How Long Will It Take to Become a Medical Records Assistant?
Medical records assistants or technicians are clerical professionals specifically trained in the task of retrieving and properly storing medical files. Medical files often contain sensitive information about patients that needs to be safeguarded. Medical records assistants must learn how to properly handle and store these files. The length of time that it takes to become a medical records assistant can vary somewhat, but an associate's degree is typically required, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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General Education
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The associate's degree in health information technology is one common degree that prepares students for careers in medical records. The associate's degree will take about two years to earn at most schools. During the first year of study, students can expect to complete required general education coursework in ares like English composition, speech and communication, physical education, math, the humanities and general science. Required general education coursework can vary somewhat by school and, in some cases, the coursework is distributed evenly over the two-year span rather than concentrated entirely in the first year of study.
Medical Science Courses
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The remaining coursework for medical records technicians usually involves a combination of basic medical science courses blended with clerical coursework. Medical records technicians need to be familiar with basic medical terminology and may take coursework in that area as well as coursework in human anatomy and physiology, and pathology and disease. The amount of required coursework in this area depends largely upon the school.
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Medical Records Coursework
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Courses covering medical records technology compose the remainder of the coursework taken during the two years of study it takes to earn the associate's degree. These courses introduce students to the specifics of medical records technology, coding and filing practices. Typical areas of study will include fields like the structure and content of health data, business communications, the use of computers in health care, health records coding, statistical data in health care and health information management.
Certification
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Obtaining certification following the completion of a degree program is typical for many medical records assistants. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that employers prefer candidates with credentials indicating a certain level of competence or expertise in the field. The American Academy of Professional Coders and the American Health Information Management Association both offer certificates in this field for candidates who can pass an examination. The associate's degree is a prerequisite for certification. Obtaining certification does not add significant time to the process of becoming a medical records significant. Registering for and passing the exam or exams may take only a few months.
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References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
- O*NET Online: Summary Report for ... Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
- Penn State/Pennsylvania College of Technology: Health Information Technology (HI)
- DeVry University: Health Information Technology Degree Program
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