Cardiology Transcriptionist - Enhancing Cardiac Care

The Cardiologist after diagnosing the heart patient dictates all the clinical observations in a voice recorder. The recorded report is then transmitted over the internet as a voice file to the transcription service provider. The cardiology transcriptionist attentively listens to the voice files and types the information into the computer, to create an electronic file. The quality control department checks for any errors and an accurate file is then sent back to the cardiologist.

The transcriptionist transcribes variety of Cardiac health reports and these include:

- Discharge reports
- Cardiac Medical history
- Physical examination reports of heart patients
- Cardiac Operative reports
- Consultation reports from Cardiologist
- Diagnostic-imaging reports like ECG, MUGA scan, X-ray and Ultrasound
- Post operative cardiac progress reports
- Referral letters

The cardiology transcriptionist must be well trained in medical terminology, especially in cardiology and should have good knowledge of:

- Anatomy and physiology of heart
- Cardiac diagnostic procedures
- Pharmacology
- Cardiac Treatment assessments
- Cardiac terminology and able to translate cardiology jargon
- Standard Cardiology reference handbook

The cardiology transcriptionist should be skilled enough to spot errors in transcribed reports because these can be carried forward in the treatment and seriously harm the health of the patient. The transcriptionist should also have good transcribing speed, to shorten the turn around time, as much as possible. This helps concerned cardiologist to deliver the requisite treatment to the patient quickly and enhance patient care. HIPAA compliance norms make it necessary for the health care providers and their business associates like transcription service providers to protect confidential patient health information. It is moral duty of the cardiology transcriptionist to maintain the secrecy of the patient information as per HIPAA norms.