Medical transcriptionists (MTs) are not just data entry operators or simple typists working in the healthcare industry. They need to have additional skills required for creating proficient and accurate medical records. Besides having these skills, they need to constantly improvise and hone their skill-set. MTs are expected to be proficient in English language use and grammar, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, disease processes, medical record keeping, and of course typing and computer skills. These skill-sets can be summarized below:
1) Keyboard Kinetics: Typing speed is important in the productivity of a transcriptionist. Techniques for building speed and efficiency on the keyboard is an invaluable tool for improving typing speed and thereby productivity. Usually, industry requirement is 60 to 80 wpm.
2) Language and grammar style: The ability to correctly structure and punctuate proper English sentences is vital in producing quality medical transcription reports. Hence, transcriptionists need to have a thorough idea on when and how to use commas, semicolons, hyphenation, capitalization, subject-verb agreement, and more.
3) Medical Terminology: Understanding the language of medicine is essentially the most important and vital aspect of this career. Hence, a constant improvisation on adding medical vocabulary is a must for a successful MT.
4) Human Anatomy, Physiology & Disease Processes: Last but not the least, a general understanding of the human body and how it works is essential to medical transcription . Though not a thorough but a basic idea of all major body systems like musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, reproductive system, digestive system, respiratory system, the brain and central nervous system, and the sense organs including their functions, organs, common diseases is required. These enable MTs to formulate an understanding of the terms they will hear based on logic.