Job Role Description

Medical > Medical Transcriptionist

Salary National Average

Low Medium High
33350.0000 38190.0000 43630.0000

Supply and Demand

Candidate Supply: 3,294 Job Openings: 701

0 50 100

More Difficult Less Difficult

Salary Variance

Enter City, State to view local salaries and candidate demand.

Short Description:

A Medical Transcriptionist is responsible for converting voice-recorded medical reports from healthcare providers into written text for patient records and documentation. Their duties include transcribing dictated reports such as medical histories, discharge summaries, and diagnostic test results while ensuring accuracy and adherence to medical terminology and confidentiality regulations. Medical Transcriptionists must proofread documents for grammar, punctuation, and consistency, and they often work with electronic health records (EHR) systems. Strong typing skills, attention to detail, and a thorough understanding of medical terms are essential for success in this role, as they help maintain precise and up-to-date medical records.

Duties / Responsibilities:

  • Take dictation using shorthand, a stenotype machine, or headsets and transcribing machines.
  • Return dictated reports in printed or electronic form for the physician's review, signature, corrections, and inclusion in patients' medical records.
  • Review and edit transcribed reports or dictated material for spelling, grammar, clarity, consistency, and proper medical terminology.
  • Transcribe dictation for various medical reports, such as patient histories, physical examinations, emergency room visits, operations, chart reviews, consultations, or discharge summaries.
  • Distinguish between homonyms and recognize inconsistencies and mistakes in medical terms, referring to dictionaries, drug references, and other sources on anatomy, physiology, and medicine.
  • Translate medical jargon and abbreviations into expanded forms to ensure the accuracy of patient and healthcare facility records.
  • Produce medical reports, correspondence, records, patient-care information, statistics, medical research, and administrative material.
  • Identify mistakes in reports and check with doctors to obtain the correct information.
  • Perform data entry and retrieval services, providing data for inclusion in medical records and transmission to physicians.
  • Set up and maintain medical files and databases, including records such as x-ray, lab and procedure reports, medical histories, diagnostic workups, admission and discharge summaries, and clinical resumes.

Skills / Requirements / Qualifications

  • Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the audience's needs.
  • Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Monitoring: Monitoring/assessing the performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Job Zones

  • Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
  • Related Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. 
  • Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Job Zone Examples: These occupations usually involve communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include food service managers, electricians, agricultural technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.
  • Specific Vocational Preparation in years: 1-2 years of preparation (6.0 to < 7.0)

Share Role Details

Return to job listings