| Medical Transcriptionist jobs have been around | | | | evolve and become more and more adapt they |
| since doctors first took the Hippocratic Oath. | | | | will never be able to replace the trained human |
| Ancient cave writings indicate that records of | | | | mind. They certainly allow for aspects of the |
| what medical treatments were being performed | | | | translation process to speed up but they will |
| have been kept for thousands of years. Back | | | | never be able to compensate for all the |
| then, it was for different reasons but today, | | | | differences in diction styles like accents, grammar, |
| medical transcription and in particular, the medical | | | | pronunciation and the list is as varied as the |
| transcriptionist profession has been quietly taking | | | | doctors doing the dictation. |
| steps forward and is "suddenly" making itself | | | | Basically, the evolving transcription software |
| known to the world. | | | | programs are simply a tool but like all tools they |
| In a nutshell, a Medical Transcriptionist transcribes | | | | are only as good as the skilled craftsman using |
| dictated matter by phone or from electronically | | | | them. In fact, because of these software |
| recorded messages by doctors, nurses or other | | | | shortcomings, transcriptionists need to be very |
| health care professionals, into records of | | | | adept at editing; especially in the correct use of |
| treatments, procedures and up to date patient | | | | grammar and the ability to proofread. And |
| status reports. | | | | because most transcriptions start via the |
| Surprisingly, Medical Transcription wasn't officially | | | | recorded message listening and strong keyboard |
| recognized as a profession until 1999 when, the | | | | skills are becoming more and more an essential. |
| United States Department of Labor, finally | | | | Sure, voice recognition software has made the |
| assigned the profession its' own job code in order | | | | whole transcription process easier than it was in |
| to monitor statistics about the field. Until that | | | | the past. Back "in the old days" when a medical |
| point, medical transcriptionist jobs were unjustly | | | | transcriptionists had to listen to every single word |
| given the title of medical secretary or typists. | | | | and then transcribe it via stenograph, by long |
| Today, the American Association for Medical | | | | hand or more recently into a word processor but |
| Transcription, which overlooks the profession, | | | | thanks to technology the editing skills mentioned |
| administers testing and upon passing the test you | | | | above are becoming increasingly more important |
| earn the title, "Certified Medical Transcriptionist" | | | | because voice recognition software is taking over |
| (CMT) which lends additional credibility to your | | | | more and more of the tedious hand entry portion |
| knowledge, skills and abilities over those that are | | | | of the job. |
| uncertified. Although certification isn't required for | | | | Medical Transcriptionist job training covers a wide |
| gainful employment, CMT status certainly has its' | | | | curriculum including general knowledge of a wide |
| advantages like; the assurance to your employer | | | | variety of medical topics like medical language, |
| that you are highly qualified and this in turn, | | | | Greek and Latin prefixes and suffixes, biology, |
| increases your "market value" as an employee. | | | | anatomy and physiology body systems. A medical |
| Medical Transcriptionist take on the role of | | | | transcriptionist also needs to have a fair |
| converting the spoken words, of health care | | | | knowledge in diseases; how they progress and |
| professionals, into written text either as hard or | | | | how they are treated because this process |
| soft copy. But of course, with the dawn of new | | | | makes up a large portion of the medical dictations |
| technology, this task is becoming increasingly less | | | | that they are responsible for transcribing. |
| time consuming per unit produced. A good | | | | In addition, medical science, surgery, surgical |
| example is the ever-increasing use of voice | | | | procedures and terminologies, surgical and |
| recognition software. | | | | laboratory instruments are also an important part |
| Sounds great but the questions arises, if | | | | of the transcriptionists knowledge set. And, if |
| technology is transforming the profession now, | | | | that's not enough prosthetics, pharmacology, |
| then will technology transform the profession to | | | | laboratory test results and their interpretation |
| such an extent anytime in the foreseeable future | | | | must also be understood and mastered. As you |
| that it more or less makes the role of humans in | | | | can see, a medical transcriptionists knowledge |
| the profession obsolete? I think the best way to | | | | base must be wide and deep. |
| respond is by using an example. Has the | | | | Medical transcriptionist jobs can be applied in a |
| technological advances in every aspect of the | | | | variety of health care settings, either as full time |
| medical profession reduced the role and | | | | employees of firms that are need of these kinds |
| importance of doctors and nurses? The answer | | | | of services to doctors and other healthcare |
| to that question is clear and the same applies to | | | | professionals or as part time transcriptionists that |
| the field of medical transcription. | | | | from home for private clients. |
| Although transcription programs continue to | | | | This article may be reproduced only in its entirety. |