Everything You Need to Know About Medical Transcription
Health care laws require doctors and medical staff to keep an accurate health record of each patient. Doctors and medical staff record medical information and the recordings are transcribed by medical transcribers. As more people require medical services, the need for medical transcription services will also increase and qualified medical transcribers will be in high demand.
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Identification
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Medical transcribers are employed by hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices and transcription companies. They play an important role in helping medical professionals maintain accurate medical records of their patients' treatments, medical history and exams. Medical transcription training is available through colleges, technical schools and correspondence courses. While medical transcribers are not required to be licensed, employers often seek medical transcribers that have obtained a professional designation from the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI).
Function
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Medical transcribers require a variety of skills in order to do their work. They use knowledge of medical terms and procedures to understand the voice files. Keyboarding skills and knowledge of transcription equipment and computers enables them to accurately transcribe the recordings. They must also be skilled at using a foot pedal to stop and rewind the audio files. Finally, they must be able to proofread, edit and format medical reports by using grammar skills and knowledge of medical forms. In addition to these skills, medical transcribers must be detail oriented and have the ability to work independently in order to research medical terms, follow directions and produce accurate medical documents.
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Types
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There are two types of professional designations offered by the AHDI. The Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) designation is awarded to professionals that pass the certification exam and meet the experience requirements. Medical transcribers must have a minimum of two years experience transcribing medical center dictation and a passing score on the certification exam to receive this designation. Continuing education courses are required for certification renewal every three years. Transcription professionals that have completed a training program, but do not have the two years of transcription experience can obtain the Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) designation by passing a certification exam.
Potential
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The demand for qualified medical transcription professionals is expected to increase despite the use of voice recognition software and overseas transcription services. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities are expected to increase by 14 percent through the year 2016.
The Internet and the use of digital audio files will also increase the number of work-at-home opportunities as more medical facilities seek ways to outsource this work.
Benefits
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The pay in this field is based on production. Medical transcribers are often paid per line or for the hours of dictated medical recordings they transcribe. As of August 2009, a trained medical transcriber could earn as much as $44,325 annually, according to Salary.com. As medical transcribers gain experience, they have an opportunity to increase their earnings and start their own businesses.
Most medical transcribers are hired by transcription companies as independent contractors. This allows them the flexibility to decide when and where they work.
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