Medical Transcriptionists in Vermont
Working as a medical transcriptionist means being an essential part of the healthcare industry. The primary responsibility of transcriptionists is to listen to audio recordings made by physicians and other healthcare practitioners and convert them into written notes, which will become part of a patient’s permanent medical records. With modern advances in technology, transcriptionists have also become responsible for editing documents made using voice recognition technology.
Those interested in the career should possess good listening and writing skills as well as a keen eye for detail. Training programs should provide a good background of anatomy and physiology, word processing software, diagnostic testing, medical terminology, health information software, medical abbreviations and common disease processes. Since medical documents constitute legal records, medical transcriptionists will also need an up-to-date knowledge of all legal and confidentiality requirements, to ensure they are being met.
Regulations for Medical Transcriptionists in Vermont
Vermont, like most states, does not have an oversight committee for this field, nor do they require licensure for medical transcriptionists. It will be important for those interested in the field to obtain the necessary education. Training programs can be completed either online or in person, although online programs are more prevalent. Generally, a high school diploma or equivalent will be a prerequisite to enrolling in a course. Training can take anywhere from a few weeks to a year, depending on the course.
Finding Training in Vermont
It may be difficult to find in-person training within the state; however, there are many online programs to explore. These include:
- Vermont Technical College offers medical transcription training. Students will have six weeks of online access to the training program and will learn how to transcribe the most-used types of reports. Training will also include lessons on technological equipment, medical terminology and the basics of transcription. Sample transcriptions will be provided for practice.
- Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) is included in the program cost.
Additional Certifications
Obtaining advanced certification is a great way to stand out in a crowded career field. One organization often used by medical transcriptionists for certification is the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI). One can obtain a Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) designation by passing an examination consisting of multiple-choice questions and sample transcriptions.
Career Growth and Salaries for Medical Transcriptionists in Vermont
The career is expected to decline nationwide, with Projections Central predicting a 3.3 percent decline in the U.S. between the years 2016 and 2026. In Vermont, the decline is expected to be even worse, with a predicted 5.6 percent decline in the field.
On a more positive note, southern Vermont is among the highest-paying nonmetropolitan areas in the country for medical transcriptionists, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Data collected by the BLS for 2018 show a reported mean annual salary of $40,790 in Vermont, well above the national mean annual salary of $36,350 for this field.
Opportunities in Vermont for Medical Transcriptionists
According to the BLS, most medical transcriptionists are employed by business support services, physician offices, hospitals and the offices of other healthcare practitioners. Highest paying industries, however, include local governments, accounting firms, hospitals and dental offices. It should be noted also that this career field has a good potential for self-employment and business ownership.
A few possible employers of medical transcriptionists in Vermont include Rutland Regional Medical Center, Carestaff Partners and Benchmark Senior Living.