1. CHAPTER 33 INFORMATION AND ADMINISTRATION CAREERS Lesson 2
Journal Question: What are some of the many kinds of duties that a health services clerk or office manager might perform?

2. Chapter 33 Learning Objectives
Identify three personal characteristics needed in an efficient health occupations clerk.
Identify at least five forms used as part of the medical record.
Describe at least three methods of payment for health care.

3. Health Unit Coordinator or Manager
Performs nonclinical activities
Assembling and maintaining client charts
Transcribing physician's orders
Acting as receptionist and secretary on the unit
Health unit manager
Coordinates the nonclinical activities for several units
Establishes polices and procedures
Manages personnel
Prepares the budget
Education
Health unit coordinator and manager certification after 2 year-college program

4. Medical Records Personnel
Organize, analyze, and generate data for patients’ records
Most employment is in hospitals.
One of the fastest growing occupations

5. Registered Records Administrator (RRA) or Health Information Manger (HIM)
Responsible for management of the information system
Create policies and procedures for department
Responsible for employee evaluation and budget preparation
Education or training
2-year college certificate or 4-year college or university degree
Supervised experience may be required in some programs.
The American Health Information Management Association was formally known as the American Medical Records Association.

6. Registered Health Information Technician
Performs the technical functions of medical records maintenance
Organizes, analyzes, and evaluates records
Education:
2-year program or through the American Health Information Management Association’s independent study program
In a small facility, the technician may have the full responsibility of the medical records department.

7. Medical Transcriptionist
Listens to and types information to provide a permanent record from a variety of audio equipment
Most facilities use digital or analog dictating equipment.
Training
Knowledge of medical terminology and computer skills are needed.
Some community colleges and vocational schools offer associate degree programs in transcription.
Certification is voluntary.
Medical transcriptionist is also called a medical stenographer.
The use of the Internet and speech-recognition software provide quicker return of documents.

8. Health Science Librarian
Locates and provides information to practicing professionals, researchers, and students
Education
Master’s degree
Certification is available.

9. Public Health Educator
Responsibilities
Teaching new and experienced health personnel
May specialize in fields of practice
Organizing and directing health education programs for groups and community needs
Designing ways to increase use of public health resources
Education
Bachelor’s or master’s degree
Standard teacher certificate may be required
Health educations may specialize in fields of practice such as personal, community, consumer, environmental, or public health.

10. Public Relations Personnel
Plan and conduct programs such as press releases and advertising strategies for the agency
Education
Bachelor’s degree in public relations is preferred.

11. Biomedical Photographer
Documents life-related health events
Often specializes in one area such as animal, plant, or surgical photography
Education
2 to 4 years of college for training in photography and basic sciences
Certification and registration are available.
Photomicrography is taking photographs through a microscope.

12. Medical Illustrator
Specialized artist who provides sketches, paintings, drawings, computer images, and three-dimensional models
Education
Completion of program at one of five accredited schools (program requires a bachelor’s degree for admission)
Advanced functions of medical illustrators include production of instructional models of artificial body parts.

13. Health Information and Communication Careers
Medical writer
Creates and edits technical material for educational and marketing materials
Education
Master’s degree preferred
Public health statistician
Gathers, analyzes, and presents public health data used to uncover trends and the causes of diseases
Doctorate in public health (DPH)

14. Content Instruction Office management
Maintaining confidentiality of patient records
Appointment procedures
Appointments done in pencil so they can be erased
Most offices call patients to confirm appointment.
Information is kept in written form or stored in a computerized system.
Filing may be numerical or alphabetical, or both
Cross-referencing of records
Scheduling laboratory tests and other procedures
Refer students to Skill List 33-4 Scheduling an Appointment.

15. Appointment Reminder Card
FIGURE 33-5 After the necessary information is gathered, some offices provide
the patient with a card as a reminder of the next visit.

16. Records Management
The medical record for a patient is a legal record that contains
Medical history and physical assessment
Test results
Surgery reports
Notes about patient’s condition and course of treatment
Duties include making sure patients understand forms.
Confidential information may not be given to anyone other than those authorized by the patient and health care practitioner.

17. Medical Records
FIGURE 33-6 The medical record may be made up of several different forms,
and the types of forms may vary according to the care needed.

18. Inpatient Chart Order

19. Records Management
Records must be accurate, legible, complete, and organized to provide efficient care.
Oral record must be transcribed or written in permanent form.
Information that a clerk transcribes or copies from one written record to another is checked by authorized personnel.

20. Guidelines for Charting

21. Methods of Payment Insurance
Payment in advance for services in the event that they are needed
Types of insurance
Group
Private insurance
Federal Medicare and Medicaid programs
States provide worker’s compensation and disability programs

22. Types of Health Insurance

23. Methods of Payment
An insurance company may not pay a certain part of the cost of treatment.
Deductible
Amount paid by patient before insurance company pays
Copayment
Percentage of each transaction to be paid by the insured
Individuals may have coverage from more than one insurance program.
Without insurance, patient is responsible for full payment.

24. Methods of Payment Billing codes
Used to designate the type of treatment and to determine whether coverage is allowed
Diagnostic-related groups (DRGs)
Established by the federal government
Determine a usual, reasonable, and customary (URC) fee for services for Medicare recipients

25. Performance Instruction
All patients should be greeted by name and asked to log in their time of arrival.
Patient may need help with completion of forms.
Use of the telephone
Clerk or receptionist uses the telephone to obtain and give information to patients and other health care professionals.
All information gathered should be repeated to ensure accuracy.
Good communication skills are necessary at all times.

26. Summary
Three personal characteristics of an efficient clerk are the ability to work with various personalities, courtesy, and efficiency.
Five forms used for the medical record are the admission report, graphic sheet, nursing record, laboratory report, and physician orders.

27. Summary
Three methods of payment for health care include fee-for-service, individual, and group insurance.