What are Medical Records?

Medical records provide medical professionals documentation of a patient’s medical history and the treatment they have previously received. These charts contain notes entered by healthcare professionals during routine visits, and a record of all chronic and acute ailments the patient has been treated for. Once placed in a physical folder, today medical records are increasingly stored electronically. These digital personal health records limit errors, are easily portable, and very secure. The medical history of a patient provides the healthcare worker a window into the patient’s health, including surgeries, diseases, and treatment plans the patient has undergone. Nursing assistants and medical assistants might find themselves aiding in the maintenance of healthcare records, so familiarity with this subject is important.

Earning a Degree in Medical Records

Degrees in medical records from schools like Purdue University and Herzing University are designed to offer students a basic overview of the procedures of handling medical records. Programs, which usually require 60 units, include courses that explore:

• Healthcare
• Medical Records Management
• Language in Health Care
• Claims
• Diseases
• Office Management

Students are also required to complete general education requirements in math, communications, humanities, liberal arts, science, technology, and social sciences. Graduates are afforded the opportunity to work in a variety of jobs, as medical records or healthcare technicians. Others go on to complete a bachelor’s degree in the healthcare field.