This week we celebrate the National Medical Transcriptionist Week, a commemoration of keys pressed and errors not made by thousands of dedicated professionals. And what better illustration of the effort some transcriptionists put into their art, than a keyboard that was used for over eight years by one of the industry’s best.
A proclamation by President Ronald Reagan designating the National Medical Transcriptionist Week in May 1985:
A century ago, physicians knew many of their patients from birth, knew all their ailments, and provided all their medical care. Today, with medical specialization and greater mobility among people, many skilled physicians may treat the average American during a lifetime. Using transcribed medical reports, each physician can easily and quickly review a patient’s medical history even if the physician has never seen that patient before. Because of the work done by trained medical transcriptionists, patients can be assured that the history of their medical care is portrayed accurately and legibly. Medical transcriptionists have therefore become a vital link between the physician and the patient.
It is appropriate for our Nation to recognize the contributions of medical transcriptionists. We should encourage hospitals, allied health education programs, and community colleges to provide appropriate courses of instruction recognizing the high standards that must be met by medical transcriptionists and the vital function they perform.
More about the keyboard pictured at Boing Boing…