I know I’ve talked before about critical thinking for medical transcriptionists. It’s the difference between average MTs and extraordinary ones.

Here is an example of what I mean:

I’m typing a medical report about a patient who has had two arthroscopic right shoulder surgeries within the past year, per the history. When I come across the shoulder examination section, I put in the information that has been dictated (and/or handwritten by an assistant on the physical examination sheet): Here it is:

SHOULDER EXAMINATION:

Examination of the shoulders reveals no gross deformities. There is no evidence of atrophy, tenderness, or masses. Impingement test is negative bilaterally. The Hawkin’s test is negative bilaterally. Jobe test is positive on the right and negative on the left.
…………………………………………

So now, my dear readers, I ask you: What question did I put at the top of the report for the editor/doctor???

Stay tuned tomorrow for the answer.