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What are the Different Records Clerk Jobs?
The records clerk job description generally involves the administrative duties of filing and retrieving documents and information, often of a sensitive nature. There are different record clerk jobs, depending on the industry in which the clerk is employed. Each industry requires a different skill set from its records clerks.
Most commonly known are the medical records clerk jobs. These workers handle sensitive patient information and must ensure patient privacy. Health records clerk jobs involve collating, organizing, retrieving and filing patient medical records. They may also serve at the front desk, greeting patients and accepting co-payments.
Attention to detail is needed for in a medical records clerk job. Any missed information in a patient’s record can lead to serious health complications. Medical records clerk jobs often lead to billing and medical coding jobs.
Record clerk jobs in law enforcement are also common. The duties include more administrative duties than in medical records clerk jobs. Not only will these clerks maintain criminal files, jail records and prisoner records, they also perform secretarial duties like transcription of officer records, data entry and generating reports when needed. Mail and front desk duties may also be included.
Legal records clerks perform duties similar to a paralegal. They will create, deliver, retrieve and index records and prepare files for storage. Understanding of records management software may be needed and the job may involve traveling to offsite locations for long-term storage of closed case files. These records clerk jobs can often lead to paralegal positions.
Records clerk jobs at government agencies involve handling public records and court documents as they relate to the local town, county or state. These workers may be responsible for filing and retrieving birth and death certificates, marriage licenses and notices of divorce. Title clerks often handle records of ownership for government entities.
Records file clerk jobs can also involve the scanning and indexing of electronic documents. When sensitive documents are transferred to electronic format, they must be destroyed to ensure private records are not made public. This may be accomplished through private recycling programs or through document shredding.
Private corporations also have records clerk jobs to handle sensitive corporate documents. The position involves records keeping along with administrative and accounting skills. These workers must maintain customer accounts, track billing and receipts along with employee files. Some records clerk jobs involve the responsibility of creating annual reports, online corporate filings, accounting and executive transactions.
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![Medical records clerks must be attentive to detail to make sure nothing is missing from patients' files.]()
By: andreiorlovMedical records clerks must be attentive to detail to make sure nothing is missing from patients' files. -
![Record clerks may be responsible for inputting data into a computerized database.]()
By: Konstantin SutyaginRecord clerks may be responsible for inputting data into a computerized database. -
![A records clerk may need to use equipment such as a photocopier during the course of their work.]()
By: AmakarA records clerk may need to use equipment such as a photocopier during the course of their work. -
![A records clerk may be responsible for tracking receipts and maintaining customer accounts.]()
By: Renee JansoaA records clerk may be responsible for tracking receipts and maintaining customer accounts. -
![Medical records contain information about a patient's health and medical treatment history.]()
By: Monkey BusinessMedical records contain information about a patient's health and medical treatment history.
Discussion Comments
@seag47 – I have held several records clerk jobs, but I never had the courage to work in a doctor's office. I was too afraid of getting sick by constant exposure to germs!
I currently work at a newspaper. I keep track of all of our customers who have subscriptions, and I send out notices by mail when their subscriptions are about to expire. I also send out bills.
Like your sister, I also update customers' information. They tell me if their addresses or phone numbers have changed, and I make note of this.
I scan all receipts into the computer, and all of our files are electronic, so storing the information is easy. The only disadvantage to this is that if the electricity goes out during a storm, we cannot access any of our files.
I remember speaking to a records clerk at the courthouse when my husband and I went to apply for a marriage license. She sat down with us and typed in all our information.
She had to ask us a lot of questions. I remember thinking it was odd that she needed to know both of our mothers' maiden names. We also had to show her our driver's licenses and birth certificates.
Our state has a three day waiting period from the time you apply and the time you can pick up your marriage license. After three days, I went back to her, and she retrieved the license for me. She had notarized and signed it.
Medical records clerks stay pretty busy every day. My sister works in a doctor's office, and she has the responsibility of keeping up with any changes in a patient's file.
If someone comes in and has a new address or different insurance, she has to record this on their file. If someone has gotten married since their last visit, she has to make sure their last name gets changed in their record.
She takes the physical file that the nurse hands her after a visit and enters the information into the system. She records any medications that the patient is on and any allergies they might have. If the doctor has requested a follow-up visit, she must speak to the patient when he comes out of the exam room and set up an appointment for him.
She comes home pretty mentally drained at the end of each day. She still says it is better than being bored at her job, though.
I was able to get a job as a records clerk at a veterinary office where my sister was the office manager. Even though I had no prior experience, the necessary skills were easy to learn.
The vet had not yet converted to electronic records, so I had to write everything down on forms and file the records away in paper folders. Each folder had a label on the tab with the patient's name, and I had to file them alphabetically on a shelf.
While I was still employed there, he decided to make the switch to electronic records. I had to type in all the information from each file into our computer, and it took months, because I also had to answer phones and make appointments.
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