Many medical careers require knowledge of medical terminology.
Medical terminology, which consists of the vernacular and language medical professionals use while on the job and in the paperwork they file or in articles they write, is used in many medical-related careers. Employees who work in hospitals, clinics and offices must understand and be familiar with medical terminology to perform their jobs properly.
Medical Transcriptionists
Medical transcriptionists are responsible for listening to dictated recordings made by medical professionals and transcribing them into documents such as medical reports, medical correspondence and other administrative material. Many dictations are sent over the Internet, which makes it easier for transcriptionists to send their completed work for approval upon completion. Medical transcriptionists usually complete a two-year associate degree or a one-year certificate in medical transcription, which includes anatomy and medical terminology courses. Knowing the proper medical terminology is important because transcriptionists can proofread their work and tailor it to the particular formula for the material they are writing.
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
Medical records and health information technicians are responsible for assembling patients' health information and organizing the data to ensure quality and accuracy. They must understand medical terminology to catch possible paperwork errors. Technicians do not have direct contact with patients, but they do look over medical histories, symptoms, exam results and treatment methods to consolidate them into an easy-to-digest form. Most individuals entering this field have associate degrees with medical transcription courses and may advance to medical information management careers with a bachelor's degree and/or relevant experience.
Medical Assistants
A career as a medical assistant varies depending on the place of employment. Most medical assistants perform administrative and clerical tasks so the medical office runs smoothly. This includes filing patient information, setting appointments and taking phone calls. In small offices, medical assistants may also have clinical duties to assist physicians with simple procedures. For this reason, many medical assistants specialize to meet the needs of their office. Specializations include administrative, clerical, podiatric and ophthalmic medical assistants. All medical assistants must have a basic knowledge of medical terminology and those who perform clinical tasks may need more advanced training.
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