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What does a medical records clerk do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
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.

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Medical records clerk responsibilities

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

  • 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.
  • Have a working knowledge of ICD-9-CM, CPT-4 and HCPCS coding.
  • Help student with reading and math.
  • Receive medical EOB's and investigate denials.
  • Post private money and insurance EOB's.
  • Supply correct HCPCS code on all procedures and services perform.
  • Train newly hire front end workers to use EMR and schedule appointment.
  • Sign out charts in MEDITECH computerize chart locator and sign in return charts.
  • Perform EKG and ICG, monitors blood flow through the arteries, machines.
  • Handle office heavy call volume from hospitals, attorneys, and MRI facilities.

Medical records clerk skills and personality traits

We calculated that 27% of Medical Records Clerks are proficient in Patients, Customer Service, and Data Entry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Integrity, and Technical skills.

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

  • Patients, 27%

    Verified medical entitlements, coordinated benefits with medical providers, private hospital and other Veterans Administrations for patients transfers.

  • Customer Service, 9%

    Processed medical records request in efficient manner ensuring accuracy and provided customer with the highest quality product and customer service.

  • Data Entry, 7%

    Performed data entry, digital scanning and tracking of records ensuring confidentiality and proper storage/destruction of files were maintained.

  • Medical Terminology, 6%

    Required contact with various doctors and their offices to find requested information, also required familiarity with transcription and medical terminology.

  • HIPAA, 5%

    Maintained patient confidence and protected hospital operations by keeping information confidential; following release-of-information or HIPAA protocols.

  • Patient Care, 4%

    Conducted patient care evaluation studies and prepared cancer-related statistical reports as requested by the Cancer Committee or hospital administration.

Most medical records clerks use their skills in "patients," "customer service," and "data entry" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential medical records clerk responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a medical records clerk to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what medical records clerks do because "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." Additionally, a medical records clerk resume shows how medical records clerks use analytical skills: "served as a receptionist and medical records clerk filing, data entry, scheduling appointments, taking incoming calls and messages. "

Integrity. Another essential skill to perform medical records clerk duties is integrity. Medical records clerks responsibilities require that "health information technicians work with patient data that are required, by law, to be kept confidential." Medical records clerks also use integrity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "evaluated & corrected duplicate medical record numbers for patient data integrity and continuity of patient care. "

Technical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of medical records clerks is technical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday medical records clerk duties, as "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." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "maintained the technical process of international classification of disease icd-9 cm & cpt coding and diagnosis retaliated group (drg). "

Detail oriented. For certain medical records clerk responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "detail oriented." The day-to-day duties of a medical records clerk rely on this skill, as "health information technicians must be accurate when recording and coding patient information." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what medical records clerks do: "maintained updated patients records documented patient details including the treatments and personal facts while scheduling appointments. "

Interpersonal skills. Another crucial skill for a medical records clerk to carry out their responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." A big part of what medical records clerks relies on this skill, since "health information technicians need to be able to discuss patient information, discrepancies, and data requirements with other professionals such as physicians and finance personnel." How this skill relates to medical records clerk duties can be seen in an example from a medical records clerk resume snippet: "demonstrated exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills by helping funeral directors and families with retrieving signed death certificates immediately. "

All medical records clerk skills

The three companies that hire the most medical records clerks are:

  • Ciox Health104 medical records clerks jobs
  • ShopRite Supermarkets Inc.
  • Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego

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Compare different medical records clerks

Medical records clerk 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.

We looked at the average medical records clerk salary and compared it with the wages of a health information technician. Generally speaking, health information technicians are paid $2,113 higher than medical records clerks per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between medical records clerks 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, customer service, and data entry.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a medical records clerk are more likely to require skills like "basic math," "math," "english language," and "scheduling appointments." On the other hand, a job as a health information technician requires skills like "transcription," "rehabilitation," "chart completion," and "statistical reports." 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 clerks make the biggest average salary, $32,510, in the health care industry.health information technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than medical records clerks. In fact, health information technicians are 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Medical records clerk vs. Health information specialist

A health information specialist is in charge of overseeing and developing strategies to optimize information management procedures in hospitals, physicians' offices, and other similar environments. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering and updating medical records, receiving and organizing files, and updating databases according to the appropriate coding systems and procedures. Furthermore, as a health information specialist, it is essential to coordinate with nurses and other staff to ensure accuracy in documentation, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

A career as a health information specialist brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a medical records clerk. In fact, health information specialists salary is $852 higher than the salary of medical records clerks per year.A few skills overlap for medical records clerks and health information specialists. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "patients," "data entry," and "medical terminology. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real medical records clerk resumes. While medical records clerk responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer service," "basic math," "math," and "english language," health information specialists use skills like "excellent organizational," "cycle management," "cerner," and "home health."

Health information specialists may earn a higher salary than medical records clerks, but health information specialists earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $33,177. On the other hand, medical records clerks receive higher pay in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,510.In general, health information specialists achieve similar levels of education than medical records clerks. They're 2.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Medical records clerk vs. Clerk

Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies. Clerks should have good office skills, communication skills, business writing skills, and time management skills. They should also be able to treat any document or paperwork they handle with confidentiality.

On average, clerks earn lower salaries than medical records clerks, with a $1,328 difference per year.By looking over several medical records clerks and clerks resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer service," "data entry," and "basic math." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from medical records clerk resumes include skills like "patients," "medical terminology," "hipaa," and "patient care," whereas a clerk is more likely to list skills in "cleanliness," "pos," "customer satisfaction," and "sales floor. "

Clerks earn the best pay in the health care industry, where they command an average salary of $31,380. Medical records clerks earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $32,510.When it comes to education, clerks tend to earn similar degree levels compared to medical records clerks. In fact, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Medical records clerk vs. Admitting clerk

The job of an admitting clerk is to register and admit patients to a hospital. Admitting clerks interview patients in getting the necessary financial and medical information for the admission. They verify the insurance of patients and make sure that their registration forms are accurately signed. Usually, they work on the medical profession and hospital front lines. They welcome and face customers and need to understand medicine. Also, they are expected to manage doctors, nurses, patients, and hospital policies.

Admitting clerks typically earn lower pay than medical records clerks. On average, admitting clerks earn a $658 lower salary per year.While both medical records clerks and admitting clerks complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like patients, customer service, and data entry, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between medical records clerks and admitting clerks, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a medical records clerk might have more use for skills like "basic math," "math," "english language," and "scheduling appointments." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of admitting clerks require skills like "phone calls," "patient registration," "surgery," and "insurance cards. "

Admitting clerks reach similar levels of education compared to medical records clerks, in general. The difference is that they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of medical records clerk

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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