UV to offer 6-mo course in medical transcription

The University of the Visayas-Main Campus is set to offer a six-month certification program on medical transcription that will start in June. This, after the university and a private corporation that offers medical education transcription signed an agreement on academic partnership yesterday morning.

UV executive vice president Dr. Jose Gullas and Medical Education Transcription Corporation representative Ranilo Maderazo yesterday finalized the agreement that the institution will include medical transcription program as part of the offered courses.

Maderazo said that the University of the Visayas will be the only institution in the Visayas region that will offer medical transcription. "We want to expand the horizon on medical transcription here in this university because it has a good name and a tradition of excellence," Maderazo said.

Under the six-page agreement, the METC will be responsible for the selection and hiring of the instructors that will teach the courses while the university will be responsible for the enrollment, registration and collection of all tuition and other fees that will be charged for the courses.

The university shall also provide venue and the necessary equipment, but not limited to computers and pedals, for the operation of the program.

Medical transcription means converting into written form the dictation by the physicians and other healthcare professionals regarding patient assessment, work-up, therapeutic procedures, clinical course, diagnosis, prognosis, among others in order to document patient care and facilitate healthcare services. There are approximately 16 firms providing medical transcription services, and the Philippines offers a service highly familiar with US medical standards, terminology and practices. Medical transcription is among the 10 fastest growing occupations in the United States with a market value worth a billion, and increasing at a rate of 15 to 20 percent each year. - Garry B. Lao