Electronic medical records, or EMRs, are one of the most significant and innovative applications of information technology to date. Its prevalence radically altered the medical community and created the field of health informatics. Not only has EMR had a significant impact in the medical world, it has also made an impact on the U.S. economy as well.
EMR-certified IT professionals are needed as healthcare providers work to comply with federal mandates that require them to demonstrate the meaningful use of electronic medical or health records. Those who don’t comply will be financially penalized when it comes to being reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid. The penalty in 2018 was a 4% reduction in reimbursements.
While the healthcare industry was initially slow to embrace electronic medical records in the past, the current demand for EMR-certified professions is unlikely to lag any time in the near future. Employment prospects are strong for professionals with knowledge of both healthcare and information technology.
Career Outlook
EMR certification is a requirement for a number of positions in the field of health informatics, the specialized discipline that applies modern technology and research methods to the healthcare industry. Electronic medical records contain provider-specific patient histories, while their more advanced permutation, electronic health records (EHR), detail patients’ entire health and medical histories.
While a background in healthcare may prove helpful in EMR careers, it’s not strictly necessary. EMR jobs consist of duties as various as data conversion, product development, information analytics, nursing informatics, staff instruction and training, technical writing, sales, IT support and design or implementation of information and computer systems.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an 8% rate of growth in employment opportunities for medical records and health information technicians through 2032, a higher rate of growth than the national average of 4% across all occupations.*
Salary Range
The salary of EMR careers will vary based on a number of factors such as physical location, education, the type of healthcare facility and the exact scope of the job. As this is a field where duties and titles can vary greatly, so can the pay.
BLS reports an average annual wage of $48,780 for medical records and health information technicians as of May 2023.* However, careers on the information technology and systems side are commonly more lucrative, according to the BLS. For instance, the BLS reports that computer and information systems managers earned a median annual wage of $169,510, and database administrators earned an median annual wage of $101,510, as of May 2023.*
In cases like this, personal research into the specific role and the local job market for the most accurate, up-to-date and complete information should be done. While national salary and employment data can offer valuable insight into market conditions, they do not necessarily correlate directly with local or regional data.
Joining the Ranks of EMR-Certified Professionals
EMR workers possess as broad a range of degrees, training, and professional experience as their various salaries indicate. Many are experienced healthcare providers with associate’s, bachelor’s, or advanced degrees in nursing or health informatics; many others hold bachelor’s or master’s degrees in information technology and work toward eventually becoming more senior-level roles such as: Chief Medical Information Officer.
Today’s medical or IT professionals interested in joining the ranks of EMR professionals may want to consider enrolling in one of the graduate level EMR-certificate courses or health informatics degree programs now available at colleges and universities across the country. The medical school at University of South Florida offers a master’s degree or graduate certificate in health informatics, which includes EMR training, in a 100% online environment.
Prospective students seeking EMR education should ensure that their programs of choice include coursework in leadership and communication skills; data entry and conversion; medical terminology and ethics; compliance monitoring; and IT/computer systems technology and applications. Interpersonal intelligence, patience and a solid understanding of the U.S. healthcare infrastructure should also prove useful in the years to come, as they enter the workforce and usher in higher standards of clinical care.
*National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Information provided is not intended to represent a complete list of hiring companies or job titles, and degree program options do not guarantee career or salary outcomes. Students should conduct independent research on specific employment information.
