Vital Skills of Medical Transcripts Editors (MTE)

In-Demand Skills of Medical Transcripts Editors (MTE)

Currently in Australia, there is a high demand for well-trained professionals in medical

transcription. There are several skills and attributes companies are looking for in a medical
transcriptionist. Below we have compiled a list of the most frequently of them as per our
Recruitment Partners requests:

The demand for high-skilled medical transcriptionists is quite high in Australia. There are
various attributes and skillsets exhibited by the medical transcriptionist that companies are
really particular about. Based on the requests of our Recruitment Partners, a list of the most
sought after skills are included below:

Computer Skills

Because medical transcription editing is a unique marriage between technology and people,
a medical transcription editor must have basic computer skills, including navigating the
computer, e-mailing, word processing, document storage and retrieval, and web skills.
Today, computers are the medical professional’s true “tools of the trade,” more so than the
hard copy medical references of the past. Having a good grasp of technology and its uses in
the medical industry translates into long-term job security and employability.

Due to the uniqueness of medical transcription, blending technology with the everyday
activities of people, it is a must that a medical transcription editor have computer skills at
the basic level. Word processing, email handling, document creation, handling and storage,
including how to use the Internet should not come in strange.

Going by the fact that technology has replaced the age-old paper-management of medical
referencing, a good grasp of it and its uses in the medical industry paves way into a more
fulfilling job security and prospect.

Strong Keyboard Command

Second, and perhaps often overlooked, is a competent command of a keyboard.
Generally speaking, the more adept you are at using the keyboard, its functions, and its
shortcuts, the more employable you are. In addition, employers often pay on a production
basis. This means that they pay you a certain number of cents per line or dollars per page
rather than an hourly wage. So the better you can navigate through medical reports using
your keyboard (not the mouse!), the more money you will make.

Throughout this program, you will learn all of these essential elements of medical
transcription editing and practice putting them together. In time, these skills will be second
nature and will make you a valuable, marketable transcription editor.

Often overlooked, a good command of the computer keyboard is a plus for the MTE.
The more skilled you are in using the keyboard shortcuts and functions in navigating
through medical documents, the faster you are in completing your work, and the more
money you make since employers often pay per production or project basis.

For the duration of this course, you will learn and be able to demonstrate all the essential
editing methods of medical transcription. This, we hope, will become second nature with
time and practice, adding more value to you as well as making you more marketable.

Grammar Proficiency

Good Grammar

The third skill necessary for medical transcription editing is an understanding of English
language and grammar. Specifically, you must have a working knowledge of English
grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence formation, and word usage. You must be able to
identify grammatically correct and incorrect sentences. This requires knowing the basic
functions of the parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.), the correct use of
punctuation (commas, periods, semicolons, colons, dashes) and capitalization, and the
correct use of words in a sentence (such as then/than). You must rely on yourself when
determining the correct stylistic features of sentences and paragraphs in medical reports.
Dictating physicians may decide to “help” you by dictating the punctuation, and the speech
recognition engine will insert it; however, it may be wrong. It is your responsibility as a
medical transcription editor to see that every report is grammatically and mechanically as
perfect as you can make it.

Having a good command of the English language with strong grammar is a skill that cannot
be over-emphasised. A working knowledge of sentence formation, spelling, punctuation and
word usage are some aspects that you must have mastered well. Some of this includes
parts of speech and their applications (noun, pronoun, verbs, prepositions, adverbs, etc.);
punctuation marks (periods, colons, commas, dashes, semicolons) and their usage;
capitalization; the general sentence formation and word usage. You must be professional in
using style guides in medical reports and documentation. It is your duty to make sure that
every medical transcription is grammatically sound and perfect as it is expected, even if the
source file is from a speech recognition software.

Medical Terminology Comprehension

The fourth skill requirement for an MTE is a good understanding of medical terminology.
This is crucial to accurately editing medical documentation and is probably the area that is
the least familiar to you. You must be able to identify and spell medical words for all kinds of
medical specialties, medications, instruments, and procedures. You must also distinguish
the proper meanings of words, particularly when words with different meanings sound
similar, in order to avoid their improper use.

A good understanding of medical terms and terminology is another major skill

requirement. This is very important in presenting your edited medical documents in
professional formats. You must familiarise yourself with, and be able to recognise and spell
medical words and phrases cutting across different areas of medical specializations in
relations to medical procedures, instruments and even medications. You must be able to
identify and use appropriately the exact word-meanings of words with similarities in sounds
but different meanings.