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A medical
transcriptionist converts dictated recordings of medical practitioners and
healthcare professionals into writing. They play an integral role in creating
and archiving patient information in the healthcare industry.
Job Description and
Responsibilities of Medical Transcription School Graduates
Medical transcription
school graduates are expected to:
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Listen to and
transcribe dictated recordings made by physicians and other healthcare
professionals
-
Generate patient
medical reports and correspondence based on transcriptions
-
Edit and proofread
transcriptions for accuracy, grammar and clarity
-
Perform auxiliary
tasks including scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, handling
mail and receiving patients
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Maintain patient
confidentiality
Career Options After
Medical Transcription School
Students of
medical transcription
schools can opt to work in:
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Hospitals
-
Outpatient clinics
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Physician offices
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Clinical research institutions
-
Transcription service offices
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Medical and diagnostic laboratories
-
Medical libraries
In addition, medical
transcription course graduates can look for apprenticeship with an industry
employer. This is a good way to get specific training and hands-on experience in
medical transcription. There are many industry employers who offer externships
in partner with medical transcription training institutions.
Medical Transcription
Training & Certification
Employers prefer
medical transcriptionists who have completed post-secondary training in medical
transcription courses. Many community colleges and vocational schools offer such
medical transcription training in the form of 2-year associate degree programs
or 1-year certificate programs.
Medical transcription
online courses are a great option for those who need a flexible learning
schedule. A web-based medical transcription course is
typically a certificate program which provides students with a basic
understanding of medical transcription.
A medical
transcription course will educate students in medical terminology as well as the
correct procedure of transcription, based on appropriate medical jargon,
abbreviations and symbols. Students will be taught how to transcribe various
medical reports such as physical examinations, patient discharge summaries,
autopsies, radiology and pathology reports, just to name a few.
Medical transcription
course students must have a good command of English and basic word-processing to
be able to type, email and print documents.
After graduating from
a medical transcription course, you should consider becoming a Registered
Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) as this demonstrates your proficiency to
prospective employers. The American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT)
grants this credential to medical transcription course graduates who sit for and
pass an examination. Upon gaining two years work experience, you can then become
a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) by sitting for another examination.
With the rapid evolution of the medical field, a CMT must earn continuing
education credits every 3 years to be re-certified.
Do note that a
medical training course offering a certificate program does not equate to
becoming a CMT. A medical transcription school which offers a certificate
program refers to a certificate of completion. You still need to sit for the
AAMT's examination in order to become a CMT.
Medical Transcription
School Accreditation
It is imperative that
you determine the credibility of any medical transcription training program to
which you apply. The authorized accrediting body for medical transcription
courses is the American Association for Medical Transcription. Reputable medical
transcription online courses and schools must meet the AAMT's model curriculum.
Medical Transcription
School Graduates Earning Potential and Employment
Prospects
Medical
transcription course graduates either receive a salary based on the number of
hours they work or the number of lines transcribed. Some medical
transcriptionists are paid a base hourly fee with added incentives for extra
output. The median hourly pay for medical transcription course graduates was
$13.64 in 2004. The upper 10% of medical transcription school graduates earned
more than $19.11 per hour.
Statistics reveal
that approximately 40% of medical transcription course graduates worked in
hospitals and 30% in physician offices. As experienced
is gained, medical transcriptionists can move into supervisory positions,
consulting or teaching. Those interested in branching out to other health
information related professions, such as medical coding or medical records, can
obtain more training and education to expand their career.
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