Speech recognition technology is changing the medical transcription field. This software takes the audio from doctors’ dictations and automatically converts it into a text document. There are those who have predicted that this software will replace medical transcriptionists. However, the reality is that speech recognition software cannot grasp the nuances of medical language enough to create accurate reports. In order to get the required level of accuracy, medical editors (a new specialized medical transcription role) have to review and edit the reports. (Learn more about the impact speech recognition is having on the medical transcription industry in The Future of Medical Transcription.)

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With the growing number of healthcare facilities transitioning to speech recognition technology, there is a growing demand for medical transcriptionists with both traditional transcription skills and those necessary to fill the new medical editor roles. If you want to have a long term career in medical transcription, it is important to gain both of these skill sets. Finding the right training program is key to making you as competitive as possible in the job market after graduation.

There are a number of combination medical transcription courses. These programs teach you medical editing along with traditional medical transcription skills, describing the differences and allowing you to practice both skill sets. When looking for a training program, there are a number of signs that the program you’re considering will prepare you for medical editing as well as medical transcription:

• Program Title – Medical transcription courses that include speech recognition training are new enough to the marketplace that these programs will almost always call out their editing component in the program title. Look for medical transcription courses such as Medical Transcription Editor or Medical Transcription and Editing.

• Editing Theory – The program should include a good amount of training on editing theory. To effectively work with speech recognition generated reports, it’s helpful to understand the process and the general guidelines that have been established in the industry.

• Practical Experience – If you truly want to be prepared to work with speech recognition generated files, there is no replacement for actual hands-on experience. Choose a training program that has you practice editing authentic speech recognition generated reports—this will ensure that you're truly prepared to work with these files after graduation.

Speech recognition is here to stay, and if you want a long-term medical transcription career, it is important that you prepare to work with these files right from the start. This preparation will make you more competitive and flexible in the job market.