Medical Transcription and India: The Current Scenario and the Future

Medical transcription is an interesting, challenging and paying career and one of the fastest growing fields in healthcare. Medical records dictated by doctors (or their secretaries/nurses) into a tape or onto a digital voice processing system are accurately and swiftly transcribed i.e. converted into a word document, by the MT or MLS (medical language specialist). These records could be clinic notes, office notes, operative or consultation notes, discharge summaries, etc. The document is proofread to at least 98% accuracy before being “uploaded” back to the doctor’s office or clinic.

In the US, the entire healthcare industry is based on insurance. Therefore, detailed medical records are needed for processing insurance claims. As a result, MTs are in high demand there, and the cost of getting the job done is also very high. India is a very good locale for outsourcing this work due to a number of factors. We have a huge mass of English-speaking and computer-literate people in this country. Moreover, the difference in time zones between the US and India, makes it quite easy to return documents within the usual stipulated time frame of 24 hours.

A transcription service could range from a small home-based business to sophisticated, high-tech corporations, which employ large numbers of transcriptionists, proofers, quality analysts etc. Athough the clientele is mostly in the US, British and even Australian doctors are beginning to consider India as a possible source of getting this work done – done quickly and well, at a fraction of the cost incurred in their own countries!!

India witnessed an “MT boom” a few years ago, with innumerable training institutes mushrooming all over the place. Lack of proper training and understanding of this new concept led to an almost total closure of these institutes. Those that have remained in the field are today flourishing business enterprises, offering this new job opportunity to thousands.

To be a good MT one needs good listening and language skills and knowledge of medical terms (also called Language of Medicine or LOM). Fluency in English with understanding of the American way of speech and accent is a must. A thorough knowledge of the AAMT (American Association for Medical Transcription) rules is also needed. A full-fledged training course would impart all this. Throughout his/her career an MT needs to keep up with changes in medical terminology, medical procedures etc. and have the ability to detect medical inconsistencies in dictation and fix poor grammar and syntax. One also needs patience, as the work tends to get monotonous and repetitive. Regular continuing education programs, which are comprehensive, are therefore essential to be successful in this field.

In the metros and major cities of India, many big business names have ventured into this field and are flourishing. Most of these companies have in-house training programs so that the trainees are assured of a job at the end of their course. As a rule, a fresh MT starts with a salary of Rs. 5000 per month. Incentives are based on the amount of work done (called “line-count”) and the accuracy maintained. A really conscientious and skilled MT would earn a pretty decent salary. As the work can be done at home, it provides a wonderful opportunity for young, educated mothers who would otherwise have to put their careers on hold while their children grow up. Retired persons, the disabled, or those who simply do not wish to venture out of their homes for earning could all thrive in this career.

In short, the future looks bright for those in the field of Medical Transcription.