr) system that their healthcare organization or physician practice has adopted." How this skill relates to medical records analyst duties can be seen in an example from a medical records analyst resume snippet: "translated clinical documentation needs and requirements into technical documentation for internal is and vendor selection functionality list. "

See the full list of medical records analyst skills

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Compare different medical records analysts

Medical records analyst vs. Health information technician

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.

If we compare the average medical records analyst annual salary with that of a health information technician, we find that health information technicians typically earn a $39,005 lower salary than medical records analysts make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between medical records analysts and health information technicians are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like patients, patient care, and medical terminology.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a medical records analyst are more likely to require skills like "ehr," "medical history," "sql," and "clinical documentation." On the other hand, a job as a health information technician requires skills like "customer service," "office equipment," "transcription," and "rehabilitation." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Health information technicians tend to make the most money working in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $35,705. In contrast, medical records analysts make the biggest average salary, $97,004, in the finance industry.On average, health information technicians reach similar levels of education than medical records analysts. Health information technicians are 3.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Medical records analyst vs. Information management specialist

An information management specialist is responsible for maintaining the security benchmark of all databases across the organization to support business functions and client requirements. Information management specialists sort and file data on the network systems and pull up reports from the storage database. They also analyze project management plans and utilize data tools to identify solutions and collect critical information. An information management specialist handles data management system troubleshooting and provide resolution reports to avoid downtime reoccurrence.

Information management specialist positions earn lower pay than medical records analyst roles. They earn a $19,094 lower salary than medical records analysts per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Medical records analysts and information management specialists both require similar skills like "patients," "patient care," and "medical terminology" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that medical records analyst responsibilities requires skills like "ehr," "emergency room," "medical history," and "sql." But an information management specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "cycle management," "phone calls," and "windows."

Information management specialists may earn a lower salary than medical records analysts, but information management specialists earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $66,785. On the other hand, medical records analysts receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $97,004.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Information management specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than medical records analysts. In fact, they're 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Medical records analyst vs. Release of information specialist

A release of information specialist is primarily in charge of retrieving and releasing data to qualified recipients while adhering to the guidelines and confidentiality protocols that aim to protect sensitive information. Although the extent of their responsibilities usually depends on their industry or company of employment, it usually includes maintaining records of procedures and transactions, preparing and processing documents, organizing files, producing progress reports to managers, and keeping an eye out for any inconsistencies, resolving them promptly and efficiently.

On average scale, releases of information specialist bring in lower salaries than medical records analysts. In fact, they earn a $27,718 lower salary per year.By looking over several medical records analysts and releases of information specialist resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "patients," "patient care," and "medical terminology." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, medical records analysts are more likely to have skills like "cpt," "emergency room," "medical history," and "jcaho." But a release of information specialist is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "phone calls," "quality checks," and "federal regulations."

Releases of information specialist earn the best pay in the insurance industry, where they command an average salary of $51,336. Medical records analysts earn the highest pay from the finance industry, with an average salary of $97,004.When it comes to education, releases of information specialist tend to earn similar degree levels compared to medical records analysts. In fact, they're 4.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Medical records analyst vs. Health care administrator

A health care administrator is primarily in charge of overseeing the daily administrative operations of medical and health care facilities. They are responsible for setting objectives, establishing guidelines and employee schedules, maintaining accurate records, gathering and analyzing data, developing strategies to optimize operations, and coordinating with nurses, physicians, patients, and other health care experts. Moreover, as a health care administrator, it is essential to address and resolve issues and concerns, implement the facility's policies and regulations, and ensure that procedures comply with health care laws and standards.

Health care administrators average a lower salary than the annual salary of medical records analysts. The difference is about $5,422 per year.While their salaries may vary, medical records analysts and health care administrators both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "patients," "patient care," and "hipaa. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A medical records analyst uses "medical terminology," "data entry," "cpt," and "ehr." Health care administrators are more likely to have duties that require skills in "health care services," "home health," "mental health," and "vital signs. "The professional industry tends to pay the highest salaries for health care administrators, with average annual pay of $71,258. Comparatively, the highest medical records analyst annual salary comes from the finance industry.The average resume of health care administrators showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to medical records analysts. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.4%.

Types of medical records analyst

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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