Becoming A Boston Transcription Specialist In The Healthcare Industry

By Arthur Phillips


Most recent high school graduates are either planning to go to college or to work, sometimes both. If you have decided you want to enter the workforce as soon as possible and have a decent paying career, you are probably going to need a two year degree or some advanced training. Massachusetts seniors with an interest in the medical field might find the idea of becoming a Boston transcription specialist intriguing.

Medical transcriptionists may do many things, all of which require accuracy and precision. They transcribe physician's oral reports into writing, put medical abbreviations into long form, edit drafts of speech recognition software, and review reports for any errors or inconsistencies. They are available to review their transcriptions with doctors. All transcribers must adhere to the rules and regulations regarding patient rights and confidentiality.

You might find a job in any of several locations. About a third of the opportunities will be found in public and private hospitals. Twenty-five percent of those working in this industry are employed by doctors to work in their offices. The remaining possibilities are considered administrative and support positions. About eighty-five thousand transcribers work in the United States.

You may find it difficult to get hired without an two year associate's degree or certification of completion in a one year program. To get the education you need you can enroll in a community college or a technical school. The majority of them offer courses in anatomy and medical terminology, as well as English grammar and sentence structure. There are accredited online schools that offer the program.

Certification is not a legal requirement to work in this field, but you will be more interesting to potential employers with it. If you have less than two years experience, you can apply for Certified Healthcare training. Those who have had a minimum of two years experience can receive certification as a Registered Specialist. To receive, and maintain, either certification you must pass an exam and take continuing education courses.

In order to succeed in this field applicants must have good computer skills and understand how health records systems operate. You will need to possess critical thinking skills in order to research information and access the accuracy of the sources. It is important to be able to listen and to work quickly. You will need a good grasp of the English language and standard grammar.

There has been steady growth in this field, especially since more and more people have access to healthcare insurance. The demand for treatment and tests is growing because of that. With technology however, some medical facilities are opting for speech recognition software and outsourcing. Security and confidentiality concerns have a lot of these facilities rethinking these options and turning to live, in house staff to work as transcriptionists.

You can have a good career as a medical transcriber. You will find it much easier to enter the field, become successful, and be paid a premium wage, if you get the education and certifications most employers prefer. Healthcare is an expanding field with a lot of potential for advancement.




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