Utah

Becoming a Medical Transcriptionist in Utah

Medical transcriptionists often enjoy a rewarding career as an integral part of the healthcare system. The work traditionally involves listening to audio recordings from physicians and other healthcare providers and converting them into official written medical documents. Modern-day transcriptionists are also frequently required to edit notes made using voice recognition software. This is a good career for anyone who is detail-oriented and good at keyboarding and listening.

Acquiring certain skills and knowledge is important for those wanting to enter the field, as the work is very specialized. Medical transcriptionists will need to be trained in medical language and abbreviations, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and diagnostic procedures. Transcriptionists use various types of reference materials and will need to be knowledgeable about when and how to use them appropriately. It will also be important for those in the field to have up-to-date knowledge of the legal and confidentiality requirements for charting.

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Regulations for Medical Transcriptionists in Utah

Utah does not require a license for medical transcriptionists. Like most states, they also do not have a specific regulatory board for the profession. However, certain educational requirements will need to be met to secure employment. Specifically, a high school diploma or equivalent will be required as will graduation from a specified training program. Training can occur either in person or online, although online programs are significantly easier to find. Depending on the program, training can take anywhere from a few weeks to two years.

Utah Training for Medical Transcription

It may be difficult to find on-site training in the state of Utah; however, there are abundant options online. A few of these include:

  • Dixie Applied Technology College offers online training in either an instructor-led or self-paced format. Students will learn about the most common types of medical reports in both inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as the specific components each needs to contain. Hands-on experience will be gained using sample transcriptions.
  • Ashworth College offers online training as well. The program promises to teach the basics of medical transcription, along with the clinical knowledge needed to prepare students for the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) examination through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). Examination fees are covered in the price of tuition.
  • Penn Foster offers a training course online for medical transcription. Students will develop skills through simulations. The program also provides an overview of voice recognition software and its use in the modern medical field.

Potential Additional Certifications

Obtaining additional certifications can help bolster your career as a medical transcriptionist by showing potential employers a high degree of expertise and professionalism. As mentioned above, the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) offers certification as a Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS). The designation is earned by passing an examination consisting of multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank audio exercises and a sample transcription.

Utah Growth Projections and Wage Potential

The outlook for medical transcriptionists in Utah is good. According to data from Projections Central, the career field should expect 9.7 percent growth within the state between the years 2016 and 2026, even as the industry faces a nationwide decline.

Similarly, wage expectations for medical transcriptionists are also good in Utah, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reporting a mean annual wage of $36,110 in 2018. This is only slightly lower than the national mean wage of $36,350 reported in the same year for this career field.

Opportunities in Utah for Medical Transcriptionists

The BLS reports that most transcriptionists are employed by business support services and physicians’ offices. The career also has significant potential for self-employment and remote work. In Utah, potential employers include Ensign Services and Quest Diagnostics.