Welcome to MedicalTranscriptionistTraining.org, where you’ll find out all you need to know about how to become a medical transcriptionist.
Medical transcriptionists transcribe oral dictations of doctors and other health care professionals into printed documents. In order to become a medical transcriptionist, you must go through medical transcriptionist training; at that point, you will likely be qualified as a Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT), but you should also turn your attention to taking the Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) exam, which many employers prefer.
Medical transcription is one of the fastest growing health care professions in the country, largely because as Baby Boomers age, they will put heavier demands on the health care system; as their doctors’ visits increase, so will the need for medical transcriptionists to take the doctors’ words and transform them into permanent records.
If you’re a highly motivated, detail-oriented individual with an interest in the medical profession (but not patient contact), medical transcription may be the career for you.
Ready to learn more about becoming a medical transcriptionist? Read on.
What do medical transcriptionists do?
Medical transcriptionists transform dictated recordings by doctors and other health care professionals, adjusting for grammar and clarity, into documents such as medical reports, discharge summaries, consultation reports, administrative materials, autopsy reports, and letters.
A medical transcriptionist usually listens to dictations using a headset, and presses a foot pedal to stop the recording while entering the information into a word processing program. Common current technologies used in medical transcription include digital or analog, although speech recognition technology, through which drafts of dictations are produced by computers and then transcriptionists must format and edit, is becoming increasingly popular.
When the transcribed document is completed, the medical transcriptionist gives a copy to the doctor or health care professional, who checks it for accuracy, makes any necessary corrections, and signs it. At that point, the document is ready to go to its final destination, whether it’s a patient’s file, in the mail, etc.
Most medical transcriptionists (41%) work in hospitals, but they may also work in physicians’ offices; business support services; medical and diagnostic laboratories; outpatient care centers; offices of speech, occupational, and physical therapists; and also from home.
Professions related to medical transcription include medical billing and coding; indeed, as employers further look to contain costs, those who with medical billing and coding training in addition to medical transcriptionist training will find the best employment opportunities as they can handle many different tasks for the same employer.
How do I become a medical transcriptionist?
Employers prefer medical transcriptionists who have gone through postsecondary medical transcriptionist training. Online certificate and associate degree programs are available through specialty medical transcriptionist schools, community colleges, and vocational schools; programs can take anywhere between three months and two years to complete.
In addition to training, you can also become certified as a medical transcriptionist by taking the CMT exam.
What types of courses are included in online medical transcriptionist training?
Medical transcriptionists must be well-versed in medical terms, procedures, Latin and Greek word derivations, and also have a strong command of the English language, particularly grammar and punctuation, and basic computer operation. Common courses in medical transcriptionist training include:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Disease
- English Grammar and Punctuation
- Health Care Law
- Laboratory Work
- Medical Terminology
- Pharmacology
Many online medical transcriptionist training programs also include hands-on experience through internships and/or help with job placement upon graduation. Both of these would be to your advantage, so try to find a program that offers both.
Why choose online medical transcriptionist training?
Online medical transcriptionist training allows you to learn at your own pace on your own schedule, studying when the time is right for you. You will also save money on tuition, transportation, and book fees as well.
How much do medical transcriptionists make?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in May 2006, the median hourly earnings of medical transcriptionists was $14.40, with the middle 50% earning between $12.17 and $17.06/hour. The highest 10% earned $20.15/hour, while the lowest 10% made $10.22.Those working in medical and diagnostic laboratories earned the most at $15.68 an hour.
The method of pay for medical transcriptionists varies as some are paid by the hour, others by lines transcribed. Incentives for extra production are quite common, particularly for employees of transcription services and those working at home as independent contractors.
What is the job outlook for medical transcriptionists?
The BLS predicts that medical transcription is expected to grow by 14% through 2016, which is considered “faster than average for all occupations.” Job opportunities are expected to be “good, especially for those who are certified,” with many positions opening up in physicians’ offices in particular.
More helpful resources for medical transcriptionists:
- American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT)
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
- Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI)
- MediLexicon (online medical dictionary and news)
- MT Daily: (“a networking community of hundreds of online MTs, students, and MTSOs”)
