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Medical transcription is a highly
lucrative career for anyone who has an
interest in medicine and wants to play a
part in the entire medical process. A
medical transcriber is essentially the
person who converts patient’s medical
records into computer form, from handwritten
form. They are used extensively because
handwritten records can be heavily prone to
misinterpretation by healthcare providers.
As of the 1990s, medical transcribers have
collectively been known as Medical Language
Specialists or Health Information Management
Paraprofessional.
The Concept
As was stated above, medical transcribers
convert patients records into the computer.
There are literally millions of patient’s
records that have to be converted on a
regular basis, so it is a career that keeps
on going, even this far into our current
digital age.
As a medical transcriber, you would work for
a third-party company that is contracted to
put the information into computer form.
Obviously, dealing with medical records mean
that you have to be reliable and
trustworthy, and a criminal records check
should not be out of the question in this
case.
If you have a love of medicine, don’t want
to go through the process of becoming a
doctor, but want to be part of the medical
industry, then becoming a medical
transcriber may be the thing for you.
Working as a medical transcriber will give
you the ability to master your skills in
medical terminology and editing. As well,
you need the ability to listen and type
simultaneously, while using the transcriber
machine for playback. It is truly a
multitask job.
Startup Costs
Currently, no formal education is required
to be a medical transcriber. However, to get
hired as one it is very important that you
go through some sort of distance learning,
college program, or on-the-job training in
hospitals. Start up costs if you go through
training will be a few hundred to a few
thousand dollars, but if you simply want to
apply because you have good typing skills,
then you won’t have to worry about any
startup costs at all. If you are thinking of
starting your own company of medical
transcribers, then you need to have the
training, otherwise you will be passed over.
How to Market It
If you get into the career, all you have to
do is apply. However, if you start a
business in this, the best place to market
yourself is through medical clinics and
hospitals. Try and network with doctors and
nurses in an effort to establish
relationships that will help foster your
business in the future. This is the key for
starting a business as a medical
transcriber. Unlike many jobs where you can
simply go and put an ad in the newspaper,
this is not the case with medical
transcribers. You have to make sure you
market yourself, probably at a discounted
rate, to the medical professionals in your
area. Do not think you can get away with
just introducing yourself though. You should
attend conferences and trade shows in an
effort to establish connections beyond your
local area.
