National

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.

Sample of reported job titles: Medical Transcriptionist, Transcriptionist, Radiology Transcriptionist, Medical Transcriber, Medical Language Specialist, Pathology Transcriptionist, Documentation Specialist, Medical Transcription Supervisor

Tasks

• Transcribe dictation for a variety of medical reports, such as patient histories, physical examinations, emergency room visits, operations, chart reviews, consultation, or discharge summaries.
• Review and edit transcribed reports or dictated material for spelling, grammar, clarity, consistency, and proper medical terminology.
• Distinguish between homonyms and recognize inconsistencies and mistakes in medical terms, referring to dictionaries, drug references, and other sources on anatomy, physiology, and medicine.
• Return dictated reports in printed or electronic form for physician's review, signature, and corrections and for inclusion in patients' medical records.
• Translate medical jargon and abbreviations into their expanded forms to ensure the accuracy of patient and health care facility records.
• Take dictation using either shorthand or a stenotype machine, or using headsets and transcribing machines; then convert dictated materials or rough notes to written form.
• Identify mistakes in reports and check with doctors to obtain the correct information.
• Perform data entry and data retrieval services, providing data for inclusion in medical records and for transmission to physicians.
• Produce medical reports, correspondence, records, patient-care information, statistics, medical research, and administrative material.
• Answer inquiries concerning the progress of medical cases, within the limits of confidentiality laws.

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Tools & Technology

Tools used in this occupation:

Technology used in this occupation:

* Software developed by a government agency and/or distributed as freeware or shareware.