Back to Machinists details

Machinists - Overview

Overview

Health records administration programs prepare people to manage medical information. Students learn to set up information systems and supervise workers. They also learn to maintain privacy and quality in health records.

Did you know that part of the human immune system is based on memory? Our bodies help fight bacteria and viruses by remembering what these microorganisms look like the first time we're exposed to them. The next time they dare show their faces, our immune systems recognize them and attack.

But what if our bodies didn't keep track of the bacteria or viruses it had encountered in the past? Every time they'd come around, we'd have to struggle to figure out how to defend ourselves. And in doing so, we'd be sapping our strength and resources. You can see how keeping "records" is essential for our bodies to efficiently and effectively protect ourselves.

Similarly, keeping good track of health records is essential for healthcare to run smoothly. Your health records contain many different types of information, from your medical history to a record of the consultations you've had with specialists. They include all the medications that doctors have prescribed for you and any operations - from minor to major - that you might have had. They also record your insurance and billing information.

This information helps doctors make diagnoses and plan for the most effective treatment. It gives a hospital concrete data to analyze in order to improve the treatment and care it provides for its patients. Moreover, it protects both the legal and financial interests of both you and your healthcare provider. You can see how important it is to keep records of this information.

And if you've ever gotten entangled in the World Wide Web trying to locate a piece of information, you know how frustrating it can be when information is ineffectively organized. Health records administrators take charge of managing health records so that they can be easily accessed. They also make sure that their organizational systems are secure in order to protect their patients' confidentiality.

As a student in this program, you learn ways to manage the organization of health records. You study basic information science and computer database skills. You also learn medical terminology and the standard coding used in different health fields. And in order to work well with health records technicians and other healthcare administration professionals, you study management and interpersonal skills.

Many schools offer programs in health records administration. This program is also known as medical records administration and heath information management. Typically, you earn a bachelor's degree in this program, which takes about four years of full-time study after high school. There are also a couple of schools that offer master's degrees, which usually take five to six years.

Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Back to Machinists details