Medical Transcription Profession
Medical transcription is no doubt a unique occupation. Unlike other professions that mostly involve focusing on one or two factors, transcription necessitates multifarious skills, namely, listening, typing, interpreting, and formalizing critical dictations.
Those who opt for medical transcription career need to be well-versed in a range of knowledge bases such as medical terminology, physiology, anatomy, language, and word-processing. Although several software related to voice recognition have been developed, high accuracy level still makes manual transcription the most-preferred mode in medical industry. Sensitive health information cannot be compromised or subject to errors, requiring medical transcriptionists to be more and more attentive and cautious while transcribing medical dictations.
The man vs. machine conflict
Technology has rendered several activities easy and quick, enabling people to lead their lives in increasingly more convenient and smooth manner. Medical transcription field has also been invaded by technology, namely, computer software. It is not possible to get everything done using computers that human beings efficiently and reliably do.
Ridden with sensitive and personal medical data, dictations are considered very confidential. Manual transcription requires the one thing that humans are most capable of offering- total reliability and accuracy.
What Future Holds for Medical Transcriptionists
There is no question about how people will always have to receive medical services. For numerous reasons ranging from petty injuries to life-threatening diseases, they have to visit physicians and hospitals. Regardless of the reason, medical reports that must be documented precisely and properly become a critical part in the patient’s record. In the digital age, almost all the medical records are being invariably managed in electronic format.
It becomes essential for medical transcriptionists to update their skills and learn more, in a continuous manner. Technology has necessitated MTs to be up-to-date with additional talents such as editing and proofreading voice recognition draft reports. In order for being able to move with time, MTs need to change with the trends.
Future Opportunities in Medical Transcription
- Overseas and Domestic Transcription Projects
- While modern trend is outsourcing medical transcription services from overseas partners, there is no dearth for the demand for domestic MTs: they are sought after for fixing reports in accordance with local standards and regulations – making the career bright for domestic as well as overseas assignments
- Progress in Voice Recognition Software
- Digitalization has brought about a major shift in the life of transcriptionists who need to get accustomed to the editing side of various things related to transcription – errors caused by software need to be captured and corrected properly
- Reliable Security and Privacy
- Internet and Mobile devices have thrown open the gates to information – practically requiring data security and privacy to be treated as high priority factors. Medical transcriptionists are privy to critical personal medical information, making it all the more essential for them to be cautious
Longevity is gradually increasing. So is health care service and need of individuals. More number of people involves more records to be documented, and more skilled transcriptionists required. Patient demand is set to fuel medical transcription career for the foreseeable future and transcriptionists will continue to play a vital role in the health care industry!
