Electronic Health Record Specialist Technician Technical Standards

All individuals, including persons with disabilities, who wish to participate in the Electronic Health Record Specialist Program, must be able to perform specific technical functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

The following information outlines the requirements, abilities, and behavioral characteristics necessary for admission, continued participation, and completion of the Electronic Health Record Specialist Program at Harford Community College (HCC). Students should consult with the non-credit allied health coordinator to discuss any individual situation that may prevent his or her ability to meet the admission criteria or the essential technical standards. Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to meet these essential qualifications for participation in the program.

In order to meet the requirements for admission, perform the skills/duties of a electronic health record specialist technician, and assume the responsibilities of a direct care provider the student must:

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Possess a minimum of a high school diploma or a GED.

• Review the program technical standards and ask questions if unfamiliar with the required activities or functions.

• Decide if he or she has any limitations that may restrict or interfere with the satisfactory performance of any of the requirements.

• Successfully complete prerequisite courses such as, but not limited to, HIPAA Training, Healthcare Job Market Preparation, and Medical Terminology

• Visual—Able to read patient information, reports, books, graphics, etc. from a variety of sources of media. Content may be in fine print, printed format, or less than legible handwriting.

1. Read written instructions.

2. Read comprehend, and acquire information from reports, technical journals, papers, charts, computers, and other modes of delivery.

3. Operate and manipulate equipment as necessary; i.e., computer, telephone, etc.
    

• Hearing—Able to hear and understand faculty, staff, peers, patient/clients, families, and healthcare workers; interpret conversations; and assess/monitor clients.

  1. Communicate and interact with faculty, staff, peers, patients/clients, families, and healthcare workers from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

  2. Follow verbal instructions.

  3. Detect and discriminate between sounds of normal conversation.
      

• Smell—Able to tolerate unpleasant odors related to infections, bad breath, etc.
   

• Mobility—Possess the mobility and strength to move freely in the workplace.

  1. Move quickly from place to place and perform job-related functions.

  2. Stand/sit in an upright position for approximately 8 hours a day

  3. Reach above shoulder height to manipulate equipment and retrieve objects.

  4. Reach below waist level to manipulate equipment and retrieve objects.
      

• Motor Skills (fine and gross)—Perform multiple motor tasks simultaneously. Possess fine and gross motor skills sufficient to handle equipment; awareness of self in relationship to surroundings.

  1. Perform CPR and other basic life support functions.

  2. Operate and manipulate equipment repetitively.

  3. Record patient/client data.
      

• Communication—Able to communicate in English, both orally and in writing, with faculty, staff, peers, clients, families, and healthcare workers.

1. Speak English in a clear and easily understood manner.

2. Write in a manner that is legible.

3. Follow written and verbal instructions

4. Communicate complex information and data through speech and in writing using proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.

5. Use telephone and computer systems accurately and appropriately.
    

• Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities—Able to learn, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate, synthesize, and use data/information.

1. Interpret, problem solve, and demonstrate critical thinking.

2. Apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions

3. Respond to emergencies by processing information consistently, accurately, and quickly.

4. Perform basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division operations.

5. Possess the ability to self-evaluate.
    

• Behavioral and Social Attributes—Possess the emotional health required to use intellectual abilities fully such as exercising good judgment, promptly completing all responsibilities associated with client care, and developing mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with faculty, staff, peers, clients, families, and healthcare workers.

1. Tolerate physically taxing workloads and function effectively under stress.

2. Maintain composure while continuing to function appropriately and professionally in myriad situations.

3. Adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many clients.

4. Demonstrate team playing, compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation during the education process.

5. Recognize emergencies and be able to take the appropriate action.

6. Accept constructive criticism and respond appropriately by modifying behavior.
    

• Ethical Standards—Demonstrate professional demeanor and behavior. Perform in an ethical manner in all dealings with faculty, staff, peers, clients, families, and healthcare workers regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other status protected by law.
   

• Legal Standards—Submit to a criminal background check and/or drug testing as required by policies of the college, clinical facility, and/or regulatory agency. The student is responsible for any cost.