What Is a Medical Transcriptionist?
The role of a medical transcriptionist is to listen to dictated recordings by doctors and transform them into typed documents to be printed or retained as electronic scripts. Their work also involves proof-reading for mistakes and editing as necessary. These documents are then returned to the healthcare professionals for them to review and sign. The transcribed documents become part of a patient’s medical record as well as being shared with insurance companies and health information systems. The ability to share these documents electronically and to have instant access is indispensable for providing the patient with the best level of healthcare. This is why it is crucial that a medical transcriptionist ensures that the data they transcribe is completely accurate.
Knowledge and skills required of a medical transcriptionist
A high level of skill and understanding is required to be a medical transcriptionist. Medical transcriptionists need to know a vast amount of medical terminology, procedures for diagnosing illnesses, treatment assessments and pharmacology, as well as being familiar with internal and external body parts and systems along with their functions. They also need to understand legal issues and formats relating to healthcare documentation. Excellent computer and writing skills with accurate grammar and punctuation are prerequisites. This is because a medical transcriptionist job involves translating medical jargon and abbreviations and spotting inconsistencies in reports. Accurate patient information is absolutely critical to ensure they receive appropriate care and treatment.
Medical transcriptionist training
Due to the importance of accuracy, employers prefer medical transcriptionists who have completed medical transcriptionist training. It is important to find medical transcriptionist courses that are offered by schools accredited by the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs (ACCP). A medical transcriptionist program can take the form of a one year certificate or a two year associate degree. Both usually involve a period of supervised job experience. Those who already have experience in the medical profession and with medical documentation, such as medical administrative assistants, can opt for fast-track training. There are also many colleges which offer medical transcriptionist online training which is very advantageous if you wish to study while continuing with employment or if your circumstances make it difficult to commute to a campus.
Medical transcriptionist certification
As with any profession, obtaining certification will always give you an advantage over your competitors in the job market. It gives you greater credibility in the eyes of employers who want to know that candidates have reached a required level of knowledge and skill. Medical transcriptionist certification is awarded by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) for those who have completed ACCP-approved medical transcriptionist education.
Those who have just graduated from a medical transcriptionist school can take the Level 1 examination which will award the credential of Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) if they are successful. You cannot become a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) until you have two years experience of distinct dictation types in a speciality medical facility. This test takes four hours and has a written and a practical section. The ADHI website provides practice tests. These tests are available throughout the year in specified examination centers at a cost of $195 for ADHI members or $275 for non-members who wish to become certified medical transcriptionists. If you fail the examination you must wait a further six months before retaking the test.
The RMT and CMT credentials are valid for three years after which you must take further examination and pay the appropriate fee to be recertified. Registered Medical Transcriptionists must also earn thirty credits from continuing their education during the three year period and Certified Medical Transcriptionists have to complete a medical transcriptionist online course and final examination. This is because medicine is constantly evolving and skills need to be regularly updated to carry out medical transcriptionist jobs with competence.
Advance your career as a medical transcriptionist
As a medical transcriptionist it is good to join a professional organization. Becoming a member of the ADHI provides you with professional development courses, valuable information and the opportunity to network with other medical transcriptionists. Qualified trancriptionists who have achieved the RMT credential can participate in the Registered Apprenticeship Program which offers on-the-job training and technical instruction.
Ensuring that you are properly qualified and continue to update your skills and further your professional development will guarantee your success as a medical transcriptionist as well as delivering optimum service to healthcare practitioners and their patients.
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