Work opportunities in medical transcription

By Myla Rose M. Reyes, Managing Director, Total Transcription Solutions, Inc.

My attention was recently called by some of our colleagues in the industry who had an opportunity to visit a forum on medical transcription. There were quite a number of questions on whether this career is worth spending money to invest in training. Having started as a medical transcriptionist myself after working in a hospital as a nurse and a short stint in teaching clinical nursing, I would like to share my thoughts on some of the questions posted.

Are there really good opportunities in MT?

The demand for medical transcription will continue to increase as the demand for health care rises. Medical transcripts are the source documents and “proofs of work done” to meet US federal and state requirements by medical practitioners, and the basis of patient medical management.

India, Philippines, Pakistan and other countries continue to service US health-care facilities as the demand for electronic conversion of medical records increases by 15 percent to 20 percent every year. The Philippines has, in fact, recognized its potentials by leveraging on the people skills and sophisticated IT infrastructure. There is an apparent dearth in the number of qualified people to do the job. Currently estimated at 6,000 to 7,000, the number of medical transcriptionists needed by the country is forecasted at 100,000 by year 2010.

Is training required to be an MT?

Those who have relegated medical transcription to the “clerical” classification have a basic misunderstanding of the knowledge and skills required for this profession. Although medical transcription is performed using a keyboard—it is not a keyboarding skill. It is a language skill. In order to properly translate and document patient care records, the MT must employ the knowledge of English grammar and usage, understanding of basic anatomy and physiology, disease processes, laboratory medicine, and pharmacology in order to select and use appropriate terminology, since there are many sound-alike words in the medical language. Knowledge of business technology and computer operation is also important. Listening and researching skills are also critical components in the learning process.

The above are the competencies required of a medical transcriptionist. While it is true that people with medical background may have a better chance of learning the competencies, let me share with you the current trend.

Big bucks . . . are they real?

Having the right knowledge, skills and attitude is really important especially when a person is starting in the medical transcription field. Attitude makes a lot of difference. Aiming for the gold mine is not bad if you have all that it takes to deserve it. It is true that medical transcriptionists may earn around P20K to P30K month, maybe more, but I am quite sure these people did not achieve this overnight. All jobs begin as difficult until such time that the ears are used to deciphering difficult accents before considering the work easy to average. Becoming productive in doing such accounts requires a significant amount of discipline, patience, practice, practice and practice. Quality precedes quantity as they say.

Is there an age limit?

While it is true that some medical transcription companies would prefer younger professionals, medical transcription does not prescribe any age limit for as long as the minimum skills are met. One advantage of a younger age group is having a better proficiency in computer operation. On the other hand, the older generation has a better grasp of the English skills compared with the younger age group. Some retired professionals train as medical transcriptionists not to be employed, but to learn the technicalities of how to set up or market the business.

Medical transcription is a difficult, stressful work, but is challenging and fascinating. The income possibilities are good, but only after a significant investment in training and experience. Of course, add the fact that career advancement is indeed fast paced in this industry. My advice to all frustrated graduates is to keep on practicing transcription and never lose the skills you have learned during training.

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