When written accounts of spoken words are necessary for correspondence, records, or legal proof, verbatim reports of speeches, conversations, legal proceedings, meetings, or other events are taken by stenographers, court reporters and medical transcriptionists.
Stenographers and stenotype operators take dictation and then transcribe their notes on a word processor or onto a computer.
They may take dictation using either shorthand or a stenotype machine, which prints shorthand symbols. General stenographers, including most beginners, take routine dictation and perform other office tasks such as typing, filing, answering telephones, and operating office machines. Experienced and highly skilled stenographers take more difficult dictations. For example, they sit in staff meetings and provide word-for-word records or summary reports of the proceedings, to the participants.
They also supervise other stenographers, typists, and clerical workers. Some experienced stenographers take dictation in foreign languages; others work as public stenographers serving traveling business people and others. Technical stenographers must know the medical, legal, engineering, or scientific terminology used in a particular profession.
Court reporters record all statements made in an official proceeding, usually using a stenotype machine. They take down all statements and present their record as the official transcript. Because there is only one person creating an official transcript, accuracy is vitally important. Some reporters still dictate notes on magnetic tapes that a typist can transcribe later. Others transcribe their own notes, or give them to note readers, persons skilled in reading back shorthand notes.
Many reporters do freelance work recording out-of-court depositions for attorneys, proceedings of meetings and conventions, and other private activities. Still others record the proceedings in the U.S. Congress, in state and local governing bodies and in government agencies at all levels.
Medical transcriptionists listen to audio recordings for physicians and other health care professionals that note diagnosis of patients' ailments and courses of treatment. They transcribe the notes into the requested printed or computer-based formal become part of patients' medical records and edit the notes format, proper medical terminology, and grammar. Often medical professionals use abbreviations or technical jargon, which transcriptionists must be able to expand upon to ensure the accuracy of patient and health care facility records; transcriptionists m be medical language specialists and familiar with patient assessment, therapeutic procedures, diagnoses, and prognoses. In addition to transcribing letters, reports, and the like, they may have other clerical duties. (Medical secretaries and assistants may also transcribe as part of their jobs.)
Working Conditions
Stenographers usually work in clean, well-lit offices. Court reporters sometimes record depositions in the offices of attorneys, but they more often work in non-office settings, such court rooms, legislatures, and conventions. Most medical transcriptionists work in hospitals, doctors' offices, or outpatient medical care facilities. An increasing number of freelance court reporters and transcriptionists are working from home-based offices as subcontractors for law firms, hospitals, and transcription services.
Although the work of stenographers, court reporters and medical transcriptionists is not physically demanding, sitting in the same position for long periods can be tiring. The pressure to be accurate and fast can be stressful, and like other administrative support positions workers risk repetitive motion injuries, such as carpel tunnel syndrome.
Many stenographers, court reporters, and medical transcriptionists work a standard 40-hour week, although about one fourth work part-time. Some court reporters and medical transcriptionists, however, are self-employed and freelance their services, which may result in irregular working hours.
Employment
For medical transcriptionist jobs, understanding medical terminology is essential. Good English grammar and punctuation skills are required, as well as familiarity with personal computers and word processing software. Many employers prefer to hire transcriptionists who have completed some college rework. Many vocational schools and community colleges have programs and associate degrees in medical transcription. Courses in the various programs often include computer applications, business communication, English composition, grammar, boarding, medical terminology, and medical transcription.
Stenographers can advance to more responsible secretarial sections, especially if they develop their interpersonal skills, such the ability to communicate well. Stenographers who get the necessary education can become court reporters. Court reporters, on the other hand, have little advancement opportunities, although some reporters choose to specialize in captioning television programs.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of stenographers, court reporters, and medical transcriptionists is expected to decline slightly. Decreases in stenographer and court reporter jobs should more than offset growth in transcriptionist jobs.
The widespread use of dictation machines has greatly reduced the need for office stenographers. The traditional "steno pool" is practically a thing of the past. Audio recording equipment and the use of personal computers by managers and other professionals should continue to greatly decrease the demand for these workers.
The demand for skilled court reporters should decline as video recordings are increasingly recognized as legal records of proceedings. Also, budget constraints should limit the ability of federal, state, and local courts to expand, even in the face of rising numbers of criminal court cases and civil lawsuits. Demand should grow for court reporters willing to take depositions for court reporting service bureaus or those willing to freelance. Competition for entry-level jobs is increasing as more workers are attracted to the occupation. Opportunities should be best for those who earn certification by the National Court Reporters Association.
Demand for medical transcriptionists is expected to increase rapidly with growth in the need for health care and the industries that provide it. Growing numbers of medical transcriptionists will be needed to amend patients' records, edit for grammar, and watch out for medical discrepancies.
Contributing to the demand for court reporters and transcriptionists is the growing number of conventions, conferences, depositions, seminars, and similar meetings whose proceedings are recorded. Although many of these events are being videotaped, a written transcript must still be created for legal purposes or if the proceedings are to be published. Also, the trend to provide instantaneous written captions for the deaf and hearing impaired should strengthen demand for stenocaptioners.
Earnings
Court reporters generally earn higher salaries than stenographers or medical transcriptionists. Regardless of specialty, earnings depend on speed, education, experience, and geographic location.
Related Occupations
A number of other workers, type, record information and process paperwork. Among these are bookkeepers, receptionists, secretaries, personnel clerks, administrative assistants, and medical assistants.
