Medical Transcriptionist Training

Individuals who work as medical transcriptionists will also provide:

• Medical history reports
• Physical examination reports
• Consultation papers
• Discharge summaries
• Diagnostic imaging studies
• Referral letters
• Progress notes
• Autopsy reports

Afterwards, they will return these documents to the physician who dictated the recordings for review, correction and signature. These documents eventually become part of the permanent medical files of the patients.

Basic Skills

In order to effectively transcribe the dictated recordings, medical transcriptionists need to understand diagnostic procedures, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, treatment assessments, and medical terminologies among others. It is key for medical transcriptionists to have the capability to transcribe abbreviations and jargons in their expanded format. Experienced transcriptionists can spot inaccuracies in a medical report easily. Their ability to transcribe accurate information provides high quality care to the patients.

Work Environment

A majority of medical transcriptionists are employed in a comfortable environment such as hospitals, transcription service offices, clinics, physician's offices, laboratories, government facilities, and even their own homes. A lot of transcriptionists work via telecommuting arrangements with their employers.

Trainings and Certifications

Having a postsecondary training is preferred by most employers. Writing and word processing skills are also a requirement. Training can be provided by community colleges, vocational schools, and even distance-learning programs.

Completion of a one-year certification program or a two-year associate program with coursework in medical terminology, anatomy, legal issues related to health care documentation, and grammar and punctuation is highly recommended for career advancement. Most educational programs also involve on-the-job training. Transcriptionists who have worked as a medical secretary or nurse can easily enter this field because they are already familiar with medical terminologies.

Currently, there is no formal accreditation required for medical transcription programs. The Approval Committee for Certified Programs (AACP) offers voluntary accreditation in the industry. Take note that though completing an ACCP approved program is voluntary, it may be required for transcriptionists who seek certification.

The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) provides two types of certifications:

• Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT)
• Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT)

(New graduates or those with less than two years experience in medical transcription programs may be awarded with the RMT credential if they pass the AHDI level 1 of the exam).