MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONISTS California Occupational Guide Number 499 Interest Area 13 1995
TRENDS
Is telecommuting (working from the home) an option for MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONISTS?
Yes!!
Many Medical Transcriptionists choose to work at home. Some are employed as subcontractors by transcription services or hospitals. Others choose to operate their own businesses and provide services to healthcare facilities or physicians' offices. However, the American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT) cautions that the success of a home based worker depends on first acquiring a solid background under the direction of experienced, qualified Medical Transcriptionists. The transcriptionist working from the home must make a substantial investment in equipment and reference material that must be updated frequently to keep up with rapidly changing technology.
THE JOB
Medical Transcriptionists are medical language specialists who interpret and transcribe dictation by physicians and other healthcare professionals about patient assessment, workup, therapeutic procedures, clinical course, diagnosis, prognosis and other medical processes. Their work documents patient care and facilitates delivery of healthcare services. They edit dictated material for grammar and clarity.
Transcriptionists may transcribe (type) directly from voice recordings heard through earphones. While a variety of equipment is still used to convert spoken words to hard copy medical reports, most transcriptionists today do their work on computers.
Dictation may include pathology and radiology reports, operative reports, letters, discharge summaries, outpatient, and death summaries. Other types of dictated materials include patient histories, physicals, consultations, and progress reports. Transcriptionists are responsible for correct format, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. They are expected to be thoroughly familiar with medical terminology so that they can distinguish between terms that sound alike but are spelled differently, and to recognize inconsistencies and mistakes in medical terms. To achieve accuracy in their reports, transcriptionists need to have a working knowledge of medical reference materials to aid them in the completion of the typed records. They often use an English dictionary, a medical dictionary, a drug reference, and other sources on anatomy, physiology, and medicine. Transcriptionists must be able to edit the dictated material so that it is consistent and understandable without changing the meaning. They listen to the dictated information and interpret and transcribe well-organized medical reports on patient care and treatment.
Experienced transcriptionists may supervise other transcriptionists and may provide assistance to co-workers with difficult assignments.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Medical Transcriptionists usually work alone at individual work stations in comfortable offices. The work may require long hours of sitting. A great degree of concentration is required because of the potentially serious effect that transcription errors could have on a patient's care. Speed is also required for prompt placement of information in hospital reports, or patients' charts. Production standards are often set by employers for performance evaluation, and some employers base pay on production.
Jobs are found in many types of establishments including public and private medical clinics, hospitals, medical centers, extended-care facilities, medical research groups, and city and state health departments. Other places of employment are pharmaceutical houses, physicians' offices, public and private health organizations, and firms that provide medical transcription services.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
Qualified Medical Transcriptionists are always needed. This need should grow as health care expands to cover the medical needs of an increased aging population and the greater number of workers and their dependents covered by health insurance programs. Applicant shortages often exist for job openings for the second and third shifts.
Experienced transcriptionists will be the most successful in finding employment.
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division. The figures represent the broad occupational group Stenographers which includes Medical Transcriptionists.
Estimated number of workers in 1990 8,330 Estimated number of workers in 2005 8,810 Projected Growth Percentage 6% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 2,850
(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover.)
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Entry-level transcriptionists earn about $7.00 to $12.00 an hour. With experience, their wages increase to approximately $10.25 to $14.00 an hour. Many hospitals now pay bonuses based on productivity. The exceptional worker with experience may receive pay as high as $15.50 an hour or more. Typically, transcriptionists earn 10 to 15 percent more if they work evening or night shifts.
Salary information is not available for Medical Transcribers who telecommute (work out of their own home).
Full-time transcriptionists work a 40-hour, 5-day workweek, although the amount of hours worked may be altered depending on patient load. Part-time work or flexible schedules may be available. Some transcriptionists work only on an on-call basis. In hospitals, they may be assigned to swing or graveyard shifts. Fringe benefits may include paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, medical insurance, and pension plans. Transcriptionists who only work on-call usually do not get these benefits.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Medical transcription is a language skill, not a clerical skill. It requires extensive education and excellent grammar and punctuation ability as well as a knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and disease processes. In addition, transcriptionists need a good working knowledge of computers and software technology.
In today's world of multiple medical specialties and acute care, few transcriptionists learn how to do their work solely on the job. Medical transcription training from an accredited school is becoming essential. Many California community colleges, Regional Occupational Programs (ROP), adult education programs, and business and vocational schools offer medical transcribing programs leading to a certificate.
The designation of Certified Medical Transcriptionist is an important part of career development. It is recognized by many employers as a mark of achievement in the field. Certification is granted following successful completion of a two part exam administered by the Medical Transcriptionist Certification Program at the American Association for Medical Transcription.
Personal requirements include alertness and the ability to concentrate on details. The work requires normal or corrected hearing and good manual dexterity.
ADVANCEMENT
Promotion is based on performance and generally involves a step-by-step movement from entry-level transcriptionist to senior-level transcriptionist. The career ladder may include opportunities for supervision as well as medical transcription consulting. Many experienced and qualified transcriptionists start their own businesses.
FINDING THE JOB
Entry-level job seekers should apply directly to physicians' offices, clinics, emergency and outpatient diagnostic centers, and extended care facilities. After some experience, other job opportunities are found in hospital-based medical records, radiology and pathology departments, and privately owned transcription services.
Schools that provide medical transcriptionist training may provide graduate placement assistance. Newspaper want ads, health information publications and the Journal of American Medical Records Association for Medical Transcribers may list job information. Job seekers may also register with the California Employment Development Department Job Service.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT) P.O. Box 57187 Modesto, CA 95357 (209) 551-0883 or (800) 982-2182 (toll free) Fax: (209) 551-9317
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Stenographers No. 25 Medical Records Techs and Administrators No. 134 Shorthand and Court Reporters No. 162
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1) Transcribing Machine Operators(clerical) 203.582-058
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Stenographers 553020
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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