Are You Aware that the American Association for Medical Transcription is Now Called AHDI: Are There Differences?
Written on December 14, 2009 – 1:02 pm | by Susan Eliot
The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI), formally known as the AAMT was originally established in the year 1978. This group is the foundation upon which the whole career of the medical transcriptionist stands. If it weren’t for the AAMT, medical transcription jobs would not be as respected as they are.
Shortly after the American Association for Medical Transcription was founded, it created the certification program in 1981. It goes without saying that the AAMT is what makes medical transcription jobs possible. It’s conceivable that there would still be jobs available for the transcriptionist, but they wouldn’t have the meaning they today. Furthermore, if it weren’t for the certification program, the people who work in this career field would not have quality skill. There is also a higher likelihood that the pay scale of this profession would be dramatically lower. In other words, it wouldn’t be considered a profession, but a regular job.
The transition from AAMT to AHDI took place on August 2nd, 2006. It was the House of Delegates’ decision to make this transition because they thought it would be very beneficial to expand the objectives of the program. The goal was to broaden the horizons of the association and view it in a new and more positive light. Instead of maintaining the old views, the new decision focuses on opening this particular part of the healthcare industry up to a broader number of people in the healthcare industry.
Basically, the name change took place to help inspire interest in the medical industry as a whole. One thing for certain is that transcription jobs have developed a much better and more popular reputation since the change took place. It’s easy to see that medical transcription is a huge part of the healthcare industry.
When a person who is interested in becoming a medical transcriptionist is looking for a job, the AHDI is the organization they need to check in with. An individual can find all of the necessary information about certification, standards, guidelines, accredited schools, etc. at ahdionline.org. The wonderful thing is that most transcription jobs will not hire unless you attend an AHDI-approved school. Why is that so great? Because it lets them know that you have received the highest-quality education available.
Employers want to know that the person they are hiring knows what they are doing. Not only that, they want to know that the work they do is the best in the business. It’s hard to believe but there are certification and degree programs out there that are not recognized by the AHDI, and those are the ones that you want to stay away from. There is no doubt that you will still be able to learn a thing or two about the transcription business, but remember, there is always a reason why the program isn’t recognized.
The AAMT (or AHDI) is what helps hold the transcription sector of the healthcare industry together. They even have their own handbook and their own code of ethics. If there is something you need to find out or cannot quite get a handle on about anything having to do with medical transcription in general, you can consult the AHDI because it’s all there.
Susan Eliot is a wonderful resource in this field and is the authority when it comes to medical transcription jobs. She owns and operates her own transcription business and knows first hand all the details about the American Association for Medical Transcription.
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