Upon graduating medical transcription school, a person is qualified to convert a doctor’s oral diagnostics of a patent and turn them into written or electronic reports. Most transcriptionists, around 36%, are employed in hospitals with around 23% employed in physician’s offices. Other places a person can expect to find themselves working in after attending medical transcription schools are medical laboratories, clinics and out patient’s centers.
According to the United States of America’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, a little over 100,000 people are employed as transcriptionists and that figure is set to rise by 11% by 2018 as more people graduate school. The number of employees with in health care generally is rising as a result of a growing population, increased numbers of senior citizens and improvements in medication and medical technology.
For someone wishing to enter the field of medical transcription, schools can offer a variety of qualifications such as a diploma or certificate gained on a one year course or a two year associate degree to get them on the way. These courses are offered by vocational schools, community collages or as distance learning through on-line medical transcription schools. The course will usually include a module of work experience at a hospital, clinic or other health care facility.
After gaining a degree or diploma, it is a good idea to continue learning and obtain an advanced certification from a trusted school. These are offered by the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs (ACCP), established jointly by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Although the
certification is voluntary, they are highly sought after by employers. It will show that a candidate for work has a full grasp of the nature of the job so will improve both chances of finding employment and potential earnings.
While at school, students study general and specialized skills connected to the job such as medical terminology, human anatomy, disease processes and pharmacology and laboratory medicine. A good level of English grammar, especially spelling is needed along with word processing and a sound grasp of IT skills. They also need to learn various legal ramifications of the job such as patient confidentiality policies and what is and is not appropriate behavior when dealing with the general public.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Medical Transcription Schools
When considering the options of medical transcription schools to choose from, certain factors should be taken into consideration. The first thing to look for is if the medical transcription school is accredited by the ACCP and if it is on the AHDI list of approved schools.
The curriculum is also a factor that should be seriously looked at. Preferable it will cover a wide variety of subject options and should cover all the latest innovations in technology and new medication connected to the field. Good medical transcription schools will offer internships as part of the course and tuition and financial assistance is also an important factor to consider before the final decision is made from the choices of medical transcription schools.