A medical transcription is a process of converting voice-recorded reports of physicians operation into electronic data file in text format. A person who transcribes physician’s recorded dictation is called a medical transcriptionist (MT). A common medical transcription process requires a computer, a high-quality voice recorder, medical dictionary, medical spellchecker software, drug/pharmaceutical guide, medical specialty books, and a printer.

In addition, the following qualities are advisable to become an effective medical transcriptionist:

• Basic knowledge in medical terminologies
• Good communication (spelling and grammar) and memory skills
• Good mathematical skills
• Basic computer skills
• Can easily follow verbal and written instructions
• Good recording and maintenance skills
• Good typing skills
• Basic Medical Transcription knowledge, skills and abilities

Duties and Responsibilities of a Medical Transcriptionist:

• Accurately transcribes the patient-identifying information such as name and medical records
• Accurate punctuation, grammar and spelling
• Maintains/consults references for medical procedures and terminology
• Keeps a transcription log

Medical Transcription Outsourcing

Because of the increasing demands for keeping patients’ medical records, major outsourcing countries like the United States started to outsource MT services offshore, especially in developing countries where labor cost is relatively lower. But not only that, US and UK are also after of the quality of the outsourced transcriptions. That is why most medical transcriptionists are required to familiarize medical slangs, and even English accents of Americans and British.

The Philippines is the most outsourcing destination of MT jobs due to the country’s high literacy rate in English language. The country is also using English language as official language in major government transactions. Because Philippines is a former colony of the United States, Filipino MT has a higher capability to comprehend American idioms, colloquialism, and slang used in medical transcription compared to other offshore outsourcing destinations.