Working remote as a medical records specialist
Is working from home here to stay?
According to 2023 data, 63 percent of medical records specialists work remotely. Historically, remote coding and billing opportunities were reserved for only the most experienced employees. Before 2020, medical records specialists working remotely held at 30 to 33 percent, according to AAPC’s annual salary reports.
How COVID-19 influenced remote work
The COVID-19 pandemic beginning in early 2020 propelled the widespread adoption of remote work. Rapid global spread and infection of a little-understood virus at the time shuttered onsite transactions for countless businesses of every size and form as the epidemiology and infectious disease community scrambled to learn more about the disease. This forced businesses to carefully rethink how to manage everyday duties without sacrificing quality.
Throughout the pandemic, employers have learned how to perform business functions in ways that not only reduce disease spread (of all types of infections), but also reduce office overhead and operation costs. This in turn has created a sought-after employee benefit in the form of remote work.
What 2023 data tells us about remote work
Employers of medical coders, billers, and other healthcare business professionals are part of the remote work trend, as shown by a whopping 63.3 percent of the AAPC 2023 Salary Survey respondents reporting that they work remotely full time. As recently as 2017, approximately 70 percent of medical records specialists worked exclusively at an onsite office.
Work location | Percent of Respondents |
|---|---|
Full-time remote | 63.3% |
Full-time on-site | 21.5% |
Hybrid (remote + on-site) | 15.3% |
More than a convenience
A remote position can provide employees with even more savings than the paycheck itself. Consider that remote work cuts down on commuting costs, the need to buy business professional clothing and accessories, and the temptation to spend money for lunches out. Remote work may also lead to improved work-life balance with reduced commute times.