Introduction
to Medical Transcription
How to Become a Medical transcriptionist; medical transcription career information.
What is Medical Transcription?
Medical Transcription is the process
of converting voice dictation (typically either cassette or
digital format) into a permanent written record utilizing
word processing equipment and software.
Each day in hospitals all over the
country, thousands of patients are admitted and discharged.
Examinations are conducted, procedures are performed and recommendations
are made. It is not uncommon for multiple physicians to be
involved in a simple procedure for a single patient. Radiologists,
Pathologists, Anesthesiologists, Surgeons, and a host of other
medical specialists must all coordinate their efforts to ensure
that patient care is both adequate and appropriate.
Underpinning all of these activities
is a complex web of medical and patient information. Each
patient-related activity and procedure must be meticulously
documented and then added to the patient's permanent record.
Physicians and medical record handlers alike must be extremely
careful to ensure that detailed patient identification information
accompanies each procedure and examination report to avert
potentially disastrous mix-ups. Over time, all of this information
accumulates in a centralized medical records repository where
it serves as a critical resource for patient care - facilitating
accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatments. Indeed, timely
patient care often hinges on the ability of Radiology, Pathology,
and other specialty departments to quickly conduct their examinations
and report their findings.
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Evolution and History of Medical Transcription
In the past, these reportings consisted
of very abbreviated handwritten notes that were funneled into
the patient's file for interpretation by the primary physician
responsible for diagnosing ailments and prescribing treatment.
Ultimately, this hodge-podge of handwritten notes and typed
reports was consolidated into a single patient file and physically
stored along with thousands of other patient records in a
wall of filing cabinets in the medical records department.
Whenever the need arose to review
the records of a specific patient, the patient's file would
be retrieved from the filing cabinet and delivered to the
requesting physician. To enhance this manual process, many
medical record documents were produced in duplicate or triplicate
by means of carbon copy.
In recent years things have changed
considerably. Walls of filing cabinets have given way to desktop
computers connected to powerful mainframe systems where patient
records are prepared and archived digitally. This digital
format allows for immediate remote retrieval by any physician
who is authorized to review the patient information. Reports
are stored electronically and printed selectively as the need
arises.
While the transition from a paper
based to an electronic format will take years to complete,
considerable progress has been made. Handwritten reports are
largely a thing of the past. Verbal dictation is now by far
the most common method for documenting and reporting the results
of examinations and procedures. Physicians generally use either
a cassette based voice dictation system or a digital voice
dictation system to record their findings. Dictating reports
verbally not only allows physicians to be more thorough in
their reporting, it also saves them a great deal of time.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported the results of a
study conducted by the Association of Legal Administrators
suggesting that verbal dictation is the fastest way to create
a document. The study states that "a 245-word document
takes 9.34 minutes to create with an electronic dictaphone,
compared with 16.46 minutes on a personal computer and 16.49
minutes by hand." (WSJ, Tuesday, October 22, 1996, page
A1, column 5). Given the salaries of most physicians, the
cumulative productivity savings associated with these technological
enhancements is considerable.
The process of converting voice
dictation to a typewritten format is known as transcription.
Traditionally a staff of skilled medical transcriptionists
working in the medical records department of the hospital
has accomplished the work of transcribing medical records.
In the early years of medical transcription it was not uncommon
for very large hospitals to have staffs of 40 or 50 medical
transcriptionists working one or more shifts. A transcription
supervisor, who in turn reported to the Medical Records Director,
generally oversaw these transcriptionists.
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The Outsourcing Trend
Increasingly, traditional hospitals
are coming under competitive attack by more efficient managed
care organizations. In an effort to remain competitive, many
hospitals have turned to outsourcing as a means of cutting
costs. Many of the processes that were previously performed
internally are now being contracted out to third parties.
Medical transcription is no exception. The outsourcing of
transcription and other functions relieves hospitals of the
administrative headaches and overhead burdens associated with
internal production and allows them to focus their attention
on improving service and lowering costs.
This new competitive climate has
driven many hospitals out of business. Those organizations
that have survived have done so by becoming more efficient
and cost-conscious. There is considerable evidence to suggest
that contracting out medical transcription is a much less
costly alternative to producing reports internally. Most savvy
healthcare providers today understand this and are responding
appropriately. The significant cost-cutting pressures which
continue to drive the industry toward consolidation, managed
care and capitation virtually guarantee that the outsourcing
trend will not only continue but accelerate in coming years.
This proliferation of outsourcing
agreements has spawned a new generation of small medical transcription
companies intent on carving out a piece of the pie. Interestingly,
in spite of its rapid growth, the medical transcription industry
is still considered a cottage industry. While there are a
few truly national players, the industry is at this point
still dominated by the hundreds of small local transcription
companies located wherever hospitals are found.
Opportunities
The outlook for quality medical
transcriptionists have never been greater. Lucrative opportunities
abound today in hospitals, clinics, HMO's, and in the hundreds
of Medical Transcription contracting companies located throughout
the country.
The timing is excellent for anyone
interested in entering this exciting and lucrative field.
Like any career move, success will require patience and perseverance,
but the opportunity to enter the medical transcription market
has never been greater than it is today.
Benefits
The demand for Medical Transcriptionists
is very great. There is currently a shortage of qualified
Medical Transcriptionists - and demographic trends suggest
that the outlook will continue to be favorable for some time
to come. Good Medical Transcriptionists typically have no
problem obtaining and maintaining employment. Consider the
following benefits of becoming a professional Medical Transcriptionist:
In-demand Profession
Excellent Income Potential
Flexible Hours
Growth Industry
Exceptional Home Based
Career Opportunities
Potential to get your own
Clients and Build a Lucrative Business
Basic Qualifications
Medical Transcription is a highly
skilled profession. It requires an attention to detail and
an ability to recognize and understand technical terminology.
Good typing skills are a must. Typically an accurate typing
speed of 50-70 words per minute is a prerequisite for most
positions. Obviously the faster you type the more money you
will be able to make as most pay is on a production basis.
Spelling and grammar skills are
also vitally important. On-line dictionaries and spell checks
are always available to assist you, but they should not be
relied upon completely. You should feel relatively well grounded
in spelling and grammar before you decide to enter this field.
Most of the skill that you will
acquire as a transcriptionist will come over time. Experience
is the great teacher. Prior to gaining hands on experience,
it is usually wise to go through a formal course to gain a
foundation of knowledge and practical experience.
Getting Started
Medical Transcription is a very
specialized field and requires extensive training. Once trained,
however, the demand is very great. One of the most difficult
parts of breaking into this lucrative industry is receiving
the requisite training. Your income potential will typically
be determined by your skill level. And skill level will be
a function of training and experience. Unfortunately, you
will find that most employers will be reluctant to hire inexperienced
individuals. The learning curve can be quite steep and it
will be difficult to find an employer that is willing to invest
the time and money necessary to train a person.
There are a number of opportunities
to receive the in-depth training necessary to become a proficient
Medical Transcriptionist. Many Technical Schools have full-time
programs designed to provide a basic level of proficiency.
The drawbacks with these programs is that they tend to be
expensive and they generally require a full-time commitment
- which involves quitting a job and foregoing income during
the course of study.
An alternative to these full-time
classroom training programs is the Home Study Course. Home
study certainly requires a more disciplined attitude, but
the cost / benefits as well as the ability to work at your
own pace and in your own home are appealing. With a Home Study
Course there is no need to quit your present job - until you
have achieved a basic skill level and are ready to begin your
new career.
Indeed, it is often possible to
begin your first Medical Transcription job on a part time
basis in the evenings following completion of the home study
course while maintaining your present employment. This "earn
while you learn" approach is a good way to develop additional
proficiency while still retaining the safety net of a full
time job.
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