Many people don’t know what medical transcription is or what you’d even study to get a medical transcription associate degree.

Medical transcription professionals work with physicians and other health care professionals, taking their recorded dictation and turning it into medical reports, letters, articles, and other material. They also might take notes from meetings and organize them for an easier read-through later on.

Medical transcription is a vital position in the medical industry. Why? Well, you’re helping doctors by taking their notes and putting them into a patient’s permanent file. You’ll be working on discharge summaries, emergency room visits, autopsy reports, exam reports, and much more.

Sounds pretty interesting, right? Sure it does. People often overlook this field but it’s a very necessary part of the day-to-day operations of clinics, hospitals, and private practices all over the world.

The nice thing about a degree in medical transcription is that it’s a field that will get you in the door of the health care industry.  Many people who start out as medical transcriptionists transition to medical coders, medical technicians, or other administrative positions. It’s definitely a field that opens a lot of opportunities for many people.

With a medical transcription associate degree you’ll be learning important skills like:

  • Transcription Technique
  • Medical Terminology
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Records Management
  • Word Processing and Computer Skills
  • Office Administration
  • Critical Thinking
  • Data Entry
  • Editing
  • And much more!

Due to the growth that the health care industry is seeing now, and expects in the future, the field of medical transcription is growing much faster than other industries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates growth at 18% to 27% through 2014.  So, job security is definitely a big plus here!

When it comes to how much you can make with a medical transcription associate degree, it varies on your location and employer.  Some medical transcriptionists get paid hourly, and some get a salary. Hourly employees make an average of $11-$13 per hour, while salaried employees make $25,000 to $35,000 per year.

Another tidbit that you might want to know is that many medical transcriptionists work from home. They tele-commute, and may work with several different doctors or hospitals. This is a great perk because it means you can work as a contractor, setting your own rates in addition to making your own hours and being your own boss.

If you like the idea of helping doctors organize their thoughts and notes about their patients then getting a medical transcription associate degree might be the perfect career for you. It’s an often overlooked, but very rewarding, option.