How Much Does a Medical Records Assistant Make?

If you’re considering a career in medical records you might be wondering how much you can expect to earn. Here’s a look at the average salary for Medical records assistants.

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Job Description

A medical records assistant is responsible for organizing and managing medical records. They may work in a hospital, clinic, or private practice setting. Duties of a medical records assistant include ensuring that medical records are complete and accurate, maintaining confidentiality of patient information, and organizing records for easy retrieval. Medical records assistants may also be responsible for billing and coding patient information.

Salary

The median salary for a medical records assistant is $40,000. However, salaries for this position can range from $30,000 to $50,000 per year, depending on experience and location.

Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of medical records assistants will grow by 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. The bureau attributes this projected growth to the expansion of healthcare facilities and the increasing emphasis on the maintenance of accurate medical records.

Education

The education necessary to become a medical records assistant usually depends on the employer. Some businesses prefer to train their own employees, while others seek out workers who have completed a postsecondary certificate or associate’s degree program in Medical coding and transcription, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS noted that most medical transcriptionists learn their trade through on-the-job training, although some have completed postsecondary certificate or associate’s degree programs in medical transcription

Training

To become a medical records assistant, you will need at least a high school diploma. Some employers may prefer you to have completed a medical records program at a vocational school or community college, but this is not always required. Many employers are willing to provide on-the-job training to the right candidate.

Skills

In order to be a medical records assistant, you will need certain skills. These skills will enable you to do your job well and provide good patient care.

Some of the skills you will need to be a medical records assistant include:
-Good organizational skills
-The ability to use medical terminology
-The ability to work well with others
-Good communication skills
-The ability to use computers

Work Schedule

A medical records assistant typically works a regular Monday through Friday office schedule. Some may work evenings or weekends to keep up with demands.

Career Path

After you have completed your training to become a medical records assistant, you will need to decide which path you want to take in your career. You can work in a hospital, a doctor’s office, or a clinic. You can also work for a insurance company or the government. The path you choose will determine how much you will make as a medical records assistant.

If you want to work in a hospital, you will need to have at least an associate’s degree. You can make between $30,000 and $40,000 a year working in a hospital. If you want to work in a doctor’s office, you will need to have at least a certificate. You can make between $24,000 and $32,000 working in a doctor’s office. If you want to work in a clinic, you will need to have at least an associate’s degree. You can make between $28,000 and $38,000 working in a clinic. If you want to work for an insurance company, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree. You can make between $40,000 and $50,000 working for an insurance company

Job Growth

The medical records field is expected to grow by 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. The aging baby-boomer population and the resulting increase in the number of medical procedures will spur demand for healthcare services in general and therefore for medical records assistants. However, the increasing use of electronic health records (EHRs) will temper this demand to some extent, because EHRs require less staff time to maintain than paper records.

Job Opportunities

As a medical records assistant, you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, and insurance companies. You may also be self-employed. Some medical records assistants work part time, and some work full time.