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Degrees and Schools
Aspiring medical transcriptionists should consider obtaining postsecondary education in the form of a diploma, certificate, or associate degree from a medical transcription training program. Many such programs are available today through vocational schools, community colleges, and distance-learning venues. A two-year course is typical, with an important component being an internship in an actual health care facility to provide practical experience.
A valuable credential is an advanced certification in the field and this can be obtained by pursuing an accredited program. The Approval Committee for Certificate Programs (ACCP), established jointly by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), offers a voluntary accreditation which has been conferred upon many medical transcription programs. In order to be best prepared, look for schools and/or programs which are ACCP-approved.
Classes
Transcriptionist programs typically include a combination of general and specialized coursework. Classes often include:
- medical transcription skills
- medical terminology
- human anatomy
- legal ramifications of health care documentation
- English grammar and punctuation
- medical record keeping and patient privacy policy
- disease processes
- pharmacology and laboratory medicine
- transcription technology
- word processing
- computer technology
Online Classes and Programs
Online certification and degree programs are readily available, offering flexibility and convenience. An important consideration when choosing one is whether the program provides ample access to the instructor for questions and assistance. Also, it is important to find out whether the program is ACCP-approved. One drawback to an online option is that very often such programs do not offer the same degree of local internship or job-placement assistance as on-campus programs.
Employment Requirements
The basic requirements for the job are a working knowledge of medical terminology and good grammar skills. In order to maximize chances of employment, an individual should possess at least a high school diploma. A postsecondary degree or certificate, although not usually a hard and fast requirement, is highly recommended. Generally speaking, transcriptionists who are certified can expect to get the most desirable jobs and to have the best chance of employment in the field.
How to Evaluate Schools
When considering a school, aspiring medical transcriptionists should obtain as much advance information as possible. Some important questions to ask include the following:
- Accreditation - Does the school offer a medical transcriptionist program which has been accredited by the ACCP? Is the school on the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) list of approved schools?
- Strength of Curriculum - Is there a variety of course options? Is the course material regularly updated and kept current to reflect the present state of the art? Does the school offer courses in the latest transcription technology, including software?
- Job preparation - Do programs offer internships or externships at local health care facilities? Does the school offer job placement assistance?
- Tuition and financial assistance - Are resources are available to assist students in taking advantage of a variety of financial aid options?
Medical Transcriptionist Job Description
In all medical settings, professionals rely heavily on various types of documentation. Once developed, medical documents need to be edited for clarity, proper medical terminology, and grammatical accuracy; computerized; and filed for later use. Some examples of important medical documents include the following:
- Medical reports
- Doctors' progress notes
- Discharge summaries
- Diagnostic imaging studies
- Referral letters
- Operative reports
- Autopsy reports
A medical transcriptionist is the driving force in creating and maintaining these documents. The initial draft of the document is often spawned when a physician or other health care professional dictates onto a tape or digital voice file. The medical transcriptionist will listen to the recording on a headset, using a foot pedal or other device to pause the recording when necessary, and type the text into a word processor or computer. In doing so, the transcriptionist needs to make frequent use of standard medical reference materials in both printed and electronic form in order to capture the proper medical terminology or names of medications. The draft is later relayed back to the originator for review, marked for correction if necessary, approved, and eventually signed off en route to becoming a finished document comprising part of a patient's permanent file.
Medical transcriptionists usually work in a health care facility although some work at home as employees of transcription businesses or as independent contractors. Most transcriptionists work a standard 40-hour week. However, those who are self-employed find themselves on-call frequently and often work irregular hours which may include evenings and/or weekends.
To be successful in their work, medical transcriptionists should possess the following skills and abilities:
- A thorough understanding of medical terminology
- Strong writing ability
- Proficiency in English grammar
- Computer skills
- A good understanding of diagnostic procedures
- Experience with word processing software
- Good listening skills
- Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
- Normal (or above-normal) hearing acuity
- Ability to maintain records
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