What to look for in an expert medical transcriptionist:

Excellence in Medical Transcription

Here are the AHDI criteria for a medical transcriptionist considered to be at the highest level of professional qualifications (Professional Level 3):

1. Recognized as possessing expert knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, disease processes, signs and symptoms, medications, and laboratory values related to a specialty or specialties.
2. In-depth knowledge of medical transcription guidelines and practices.
3. Excellent skills in English usage, grammar, punctuation, and style.
4. Ability to use a vast array of professional reference materials, often in innovative ways.
5. Ability to educate others (one-on-one or group).
6. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
7. Ability to operate word processing equipment, dictation and transcription equipment, and other equipment as specified, and to troubleshoot as necessary.
8. Proven business skills (scheduling work, purchasing, client relations, billing).
9. Ability to understand and apply relevant legal concepts (e.g., confidentiality).
10. Certified medical transcriptionist (CMT) status preferred.

Reference the AHDI website for further information

Qualities of Medical Transcriptionists

Here is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics has to say about medical transcriptionists:

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.

Reference the Bureau of Labor for MT information

Highest Professional Standards

As described in the AHDI Code of Ethics, medical transcriptionists are vigilant advocates for quality patient documentation and adhere to the highest privacy and security provisions, upholding moral and legal rights of patients, safeguarding patient privacy, and collaborating with care providers to ensure patient safety, public health, and quality of care to the fullest extent possible, through the practice of medical transcription.

Medical Transcriptionist professionals:

1. Maintain confidentiality of all patient information including but not limited to peer reviews, quality improvement, and risk management protocols with special effort to maintain data security in electronic communications.
2. Implement and maintain standards of professional transcription practice.
3. Respect the rights and dignity of all individuals.
4. Continue professional growth enhancing knowledge and skills, including continuing education, networking with colleagues, professional reading, and certification.
5. Strive to provide accurate and timely information.
6. Exercise integrity in professional practices including work or professional experience, credentials, affiliations, productivity reporting, billing charges, and payment practices.
7. Comply with all laws, regulations, and standards governing the practice of patient documentation.
8. Foster environments of employment that facilitate integrity, professionalism, and protection of patient information.
9. Strive to advance the goals and purposes of the Association and work for the advancement and good of the profession.

Reference the MT Code of Ethics at the AHDI site