medical transcription training

Medical transcription is a career that is growing at a rate of 14%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

So what exactly does a medical transcriptionist do? Well, let us think about it. The common definition of transcribing something is to write it down. As you probably know already those who transcribe, scribes have played one of the most significant roles in the history of the world. Without the scribes, all the messages, stories, and history from the ancient world would have been lost. Without scribes we would most likely not even have the Bible in our possession.

In the 21^st century, transcriptionists play a much different role. Obviously, in our modern era most of the population is literate (somewhat ;)) and there is available technology and education that allows people to document things. In the 60’s, secretaries would type messages on their typewriters in real time as their bosses dictated them. This is not the case anymore either.

However, in some industries it is still more efficient for some to dictate information to be written and typed out later. This is common in the legal field, where writing briefs, motions, correspondence, and other legal documents make up for the majority of the attorney’s duties. Lawyers often will speak their letters and correspondence into a recorder. Their assistants will then type out what they said in addition to formatting the document correctly and processing it as needed.

Medical transcriptionists perform somewhat similar tasks for doctors. Many times, doctors will speak their notes and comments into a digital recorder for someone else to transcribe and format into the proper report.

Being a medical transcriptionist has many benefits, but it is not easy. You have to be able to speak the same language as a doctor and to understand all of the medical terms and shorthand they use. Considering doctors go to medical school to learn all this, it is obvious that this is not an easy feat.

Most people in the field would tell you that they are continually learning every day. The medical field is constantly evolving and growing, therefore so are those who transcribe the documents.

So is there any required medical transcription training? Well, a formal education is not required by law. However, it is impossible for someone to walk off the streets into a doctor’s office and understand everything that doctor would dictate. However, if you already have experience in the medical field in another position, you may be able to transition into this position without further education. So, there are programs out there that will teach you not only about the medical terminology and the forms, but also about the technology it takes to logistically complete the job. Additionally, there are certifications available that can give you a competitive advantage in the job hunt.

Equally as important as knowing the medical terms and technology, transcribers must also have excellent English and grammar skills. Obviously, the spoken language is different than the written language. Additionally, grammar and punctuation will not be spoken during dictation. So, it is the transcriber’s job to ensure that the document they are typing is 100% grammatically correct. The person who dictated the information, usually a doctor of some sort, will be the one signing and accepting credit for what the transcriber wrote. Those who do not right well will not have a job for very long!

The health care industry as a whole is growing consistently. One of the main reasons for this is because of the baby boomers, which are now getting to retirement age, will statistically need more health care. As the demand for health care rises, so will the demand for all of the support staff that makes the industry run smoothly.

Many medical transcriptionists enjoy a very flexible and rewarding career. After you have gained experience in a physical health care facility, many are able to transition to a work from home position. Doctors will then dictate into digital recorders and the jobs are sent to be transcribed over the internet. The convenience of this is overwhelming benefit to becoming a medical transcriptionist.