In an independent benchmarking study of the medical transcription profession by the Hay Management Consultants (HayGroup), three distinct professional levels for medical transcriptionists were identified and described as presented below. The HayGroup is a worldwide human resources consulting firm with extensive expertise in work analysis and job measurement.
Subsequent to this benchmark study of the job content levels of MTs, the HayGroup conducted a compensation survey, analyzing pay as it relates to these levels. (Hay's survey methodology complied with federal antitrust regulations regarding healthcare compensation surveys.) The results include information on transcription pay at the corporate level (healthcare organizations and MT businesses) and compensation for independent contractors. The data are further presented by geographic region, size of business, types of pay programs (pay for time worked and pay for production), and reward programs (benefits, etc.). The Hay report, "Compensation for Medical Transcriptionists," is contained in a 30-page booklet, available to members upon request.
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| Position Summary |
Medical language specialist who transcribes
dictation by physicians and other healthcare providers in order to document
patient care. The incumbent will likely need assistance to interpret
dictation that is unclear or inconsistent, or make use of professional
reference materials.
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Medical language specialist who transcribes
and interprets dictation by physicians and other healthcare providers
in order to document patient care. The position is also routinely involved
in research of questions and in the education of others involved with
patient care documentation.
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Medical language specialist whose expert
depth and breadth of professional experience enables him or her to serve
as a medical language resource to originators, coworkers, other healthcare
providers, and/or students on a regular basis.
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| Nature of Work |
An incumbent in this position is given
assignments that are matched to his or her developing skill level, with
the intention of increasing the depth and/or breadth of exposure. OR
The nature of the work performed (type of report or correspondence,
medical specialty, originator) is repetitive or patterned, not requiring
extensive depth and/or breadth of experience.
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An incumbent in this position is given
assignments that require a seasoned depth of knowledge in a medical
specialty (or specialties). OR The incumbent is regularly given assignments
that vary in report or correspondence type, originator, and specialty.
Incumbents at this level are able to resolve non-routine problems independently,
or to assist in resolving complex or highly unusual problems.
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An incumbent in this position routinely
researches and resolves complex questions related to health information
or related documentation. AND/OR Is involved in the formal teaching
of those entering the profession or continuing their education in the
profession. AND/OR Regularly uses extensive experience to interpret
dictation that others are unable to clarify. Actual transcription of
dictation is performed only occasionally, as efforts are usually focused
in other categories of work.
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| Knowledge, Skills
& Abilities |
- Basic knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology,
disease processes, signs and symptoms, medications, and laboratory
values. Knowledge of specialty (or specialties) as appropriate.
- Knowledge of medical transcription guidelines and practices.
- Proven skills in English usage, grammar, punctuation, style, and
editing.
- Ability to use designated professional reference materials.
- Ability to operate word processing equipment, dictation and transcription
equipment, and other equipment as specified.
- Ability to work under pressure with time constraints.
- Ability to concentrate.
- Excellent listening skills.
- Excellent eye, hand, and auditory coordination.
- Ability to understand and apply relevant legal concepts (e.g.,
confidentiality).
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- Seasoned knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology,
disease processes, signs and symptoms, medications, and laboratory
values. In-depth or broad knowledge of a specialty (or specialties)
as appropriate.
- Knowledge of medical transcription guidelines and practices.
- Excellent skills in English usage, grammar, punctuation, and style.
- Ability to use an extensive array of professional reference materials.
- Ability to operate word processing equipment, dictation and transcription
equipment, and other equipment as specified, and to troubleshoot
as necessary.
- Ability to work independently with minimal or no supervision..
- Ability to work under pressure with time constraints.
- Ability to concentrate.
- Excellent listening skills.
- Excellent eye, hand, and auditory coordination.
- Proven business skills (scheduling work, purchasing, client relations,
billing).
- Ability to understand and apply relevant legal concepts (e.g.,
confidentiality).
- Certified medical transcriptionist (CMT) status preferred.
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- Recognized as possessing expert knowledge of medical terminology,
anatomy and physiology, disease processes, signs and symptoms, medications,
and laboratory values related to a specialty or specialties.
- In-depth knowledge of medical transcription guidelines and practices.
- Excellent skills in English usage, grammar, punctuation, and style.
- Ability to use a vast array of professional reference materials,
often in innovative ways.
- Ability to educate others (one-on-one or group).
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to operate word processing equipment, dictation and transcription
equipment, and other equipment as specified, and to troubleshoot
as necessary.
- Proven business skills (scheduling work, purchasing, client relations,
billing).
- Ability to understand and apply relevant legal concepts (e.g.,
confidentiality).
- Certified medical transcriptionist (CMT) status preferred.
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