I will tell you my own story about why I chose a career in medical transcription. I am a registered nurse with many years of hospital nursing experience. I began my nursing career at a local hospital. I soon became head nurse. I gained a great deal of hospital nursing experience at that time. I became so familiar with all of the medical terminology. Later, during my nursing career, I worked for a large teaching hospital. I had the wonderful opportunity to work on many specialty units. I gained a wealth of medical experience.

I soon began researching career paths that would enable me to work at home in a professional medical field. Many moms choose medical transcription as their primary career so they can stay home and raise their children. Some women enjoy the flexible schedules that may be available for medical transcriptionists. A few people seek work at home opportunities because they feel it is much less stressful for them. Medical transcriptionists may also work in hospitals, medical offices, clinics, radiology, physical therapy, and transcription companies that may hire transcriptionists to work from home.

THE JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST

A medical transcriptionist transcribes physician dictated medical reports, usually onto computer files for patients' charts. Medical transcriptionists may listen to recorded dictation while using their headset. They may use a foot pedal to start or stop the dictation as they are typing their medical report. It is common for physicians to transmit dictation to medical transcriptionists using digital dictating equipment. Many transcriptionists receive dictation over the internet from the physician or transcription company they may be working with at that time. The transcriptionist types the report into her computer and she proofreads the report for medical accuracy, including spelling and grammar. The physician or transcription company will usually review the reports for accuracy. The dictator places their signature. The finished documents become a permanent part of the patient's record that is kept in the medical files.

A modern method of transmitting dictation is speech recognition technology, which electronically translates sound into text and creates reports. Reports are edited for mistakes in grammar and possible medical errors. The transcriptionist needs to know the proper medical terminology and correct grammar usage. She should have knowledge of common diseases, tests, procedures and medications. The transcriptionist needs to be familiar with the proper formatting of the different medical reports.

A FEW MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION TRAINING OPTIONS

A variety of training options are available to prepare someone for a career in medical transcription. Some of these training options may include local community colleges, business or trade schools, online distance education programs and home study courses. Each specific medical transcription program may have some differences in their curriculum or method of instruction. Some programs may offer medical reference textbooks, available online instructors, interactive course modules, and possibly even job placement services upon successful completion of their medical transcription course.

I have developed my own website titled “Medical Transcription Online Training” located at http://www.medical-transcription-online-training.com/ and also my Medical Transcription Tutor blog at http://medicaltranscriptiontutor.blogspot.com/.