A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Future of MT's with new electronic records - sel

Posted: Apr 28, 2010

To: Current MTs

I am considering entering the medical transcription field. I am trying to evaluate the pros and cons of this business to see if it will be a good fit for me. If anyone has reactions to the following statements/concerns, I will be glad to hear them.

I am encouraged to hear from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states an expected growth of 11% from 2008 - 2018. --- This is great news!

However, I'm concerned about the new law coming into effect in 2014. According to various articles this new law will mandate electronic health records be done online. Will the electronic records elminate jobs for medical transcriptionists? Or will there still be a need for MT skills and knowledge?

Also, as the younger physicians (that are more savvy with computers and technology and are able to type faster than dictate) come into practice, will there be a great need for MTs? Especially when everything is electronic.

Any and all thoughts are welcome.

I have been asking these same questions. - ChrissyT

[ In Reply To ..]
I wonder about this too. I am studying every day and wonder if I will be able to get a job once I am done. Will EMR eliminate the need for MTs? Does anyone know?

Nobody Knows Exactly But Your Skill level Is Going To Matter More In Any Potential Scenario - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Everyone is guessing right now and nobody knows, but we do know a few things.

The jobs will be there, but there will be fewer jobs and they will require a higher level of skills.

Many jobs are going to be lost.
Some jobs, that take a higher level of skills, do not lend themselves well to the electronic medical record (EMR).

If you, for example, only do clinic work, you need to expand your abilities. If you only do orthopedic or cardiology, that may not be enough.

If you are not willing to do speech recognition editing AKA VR editing, your job options will be more limited and some jobs will be gone for you entirely.

If you have become very comfortable on your job and don't want to adapt to change, new account specifics, etc., I would say that it's time to start looking for other job opportunities, because everyone, every single medical transcriptionist is going to experience change. It has always been that way. Some of us remember transcribing on typewriters, just like it was yesterday. Some absolutely refused to use those awful, time-consuming computers that were not worth the time spent learning how to use them. See what I mean? Change is going to happen. Those who are able to provide the skills needed, VR editing for instance, and being more flexible, will have a place. There are some specialties that are more difficult than others and require long narrative reports that are not compatible with a point-and-click system.

The jobs will be there, but there will be fewer jobs and they will require a higher level of skills.

What will make me stand out? - sel

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you for your response.

If I was to move forward with the MT program, receive a job offer and excel in the position - what is going to make me stand apart?

Any suggestions on what would make a new MT with minimal years of experience stand out and compete with highly experienced MTs?

Should I consider training in VR editing? Anything else?

Thank you.

VR and ESL - are 2 things

[ In Reply To ..]
I would recommend. The better you are at both skills, the more marketable you will be. Anyone who pigeonholes themself into certain specialities or certain worktypes or even just straight transcription is not going to have as many opportunities when just getting started.

The more ESL experience you can get right off the bat, the better.

A good MT course covers editing in a way that prepares you for VR editing - Not additional training

[ In Reply To ..]
Additional training in VR editing isn't necessary if you graduate from a course that includes a huge amount of graded transcription with an emphasis on knowing what you don't know and how to edit appropriately.

Editing - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
There are now also classes available on line (distance learning) for people not trained in VR editing who desire to upgrade their skills.

I asked a different question... - jm0405

[ In Reply To ..]
Since I am 41, been in MT work all my adult life, I didn't ask about the future of MTs because with EVERYTHING going online, it will take years to get all of docs' stuff online,so there will be a great need getting it there. No matter what young docs can do, there is still the lack of time - they have to make rounds, have to be on call at the hospitals and have tons of patients in their office daily in order to pay their student loans. There is still time...or lack of it...to MT advanage for a while.

But my concern was this: This country cannot close the borders, most DMVs cannot function properly, nationwide unemployment offices are all messed up...HOW MESSED UP ARE OUR RECORDS GOING TO BECOME WHEN THE GOVT TAKES OVER? Will I have 8000 other reports from patients with my same name? Some typist somewhere chose the wrong name so those records are on me and none of it's correct? That scares me!

not good - frustratedMT

[ In Reply To ..]
The hospital and clinic I work for just implimented EMR the first of April. Two weeks later, they downsized and half of our dept was laid off. I love transcription and can't imagine doing anything else, but would NEVER tell any of my friends to enter this career. I fear it will be a disappearing field.

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