The Field Of Medical TranscriptionMedical transcription involves changing reports that are recorded by physicians and other medical professionals into a text format. In earlier days medical transcription (MT) reports were done in handwritten notes which were placed into patient’s files and interpreted by the patient’s physician. When the doctor requested the patient’s file, however, it had to be retrieved from a cabinet of storage files and taken to the doctor for review which was time consuming. To aid the manual process records had to be duplicated in carbon copy. The days of filing cabinets full of reports are gone. Today the use of computers has resulted in a more efficient method of processing and storing patient records. The digital formatting which is now used gives way to easier access to the electronically stored information to those doctors who are involved with patient care.
The ability to voice record a patient’s medical information is a something that can be difficult for some health care providers and yet others will never be able to perform the task. Medical language skills are a must in order to transcribe a quality report for the interpretation of doctors and other health care providers so they can provide the proper patient care.
The medical transcriptionist types the patient reports from voice recorded doctor’s dictation where it can be easily accessed and viewed by other health care personnel. The term transcriber refers to the electronic equipment used in medical transcription. To transcribe medical records transcriptionists must be skilled in spelling, medical terminology, physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, diagnostic procedures, and also assessments for medical treatments. Among many other duties they must also be able to maintain confidentiality concerning patient information.
In addition to use by doctors and other health care personnel, medical transcription records are also used by lawyer’s offices as proof in medical claims cases. The information is stored and maintained at the medical facilities by a medical information tech.
The pay rate of a medical transcriptionist will vary based on place of employment and other factors. Some of these workers receive their pay based upon an hourly rate plus a production incentive. Those who are employed by transcription services or an independent contractor usually will be paid based on a production incentive. Independent contractors have more expenses and receive no benefits and could be terminated more easily than those who work for others.
In 2002 earnings per hour for medical transcription work varied anywhere from less than $9.27 to more than $17.97. There are plenty of opportunities available for medical transcriptionists. |