In hospitals and other health-care facilities, a medical record clerk is responsible for keeping patient records organized. A person who wants to work as a medical record clerk does not need to meet any specific educational requirements. However, most employers do require new hires to have completed high school or have a general educational development (GED) diploma. In most cases, a person who wants to work as a medical record clerk will not need any type of licensing or certification. Many employers provide on-the-job training for new medical clerks, so he may not even require related training. Candidates with an associate’s degree in a health-related field, on the other hand, may have a better chance of landing a job.
Medical record clerks are responsible for keeping patient records organized and accessible at all times. A medical record clerk’s main responsibility is to file patient records. This person may also be in charge of keeping records up to date and retrieving them as needed. While this work may appear to be monotonous, it is essential to a health care facility’s success. A misplaced or lost medical record can cause serious problems for the patient, as well as his doctors and nurses.
A person who wants to work as a medical record clerk doesn’t necessarily need a high school diploma, but he does need some basic skills. He’ll typically need good organizational skills, the ability to follow directions, and the ability to pay close attention to detail, for example. He should have a basic understanding of how to file documents using both paper filing systems and computerized filing systems. Many employers also demand that medical record clerks be computer savvy and have excellent communication skills. By learning medical terminology, a person can make himself a more appealing job candidate.
While many employers do not require new medical record clerks to have any specific education or training, some prefer to hire applicants who have completed health information management programs. A person who wants to work as a medical record clerk might go to school for an associate’s degree in health information or medical records management, which could lead to the title of health information technician. A person can take an exam to become certified after completing a two-year degree in this field. Certification as a health information technician can help an aspiring clerk get a better job or advance in his career. Gaining experience with filing or other office tasks may also improve a person’s chances of landing a job.