DESCRIPTION OF THE CAREER

Medical Transcription involves receiving dictation by tape, digital system or voice file, and using ear phones, a foot pedal for start-stop control and a word processing program. It sometimes includes the use of a printer and a modem.

It requires good listening and language skills, computer skills and knowledge of medical definitions, medications, medical terms by specialty, laboratory terms, surgical terms and abbreviations. Specialized word lists are also helpful, and journals and computer networking are helpful for current information about new medications and terms.
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Medical transcriptionists hold jobs all over the country. They work in doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals and transcription services. Job opportunities are available in:

• medical records, pathology and radiology departments of hospitals and clinics
• physicians' offices
• health insurance industry
• public and private health foundations and institutions
• medical schools
• research centers

They also work from home, usually after 2-3 years of experience in an office or hospital. With more experience, Medical Transcriptionists go on to teach, supervise, consult, or edit and write in the field.

Demand for medical transcriptionists is expected to increase due to the rapid growth in health care industries caused by a growing and aging population. Nationally, employment in this occupation is expected to grow much faster than average, with an increase of 61% by the year 2005.

Advancements in voice recognition technology are not expected to reduce the need for medical transcriptionists because they are needed to review and edit drafts for accuracy. Increasing numbers of medical transcriptionists will be needed to amend patients’ records, edit for grammar, and discover discrepancies in medical records. Job opportunities should be the best for those who earn certification from the American Association for Medical Transcription or an associate degree from a program such as at El Centro College.
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Earnings depend on education, experience, and geographic location. As an employee in an office or hospital, transcriptionists may be paid by the hour. In the year 2000 in the United States, a starting transcriptionist in an office may make the equivalent of $8-12 per hour. After two years of experience, one can expect to make the equivalent of $12-20 per hour in an office.

In 1998 the median annual earnings of medical transcriptionists was $25,430; the middle 50 percent earned between $21,060 and $31,470; the lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $17,060; and the highest paid 10 percent earned over $39,070.

Many healthcare institutions paid medical transcriptionists for time worked, with average salaries ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 annually. Some may use a combination of payment methods (time worked plus incentive for production), with average salaries ranging from $28,000 to $36,000 annually.

National transcription companies usually require 1-5 years of hospital experience. Statutory employee status is the same as independent contractor except that the company pays half of the FICA tax (about 7.5%) and withholds the other half.

Self-employed transcriptionists provide their own benefits. They may start at the equivalent of $10-15 per hour (6-14 cents per line), and with several years experience can earn $15-40 per hour, depending upon the type of work and equipment used. Independent contractors pay the 15% self-employment tax quarterly. Equipment expenses are tax deductible, including a percentage of home expenses if working at home.
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For an experienced word processor, it is possible to learn medical transcription while working in an entry-level position, but it is rare because of the need to learn medical vocabulary and formats.

The Medical Transcription Program at El Centro College will get you started in this great career!