Medical transcriptionists are responsible for listening to recordings left by physicians and other healthcare professionals and turning that information into written medical records. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they:
Listen to the recorded dictation of a doctor or other healthcare worker Interpret and transcribe the dictation into patient history, exam notes, operative reports, referral letters, discharge summaries, and other documents Review and edit drafts prepared by speech recognition software, making sure that the transcription is correct, complete, and consistent in style Translate medical abbreviations and jargon into the appropriate long form Identify inconsistencies, errors, and missing information within a report that could compromise patient care Follow up with the healthcare provider to ensure that reports are accurate Submit health records for physicians to approve Follow patient confidentiality guidelines and legal documentation requirements Enter medical reports into electronic health records (EHR) systems Perform quality improvement audits