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The field of medical transcription (MT) has been continuously growing since its start several decades ago. As the medical profession grows in importance and necessity, so does the MT job market. Today there are hundreds of companies, on both the local and national level, that offer jobs as an MT to individuals interested in jumping on board.

Due to huge time constraints and the lack of one-on-one contact between doctors and their patients, medical transcriptionists have been sought out to create and maintain patients' permanent files in order to decrease busy work for medical professionals and increase the quality of the documents. The profession is progressively growing and the job market is filled with open spots for skilled and well-trained MTs.

One of the foremost organizations for medical transcriptionists in the world is the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI), formerly the American Association for Medical Transcriptionists (AAMT). AHDI was established in 1978 to obtain recognition for medical transcriptionists' contributions toward patient safety and more accurate medical records. The association feels that medical transcriptionists are a vital asset to the preservation and safety of all patients and that the profession will improve the quality of care. AHDI has been a large promoter for further legislation and regulation for healthcare documentation and information. The association feels the bar has been set for MT education and it follows the most modern trends in the ever-changing industry.

According to the AHDI web page, individuals who are interested in a career as an MT should research the profession fully and be able to understand all of the requirements before deciding on that career path. The organization offers several links that help answer any questions about medical transcription and choosing the right education program that is specific to the individual's needs. The AHDI is a great organization to join for validation and protection as an MT. The association offers many resources that are beneficial to those in the MT industry. AHDI also offers advice, networking, and job opportunities to anyone who joins the organization.Another organization that is hoping to aid in the advancement of medical transcription is the Medical Transcription Industry Association (MTIA). MTIA has been working in conjunction with AHDI to better the medical transcription industry and provide better health records for the world. The MTIA is a non-profit trade association that represents medical transcription companies, vendors, and health professionals. MTIA, according to the web page, is the largest MT organization in the world. The association offers several membership options, which range from 'general' to 'associate,' and are said to employ over 12,000 MT professionals. Through MTIA, individuals will have access to thousands of vendor suppliers through a transcription service finder, which will give the added advantage of networking through the site. MTIA also sponsors events and conferences annually to keep current MTs up-to-date and in the know about the latest medical transcription trends.

There is an incredibly helpful website called MT Daily that lists all MT companies according to the state in which they are located. The providers consist of vendors, companies, and independent contractors who are looking for a skilled MT. Many of the companies offer both long- and short-term positions. The site also provides links to other popular search engines like Monster and NationJob. MT Daily allows easy access to several national companies like C and C Transcription, HealthScribe, MEDGARDE, and Transcription Solutions. Around thirty percent of MTs do work from home, so the site also gives listings of job opportunities that can be completed outside of the office. To take a look at the full list of companies, visit www.mtdaily.com/mtcos.html.

With the abundance of online resources, along with well-respected organizations like AHDI and MTIA, the medical transcription industry is steadily becoming a large presence in the medical field. Not only are there numerous jobs for MTs, but there are also many organizations that are advocating for the profession, which is earning more respect in the medical field year after year.