Is Medical Transcription Dead in 2023?

I know you are looking for it: that work from home career that you can work flexibly around your desired schedule, a way you can make money from anywhere that you have an internet connection, a career you can start easily and generate income quickly.

You might think medical transcription fits the bill here but I want to share with you three reasons to reconsider that and what might be an even better option for you.

Does medical transcription provide you with a flexible career?

First you should know that medical transcription involves listening to recordings from health care professionals and writing them up into written documents. These documents may include medical histories, discharge reports, and care plan summaries. As a career, medical transcription is actually losing its flexibility. You might think that the pace of healthcare needs would be matched by the demand for transcription. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics, the demand for medical transcription is declining. Many doctors now use mobile devices for their notes, bypassing the need for transcription. 

Can you really make money from anywhere with medical transcription? 

While you technically can work from anywhere in this field, many US-based transcriptionists are finding increased competition from their colleagues overseas. With healthcare systems continually conscious of their expenses and costs, many health systems are choosing to outsource outside of the US. This makes US-based medical transcription jobs with competitive wages very hard to find.

Can you start medical transcription easily? 

Because medical transcription often requires someone to be well-versed in medical terms, insurance regulations, and privacy laws, it takes a highly specific skill set. This makes it hard for someone to break into as a new career. Plus, it makes you question if the time spent on the studying and the training would actually be worth it since the field continues to decline. 

Is there another way to pursue a flexible career in transcription that can generate income?

While medical transcription is declining, there continues to be great demand for general transcription and legal transcription. Plus, with the increase in audio and video marketing, this field continues to expand and grow.

General transcription involves listening to audio and video files from many different industries and converting what is heard into a written word that is readable and publishable. 

Legal Transcription involves the same basic skill set as general transcription with the added specialties of understanding legal terminologies one might hear at a deposition, hearing, interview or meeting. 

Can I build a flexible career offering general or legal transcription?

Yes, clients of all shapes and sizes need transcription help and they are willing to pay for it. Keep in mind that transcription does require attention to detail. But at the end of the day, you have flexibility in deciding how much work you wish to take on.

Can I do this work anywhere?

As long as you can find a quiet work environment so you can clearly listen to the recordings, you can do this. The beauty of transcription is that you can do it on your computer from your kitchen table, your sunroom, your porch, your summer home, your winter home, any place where you can work comfortably and take a little time to listen closely.

Our free mini-course is a great place to start if you want to explore general or legal transcription as a flexible, work-from-home career.