Current Trends

Recent trends have had medical transcriptionists scrambling for other types of transcription work due to fear of medical transcription work drying up. It is true that voice recognition software is gaining in popularity, especially as its accuracy slowly but steadily improves. It is also true that the institution and expansion of use of electronic medical records has grown, especially with the aid and encouragement of things like government “stimulus” funds. Yet it is important to note that although these advancements have changed the face of medical transcription, they also have demonstrated a need for human intervention, i.e., medical transcriptionists also more and more commonly called medical language specialists.

Job boards and websites have seen a definite increase in the call for medical transcriptionists in recent months. As witness to recent demands, I am happy to report that I have actually turned away work that was simply more than I could handle. In one case, I was asked to recommend a medical transcriptionist to fill my shoes, but sadly I had no one in tow at that moment.

I applaud medical transcriptionists who stay active in the field. Those who specialize have a lot to offer. Those who branch out whether within the bounds of other medical specialties or outside of medical transcription and into other types of transcription work are to be commended.

Marketing experts advise that seeking new medical transcription work requires effort in good times and bad. They recommend repeated efforts. One mailing or phone call will generally not be sufficient. Allow time and put forth your best effort. Make your name, your business name, familiar. 

Medical transcription work is out there. Go for it!

Applying for a Job

I was recently contacted to oversee a transcription project. This is general transcription and not of a technical nature. There will be a few dozen or so hours of interviews to be transcribed over the next few months. It is the kind of transcription work that would be well suited for a newer transcriptionist to gain experience and acquire skills.

Finding suitable candidates is a challenge and very time consuming. I am in search of transcriptionists to assist on this project. I posted details on two Internet sites seeking qualified individuals who might be interested in working with me. The post explained the job and called for interested parties to contact me with details of their experience as well as compensation requirements. Within a few hours I received over 200 responses. (I have since pulled the ads.)

Job applicants can learn from this experience. If you are responding to a job, it is incumbent on you to present yourself in the best possible light.

1.  Reread what you are about to submit before you hit that SEND button. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation must be perfect. These are attributes of every transcription job, so demonstrate your abilities. Typos do not go over well. Everyone makes mistakes, but not in that first contact.

2.  Sell yourself. Be brief, be concise, and address the points in the ad. Avoid rambling and   straying off topic. Provide all information that is requested.

3.    Place your resume in the body of the email. A resume sent as an attachment will likely   not be opened. Sending a blank email with only a resume as an attachment provides no introduction and will likely get no response.