How do I get a medical transcription job with no experience?
Today I got a question from reader named Laura. She asked:
Experience also has to be recent. Although I have about 5 years of experience, it is all over 9 years ago so I would have to start over as far as gaining experience. So these tips are useful to experienced transcriptionists as well who haven’t done transcription work recently.
Tip 1: Graduate from a program respected by companies that hire transcriptionsts to work remotely or offers job placement
I’m assuming she means how to get a medical transcription job with no experience. This is a very common question for new transcriptionists. If you haven’t graduated from any of the the “Big Three” medical transcription programs (Career Step, Andrews School, and M-Tec) and your school doesn’t offer job placement - it can be very difficult to get your foot in the door to work at home. If your goal is to work at home, the least experience required I’ve seen from online companies is one year. Even then, be prepared to be baptized by fire as you may get most of the harder jobs (hard to understand foreign accents, poor recordings) and be paid a lower rate at first.
Tip 2: Offer a discounted rate or free. Work as an intern or a volunteer
When I became a transcriptionist, I had not gone to school for it, so I had no education or experience. The best I had to offer was knowledge of medical terminology from a medical office program I had completed.
I approached a local medical transcription company here in town and offered to work for them on the dreaded graveyard shift for free for a couple months as an intern while they taught me. We both agreed if I did well enough, they would hire me. They hired me after a month (and I got re-introduced to the daylight!). It might be a good idea to contact local medical transcription services, doctors, clinics, hospitals and even morgues and ask about working for a discounted rate or if they would be able to offer you an internship.
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Showing posts with label Medical Transcription Outsourcing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medical Transcription Outsourcing. Show all posts
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Medical transcription job with no experience? How to find one.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Outsourcing: The Realities of Reorganization
The decision to outsource transcription should not be limited to cost-savings alone.
As health care organizations feel the affects of today's economic and political climate, it is even more important than ever to manage the specialized treatments and service offerings that provide the best value and yield. As these changes occur, there is a common theme: manage the variable costs associated with these services with the proper documentation and technologies to support them.
Health care providers will be juggling the regulatory requirements surrounding documentation with the facility's inherent need to reduce medical transcription costs. The increasing demand for medical transcription of patient care has been particularly notable over the past 10 years. This has allowed medical transcription service organizations (MTSOs) to provide higher levels of service with greater customer satisfaction. There are a number of reasons for the increasing demand for transcription: an aging population, the need for streamlined administrative tasks that provide for more time for patient care, perceived greater efficiency, ease and speed of dictating vs. other methodologies, reduction in qualified domestic MTs and of course the need to integrate documentation with the EHR. As we move into the future, there is an even bigger demand on administration to deliver high quality patient care and physician satisfaction while lowering the overall operational expenses of the organization. With the rising demand for medical transcription and technology comes the popular topic of total outsourcing.
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Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Remote Medical Transcription Services
In the competitive healthcare arena, remote medical transcription services have great significance. Every healthcare facility, whether small or large, has to maintain proper and consistent healthcare documentation. Even though the demand for medical transcription has gone up steadily over the years, there has been a lack of skilled and trained personnel in key areas of medical transcription.
Nowadays, many healthcare practices in the US are finding it difficult to maintain the medical records of patients. As there is critical shortage of medical transcription workforce, many healthcare providers face a serious situation in which they do not get patients’ records transcribed on time, usually in times of emergency. In such situations, remote medical transcription services are the best option.
Excellent remote medical transcription services are now offered by many medical transcription firms, where the medical transcription specialists work from remote locations, even from their own homes. As this line of service is of great help for healthcare facilities, it is now being availed by medical facilities and establishments of all sizes including hospitals, professional practices, pain clinics, and others in the field, in all medical specialties. As per the needs of clients, remote medical transcriptionists transcribe the medical records dictated by doctors and others, including history and physical reports, discharge summaries, clinic notes, office notes, consultation notes, operative reports, x-ray reports, psychiatric evaluations, laboratory reports, pathology reports, and more.
By availing of the remote medical transcription services, you can gain many competitive advantages and benefits in terms of higher output and turnaround time.
Apart from these initial benefits, other benefits that can be gained include:
- Superior work product
- HIPAA compliant transcription practices
- 24x7 customer support service
- Cost-effective rates
- Security and confidentiality
- Customer satisfaction
If you are in search for an MT firm that can offer remote medical transcription services, the internet is the best place to start your search. Before making a choice, it is better to conduct some research in terms of turnaround times and costs.
About the Author:
Outsource Strategies International (OSI) is a medical transcription company and a medical billing services company providing HIPAA compliant medical transcription services added with other services such as medical billing, medical coding, patient scheduling, authorizations and verifications.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Medical Transcription Outsourcing - Is It Bad?
So you have finally completed the schooling in order to receive a certificate to be a medical transcriptionist and there are plenty of hospitals that hire medical transcription outsourcing companies. You are finally ready to work and find that just like the schools had offered, there is plenty of work to go around. You have no problem picking any amount of jobs and companies to work for to keep you gainfully employed for at least the next few years.
Now what I bet you did not realize is the controversial career you have just embarked on. With all of the American outsourcing to different countries, medical transcription outsourcing is no different. Except when you realize that we are sending private information across the information super highway and private information can become public instantly.
There are numerous complaints made from heads of major companies down to the 'average' employee just like you and me about the transcription outsourcing problem.
Not only does it take away jobs from those people that have been in the business for a long time, but it desperately hurts those that are trying to get a foot in the door. You have trained and spent a lot of time dedicating yourself to earn your certificate and now the transcription outsourcing has either brought down your line wages or it has made the job extinct.
With a number of countries participating in the transcription outsourcing not all news about the outsourcing is controversial. There are countries that are bidding with competitive rates and not making our current line wages sink below the poverty level.
A number of countries are also being proactive in making sure the level of transcription outsourcing is up to the same level as that done in the states. Some countries have a knowledge for the English language and the slang that may even put some of the native speakers to shame.
If someone were to ask you about the transcription outsourcing controversy you can stand very proud of your career and know that not all transcription outsourcing is bad.
If it were, then you and I would not be able to work such a great career from home. Just make sure that you are educated on the different transcription outsourcing that are available today. If you sign on with a company make sure that their practices are legal and above the board when it comes to line wages and employment opportunities.
Find out about medical transcriptionist training - available courses, schools, medical transcription job openings, salary at Certmedicaltranscriptionist dot com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
Thursday, April 17, 2008
What Makes a Good Medical Billing and Transcription Company
Companies that provide medical billing and medical transcription services are booming. The question now is, how do you look for the right firm for you? Read the article for a list of traits every good medical transcription and medical billing company must posses.
"In the recent years, the outsourcing industry has expanded to include not just call centers but also companies that provide administration support such as medical billing and medical transcription services. Their promise of lower costs and greater convenience means that more and more health care professionals and organizations are outsourcing some of their back office needs. More than half of transcription needs in fact, are outsourced to offshore companies in countries like the Philippines and India.
With the increasing popularity of outsourcing these allied health professions (it is estimated that more than half of these jobs are outsourced), more and more companies offering medical transcription and medical billing services have started to sprout.
The question now is, how do you find the right outsourcing company for you? What traits do you look for in a company to ensure that you get only the high-value service you expect?
Here is a list of the different traits every good medical transcription and billing company should possess:
§ An effective medical transcription company should have a quick turn around period. Ideally, they should be able to finish a project within 24-72 hours.
§ It should be able to guarantee your privacy and the safety of the information you send them.
§ A good transcription company and billing company should provide nothing short of high-quality work. They should have keen attention to detail and be able to provide accurate transcriptions.
§ Its workforce should be composed entirely of experienced professionals with extensive knowledge of medical terms and technology. The medical transcriptionists should also be able to decipher and understand different accents to ensure greater proficiency and a more accurate output.
§ A good medical billing and transcription company should be able to provide you with 24-hour customer service. They should have capable and knowledgeable customer service agents able and willing to answer your questions any time of the day.
§ To be able to claim that it is able to consistently provide good-quality work, a company must be supported by stable and reliable technology. It must have the capacity to efficiently download and play everything from cassette recordings to digital audio recordings.
§ One of the main reasons (if not the sole purpose) why companies outsource is to cut costs, so a good medical billing and transcription company should be able to provide you with good-quality output without burning a hole in your wallet. Superior service at low costs--- this is what you should get (and expect) from the outsourcing company you plan to hire.
Not all outsourcing companies are created equal, so some will definitely provide better service than others. Look for these different traits when you’re planning to search for an offshore company that can provide you with the medical transcription and medical billing services you need and always get reliable and good-quality service.
Maraya Mullen is a copywriter affiliated with All Medical Resources Company, a provider of medical billing and medical transcription services. Visit their site about more information about this medical transcription and medical billing company.
Source : http://www.buzzle.com/
"In the recent years, the outsourcing industry has expanded to include not just call centers but also companies that provide administration support such as medical billing and medical transcription services. Their promise of lower costs and greater convenience means that more and more health care professionals and organizations are outsourcing some of their back office needs. More than half of transcription needs in fact, are outsourced to offshore companies in countries like the Philippines and India.
With the increasing popularity of outsourcing these allied health professions (it is estimated that more than half of these jobs are outsourced), more and more companies offering medical transcription and medical billing services have started to sprout.
The question now is, how do you find the right outsourcing company for you? What traits do you look for in a company to ensure that you get only the high-value service you expect?
Here is a list of the different traits every good medical transcription and billing company should possess:
§ An effective medical transcription company should have a quick turn around period. Ideally, they should be able to finish a project within 24-72 hours.
§ It should be able to guarantee your privacy and the safety of the information you send them.
§ A good transcription company and billing company should provide nothing short of high-quality work. They should have keen attention to detail and be able to provide accurate transcriptions.
§ Its workforce should be composed entirely of experienced professionals with extensive knowledge of medical terms and technology. The medical transcriptionists should also be able to decipher and understand different accents to ensure greater proficiency and a more accurate output.
§ A good medical billing and transcription company should be able to provide you with 24-hour customer service. They should have capable and knowledgeable customer service agents able and willing to answer your questions any time of the day.
§ To be able to claim that it is able to consistently provide good-quality work, a company must be supported by stable and reliable technology. It must have the capacity to efficiently download and play everything from cassette recordings to digital audio recordings.
§ One of the main reasons (if not the sole purpose) why companies outsource is to cut costs, so a good medical billing and transcription company should be able to provide you with good-quality output without burning a hole in your wallet. Superior service at low costs--- this is what you should get (and expect) from the outsourcing company you plan to hire.
Not all outsourcing companies are created equal, so some will definitely provide better service than others. Look for these different traits when you’re planning to search for an offshore company that can provide you with the medical transcription and medical billing services you need and always get reliable and good-quality service.
Maraya Mullen is a copywriter affiliated with All Medical Resources Company, a provider of medical billing and medical transcription services. Visit their site about more information about this medical transcription and medical billing company.
Source : http://www.buzzle.com/
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Using Home-Based Medical Transcription Providers – Is It Legal?
Outsourcing medical transcription services is a rapidly growing trend in the healthcare industry, and has become a valuable way for many healthcare businesses to manage large-scale transcription projects. Medical transcription providers around the world are readily available with the skill set and knowledge to turn around projects with ease, but are medical transcription services legal? Many healthcare professionals are hesitant to take advantage of these services because of legal issues, but few realize that working with a transcription company that is compliant with HIPAA rules and regulations can be a very valuable business decision.
How Medical Transcription Service Providers Work
Medical transcription providers are employed either on a full-time or part-time basis, or contractors for hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and other health organizations who require medical coding. Service providers develop relationships with different companies to provide ongoing transcription services, and are certified by the American Health Information Management Association (AHMA) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Some medical transcriptionists who work from home also work as employees of medical billing service companies and hospitals.
Home based medical transcription service providers typically complete a formal training program from a college, university, or other online certification program. These programs require all candidates to invest in up to date medical transcription equipment and software, and most will complete all training modules to become certified at various levels. Medical transcription companies employ these individuals, or work with them on an independent contractor basis to complete projects for different
organizations.
Since medical transcription requires electronic storage of patient information, all work completed must meet the objectives of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Following these rules ensures that various measures are taken to guarantee the security and privacy of all health and medical information managed during the transcription process.
The Rules and Regulations Behind Using Medical Transcription Services
Physicians, clinics, hospitals and other health organizations all utilize medical transcription services on a regular basis, and these are both legal, and compliant with HIPAA laws. HIPAA laws require medical transcription to be free of errors and that all information is kept confidential. Working with a well-established medical transcription company means you can avoid criminal penalties and fines, reduce the amount of workflow in your office, and reduce the risk of mishandling customer and client information.
Certified medical transcription service providers ensure that all materials are checked for accuracy and comply with all HIPAA laws. Information security reduces the risk of fraud and criminal activities, and medical transcriptionists must adhere to a strict code of ethics and guidelines to maintain their certification credentials.
Medical transcription services are one of the best ways to outsource your transcription needs and reduce overall costs for each project. Working with a reliable medical transcription company means you can count on completing the project that is HIPAA compliant, and protects both your organization and the clients involved. As more home based medical transcription providers earn their certification and training through formal programs, your organization can benefit from highly skilled professionals and outsource any and all of your medical coding and billing needs with ease
Source : http://www.discoveryarticles.com/
How Medical Transcription Service Providers Work
Medical transcription providers are employed either on a full-time or part-time basis, or contractors for hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and other health organizations who require medical coding. Service providers develop relationships with different companies to provide ongoing transcription services, and are certified by the American Health Information Management Association (AHMA) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Some medical transcriptionists who work from home also work as employees of medical billing service companies and hospitals.
Home based medical transcription service providers typically complete a formal training program from a college, university, or other online certification program. These programs require all candidates to invest in up to date medical transcription equipment and software, and most will complete all training modules to become certified at various levels. Medical transcription companies employ these individuals, or work with them on an independent contractor basis to complete projects for different
organizations.
Since medical transcription requires electronic storage of patient information, all work completed must meet the objectives of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Following these rules ensures that various measures are taken to guarantee the security and privacy of all health and medical information managed during the transcription process.
The Rules and Regulations Behind Using Medical Transcription Services
Physicians, clinics, hospitals and other health organizations all utilize medical transcription services on a regular basis, and these are both legal, and compliant with HIPAA laws. HIPAA laws require medical transcription to be free of errors and that all information is kept confidential. Working with a well-established medical transcription company means you can avoid criminal penalties and fines, reduce the amount of workflow in your office, and reduce the risk of mishandling customer and client information.
Certified medical transcription service providers ensure that all materials are checked for accuracy and comply with all HIPAA laws. Information security reduces the risk of fraud and criminal activities, and medical transcriptionists must adhere to a strict code of ethics and guidelines to maintain their certification credentials.
Medical transcription services are one of the best ways to outsource your transcription needs and reduce overall costs for each project. Working with a reliable medical transcription company means you can count on completing the project that is HIPAA compliant, and protects both your organization and the clients involved. As more home based medical transcription providers earn their certification and training through formal programs, your organization can benefit from highly skilled professionals and outsource any and all of your medical coding and billing needs with ease
Source : http://www.discoveryarticles.com/
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The Myths and Facts of Medical Transcription Opportunities
Are there really good opportunities in MT?
The demand for medical transcription will continue to increase as the demand for health-care rises. Medical transcripts are the source documents and “proofs of work done” to meet US federal and state requirements by medical practitioners, and the basis of patient medical management.
India, Philippines, Pakistan and other countries continue to service US health-care facilities as the demand for electronic conversion of medical records increases by 15 percent to 20 percent every year. The Philippines has, in fact, recognized its potentials by leveraging on the people skills and sophisticated IT infrastructure. There is an apparent dearth in the number of qualified people to do the job. Currently estimated at 6,000 to 7,000, the number of medical transcriptionists needed by the country is forecasted at 100,000 by year 2010.
Is training required to be an MT?
Those who have relegated medical transcription to the “clerical” classification have a basic misunderstanding of the knowledge and skills required for this profession. Although medical transcription is performed using a keyboard—it is not a keyboarding skill. It is a language skill. In order to properly translate and document patient care records, the MT must employ the knowledge of English grammar and usage, understanding of basic anatomy and physiology, disease processes, laboratory medicine, and pharmacology in order to select and use appropriate terminology, since there are many sound-alike words in the medical language. Knowledge of business technology and computer operation is also important. Listening and researching skills are also critical components in the learning process.
The above are the competencies required of a medical transcriptionist.
Big bucks . . . are they real?
Having the right knowledge, skills and attitude is really important especially when a person is starting in the medical transcription field. Attitude makes a lot of difference. Aiming for the gold mine is not bad if you have all that it takes to deserve it. It is true that medical transcriptionists may earn around P20,000 to P30,000 a month, maybe more, but I am quite sure these people did not achieve this overnight. All jobs begin as difficult until such time that the ears are used to deciphering difficult accents before considering the work easy to average. Becoming productive in doing such accounts requires a significant amount of discipline, patience, practice, practice and practice. Quality precedes quantity as they say.
Is there an age limit?
While it is true that some medical transcription companies would prefer younger professionals, medical transcription does not prescribe any age limit for as long as the minimum skills are met. One advantage of a younger age group is having a better proficiency in computer operation. On the other hand, the older generation has a better grasp of the English skills compared to the younger age group. Some retired professionals train as medical transcriptionists not to be employed, but to learn the technicalities of how to set up or market the business.
Medical transcription is a difficult, stressful work, but is challenging and fascinating. The income possibilities are good, but only after a significant investment in training and experience. Of course, add the fact that career advancement is indeed fast paced in this industry. My advice to all frustrated graduates is to keep on practicing transcription and never lose the skills you have learned during training.
Source : http://www.transcription.mixph.com/?p=173
The demand for medical transcription will continue to increase as the demand for health-care rises. Medical transcripts are the source documents and “proofs of work done” to meet US federal and state requirements by medical practitioners, and the basis of patient medical management.
India, Philippines, Pakistan and other countries continue to service US health-care facilities as the demand for electronic conversion of medical records increases by 15 percent to 20 percent every year. The Philippines has, in fact, recognized its potentials by leveraging on the people skills and sophisticated IT infrastructure. There is an apparent dearth in the number of qualified people to do the job. Currently estimated at 6,000 to 7,000, the number of medical transcriptionists needed by the country is forecasted at 100,000 by year 2010.
Is training required to be an MT?
Those who have relegated medical transcription to the “clerical” classification have a basic misunderstanding of the knowledge and skills required for this profession. Although medical transcription is performed using a keyboard—it is not a keyboarding skill. It is a language skill. In order to properly translate and document patient care records, the MT must employ the knowledge of English grammar and usage, understanding of basic anatomy and physiology, disease processes, laboratory medicine, and pharmacology in order to select and use appropriate terminology, since there are many sound-alike words in the medical language. Knowledge of business technology and computer operation is also important. Listening and researching skills are also critical components in the learning process.
The above are the competencies required of a medical transcriptionist.
Big bucks . . . are they real?
Having the right knowledge, skills and attitude is really important especially when a person is starting in the medical transcription field. Attitude makes a lot of difference. Aiming for the gold mine is not bad if you have all that it takes to deserve it. It is true that medical transcriptionists may earn around P20,000 to P30,000 a month, maybe more, but I am quite sure these people did not achieve this overnight. All jobs begin as difficult until such time that the ears are used to deciphering difficult accents before considering the work easy to average. Becoming productive in doing such accounts requires a significant amount of discipline, patience, practice, practice and practice. Quality precedes quantity as they say.
Is there an age limit?
While it is true that some medical transcription companies would prefer younger professionals, medical transcription does not prescribe any age limit for as long as the minimum skills are met. One advantage of a younger age group is having a better proficiency in computer operation. On the other hand, the older generation has a better grasp of the English skills compared to the younger age group. Some retired professionals train as medical transcriptionists not to be employed, but to learn the technicalities of how to set up or market the business.
Medical transcription is a difficult, stressful work, but is challenging and fascinating. The income possibilities are good, but only after a significant investment in training and experience. Of course, add the fact that career advancement is indeed fast paced in this industry. My advice to all frustrated graduates is to keep on practicing transcription and never lose the skills you have learned during training.
Source : http://www.transcription.mixph.com/?p=173
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Conference Transcription – What the conference organiser needs to know
This article aims to provide advice to conference organisers in obtaining transcription that is accurate, timely and complete. It suggests ways in which the conference organiser can help the transcriptionist to ensure that the transcription is good quality and free of errors.
The most important piece of advice I would give as a transcriptionist is that if you’re going to have your conference transcribed you should arrange for completion of the transcription even before the conference even takes place! Of course you are going to want to send the transcript (or your interpretation of it) out to your speakers and delegates as soon as possible after the conference takes place, but a conference is a significant chunk of work to transcribe.
Let’s take an example of a conference where the talks (and possible workshops etc.) total 5 hours. Even if you have excellent audio recording equipment and supremely clear speakers, with minimal question and answer sessions or workshops (the point of which I will explain in a moment) the time taken to transcribe is going to be four times as long as the recording – so you’re looking at an absolute minimum length of time taken in this example of 20 hours. Twenty hours of work is probably a minimum of three days work for one person, and there’s a very good chance it will take longer.
Now if you start ringing round transcription companies once you have the recording ready to send, and you’re hoping to have the transcript returned to you in two or three days, you’re probably going to be out of luck. A good, established transcription company, employing fully trained and competent transcriptionists who are able not just to type but also to proof-read and edit, recognise the correct homophones (words that sound the same but are spelt differently), and punctuate English correctly, is probably not going to be sitting there waiting for your call. Although you might strike lucky they will probably be booked up for at least a few days!
So if you book in your recording before the conference and agree to send it on a certain date, they will be able to turn it around for you much faster.
Now, why might it take longer than four times the length of the recording? There are wide variety of reasons. Four times is the industry standard for a good, clear one-to-one interview with no background noise, good recording quality and no strong accents. It also does not take into account the possibility of specialist or technical terms, with which the transcriptionist will need to become familiar. So if you have any of those issues there will be extra time involved.
Question and answer sessions are often tricky because of the range of different voices involved. This applies to the audience but also to a panel if you are having panel sessions.
What can you do to reduce the time and therefore the cost? Firstly you can make sure that you have ‘roaming microphones’ that can be carried around the audience, so that questions are actually audible on the recording. Also a good conference recording set-up so that your main speakers can be clearly heard and individual microphones for each member of the panel.
Another very useful tip is to provide the transcriptionist with both a speaker list and a delegate list. Then during the conference ask the chairman to ask all delegates to state their name and position before asking the question. The transcriptionist may not be sure of the spelling but can then refer back to the delegate list to insert the correct spelling into the transcript. The same applies, of course, to speakers.
It is also very useful to provide the transcriptionist with any supporting material on the conference that you have available as this will help to establish ‘key words’, words that may be not in common usage but particularly relevant to the topic of the conference. A good transcriptionist will also probably be able to search out most unusual words using Google or a similar search engine, but this takes extra time, and if you have already provided material to help time will be saved.
Finally, if at all possible (and you may be at the mercy of the conference venue) make a digital recording, rather than a recording on cassette tapes. Digital recordings have a variety of advantages (please see some of my other articles for details) but importantly they are usually better quality than tapes and they can be worked on by more than one transcriptionist at the same time, meaning that your transcription will be completed sooner.
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/
The most important piece of advice I would give as a transcriptionist is that if you’re going to have your conference transcribed you should arrange for completion of the transcription even before the conference even takes place! Of course you are going to want to send the transcript (or your interpretation of it) out to your speakers and delegates as soon as possible after the conference takes place, but a conference is a significant chunk of work to transcribe.
Let’s take an example of a conference where the talks (and possible workshops etc.) total 5 hours. Even if you have excellent audio recording equipment and supremely clear speakers, with minimal question and answer sessions or workshops (the point of which I will explain in a moment) the time taken to transcribe is going to be four times as long as the recording – so you’re looking at an absolute minimum length of time taken in this example of 20 hours. Twenty hours of work is probably a minimum of three days work for one person, and there’s a very good chance it will take longer.
Now if you start ringing round transcription companies once you have the recording ready to send, and you’re hoping to have the transcript returned to you in two or three days, you’re probably going to be out of luck. A good, established transcription company, employing fully trained and competent transcriptionists who are able not just to type but also to proof-read and edit, recognise the correct homophones (words that sound the same but are spelt differently), and punctuate English correctly, is probably not going to be sitting there waiting for your call. Although you might strike lucky they will probably be booked up for at least a few days!
So if you book in your recording before the conference and agree to send it on a certain date, they will be able to turn it around for you much faster.
Now, why might it take longer than four times the length of the recording? There are wide variety of reasons. Four times is the industry standard for a good, clear one-to-one interview with no background noise, good recording quality and no strong accents. It also does not take into account the possibility of specialist or technical terms, with which the transcriptionist will need to become familiar. So if you have any of those issues there will be extra time involved.
Question and answer sessions are often tricky because of the range of different voices involved. This applies to the audience but also to a panel if you are having panel sessions.
What can you do to reduce the time and therefore the cost? Firstly you can make sure that you have ‘roaming microphones’ that can be carried around the audience, so that questions are actually audible on the recording. Also a good conference recording set-up so that your main speakers can be clearly heard and individual microphones for each member of the panel.
Another very useful tip is to provide the transcriptionist with both a speaker list and a delegate list. Then during the conference ask the chairman to ask all delegates to state their name and position before asking the question. The transcriptionist may not be sure of the spelling but can then refer back to the delegate list to insert the correct spelling into the transcript. The same applies, of course, to speakers.
It is also very useful to provide the transcriptionist with any supporting material on the conference that you have available as this will help to establish ‘key words’, words that may be not in common usage but particularly relevant to the topic of the conference. A good transcriptionist will also probably be able to search out most unusual words using Google or a similar search engine, but this takes extra time, and if you have already provided material to help time will be saved.
Finally, if at all possible (and you may be at the mercy of the conference venue) make a digital recording, rather than a recording on cassette tapes. Digital recordings have a variety of advantages (please see some of my other articles for details) but importantly they are usually better quality than tapes and they can be worked on by more than one transcriptionist at the same time, meaning that your transcription will be completed sooner.
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Sample Medical Transcription Resume: Make Your Case And Get That Medical Transcription Job Now!
This 5-step blueprint and sample medical transcription resume shows you how to get that medical transcription job you want and get it now.
Many medical transcriptionists want a sample medical transcription resume to follow in order to know what should be included in a resume. For those who are established in the medical transcription profession and have credibility within the medical field, here are some points to consider, followed by a sample medical transcription resume that outlines the salient information that should be included.
Read More Article...
Many medical transcriptionists want a sample medical transcription resume to follow in order to know what should be included in a resume. For those who are established in the medical transcription profession and have credibility within the medical field, here are some points to consider, followed by a sample medical transcription resume that outlines the salient information that should be included.
Read More Article...
Monday, September 24, 2007
Medical Transcription Tips and Advice - Popular questions answered!
- How do people learn all the medical terminology and is it difficult?
All medical terminology is based on logic, for the most part, whether complex or not. A medical word can be broken down into several parts. For example, consider the following term:
HEMATOLOGY
HEMAT is the root of the word O is the combining vowel LOGY is the suffix.
The root is the foundation of the word. All medical words have one or more roots. The root HEMAT means blood. The suffix is the word ending. All medical terms have a suffix. The suffix LOGY means “study of”. The combining vowel, usually “o”, links the root to the suffix or the root to another root. A combining vowel doesn’t have any meaning on its own. It is helpful to read the word backwards, starting with the suffix, to understand it more fully. Thus, the term hematology means the study of blood. Once you learn this method, you will in no time be able to understand what you are hearing orseeing. You must first learn how to dissect the words. - How do I back up my work?
Keep back up CDs of your medical transcription in a fireproof box. Always ask the client how long they expect you to keep work for. I have everything I ever typed for my clients. My friend, Maryann only keeps her notes for one year. Always best to check with the client. - "How do I get hired as a newbie medical transcriptionist?"
This depends on who you want to work for. If you want to work for a National company, they usually want experience unless you can pass their tests. There are
some companies that will hire new transcriptionists however. They don't all require 2-3 years experience. Working for the national companies is not what I recommend however, and that's just my personal opinion. I'd rather have my own accounts and have more flexibility and earn twice as much.
If you want to work doing medical transcription for a doctor's office or hospital, you may get hired a lot more easily than trying to get on with the national companies. A lot of people do this and make the transition to working at home, for these very same people. I personally got hired by a small local company which I found in my yellow pages, to begin with, and I only worked for them for a couple of months before I started my own business. While I worked for them, I also worked for Hospice at home. I started sending out letters, (not my resume, but a good sales type letter) to physicians in my area and got accounts that way. That was eleven years ago. You have to remember that once you get accounts for medical transcription, you generally don't have to keep "pounding the pavement", because they stay with you. - What should I include when faxing a client?
When faxing a client, be sure to include a disclaimer such as:
The information contained in this transmission accompanying this notice is confidential and protected by the physician-patient privilege. It is intended only for the use of the individual or entity mentioned above. If the reader of this facsimile is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination or distribution of the accompanying communication is prohibited. If you have received this facsimile in error, please notify us immediately by telephone, collect, and return the original message to us at the above address. We appreciate your assistance in this matter.
You can make up your own fax cover sheet, and include a disclaimer such as this one at the bottom. Remember to put how many pages, including the cover sheet that are being sent at the time of transmission. Also, stamp the word COPY on each sheet, so it is not mistaken as the original note. - What books do I need to do medical transcription?
Over time you will collect a lot of "word books" for medical transcription. I have lots of them. I thought it might be good to give you a list of some of the ones you will need when you are just starting out. Remember, Ebay is a good place to pick up these kind of medical transcription specialty books, as well as Stedmans.com where I usually get my books. You will definitely need a medical dictionary. Get either a Stedman's or a Dorland's Medical Dictionary. You will need a drug/pharmaceutical guide book, such as The American Drug Index, published by Facts and Comparisons. 1-800-223-0554 or www.drugfacts.com It is an expensive book, and you will probably be better served by getting the previous year's book on Ebay if you are just starting out. A must have is The Medical Word Book by Sheila Sloane. That's printed by W.B. Saunders Co. If you can get it, you might also want to pick up The Surgical Word Book, by Tessier, printed by W.B. Saunders Co. as well. Apart from that, you will just need to add "specialty books" to your collection as you go. For instance, if you are typing for a neurologist, you would buy Stedman's Neurosurgery Words. As you type for more and more specialties, you will get more and more books! You don't need many books to get started however. - What is STAT work and how do you charge for it?
Everybody’s idea of stat work for medical transcription is different. Some doctors consider “stat” getting the work back the same day. Others say “eight hour turnaround” equals stat work. Some say ten or twelve hour turnaround time is stat. This must be decided between you and the physician. My accounts think of stat as the same day, or as soon as possible.
If you have to do stat work, you often will need to reprioritize your work schedule, so you must remember to charge a STAT rate, when this happens. I usually charge 1 1/2 times my line rate. For one account, I charge $2.50 per page PLUS the regular line count. It depends on you and your agreement with the physician. TAT – Turnaround time for regular medical transcription work, is also dependant on what the physician expects. Some still like 24 TAT, and some 48 hour TAT. I’m happy with 48 hour TAT whenever possible. I have had accounts over the years that only wanted a pick-up and delivery once a week or every few days. - A lot of people ask me if it's necessary to become certified. It's definitely a wonderful thing to be able to say you are a certified medical transcriptionist, but it's not necessary at all. In fact, of the many independent medical transcriptionists I know,
not one of us is certified. We all run our own businesses too. If you are interested in becoming certified however, you can call AAMT at 1-800-982-2182 and they will send you information regarding certification through the American Association for
Medical Transcription. - "How do you arrange for vacations when you do medical transcription at home?"
This depends on the terms and agreements you maintain with your clients. They may expect you to arrange coverage for them, or they may be happy to make the
necessary arrangements. If it's a short vacation, they may hold the work until you return. For me, this has always worked well, and it allows for long weekends
etc. It will take some serious planning however if you are running a full-time business with many accounts. If you already have subcontractors, they should be able
to take over while you are away, or, find someone you network with and make prior arrangements for coverage. It is possible, it just takes some planning. - Will Voice Recognition replace me?
I remember being worried about this eleven years or so ago. I'm not concerned about it now though. The major companies are making their money selling digital dictation products, - VR has fallen by the wayside. Sure, some people use it, especially if they have a very basic format, but I wouldn't worry about it taking work away from you. - What's the best type of training for me and what company would you recommend?
It’s hard to decide which company is best to go with if you are looking for the Home Study route for medical transcription. There are so many options it can be overwhelming and you want to make sure you use a legitimate company with up-to-date information and training. I am now including this information in every newsletter as we have many new subscribers every week. As I have said before, many people have written and told me how fantastic this company have been and how great the support is. I am personally in contact with this company on a regular basis and they have recently upgraded their medical transcription course, which is state of the art. So, I can safely say, if you are looking for a home study course, and one that has lots of options, try this company.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Medical Transcription, An Emerging Winner
There are distinct objectives to consider when trying to choose a career, including knowing yourself, knowing your options, knowing how you constitute decisions and addressing any barriers to your decision-making. Effective career decision-making requires an abundance of work and energy; this is necessary to establish some degree of satisfaction with your career choice. One such career that has emerged as fulfilling, provocative, well paying and in demand is medical transcription. The employment of medical transcriptionists is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. A growing and aging population will spur demand for medical transcription services.
Basically, a medical transcriptionist listens to dictated recordings made by a healthcare professional, and transcribes them into medical reports, correspondence, and other administrative info. While listening to the recordings, using pause techniques, sentences are keyed into a word processor, editing as necessary for grammar and clarity. Documents produced include discharge summaries, history and physical examination reports, operative reports, consultation reports, autopsy reports, diagnostic imaging studies, progress notes, and referral letters. These are returned to the health care provider
for review, signature, or correction. These documents eventually become part of the patients' permanent files, in addition to required insurance documentation.
To understand and accurately transcribe dictated reports into a format that is clear and intelligible for the reader, medical transcriptionists must understand medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, diagnostic procedures, pharmacology, and treatment assessments. As a result, medical transcriptionists should have completed postsecondary training in medical transcription, offered by many vocational schools, community colleges, and distance-learning programs. Completion of a 2-year associate degree or 1-year certificate program, including coursework in anatomy, medical terminology, legal issues relating to healthcare documentation, and English grammar and punctuation, is highly recommended, but not always required.
Working conditions are generally comfortable settings, such as hospitals, physicians' offices, transcription service offices, clinics, laboratories, medical libraries, government medical facilities, or at home. Many medical transcriptionists work from home as employees for hospitals, and transcription services or as self-employed, independent contractors. The average salary for a medical transcriptionist is between $10.87 and $15.63. With experience, medical transcriptionists can advance to supervisory positions, home-based work, editing, consulting, or teaching.
With the increased demand for standardized records, there will be rapid employment growth in offices of physicians or other health practitioners, especially in large group practices. Medical transcription is a career that should fit your lifestyle, and bring you prosperity, and fulfillment.
Article Source: http://onlinejer.com
Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for Online Medical Transcription Services Visit theonline-medical-transcription-services.com/ for more information.
Basically, a medical transcriptionist listens to dictated recordings made by a healthcare professional, and transcribes them into medical reports, correspondence, and other administrative info. While listening to the recordings, using pause techniques, sentences are keyed into a word processor, editing as necessary for grammar and clarity. Documents produced include discharge summaries, history and physical examination reports, operative reports, consultation reports, autopsy reports, diagnostic imaging studies, progress notes, and referral letters. These are returned to the health care provider
for review, signature, or correction. These documents eventually become part of the patients' permanent files, in addition to required insurance documentation.
To understand and accurately transcribe dictated reports into a format that is clear and intelligible for the reader, medical transcriptionists must understand medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, diagnostic procedures, pharmacology, and treatment assessments. As a result, medical transcriptionists should have completed postsecondary training in medical transcription, offered by many vocational schools, community colleges, and distance-learning programs. Completion of a 2-year associate degree or 1-year certificate program, including coursework in anatomy, medical terminology, legal issues relating to healthcare documentation, and English grammar and punctuation, is highly recommended, but not always required.
Working conditions are generally comfortable settings, such as hospitals, physicians' offices, transcription service offices, clinics, laboratories, medical libraries, government medical facilities, or at home. Many medical transcriptionists work from home as employees for hospitals, and transcription services or as self-employed, independent contractors. The average salary for a medical transcriptionist is between $10.87 and $15.63. With experience, medical transcriptionists can advance to supervisory positions, home-based work, editing, consulting, or teaching.
With the increased demand for standardized records, there will be rapid employment growth in offices of physicians or other health practitioners, especially in large group practices. Medical transcription is a career that should fit your lifestyle, and bring you prosperity, and fulfillment.
Article Source: http://onlinejer.com
Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for Online Medical Transcription Services Visit theonline-medical-transcription-services.com/ for more information.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
MDIT Acquires ProMed Transcription
MD-IT, an industry leader in developing automated tools to assist physicians in documentation of medical care, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of ProMed Transcription, a Colorado-based company providing medical transcription services to physician practices. Under terms of the agreement, ProMed owners will receive a combination of cash and shares and will join the management team of MD-IT.
Read More Article...
Read More Article...
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
US’s MXSecure Optimistic in Philippines’ MT Industry
US medical transcription services provider MXSecure is optimistic of the Philippines’ potential contribution in the global dollar medical transcription industry.The company, which is strengthening its presence in the Philippines, already has 15 Philippine transcription firms that provide services to American clients. However, its main concern now is to increase the performance level requirements that would place the country in the medical transcription outsourcing map.
MXSecure Global Operations Director Arlene Dicks said the Philippines still has to take some time to develop its transcription skills, particularly in the area of listening to voice records, typing and most importantly, language.
“There are some terms that a medical transcriptionist misses to spell out correctly but mainly because of the way some doctors dictate through their recorders,” Dicks said.
In addition, some of the production quality in the Philippines is still below the required 100 percent by medical institutions in the US. Dicks said the average level of the Philippines is around 92 percent and above.
“You have to be way higher than that to assure clients that their records are accurate,” he said.
Dicks said that MXSecure’s presence in the Philippines is intended not just to bring business to the fledgling industry but also to transfer quality of performance of their US counterparts. For instance, a US based transcriptionist can type as fast as 80 words per minute compared to an average FIlipino transcriptionist of 35 words per minute.
Source: http://www.transcription.mixph.com/
MXSecure Global Operations Director Arlene Dicks said the Philippines still has to take some time to develop its transcription skills, particularly in the area of listening to voice records, typing and most importantly, language.
“There are some terms that a medical transcriptionist misses to spell out correctly but mainly because of the way some doctors dictate through their recorders,” Dicks said.
In addition, some of the production quality in the Philippines is still below the required 100 percent by medical institutions in the US. Dicks said the average level of the Philippines is around 92 percent and above.
“You have to be way higher than that to assure clients that their records are accurate,” he said.
Dicks said that MXSecure’s presence in the Philippines is intended not just to bring business to the fledgling industry but also to transfer quality of performance of their US counterparts. For instance, a US based transcriptionist can type as fast as 80 words per minute compared to an average FIlipino transcriptionist of 35 words per minute.
Source: http://www.transcription.mixph.com/
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Medical Transcription Schools – Avoiding Online Scams
Medical transcription is a lucrative profession which allows you the flexibility to work from home. Unfortunately, it’s this appeal that has opened the doors for less than honest online medical transcription schools.
If you don’t know a lot about MT, then I will assure you it is a real profession and a real possibility. It is not a get rich quick scheme or overnight money maker.
If you’re shopping around for an online medical transcription course, here are a few things to keep in mind.
How to choose the right course and avoid scams
Make sure the company offering the course is reputable and has been around for a long time. You can do this by checking with the Better Business Bureau. Here are a few other things to look for.
Send the school an email asking a question about their course. If they respond promptly in a professional matter that’s a good sign. If they seem overly pushy be a bit weary.
Look at their website. Is it professional? Do they give you statistics about their success rates, student testimonials, Q and A section?
Do they have an online student log in area or online support if you have questions?
Are their company details listed on their website? Such as how long they’ve been in business, contact details (mailing address and phone number).
Do they make exaggerated promises about their course? If they are promising you will make a lot of money in a short time, then be careful. No one can really predict how much you will make or how long it will take you. They should give general statistics and figures in an unbiased way.
Do they provide financial aid or payment assistance?
Do they have a list of graduates or companies which have hired their graduates?
Do they give you updates of students who have graduated from their school?
Do they have a student message board, a newsletter or information which will make you feel part of a community?
Studying from home can be lonely at times, a reputable course will offer you assistance from the very beginning until you find a job.
About Author:
Mila Sidman is an experienced MT and owner of http://www.askthemt.com/ - an informative website dedicated to answering all your medical transcription questions.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/
If you don’t know a lot about MT, then I will assure you it is a real profession and a real possibility. It is not a get rich quick scheme or overnight money maker.
If you’re shopping around for an online medical transcription course, here are a few things to keep in mind.
How to choose the right course and avoid scams
Make sure the company offering the course is reputable and has been around for a long time. You can do this by checking with the Better Business Bureau. Here are a few other things to look for.
Send the school an email asking a question about their course. If they respond promptly in a professional matter that’s a good sign. If they seem overly pushy be a bit weary.
Look at their website. Is it professional? Do they give you statistics about their success rates, student testimonials, Q and A section?
Do they have an online student log in area or online support if you have questions?
Are their company details listed on their website? Such as how long they’ve been in business, contact details (mailing address and phone number).
Do they make exaggerated promises about their course? If they are promising you will make a lot of money in a short time, then be careful. No one can really predict how much you will make or how long it will take you. They should give general statistics and figures in an unbiased way.
Do they provide financial aid or payment assistance?
Do they have a list of graduates or companies which have hired their graduates?
Do they give you updates of students who have graduated from their school?
Do they have a student message board, a newsletter or information which will make you feel part of a community?
Studying from home can be lonely at times, a reputable course will offer you assistance from the very beginning until you find a job.
About Author:
Mila Sidman is an experienced MT and owner of http://www.askthemt.com/ - an informative website dedicated to answering all your medical transcription questions.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/
Monday, September 10, 2007
Medical Transcription Course Outline
In case you’re planning to take the medical transcription course, at least the following course outline should be expected to get your tuitions worth.
Source: http://www.transcription.mixph.com/?p=32
- English Language for Medical Transcription
This module is designed for aspiring medical transcriptionists in mind. It teaches the basic rules in English language, grammar, punctuation, etc… and its application in medical transcription. - Computing and Keyboarding Skills for MT
An instructional manual for computer operations. Its objective is to introduce computers even to those who have very limited or no computer education. It has extensive discussions and step-by-step instructions on how to use MS Word, MS Office, and audio players such as Express Scribe, Windows Media Player, and the like. It also introduces the student to software installation and the use of internet. Incorporated in the module are instructions on improving keyboarding skills through the use of typing tutor software. - Medical Terminology for Medical Transcription
Here you will understand how a medical word is formed. You do not need to memorize all the words you will encounter. - Anatomy for Medical Transcription
Here you will understand and identify the parts of the human body. It is arranged by body system, so that understanding and retention will be enhanced. This comes with a CD containing audio pronunciation of terms. - Pharmacology and Laboratory Medicine for MT
This module teaches you the basics of laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures in medicine. It also teaches you the basics of pharmacology: generic vs. brand names, routes of administration, etc. This module also introduces you to the use of drug reference materials. - HIPAA for Medical Transcription
Every medical transcriptionist should know HIPAA by heart, and comply with the rules and regulations it imposes. HIPAA is a complicated law. This module discusses HIPAA and how it affects medical transcriptionists, in layman’s language. This is a must read for all medical transcriptionists, and those aspiring to be one. - Style Guide for Medical Transcription
This detailed module introduces the aspiring medical transcriptionist to report formats and styles, do’s and don’ts in medical transcription. This module was designed and patterned after the AAMT Book of Style.
After going through all the seven modules, you are now ready for your transcription modules. This will be the order of your transcription modules. - Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Genitourinary Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Cardiology
- Orthopedics
- Neurology
- Pathology
Source: http://www.transcription.mixph.com/?p=32
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Two medical transcription companies to open in Davao City
Lizabel Holganza, president of Medical Transcription Center (MTC) said she is opening up a company for medical transcription outsourcing.
Although she did not yet reveal the name of the transcription company she is opening with some partners from Manila and Davao, she said that they intend to start operation before the end of September this year.
The other company is still working on some documentary requirements and hopefully will soon open here, she said.
Read More Article...
Although she did not yet reveal the name of the transcription company she is opening with some partners from Manila and Davao, she said that they intend to start operation before the end of September this year.
The other company is still working on some documentary requirements and hopefully will soon open here, she said.
Read More Article...
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Pakistani transcriber threatens UCSF over back pay
"Your patient records are out in the open... so you better track that person and make him pay my dues."
A woman in Pakistan doing cut-rate clerical work for UCSF Medical Center threatened to post patients' confidential files on the Internet unless she was paid more money.To show she was serious, the woman sent UCSF an e-mail earlier this month with actual patients' records attached.
Read More article...
A woman in Pakistan doing cut-rate clerical work for UCSF Medical Center threatened to post patients' confidential files on the Internet unless she was paid more money.To show she was serious, the woman sent UCSF an e-mail earlier this month with actual patients' records attached.
Read More article...
Friday, August 31, 2007
Transcriptionist shortage may risk lives, says doctor
A shortage of medical transcriptionists, the workers who transcribe voice-recorded diagnostic reports, is putting patients in Newfoundland and Labrador at risk, says a St. John's doctor.
Dr. Stephen Major said the current wait time for reports from tests such as X-rays and CT scans from radiologists is about seven weeks, which is too long. Doctors used to get reports in about two weeks, he said, and a timely report can mean the difference between life and death.
Read More article...
Dr. Stephen Major said the current wait time for reports from tests such as X-rays and CT scans from radiologists is about seven weeks, which is too long. Doctors used to get reports in about two weeks, he said, and a timely report can mean the difference between life and death.
Read More article...
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Home Medical Transcription : A Decent Living or a Scam?
No doubt you have seen many ads by medical transcription schools claiming that you can make big money typing medical transcription at home. Can you really make a good living doing medical transcription at home, or is it just another scam? In this article, you'll learn the honest facts about home medical transcription.
Can you really make a decent living doing home medical transcription? Yes and no.
Yes - Many people are earning $50,000 to $80,000 or more per year typing medical transcription at home. They work where they want, when they want, and as much as they want.
The amount of medical transcription work that needs to be done FAR exceeds the available transcribers to do the work. When I say the demand exceeds the supply, I mean the situation is desperate.
No - Reading a few booklets and listening to a few tapes will not make you into an instant $50,000 per year medical transcriptionist. If you're not ready to commit to between six months and a year of hard study and practice, find another means of earning a living.
Typing medical transcription is not like typing a letter to your mother. It's far more challenging. Below are some of the challenges you must be prepared to meet.
1. You must have a good understanding of medical terminology. You need to know how to spell the names of the latest medical conditions, drugs, medical tests, treatments, and procedures, and just knowing how to spell them is not enough. Because of challenge #2 decribed below, you need to have some familiarity with medical conditions and what tests, drugs, and treatments are related to that condition. It's difficult to learn this with a mail order medical transcription course. This type of knowledge comes from experience.
- You don't need to be familiar with ALL medical terminology. Many transcriptionists specialize in specific areas such as gastroenterology or opthalmology. However, when you want to go on vacation, you'll need someone else to take over your work while you're gone. In reciprocation,
you'll need to cover for someone else when they go on vacation, and they may be transcribing to a different field than you're familiar with.
2. You need to be able to extract the transcription from a noisy electronic recording. Unfortunately, many doctors mumble, garble, don't enunciate, don't speak up, or talk too fast when they dictate. Combine the above problems with a thick, foreign accent and you can have real dificulty understanding what the doctor is saying. In many instances, the only way you will be able to decipher what the doctor is saying is if you are familiar with medical conditions and what tests, drugs, and treatments are related to that condition.
- Doctors dictate "on the fly". They don't have time to think about proper sentence construction as the words emanate from their mouth. Frequently the sentence they started doesn't make any sense or has an error by the time they get to the end. Do you edit what the doctor said, or just type the jiberish as dictated? Usually a doctor appreciates when you clean up their dictation. On the other hand, medical documents are often presented as evidence in legal actions. You're taking on liability if you change what the doctor actually said.
- Many transcriptionists have their own group of doctors that they type for and eventually become familiar with the idiosyncracies of each doctor. This makes understanding what they are saying much easier; however, when a you go on vacation, someone else will need to cover the doctors while you're gone. In reciprocation, you'll need to cover for someone else when they go on vacation. You won't be familiar with how the doctors dictate.
3. To make the earnings cited above, you need to be able to sit and type for long hours. You need to isolate yourself from the noise and distraction of other human beings (and some pets) and pound on that keyboard hour after hour. As I stated earlier, the amount of medical transcription work available far exceeds the available transcribers to do the work. Some transcriptionists let greed take control of them and sit at the computer for 16 hours seven days per week.
Can you really make a decent living doing home medical transcription? Yes and no.
Yes - Many people are earning $50,000 to $80,000 or more per year typing medical transcription at home. They work where they want, when they want, and as much as they want.
The amount of medical transcription work that needs to be done FAR exceeds the available transcribers to do the work. When I say the demand exceeds the supply, I mean the situation is desperate.
No - Reading a few booklets and listening to a few tapes will not make you into an instant $50,000 per year medical transcriptionist. If you're not ready to commit to between six months and a year of hard study and practice, find another means of earning a living.
Typing medical transcription is not like typing a letter to your mother. It's far more challenging. Below are some of the challenges you must be prepared to meet.
1. You must have a good understanding of medical terminology. You need to know how to spell the names of the latest medical conditions, drugs, medical tests, treatments, and procedures, and just knowing how to spell them is not enough. Because of challenge #2 decribed below, you need to have some familiarity with medical conditions and what tests, drugs, and treatments are related to that condition. It's difficult to learn this with a mail order medical transcription course. This type of knowledge comes from experience.
- You don't need to be familiar with ALL medical terminology. Many transcriptionists specialize in specific areas such as gastroenterology or opthalmology. However, when you want to go on vacation, you'll need someone else to take over your work while you're gone. In reciprocation,
you'll need to cover for someone else when they go on vacation, and they may be transcribing to a different field than you're familiar with.
2. You need to be able to extract the transcription from a noisy electronic recording. Unfortunately, many doctors mumble, garble, don't enunciate, don't speak up, or talk too fast when they dictate. Combine the above problems with a thick, foreign accent and you can have real dificulty understanding what the doctor is saying. In many instances, the only way you will be able to decipher what the doctor is saying is if you are familiar with medical conditions and what tests, drugs, and treatments are related to that condition.
- Doctors dictate "on the fly". They don't have time to think about proper sentence construction as the words emanate from their mouth. Frequently the sentence they started doesn't make any sense or has an error by the time they get to the end. Do you edit what the doctor said, or just type the jiberish as dictated? Usually a doctor appreciates when you clean up their dictation. On the other hand, medical documents are often presented as evidence in legal actions. You're taking on liability if you change what the doctor actually said.
- Many transcriptionists have their own group of doctors that they type for and eventually become familiar with the idiosyncracies of each doctor. This makes understanding what they are saying much easier; however, when a you go on vacation, someone else will need to cover the doctors while you're gone. In reciprocation, you'll need to cover for someone else when they go on vacation. You won't be familiar with how the doctors dictate.
3. To make the earnings cited above, you need to be able to sit and type for long hours. You need to isolate yourself from the noise and distraction of other human beings (and some pets) and pound on that keyboard hour after hour. As I stated earlier, the amount of medical transcription work available far exceeds the available transcribers to do the work. Some transcriptionists let greed take control of them and sit at the computer for 16 hours seven days per week.
They get accustom to a $100,000 a year lifestyle. But what
does it do for their health?
- Medical transcription companies charge more for "fast turn around". Some pass part of this money onto the transcriptionist, others just demand the work get done immediately. In either case, fast turn around work prevents you from controlling your own working hours.
Now that I've discouraged you, the fact is that many medical transcriptionists do work where they want, when they want, as much as they want, and earn a respectable living. If you're up to the challenge, how do you became a medial transcriptionist?
Training
--------
You'll need to be proficient in the use of a computer. You'll need to be a fast typist. If you can't type as fast as the doctor dictates, you'll be working hard with the foot pedal to move back and forth in the recording. You must be comfortable using a Word Processing application such as Microsoft Word or Workperfect. You'll need to know how to format documents and how to use macros. If you don't use macros you'll be typing the same phrases over and over.
If you decide to sign up for a medical transcription course, make sure the course provides plenty of authentic dictations. You cannot become a medical transcriptionist by just reading medical terminology. You need to hear it spoken. Just listening to terms being pronounced is of limited use. You need to hear the terms used in a sentence. Simulated medical dictations are fine, but you need some practice with actual medical dictations.
- Find a course that teaches basic anatomy and physiology along with terminology.
The best way to learn
---------------------
The best way to learn is with on-the-job training. If you have a doctor friend or family member who does dictations, ask them if you can transcribe a low-priority dictaion for practice. If you're working at a clinic or hospital as a secretary or receptionist, investigate how the transcription gets done and volunteer to help.
Start out with a specific type of transcription such as letters or office notes in specficic specialities. As you get more experience, your speed will improve and you can branch out into other types of transcriptions for other specialties.
The amount of medical transcription work that needs to be done far exceeds the available transcribers to do the work. Yes, you can make a decent living doing home medical transcription. You can work where you want, when you want, and as much as you want. But, medical transcription is an occupation only for those who are prepared to meet the challenge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
does it do for their health?
- Medical transcription companies charge more for "fast turn around". Some pass part of this money onto the transcriptionist, others just demand the work get done immediately. In either case, fast turn around work prevents you from controlling your own working hours.
Now that I've discouraged you, the fact is that many medical transcriptionists do work where they want, when they want, as much as they want, and earn a respectable living. If you're up to the challenge, how do you became a medial transcriptionist?
Training
--------
You'll need to be proficient in the use of a computer. You'll need to be a fast typist. If you can't type as fast as the doctor dictates, you'll be working hard with the foot pedal to move back and forth in the recording. You must be comfortable using a Word Processing application such as Microsoft Word or Workperfect. You'll need to know how to format documents and how to use macros. If you don't use macros you'll be typing the same phrases over and over.
If you decide to sign up for a medical transcription course, make sure the course provides plenty of authentic dictations. You cannot become a medical transcriptionist by just reading medical terminology. You need to hear it spoken. Just listening to terms being pronounced is of limited use. You need to hear the terms used in a sentence. Simulated medical dictations are fine, but you need some practice with actual medical dictations.
- Find a course that teaches basic anatomy and physiology along with terminology.
The best way to learn
---------------------
The best way to learn is with on-the-job training. If you have a doctor friend or family member who does dictations, ask them if you can transcribe a low-priority dictaion for practice. If you're working at a clinic or hospital as a secretary or receptionist, investigate how the transcription gets done and volunteer to help.
Start out with a specific type of transcription such as letters or office notes in specficic specialities. As you get more experience, your speed will improve and you can branch out into other types of transcriptions for other specialties.
The amount of medical transcription work that needs to be done far exceeds the available transcribers to do the work. Yes, you can make a decent living doing home medical transcription. You can work where you want, when you want, and as much as you want. But, medical transcription is an occupation only for those who are prepared to meet the challenge.
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About the Author
To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp
About the Author
To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp
Friday, August 24, 2007
Medical Transcription Ideal Career for Military Spouses, Navy Vet Says
When Leslie Slusarski got out of the Navy in 1979, her fast-paced military lifestyle didn’t change. Her husband, Walter, was a weapons officer for submarines, so her family still had to move every 18 months or so.
Slusarski was able to find a rewarding career that meshed well with her lifestyle -- medical transcription, which she says other military spouses should consider.
Medical transcription is an in-demand, technically oriented career field that can be done from almost anywhere, said Slusarski, who has worked in the career field for 28 years.
Read More Article...
Slusarski was able to find a rewarding career that meshed well with her lifestyle -- medical transcription, which she says other military spouses should consider.
Medical transcription is an in-demand, technically oriented career field that can be done from almost anywhere, said Slusarski, who has worked in the career field for 28 years.
Read More Article...
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