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Medical records clerk vs medical record assistant

The differences between medical records clerks and medical record assistants 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 clerk and a medical record assistant. Additionally, a medical record assistant has an average salary of $34,870, which is higher than the $32,491 average annual salary of a medical records clerk.

The top three skills for a medical records clerk include patients, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a medical record assistant are patients, data entry, and HIPAA.

Medical records clerk vs medical record assistant overview

Medical Records ClerkMedical Record Assistant
Yearly salary$32,491$34,870
Hourly rate$15.62$16.76
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs129,99891,238
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 29%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

What does a medical records clerk do?

Medical records clerks are employees in hospitals or clinics who manage office records. They are in charge of creating, updating, and filing patient-related medical records and other related documents. They ensure that all documents are correctly filled out and labeled before storing them safely in their respective storage areas. They may also be in charge of digitizing forms for easier access to files and back up purposes. They ensure that medical records are exact and updated. Medical records clerks should be organized and must always be on top of all tasks related to patient or medical records.

What does a medical record assistant do?

A medical record assistant is responsible for the proper documentation of the patients' information and medical records for reference to the attending physician or other medical professionals. Medical record assistants also track the patient's medical treatments and progress, as well as their health insurance details and coverage. They also respond to the patient's inquiries and concerns, including scheduling physician's appointments and updating the patients for any released medical results. A medical record assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, categorizing documents, and retrieving files for medical needs.

Medical records clerk vs medical record assistant salary

Medical records clerks and medical record assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Records ClerkMedical Record Assistant
Average salary$32,491$34,870
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $40,000Between $28,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityRochester, NYNapa, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyNelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between medical records clerk and medical record assistant education

There are a few differences between a medical records clerk and a medical record assistant in terms of educational background:

Medical Records ClerkMedical Record Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 29%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Medical records clerk vs medical record assistant demographics

Here are the differences between medical records clerks' and medical record assistants' demographics:

Medical Records ClerkMedical Record Assistant
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 13.1% Female, 86.9%Male, 17.3% Female, 82.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 7.8% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 8.5% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between medical records clerk and medical record assistant duties and responsibilities

Medical records clerk example responsibilities.

  • Manage transition from in-house transcription system to outsource transcription service.
  • Manage front office check-in, insurance verification and certifications from doctors.
  • Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
  • Perform infant labs and update the system with results, triage incoming patients, perform necessary resuscitation to baby and mom.
  • Provide information to medical facilities and patients when necessary and respond to subpoenas and other general release of patient information.
  • Experience in CPT and ICD-10 coding.
  • Show more

Medical record assistant example responsibilities.

  • Lead special department-wide task force initiative to minimize abuse of Oxycontin prescriptions bill to Medicaid.
  • Manage and organize all paperwork concerning caregivers and patients; organize filing system; ensure operation of electronic filing systems.
  • Work with EHR, provide medical records to patients and specialty centers.
  • Guide department through transition from paper charts to EHR system scan all patient records into database.
  • Scan documents into electronic medical records system and certify HIPAA compliance
  • Implement HIPAA guidelines in keeping patient information secure and confidential.
  • Show more

Medical records clerk vs medical record assistant skills

Common medical records clerk skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • HIPAA, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%
Common medical record assistant skills
  • Patients, 37%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • HIPAA, 6%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
  • Medical Terminology, 3%

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