Medical Records Specialists in Massachusetts
Considering working as a Medical Records Specialists in Massachusetts? Here’s what the data says. Compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the healthcare system. Classify medical and healthcare concepts, including diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment, into the healthcare industry’s numerical coding system. Includes medical coders. Excludes “Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars” (29-9021) and “File Clerks” (43-4071).
What do Medical Records Specialists Make in Massachusetts?
The medical records specialists working in Massachusetts, the typical annual salary is $57,220 per year (or roughly $27.51/hour).Earnings range from $40,830 at the 10th percentile to $83,540 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,830 | $19.63 |
| 25th percentile | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| Median (50th) | $57,220 | $27.51 |
| 75th percentile | $71,710 | $34.48 |
| 90th percentile | $83,540 | $40.16 |
The job concentration index in Massachusetts nationwide is 0.78, meaning fewer medical records specialists per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, medical records specialists earn a median of $153,246 per year ($73.68/hour), below the Massachusetts median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 343,852 medical records specialists in the U.S.. In Massachusetts alone, around 3,450 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 2,590 medical records specialists.
Top Massachusetts Metros for Medical Records Specialists
These are the Massachusetts metros with the most medical records specialists in Massachusetts.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,510 | $57,520 |
| Worcester, MA | 370 | $56,350 |
| Springfield, MA | 300 | $55,280 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 80 | $47,950 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 60 | $52,430 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 50 | $56,330 |
Top States for Medical Records Specialists Employment
View the states that employ the most medical records specialists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 20,390 |
| California | 19,750 |
| Florida | 15,510 |
| New York | 8,510 |
| Ohio | 8,180 |
| Pennsylvania | 7,220 |
| North Carolina | 5,960 |
| Washington | 5,280 |
| Georgia | 5,280 |
| Illinois | 4,990 |
| Virginia | 4,980 |
| Michigan | 4,720 |
| Kentucky | 4,040 |
| Indiana | 3,840 |
| New Jersey | 3,690 |
| Tennessee | 3,580 |
| Massachusetts | 3,450 |
| Arizona | 3,370 |
| Wisconsin | 3,290 |
| Minnesota | 3,250 |
Highest-Paying States for Medical Records Specialists
These states pay the most for medical records specialists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,690 |
| Rhode Island | $63,330 |
| Hawaii | $62,990 |
| Washington | $62,250 |
| Nevada | $60,530 |
| New York | $59,750 |
| California | $59,700 |
| Minnesota | $59,310 |
| Maryland | $59,140 |
| South Carolina | $58,510 |
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, medical records specialists typically:
- Assign the patient to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), using appropriate computer software.
- Compile and maintain patients' medical records to document condition and treatment and to provide data for research or cost control and care improvement efforts.
- Consult classification manuals to locate information about disease processes.
- Enter data, such as demographic characteristics, history and extent of disease, diagnostic procedures, or treatment into computer.
- Identify, compile, abstract, and code patient data, using standard classification systems.
- Maintain or operate a variety of health record indexes or storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store, or analyze information.
- Post medical insurance billings.
- Process and prepare business or government forms.
- Process patient admission or discharge documents.
- Protect the security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
- Release information to persons or agencies according to regulations.
- Resolve or clarify codes or diagnoses with conflicting, missing, or unclear information by consulting with doctors or others or by participating in the coding team's regular meetings.
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: eClinicalWorks EHR software, Epic Systems, Henry Schein Dentrix In-demand technologies: Epic Systems
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Health/Medical Admin Services
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to medical records specialists include:
- Management Analysts
- Health Informatics Specialists
- Document Management Specialists
- Physician Assistants
- Registered Nurses
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
Also Known As
Certified Coding Specialist, Certified Medical Coder, Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Clinical Documentation Specialist, Clinical Office Technician (Clinical Office Tech), Coder, Coding Consultant, Coding Specialist, Disability Rater, Electronic Health Records Specialist (EHR Specialist), Fee Coder, Health Informatics Specialist, Health Information Clerk, Health Information Coder, Health Information Management Hospital Coder (HIM Hospital Coder).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-2072.00