Medical transcriptionists also called healthcare documentation specialists, listen to voice recordings that physicians and other healthcare workers generate and convert into written reports. They also may review and edit medical documents created using speech recognition technology. People work both full-time and part-time in such kinds of jobs. Both in Canada and the USA, Medical Transcriptionists earn well. These kinds of jobs are flexible, and timings aren’t stringent. Depending on the firm you work with, they can be done on and off. Over the years, this job has become less important because of the increasing use of AI and technology. Thus, the pay isn't much high either. To know more, keep reading below.
Types of Medical Transcriptionist Jobs and Salary Ranges in Canada and the USA
The top companies hiring for Medical Transcriptionist jobs are 2Ascribe, St. Joseph's Health Care London, Alberta Health Services, Talkatoo, Vancouver Coastal Health, Shared Health, Interior Health Authority, Bluewater Health, PHSA, and Northern Health Region etc. There are many other companies also who are looking for medical transcribes. There are varying roles and responsibilities in this field, and the salary depends on the amount of work you do.
so there are employment opportunities in
- Healthcare Units
- Hospitals
- Clinics ( both public and private)
- Companies (Private Sector)
- Government (Public Sector)
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Why become a Medical Transcriptionist?
Working as a medical transcriptionist (or medical transcribe) is valuable to any staff. The necessary coding knowledge helps speed up the processing time for the team and patients. It’s also a desirable position for anyone interested in a new career that pays well and offers desirable benefits. However, before pursuing such a position, it is essential to know what medical transcriptionists do on any given day and the necessary medical transcriptionist skills required to be a successful medical transcribe.
A medical transcriptionist, also known as a medical scribe, is a job that requires an individual to listen to audio recordings from doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals. While listening to the audio file, the transcriptionist will type the audio into text quickly and accurately. Accurate transcription is essential for medical transcription jobs because hospitals, medical facilities, and doctors rely on these patient files and notes to treat and diagnose their patients later.
Medical transcriptionists use a headset, computer, keyboard, and foot pedal to type and record audio files quickly.
What Can You Do in this Sector?
As a medical transcriber, you can work as a medical transcriptionist in a physician's office or from home. When you work from home, you can work in one physician's office or institution or work for different physicians. When working remotely from their home office, medical transcriptionist uses online portals to receive work and download and upload the transcription files.
Salary Ranges for This Sector
. Most of the time, the salary of an employee is based on various factors, such as
- Education
- Work Experience
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Proficiency or Expertise in the topic
- Expertise in writing and grammar
- Multitasking Capabilities
- Accuracy
Advantages and Disadvantages in Medical Transcriptor Jobs, Roles and Responsibilities And Salary
Let's look into the different Roles, Responsibilities, and salaries in this sector.
The primary requirement for becoming a medical transcriptor includes completing your high school diploma or GED and going the course of a medical transcribe. Or, you can go for the degree of a medical transcribe and simultaneously intern under someone who can teach you the transcription work. Remember that your typing speed must be breakneck, or you must work on it over time.
A medical transcriptionist typically works remotely, but some may work onsite in a doctor’s office or hospital.
Onsite medical transcriptionists will likely have a bustling environment that can be pretty noisy. Their territory will be more fast-paced as they may be expected to move from room to room with a doctor or nurse. Other onsite medical transcriptionists will have an office where they work quietly, and doctors or nurses report back to them with summaries. Either way, onsite medical transcriptionists will have much more direct contact with others, so consider the same when choosing your work environment.
A medical transcriptionist must understand the importance of transcribing medical records and patient files. Not only do you have a duty to keep the information you transcribe confidential for patient privacy, but you also need to consider your duty to complete your work on time. The deadline may require medical records and patient files for essential surgeries and procedures. So, consider the task you have to medical providers and their patients when looking at deadlines and don’t take them lightly as they can affect the timing of someone’s medical treatment.
With the rise in transcription software online, it may seem like professional transcriptionists are doomed. However, this isn’t the case, especially with sensitive topics like medical records.
Today, many doctors spend more time on medical records and paperwork than patients. Medical transcriptionists and receptionists can change this reality and free up a doctor’s time to provide better care and see more patients. Many medical organisations are turning to medical transcriptionists to solve this problem and improve their quality of care. So, while there may be a slight predicted decline, the overall industry is still strong and in demand by many medical organisations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Medical Transcriptionist and a General Transcriptionist?
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General transcription and medical transcription require the same skillset, but medical transcription requires more specialised training and knowledge. Medical transcriptionists need to know shorthand and medical terminologies, such as anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, patient confidentiality issues, and medical documentation procedures.
How much time does it take to become a Medical Transcriptionist?
Suppose you’re dedicated to becoming a medical transcriptionist. In that case, you may be able to earn your diploma or certificate in as little as one year, but a full associate degree will usually take two years to complete. Thus, you can become a medical transcriptionist in at least one and at maximum two years if you go through proper training.
