Positions for transcriptionists are a great alternative for those interested in Houston medical jobs (Click here).

Medical transcriptionists use a transcribing machine with a headset and foot pedal to listen to healthcare professionals' medical reports. They then transcribe those reports, which eventually become part of a patient's permanent files.

These employees create such documents as: discharge summaries, medical history and physical examination reports, operative reports, consultation reports, autopsy reports, diagnostic-imaging studies, progress notes, and referral letters.

Most employers prefer to hire applicants who have some post-secondary training in medical transcription, such as a two-year associate's degree or a one-year certificate program. Employees also can choose to become certified by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity.

Before they hire for most healthcare positions, employers will examiner your Texas records (Click here) to make sure you're capable to work in the medical industry.

There were about 105,200 medical transcriptionists throughout the nation during 2008, and that number is expected to increase by 11 percent by 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

About 36 percent of employees work in hospitals, while about 23 percent work in offices of physicians. Others work for business support services; medical and diagnostic laboratories; outpatient care centers; offices of physical, occupational, and speech therapists; and offices of audiologists.

Employment of medical transcriptionists in the Houston area is anticipated to grow by 32 percent - from 1,250 jobs to 1,650 jobs - between 2006 and 2016. Those 400 additional jobs will include an average of 15 openings per year due to replacement and an average of 40 openings per year due to job growth.

Throughout Texas as a whole, employment should increase by 26.9 percent between 2006 and 2006, from 5,400 workers to 6,850 workers. Those 1,450 additional jobs will include an average of 65 openings per year due to replacement and an average of 145 openings per year due to job growth.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the top five industries in the Houston area that employ medical transcriptionists include:

1. General medical and surgical hospitals - 51.54 percent
2. Offices of physicians - 23.4 percent
3. Business support services - 9.92 percent
4. Medical and diagnostic laboratories - 3.05 percent
5. Specialty hospitals, except psychiatric and substance abuse - 2.45 percent

The average wage for medical transcriptionists during 2009 was $16.40 per hour in the Houston area, $15.86 per hour throughout Texas, and $16.03 per hour across the nation.