Medical Transcriptionist
A Medical Transcriptionist, also known as a medical language specialist, plays a crucial role in the healthcare documentation process by transcribing medical reports from recordings made by physicians during examinations, surgeries, and other procedures. Their work involves converting these recordings into clear and accurate written documents that are added to patients' medical records. Specialized training in medical terminology, anatomy, and various medical procedures is essential for this role, as transcriptionists must ensure the accuracy of the transcriptions and be familiar with healthcare privacy laws like HIPAA.
Medical transcriptionists generally work in hospitals, clinics, or private offices, but self-employed individuals may work from home. The job typically requires a postsecondary non-degree award in medical transcription or related fields, with duties that may vary depending on their area of specialization, such as radiology or pathology. Although the outlook for employment in this field is projected to decline, opportunities may still arise due to retirements. Successful medical transcriptionists tend to be detail-oriented and possess strong typing and grammar skills, as well as proficiency with various transcription tools and software.
Medical Transcriptionist
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Business, Management &Administration, Health Science
Interests: Medicine, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, medical diagnosis, transcription
Earnings (Yearly Median): $37,060 per year $17.82 per hour
Employment & Outlook: -5% (Decline)
Entry-Level Education Postsecondary nondegree award
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Medical transcriptionists, also referred to as "medical language specialists" or "medical transcribers," transcribe medical reports. In particular, medical transcriptionists listen to the recordings made by physicians during examinations, surgeries, autopsies, or other procedures and transcribe the reports into readable documents. The transcribed medical documents are then added to a patient’s medical record. Medical transcriptionists may use a variety of tools to complete and transmit their transcriptions and are specially trained in medical terminology, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, medical diagnosis, and treatment protocols. Medical transcriptionists are responsible for checking all of their medical transcriptions for accuracy and clarity and reporting problems and inconsistencies in the documents to the appropriate medical personnel.
Work Environment. Medical transcriptionists typically spend their workdays in hospitals or other medical environments, including private offices, clinics, and laboratories. Self-employed medical transcriptionists may work from their homes. Medical transcriptionists generally work forty-hour weeks, though part-time work may be an option for self-employed medical transcriptionists. Shifts may include days, evenings, weekends, and on-call hours to meet the medical community’s need for prompt record-keeping.
Occupation Interest. Individuals drawn to the profession of medical transcriptionist tend to be intelligent and detail-oriented. Those most successful at the job are both focused and patient; they should enjoy working in a medical environment and have training in transcription and medical terminology.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. The daily duties and responsibilities of medical transcriptionists are determined by their areas of job specialization and work environment. Transcriptionists may choose to specialize in a particular area of medicine, such as radiology or pathology. They may also specialize in transcribing reports from a specific type of procedure, such as surgery, an autopsy, or a diagnostic test.
Regardless of specialty, general medical transcription duties include listening to the recordings made by physicians during examinations, surgeries, or other procedures and transcribing them into readable documents. To this end, transcriptionists may use specialized tools, including headsets and foot pedals that control audio playback devices, and input the transcribed reports using word processing software and Internet communication tools. To ensure the accuracy of the transcribed documents, medical transcriptionists must stay up-to-date on medical terminology, including jargon and abbreviations, as well as have an understanding of pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, medical diagnosis, and treatment protocols. They must refer to medical dictionaries and drug reference guides when necessary and edit medical transcriptions for proper spelling and grammar, as well as accuracy and clarity. Medical transcriptionists must report any problems or inconsistencies found in the transcribed documents to appropriate medical personnel.
Medical transcriptionists are also responsible for submitting transcribed documents for physician approval as well as transmitting them to appropriate medical or administrative personnel for inclusion in patient or hospital records. The preparation and transmission of documents must be carried out in accordance with privacy laws, and medical transcriptionists are responsible for educating themselves about the administrative, physical, and technical patient privacy safeguards included in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. The immediate physical environment of medical transcriptionists varies based on their employer and specialization. Medical transcriptionists may spend their workdays in hospitals, medical offices, clinics, laboratories, medical libraries, government health agencies, transcription business offices, or home offices.
Human Environment. Medical transcriptionists generally work independently, but they may frequently be required to discuss transcription errors or submit transcriptions for signatures and approval. Consequently, they should be comfortable interacting with physicians, nurses, scientists, insurance staff, and office staff through virtual or face-to-face communication.
Technological Environment. Medical transcriptionists use a wide variety of tools and equipment to complete their work, including stenography machines, voice recognition software, dictation machines, analog and digital recording and playback equipment, and headsets. They create and transmit transcribed documents using word processing software like Sonnet or Microsoft Word, medical software like eClinicalWorks electronic health record (EHR) software, Internet communication tools, scanners, and printers. Medical transcriptionists should feel comfortable sharing and editing documents using file-sharing software.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in pursuing a career in medical transcription should prepare themselves by studying typing, writing, computers, anatomy, and physiology, which will provide a strong foundation for work in the field. Students interested in this career path may also benefit from seeking internships or part-time work in medical settings.
Postsecondary. Aspiring medical transcriptionists frequently obtain an associate’s degree in medical transcription from a program accredited by the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs (ACCP). Certificate programs for medical transcriptionists typically include courses in subjects like medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, diagnostic studies, medical specialties, and pharmacology. Coursework in writing, grammar, punctuation, anatomy, physiology, and medical ethics may also prove useful in their future work. Postsecondary students can gain work experience and a potential advantage in their future job searches by securing internships or part-time employment in medical settings.
While the number of medical transcription jobs was projected to decline as of 2023, jobs would become available as people retire. Technological advances, such as speech recognition, have reduced the need for medical transcriptionists.
Related Occupations
Bibliography
Felson, Sabrina. "What Is a Medical Transcriptionist?" WebMD, 16 July 2023, www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-a-medical-transcriptionist. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
“Medical Transcriptionists.” My Next Move, 2024, www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/31-9094.00. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
“Medical Transcriptionists.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-transcriptionists.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.