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Business
opportunities ARE available, just ask Karen Fox, medical
transcription instructor at Grossmont College. Ms. Fox has
been involved in the medical transcription field for many
years, and has many industry contacts… contacts that have
jobs NOW! The problem is not the demand but rather the
supply.
The medical transcription field is not well-known and did
not receive its own job classification from the U.S. Dept.
of Labor until 1999. (Standard Occupational Classification
#31-9094) What is a medical transcriptionist (MT)? The
term refers to a person who translates oral medical
information, usually about a person, into a comprehensive,
accurate, written document. Medical professionals rely on
skilled medical transcriptionists to produce an end product
(the written health record) that has integrity and
accuracy. This means that the medical transcriptionist must
have extensive medical knowledge and use English grammar
skills and reasoning to detect medical errors in dictation
and interpret the oral communication of the medical
professional. The MT provides a very valuable link in the
medical record sequence, and the medical record that is
produced becomes a legal health document.
What skills are required of a medical transcriptionist? As
indicated above, an MT must know much more than how to type
and use a computer. The MT is really a medical language
specialist, one who understands the medical terminology used
when discussing anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and
disease processes. The MT must also understand the different
report formats required in the health industry, such as
emergency room notes, physical exams, radiology reports, and
patient histories. Finally, better than average English
grammar and punctuation skills are needed, as well as good
auditory skills. Certification is available for those
seeking it through the American Association for Medical
Transcription (AAMT), the professional organization that
represents medical transcriptionists. (Visit them at
www.aamt.org)
Who hires medical transcriptionists? They can be found in
every area of health care: doctors’ offices, hospitals,
clinics, radiology departments, medical libraries, insurance
companies, government facilities, and medical transcription
businesses. They work with physicians, nurses, surgeons,
pharmacists, technicians, psychologists, social workers, and
other medical professionals who rely on documented health
information.
Many transcriptionist businesses allow their employees to
work at home, and some even provide the equipment a
transcriptionist needs to perform the job. Because the
industry needs qualified, committed professionals, companies
are often willing to arrange convenient, flexible schedules
for their employees. Other options include becoming an
independent contractor, which allows the professional to
work when it is convenient and take time off as needed, or
choose self-employment.
How can you realize this wonderful business opportunity?
The key to a successful career is the right training! The
Business Office Technology department at Grossmont College
offers a certificate in Medical Transcribing under the
guidance of Karen Fox, CMT. Students learn the skills and
technology needed to succeed as a medical transcriptionist,
and job placement is available upon graduation. For more
information about Grossmont College program, visit us on the
web at
www.grossmont.net/bot (click on the “medical
transcribing” link).
Karen.Fox@Foxtx.net 619-527-9362
BIO:
Illyana McManus has been a faculty member at Grossmont
College for over five years and was the coordinator of the
B.O.T. department. She has been teaching software and
business classes for over 11 years. |
