One way to become a medical records supervisor is to earn an associate’s degree and gain experience as a medical records technician. A more direct path is to earn an associate’s degree in medical records management. Depending on the where you work, however, this might not be enough to land you a supervisory position right away.
A medical records supervisor essentially provides assistance to a record services manager. In addition to overseeing clerical duties, a medical records supervisor can plan, organize and coordinate all activities in a department. This can include making recommendations for hiring or firing personnel.
If you are just beginning your quest to become a medical records supervisor, check with hospitals, doctor’s offices or medical companies where you live to find out what they require. Colleges and technical schools also are a good source for this information. They often work with employers to place students after they graduate, and they tend to have a pulse on what employers are seeking.
Some medical records supervisory positions will require you to have experience, an advanced degree or a combination of the two. This can be done by earning a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in health information management or a related field. A license or an advanced certification might be required in some cases.
There are several key areas in which you will need experience or training in order to become a medical records supervisor. These include database management, medical office procedures, ethics and law, and you might need some knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Strong mathematical skills also are an asset, because you might be required to create budgets and oversee spending in your department.
One approach to become a medical records supervisor is to begin as a medical records technician and work your way up from there. Remember that some jobs will require you to have supervisory experience in order to become a medical records supervisor. Showing excellent skills in your current position can help you land a job as a medical records supervisor.
After you obtain the appropriate schooling, the next step is to learn all you can about maintaining and managing medical records. Managing records accurately is vital for medical facilities because it helps them keep accurate records for patient care, insurance information and billing. One of the key roles that a medical records technician plays is making sure that all of the information in a patient’s file is current and accurate.
It also is vital to understand the appropriate steps for releasing patient records. This must be done in accordance with any laws that regulate the release of this information. The inappropriate release of information can have legal ramifications in some cases.
