Medical Transcriptionist Transcriptionist Medical Transcription Medical Typing
The last time you had a medical appointment, the doctor and nurse wrote all the particulars of your visit onto your medical chart. Sometime later, the doctor sat in his office and dictated the details of your visit into a digital recorder, and then uploaded your file to the office server. At the end of the day, the doctor’s office staff emailed the day’s patient schedule and data to the transcriptionist, who then downloaded your file to his/her home office computer. Within 48 hours, the transcriptionist played the file, typed it, and then uploaded it back to the office server. For privacy and security, the transcriptionist shredded and deleted all the records once they were uploaded. The record of your visit is then added to your patient file by the medical office staff.
There is a Huge Volume of Work for Medical Transcriptionists
The above scenario (or something similar) is repeated for every patient in every medical office and hospital every day throughout the country. Hundreds of thousands of medical records are transcribed daily by transcriptionists working from home. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for medical transcriptionists will grow at a projected rate of 10.5% annually.
What Training is Required to Become a Medical Transcriptionist?
Computer literacy is a prerequisite for becoming a medical transcriptionist. Many medical transcriptionists complete a one-year diploma program. One-year medical transcription programs are offered by vocational schools, and online training is available. The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity offers certification by exam for two levels of credentials: Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) or Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT). RMT is an entry-level certification, and CMT is a certification for those who have more than two years’ experience as a transcriptionist. Such credentials are not absolutely required to work as a medical transcriptionist, but may assist in finding employment.
In addition to excellent typing skills, a transcriptionist must have some skills as an editor. Doctors, like most people, tend to dictate in a stream-of-consciousness fashion. Spoken communication has the advantage of tone of voice to assist the listener in interpreting what is said; tone of voice is missing from the written word. Consequently, it is sometimes necessary for a transcriptionist to clarify the doctor’s dictation by making sure that sentences and paragraphs are consistent in terms of verb tense and point-of-view.
How Do Medical Transcriptionists Get Paid?
Work-from-home transcriptionists are paid by the line. The faster and more accurately one types, the more one gets paid. Consequently, one’s typing must be fast and accurate; there is no room for error in medical transcription. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pay for medical transcriptionists is $28,000-$30,000 per year. On a part-time basis, an experienced transcriptionist can earn $15-$18 per hour on average.
What Equipment Is Required for At-Home Medical Transcription?
A transcriptionist will need a high-speed internet connection in order to download the large voice files. A good quality desktop computer is recommended; keyboards wear out quickly and will need to be replaced often. Also, a large-screen monitor is helpful. Headphones are needed in order to clearly hear the dictation. A pedal attachment to start/stop/pause/rewind the voice files (a WAV pedal) is a necessity, as are a printer and fax capability. Reference books needed include a medical spell checker, a pharmaceutical reference guide, and a medical dictionary.
How Will Overseas Outsourcing and Voice Recognition Software Affect Transcriptionists?
Some medical practices have successfully outsourced their transcription overseas, but not many. Finding typists is easy enough, but non-native English speaking typists often have difficulty editing the dictation into “proper” readable English.
Voice recognition software is perhaps decades away from the ability to discern all of the regional dialects and accents of the doctors doing the dictation. Someday, voice recognition will be a reality, but that day is not on the immediate horizon.
What’s the Prognosis for the Future?
Medical transcription from home will continue to be a viable job for decades to come.
