Work at home transcribing or organizing medical records
Medical records include patient health insurance information and administrative data pertaining to patient care. Because most patient files are computerized, jobs working with medical records can be done from your home. Jobs in this field often require comprehensive medical, ethical and legal knowledge. Adhere to standards related to health care and patient privacy for maximum success.
Types
Medical records include reports about emergency room visits, routine office visits, surgeries and diagnostic-imaging procedures. There are two main types of at-home professions related to medical records--medical records organizers and medical transcribers. A medical records organizer often works with law firms, gathering and classifying documents used in an investigation. Medical transcribers listen to dictated recordings by doctors and other health care professionals to create reports.
Function
At-home medical records positions function primarily as patient-record administrators. There is very little direct contact with patients. Work is done on a flexible schedule, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For example, a medical records organizer verifies records and identifies missing or incomplete information, and a medical transcriber translates medical jargon and abbreviations to produce a comprehensible report that is reviewed by a doctor for accuracy. You can expect to go into the office 2 to 5 times a month for meetings.
Required Skills and Experience
Jobs involving medical records typically require an associate's or bachelor's degree in a health care field. Expert use of medical terminology and treatments is expected. Strong computer skills are necessary. In addition, certification is sometimes required. The Commission on Certification for Health Informatics and Information Management certifies individuals working with patient medical records. For example, a registered health information administrator manages patient health information and medical records by using computer information systems to collect and analyze patient data, while a registered health information technician verifies the completeness and accuracy of medical records. Other certifications and training are sometimes required, based on the nature of the work. For example, the National Cancer Registrars Association offers intensive training programs in coding.
Expert Insight on Job Outlook
Changing government regulations increase paperwork in health care. Medical records and health information technicians positions are expected to increase by about 18 percent through 2016, according to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you have a strong background in medical coding, you can expect significant job growth in your field.
Salary
At-home salaries are not necessarily reflected separately in occupational employment statistics, but the median annual earnings for medical records and health information technicians was $28,030 in May 2006, according to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The hourly rate for medical transcribers was $14.40 in May 2006.
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