If you are even a bit interested in becoming a medical transcriptionist, you should learn as much as possible about the medical transcription profession, including its pros and cons. There are certain facts, however, that you should know upfront even before you delve deep into whether or not you and the profession suit each other. Here is a list of six such facts.

Qualification, age, location no bar but that does not make everyone eligible to be a medical transcriptionist.

The medical transcription profession has absolutely no prerequisites but that does not mean everyone can become a medical transcriptionist. The profession expects an aptitude.

Medical transcription is not about transcription but about creating medical records.

If medical transcription were only about transcribing information, it would be like any other transcription job. However, this profession is about creating medical records that are complete, meaningful and accurate.

Quality goal in medical transcription is 100 percent in one area and 98 percent in the rest.

The profession classifies errors in three categories: critical, major and minor. A medical transcriptionist cannot afford to commit a single critical error and he/she is supposed to deliver 98 percent accuracy with respect to other errors.

The medical transcription training is what specializes you.

The profession does not expect you to possess any medical knowledge or transcription skills before your training. It is during the medical transcription training that you develop the requisite skills and become equipped with the medical knowledge.

The learning never stops in the medical transcription profession.

Yes, as a medical transcriptionist, you will keep learning throughout your career, much beyond that medical transcription training. This is because you cannot work with obsolete medical knowledge; you need to keep updating your knowledge base regularly.

Flexible hours and flexibility to work from home make medical transcription an accessible job.

Being able to choose one’s work hours and the flexibility to work from home makes it easier for a lot of people to go for medical transcription who otherwise would not be able to take up a regular job.

Keep watching this space for more news and views on medical transcription.