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The differences between records specialists and health information specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a records specialist and a health information specialist. Additionally, a health information specialist has an average salary of $33,343, which is higher than the $33,273 average annual salary of a records specialist.
The top three skills for a records specialist include customer service, data entry and office equipment. The most important skills for a health information specialist are patients, HIPAA, and medical terminology.
| Records Specialist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $33,273 | $33,343 |
| Hourly rate | $16.00 | $16.03 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 28,647 | 135,448 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Records Specialists are administrative professionals who help manage the records of the company. These records may be physical documents or digital copies that are stored in a database. Records Specialists may assist in creating filing systems and knowledge management systems to ensure that the records they keep are easily accessible. They also keep an organized list or database of all the documents that are with them. Records Specialists are in charge of pulling up records upon the request of different departments or individuals. If they are working with physical copies, they ensure that these documents are returned to them. If they are working with digital copies, they ensure that the files they share are kept confidential. Records Specialists may also be in charge of analyzing trends and creating records-related reports.
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.
Records specialists and health information specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Records Specialist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Average salary | $33,273 | $33,343 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $42,000 | Between $25,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Mt. San Antonio College | University of California |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a records specialist and a health information specialist in terms of educational background:
| Records Specialist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Health Care Administration |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between records specialists' and health information specialists' demographics:
| Records Specialist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.8% Female, 70.2% | Male, 15.1% Female, 84.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 8.5% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |