Medical Transcription - A Profession Whose Time Has Come

Medical Transcription is the process of interpreting and transcribing the dictation made by healthcare professionals, such as doctors, regarding patient status, treatment procedures, prognoses, diagnoses etc.

The Medical Transcriptionist may also edit the text that is produced by voice recognition software, and requires extensive knowledge of medical pharmacological and anatomical terms.

Medical Transcriptionists in the past would listen to dictations and type it themselves, but with voice recognition software this has become mostly unnecessary. Today the medical transcriptionist usually just edits the output of the software which can range from a few corrections to major changes, because voice recognition software still has not been perfected.

The purpose of medical transcription and the medical transcriptionist remains the same as it was in earlier times, to keep a record of a patient's medical status and treatment. Ancient medical transcription has been noted as writing on ancient cave walls and in documents of lost civilizations.

Not until the late 20th century was Medical Transcription recognized as a profession. Prior to that those that did Medical Transcription were given menial labels such as typists, medical secretaries, dictating machine operators, or word processors.

For those who practice medical transcription, this was and is a highly unjustified job title since the profession requires a wide knowledge of highly technical medical terms. Thus, in 1999, MedicalTranscription was assigned its own job classification and those practicing it were officially called Medical Transcriptionists.

The profession of Medical Transcription has basically been underground, and most people have not heard about it. Nonetheless, Medical Transcription is essential in the ever growing health care industry.

Health care staff do not have the time to write every single bit of information they gather from patients. As a result, the demand for qualified Medical Transcriptionist professionals is rapidly growing, in addition to the fact of the increasing numbers of new medical procedures coming into the mainstream, doctors simply don't have the time to personally transcribe all their findings.

The profession of Medical Transcription is very versatile as well. After a few years of education, Medical Transcriptionists can acquire work from medical transcription firms who receive dictations made by doctors and turn these orders over to medical transcriptionists to be transcribed.

As part of that versatility, a Medical Transcriptionist may be able to work full or part-time from home. The American Association for Medical Transcription is the governing body in the United States that certifies Medical Transcriptionists.

Although you may not need certification to work as one, a certification from the AAMT will certainly increase you're "market value" and credibility.

Medical Transcription has grown out of its infancy of merely listening and transcribing the words dictated by a doctor. Medical Transcription has matured and now requires specific education and knowledge regarding medical language, Greek and Latin prefixes and suffixes, physical anatomy, physiology, disease processes, medical science and procedures, medical instruments, pharmacology, laboratory instruments, laboratory test results, medical reference material techniques and many, many more.

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Medical Transcriptionist Schools

Due to the growth in healthcare services, there is a growing need for medical transcription. It is advisable for a student interested in pursuing this profession to get a certificate from one of the accredited universities.

A certificate in medical transcription, CMT, is awarded by The American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT). Since medicine is a continuously changing sphere, medical transcriptionists are expected to keep their skills updated, so this certificate needs to be renewed every three years. A person who wants to do a certificate course in medical transcription can either enroll in one of the schools or colleges offering this course or enroll online and learn from home.

There are several nationally recognized medical transcription online certification courses available. This includes a medical terminology course at no additional cost. All materials required for this course are included in this online certification program, which is only presented in affiliation with some of the main colleges and universities. Penn Foster's is one such online training program.

University of Phoenix Online, American Inter Continental University Online, Virginia College Online are some of the other renowned colleges and universities offering online medical transcription courses. Ashford University and Kennedy-Western University are accredited universities.

Upon successful completion of the approved medical terminology and transcription course, the student is expected to be able to understand the importance of the classified nature of medical reports. They are supposed to know the content and purpose of the reports. They have to transcribe medical reports with correct report formatting and grammatical correctness. They have to properly spell words that are complicated medical terminologies. They are also supposed to have very good computer skills and should be aware of the software.

These schools sharpen administrative skills, provide the clinical knowledge needed, and enhance communication skills. They are stepping stones to the world of medical transcription.

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Medical Transcriptionist Online

Medical transcription is a career that involves creating lucid and readable medical documents from the audio tapes on which the doctors have made notes. These documents are then used for keeping medical records and insurance reimbursement.

It is important for the transcriptionist to be able to understand medical terminology, physiology, human anatomy, pharmacology and diagnosis. They must also be able to understand and translate abbreviations and medical jargon into their expanded forms. They should be able to apply the particular principles that are involved with medical records. They should also ensure the legal and ethical necessities required for keeping patient information confidential.

Most health care services pass on audio transcript to medical transcriptionists using digital or analog dictating equipment. The Internet is a very convenient and popular medium for transmitting notes. Transcriptionists obtain dictations over the net and are able to promptly send the transcribed documents to clients.

Medical transcriptionists work by initially listening to recordings on a headset and using a foot pedal to pause the recording when required. They type the text onto a personal computer or word processor, editing for grammar. The documents they mainly write include history of patient, consultation reports, physical examination reports, diagnostic imaging and even operative reports. They are also expected to produce discharge summaries, autopsy reports, progress notes and referral letters. The documents are then sent back to the client and once approved are filed among the permanent documents of the patient.

Another method uses speech recognition technology, which translates sound into text and creates drafts of the reports. This is most often done electronically. These reports need to be formatted, edited and checked for any medical mistakes. Medical fields using standardized terminology, such as pathology or radiology, benefit the most from speech recognition technology. Speech recognition technology is expected to become more popular once it becomes more sophisticated and advanced.

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Medical Transcriptionist Job Openings

Medical Transcription is a career that is emerging as a big job provider for many. It is not a traditional job or a desk-bound 9 to 5 job. There are avenues by which transcriptionists can work from the confines of their homes, do part time jobs or freelance. It has lot of flexibility as far as working hours are concerned.

A medical transcriptionist is part of a health care team. Their knowledge of, physiology, anatomy, medical terminology and medical record make them important to any physician. These skills are in demand and also can allow someone to earn a lot of money. Transcriptionists are generally employed in hospitals, by physicians, in transcription service offices and other such places. Experienced medical transcriptionists progress to supervisory and managerial positions. They are also in a position to freelance from home and do editing, consulting or teaching in the various accredited schools. Some further educate themselves and train to become medical coders, medical records and health information technicians and administrators.

Job opportunities, in the coming years, are expected to rise for medical transcriptionists. Their employment is predicted to grow faster than the average for all occupations. It is expected that jobs for medical transcriptionists will increase to a high of 23% by 2012. The demand for transcription services will increase because of a growing aging population. Older age groups usually receive more medical diagnostic tests, treatments, and medicine trials that require recording. Thus, more transcriptionists will be needed to revise patient records, amend records from speech recognition systems, and recognize discrepancies in medical reports.

Medical transcriptionists earned $13.64 for an hour in 2004. The highest 10 percent earned $19.11. Average hourly earnings were $13.83. In the offices of physicians and in business support services, they were paid an average of $13.40, hourly.

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Medical Transcription - Tips On Finding The Best Training

If you're considering a career in medical transcription, you may be wondering where you can find training. The fact is that you'll find plenty of training options, from hands-on schools with required classes to attend to online or correspondence courses. The problem is not in finding training options, but in finding the best training.

Start by looking at the school's reputation with former students. Having one or two posted statements by former students probably isn't sufficient. After all, you can't even be certain those students actually graduated from that training or that their statements are accurate. Anyone can post a glowing review on a website. Ask to talk to some graduates of the program. Remember that the people you call will have been screened by the training program and will have pledged to give good reviews, but you can still ask some pertinent questions that will help you make your decisions.

You should also take a close look at the amount of automated material you'll be handling and whether any of your time will be spent with real people who can offer personal training, feedback and advice. Its fine to take some automated tests and there's no doubt that computerized activities are an excellent source of practice and training. But when you finish an automated test with a score of 70, you may be upset that you didn't do better. When you're talking to those real people, you may find that most people have trouble with that particular exercise or given some real advice that will help you do better on future exams. Computerized work has its place, but shouldn't be 100 percent of your training.

Help in finding work after you've completed the medical transcription course is also a big incentive to choose a particular training option. In some cases, the training may include access to a website, newsletter or job positing forum that unites medical transcriptionists with potential employers. Whether you're looking for a full-time job in a health care facility or planning to use your knowledge to start a home-based business, your training will be useless without clients or an employer. Look for training opportunities that can help you past handing you a certificate of completion.

Convenience may very well be the deciding factor for some people. If you're already working a full time (or even part time) job, juggling demands of family and still trying to make some time for yourself, you probably already know that having time for school is going to be difficult. If this is the case, consider online training. You can study at your own rate. Don't have time during the week? Spend some of your weekend hours on your training materials. Just remember that the training won't finish itself and you have to make the commitment to complete the work if you want to start this exciting new career.

There are plenty of options when it comes to training for a medical transcription career. All you need to do is find the one that's perfect for you.

Visit Medical Transcriptionist | Transcriptionist or Transcription for more information on a career in Medical Transcription.

Getting Hired as a Medical Transcriptionist

So you've gone through training as a medical transcriptionist and you're ready to work. Surely someone will hire you!

This may be the hardest part if your school does not offer job placement assistance or if you studied on your own. Not all or even many companies hire inexperienced medical transcriptionists. It can pay, however, to check with companies whose listed requirements you do not meet due to lack of experience. Some may make exceptions if you can pass their test.

Testing is a quick way for a company to find out what your skill level is. If the company is local, they may test you at their location; distant companies may send out a test or have you test online. No matter how the test is performed, don't rush, and make sure to check your work.

A good school will help you with finding companies willing to test and hire you.

You will want to have some idea as to the schedule you will be willing to work. I would suggest being available for at least 20 hours per week. Some companies may require that you stick to a schedule, so be realistic about the hours you can work. Don't assume that any children you may have will cooperate or that naps will always be a particular length. You'll have an advantage if they are in school, but otherwise, be ready to work at night or early in the morning when the children are asleep. You will need peace and quiet to be able to understand some of the doctors.

Be careful when you choose an employer, as there are scam companies in this field, just as in many other work at home opportunities. Some companies out there claim to hire completely inexperienced people and train them as medical transcriptionists, but so far I have not heard of one that was not a scam. The catch is that you can never meet their standards to become a paid employee. Don't fall for it.

Fortunately, there are plenty of good companies out there. With outsourcing to other countries it can be a little rougher than it used to be, but the jobs are still out there. If your school offers help in landing that first job, take their help. Some only include it with their more expensive plans, so you want to think ahead even before you begin training.

All is not lost if you don't have help finding that first job. Research medical transcription employers and ask on medical transcription forums about companies willing to hire new graduates. Check with local doctors, dentists, chiropractors, etc. The jobs are out there, it just takes a little effort to find them.

Stephanie Foster writes about her experience in medical transcription at http://www.homewiththekids.com/medical-transcription/. You can learn more about landing your first medical transcription job at her site.

HOW TO SUCCEED AS A MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST

Presently, there is a substantial need for good transcriptionists who are knowledgeable, accurate, hardworking, smart, dedicated and dependable, and this need exists daily. A professional MT, even one just beginning, is expected to have a certain level of required medical, language, and technical knowledge and skills along with the necessary typing acuity to perform the job. The bottom line is that knowledge and skills are constants. Will there come a time when hands-on medical transcriptionists will not be needed, that the MT will be completely replaced by computers and voice recognition systems? While that possibility exists, it is not seen in the immediate future.

Facts: Medical transcription has evolved into a highly skilled subspecialty of medicine requiring proficiency in the knowledge of medical language and technical skills, and today?s marketplace commands the successful MT to possess a variety of skills, which includes use of the Internet. The difference between a transcriptionist and a good transcriptionist is the extra mile taken to ensure the accuracy of document information and presentation. Job proficiency is the name of the yardstick and you will be measured by it.

Hiring facilities view MT candidates as having a variety of talents, assets and characteristics. Your proficiency in the real world is measured by your proficiency to get the job done accurately and in a timely manner. Your work will be monitored and you will have regular performance reviews wherever you work, so performing your best is always a top priority. It pays to persevere, and learning what you don?t know will only help you in the long run.

Secrets: Repetition is a key factor in mastering listening skills. As much as possible, listen repeatedly whenever encountering an unfamiliar word or phrase. Transcription speed is built on abbreviated keystrokes, which save time and enhance your ability to make more money. Always find ways to improve your knowledge and technical skills, because learning occurs daily. As technology advances, you will be expected to know how to use and integrate these changes into a facility?s system.

Expand your knowledge. Get to know other transcriptionists and network often, if not daily. Reach outside your comfort zone. Choose an area of particular interest and become an ?expert? in that area. While the road may be tedious in the beginning, ultimately rewards do come. If you promise 24-hour turnaround, deliver it. Honor and meet whatever commitments you agree to with your client. As you continue in your career, the likelihood of greater demands and expectations made upon you increases, so practice often and keep your knowledge current.

Conclusion: Commitment and determination lead to a successful career. Be willing to take the steps necessary to complete the required learning, to compete in a market that strives for excellence and rewards it, and to invest time, energy and sincere efforts toward excellence.

Medical Transcriptionist - A Closer Look

Medical Transcriptionist jobs have been around since doctors first took the Hippocratic Oath. Ancient cave writings indicate that records of what medical treatments were being performed have been kept for thousands of years. Back then, it was for different reasons but today, medical transcription and in particular, the medical transcriptionist profession has been quietly taking steps forward and is "suddenly" making itself known to the world.

In a nutshell, a Medical Transcriptionist transcribes dictated matter by phone or from electronically recorded messages by doctors, nurses or other health care professionals, into records of treatments, procedures and up to date patient status reports.

Surprisingly, Medical Transcription wasn't "official" recognized as a profession until 1999 when finally; the United States Department of Labor assigned the profession its' own job code, in order to monitor statistics about the field. Until that point, medical transcriptionist jobs were unjustly given the title of medical secretary or typists.

Today, the American Association for Medical Transcription, which overlooks the profession, administers testing and upon passing the test you earn the title, "Certified Medical Transcriptionist" (CMT) which lends additional credibility to your knowledge, skills and abilities over those that are uncertified. Although certification isn't required for gainful employment, CMT status certainly has its' advantages like; the assurance to your employer that you are highly qualified and this in turn, increases your "market value" as an employee.

Medical Transcriptionist take on the role of converting the spoken words, of health care professionals, into written text either as hard or soft copy. But of course, with the dawn of new technology, this task is becoming increasingly less time consuming per unit produced. A good example is the ever-increasing use of voice recognition software.

Sounds great but the questions arises, if technology is transforming the profession now, then will technology transform the profession to such an extent anytime in the foreseeable future that it more or less makes the role of humans in the profession obsolete? I think the best way to respond is by using an example. Has the technological advances in every aspect of the medical profession reduced the role and importance of doctors and nurses? The answer to that question is clear and the same applies to the field of medical transcription.

Although transcription programs continue to evolve and become more and more adapt they will never be able to replace the trained human mind. They certainly allow for aspects of the translation process to speed up but they will never be able to compensate for all the differences in diction styles like accents, grammar, pronunciation and the list is as varied as the doctors doing the dictation.

Basically, the evolving transcription software programs are simply a tool but like all tools they are only as good as the skilled craftsman using them. In fact, because of these software shortcomings, transcriptionists need to be very adept at editing; especially in the correct use of grammar and the ability to proofread. And because most transcriptions start via the recorded message listening and strong keyboard skills are becoming more and more an essential.

Sure, voice recognition software has made the whole transcription process easier than it was in the past. Back "in the old days" when a medical transcriptionists had to listen to every single word and then transcribe it via stenograph, by long hand or more recently into a word processor but thanks to technology the editing skills mentioned above are becoming increasingly more important because voice recognition software is taking over more and more of the tedious hand entry portion of the job.

Medical Transcriptionist job training covers a wide curriculum including general knowledge of a wide variety of medical topics like medical language, Greek and Latin prefixes and suffixes, biology, anatomy and physiology body systems. A medical transcriptionist also needs to have a fair knowledge in diseases; how they progress and how they are treated because this process makes up a large portion of the medical dictations that they are responsible for transcribing.

In addition, medical science, surgery, surgical procedures and terminologies, surgical and laboratory instruments are also an important part of the transcriptionists knowledge set. And, if that's not enough prosthetics, pharmacology, laboratory test results and their interpretation must also be understood and mastered. As you can see, a medical transcriptionists knowledge base must be wide and deep.

Medical transcriptionist jobs can be applied in a variety of health care settings, either as full time employees of firms that are need of these kinds of services to doctors and other healthcare professionals or as part time transcriptionists that from home for private clients.

This article may be reproduced only in its entirety. Kevin Erickson is an entrepreneur and writer. For other articles he's written visit: Medical Transcriptionist | Online Paralegal Program | Online Nursing Program