There is a misconception that being a Medical Archivist means just organizing files all day long. Well, this is not at all what we do. The job consists of analyzing a patient's medical file and coding the diseases. We also ensure the protection of the public by limiting access to records to authorized people, according to the legal framework in force.
Being a Medical Archivist is indeed amazing because you are not stuck to only one thing. You can work in the coding section, access to information, or be part of a medical research and contribute to enhance the healthcare system.
The work of a Medical Archivist consists of three main tasks: coding, access to information, and being part of the medical team. In the coding part, we first analyze the patient's medical file, look for omissions, and code the diseases. In the access to information section, we consider the requests by patients or any other person who wants to have access to the information stored in the medical file and decide if we can give them access or not. And finally when we are part of a medical team we help managers to produce statistics or support them in decision-making.
It depends in which section you are working. If you are doing coding, it means you will be analyzing files and coding them whole day and also ensure that you meet the target of the day. Likewise when you are posted to the access to information section you will have to answer the requests made by people who want to get access to information stored in a patien's medical file. And, when you are part of a medical team it means that you will help and support by producing statistics for the establishment.
Medical archivists work in a variety of places, like hospitals, CLSCs, CHSLDs, RAMQ, insurance companies(CNESST) or the SAAQ.
To become a Medical Archivist, you need to complete the medical records program. This requirement is mandatory to get the job.
The average hourly pay for a Medical Archivist is $26.82 an hour.
We do get training by our association in order to be up to date with the new medical technology. As part of our job is to work with laws, we have to stay informed with all the changes that the government is doing. And finally the program gives us the opportunity to follow a one-year training to become an oncology registrar where we mainly deal with the files of cancer patients.
While being a Medical Archivist can be a fulfilling career,there are potential dangers and challenges. These include potentiel burnout due to the demanding nature of the work, the risks associated with handling sensitive patient information, and the potential for musculoskeletal problems from prolonged computer work.
The chances are very low because the analyzing part can be done only by humans and choosing the right disease for coding demands a certain level of comprehension. In addition, helping managers in decision-making is not something that can be replaced by robots.
A medical Archivist can retire at the age of 65 though it may vary based on individual circumstances and employer policies. After all those years working in the medical field am sure we do feel proud of having contributed in the medical sector and helping medical establishments in the right decision-making.
Though am still a medical archives student, I strongly believe that I will make a great career in this sector and perform at the best of my ability. This is because I like this program and my goal is to make a difference in this field. By reading this article, am sure that many of you will have a different perspective of what a Medical Archivist does.
Rationale: to inform or educate
Date: recently published