Medical transcription provides unlimited intellectual challenges and the opportunity to make a unique contribution to quality patient care and service. Health care is a rapidly growing field, and the demand for quality documentation is increasing. The profession provides a high level of job security, and skilled medical language specialists may receive a premium for their services. Because their services are in demand, transcriptionists are often able to arrange convenient and flexible work schedules. Medical transcription is a portable skill that allows for professional and geographic mobility.

Age restrictions are seldom found, with great value being placed on the experience and knowledge of the mature transcriptionist. Medical transcription can be a lifelong, satisfying career, providing the constant challenge of an expanding and advancing technology. The changes occurring in the healthcare industry promise to provide even more challenges to the forward-looking medical language specialist.

Medical Transcription is a high-paying career in one of the most stable but always growing industries - health care. We estimate that there is a total of over 67 billion lines of transcription done annually, in the US. The industry lends itself to telecommunications, both in the US and internationally. While most transcription related to patients seen in the United States continues to be done within its boundaries, much of it is done across state lines and an increasing amount is done offshore (e.g., in India, the Philippines, Ireland, Bermuda) through telecommunication systems, including the Internet.

The U.S. Department of Labor says there was a 51% increase in MTs (Medical Transcriptionists) needed in the year 2000. This means that demand will exceed the supply. This forecast applies to most developed countries, including those with Government health systems such as Canada, Great Britain or Australia. They have similar needs and therefore opportunities. The medical industry is virtually recession-proof. If you become proficient at medical transcription, you will probably always have work. If you are good at it, you can certainly make a decent living. At an average, a newbie MT transcribing about 500 lines per day accurately, in an eight-hour shift earns about Rs 8,000 per month.

A dedicated, hardworking and experienced medical transcriptionist can certainly earn upwards of Rs. 15,000 per month, depending on how many lines one transcribes accurately per day. Your income is directly proportionate to your effort: MTs are paid on a production basis - by the line, by the word, by the page, etc. Also, making it a home-based business can be very personally rewarding. Tax incentives for a home-based business, home-office, or small-business which is a 100% EOU, can be quite good. Once you have the skill and the equipment, you are only limited by how many clients you can service. With more experience, qualified medical transcriptionists who wish to expand their professional responsibilities may choose to become department heads, supervisors, managers, or owners of medical transcription services. Experienced medical language specialists may become teachers, working in schools and colleges and educating future medical transcriptionists.