Medical transcription involves the manual processing of voice recordings dictated by healthcare providers into transcribed reports. A medical transcriptionist is a direct contributor at healthcare establishments. They can also be employed in companies offering transcription services. In addition to providing formal reports, a medical transcriptionist can also edit medical documents, interpret medical abbreviations and terminology, and discharge summaries. Transcribed medical reports are typically generated in a digital format and uploaded to the hospital or practice's electronic health records or electronic medical records. In today's technologically advanced climate, the medical sector heavily relies on speech recognition software and medical transcription software for transcribing.

What do medical transcriptionists do?

Physicians use the medical transcription process to communicate with other healthcare providers regarding a patient's medical history, health, and treatment to ensure continuity of care.

After the treatment of a patient, a health practitioner will use a voice recording device or speech recognition technology to detail information regarding the patient encounter. These devices can be programmed to detect speech pattern and continuously recognise a physician's spoken words and phrases.

Following this, a medical transcriptionist will transcribe the confidential patient information. Electronic devices such as a medical transcriber are used during this process. The final dictation can be converted into physical or electronic healthcare documentation and will become part of the patient's medical history. Many health practitioners will prefer electronic storage; however some private practice family doctors prefer to keep patient's records in physical format.



Medical Transcription Education and Training

There are a number of educational programs and quality training courses one can undertake to become a medical transcriptionist. In addition to a recognised certification, a medical transcriptionist should also be proficient in English or the primary language of the healthcare provider, a good understanding of medical terminology, and excellent typing and listening skills.

Australian Online Courses offers an online program to become a certified medical transcriptionist.



Medical Transcription Services

Across the healthcare industry, healthcare providers such as physicians require medical transcription work on a daily basis. Medical transcriptionists tend to a number of duties including:

• Transcribe voice recordings of a patient's medical history for a range of medical specialties including emergency medicine, psychiatry, acute care, and radiology.
• Interpret medical information and categorise the data in patient records, notes, operative reports, consultations, and discharge summaries.
• Review and edit transcription outputs of speech recognition software to ensure accuracy of medical terminology and quality patient care.
• Enter patient information into medical records.

AHP Medical

AHP Medical is a division of Australian Health Professionals, who deliver staffing solutions to the Australian healthcare system. We work with hospitals and private practices to ensure that they have got the best qualified medical staffing for their needs. We also work with our doctors to ensure we find them the best possible placements for their career needs and personal circumstances.

AHP Medical offers opportunities for:

Doctors

• Anaesthetics
• Emergency Medicine
• Medical Administration
• General Practice
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Paediatrics
• Surgery
• Radiology
• Internal Medicine
• ICU

Medical Imaging

• Radiographer
• Sonographer
• Medical Imaging Technologist
• Management

Health Information

• Clinical Coders
• Auditors
• Health Information Managers