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Medical records clerk vs medical records technician

The differences between medical records clerks 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 clerk and a medical records technician. Additionally, a medical records technician has an average salary of $37,087, 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 records technician are patients, medical terminology, and HIPAA.

Medical records clerk vs medical records technician overview

Medical Records ClerkMedical Records Technician
Yearly salary$32,491$37,087
Hourly rate$15.62$17.83
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs129,99867,660
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 29%Associate 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 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 clerk vs medical records technician salary

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

Medical Records ClerkMedical Records Technician
Average salary$32,491$37,087
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $40,000Between $28,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityRochester, NYLong Branch, NJ
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew Jersey
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyGuidehouse
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between medical records clerk and medical records technician education

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

Medical Records ClerkMedical Records Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 29%Associate Degree, 34%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationHealth Care Administration
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Medical records clerk vs medical records technician demographics

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

Medical Records ClerkMedical Records Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 13.1% Female, 86.9%Male, 18.8% Female, 81.2%
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, 9.3% 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 clerk and medical records technician 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 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 clerk vs medical records technician skills

Common medical records clerk skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • HIPAA, 5%
  • Patient Care, 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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