Many people believe they can be medical transcriptionists without any prior experience or training. The truth is that, although they do not need professional certification, they need to truly understand the process of transcription as well as how to do it accurately.
While the job might seem simple enough, there are specific skills you should have before you even think about applying for this position. Please read on to find out precisely what a medical transcriptionist is, the required skills, and tips on becoming one.
What Is a Medical Records Transcriptionist?
A medical transcriptionist is responsible for transcribing patient reports in the form of audio dictated by doctors, nurses, and other healthcare members. They are an essential component of the healthcare field. They are also known as healthcare documentation specialists.
Skills and Attributes Required in the Field
A medical records transcriptionist must have at least three or more of the following attributes and skills:
- Fluency in the language they need to transcribe
- Patience is must-have virtue for all healthcare documentation specialists
- High typing proficiency of more than 70 (WPM) words per minute
- Be able to think fast and critically
- Multitasking capabilities
- Have a basic understanding of medical terminologies
- At least 99% accurate when transcribing
Don’t despair and cut your dream short of becoming a professional medical transcriptionist just because you lack some of the above-needed attributes and skills. Remember, you can attain and improve these through practice. For instance, you can perfect your grammar by proactively readings books.
Practical Tips to Become a Medical Records Transcriptionist
Below is a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide on how to become a healthcare documentation specialist:
- Attain a High School Diploma or a General Education Diploma (GED)
To become a medical transcriptionist, you must have a high school diploma from a recognized institution. To get one, you must pass a number of classes or attain credits through a normal education process. The courses you will have to approve vary from place to place, but you can expect to study Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, plus get a more in-depth knowledge of any specific language.
- Apply and Enroll in a Legit Medical Transcription School
If your goal is to become a full-time professional healthcare documentation specialist, then enrolling in a legit medical transcription school is the best course of action. By doing so, you will learn quickly and efficiently, network with other transcription gurus, and even access a large pool of transcriptionist jobs.
- Enhance Your Typing Skills
As a medical transcriptionist, it’s paramount that you become proficient in many medical terms. Follow the guide below to enhance your typing skills:
- Set up a suitable working environment. Make sure that you choose a working space that is well-ventilated, lighted, and free from distractions.
- Assume a correct and comfortable sitting posture. That is, your back should be straight, your feet should be on the floor, your wrists should be lined up with your keyboard, and your eyes should be 18-28 inches away from the screen.
- Master the exact positions of each letter key and punctuation mark on your keyboard.
- Set a time frame for typing a set number of words. For example, you can establish a time frame of 30 minutes to complete typing 200 words. Do this routinely to improve your typing efficiency.
- Extra tip: Consider listening to online medical talks and lectures to enhance your typing skills and medical vocabulary.
The Final Word
Healthcare documentation specialists are an essential part of the healthcare system. You can become one by attaining a high school diploma from a recognized institution and enhancing your typing skills with the tips outlined here. Once you have the required mastery, you’ll find you can efficiently perform these challenging medical transcriptions. Alternatively, you can always contact the professionals at GoTranscript. Years of experience in the market have allowed them to have a select pool of the best medical transcriptionists in the industry. Contact them today to learn more!
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