THE JOB

Medical Transcriptionist are medical language specialists who interpret and transcribe dictation by physicians and other healthcare professionals about patient assessment, workup, therapeutic procedures, clinical course, diagnosis, prognosis and other medical processes. Their work documents patient care and facilitates delivery of healthcare services. They edit dictated material for grammar and clarity.

Medical Transcriptionist may transcribe (type) directly from voice recordings heard through earphones. While a variety of equipment is still used to convert spoken words to hard copy medical reports, most Transcriptionists today do their work on computers.

Dictation may include pathology and radiology reports, operative reports, letters, discharge summaries, outpatient, and death summaries. Other types of dictated materials include patient histories, physicals, consultations, and progress reports. Transcriptionists are responsible for correct format, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. They are expected to be thoroughly familiar with medical terminology so that they can distinguish between terms that sound alike but are spelled differently, and to recognize inconsistencies and mistakes in medical terms. To achieve accuracy in their reports, Transcriptionists need to have a working knowledge of medical reference materials to aid them in the completion of the typed records. They often use an English dictionary, a medical dictionary, a drug reference, and other sources on anatomy, physiology, and medicine. Transcriptionists must be able to edit the dictated material so that it is consistent and understandable without changing the meaning. They listen to the dictated information and interpret and transcribe well-organized medical reports on patient care and treatment.

Experienced Medical Transcriptionist may supervise other Transcriptionists and may provide assistance to co-workers with difficult assignments.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Medical Transcriptionist usually work alone at individual work stations in comfortable offices. The work may require long hours of sitting. A great degree of concentration is required because of the potentially serious effect that transcription errors could have on a patient's care. Speed is also required for prompt placement of information in hospital reports, or patients' charts. Production standards are often set by employers for performance evaluation, and some employers base pay on production.

Jobs are found in many types of establishments including public and private medical clinics, hospitals, medical centers, extended-care facilities, medical research groups, and city and state health departments. Other places of employment are pharmaceutical houses, physicians' offices, public and private health organizations, and firms that provide medical transcription services.

EMPLOYMENT

Qualified Medical Transcriptionist are always needed. This need should grow as health care expands to cover the medical needs of an increased aging population and the greater number of workers and their dependents covered by health insurance programs. Applicant shortages often exist for job openings for the second and third shifts.

Experienced Transcriptionists will be the most successful in finding employment. If you are intersted in Medical Transcription Jobs click here to apply.