MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION IN INDIA

transcriptionist?

Where can I find more information about the federally approved MT Registered

Apprenticeship Program?

peers?

desirable?

In the broadest sense, medical transcription is the act of translating from oral to

written form (on paper or electronically) the record of a person's encounter with a

healthcare professional. Medical transcriptionists (MTs) are specialists in

medical language and healthcare documentation. They interpret and transcribe

dictation by physicians and other healthcare professionals regarding patient

assessment, workup, therapeutic procedures, clinical course, diagnosis,

prognosis, etc., editing dictated material for grammar and clarity as necessary

and appropriate.

Physicians and other healthcare providers employ state-of-the-art electronic

technology to dictate and transmit highly technical and confidential information

about their patients. These medical professionals rely on skilled medical

transcriptionists to transform spoken words into comprehensive records that

accurately communicate medical information.

Speech recognition systems also may be used as an intermediary to translate

the medical professional's dictation into rough draft. The medical transcriptionist

is on the frontline to implement risk management by further refining the draft into

a finished document. This requires listening to dictation while reading the draft

created via speech recognition technology and editing the text on a computer

screen. This editing may range from minimal to extensive, depending on the

capabilities of the speech recognition software and the dictating habits of the

originator, and may include correction of content as well as punctuation,

grammar, and style.

The electronic health record (EHR) facilitates storage of an individual's health

history so that it may be accessed by physicians and other healthcare providers

anywhere. The military implements the electronic health record. Primary care

managers (PCMs) are able to view onscreen previous visit history and order

meds and diagnostic studies in the patient’s presence. In this setting, the MT

and EHR play a blended role.

be confused. The primary skills necessary for performance of quality medical

transcription are extensive medical knowledge and understanding, sound

judgment, deductive reasoning, and the ability to detect medical inconsistencies

in dictation. For example, a diagnosis inconsistent with the patient's history and

symptoms may be mistakenly dictated. As a foremost partner in risk

management, the medical transcriptionist questions, seeks clarification, verifies

the information, and enters the correct information into the report.

You need excellent English grammar skills, as well as a compelling interest in

and knowledge of continuous new medical equipment and procedures, scientific

updates, federally approved pharmaceutical products, etc., which are reflected in

medical language. You need superior resource skills. You need hand-eye

coordination and keen listening skills. You need reasonable computer

keyboarding skills and sit for long hours, often in a high-pressure environment.

Medical documents often are requested to be expedited copy. A high level of

concentration for extended periods of time is also important.

Medical transcription requires a practical knowledge of medical language relating

to anatomy, physiology, disease processes, pharmacology, laboratory medicine,

and the internal organization of medical reports. A transcriptionist is a medical

language specialist who must be aware of standards and requirements that apply

to the health record, as well as the legal significance of medical transcripts.

Traditional reports of patient care take many forms including histories and

physical examinations, progress reports, emergency room notes, specialty

consultations, operative reports, diagnostic and laboratory findings, discharge

summaries, clinic notes, referral letters, and an array of documentation spanning

more than 60 medical specialties. They are frequently dictated by healthcare

Medical transcriptionists use their talents in a variety of healthcare settings,

including doctors' offices, public and private hospitals, teaching hospitals,

medical schools, medical transcription businesses, clinics, laboratories,

pathology and radiology departments, insurance companies, medical libraries,

government medical facilities, rehabilitation centers, legal offices, research

centers, veterinary medical facilities, and associations representing the

healthcare industry—wherever dictation for the purpose of healthcare

documentation requires transcription. Many MTs work from their homes as

independent contractors, subcontractors, or home-based employees.

Medical transcriptionists work with physicians and surgeons in multiple

specialties. They work with pharmacists, therapists, technicians, nurses,

dietitians, social workers, psychologists, and other medical personnel. All of

these healthcare providers rely on information that is received, accurately

documented, and disseminated by the medical transcriptionist.

Qualified medical transcriptionists who wish to expand their professional

responsibilities may become quality assurance specialists, editors, supervisors.

Experienced medical transcriptionists may become teachers, working in schools

and colleges to educate future medical transcription professionals as managers,

department heads, or owners of medical transcription businesses.

About Medical Transcription. Follow the related links of information.

http://www.ahdionline.org

The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) is the recognized

leader in establishing medical transcription styles, forms, and practices. It is the

organization that represents MTs globally to direct the evolution of the medical

transcription profession, to advance and represent the profession of medical

transcription through the promotion of quality healthcare documentation. Its

purpose is to set and uphold standards for education and practice in the field of

medical transcription that ensure the highest level of accuracy, privacy, and

security of healthcare documentation for the U.S. healthcare system in order to

protect public health, increase patient safety, and improve quality of care for

healthcare consumers. AHDI provides medical transcriptionists with tools to

improve patient safety and quality of care.

http://www.ahdionline.org/scriptcontent/mtapproved.cfm

There are many training programs that make big promises about their ability to

prepare you for job readiness so that you can work from home and make a lot of

money. The reality is that very few of those programs have done their homework

about the kind of curriculum it takes to ensure the level of job readiness that the

industry demands from a graduate. Despite the fact that AHDI has provided

standards for MT education, there are still many MT programs online and at the

community college level that are operating below those standards.

Go to the online AHDI Home Page > Visitor Center > Choosing an MT School.

This outlines the criteria AHDI considers essential to an effective educational

program. You can use this information as a checklist to evaluate any of the

schools you may consider.

It is recommended that prospective students look for schools whose advertising

emphasizes excellence in medical transcription, rather than focusing on the ideas of

working at home or completing a program rapidly.

For that reason, AHDI recently established an education program approval

process to evaluate programs that teach medical transcription. A joint committee, the

Approval Committee for Certificate Programs, (ACCP) was established by AHDI and

AHIMA for certifying and approving medical transcription education programs. The

ACCP education approval committee approved the first school in 2005. Approved

programs satisfy all the requirements AHDI has established and have demonstrated a

meritorious record of job placement for their graduates. These programs are

highly regarded by MT employers who seek out these graduates because of their

job readiness. Detailed information about approved schools is found on the

Employers in today's production-focused environment do not have the resources

to hand-hold substandard graduates through a long acclimation period of on-the-job

training. It is costly and time-consuming, and many employers no longer take

a risk on graduates from programs that do not have a good track record of

graduating job-ready MTs. Employers are now turning to the ACCP education

approval process to set the standard for entry to practice. Graduates from the

approved programs continue to be highly sought after by industry employers for

that reason.

Use the “Choosing an MT School” page on the AHDI website as a checklist. Add your

own questions as well.

Ask about the amount of authentic physician dictation which is used for practice

and then make appropriate use of every opportunity to practice. If the dictation is

not there, the best student is unlikely to succeed. “Authentic dictation” is actually

dictated by real clinicians under real circumstances; regardless how hard anyone

tries to duplicate authenticity, there is something about reading that gives it a

rhythm and flow that you will not encounter in real life.

Ask whether there are real transcriptionists (preferably CMTs) teaching the

transcription practice portion of the program or mentoring students through

transcription practice. Real MTs bring on-the-job experience to your academic

studies and to transcription practice.

Interview the instructors and directors of the programs, the people with whom

you will be interacting. Talk with them by phone and see with whom you have the

best rapport. All things being equal (including the authentic dictation advice

above), choose the school with whom you feel you can establish the best

relationship. It's difficult to learn medical transcription under the best of

conditions; it won't help at all if you find yourself in a situation where you just

don't "click" with an instructor.

Ask yourself some questions: Am I able to work independently? If I work elsewhere

and/or have children, am I able to find the necessary time and privacy for

uninterrupted study? Am I self-directed? Are my computer skills such that I need

only minimal support? Can I establish a schedule and stick to it? Am I a critical

thinker to reason through some problems on my own? (You may not always

have access to immediate feedback, even in the best of schools.)

Only a detailed comparison of education program benefits and resources can

help you reasonably determine why one school may charge more than another.

Again, use the “Choosing an MT School” page from the AHDI website, go

item-by-item down the list and evaluate the school you've chosen. If you have

more than one possible school in mind, you may want to make a spreadsheet or

table and compare the responses you get from the 2 schools in question.

Generally speaking, MT courses take 9-18 months to complete. This varies

with each approved school and can be best determined by reviewing the

websites and curricula and interviewing the administration of each school you

consider. Another subjective factor depends on how quickly you grasp the

information and how many hours per day you spend pursuing your goal.

An apprenticeable occupation is a skilled trade which possesses all of the

following characteristics: It is customarily learned in a practical way through a

structured, systematic program of on-the-job supervised training. It is clearly identified

and commonly recognized throughout an industry. It involves manual, mechanical and

technical skills and knowledge which require a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the job

work experience. It requires related instruction to supplement the on-the-job training.

Specifically, the MT Registered Apprenticeship candidate is a graduate from an

ACCP-approved school who has earned the RMT credential from AHDI. Eligible

apprentices are placed with an employer as a 2-year apprentice in the area of acute

care.

Yes, apprentices in Registered Apprenticeship programs earn while they learn,

because they are full-time employees during their apprenticeship. A

progressively increasing schedule of wages is based on the experienced

worker's hourly wage of the apprentice's occupation. Generally, apprentices start at

50% of the wage an employer pays an experienced worker in that occupation (but the

apprentice cannot receive less than the state minimum wage). The apprentices' wages

are increased periodically throughout the apprenticeship to reflect their mastery of

the occupational skills and their ability to work independently.

Download the “Apprentice Starter Kit.”

Medical transcription should not be viewed as a part-time job for those entering

the profession for the first time. Those who commit themselves to working full

time in order to build up their level of productivity are considered to be a good

investment for the employer. It may be possible for an individual to scale back to

part-time work after having mastered the medical language and become

proficient in medical transcription technology, but it is unwise to look upon

medical transcription as a part-time opportunity right out of training.

Two best sources for a job lie within yourself coupled with your school.

Graduates from approved schools who demonstrate 98% accuracy in

transcription are the most sought after by employers. Push yourself to excel, and

work with the contacts your school has to place you. Employers are aware of the

reputations the schools have and often have standing requests for their

graduates, and best students often have choices where to work.

In additional to traditional employability, which abounds, the MT skill set is

applicable to support alternative health practitioners, insurance companies,

scientific research facilities, medical malpractice attorneys, medical society

offices, private detectives, academia with science or medicine departments,

biotechnology companies (research and manufacturing), forensic psychiatry,

pharmaceutical industry (research, development, sales, support), medical

software development, veterinary offices, managed care organizations, medical

and allied health publishing entities, and many more.

While many medical transcriptionists do work from their homes, the opportunity

to work from home is not sufficient reason to enter this challenging profession.

Medical transcriptionists must be intensely focused on medical language and the

importance of documenting highly sensitive patient healthcare documents and

must be dedicated to quality, privacy, and accuracy in all of their efforts. Medical

transcription is not “just a typing job,” but rather a professional field where only

the most dedicated practitioners will be successful.

The majority of experienced MTs do work from home. However, some employers may

require you to work at their facility or in their office before sending you home to work on

your own. The home transcriptionist needs an excellent knowledge of the medical

language, as well as the English language, and may have to make a substantial

investment in reference materials and equipment. You must also possess time

management skills and discipline in order to work from home. Those who provide the

highest quality transcription are most likely to be successful. However, there are

medical transcription service owners (MTSOs) who hire MTs and train them, providing

mentors and entry-level transcription initially.

The independent medical transcriptionist (IC) or medical transcription service

owner (MTSO) should have an excellent knowledge of not only the medical

language and the English language, but the language of business as well. You

should be willing to make a substantial investment in medical reference materials

and equipment. The successful independent MT will maintain a high level of

quality. Federal regulations call for special security precautions when dealing

with protected patient information; this may involve some expense on your part.

You are cautioned that the IRS has specific regulations about home businesses

and independent contractors. Be sure to seek the advice of a qualified attorney

and/or tax advisor.

Also see the AHDI publication, “Tip Sheet for Becoming a Self-Employed

Medical Transcriptionist,” which is available on the AHDI website.

Medical transcriptionists may be paid in any of a variety of ways, but chiefly by

the hour, by production, or by a combination of hourly pay plus incentive pay for

production.

You can find employment statistics, wage ranges, and expected growth of

employment for medical transcription on the website for the Bureau of

the profession of medical transcription through the promotion of quality

healthcare documentation. Participate in the development of healthcare

documentation standards to protect consumer privacy and security of medical

premier association of health information management (HIM) professionals.

AHIMA's 50,000 members are dedicated to the effective management of

personal health information needed to deliver quality healthcare to the public.

Founded in 1928 to improve the quality of medical records, AHIMA is committed

to advancing the HIM profession in an increasingly electronic and global

environment through leadership in advocacy, education, certification, and lifelong

association serving the needs of medical transcription companies, vendors, and

To ensure that medical transcriptionists meet professional standards of

excellence, AHDI issues 2 credentials and 1 designation.

Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT): AHDI offers a voluntary credentialing

exam to individuals who wish to become Registered Medical Transcriptionists

(RMTs). This exam is applicable for recent graduates of medical transcription

education programs, single-specialty transcriptionists, or MTs with fewer than 2 years’

experience in acute care. This exam is considered a level 1 exam. Individuals

interested in this exam may not hold a CMT credential.

Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT): AHDI offers a voluntary certification

exam to individuals who wish to become Certified Medical Transcriptionists

(CMTs). Individuals interested in this exam should have 2 years of acute care (or

equivalent) transcription experience. This exam is considered a level 2 “expert” exam.

Fellow of AAMT (FAAMT): A Fellow of AAMT signifies that you have achieved a

balance of successful activities in your profession that goes beyond regular

transcription practice.

No educational program can offer “certification.” While a program may provide its

graduates with a certificate of completion, this is not the same as either the RMT

(Registered Medical Transcriptionist) or the CMT (Certified Medical

Transcriptionist) credentials that are recognized in the industry and achieved only

through successful completion of examinations administered by Prometric for

AHDI in electronic testing centers throughout the world. The CMT credential should be

the eventual goal for every working medical transcriptionist.

A growing number of companies in the US are recognizing the link between

certified professionals and quality documentation outcomes. Many are now

seeking, reimbursing, and compensating the credential in the marketplace.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical transcriptionists is

expected to grow faster than average through the year 2014. The Bureau of Labor

Statistics also predicts a need for 5.3 million healthcare workers to fill job openings

created by departures and new positions. The supply of allied health

professionals is not keeping up with demand with overall enrollment in allied

health educational programs declining over the last ten years. There are not

enough graduates to meet the current or future demands.

The MT field is changing and you need to enter it with those expectations. MTs

are accustomed to change–from manual to electric typewriters to computers,

from handheld micro cassettes to digital electronic voice file transmission, from

functions of editing voice recognition software to more data capture opportunities

than can be imagined.

Whatever you have been exposed to as “medical transcription” will evolve

significantly by the time you finish school; however, your MT skill set will be in

the crop,” most capable MTs are on the leading edge to perform as accuracy

analysts, auditors, records editors, correctionists, abstractors, and other

designations as the market demands.