Typical Job Activities: Use transcribing machines with headset and foot pedal to listen to recordings by physicians and other healthcare professionals dictating a variety of medical reports, such as emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging studies, operations, chart reviews, and final summaries. Transcribe dictated reports and translate medical jargon and abbreviations into their expanded forms. Edit as necessary and return reports in either printed or electronic form to the dictator for review and signature, or correction. How can I decide if the Medical Transcriptionist profession is for me? The links below will help you make an informed decision. Be sure to take the Career Assessments further down the page to investigate your "match" with this profession.  Holland Code: CSE     /     SOC Code: 31-9094 Typical Educational/Training Level from America's Career InfoNet: Postsecondary vocational award Career Video: View Career Video View a Summary Report from ONET Outlook: Read more about the outlook for this occupation in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Use the Certification Finder http://www.careertools.org/certification to find out what state and national certifications are offered in this field. Job Growing or Declining: Find out if the job you want to pursue is growing or declining by using the Demand Decline List: http://www.wilma.org/wdclists Medical Transcriptionist training is offered at the following colleges in the Northwest: Bellingham Technical College  Search for additional colleges in Washington State offering training as Medical Transcriptionist: Eligible Training Providers See what graduates from the Medical Transcriptionist programs are earning by going to the Job Training Results Employers in Washington: Search by Industry   /   Search by Occupation Create new networking opportunities by finding Professional Associations in the area. Volunteer Opportunities may open new doors to new contacts. Student Budget Calculator  http://www.javacalc.com/java/StudentBudget.html Lunch Savings - Bring that Brown Bag http://www.javacalc.com/java/LunchSaver.html Financial Aid Finder http://www.hecb.wa.gov/Paying/index.asp

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Wages for Medical Transcriptionists

A percentile wage shows what percentage of workers in an occupation earn less than a given wage and what percentage earn more. The Median Wage is the estimated 50th percentile of the distribution of wages; fifty percent of workers in an occupation earn wages below and fifty percent earn wages above the median wage. For the estimated 10th percentile of the distribution of wages, ten percent of workers in an occupation earn below and 90 percent earn wages above the estimated wage value. The 25th percentile estimate has 25 percent earning less than the estimate; 75 percent earn more. The 75th percentile estimate has 75 percent earning less than the estimate; 25 percent earn more. The 90th percentile estimate has 90 percent earning less than the estimate; 10 percent earn more.

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The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Medical Transcriptionist.

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Knowledge:

• Medical terminology sufficient to transcribe dictation concerning one or a limited number of medical specialties using own judgment to determine medical terminology errors.
• General knowledge of correct spelling of disease processes, treatments, and medical instruments and tests.
• General knowledge of proper grammar, punctuation, spelling,capitalization, and syntax.

Skills:

• Interpreting and transcribing from voice recordings.
• Production typing.
• Working independently away from authors, using own judgment to make corrections or determine errors.
• Proofreading, editing, and correcting information from voice dictation.
• Using medical dictionaries, textbooks, manuals, trade journals, and other reference material.

Abilities:

• To transcribe information and determine correct medical terminology from voice recordings which may be muffled or unclear, or have abbreviated or incorrect terms.
• Learn and keep current on changing medical technology, new treatment, and new drugs.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Use headphones for transcription from cassette tapes.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient records.

Some positions in this class may require one or more of the following:

• Skill in operating automated word processing equipment.
• Ability to work for long periods at a work station in an environment which includes the noise and heat of word processing equipment.
• Ability to read a data entry terminal screen for long periods of time.
• Ability to maintain harmonious working relationships in a team environment.

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