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Admitting and Discharge Clerks perform
a variety of clerical and administrative tasks related to patient
admission and discharge. Some of their primary responsibilities include
collecting personal information from new patients, ensuring proper
insurance information is provided, and recording relevant medical history.
When patients are discharged, these clerks make sure that all entries in
the patients medical record are accurate and complete. Other duties may
include assigning beds based on diagnosis and condition, sending patient
charts to the nursing units, using computers to compile information more
proficiently, and providing patients with identification wristbands for
safety and security purposes. Admitting and discharge clerks must also
abide by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA),
which protects patient confidentiality. Anyone interested in this career
should possess patience, excellent communication and organizational
skills, and a willingness to learn.
Work Environment:
Admitting and
discharge clerks may work in a number of different health care delivery
facilities. Some of the most popular places of employment are hospitals,
clinics, insurance companies, doctors offices, local or state health
departments, group medical practices, and medical research departments.
High School Preparation:
Individuals interested in a career as a
admitting and discharge clerk should take high school courses in algebra,
biology, office procedures, social studies, health occupations/medical
professions education, computer skills, typing, literature, English,
sociology, psychology, anatomy, government, history, and data processing.
College Requirements:
Admitting and
discharge clerks must have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Most
employers prefer individuals with some college coursework in a health
related area and/or general office procedures and 1-2 years of experience.
While there is no formal certification required for admitting and
discharge clerks, some clerks may be Certified Medical Assistants (CMA) or
Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT).
Students
interested in this line of work should contact schools for information on
admission and course of study.
For educational institutions in
Mississippi
offering this course of study click here.
Career Outlook:
Employment opportunities for admitting
and discharge clerks should be good over the next decade. The aging
baby-boom generation will increase the number of patients that hospitals
and clinics will have to process, which will increase the demand for these
administrative professionals. There will also be an increase in the number
of job openings due to people retiring or leaving the profession for other
careers. Because this is an entry-level position, and turnover in this
sector remains fairly high, job opportunities should climb steadily over
the next 10 - 15 years.
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Salary:
Average Annual Salary
$26,400
Salary Range
$17,900 - $35,100
Professional Organizations:
American Health Information Management
Association
233 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2150
Chicago, IL
60601-5800
Phone: (312) 233-1100
Fax: (312) 233-1090
www.ahima.org
Mississippi Health Information Association
P. O. Box 3251
Ridgeland, MS 39158
Phone: (601) 856-3927
www.mshima.org
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