MEDICAL RECORD ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS AND TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY (HEALTH MANAGEMENT)

Medical record administration programs are placing graduates in settings where knowledge of information technology is vital. As technology changes the way businesses conduct their activities, the educational environment will require parallel changes.;The survey utilized two questionnaires and examined data from accredited medical record administration program directors and medical record departments in selected hospitals. Technological tasks in the areas of electronic information processing, micrographics, and word processing were rated according to degree of importance and information about the curriculum was collected.;Respondents did not agree on the importance of the majority of identified technological tasks. Lack of agreement centered around electronic information processing and micrographics needs and standards and procedures for word processing and micrographics systems.;Automated processes were used by over half the departments surveyed. Patient record components are kept automatically and manually using a variety of electronic equipment. Paper records are in use along with electronic information storage and micrographics.;The problem of the study was to determine the current use of electronic technology and micrographics in medical record administration programs and to evaluate the relevance of the curriculum in the areas of records management, health information management and computers in health care in medical record administration programs.;Medical record administration programs are providing applications experience but no standard across programs exists. More applications experience and automated technology will be incorporated into the curriculum.;Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions are drawn: (1) The curricula of medical record administration programs should include provisions for development of electronic information processing skills. (2) The curricula of medical record administration programs should include provisions for development of micrographics skills. (3) The curricula of medical record administration programs should include provisions for development of word processing skills. (4) There is a lack of coordination between medical record administration program directors and medical record administration practitioners.