Medical transcriptionists are responsible for listening to dictated records created by health care professionals and transcribing them into health care documents. The documents created include discharge summaries, history and exam notes, autopsy reports, diagnostic result reports and referral letters. Once complete, these documents become part of the patient's permanent medical record.
Special Skills
Medical transcriptionists must be able to understand medical terminology and jargon, have good writing and computer skills and be detail-oriented.
Work Environment
Medical transcriptionists are often employed in hospitals, medical offices or at other health care facilities. Medical transcriptionists sit at the computer for long periods of time.
Education and Training
Employers prefer that medical transcriptionists complete an associate's degree or certificate program in medical transcription.
Certification
Certification is not required to be a medical transcriptionist. However, the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) offers two voluntary designations: Registered Medical Transcriptionist and Certified Medical Transcriptionist. Each designation requires a specific amount of experience and a passing exam score.
Salary
The median hourly wage of a medical transcriptionist was $14.40 in May 2006. Payment methods vary. Medical transcriptionists can be paid by the hour or by the number of lines they transcribe, with incentives for productivity.
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