Medical Transcription: How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist
As the average age of people in the medical transcription field increases, the need for new personnel becomes more acute. So what skills, abilities, and education do you need to enter this interesting field?
- A high school diploma or GED
- A knowledge of medical terminology.
- The ability to check, verify, classify, and count numbers accurately
- The ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
- The ability to memorize along with excellent verbal and spelling ability.
- Being able to use basic office equipment, such as a computer and a dictaphone.
- Excellent typing skills
The above skills and abilities will help get you in the door if you want to pursue a career in the medical transcription industry. However, these are not the only prerequisites for a successful medical billing job.
You will also need a basic level of medical transcription knowledge to truly provide the level of work necessary to remain employed. He can follow a course of study that will prepare him for the job or he can enter a medical transcription practice as a very young member of staff and work his way up.
The following is a list of skills and knowledge that you will need to perform the job of a medical transcriptionist.
- A basic knowledge and understanding of medical terminology. (you may need a more advanced level of understanding depending on the type of work you will be doing and for whom)
- Has demonstrated knowledge and experience in transcribing all four basic job types.
- Proficiency in multiple report types and multiple specialties.
So what can you expect to do in your day job?
o You must accurately transcribe the name, medical history or social security number, as well as the information to identify the patient.
o In doing this, you will need to be able to be accurate, use correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar, as well as be able to edit records when necessary to eliminate inconsistencies.
o Maintain and consult reference material to correctly identify procedures and medical terminology.
o Keep a record of all transcripts made.
o Distribute transcribed reports as needed and also collect dictation tapes and records.
o Make sure reports are done on time and follow up with doctors or hospital staff in case dictation tapes are late or missing.
o Ensure that the file of reports and records is updated.
o Carry out quality controls on the reports prepared.
Still, work is an important and integral part of the medical system. An accurate and conscientious transcriptionist is an asset to any medical facility and will have a long and financially rewarding career ahead of them.
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