South Dakota

Becoming a Medical Transcriptionist in South Dakota

Medical transcriptionists listen to dictated notes from physicians and other healthcare providers and convert them into typewritten reports for official medical records. Modern transcriptionists are also often responsible for editing documents created using voice recognition software. The career is well-suited for those with good writing and listening skills as well as an attention for details.

Anyone interested in the field will need to obtain specialized skills through an appropriate training course. Medical transcriptionists need to have a working knowledge of medical terminology, medical procedures, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, health information software, word processing software, legal and confidentiality requirements and medical abbreviations. Transcriptionists also need to know when and how to use appropriate reference materials.

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South Dakota Regulations for Medical Transcription

South Dakota, like most states, does not have a licensure requirement for medical transcriptionists, nor is there a specific regulatory board for oversight of the profession. It will be important for those wishing to begin a career in the field to meet the minimal educational requirements, which include a high school diploma or equivalent, as well as the completion of a specified training program. Training programs are available both in person and online, although online training is far more prevalent. Program completion can take anywhere from a few weeks to months or even years in length.

Training in South Dakota for Medical Transcriptionists

Although, finding on-site training in the state might be difficult, there are many online options available. These include:

  • Sioux Falls School District offers training for medical transcriptionists. The program covers both the most used inpatient and outpatient reports and provides training on the nine types of reports and their components. Students will download a free transcriber, listen to sample dictations and produce reports for hands-on training.
  • Ashworth College also offers medical transcription training. The program includes study materials for the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) examination through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) as well as the examination fee itself. Topics include medical terminology and an overview of the body’s various systems.

Additional Certifications

For those wishing to highlight their expertise in medical transcription, acquiring the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) credential is a good idea. Obtaining the certification can help with career advancement, as it is recognized by potential employers as a mark of professionalism. As mentioned above, the certification is offered by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) and requires the ability to pass an exam consisting of multiple choice questions, listening exercises and a sample transcription.

Wages and Growth Projections in South Dakota

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical transcriptionists in South Dakota reported a mean annual salary of $35,100 in 2018, slightly lower than the national reported mean of $36,350 in the same year.

Unfortunately for medical transcriptionists in South Dakota, the news from Projections Central is significantly worse. While the field is expected to undergo a decline of 3.3 percent nationwide between the years 2016 and 2026, the decline in South Dakota is even more substantial with a predicted 14.1 percent decline in jobs in the same time period. There is a small amount of good news for those living in the Sioux Falls area, however, as it is listed by the BLS as having one of the highest job concentrations for medical transcriptionists in the country.

South Dakota Opportunities for Medical Transcriptionists

Data from the BLS show the highest concentration of medical transcriptionists employed in business support services, physicians’ offices and hospitals. However, the best-paying opportunities are in local governments, accounting services and laboratories. In South Dakota, potential employers include Regional Health, Sanford Health and Interim Healthcare.