A career as an electronic medical records technician offers an ambitious, yet stimulating professional occupation. Career planning will involve attending college and graduating with an associate’s degree, then gaining the Registered Health Information Technicians certification credential offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). A medical records technician spends his day documenting, managing and organizing patients’ medical records according to applicable laws and information technology best practices. The position requires a solid understanding of health sciences, medical diagnosis, treatments, symptoms and procedures. Additionally, such technicians require an expert knowledge in information technology related to the management and security of medical records.
1.Complete an associate’s degree program in health information management from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Certification requires completion of an accredited program (see Resources). Coursework will involve classes in health information standards and requirements, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, data analysis, classifications and coding, database security and management. Most programs take two years to finish.
2.Take and pass the AHIMA-administered written exam for Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT). The exam consists of 150 questions testing the applicant’s knowledge in all aspects of health information management. The exam takes 3.5 hours to complete and uses a multiple-choice format. Applicants can register online for the exam by visiting the AHIMA website (see Resources). Applicants will need to submit transcripts upon applying to test and will receive notification by mail or email with an authorization to test, once approved. The exam fee is $300.00 for non-members of the AHIMA.
3.Apply for and secure a position in health information management with a hospital, medical center, clinic or doctor’s office. Advertisements for positions appear in local newspaper classifieds and on Internet job boards such as Monster and Careerbuilder.
4.Recertify the RHIT credential every two years. To recertify, applicants must present proof of 20 hours of continuing education, pay a $150.00 recertification fee and pass the recertification exam.
Tips & Warnings
- Continue your education by completing a bachelor’s or master’s in health information management.
