What Does it Take to Be a Medical Transcriptionist?
Job Description & Duties Transcribe medical reports recorded by physicians and other healthcare practitioners using various electronic devices, covering office visits, emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging studies, operations, chart reviews, and final summaries. Transcribe dictated reports and translate abbreviations into fully understandable form. Edit as necessary and return reports in either printed or electronic form for review and signature, or correction.
Life As a Medical Transcriptionist: What Do They Do?
- Decide which information should be included or excluded in reports.
- Answer inquiries concerning the progress of medical cases, within the limits of confidentiality laws.
- Perform a variety of clerical and office tasks, such as handling incoming and outgoing mail, completing and submitting insurance claims, typing, filing, or operating office machines.
- Translate medical jargon and abbreviations into their expanded forms to ensure the accuracy of patient and health care facility records.
- Take dictation using shorthand, a stenotype machine, or headsets and transcribing machines.
- Set up and maintain medical files and databases, including records such as x-ray, lab, and procedure reports, medical histories, diagnostic workups, admission and discharge summaries, and clinical resumes.
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Medical Transcriptionist Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Medical Transcriptionists say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Medical Transcriptionist Jobs
- Transcribing Machine Operator
- Clinical Medical Transcriptionist
- Transcription Specialist
- Radiology Transcriptionist
- Certified Medical Coder
Medical Transcriptionist Job Outlook
There were about 57,400 jobs for Medical Transcriptionist in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Medical Transcriptionist. The BLS estimates 6,400 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Medical Transcriptionist are Alaska, Colorado, and Maryland. Watch out if you plan on working in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Medical Transcriptionists Salary
The average yearly salary of a Medical Transcriptionist ranges between $21,840 and $51,780.
Medical Transcriptionists who work in Alaska, Maryland, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.
How much do Medical Transcriptionists make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $33,780 |
| Alaska | $49,420 |
| Arizona | $32,050 |
| Arkansas | $32,490 |
| California | $40,480 |
| Colorado | $38,640 |
| Connecticut | $36,570 |
| Delaware | $33,220 |
| District of Columbia | $31,270 |
| Florida | $35,440 |
| Georgia | $33,540 |
| Hawaii | $29,070 |
| Idaho | $29,940 |
| Illinois | $33,020 |
| Indiana | $32,600 |
| Iowa | $34,630 |
| Kansas | $32,630 |
| Kentucky | $36,110 |
| Louisiana | $31,040 |
| Maine | $35,710 |
| Maryland | $43,070 |
| Massachusetts | $36,610 |
| Michigan | $32,410 |
| Minnesota | $43,200 |
| Mississippi | $31,640 |
| Missouri | $34,910 |
| Montana | $31,120 |
| Nebraska | $35,290 |
| Nevada | $34,450 |
| New Hampshire | $40,000 |
| New Jersey | $44,200 |
| New Mexico | $37,510 |
| New York | $42,020 |
| North Carolina | $34,050 |
| North Dakota | $35,930 |
| Ohio | $38,170 |
| Oklahoma | $39,250 |
| Oregon | $39,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,770 |
| Rhode Island | $37,620 |
| South Carolina | $34,740 |
| South Dakota | $35,100 |
| Tennessee | $32,830 |
| Texas | $36,780 |
| Utah | $36,110 |
| Vermont | $40,790 |
| Virginia | $34,110 |
| Washington | $39,240 |
| West Virginia | $34,470 |
| Wisconsin | $38,080 |
| Wyoming | $39,470 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Medical Transcriptionists
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Medical Transcriptionists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- Database software
- FileMaker Pro
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Corel WordPerfect
- PCC EHR
- Voice recognition software
- dBASE Plus
- Allscripts Misys Healthcare Systems
- Calendar software
- Electronic medical record EMR systems
- Integrated Systems Management OmniMD
How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist
Individuals working as a Medical Transcriptionist have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Medical Transcriptionists Work?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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