You've probably heard of someone who is making a good living as a medical transcriptionist. He or she may even be working from the comfort of your home. And you've probably wondered if this could be a career choice for you.
It is very possible. Let's look at the facts.
What exactly is medical transcription? In the course of their work, doctors and other healthcare professionals who dictated recordings of various things including physical examination observations, patient history, operative reports, referral letters, discharge summaries, observations regarding the data image and so on.
A medical transcriptionist listens to these recordings and transcribes them into medical reports, correspondence, etc. She listens to a segment of the recording, pause playback and keys in what is said before moving on to the next segment. You can do some editing to improve grammar and clarity.
The transcribed document is sent back to the health care provider then comment on the accuracy and has been signed. These documents are part of the patient records medical history and perhaps insurance records.
To be effective in this work, you must understand medical terminology well. This includes anatomy, pharmacology, diagnostic procedures, treatment and further evaluation.
Many distance education programs, universities and vocational schools offer post-secondary training in medical transcription. Having a degree is not essential. With a home study course, you can usually pick up the necessary knowledge within a year, often in less than nine months.
You can find work in hospitals, laboratories, doctors' offices, firms offering transcription services, government medical facilities and so on. Working from home is also a possibility and many employers offer work at home options for transcriptionists. Apart from that, many people work as independent contractors.
With experience, you may enter into supervisory positions, which include editing work, teaching, consulting, etc.
What equipment is needed, if I wanted to do medical transcription at home? Not much - a computer with a medical spellchecker, printer, a transcriber and reference books on everything you need. To help save on the actual typing, a decompression utility word might help. If you are on a tight budget, buy second-hand equipment will do just as well.
medical transcription work requires certain skills and mindset. Apart from basic computer skills, you must be detail oriented. If detail work bores you to tears, this might not be the career for you.
You must know how to write, although the speed will come with practice. You should also have excellent listening skills and grammar.
If you are considering working from home, it is essential to feel comfortable with working alone and meeting deadlines. Must be a dynamic individual who can work consistently without being driven by a boss.
Given the growth in health practices and hospitals and the need for standardized reporting, demand for medical transcription services is likely to grow. You must carefully analyze the pros and cons of this field before venturing into it. Medical transcription provides a rewarding and fulfilling career for many people and can do the same for you too.
Topic: A Career In Medical Transcription: Is It For You? (Read 5520 times)
