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.

To add up to your list, I believe those who will be venturing on MT field should consider getting a good medical transcription training plus discipline and focus especially when you're planning to work from home.   A lot of things at home may prevent you from focusing on what you're doing so get that focus installed in you. 

Zara glad to have you in the Forum, I like this "Discipline and Focus" 

....Adventure course, ....love it

....Adventure course, ....love it

 I would like to continue in this field as the medical transcriptionist is one of the best jobs to serve and to make our dreams that many of us are waiting for. These services have been growing rapidly as they are much admired services in outsourcing industries. Many business and medical sectors reduce their work and cost by using these services and they are of different types and all with works with the same theme i.,e to serve the people who are in requirement.

pinkypinnie, once we know what we want and road to get there any other things are easy.

Quote from: Zara Mari on 2011-05-10 16:57
To add up to your list, I believe those who will be venturing on MT field should consider référenceur freelance paris
getting a good medical transcription training plus discipline and focus especially when you're planning to work from home.   A lot of things at home may prevent you from focusing on what you're doing so get that focus installed in you.

Hello! 
This is a good article because there are many tips and also many advices that will be very useful to me.