Medical Transcription Schools

The federal government reports that job opportunities for medical transcriptionists will remain excellent through 2014. The best opportunities, according to the U.S. Labor Department, will go to graduates of medical transcription schools and hold certificates. Medical transcriptionists work at hospitals, laboratories, clinics, medical transcription companies, and physicians’ offices. They transcribe vital medical procedure and insurance information dictated by surgeons, physicians, and medical specialists. Their work may include transcriptions of patient examinations, diagnoses, health histories, and treatment plans.

To be successful, medical transcriptionists need a thorough understanding of medical terminology, strong software skills, and spelling and grammar proficiency. Dedicated medical transcription schools, colleges, and trade schools offer programs leading to work in the profession. Many programs include paid internships for medical transcription students who want to learn on the fly. Students can earn a two-year degree or complete a one-year certification program. Coursework can include biology, physiology, patient-physician ethics, radiology, and pathology terminology.

Following graduation from medical transcription school, practitioners work toward additional certifications to advance to supervisory roles at transcription companies and hospitals. Others enjoy the freedom to work from home. More than 98,000 transcriptionists worked in the United States in 2006.

The U.S. Labor Department predicts that growth of medical transcriptionist positions will be faster than the average for all occupations over the next decade. The aging American population with its dependence on health care will spark additional hiring. Large medical groups and physicians’ practices will also look to hire graduates from medical transcription schools to help handle the increased workload.

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