Do you know everything about the medical transcription profession? While I believe that critics of the profession often do not know much about the industry and the work, aspirants too find themselves clueless about the profession. Today’s post tries to answer a few frequently-asked questions on medical transcription.

Can a good typing speed pave the way to a career in medical transcription?

Typing is important for the profession and an above-average speed helps. Typing is definitely not one of the primary skills of a medical transcriptionist. The transcriptionist’s job is to decipher the voice recordings and turn them into relevant medical records. This requires sound medical knowledge and the skill to analyze and interpret information.

What is the future of the medical transcription industry?

The medical transcription industry is one of the rarest to have emerged unscathed from the recent recession. The US Department of Labor projects that the number of medical transcription opportunities will grow at a rate of 14 percent to 2016 from what it was in 2006. This rate is more than the average rate of growth of other occupations. There are several opportunities for the interested.

How much money can a medical transcriptionist make?

A medical transcriptionist’s income depends on his/her experience in the field and his/her proficiency. According to the US Department of Labor, the mean hourly wage of a medical transcriptionist is $15.84 and the mean annual wage is $32,960.

How important is the medical transcription training?

Anyone with the right aptitude can become a medical transcriptionist provided he/she undergoes proper training in medical transcription. The training equips one with medical knowledge and transcription skills.