How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist

Not a lot of people are aware that doctors rely heavily on the skill of a medical transcriptionist. In fact, doctors base their diagnosis and prescriptions based on previous diagnosis, lab test results or previous medical histories transcripts-- of course, all transcribed by a medical transcriptionist.

For some people, a medical transcriptionist's job may be just be a bit of typing, but it takes more than transcribing a patient's history or doctor's note. It involves a lot of analysis too and data interpretation, mostly to make sense of a jargon-heavy medical diagnosis or report.

Being a medical transcriptionist is a good fit for people who have a knack for medical terms, writing, editing and homebased work. There are medical transcriptionists working onsite for hospitals, clinics and transcription service providers as well should medical transcriptionists want to work in an office setting. The job also pays well at $15 an hour.

With healthcare services steadily increasing, it's almost impossible for aspiring medical transcriptionists to find a job. Contextually speaking, the rise in demand for healthcare services is brought about by aging baby boomesr requiring more services. The encounter between patients and health care providers has increased both via face-to-face sessions and electronically. Either way, someone has to transcribe the recordings of what transpired during the session. This is where the medical transcriptionist enters the picture.

Becoming a medical transcriptionist takes about six months to a year, on average, if you count in the internship. Assuming you spend 15 hours a week studying, finishing a program in six months is certainly doable. Enrolling in a program is your first step in becoming one, of course.

A medical transcription program will equip you with the skills and knowledge essential to the job. Specifically, the course will acquaint you with medical, surgical and pharmaceutical terminologies; and copyediting. The program will also broaden your understanding of the medical transcription profession as well as the theories behind it. Once you've completed the coursework and final exam, you'll receive your certificate of completion right away.

On-the-job trainings are also offered by medical transcription providers at a minimum fee. Some providers like www.meditec.com offer free internship programs for the creme de la creme of its students. In order to qualify for this kind of internship, students would have to pass a ceiling grade, in this case, 90 percent.