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Medical Records Clerk - Question

Posted: Sep 27, 2014

Hi all, I have a job interview for a position as medical records clerk in an orthopedic center. I quit MT about 3 years ago and did a few things that didn't work out, and now I have an opportunity to interview for a medical records clerk. I had sent them a resume, most of which was transcription, and they called me to come in and see them. Does anyone know if I can transition to it that easily? My friends all think that just because I know medical terminology, that I can just transition into this, but I'm not so sure. I'm assuming they'll have some sort of training, but I am not convinced. Has anyone here transitioned to that position? I have a vague idea of what a medical records clerk does---just kind of keep patient files organized and things like that. Any ideas, thoughts?

I do both - jojo

[ In Reply To ..]
Medical records is a walk in the park compared to the knowledge you need to have to do transcription. You will do just fine.

Medical Records Clerk - FormerMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I left MT a few years back for a front office position that included some transcription (only about 10% of the job is transcription). I have never regretted it! I thought it would be hard to be around people all day, every day, but have really enjoyed it. What you will probably find is that you are over qualified for the position (as I was) but having a paycheck you can count on, paid vacation, and some benefits is such a relief!

Good luck with the interview!

Thanks! - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
I actually did try my hand at a front-office patient registration position, but they offered me no training and it ended up being a disaster, so I quit. While I'm sure it was "easier" than MT, I still needed proper training on the software to register patients, as well as verifying insurance properly, etc.

I think if they have a training plan in place, I could probably handle it, but not every place offers that,especially if they are busy with patients and such.

I'm still open to feedback about that type of position. Of course, I looked it up on the Internet in terms of the duties, but it's not like hearing from someone who has actually done it.

Training - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
A medical records position should be well within your current capacity to do and learn. For something as small as an orthopedic center, it should be a breeze.

If they use paper, you will probably be registering patients, making patient records, filing loose material in them, filing and retrieving records, etc. If they are electronic, you will be doing the electronic equivalent.

How do you learn to do this? They will probably show you the ropes, but if they had only one person and they left, you may have to teach yourself the details. Find resources and use your initiative. It won't be that difficult--this is not rocket science.

There are textbooks on medical record technology and medical front office. They are written at adult night school or early college level. These explain how medical records are handled.

For any software, just read the instructions. If you don't have them, call the company. They all provide support.

The internet is a great resource, too. If you could google medical terms, you can google HIPAA and everything else.

Develop contacts that can help you. If you need to know how to verify insurance or something, you could ask on the coding board. Many people there know about that. You also work in a community filled with other medical offices. You can ask their medical record clerks for help.

I posted a link below to a book that contains what you need. Maybe you should take a look at on Amazon and google some of the topics in the table of contents before your interview.

To the OP - BTDT

[ In Reply To ..]
Medical records clerk is kind of an all encompassing job title. It may involve front desk registration, processing birth certificates, scanning and indexing, release of information or other things, it may even involve transcription. You will need training but with your MT background you should do well, good luck with the interview.

No problem - pl

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree with the other posters here - you should have no problem. I actually was a medical records clerk before doing MT, and although they required a medical terminology course, that job was a lot easier than MT.

Medical records clerk - CINDY

[ In Reply To ..]
I transferred to Med Rec from surgery and it was a breeze. I had to do the birth certificates which is going to patient's rooms getting their info and then typing the birth certificates, also file the charts, put the transcription where it belongs in the chart. They have to train you, I mean at least show you what to do, so I should be easy, just take notes if you need to.

Thank you all! - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks so much for the input and also resources to check. I really appreciate it!

Same sm - Kindred Spirit

[ In Reply To ..]
Same here. I am transitioning out. Here's what I'm thinking: First, working at home (blah) is not a deal breaker for me either -- ready to get out in the real world again. I'm an emotional wreck over some changes lately at my job.

AHDI has an online course that teaches EHR for $125. Penn Foster has an EMR course for about $300, but you get the software with it. They both teach you basics of opening a chart, entering patient data, ordering lab tests, etc. Sounds exciting!!!!

Then, I want to take a short course of Coding, just to familiarize myself with the technique. Well, my community college offers a certificate, but man their registration fee for even 1 or 2 credits is outrageous!!!

So, back to Penn Foster. They have a med coding/billing course for about $750. You even get to sit in for 1 testing, whatever that means.

My goal is to be able to work with the EMR with light coding. I have no interest in getting to the Acute Care stage of coding, but I think if I am in a specialty office, I should be able to hold my own.

Good luck to us all! I've got to make changes too.

To Kindred Spirit - From OP

[ In Reply To ..]
I had my interview, and I think it went well. My transcription experience will help in that they use a service and they need someone to fix messes and also file the dictations.

Right now, they're not on EMR, but they might be getting it soon.

Suggestion to you? I don't know if I would pay to learn EMR. Most offices would train you--and I doubt it's complicated. It could look good on your resume if you have a course under your belt, but I wouldn't spend too much money on it.

I'll know by the end of the week if I have the job or not. Hope so, pay is pretty good, and any dictations I would fix fall into the hourly rate.

I was passing through the thought the same thing about EMR, why pay for - something you can lean in 1 day on the job. sm

[ In Reply To ..]
EHR as well. Way overpriced, I could start teaching for half the price!

People, be careful with these matchbook schools.

Agree - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
...and you really don't know what kind of training you'd be getting. You also don't want to box yourself into just medical office software.

I think if you want to get out of MT and into office work, you'd be better served by taking a class in basic office software that you may not have experience in---like Excel, Power Point, etc. If you go through your community center or perhaps local adult school, it will be much cheaper than some of these so-called online classes.

Checking your local newspaper classified ads is a good start to see what most offices require you know to work in an office these days, medical or not.

EHR/EMR - Kindred Spirit

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, that makes sense. Thank you both for that. I might just go with the AHDI course for $125 or just wait and see. You're right, I may just go into a regular office job and stay out of the medical field altogether.

I'm noticing the word "word processor" in a lot of job listings, which makes me very happy because that is how I started out. Very nice job in Atlanta, 20 minutes away, legal office, beautiful building, right across from Fox.

I'd definitely settle for a nice cubicle job anywhere, decent money ($10 would work) and just ocme home and "forget about it."

Thanks guys. I'm going to scratch that idea. Honestly, I don't know if I want to even crack open a book for coding. My heart is NOT in the industry anymore.

To Kindred Spirit - From OP

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't think most offices use the one-unit word processors of 20 years ago. It's basically now Word, Word Perfect, etc, all rolled into your PC. So, you would have to know one of those word processing software programs.

I would stay away from AHDI, actually. I'm not convinced they have anything they can offer you. You may choose to work in a medical office, but the office would train you on whatever software they use.

I still think that $125 would be better served taking a course in Excel, Quick Books, Power Point, Office, things of that nature.

Word processor sm - Kindred Spirit

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, your are absolutely right. I need to work on PowerPoint and Excel. That's a great idea ... to work on those skills, I mean a REALLY good idea. Thank you so much for that advice!!!

Agree, if you want to take a course... - Informaticist

[ In Reply To ..]
There are absolutely FREE EHR resources on the internet, provided through the federal government. Most of the matchbook schools are using them themselves, but charging you.

You should not need to take a course to learn how to enter patient info. Seriously, that is ridiculous nonsense aimed at high school dropouts. If you are already using a computer to transcribe, you are not at that low level! Any school claiming to give you "EHR software" is misleading you, because there are many, many EHRs and I would bet that none of them use some piddly student version!

You also need to note that employers do not respect courses from matchbooks. Either take legitimate, non-for-profit college courses or do free online courses. There are tons of them.

I hate to say it, but your post almost sounded like shilling for a matchbook. If it was, shame!

No, no shilling here... - Kindred Spirit

[ In Reply To ..]
Honestly, I was just looking for an affordable program to give me some leverage when I went start pounding the pavement looking for a "real" job.

Did not know about the free federal government classes.

I'm just looking around right now and was jazzed about some new ideas.

I'll probably just get me a used copy of "Coding for Dummies" and call it a day.

"Coding" programs do not all teach - the same thing

[ In Reply To ..]
"Affordable" is not what you need to be looking for. If you do that, you will end up wasting your money and wasting your time.

If you don't care about what you are doing, employers won't care about hiring you.

Medical Records Clerk question - CINDY

[ In Reply To ..]
Just a question. Are you starting out at more than 10.00 an hour. Because if you are we should all just go for medical records clerk. You get paid by the hour. We are killing ourselves for peanuts. The only thing is you can't work at home, but you at least can pay your bills.

Answer - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
I had the interview today. The starting salary is $10 per hour with medical & dental after 3 months.

I'm in Florida in an area where the pay is much lower than the rest of the country, so I am pretty certain the rate would be higher elsewhere.

I don't know if they're going to offer me the job or not, but I did notice everyone was wearing scrubs and you can buy scrubs at Walmart for pretty cheap. Some places even supply the scrubs.

Answer - CINDY

[ In Reply To ..]
Wow. Everyone makes more than we do. We have to type faster than a hurricane to make any money, have to know all this terminology and how to type the reports. We are really get a raw deal here. There was a time when I would have never considered be a medical record clerk after I transferred to transcription, but that was in the 80s, so I don't even remember my pay rate. I hope you get it. That is good and you will get a raise each year too more than likely, usually hospitals do that. And you will have a good retirement and insurance. Scrubs aren't that much even from a uniform store, and Walmart's are cheaper. Good luck!

Thank you Cindy - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks! I hope I get the job, too. It's close to home. It's actually an orthopedic surgery clinic, 4 doctors. Seems like a nice place to work.

Will keep you posted.

Medical Records Clerk - FormerMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm in FL too and started at $12.75 plus benefits. I wear street clothes but have started thinking about scrubs and sneakers. Definitely more comfortable than what I've been wearing every day.

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