Occupation · SOC 29-9021
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
Apply knowledge of healthcare and information systems to assist in the design, development, and continued modification and analysis of computerized healthcare systems. Abstract, collect, and analyze treatment and followup information of patients. May educate staff and assist in problem solving to promote the implementation of the healthcare information system. May design, develop, test, and implement databases with complete history, diagnosis, treatment, and health status to help monitor diseases.
Median wage
$67,310
$39,120–$112,130
Projected growth
+14.8%
Faster than average
Annual openings
620
per year
Employed (US)
37,620
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
436 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingWriting
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageBiologyPsychology
Technology & tools
Categorization or classification softwareMedical softwareBilling and invoicing softwareInformation retrieval or search softwareOffice suite software
Representative tasks
Assign the patient to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), using appropriate computer software.Compile medical care and census data for statistical reports on diseases treated, surgery performed, or use of hospital beds.Design databases to support healthcare applications, ensuring security, performance and reliability.Develop in-service educational materials.Evaluate and recommend upgrades or improvements to existing computerized healthcare systems.Facilitate and promote activities, such as lunches, seminars, or tours, to foster healthcare information privacy or security awareness within the organization.Identify, compile, abstract, and code patient data, using standard classification systems.Manage the department or supervise clerical workers, directing or controlling activities of personnel in the medical records department.Monitor changes in legislation and accreditation standards that affect information security or privacy in the computerized healthcare system.Plan, develop, maintain, or operate a variety of health record indexes or storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store, or analyze information.Prepare statistical reports, narrative reports, or graphic presentations of information, such as tumor registry data for use by hospital staff, researchers, or other users.Protect the security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.Resolve or clarify codes or diagnoses with conflicting, missing, or unclear information by consulting with doctors or others or by participating in the coding team's regular meetings.Retrieve patient medical records for physicians, technicians, or other medical personnel.Train medical records staff.Write or maintain archived procedures, procedural codes, or queries for applications.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient medical histories — collect and record under direct supervision using standardized intake forms in an outpatient health information setting.Medical coding software — navigate and enter basic diagnostic codes following established protocols with supervisor review in a clinical records department.Patient demographic and health data — input accurately into electronic health record systems under close guidance in a hospital or clinic environment.Medical terminology and classification systems — identify and apply foundational concepts when reviewing health records under direction from senior staff.Billing and invoicing software — process routine patient billing transactions following step-by-step procedures under direct oversight in a medical office.Health record completeness — review and flag missing or inconsistent documentation using a standard checklist under supervisor direction in a health information unit.Information retrieval software — perform basic database queries to locate patient records following prescribed search protocols in a clinical setting.Written health reports — read and summarize standard medical documentation under guidance, applying basic reading comprehension skills in a health information role.Office suite software — prepare routine correspondence and simple data tables under direction to support health information workflows in an administrative environment.Privacy and security protocols — follow established transaction security and data protection procedures under supervision when handling sensitive patient records.
developing
Patient medical histories — obtain, verify, and organize with reduced oversight, ensuring accuracy and completeness in a busy outpatient or hospital records department.Diagnostic and procedural codes — assign using categorization software with routine proficiency, resolving common coding discrepancies independently in a clinical health information setting.Electronic health record systems — maintain and update patient data regularly, adapting to departmental workflow changes in a multi-provider clinical environment.Health information documentation — evaluate for compliance with regulatory standards, applying critical thinking to identify and correct errors in a medical records unit.Billing and claims submissions — prepare and transmit routine insurance claims using billing software, addressing standard rejections without supervisor escalation in a medical office.Patient data queries — conduct structured database searches to support clinical and administrative reporting needs in a health information department.Interdisciplinary communication — convey health record findings clearly to clinical and administrative staff using appropriate medical language in a team-based care setting.Voice recognition software — utilize to transcribe and edit medical documentation efficiently, maintaining accuracy standards in a high-volume transcription environment.Record release and information requests — process following applicable legal and organizational guidelines with moderate independence in a hospital health information office.Health information trends — monitor departmental data quality metrics and report irregularities to supervisors using established monitoring protocols in a clinical records setting.
proficient
Complex patient health records — analyze and reconcile across multiple data sources autonomously, resolving non-routine discrepancies in a large hospital or integrated health system.Advanced medical coding — apply inductive and deductive reasoning to accurately code complex, multi-diagnosis cases using current classification systems in a specialized clinical environment.Health information system audits — conduct comprehensive reviews of record accuracy, coding consistency, and regulatory compliance without oversight in a health information management department.Patient data integrity — lead investigation and remediation of data quality issues, applying problem sensitivity and judgment across the full scope of health information operations.Clinical staff consultation — advise physicians and other practitioners on documentation requirements and best practices to support accurate coding and reimbursement in a multi-specialty setting.Information retrieval strategies — design and execute sophisticated database queries to extract actionable clinical and operational insights in a health information or analytics environment.Regulatory compliance reporting — prepare detailed written submissions to accreditation and government bodies, demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of health information standards.Medical software integration — evaluate and troubleshoot interoperability issues between EHR, billing, and classification systems to maintain seamless workflows in a complex healthcare organization.Privacy risk assessments — independently assess transaction security vulnerabilities and recommend mitigation strategies to protect patient health information in a clinical setting.Health information education — mentor junior technicians on coding, documentation, and compliance practices, applying instructional skills in a departmental training context.
advanced
Departmental health information strategy — develop and implement long-term policies and standards that align coding, documentation, and data management with organizational goals across a health system.Organizational compliance frameworks — design enterprise-wide regulatory compliance programs, setting direction for adherence to federal and state health information requirements across multiple facilities.Health information technology infrastructure — lead evaluation, selection, and deployment of medical software and EHR platforms at the organizational level, directing cross-functional implementation teams.Workforce development programs — create and oversee comprehensive training curricula for health information staff, cultivating competency and professional growth across an entire department or institution.Data governance leadership — establish and champion data integrity and security governance policies, influencing executive decision-making in a large healthcare organization.Interagency and vendor relationships — negotiate and manage contracts with technology vendors and regulatory bodies, representing the organization's health information interests at an industry level.Performance measurement systems — design and oversee department-wide quality metrics and audit frameworks, driving continuous improvement in health information accuracy and efficiency.Strategic health information reporting — produce and present executive-level analytics and trend analyses to organizational leadership, informing clinical and financial strategy across a health system.Ethical and legal standards leadership — set organizational policy on patient privacy, data stewardship, and professional integrity, modeling exemplary conduct for all health information personnel.Cross-functional innovation initiatives — lead multidisciplinary projects integrating health information technology with clinical operations, advancing the organization's capability in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.
Also known as
75 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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