The World of Medical Transcription

This article follows one medical-transcriptionist-turned-medical-language-specialist through several possible modern-day job occupations. Although a serious article, some lighthearted approach and humor is used to make points about the world of medical transcription today. The article points out the need for medical transcriptionists to evolve into medical language specialists, medical word editors, and team players for risk management on the patient healthcare record. As a modern-day medical language specialist, the medical transcriptionist is evolving with the use of many technologies. The medical language specialist now participates in team risk management for patient healthcare, and the article points out why continuing education and professionalism are important. Becoming a Certified Medical Transcriptionist is the first main step to becoming a medical language specialist. Health Industry ideas for “team participation” are explored. This article also discusses that today’s medical language specialists can elect to operate in more than one area of the modern-day healthcare field, other than “straight transcription, ” such as in technical writing, electronic medical records, editing voice recognition, classroom instruction, and quality assurance. Pursuit of excellence, education, alignment with the American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT), and embracing change are the most-needed characteristics for evolving medical transcriptionists today. The author/educator leaves her top 15 tips for the medical transcriptionist today.