MEDICAL RECORDS TECHNICIAN
Medical Records Technician is a non-competitive state or local civil service title, so there is no ranked exam. You qualify by meeting the stated education and experience.
The FY 2027 range lands between $53,282 and $77,371, and state payroll currently lists about 15 people in the title, most of them at Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 2 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 2 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Medical Records Technician appears on the State payroll at 2 departments, most of them at Department of Health.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Health | 12 |
| Department of Human Services | 3 |
Where this title is used
Medical Records Technician is a common title, so it is used in both State and local service. The local side is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, which set their own pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule.
Check whether an employer is a civil service jurisdiction · How local civil service works
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 15 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $70,099. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (12)
- Human Services (3)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the direction of a Medical Records Supervisor in a State department responsible for patient/client medical records, or in a local medical/health institution, codes, indexes and files medical records, abstracts data for case summaries, and maintains files in current condition; does other related work.
Examples of work
- As assigned, reviews medical records for completeness and accuracy according to the standards established by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals and the Department of Human Services; obtains the signature, reports, and other items required to complete the records.
- May supervise a major activity in the processing and maintenance of medical records; may schedule and assign clerical personnel to provide continuous service to hospital staff.
- Evaluates record-keeping and filing procedures and recommends changes to expedite record processing; participates in the development of new procedures.
- Compiles medical records to provide complete information to professional staff as requested; compiles, computes, and prepares reports of a statistical nature in relation to the medical records program.
- Supervises the checking in and out of medical records, consults with professional and medical staff in the review and analysis of clinical records; supervises the medical records unit in the absence of higher level supervision.
- Abstracts medical data for reports; approves release of routine medical records information, requisitions needed supplies and equipment for the daily operation of the unit.
- Codes diseases, operations, and special treatment according to standard nomenclature and classification systems.
- Cross-indexes and supervises the cross-indexing of diseases, operations, and other special study materials.
- Notifies supervisor of inaccurate or unusual information.
- Selects and tabulates data from patients' charts for research; abstracts case histories for special reports.
- Prepares narrative and statistical presentation as required.
- Completes statistical reports.
- Assists in designing medical record forms to fit special needs.
- Maintains the patient register, index and other special files.
- Codes psychiatric diagnoses.
- Answers inquiries regarding information recorded in patients' charts in accordance with hospital policies and state regulations.
- Assists in developing, coordinating, and supervising the duties of the clerical personnel in the Medical Records Department.
- Reviews all medical records of discharged patients for completeness.
- Acts as the representative of the hospital or clinic in court and in other medical-legal activities as may be required.
- Maintains and utilizes a variety of health record indexes, storage and retrieval systems, including automated data processing systems.
- Supervises the disposal and/or destruction of medical records.
- Supervises the maintenance of essential medical records and files.
- May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the medical record keeping principles and practices including standard nomenclature and classifications.
- Knowledge of the uses and limitations of primary and secondary medical records, indices, and classification systems.
- Knowledge of medical terminology.
- Ability to read, interpret and apply laws and regulations affecting medical care records and activities.
- Ability to organize assigned technical work, analyze the problems arising therein, and develop effective work methods.
- Ability to assist in the supervision of medical record department of a hospital.
- Ability to provide assignments and instructions to subordinate staff and to supervise the performance of their work.
- Ability to participate in and supervise the review, coding and indexing of patients' records and the abstracting of data for reports.
- Ability to provide information in accordance with hospital policies and state regulations.
- Ability to prepare correspondence.
- Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative statistical and other reports.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, physicians, other hospital personnel, and the general public.
- Ability to establish and maintain medical record files.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Certification as a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) may be substituted for the above certification.
CERTIFICATION
Certification as a Registered Health Information Technician by the American Health Information Management Association.