Medical Transcriptionists

Medical transcriptionists, sometimes referred to as healthcare documentation specialists, use electronic devices to convert voice recordings from physicians and other healthcare workers into formal reports. Transcriptionists also may edit medical records for accuracy and return documents for review and approval.

Duties

Medical transcriptionists typically do the following:

• Listen to the recorded dictation of a physician or other healthcare worker
• Interpret and transcribe the dictation for medical reports, such as patient histories, discharge summaries, and physical examinations
• Review and edit drafts prepared by speech recognition software, making sure that the transcription is accurate, complete, and consistent in style
• Translate medical abbreviations and jargon into the appropriate long form
• Identify inconsistencies, errors, and missing information in a report that could compromise patient care
• Submit reports to physicians and other healthcare providers for review and approval
• Follow patient confidentiality guidelines and legal documentation requirements
• Enter medical reports into electronic health records (EHR) systems

Medical transcriptionists use a variety of equipment to produce reports. The most common is speech recognition technology, which involves specialized software that automatically prepares an initial draft of a report. The transcriptionist then listens to the voice file and reviews the draft for accuracy, identifying any errors and editing the report, as necessary. A less common technology requires these workers to use audio-playback equipment for listening to and transcribing dictation. Transcriptionists also use word-processing and other software to prepare the transcripts, as well as medical reference materials when needed.

Medical transcriptionists must be familiar with medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology. Additionally, they must have knowledge of English grammar in order to ensure that their transcriptions are correct. Transcriptionists’ ability to understand the healthcare worker's recording, to correctly transcribe that information, and to identify inaccuracies in the transcript is critical to preventing ineffective or even harmful treatment.

Medical transcriptionists who work in physicians’ offices may have other duties, such as answering phones and greeting patients.

Medical transcriptionists held about 43,900 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of medical transcriptionists were as follows:

Administrative and support services includes companies that provide transcription services and temporary help firms.

Medical transcriptionists may work from home, receiving dictation and submitting drafts electronically. Their work may be stressful because they need to ensure that reports are accurate and completed within a quick turnaround time.

Work Schedules

Most medical transcriptionists are full time, but part-time work is common. Medical transcriptionists who work from home may work outside typical business hours and may have flexibility in determining their schedules.

Medical transcriptionists typically need postsecondary education that leads to a certificate. Prospective medical transcriptionists must know basic medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and rules of grammar.

The median annual wage for medical transcriptionists was $37,550 in May 2024.

Employment of medical transcriptionists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.

About 7,400 openings for medical transcriptionists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.