How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist
What is a Medical Transcriptionist
A medical transcriptionist listens to video recording or recorded dictation of a doctor or healthcare worker. He/She then interprets and transcribes the dictation into exam notes, patient history, discharge summary, operative reports, and other sources. Your job lets you review and edit drafts just to make sure the transcription is complete, correct, and consistent in style. You will need to translate medical jargon and abbreviation into appropriate words, identify inconsistent errors in a report, and make amendments.
Apart from transcribing video dictation, you are also expected to follow up on the healthcare provider to ensure accurate reports, submit health records for approval by the physicians, follow patient confidentiality guidelines and legal documentation requirements. You are to perform quality improvement audits and impute medical reports into the electronic health record system. It is also possible for you as a medical transcriptionist to work in doctors' offices by answering phones and greeting patients.
As a medical transcriptionist, the ability to multitask is a must. You must also demonstrate devotion and passion for education, typing proficiency, excellent language control in grammar and styles, and attention to detail. The average salary of a medical transcriptionist annually is $57,786. Happily, a high school diploma or a GED in healthcare will get you the role.
What Does a Medical Transcriptionist Do
Medical transcriptionists, sometimes referred to as healthcare documentation specialists, listen to voice recordings that physicians and other healthcare workers make and convert them into written reports. They also may review and edit medical documents created using speech recognition technology. Transcriptionists interpret medical terminology and abbreviations in preparing patients’ medical histories, discharge summaries, and other documents.
How To Become a Medical Transcriptionist
Medical transcriptionists typically need postsecondary education. Prospective medical transcriptionists must have an understanding of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, grammar, and word-processing software.
EducationEmployers prefer to hire transcriptionists who have completed postsecondary education in medical transcription, which is offered by vocational schools, community colleges, and distance-learning programs. Medical transcription programs are typically 1-year certificate programs, although there are also associate’s degree programs.
Programs normally include coursework in anatomy, medical terminology, risk management, legal issues relating to healthcare documentation, and English grammar and punctuation. Many of these programs include supervised on-the-job experience. Some transcriptionists, especially those already familiar with medical terminology from previous experience as a nurse or medical secretary, become proficient through refresher courses and training.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsAlthough certification is not required, some medical transcriptionists choose to become certified. The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity offers the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) and the Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS) certifications. Both certifications require passing an exam and periodic retesting or continuing education.
The RHDS certification, formerly known as the Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT), is for recent graduates with less than 2 years of experience and who work in a single specialty environment, such as a clinic or a doctor’s office.
The CHDS certification, formerly known as the Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT), is for transcriptionists who have at least 2 years of experience and those who handle dictation in several medical specialties.
Important QualitiesComputer skills. Medical transcriptionists must be comfortable using computers and word-processing software, because those tools are an essential part of their jobs. Transcriptionists also may need to know how to operate electronic health records (EHR) systems.
Critical-thinking skills. Transcriptionists must be able to assess medical reports and spot any inaccuracies and inconsistencies in finished drafts. They must also be able to think critically when doing research to find the information that they need and to ensure that sources are both accurate and reliable.
Listening skills. Transcriptionists must listen carefully to dictation from physicians. They must be able to hear and interpret the intended meaning of the medical report.
Time-management skills. Because dictation must be done quickly, medical transcriptionists must be comfortable working under short deadlines.
Writing skills. Medical transcriptionists need a good understanding of the English language and grammar.
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Medical Transcriptionist Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of Legal Secretary you might progress to a role such as Office Manager eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title Practice Manager.
Medical Transcriptionist Jobs You Might Like
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Average Salary for a Medical Transcriptionist
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12 Medical Transcriptionist Resume Examples
Build a professional medical transcriptionist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 12+ resume templates to create your medical transcriptionist resume.
Kevin Sims Medical Transcriptionist |
Jason Morgan Medical Transcriptionist Experience Medical Transcriptionist2019 - Present D-R SERVICES•Kenner, LA
Medical Transcriptionist2015 - 2019 D-R SERVICES•Metairie, LA
Certified Medical Transcriptionist2011 - 2015 D-R SERVICES•Metairie, LA
Skills Special ProceduresOperative ReportsCPTClient CareAid SuppliesExam RoomsOrthopedicsRNTelephone CallsPathology Transcription Education Some College Courses Health Care Administration2005 - 2005 Florida International University•Miami, FL |
Learn How To Write a Medical Transcriptionist Resume
At Zippia, we went through countless Medical Transcriptionist resumes and compiled some information about how to optimize them. Here are some suggestions based on what we found, divided by the individual sections of the resume itself.
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Choose From 10+ Customizable Medical Transcriptionist Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Medical Transcriptionist templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Medical Transcriptionist resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
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Medical Transcriptionist Jobs You Might Like
- High Paying Medical Transcriptionist Jobs - $54K and Up
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Find the best Medical Transcriptionist job for you
Medical Transcriptionist Jobs You Might Like
- High Paying Medical Transcriptionist Jobs - $54K and Up
- Entry Level Medical Transcriptionist Jobs
- Part Time Medical Transcriptionist Jobs
- Actively Hiring
- No Degree Medical Transcriptionist Jobs
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Top Skills For a Medical Transcriptionist
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 20.8% of Medical Transcriptionists listed Medical Records on their resume, but soft skills such as Computer skills and Listening skills are important as well.
Best States For a Medical Transcriptionist
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a Medical Transcriptionist. The best states for people in this position are New Jersey, Delaware, New York, and Connecticut. Medical Transcriptionists make the most in New Jersey with an average salary of $50,698. Whereas in Delaware and New York, they would average $50,679 and $50,598, respectively. While Medical Transcriptionists would only make an average of $50,464 in Connecticut, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. South Dakota
$48,422
Avg. Salary
2. New Hampshire
$48,031
Avg. Salary
3. West Virginia
$48,408
Avg. Salary
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Medical Transcriptionist Videos
Becoming a Medical Transcriptionist FAQs
How long does it take to become a Medical Transcriptionist?
It takes 7 years of professional experience to become a medical transcriptionist. That is the time it takes to learn specific medical transcriptionist skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.