| Medical transcriptionists are here for the long haul. | | | | their first language. |
| The growing and aging population has increased | | | | Notwithstanding the boon of speech-recognition |
| the demand for their services. Older age groups | | | | technology and its positive role in this field, the |
| go for more medical treatments and tests that | | | | machinery is far from perfect. The software |
| necessitate documentation. A sustained need for | | | | programs tend to struggle at times to evaluate |
| electronic documentation should ensure that this | | | | human voices, as well as the complex nuances of |
| vocation will not disappear quickly. Increasing | | | | the English language. Consequently, the need for |
| numbers of medical transcriptionists will be | | | | skilled medical transcriptionists will not abate |
| required to modify patients' records, edit scripts | | | | anytime soon. |
| from speech recognition machines, and spot | | | | Hospitals do employ a decent percentage of |
| inconsistencies in medical reports. | | | | medical transcriptionists, but job growth in this |
| Medical healthcare providers in the United States | | | | field is not as rapid as in other industries. |
| have started to outsource transcription work | | | | However, with the escalating demand for |
| overseas, to places like India, Pakistan and the | | | | standardized records, there should soon be a |
| Philippines. The popularity of transmitting private | | | | parallel growth of employment for medical |
| health information through the Internet has grown | | | | transcriptionists in physicians' offices. In the United |
| tremendously. Furthermore, it has become more | | | | States, medical transcriptionists held more than |
| secure. However, this method does have its | | | | 100,000 jobs in 2004. About 40% plied their trade |
| shortcomings. Reports transcribed by overseas | | | | in hospitals; 30% worked in physicians' offices. |
| medical transcription services typically need editing | | | | The rest worked for medical laboratories, |
| to meet quality standards. This is understandable, | | | | business support services, offices of physical and |
| as most of those countries do not have English as | | | | occupational therapists, audiologists and so forth. |