What Do Medical Transcriptionists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Medical Transcriptionists transcribe medical reports recorded by physicians and other healthcare practitioners using various electronic devices, covering office visits, emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging studies, operations, chart reviews, and final summaries. Transcribe dictated reports and translate abbreviations into fully understandable form. Edit as necessary and return reports in either printed or electronic form for review and signature, or correction. They also take dictation using shorthand, a stenotype machine, or headsets and transcribing machines.

Other tasks include:

• Return dictated reports in printed or electronic form for physician’s review, signature, and corrections and for inclusion in patients’ medical records.
• Perform data entry and data retrieval services, providing data for inclusion in medical records and for transmission to physicians.
• Review and edit transcribed reports or dictated material for spelling, grammar, clarity, consistency, and proper medical terminology.
• Transcribe dictation for a variety of medical reports, such as patient histories, physical examinations, emergency room visits, operations, chart reviews, consultation, or discharge summaries.
• Distinguish between homonyms and recognize inconsistencies and mistakes in medical terms, referring to dictionaries, drug references, and other sources on anatomy, physiology, and medicine.
• Translate medical jargon and abbreviations into their expanded forms to ensure the accuracy of patient and health care facility records.

We asked Medical Transcriptionists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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71% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 58% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Medical Transcriptionists transcribe dictation for a variety of medical reports, such as patient histories, physical examinations, emergency room visits, operations, chart reviews, consultation, or discharge summaries. They take dictation using shorthand, a stenotype machine, or headsets and transcribing machines.

A typical day for a Medical Transcriptionist will also include:

• Produce medical reports, correspondence, records, patient-care information, statistics, medical research, and administrative material.
• Review and edit transcribed reports or dictated material for spelling, grammar, clarity, consistency, and proper medical terminology.
• Return dictated reports in printed or electronic form for physician’s review, signature, and corrections and for inclusion in patients’ medical records.
• Perform data entry and data retrieval services, providing data for inclusion in medical records and for transmission to physicians.
• Translate medical jargon and abbreviations into their expanded forms to ensure the accuracy of patient and health care facility records.

We asked some Medical Transcriptionists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	39% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	50% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	59% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	12% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	40% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Medical Transcriptionists also receive patients, schedule appointments, and maintain patient records. They may also answer inquiries concerning the progress of medical cases, within the limits of confidentiality laws.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Medical Transcriptionists Identify mistakes in reports and check with doctors to obtain the correct information. They might also Receive and screen telephone calls and visitors.

In addition, they Perform a variety of clerical and office tasks, such as handling incoming and outgoing mail, completing and submitting insurance claims, typing, filing, or operating office machines.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Distinguish between homonyms and recognize inconsistencies and mistakes in medical terms, referring to dictionaries, drug references, and other sources on anatomy, physiology, and medicine.

To some Medical Transcriptionists, it is also their responsibility to Set up and maintain medical files and databases, including records such as x-ray, lab, and procedure reports, medical histories, diagnostic workups, admission and discharge summaries, and clinical resumes.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Medical Transcriptionist, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/medical-transcriptionists.htm

http://www.ahdionline.org/