Medical Records Specialists
Also known as: Certified Coding Specialist, Certified Medical Coder, Certified Professional Coder (CPC) (+50 more)
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.
Take the free 15-minute assessment to compare this role with your profile, your current fit, and nearby alternatives
What You'll Do
- 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.
Career Fit Overview
Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.
Top passions
- Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
- Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
- Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
Common styles
Attention to Detail, Dependability, Integrity, Cautiousness, Cooperation
Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.
Technologies & Tools
Work Environment & Strengths
Common Strengths for This Career
- Attention to Detail (High importance: 5.0/5)
- Dependability (High importance: 4.77/5)
- Integrity (High importance: 4.55/5)
- Cautiousness (High importance: 4.45/5)
- Cooperation (High importance: 4.09/5)
Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?
Take Free 15-Min Assessment →How to Become One
This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.
Similar Careers to Explore
Medical Transcriptionists
99.0% similar profile
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
98.8% similar profile
Database Administrators
98.6% similar profile
Computer User Support Specialists
98.4% similar profile
Pharmacy Technicians
98.2% similar profile
Library Technicians
98.0% similar profile
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
97.7% similar profile
Statistical Assistants
97.7% similar profile
Also Known As
This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:
Career Fit FAQs
Is this career a good fit for me
This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.
Can this help if I want to stay in my field
Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.
What should I compare first
Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.
Ready to Compare This Career to Your Profile?
Use the assessment to compare your current role, inspect nearby options, and see whether this career is a stronger fit for how you work.
Take Free Assessment (15 min) →