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Medical records manager vs medical records technician

The differences between medical records managers 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 manager and a medical records technician. Additionally, a medical records manager has an average salary of $75,232, which is higher than the $37,087 average annual salary of a medical records technician.

The top three skills for a medical records manager include patients, HIPAA and patient care. The most important skills for a medical records technician are patients, medical terminology, and HIPAA.

Medical records manager vs medical records technician overview

Medical Records ManagerMedical Records Technician
Yearly salary$75,232$37,087
Hourly rate$36.17$17.83
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs54,99767,660
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Associate Degree, 34%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

What does a medical records manager do?

The main job of a medical records manager is to secure and maintain electronic and written data within a medical records department. Medical records managers retrieve patient records for medical personnel and physicians. They supervise the department's employees. It is their responsibility to document a patient's health information, which may include symptoms, histories, and exam results. They ensure that the confidentiality of patients will follow the proper record-keeping practices. Also, they manage electronic health records and computer software.

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 manager vs medical records technician salary

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

Medical Records ManagerMedical Records Technician
Average salary$75,232$37,087
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $111,000Between $28,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityOakland, CALong Branch, NJ
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companyAmazonGuidehouse
Best paying industryTechnologyGovernment

Differences between medical records manager and medical records technician education

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

Medical Records ManagerMedical Records Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Associate Degree, 34%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationHealth Care Administration
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Medical records manager vs medical records technician demographics

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

Medical Records ManagerMedical Records Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 21.1% Female, 78.9%Male, 18.8% Female, 81.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 8.1% 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 manager and medical records technician duties and responsibilities

Medical records manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage 2nd/ 3rd and weekend shift supervisors and staff and develop unit (s) QA activities.
  • Achieve this goal by providing clear policies/justification for initiatives which impact designated FTE's.
  • Prepare documents for FOIA requests.
  • Assign ICD-9 and CPT medical codes.
  • Have knowledge of the latest CPT coding.
  • Ensure compliance with medical/legal requirements, JCAHO standards.
  • 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 manager vs medical records technician skills

Common medical records manager skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • HIPAA, 10%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • EHR, 4%
  • Hippa, 4%
  • Medical Terminology, 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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