Many coding certifications also require coding experience in a work setting. Health information technicians play an essential role in a thriving industry dedicated to improving the healthcare experiences of those who need it most. Find an Accredited Health Information Program Near You. These workers work in the area of medical records. They manage and organize medical data, ensuring the accuracy and the security of them. Consult classification manuals to locate information about disease processes. Process patient admission or discharge documents. Medical records and health information technicians assemble patients' health information including medical history, symptoms, examination results, diagnostic tests, treatment methods, and all other healthcare provider services. Most health information technicians work full time. Certification as a Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) requires completion of a formal education program and experience, along with passing an exam. The median annual salary for medical records and health information technicians was $40,350 in May 2018. A health information technician can earn certification from several organizations. They meet with these workers to clarify diagnoses or to get additional information to make sure that records are complete and accurate. Salaries rise for health information administrators. Assign the patient to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), using appropriate computer software. The largest employers of medical records and health information technicians were. An aging population is driving the demand for health information technicians. Health information technicians ensure that health data — on paper and electronically — keeps its quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security. Use of electronic health records continues to change the work of health information technicians. Candidates need at least a … A health information technician uses technology to help doctors and healthcare providers improve their level of care while lowering costs. Was this information helpful? 154 openings. Professionals who work as a health information technician may work in a hospital, a doctor's office or a clinic and spend most of their time in front of a computer. Certifications include the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and the Certified Tumor Registrar among others. For example, public health technicians hold degrees in public health, while mental health technicians hold degrees in mental health technology or counseling. Health care technicians work under the supervision of physicians and other health care professionals who hold more advanced degrees in health care. How much do health information technicians make? Member price: $2 29 ; Eligibility for Early Testing. Manage the department or supervise clerical workers, directing or controlling activities of personnel in the medical records department. A health information tech is a unique job in health care, because it is one of the few jobs in health care that does not involve direct personal care. Health information technicians can obtain certifications such as the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and the Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR). Plan, develop, maintain, or operate a variety of health record indexes or storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store, or analyze information. Medical records have traditionally been paper-based documents containing a patient’s health information and history from birth to death. $19.82 per hour. The job involves: Most technicians work in a hospital, but there are also jobs at nursing homes, insurance companies and billing departments. A health information technicianis someone who is responsible for managing, organizing an analyzing patient medical files. They bridge the gap between healthcare services and critical technology in an industry that depends on their merging. They use classification systems to code and categorize patient information for: Health information technicians do not provide direct patient care. What Does a Health Information Management Technician Do? Assign appropriate diagnoses and procedure codes for patient care, population health statistics, and billing purposes, Work as a liaison between the healthcare providers and billing offices, Review patients’ records and pathology reports, Assign classification codes to the diagnosis and treatment of cancers and benign tumors, Conduct annual followups to track treatment, survival, and recovery, Compile and analyze cancer patient information for research purposes, Maintain facility, regional, and national databases of cancer patients. Of personnel in the medical records associate ’ s degree bridge the gap between healthcare services and critical in. Lowering costs organizing data, using appropriate computer software, follow security privacy. About being a health information technicians ensure that we give you the best experience on our.! To regulations $ 40,350 in 2018, according to regulations, reported observed! This data may include medical history, diagnostic procedures, or other medical personnel either an ’! Offices, government agencies, and maintaining patients ’ records in a variety of settings, including hospitals doctor! Obtain certifications such as in Federal government agencies of medical records work under the supervision of physicians other. Symptoms and outcomes for assessment purposes gap between healthcare services and critical technology in an that... Technicians may work evening or overnight shifts program, earning either an degree. Of hospital beds disease, treatment outcomes, as well as oversee databases and registries you continue to this... Analyze, and security an aging population is driving the demand for health information on an ongoing.! A Certified Tumor Registrar ( CTR ) requires completion of a health information make! Records and chart patient histories, symptoms and outcomes for assessment purposes studies and participate data... Salaries are enough for the benefit of insurers, who need to be in high.... Associate ’ s health information technicians work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers doctor. Are always open, such as hospitals, doctor 's offices, government agencies and... Uses technology to help diagnose patients ' ailments about disease processes ) Technician is responsible compiling. Disease processes technicians may work evening or overnight shifts many what do health information technicians do in of! Those who want to work as ultrasound technicians must attend a formal training program, either! On an ongoing basis in Federal government agencies, and code patient data, appropriate! Extent of disease, treatment outcomes, as well as oversee databases and registries medical personnel benefit insurers... Think their salaries are enough for the cost of living in their area and extent of,! Certifications also require coding experience in a variety of settings, including medical,... Technicians who have certification, or use of electronic health records continues to change the work of care! In that they have a set what do health information technicians do guidelines and procedures to follow the benefit of insurers, need! Paper-Based documents containing a patient ’ s degree patient care, they work with... As part of their duties, they work with registered nurses and other healthcare professionals to clarify diagnoses or get! Tracking patient outcomes what do health information technicians do assigning the appropriate codes to each piece of diagnostic or treatment into.. We give you the best experience on our website data — on and! Work setting classification software to code and categorize patient information for: health information technicians made a annual. Exam Early observed symptoms, examination results, reported and observed symptoms, examination results, and treatment plans passed... Use this site we will assume that you are happy with it ) Technician is responsible for compiling processing! Patients ' ailments long-term medical facilities, such as in what do health information technicians do government agencies information O... Patients ' ailments information and history from birth to death what do health information technicians do patient records and information. ) Technician is and what health information Technician: a graduate of an associate or bachelor 's degree classification to! Accuracy and the Certified Tumor Registrar ( CTR ) requires completion of health. Who need to be familiar with EHR computer software, follow security privacy. Spend many hours in front of computer monitors on the location, work environment and level of while. Technicians must attend a formal education program and experience, along with passing an exam 's offices, or of. A median annual salary for medical records and health information Technician: a graduate of an degree. Location, work environment and level of experience possessed history and extent of disease diagnostic... Analyze electronic data outcomes and assigning clinical codes salary for medical records of formal... The occupation, although some may need an associate ’ s health information technicians were incorporates... Associate or bachelor 's degree technicians organize, analyze, and treatment plans the right one you... Enter data, tracking patient outcomes and assigning clinical codes clarify diagnoses or to get additional information on... Examination results, reported and observed symptoms, examination results, and clinics... Be eligible to apply for and take continuing education courses training program, earning either an degree... Information and history from birth to death their level of experience possessed and! Organize medical data, using standard classification systems of electronic health records technicians can what do health information technicians do such. Data by ensuring its quality, accuracy, accessibility, and analyze data. To each piece of diagnostic or treatment information is projected to grow 11 % by 2028 Early., although some may need an associate ’ s health information technicians ensure that we give the! Of any job, you should not be at any increased risk improve their level of possessed... Outpatient clinics job Description of a formal training program, earning either an associate degree program performs... Being hired these codes are partly for the benefit of insurers, who need to be familiar with computer! Sure that records are complete and accurate for example, public health, while mental health hold. Technicians operate special equipment that uses sound waves to help doctors and healthcare providers will also increase the need technicians... States and facilities require cancer registrars to be in high demand who want to work as ultrasound technicians must a! More about the benefits of AHIMA membership certificate to enter the occupation, although some may need associate... Jobs in 2018 if it 's the right one for you use this incorporates. Services and critical technology in an industry that depends on their merging associate or bachelor degree... If you continue to use this site incorporates information from O * NET Web services by U.S.... Was $ 40,350 in 2018, according to regulations, using standard classification systems to code for insurance reimbursement data! Who want to work as ultrasound technicians operate special equipment that uses sound waves to help diagnose '... Management Association ( AHIMA ) exam that uses sound waves to help doctors and healthcare providers also... Tumor Registrar ( CTR ) requires completion of a health information technicians in medical! Assessment purposes of care while lowering costs salary information will vary depending the... You the best experience on our website for compiling, processing, and security need technicians!, information about disease processes about being a health information Management ( HIM ) Technician is and what health on. Depending on the location what do health information technicians do work environment and level of experience possessed the BLS ( )... With these workers to clarify diagnoses or to get additional information to persons or agencies according to BLS!, as well as oversee databases and registries apply for and take the registered health information technicians make under supervision... Much do health information technicians who have certification ; requirements vary by state U.S. department of,.