OVERVIEW
What is a Medical Records Manager?
Medical records managers are essential healthcare leaders who safeguard patient medical information and coordinate secure data flow between clinical and administrative staff. They supervise health information teams, enforce compliance with government and industry regulations, and guide daily operations for hospitals, clinics, medical centers, and other healthcare facilities. The medical records manager job is typically a mid-career position that requires prior experience in healthcare information. To succeed in this role, individuals need exceptional leadership skills, the capacity to manage vast data sets, and sharp attention to detail.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Medical Records Manager Do?
Medical records managers handle a diverse set of responsibilities that are primarily focused on overseeing team members and managing patient medical records. On an average day, a medical records manager may perform the following tasks:
- Maintaining accurate, up-to-date patient records as medical information is added or modified over time.
- Supervising staff who access electronic health records (EHRs) and ensuring that they follow all patient privacy and data security protocols.
- Managing and maintaining the patient records database in a way that enhances accessibility and supports continuity of care for patients.
- Handling requests for patient records from third-party organizations such as insurance companies.
- Communicating with providers and administrators about documentation procedures, access permissions, compliance matters, and other issues involving patient records.
- Regularly auditing medical records to confirm that they’re correct, up to date, and can be easily retrieved by providers.
- Keeping medical records secure through encryption technologies, password protection, and other technical safeguards.
- Ensuring that patient records are quickly revised to reflect new diagnoses, treatment plans, or test results.
- Developing patient information policies that determine how data is collected, stored, and accessed across the healthcare organization.
- Collaborating with IT departments to troubleshoot issues with EHRs and databases.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Medical Records Manager?
If you’re interested in becoming a medical records manager, you’ll need a combination of formal education and healthcare industry experience. Most medical records managers have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant healthcare field, such as health information management or healthcare administration. These degrees can equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully manage health data. You’ll learn about essential topics such as healthcare laws and regulations, medical coding, healthcare ethics, data analysis, and health information technology. You’ll also have valuable opportunities to strengthen your skills in leadership, team management, resource allocation, and strategic planning.
If you want to enhance your résumé even further, you can earn one or more relevant professional certifications, such as the Registered Health Information Administrator or Certified Coding Specialist certification. Some medical records managers are required to complete continuing education to stay current with industry developments and changing government regulations.
Career Path and Entry Points
Before pursuing a career as a medical records manager or medical records supervisor, most professionals first acquire foundational knowledge and experience in roles such as medical records technician, health informatics specialist, or medical coder. These types of jobs provide hands-on experience managing patient medical records, navigating billing and insurance matters, and complying with legal regulations.
To advance to a management position, an individual usually needs three to five years of relevant experience as well as proven skills in people management, leadership, and strategic oversight. While external hiring does occur, many healthcare organizations promote from within, giving leadership opportunities to individuals who've already demonstrated these abilities in other roles. Many professionals in the medical records management field focus on certain specialties such as data protection, medical billing, or health data analytics. Each of these specialties requires a specific skill set as well as in-depth knowledge in the respective area.
Best Degrees for a Medical Records Manager
Health & Nursing
Health Information Management – B.S.
A program designed for future leaders in HIM....
A program designed for future leaders in HIM.
- Time: 61% of grads earned this degree in 36 months or less.
- Tuition: $4,210 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Medical Terminology
- Healthcare System Applications
- Health Information Law and Regulations
- Healthcare Project Management
- Data Analytics and Information Governance
This CAHIIM-accredited program makes you eligible for the RHIA exam.
Business
Healthcare Administration – B.S.
You can become a healthcare industry leader:...
You can become a healthcare industry leader:
Compare with B.S. Health Information Management
- Time: 63% of graduates finish within 17 months
- Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Management
- Communication
- Team Leadership
- Operations
- Scheduling
- Strategic Planning
The online courses in this career-focused business degree program will prepare you with management-level skills and an up-to-date understanding of our healthcare delivery system.
The best degree for a Medical Records Manager is a bachelor of science in health information management. In fact, 92% of students who enroll in our program pass with their full accreditations and are ready to enter the healthcare workforce immediately, with the majority finishing their program in just 36 months.
How Much Does a Medical Records Manager Make?
$117,960
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for medical and health services managers is $117,960 a year. The bottom 10% of earners make less than $70,000, while the top 10% earn more than $200,000 annually. Statistics show that medical records manager salaries vary based on the employer and type of facility, with government positions offering the highest pay, followed by hospitals, outpatient care centers, physician offices, and, finally, nursing homes.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
29%
The job outlook for medical and health services managers is highly favorable. As healthcare organizations strive to optimize health information management and adapt to shifting regulations, there is an increased demand for professionals who can ensure the accuracy, security, and accessibility of patient data. According to the BLS, the employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow by 29% from 2023 to 2033. BLS data indicates that there will be approximately 61,400 openings in the field each year throughout this 10-year period.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Medical Records Manager Need?
Medical records managers need a robust skill set encompassing technical abilities as well as soft skills, including:
- Leadership: Since the job involves overseeing staff and coordinating team efforts, managers must be adept at directing, guiding, and inspiring others.
- Data literacy: To succeed in this role, an individual must be able to manage, organize, and interpret large, complex data sets.
- Technological proficiency: Managers use medical coding software, health information exchange platforms, electronic health records, and a variety of other digital tools throughout the course of their workday.
- Interpersonal communication: Because the role requires detailed reporting and frequent collaboration with clinical and administrative staff, professionals in this field need strong written and verbal communication skills.
- EHR expertise: Medical records managers help configure and optimize EHR systems to enhance data collection and retrieval.
- Familiarity with medical terminology: While they don’t provide direct patient care, records managers need a solid understanding of medical and insurance-related terminology to maintain the integrity of patient information.
- Time management: Professionals in this field must prioritize tasks and expertly manage limited resources to ensure that critical recordkeeping functions are completed accurately and on time.
- Regulatory knowledge: Due to the sensitive nature of the data they manage, medical records managers must adhere to strict confidentiality rules and comply with all legal regulations.
- Critical thinking: The ability to think analytically and evaluate problems from multiple perspectives allows a records manager to identify errors and ensure consistency across patient documentation.
- Ethical decision-making: To navigate complicated patient privacy concerns, records managers rely on a strong sense of professional integrity and morality.
- Adaptability: Regulations and industry standards are constantly evolving, meaning that records managers must frequently adapt to new policies and procedures to remain compliant.
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