The Evolution of Medical Transcription

More than 60 years ago, medical transcription was developed as a method to assist physicians and medical facilities with accurate recording and filing of patient information related to treatment. Prior to this, the physicians were responsible for jotting down pertinent information in the patient's chart and this was often times misinterpreted if read by anyone other than the physician, primarily because of abbreviated forms. This illegible writing and terminology was not understood by everyone.

The first MTs were usually only trained to copy notes written by physicians and these were then placed in patient's records. Later, Dictaphones and typewriters were added to the list of equipment found in medical offices. This was a tedious task because the typewriters were slow. If an error was made, it had to be corrected by erasers or correction tape. Further evolution saw typewriters that added correction capabilities, carbon copies as well as components to change font of the typed material. In the 1970s and 1980s, some medical groups were beginning to see the need for more training in the area of medical transcription. This led to formal training programs that were designed to incorporate medical terminology, anatomy and typing to more accurately equip persons in this field. This was a tremendous success and medical transcription became a profession in demand.

And just as we were getting comfortable in our new skins as MTs, we entered into the age of computers. With this new age, medical transcription became an organized business. Because of the high cost involved in this process, medical transcription service organizations (MTSOs) sprang up to meet the needs of the industry. They offered competitive prices for the completion of dictated reports while maintaining the quality control and technology processes in house. These companies provided manpower and equipment for professional interpretation of all medical records. The MT was taken from the office setting and was able to ultimately work at home with the same benefits that used to only be offered working on site. This was a real boon for the MTs, as it eliminated the usual expenses incurred by a working person, i.e. transportation, clothing costs, child care, etc.

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