Overview
A healthcare documentation specialist, sometimes known as a medical transcriptionist or a medical documentation editor, listens to a voice recording made by a doctor or other healthcare professional and either transcribes the information into a captured electronic record, or reviews and edits a version produced by a speech recognition technology software program for the record. The reports produced become part of the legal medical record, and include medical histories, discharge summaries, physical examination reports, operating room reports, diagnostic imaging studies, consultation reports, autopsy reports, referral letters and other documents. These reports are important because they serve as foundation for ongoing clinical decision-making, continuity of care, maximized reimbursement, and risk management.
Editing or transcribing medical reports is highly detailed work that requires patience, focus, and attention to detail. Healthcare documentation specialists need extensive knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical procedures, pharmacology and other medical terms. They apply advanced clinical knowledge to the art of accurately interpreting and capturing patient care encounters, a skill set that must be applied in the challenging setting of enabling technologies, an expansive and constantly evolving medical language, and an often unpredictable array of practitioners who dictate in haste or speak English as a second language.
Healthcare documentation specialists often don’t just record the exact words the doctor says. They may be responsible for turning phrases and notes into complete, grammatically correct sentences. They format information according to guidelines for medical records. And they often find and question inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the doctor’s verbal report. Doctors have come to rely on these specialists to help ensure the accuracy and completeness of their medical reports.
Some healthcare providers and facilities use voice recognition software to aid in the initial oral-to-written transcription. However, these drafts must be carefully proofed against the original recording to ensure accuracy. Further editing is always required to produce a comprehensive and accurate report.
Transcriptionists and editors also keep reference materials close at hand, whether in print form or online. They frequently consult medical dictionaries, procedural guides, coding manuals, diagnostic guides and style manuals.
Accuracy is critical. In some cases, the first draft of a report is reviewed by healthcare provider, edited and returned for another draft incorporating the doctor’s changes. In other instances, an editor or transcriptionist may flag a report for verification of accuracy and review by someone in a quality assurance position before it goes to the author for signature. In many instances, the transcriptionist is expected to produce the first time a document ready for final signature.
Because medical records are confidential, transcriptionists cannot discuss the content of the reports they prepare; they must be careful to keep all recordings, paper and electronic files secure and be prepared to follow federal guidelines for confidentiality, security and privacy. Today, most files are sent online, making security, backup storage, and virus protection a paramount concern.
Compensation models can vary from an hourly rate to a per-unit incentive model to some combination of both, with some kind of incentive program being the most common scenario encountered.
Job growth is solid, because the healthcare industry is growing. As the baby boomer generation moves into the long-term healthcare spectrum (creating greater patient volume in the US healthcare system) and boomer transcriptionists retire from practice, industry experts predict a critical shortage of documentation workers to meet the evolving demands of healthcare.
While Speech Recognition Technology (SRT) is rapidly changing the role of the traditional medical transcriptionist, this automating technology is being used primarily in healthcare as a productivity-enhancement tool for MTs, medical transcription services, and healthcare facilities which have created a new hybrid role for traditional MTs – speech recognition editor. Most industry experts agree integrating SRT with an informed knowledge worker will continue to be the best documentation solution for healthcare.
Another factor driving growth for this career is the movement towards digitizing all medical records. President Obama has promised funding toward establishing electronic medical records for all patients, which would involve transcribing all paper-based charts into electronic files or utilizing electronic scanning.
The median annual wage of medical transcriptionists was $32,900 in May 2010. The median annual wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,960, and the top 10 percent earned more than $46,220. Source: BLS.gov
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THIS OVERVIEW HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI).
Working Conditions
Many healthcare documentation specialists work as independent contractors or full or part-time employees, often working in their own homes. Others are employed in medical offices or hospitals and may spend part of their time performing office duties in addition to documentation.
They work with every type of healthcare provider, including doctors, nurses, physical therapists, dietitians, and other health workers.
Transcriptionists and editors spend the majority of their time sitting in front of a computer screen and use a headset to listen to their computer or another device that plays back digital voice recordings. A key command or foot pedal may be used to pause and restart the recording as the transcriptionist keys the words into an electronic file or edits the already-recorded document.
Documentation specialists are at risk of work-related injury, including repetitive motion injuries, eye strain, neck and back pain and other problems related to the nature of their work. There can be pressure to produce reports quickly, as well, along with stress associated with ensuring that every report is complete and accurate.
Transcriptionists who work in an office typically put in a standard 40-hour week. Self-employed workers may choose to work longer hours, including evenings and weekends, to increase their income, meet deadlines and balance work and family responsibilities.
http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/159/Healthcare_Documentation_Specialist
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