Welcome to Medical Transcription

Visits to the doctor are a common occurrence for most, but the whole process and the extent of what goes on behind the scene is often unknown. Typically, a patient is not fully aware of that what is discussed during visits are recorded in detail. With precise records, physicians are able to better track, diagnose, and treat patience knowing their medical history and treatments. However, similar to the information privacy battles raging on other platforms, the medical industry is not immune. knowledge is power, and although the intent of the records are for the benefit of the patient, in the wrong hands or mishandled it can instead be detrimental. Being in the medical field requires the utmost in professionalism, discretion, and accuracy, and Medical Transcription is no exception.

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What is Medical Transcription?

Medical Transcription Guide

What is medical transcription?

Medical transcription involves converting recorded spoken medical records from physicians and other health care professionals into text.

What should I look for in an online medical transcription school?

The best online medical transcription schools should either possess regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition, you can often recognize top online medical transcription schools based on:

  • The school’s name and status
  • The school’s history
  • Teacher credentials
  • Alumni network
In choosing the best online medical transcription school for you, you should consider the following factors:

  • Admission requirements
  • Residency requirements
  • Class and teaching style
  • Testing methods used
  • Course content and presentation
  • Program length
  • Class size
  • Student-teacher interaction
  • Technology use
  • Tuition and financial aid
  • Transferability of credits
  • Availability of a dedicated administration team and resources

What levels of online medical transcription programs are available?

The following levels of medical transcription degree online programs are available:

  • Online Medical Transcription Certificate Programs
  • Online Associates in Medical Transcription
  • Online Bachelor in Medical Transcription
  • Online Masters in Medical Transcription
  • Online PhD in Medical Transcription

How long does it take to get an online medical transcription degree?

The amount of time it takes a student to earn an accredited online medical transcription degree depends on the level of medical transcription degree being pursued and the pace of the student.

Typically, the breakdown is as follows:

  • Online Medical Transcription Certification Programs – 6 months to 1 year
  • Online Medical Transcription Associates Degree – 2 years
  • Online Medical Transcription Bachelor Degree – 4 years
  • Online Medical Transcription Masters – 2 years
  • Online Medical Transcription PhD – 2 to 5 years

What are some examples of online medical transcription courses?

The best online medical transcription certification programs include courses that will help develop a student's transcribing skills and those that will give the student a firm working knowledge of medical terminology.

Some of the most common online medical transcription courses include:

  • Introduction to Medical Terminology
    In this popular online medical transcription degree course, students learn the basic medical terms that they will encounter when working in a medical transcription job, including the origins of common medical terms.
  • Pharmacology
    Pharmacology is an important course for students enrolled in online medical transcription certificate programs; it examines the relationships between the human body and the medications a patient may be taking.
  • Editing and Proofreading
    This top online medical transcription degree course gives the medical transcription major a thorough understanding of how to edit a document for accuracy and clarity. This is especially important for those working in the medical transcription profession, where a mistake could be costly and dangerous.
  • Typing Accuracy and Speed
    In this course, students in the best online medical transcription degree programs improve their typing accuracy and speed in order to optimize their overall job performance. Issues such as common shortcuts and avoiding mistakes receive special focus.
  • Legal Issues in Health Care
    Most students enrolled in accredited online medical transcription schools will take courses related to the legal and ethical responsibilities of health care industry professionals. This course teaches the importance of discretion as well as HIPAA and other government guidelines regarding patient confidentiality.

What areas of medical transcription specialization are available?

There are nearly endless areas of medical transcription specialization; many popular online medical transcription school programs include specializations in areas such as:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Podiatry
  • Audiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Rheumatology
  • Oncology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Family Practice
  • Pathology

What can I do with a medical transcription degree?

Online medical transcription training programs prepare graduates to work in a variety of settings within the overall medical transcription profession. Medical transcription jobs can range from hospitals to home-based and everywhere in between.

The best online medical transcription degrees from an accredited online medical transcription school can be used to obtain jobs such as:

  • Doctor's Office Transcriptionist
  • Autopsy/Pathology Transcriptionist
  • Hospital Transcriptionist
  • Work-at-Home Freelance Medical Transcriptionist
  • General Medical Transcriptionist

What is a medical transcriptionist?

Popular online medical transcription degrees prepare graduates to perform a vital function of the health care team: transcribing physicians' notes and keeping accurate records. The work of the medical transcriptionist allows other medical professionals easy access to important medical information.

What does a medical transcriptionist do?

The medical transcriptionist profession typically involves listening to dictated recordings made by doctors and nurses, then transcribing the information into text. The job requires wearing headphones to listen to the recordings and may involve stepping on a pedal to pause the recording at times. Transcriptionists must have excellent typing speed and accuracy since the text that they type will eventually become part of patients' permanent medical files; programs for top online medical transcription degrees help students hone these skills.

How much does a medical transcriptionist earn?

Graduates who hold accredited online medical transcription degrees can expect to make an average yearly salary of $33,350. The medical transcription profession is expected to display average job growth over the next decade. People interested in the medical transcription career field will find that more job opportunities are becoming available as the population ages and there is an increased need for qualified individuals to amend medical records.

How do I become a medical transcriptionist?

Attending a top online medical transcription school is the first step toward becoming an active part of this growing profession. However, even individuals with top online medical transcription degrees may still wonder how to become a medical transcriptionist and improve employment opportunities. The secret is to first graduate from an online medical transcription degree program and then earn voluntary certification from the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity; having this certification adds a tremendous boost to one's resume.