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A Guide on 20 Types of Medical Reports That Often Require Transcription

Published: July 13th, 2023

Updated: February 27th, 2024



When it comes to ensuring accurate documentation and enhancing patient care, medical transcription plays a vital role as it provides detailed information on medical reports. Medical transcriptions are made by converting audio recordings of reports into written documents.

As for medical reports, these documents encompass a wide range of healthcare-related information, including diagnoses, treatments, and patient histories.

Here’s a list showing the types of medical reports that often require transcription: 

1. Discharge Summary 

From the term itself, discharge summaries are critical documents prepared when a patient gets discharged from a hospital or medical facility. This is because These reports provide details about the patient’s stay or reason for hospitalization, admission and discharge diagnoses and those resolved during the hospital stay, treatment received (including test results, if any), discharge conditions, follow-up instructions for the patient and family, and recommendations for further care.

2. History and Physical Reports 

History and physical reports are created when a patient is admitted to a healthcare facility. They outline the patient’s medical history, presenting symptoms, physical examination findings, and initial diagnosis. These reports are essential for continuity of care and reference for future treatments, as this is the document often referred to check that they are showing progress. 

3. Operative Reports

Operative reports document surgical procedures performed on the patients. The reports also include pre-operative diagnoses, details of the surgery, findings during the procedure, and post-operative care instructions. Transcribing operative reports accurately is crucial for maintaining a comprehensive record of surgeries, and for other healthcare professionals immediately attending the postoperative recovery of the patient.

4. Consultation Reports 

Consultation reports involve the opinion or professional advice of a specialist requested by a primary healthcare provider. These reports outline the specialist’s evaluation, recommendations, and suggestions for further management. Ensuring the accurate transcription of consultation reports also ensures effective communication between healthcare professionals.

5. Radiology Reports

Patients due for an imaging test will have radiology reports that show the detailed interpretations of X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds. These reports describe the findings, their clinical significance, and suggestions for further investigations or treatments.

6. Pathology Reports 

Pathology reports are generated following the examination of tissues, organs, or bodily fluids in a laboratory setting. They contain crucial information about diagnostic tests, such as biopsies or blood work, including results, interpretations, and recommendations for treatment.

7. Emergency Room (ER) Reports 

ER reports summarize the evaluation, treatment, and disposition of patients seen in the emergency department. They provide information on presenting complaints, initial assessments, procedures performed, and recommendations for further care. This is crucial as it highlights concerns for close monitoring or treatment of a seriously ill patient (including post-surgical care). Ultimately, this will give a picture if there is a need to undergo immediate treatment in a controlled environment such as an intensive care unit.

8. Progress Notes 

Progress notes are recorded during ongoing patient care to document the patient’s progress, treatment adjustments, and response to interventions. These notes are essential for tracking changes in a patient’s condition over time and facilitating communication among healthcare providers.

9. Clinic Notes 

Clinic notes capture information from outpatient visits, including follow-up appointments or routine check-ups. These reports document the patient’s complaints, examination findings, diagnoses, treatments, and plans for managing their condition.

10. Rehabilitation Reports 

Therapists and physiatrists often use rehabilitation reports to document the progress and outcomes of patients undergoing physical, occupational, or speech therapy, or anyone with a health condition, impairment, or injury that limits functioning. These reports assess functional improvements, treatment modalities, and recommendations for further therapy.

11. Psychiatry and Psychology Reports 

Psychiatry and psychology reports document assessments, diagnoses, and treatment plans for patients with mental health concerns. These reports play a vital role in coordinating care among different mental health professionals, ensuring comprehensive treatment strategies.

12. Autopsy Reports 

Autopsy reports provide detailed findings from post-mortem examinations, determining the cause of a patient’s death and its contributing factors. Accomplishing this can take anywhere from several weeks to several months. This is, partly, due to its dependency on toxicology tests to be run and those results to be available. Accurate autopsy reports are essential for legal and forensic purposes, medical research, and identifying potential hereditary conditions.

13. Discharge Instructions

After patients are cleared to leave a healthcare facility, they are usually given discharge instructions that offer guidance and information for care continuity. Transcribing these instructions accurately ensures that patients understand post-discharge medication regimens, follow-up appointments, as well as self-care treatments. 

14. Home Healthcare Reports 

Home healthcare reports document assessments, treatments, and observations made during visits by healthcare professionals to patients’ homes. These reports facilitate coordination among home care teams and aid in evaluating the patient’s progress.

15. Rehabilitation Assessment Reports 

Rehabilitation assessment reports encompass comprehensive evaluations of patients’ functional abilities, mobility, and cognitive status. These reports help determine the appropriate therapy and measure progress throughout the rehabilitation process. This will also give an idea about the client’s capacity to undertake certain activities, and discuss motivations and barriers to rehabilitation.

16. Case Studies

Case studies present detailed analyses of specific patient cases, documenting symptoms, diagnoses, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Accurate transcription of case studies will greatly help future educational and research purposes.

17. Medication Lists 

Medication lists summarize the medications prescribed to patients, including dosages, frequencies, and any necessary precautions. Transcribing medication lists accurately is crucial for patient safety and avoiding potential drug interactions.

18. Discharge Medication Reconciliation

Discharge medication reconciliation reports compare a patient’s pre-admission medications with those prescribed at discharge. This process ensures the accuracy of medication lists, minimizing the risk of medication errors during the transition to outpatient care.

19. Medical Research Reports 

Medical research reports summarize findings from clinical trials, observational studies, or other research endeavors. Transcribing these reports accurately ensures the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the advancement of medical understanding.

20. Death Summaries 

Anything related to the patient’s death, including the cause, time, and circumstances, should be detailed in a death summary. These reports are crucial for legal documentation, vital statistics reporting, and identifying trends in mortality.

Medical transcription plays a vital role in accurately documenting various types of medical reports

From discharge summaries to pathology reports, each report holds crucial information that contributes to patient care, research, and healthcare management. Transcription services ensure that these reports are transcribed accurately, facilitating effective communication among healthcare professionals and maintaining comprehensive medical records.

Make sure that all medical reports or summaries are aligned with the established industry standards and that the transcript is available promptly. A lot of healthcare providers are now outsourcing medical transcription, and this might benefit your company too!

KamelBPO is a Canadian-owned and -managed offshoring services partner in the Philippines with a wide pool of transcription professionals that are trained with state-of-the-art technology and the most advanced software applications. We can get you experienced and highly qualified medical transcribers who are capable of delivering projects efficiently, accurately, and within a pre-established timeframe, all while maintaining strict confidentiality.

Do you need help with medical transcription? Talk to us today!

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