Western Washington Area Health Education Center
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
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WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
Health Career Information
Medical Transcriptionist
Job description
Medical Transcriptionists transcribe, proofread and edit complex technical, medical, and dental reports for a broad range of clinical specialties and departments using machine dictation, typewriter, and/or word processing equipment. Medical Transcriptionists create permanent patient records documenting patient care, medical or dental procedures and treatments.
Activities may include
●
apply knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology
●
apply English language rules
●
summarize and edit materials for medical records, from such departments as laboratory and x-ray
●
recognize, interpret, and evaluate inconsistencies, discrepancies and inaccuracies in medical dictation
●
clarify dictation which is unclear or incomplete
●
meet strict deadlines
●
use various word processing and other equipment to format reports
●
communicate with a wide variety of staff persons
Salaries and benefits*
Medical Transcribers in King and Snohomish Counties average $1,480 to $2,200 per month. Those working in Benton and Franklin counties average $1,570 to $1,970 per month and those in Spokane County average $1,430 to $1,760. Some Medical Transcriptionists work as independent contractors and may make between $20.00 and $25.00 per hour. A Medical Transcriptionist working in a hospital or clinic receives a full benefit package while a self employed independent contractor must pay for their own insurance and retirement.
Training and requirements
Medical Transcriptionist training is available at many of Washington State's Technical and Community Colleges. Medical Transcription course work is, on occasions, a part of other college programs such as medical records technology or medical office assistant (Centralia College, Columbia Basin College, Lower Columbia Community College, North Seattle Community College, Renton Technical College, Seattle Vocational Institute, Skagit Valley College and Whatcom Community College provide certificates and/or AAS degrees in Medical Office Assistant or other Administrative service fields). In Washington State Medical Transcriptionist training is available at Clark, Edmonds, Everett, Green River, Highline, Pierce, South Puget Sound, Spokane, Tacoma, Walla Walla and Lake Washington, Bates and Bellingham Technical Colleges. It is generally a 3 quarter program.
Necessary skills
●
ability to operate word processing, and transcription equipment
●
knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology
●
understanding of medico-legal implications and responsibility related to the transcription of patient records
●
ability to type quickly and accurately
●
excellent knowledge of English language rules and be especially good at spelling
●
ability to translate orally given information into well organized accurate typed statements
●
ability to proofread well
●
excellent listening skills including the ability to hear and understand dialects and various accents
●
ability to maintain a schedule
●
work well with little supervision
●
ability to work as a team member and to share information with co-workers
Licensure/Certification
The American Association of Medical Transcription sponsors a certification examination. When successfully passed an applicant is a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT). Examination applicants must have a minimum of three years comprehensive medical transcription experience in a variety of medical specialties.
Helpful high school courses
English, computer science and keyboarding classes, biology, anatomy, if offered, other science courses and business office course work.
Colleges/Vocational Schools in Washington State
●
Bates Technical College
1101 S. Yakima Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 680-7000
●
Bellingham Technical College
3028 Lindbergh Ave.
Bellingham, WA 98225-1599
(360) 738-0221
●
Centralia College (Medical Office
Assistant)
600 W. Locust St.
Centralia, WA 98531-4099
(360) 9391
●
Clark College
1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98663
(360) 992-2000
●
Columbia Basin College (Administrative
Office Technology)
2600 N. 20th Ave.
Pasco, WA 99301
(509) 547-0511
●
Edmonds Community College
2000 68th Ave. W
Lynnwood, WA 98036-5999
(425) 640-1459
●
Everett Community College
2000 Tower St.
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 388-9100
●
Green River Community College
12401 SE 320th St.
Auburn, WA 98092-3699
(253) 833-9111
●
Highline Community College
2400 S. 240th St.
Des Moines, WA 98198-9800
(206) 878-3710
●
Lake Washington Technical College
11605 132nd Ave. NE
Kirkland, WA 98034-8506
(425) 739-8100
●
Lower Columbia College (AAS in Business
Technology - Medical Administrative Support)
1600 Maple Street
Longview, WA 98632-0310
(360) 442-2370
●
North Seattle Community College (module of
Medical Assisting Certificate)
9600 College Way North
Seattle, WA 98103-3599
(206) 527-3639
●
Fort
Steilacoom Campus
9401 Farwest Dr. SW
Lakewood, WA 98498-1999
(253) 964-6500
Puyallup Campus
1601 39th Ave. SE
Puyallup, WA 98374
(253) 840-8400
●
Renton Technical College (AAS in Medical
Administrative Secretary)
3000 NE Fourth St.
Renton, WA 98056-4195
(425) 235-2352
●
Seattle Vocational Institute (Medical Assistant Certificate)
2120 S. Jackson St.
Seattle, WA 98144-2220
(206) 587-4950
●
Skagit Valley College (Medical Assistant
ATA)
2405 E. College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-5899
(360) 416-7600
●
South Puget Sound Community College
2011 Mottman Rd. SW
Olympia, WA 98512-6218
(360) 754-7711
●
Spokane Community College
North 1810 Greene St.
Spokane, WA 99207-5399
(509) 533-7000
●
Tacoma Community College
6501 S. 19th St.
Tacoma, WA 98466-6139
(253) 566-5000
●
Walla Walla Community College
500 Tausick Way
Walla Walla, WA 99362-9267
(509) 522-2500
●
Whatcom Community College (ASA in Medical
Assisting)
237 W. Kellogg Rd.
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-2170
Outlook*
The job outlook for Medical Transcriptionists in Washington State is very good with exciting growth into work with medical departments who previously have not used Medical Transcriptionists. Medical Transcribers who can use word processing equipment are in demand. Nationally, employment in this occupation is expected to grow much faster than average, with an increase of 61% by the year 2005.
Professional Associations
●
American Association for Medical Transcription
100 Sycamore Avenue
Modesto, CA 95354-0550
Phone (800)982-2182
Fax (209)527-9633
* Note: General career descriptions are updated as necessary, however salary expectations and projected outlooks have not been updated since 2000. Go to Workforce Explorer Washington and search your career for the most up-to-date salary and job growth expectations. Washington Healthcare Careers and Workforce College are also good resources for job information.
For additional information, contact your school's career counselor or
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Page updated 9/15/04