What is
acute-care medical transcription?
Each time a patient is admitted to a hospital, seen in an
outpatient department, undergoes a surgical procedure, has an
x-ray taken or a laboratory test performed, a physician is
required to dictate a narrative report of the visit or test.
These narratives (medical transcription voice files) are
converted to printed format by a medical language specialist,
otherwise known as a medical transcriptionist.
Healthcare credentialing organizations require the transcribed
narrative to verify the quality of patient care. These reports
are considered of such high importance, a hospital unable to
maintain timely turnaround of these reports runs a high risk of
losing insurance and/or Medicare reimbursements.
Insurance companies require transcribed medical reports before
paying claims.
Surgeons cannot receive reimbursement for services without the
transcribed medical report.
Patients are not taken to surgery without the transcribed
History and Physical Examination on the chart.
In some cases, patients cannot be transferred to another
facility without a copy of the Discharge Summary report.
Medical transcriptionists are in very high
demand. For many years, there simply have not
been enough skilled medical transcriptionists to cover the
growing demand for transcribed reports.
Why?
Medical transcription is a difficult profession.
One must achieve a level of terminology equal to, if not
greater than, all other health care practitioners.
Very few qualified curriculums are available.
Most training curriculums do not provide enough
“real” transcription practice to prepare the student for an
actual job as a medical transcriptionist.
