Medical Records Administration
OCCUPATIONAL DESCRIPTION: Medical record administrators are responsible for the management of health information systems consistent with the medical, administrative, ethical, and legal requirements of the health care delivery system. Although medical record administrators are not often directly involved in patient contact, their work with the medical and hospital administrative staff is of critical importance to patient care. Because medical record administrators deal with medical records and reports, they should not be confused with medical librarians who work chiefly with books, periodicals, and other medical publications.
JOB DESCRIPTION: The overall responsibility of medical record administrators is to see that complete medical records are developed and preserved for all patients treated in the hospital, clinic or medical care center, and that the confidentiality of the medical information is maintained. Duties include designing health information systems; planning, organizing, directing and controlling medical record services; developing, analyzing, and evaluating medical record indexes; cooperating with the medical staff in developing methods for evaluation of patient care; and working with the medical and administrative staff in research projects utilizing health care information. Responsibilities vary according to the type and size of the facility where the medical record administrator is employed.
EMPLOYMENT CHARACTERISTICS: The demand for medical record administrators is greatest in hospitals. Other areas of employment are ambulatory and long-term care facilities, state health departments, professional standards review organizations, government agencies, and private industry. Medical record administrators interested in education may accept faculty appointments as instructors in university educational programs for medical record administrators or college programs for medical record technicians.
Example of Curricular Planning
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Freshman | Mth 10, 11, or 16 | Eng 12 | Ecn 21 |
| Bgy 11 | Hst 11 | Bgy 18 | |
| Eng 11 | Psy 21 | ||
| Sophomore | Chm 11 | Bgy 26 or 42 | Soc 21 |
| Psy 23 | CS 16 or 21 | Mth 30 | |
| BA 30 | Eng |
Programs
| State | School | Years at FU | Class Size | Program begins |
| AL | Univ. of Alabama - Birmingham | 2 | 15 | Sept. |
| FL | Florida International | 2 | 40 | Sept. |
| Univ. of Central Florida | 3 | 32 | Aug. | |
| GA | Emory University | 3 or 4 | 30 | Sept. |
| Medical College of Georgia | 2 | 40 | Sept. | |
| NC | East Carolina Univ. | 2 | 32 | Aug. |
| Western Carolina Univ. | 2 | 32 | Aug. | |
| SC | MUSC | 2 | 30 | Jun. |
| TN | Univ. of Tennessee - Memphis | 3 | 20 | Sept. |
| Tennessee State - Meharry | 1 | 150 | Aug./Jan. |
Additional information on medical records administration and R.R.A. certification can be obtained from the American Medical Records Association, 875 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1850, Chicago, IL 60611