What does a Medical Transcriptionist do?
Published 4 min read
A medical transcriptionist is a person who listens to voice recordings made by doctors and other medical professionals and transcribes them into written reports.
Medical Transcriptionist job duties include:
- Transcribe and edit medical reports recorded by physicians and other healthcare professionals
- Convert voice recordings into text format
- Ensure that all information in the transcription is accurate and complete
- Follow up with physicians and other healthcare professionals to clarify unclear audio recordings
- Format transcribed reports according to specific style guides
- Proofread and edit final drafts of transcribed reports
- Maintain confidentiality of patient information
- Manage work queues and prioritize tasks
- Stay up-to-date on medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology
- Complete continuing education courses to keep skills current
Medical Transcriptionist Job Requirements
Medical transcriptionists typically need postsecondary education, although some workers may have on-the-job training. Most medical transcriptionists have completed a postsecondary education program in medical transcription or a related field. Some programs take as little as 9 months to complete, while others last up to 2 years. Many community colleges, technical schools, and private career colleges offer medical transcription programs. A few online schools also offer these programs.
Medical Transcriptionist Skills
- Listening
- Typing
- Concentration
- Detail Oriented
- English Language Skills
- Grammar
- Punctuation
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Pathology
Related: Top Medical Transcriptionist Skills: Definition and Examples
How to become a Medical Transcriptionist
There are many reasons why you might want to become a medical transcriptionist. Maybe you’re interested in the medical field but don’t want to go to school for years and years. Or maybe you’re good at typing and have an ear for detail. Whatever your reasons, if you want to become a medical transcriptionist, there are a few things you need to know.
First, you will need to have excellent typing skills. Medical transcriptionists need to be able to type quickly and accurately, as they will be transcribing doctors’ notes and other medical documents. If you don’t have great typing skills, there are plenty of online tutorials and courses you can take to improve your speed and accuracy.
Second, you need to have a good ear for detail. This is important because as a medical transcriptionist, you will be listening to audio recordings of doctor’s appointments and other medical procedures, and then transcribing them into written form. If you miss something or don’t hear something clearly, it could be critical information that is needed in the written transcript.
Third, you will need to have some basic knowledge of medical terminology. This doesn’t mean that you need to know everything about every disease or condition, but you should at least know the basic terms used in the medical field. There are plenty of resources available online and in libraries that can help you learn more about medical terminology.
Fourth, it is helpful if you are familiar with different accents. This is because sometimes the audio recordings you will be transcribing will be of doctors or patients who have different accents. If you can understand them easily, it will make your job much easier (and the transcripts much more accurate).
Finally, it is important to be able to work independently and meet deadlines. Medical transcriptionists often work from home, so it is important that you are able to stay focused and get your work done in a timely manner. If you are not self-motivated or organized, this job may not be for you.
If you have excellent typing skills, a good ear for detail, some basic knowledge of medical terminology, and can work independently, then becoming a medical transcriptionist may be the perfect career for you!
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