Starting a new job as a Medical Clerk/Health Information Specialist and I was wondering what I would be doing on a daily basis?

I start a new job as a Medical Clerk/Health Information Specialist on Monday and while I have an education in health information, I dont have any formal training as a medical records clerk.

I want to be as prepared as possible for what I'm going to be doing, and while they said they welcome a trainee and are willing to train an individual for 3 months, I dont want to show up being totally clueless.

So can anyone who is a medical records clerk or a health information clerk, tell me in as much detail as you want to go into, and tell me what you do all day? Like from the time you get there till the time you leave?

I have a general sense but I'd like to have information on how my day will go, because I'm nervous about starting a new job and being the new guy (and only guy on a floor of women at that, not that I'm complaining).

Anyway thank you very much for your help in advance!

Hi
Congrats on the new job. I am currently a Medical claims processor but I have been in the health information field for about 10 yrs so I can give you a little bit of an idea of what you will be doing. Some depts vary of course but you can be doing things like taking requests for medical records via phone,mail or walk ins. These requests can come from the patients themselves, attorneys, life insurance companies, other insurance carriers etc. Since HIPAA laws must be followed your company will have guidelines set on how to process these requests and who can recieve what information. If your company uses electronic health records you may be in and out of different computer systems much of your day. Some providers still have paper records which need to be filed and retrieved or taken from one dept to another. This is a good position to get your foot in the door of the HIM field. Be friendly, ask lots of questions and network. Good luck.

LisaD in San Bernardino, California said: Hi
Congrats on the new job. I am currently a Medical claims processor but I have been in the health information field for about 10 yrs so I can give you a little bit of an idea of what you will be doing. Some depts vary of course but you can be doing things like taking requests for medical records via phone,mail or walk ins. These requests can come from the patients themselves, attorneys, life insurance companies, other insurance carriers etc. Since HIPAA laws must be followed your company will have guidelines set on how to process these requests and who can recieve what information. If your company uses electronic health records you may be in and out of different computer systems much of your day. Some providers still have paper records which need to be filed and retrieved or taken from one dept to another. This is a good position to get your foot in the door of the HIM field. Be friendly, ask lots of questions and network. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply! I'm really excited about starting the new job! I'm hoping it eventually leads to a management position within the hospitals HIM department.

I'm nervous about the new job but I'll learn quickly I hope and hopefully they dont put too much pressure on me to already know what I'm doing because of my bachelors degree or my associates degree.