medical records clerk
Key facts
Are you detail-oriented and enjoy working with information? As a medical records clerk, you play a vital role in healthcare by ensuring medical staff have timely access to accurate patient information, contributing directly to quality patient care.
Medical records clerks are essential members of healthcare teams, responsible for the organization and maintenance of patient records. Your work involves both physical and electronic systems, ensuring information is readily available, secure, and compliant with regulations. You'll often be the point of contact for retrieving records and updating information as needed, supporting doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
- • Organize and maintain both paper and electronic patient records, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- • Transfer patient information from paper records to electronic health record (EHR) systems.
- • Retrieve medical records promptly and efficiently upon request from medical staff.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Health associate professionals — 49 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Bulgaria, Greece, Slovakia.
Longest-running shortage: Bulgaria, 2 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Find your career path and explore the science behind our recommendations.
Could medical records clerk fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
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Future Outlook for medical records clerk
The outlook for medical records clerk reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could medical records clerk change as AI adoption grows?
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could medical records clerk change as AI adoption grows?
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- maintain healthcare user data confidentiality
- follow clinical guidelines
- comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- perform backups
Tasks most exposed to automation
- collect healthcare user's general data
- collect statistics on medical records
- type on electronic devices
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Healthcare & Human Services
A typical day as a medical records clerk
09 09:00 · Morning deliver case notes
10 10:30 · Mid-morning archive healthcare users' records
12 12:00 · Midday collect statistics on medical records
14 14:00 · Afternoon comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice
15 15:30 · Late afternoon collect healthcare user's general data
17 17:00 · Wrap-up display medical problems
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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administrative tasks in a medical environment
The medical administrative tasks such as registration of patients, appointment systems, record keeping of patients information and repeated precribing.
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clinical coding
The matching of clinical statements with standard codes of illnesses and treatments through use of a classification system.
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data storage
The physical and technical concepts of how digital data storage is organised in specific schemes both locally, such as hard-drives and random-access memories (RAM) and remotely, via network, internet or cloud.
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document management
The methodology of tracking, managing and storing documents in a systematic and organised manner as well as keeping a record of the versions created and modified by specific users (history tracking).
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health records management
The procedures and importance of record keeping in a healthcare system such as hospitals or clinics, the information systems used to keep and process records and how to achieve maximum accuracy of records.
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professional documentation in health care
The written standards applied in the health care professional environments for documentation purposes of one`s activity.
- database
- health care legislation
- health care system
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deliver case notes
Deliver the appropriate case notes in a timely manner to those requesting them.
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manage healthcare users' data
Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.
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perform clinical coding procedures
Match and record correctly the specific illnesses and treatments of a patient by using a clinical codes classification system.
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archive healthcare users' records
Properly store the health records of healthcare users, including test results and case notes so that they are easily retrieved when required.
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manage digital archives
Create and maintain computer archives and databases, incorporating latest developments in electronic information storage technology.
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follow clinical guidelines
Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.
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adhere to organisational guidelines
Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
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collect healthcare user's general data
Collect qualitative and quantitative data related to the healthcare user's anagraphic data and provide support on filling out the present and past history questionnaire and record the measures/tests performed by the practitioner.
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collect statistics on medical records
Perform statistical analysis of various medical records of the healthcare facility, referring to the number of hospital admissions, discharges or waiting lists.
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type on electronic devices
Type fast and flawless on electronic devices such as computers in order to ensure a quick and accurate data entry.
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process data
Enter information into a data storage and data retrieval system via processes such as scanning, manual keying or electronic data transfer in order to process large amounts of data.
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display medical problems
Emphasize significant medical issues in a way that the attention of any healthcare professional using the record is directed on them.
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maintain healthcare user data confidentiality
Comply with and maintain the confidentiality of healthcare users` illness and treatment information.
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use electronic health records management system
Be able to use specific software for the management of health care records, following appropriate codes of practice.
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does medical records clerk fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What skills are most important for a medical records clerk?
- Strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and proficiency in computer systems (especially EHR software) are crucial. Good communication skills are also important for interacting with medical staff and ensuring information is accurate.
- Do I need a specific degree to become a medical records clerk?
- While a formal degree isn't always required, some employers prefer candidates with an associate's degree in medical assisting, health information technology, or a related field. On-the-job training is common, and experience with data entry and record management is highly valued.
- How does the shift to electronic health records affect this role?
- The increasing adoption of electronic health records has transformed the role. Medical records clerks now spend more time working with computer systems, scanning documents, and ensuring data accuracy within the EHR. Familiarity with different EHR platforms is a valuable asset.
- Medical Records Clerk — is there a shortage in Europe?
- No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 4 of the 7 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Czechia, Germany, Latvia. 3 countries reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Medical Records Clerk — what does it pay in the United States?
- $50,250 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $27,990 to $72,040. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.
- Medical Records Clerk — is it a regulated profession?
- It is listed as a regulated profession in 3 European countries: Iceland, Norway, Germany. The lowest qualification level required among them is EQF 4. Where a profession is regulated, a qualification earned elsewhere has to be formally recognised before you can practise. Source: EU Regulated Professions Database.