What is a "dictation" in medical transcription?

In medical transcription, "dictation" specifically refers to audio recordings made by healthcare providers. This process involves healthcare professionals speaking their notes, observations, or instructions regarding patient care into a recording device. These audio files are then used by medical transcriptionists to create written documentation, ensuring that the healthcare provider’s thoughts are accurately captured and subsequently transcribed into formal medical records.

This terminology distinguishes dictation from other written forms of documentation, such as reports or summaries. Unlike a written report, which may be a finalized document prepared for medical records, dictation is fundamentally an audio file that requires further processing. Additionally, a patient’s medical history summary represents a compilation of existing information rather than an initial spoken record, while transcribed notes from medical meetings do not typically reflect individual patient interactions or care details. In essence, dictation is essential in capturing the spoken narrative of healthcare providers for accurate transcription and record-keeping purposes.