Medical Record Technicians

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment in this field will grow by 9 percent, much faster than the average for all careers, through 2033. The demand for well-trained medical record technicians will grow rapidly. This expectation is related to the health care needs of a population that is both growing and aging and the trend toward more technologically sophisticated medicine, the increasing use of electronic health records, and greater use of diagnostic procedures. It is also related to the increased requirements of regulatory bodies that scrutinize both costs and quality of care of health care providers. Because of the fear of medical malpractice lawsuits, doctors and other health care providers are documenting their diagnoses and treatments in greater detail. Also, because of the high cost of health care, insurance companies, government agencies, and courts are examining medical records with a more critical eye. These factors combine to ensure a healthy job outlook for medical record technicians.

Opportunities will be best in offices of physicians, particularly in large group practices, nursing care facilities, home health care services, and outpatient care centers. Demand will be especially strong for cancer registrars.

The DOL reports that emerging technologies may have a negative impact on employment in the coming years, noting that "the increase in adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered solutions that make the medical coding process more efficient may affect the demand for these workers."

Technicians with associate's degrees, technology skills, and RHIT status will have the best prospects, and the importance of such qualifications is likely to increase.