Medical Transcriber Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established June 8, 1977

Definition of Series

Medical Transcribers transcribe dictation from a dictating machine as a major portion (50% or more) of the work time a variety of difficult medical correspondence records, and reports such as: x-ray, laboratory, and therapeutic procedure and autopsy reports; medical histories, diagnostic workups, physical examinations, admissions and discharge summaries, operative reports, medical consultations, psychiatric and psychological reports, and clerical resumes for inclusion in medical records and for transmission to physicians. Positions may also perform in a secretarial capacity to receive and screen a variety of telephone calls and visitors; answer (within limits of confidentiality laws) inquiries concerning the progress of medical cases; and set up and maintain medical files. Senior Medical Transcribers may instruct, lead or supervise inmates, wards or resident workers.

Definition of Levels

Medical Transcriber

This is the entry and first journey level in this series. Under general supervision, incumbents serve in a secretarial capacity to a physician or in a clerical pool to do medical transcribing using a wide variety of technical medical terms, abbreviations, and reports of average difficulty.

Senior Medical Transcriber

This is the advanced journey level in this series. Under general direction, incumbents serve in a secretarial capacity to a chief medical officer, a program administrator, or the head of a medical specialty to do difficult medical transcribing using a wide variety of technical medical terms, abbreviations, and reports. Positions that supervise a pool of medical transcribers may also be allocated to this level.

Minimum Qualifications

Medical Transcriber

Either I

In the California state service, one year of experience performing the duties of an Office Assistant II (Typing), Range A (formerly Clerk Typist II, Range�A).

Or II

Two years of experience in typing and clerical work, at least one year of which shall have been in work of a medical nature requiring the transcription of dictation from a dictating machine on medical matters and the preparation of a wide variety of medical records and reports.

Senior Medical Transcriber

Either I

In the California state service, one year of experience performing the duties of a Medical Transcriber.

Or II

Three years of experience in typing and clerical work, at least two years of which shall have been in work of a medical nature requiring the transcription of dictation from a dictating machine on medical matters and the preparation of a wide variety of medical records, reports, histories, case summaries, physical examinations, autopsy protocols, clinical notes, correspondence and special forms.

Both Levels:

Under Pattern II, academic education above the twelfth grade may be substituted for the year of required general experience on the basis of either (a)�one year of general education being equivalent to three months of experience; or (b) one year of education of a business or commercial nature being equivalent to six months of experience.

Knowledge and Abilities

Medical Transcriber

Knowledge of: Modern office methods, supplies and equipment; technical medical terms and abbreviations, various medical forms and reports and their processing; business English and correspondence.

Ability to: Type at a speed of not less than 45 words a minute from ordinary manuscript or printed or type written material; spell correctly; read and write English at a level required for successful job performance; make arithmetical computations; follow difficult oral and written directions; and evaluate situations correctly and take effective action; and perform medical clerical work of average difficulty including the ability to process a large variety of medical reports and correspondence, transcribe accurately difficult dictation involving a variety of medical terms from a dictating machine.

Senior Medical Transcriber

Knowledge of: All of the above.

Ability to: All of the above, and prepare correspondence independently; and perform difficult clerical work.

Special Personal Characteristic

Both Levels:

A demonstrated interest in assuming increasing responsibility.

Class History