Medical transcription, which is also known as MT, is the process of transcribing or converting recorded dictations by physicians and/or other healthcare professionals regarding a patient's medical record into a written text. Medical transcription follows prescribed and established document (record) formats and is highly dependent upon trained professional, known as medical transcriptionists. Specialized knowledge for medical transcription include the ability to correctly spell often difficult medical words, as well as a working knowledge of general medical terminology

Medical transcription can also used to describe the name of the document (electronic or physical) that results from the medical transcription process, normally in reference to a healthcare professional's record of a medical encounter with a patient. It is referred to as a "medical record."

Current forms of medical transcription may involve digital voice files recorded onto standard cassette tapes, mini or micro cassette tapes, or onto computerized hard-drive (digital) recording devices. The process of transcription generally employs standard word processing software and may also include speech recognition.

Medical transcription is the primary mechanism by which physicians, hospitals and other medical professionals communicate patient record information with other physicians, insurance companies, etc., and which forms the basis of what we would otherwise consider to be the paper record that resides within the medical office.

Medical transcription is a highly specialized skill, which requires a high degree of training and dedication. Medical transcriptionists benefit greatly from on-the-job experience, and especially by handing records from a wide variety of medical specialties. Although generally paid by the word or by the line, professional medical transcriptionists can earn a great deal of money, while often enjoying the benefits of working from home, as recent advances in computer and networking technologies have allowed medical transcriptionists to use the Internet for the uploading and downloading of information.

Benefits
The demand for Medical Transcriptionists is very great. There is currently a shortage of qualified Medical Transcriptionists - and demographic trends suggest that the outlook will continue to be favorable for some time to come. Good Medical Transcriptionists typically have no problem obtaining and maintaining employment. Consider the following benefits of becoming a professional Medical Transcriptionist:

-In-demand Profession
-Excellent Income Potential
-Flexible Hours
-Growth Industry
-Exceptional Home Based Career Opportunities
-Potential to get your own Clients and Build a Lucrative Business

Basic Qualifications
Medical Transcription is a highly skilled profession. It requires an attention to detail and an ability to recognize and understand technical terminology. Good typing skills are a must. Typically an accurate typing speed of 50-70 words per minute is a prerequisite for most positions. Obviously the faster you type the more money you will be able to make as most pay is on a production basis.

Spelling and grammar skills are also vitally important. On-line dictionaries and spell checks are always available to assist you, but they should not be relied upon completely. You should feel relatively well grounded in spelling and grammar before you decide to enter this field.

Most of the skill that you will acquire as a transcriptionist will come over time. Experience is the great teacher. Prior to gaining hands on experience, it is usually wise to go through a formal course to gain a foundation of knowledge and practical experience.