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Medical Transcriptionist

All About Medical Transcriptionists

Medical Transcriptionist Job Description Transcribe medical reports recorded by physicians and other healthcare practitioners using various electronic devices, covering office visits, emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging studies, operations, chart reviews, and final summaries. Transcribe dictated reports and translate abbreviations into fully understandable form. Edit as necessary and return reports in either printed or electronic form for review and signature, or correction.

What Do Medical Transcriptionists Do On a Daily Basis?

  • Produce medical reports, correspondence, records, patient-care information, statistics, medical research, and administrative material.
  • Set up and maintain medical files and databases, including records such as x-ray, lab, and procedure reports, medical histories, diagnostic workups, admission and discharge summaries, and clinical resumes.
  • Translate medical jargon and abbreviations into their expanded forms to ensure the accuracy of patient and health care facility records.
  • Decide which information should be included or excluded in reports.
  • Transcribe dictation for a variety of medical reports, such as patient histories, physical examinations, emergency room visits, operations, chart reviews, consultation, or discharge summaries.
  • Perform a variety of clerical and office tasks, such as handling incoming and outgoing mail, completing and submitting insurance claims, typing, filing, or operating office machines.

Medical Transcriptionist Needed Skills

When polled, Medical Transcriptionists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Medical Transcriptionist Jobs

  • Medical Transcription Editor
  • Documentation Specialist
  • Pathology Transcriptionist
  • Medical Secretary
  • Registered Medical Transcriptionist

Medical Transcriptionist Job Outlook

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 57,400 jobs in the United States for Medical Transcriptionist. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Medical Transcriptionist. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,400 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Medical Transcriptionist are Alaska, Colorado, and Maryland. Watch out if you plan on working in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Medical Transcriptionists Make A Lot Of Money?

The typical yearly salary for Medical Transcriptionists is somewhere between $21,840 and $51,780.

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Medical Transcriptionists who work in Alaska, Maryland, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.

How much do Medical Transcriptionists make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $33,780
Alaska $49,420
Arizona $32,050
Arkansas $32,490
California $40,480
Colorado $38,640
Connecticut $36,570
Delaware $33,220
District of Columbia $31,270
Florida $35,440
Georgia $33,540
Hawaii $29,070
Idaho $29,940
Illinois $33,020
Indiana $32,600
Iowa $34,630
Kansas $32,630
Kentucky $36,110
Louisiana $31,040
Maine $35,710
Maryland $43,070
Massachusetts $36,610
Michigan $32,410
Minnesota $43,200
Mississippi $31,640
Missouri $34,910
Montana $31,120
Nebraska $35,290
Nevada $34,450
New Hampshire $40,000
New Jersey $44,200
New Mexico $37,510
New York $42,020
North Carolina $34,050
North Dakota $35,930
Ohio $38,170
Oklahoma $39,250
Oregon $39,270
Pennsylvania $38,770
Rhode Island $37,620
South Carolina $34,740
South Dakota $35,100
Tennessee $32,830
Texas $36,780
Utah $36,110
Vermont $40,790
Virginia $34,110
Washington $39,240
West Virginia $34,470
Wisconsin $38,080
Wyoming $39,470

What Tools & Technology do Medical Transcriptionists Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Medical Transcriptionists may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Database software
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
  • Corel WordPerfect
  • PCC EHR
  • Voice recognition software
  • dBASE Plus
  • Calendar software
  • Allscripts Misys Healthcare Systems
  • Electronic medical record EMR systems
  • Integrated Systems Management OmniMD

How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist

Are there Medical Transcriptionists education requirements?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Medical Transcriptionist?

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Where Medical Transcriptionists Are Employed

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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References:

Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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