How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist

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Categories: How Tos

  • Medical transcriptionists listen to notes recorded by physicians and transcribe them into written documents. While no formal education is required to become a medical transcriptionist, there are set steps you should take to enter the growing field. This page will show you how to become a medical transcriptionist.

  • Tips on Becoming a Medical Transcriptionist

    1. Be familiar with medical terminology
    2. Obtain an associate's degree or certification
    3. The process can take up to two years
    4. Network and search job boards to find possible employment
    5. Continue your training to remain certified by the AHDI

  • Introduction

    • Do you have a good knowledge of medical terminology? A career as a medical transcriptionist may be for you. Medical transcriptionists interpret notes recorded by doctors and other health care professionals and transcribe them into document form. The documents, which can include medical histories, consultation reports and progress notes, then become part of a patient's medical records. While a postsecondary education is not an absolute requirement to become a medical transcriptionist, extensive training is a must.
    • If you do decide to pursue a career as a medical transcriptionist, job opportunities should be plentiful. Demand for medical transcriptionists is expected to increase by about 14% through 2016.Bureau of Labor Statistics: Outlook

  • Step 1: Decide If It's Right for You

    • Being a medical transcriptionist is not for everybody. Accuracy and the ability to concentrate for long periods of time are key requirements for becoming a medical transcriptionist; one incorrectly transcribed word could alter a patient's medical history substantially. Other skills needed to be a medical transcriptionist include:
    1. Excellent grammar and punctuation
    2. Above-average auditory skills; much of the transcriptionist's job involves carefully interpreting and transcribing recorded notes made by physicians
    3. Strong keyboarding ability
    4. Advanced proofreading ability
    • Because medical transcriptionists work regularly with medical information, they should be familiar with:
    1. Medical terminology
    2. Anatomy and physiology
    3. Diagnostic procedures
    4. Pharmacology
    5. Treatment assessments

  • Where Will You Work?

    • Some medical transcriptionists work in physicians' offices or hospitals; others are able to telecommute from home. Industries that typically employ medical transcriptionists include:
    1. General medical and surgical hospitals
    2. Offices of physicians
    3. Business support services
    4. Medical and diagnostic laboratories
    5. Outpatient care centers

  • What Does It Pay?

    • Salaries for medical transcriptionists vary.
    1. According to CNN Money's salary wizard, as of March 2009 the average annual pay for a medical records transcriptionist ranged from $29,671 to $43,869.Salary Wizard:Average Medical Records Transcriptionist Salary
    2. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics put the average hourly wage for a medical transcriptionist at $14.40 in May 2006.Bureau of Labor Statistics: Earnings

  • Step 2: Education and Training

    • In most cases, a bachelor's degree is not a requirement for becoming a medical transcriptionist. A high school diploma or GED is typically required. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, many employers prefer that a medical transcriptionist have postsecondary education training.Bureau of Labor Statistics: Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement Medical transcriptionists can complete a two-year associate's degree or a one-year certification program. Coursework includes:
    1. Anatomy and physiology
    2. Medical terminology
    3. Legal issues relating to health care documentation
    4. English grammar and punctuation
    • The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) recommends that medical transcriptionists complete a two-year program that includes work in a healthcare facility. Some schools offer shorter programs. The AHDI offers a list of approved medical transcriptionist education programs on its website.
    • Medical transcription courses can be taken at:
    1. Community colleges
    2. Proprietary schools
    3. Home study programs are also available
    • The AHDI offers two main designations for medical transcriptionists:
    1. Registered Medical Transcriptionists (RMTs) have either recently graduated from a medical transcription education program or have fewer than two years experience in acute care.
    2. Certified Medical Transcriptionists (CMTs) have two years or more of experience in acute care.AHDI: Credentials & Designations
    • RMTs and CMTs must each pass a specialized exam given by the AHDI to obtain certification. In addition, each must continue their education by earning continuing education credits. They must be recertified every three years.AHDI: Recertification & Continuing Education Credits
    • The cost of a medical transcription course varies, but it can be expensive. Some courses can cost as much as $3,800.AndrewsSchool.com: Cost of Tuition and Payment Plans

  • Step 3: Find a Job

    • You have completed the necessary training and obtained certification as a medical transcriptionist. Now what? It is time to find a job!
    1. Create a resume. Have you obtained proper certification and completed all professional training? If so, list that information prominently. For more information on how to write a top-notch resume, check out Mahalo's guide on How to Write a Resume.
    2. Begin sending out your resume to prospective employers. Not sure where to send it?
      1. Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com can be excellent jumping-off points.
      2. Also consider posting your resume to medical transcription-specific online sites like the AHDI's job search and MTJobs.com.
    3. Networking can be an excellent way to find out about potential job openings for medical transcriptionists.
      1. Visit doctor's offices and inquire about what type of service they use for medical transcribing.
      2. Contact any medical transcription services operating in your area to find out if they have any positions available.

  • Conclusion

    • Medical transriptionists are highly skilled professionals who work in a variety of healthcare settings. Working as a medical transcriptionist requires much more than the ability to take dictation and transcribe. The transcriptionist must have an exceptional ability to interpret data and the ability to remain focused for long stretches of time. Being a medical transcriptionist can be a demanding job, but it can also be extremely rewarding.



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