Inside Medical Transcription

Medical transcription is the process of producing reports from dictation by medical providers of the details of patient office visits, clinical, radiographic and operative procedures, and so on. Virtually every encounter a patient has in the medical arena is documented in some way. Most providers and institutions have Formalized this documentation into the patient’s medical record through dictation and subsequent transcription. In addition to typing the report into the desired format, transcriptionists also verify the dictation for accuracy – both Spanish-language medical accuracy and accuracy – so that the final report is a clear, medically accurate representation of the encounter between patient and provider.

This “verification process” means that the transcriptionist must have a thorough foundation in medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, laboratory tests and values, medical equipment and procedures. In addition, every successful medical transcriptionist will have superior research and Spanish grammar skills, along with excellent computer skills, typing skills and (if you plan to have your own business) some familiarity with business marketing and management. Paying close attention to detail is another quality that is essential in a good medical transcriptionist.

Just having a computer at home and knowing how to type is definitely not enough to become a working, successful medical transcriptionist.

If you have a clinical background in the medical field you may have a head start – as long as your Spanish knowledge is as broad as your medical knowledge. In my opinion, the real foundation for this field is a love for the Spanish language and outstanding grammar skills. All other necessary knowledge can be “layered” upon this, but if you are weak in the Spanish department, I feel your success would be limited.

As you will verify and often correct the provider’s Spanish usage, you need to be certain that the final structure of each sentence is Grammatically correct. You need to know why (technically) a comma goes here, but not there …. how to make this verb or pronoun agree with that subject’s number and person …. the special needs of a compound sentence – and do not forget Semicolons, conjunctions, gerunds, modifiers and prepositions!

If you do not love the Spanish language, If you have to check the dictionary as you sign your name, If hyphens and apostrophes give you cold chills, forget medical transcription. It’s not for you.

Although medical transcriptionists are not necessarily solitary creatures, this is a solitary job. For most of your day it will be just you, your transcriber (with that voice in your ear), and your computer. This job does not have personal interaction as would a customer service or medical assistant’s job. You may care about “your” patients and pray for their recovery, but you will not see them or speak to them personally. Your part of their medical care is doing your absolute best with every report, every day.

So what do you get in return for your in-depth training and your excellent work? There’s no easy answer to the question of compensation in this field.

There are many different working environments available to a trained, experienced MT, including hospitals, clinics, individual and group medical, chiropractic, radiology, physical therapy practices, national transcription services that hire home-based or contract MT’s, local transcription services who may also hire or contract MT’s, and owner-operator MT’s (who may also Subcontract work out).

Income varies by geographical area, by employment versus entrepreneurial situation, by your own desire to work full-time, part-time or something in between. A broad range would probably be from $ 8.00 per hour in a doctor’s office in a rural area to $ 75.00 per hour as an independent (with all related expenses, including “benefits” coming off the top), and even more as a service owner .

While this appears to be an excellent field for those transitioning from another career to working at home, you need to be aware that there can be a “catch-22″ in this profession. Because of the difficulty of the work, experience is so valued that it is sometimes difficult for “newbies” to get a job without experience or clients (and of course, how do you get experience without a job or clients?).

Many experienced (and very vocal) MT’s on the Internet and online services will flatly state that it is foolish to even attempt to work at home without having spent time in an office or institution or in an apprenticeship program or mentoring situation. They claim that only with an MT angel perched near your listening ear can you make it through the first few difficult months.

Maybe so.

I suspect that some of these MT’s have not had formal training MT transcription and that they learned through OJT with a helpful pair of ears nearby, And thus they think it’s the best way.

However – I have a slightly different opinion since I began working at home with my own clients the week I finished my MT training, and have worked full-time-plus since.

I feel that IF you take a reputable MT training course –
and IF you really learn all that the course offers –
and IF you have outstanding Spanish language skills –
and IF you have at least five years’ experience in another field (where you had real serious responsibilities and acquired skills) –
and IF you have a comprehensive library of references PLUS excellent research skills –
and IF you are 500% committed to building a successful medical transcription business,
THEN you can do it.

Those are a lot of “ifs” and they cover a lot of territory – but with persistence, skills, commitment and the courage to follow your dreams, it can be done.

Medical transcription is a very popular option for working at home. Landing that first job after training can be tough, but it’s legitimate work once you get going.

But that’s the challenge. Getting things going.

The first thing you need to understand about medical transcription is that you need training at the very least, and quite possibly some experience, before you can find that transcription job from home. Most employers will not train you on the job. Due to the sensitive nature of this field, they need people who are prepared to work and dedicated to their jobs.

Before you sign up with any online medical transcription school, you need to research them. You want to ensure that you have a good shot at actually landing a job afterward. Choose a poor quality school and you are less likely to land any job at all.

There are three schools that are commonly recommended by just about any MT discussion board. They are The Andrews School, M-Tec and CareerStep. The first two are considered by far to be the best, but many employers do approve of CareerStep as well. It’s also more affordable than the other two, which is a consideration for many potential students.

That good reputation is key to getting a job in this industry. Without it you are going to struggle to find work. Good schools have a solid reputation, and many of them use the HPI training program. They may also offer job placement assistance.

Do not expect to pay just a few hundred dollars for training. Quality training is a bit pricey, and good programs run at least $1000 and often over $2000. This is not a cheap deal.

But what about community colleges, you may ask? Some do indeed have good programs for less, but they generally lack the reputation that helps you to land that ever so hard to find first job. Talk to the school in detail about their placement rate after training if this is the option you would prefer to pursue.

Watch out for companies that claim to give you training with no experience that will lead to a job. There is one company in particular which changes names regularly, which emphasizes its “Christian” character, yet is nothing more than a scam. They require students to purchase software, and then you never get good enough to get paid. The name change can make them hard to identify, but the routine stays more or less the same.

When it comes time to look for actual work, many employers will consider you to be an independent contractor rather than an employee. This is an important difference both at tax time and in how you get your equipment. You may be expected to provide your own, although some companies may send it to you.

As with any work at home job, employers should not expect you to pay for the privilege of applying to work for them. No fees to show that you’re serious, for example. They should be clear about how you will get paid. In most cases you will be paid on production rather than hourly, typically a set rate per line. One line is often 65-75 characters in length.

As with any work at home opportunity, medical transcription scams are out there. But if you are careful and do your research, you can avoid these and enjoy a fruitful career.

Medical transcription is a great work at home jobs but it has its problems. This job requires more training than many of the other common work at home jobs. You can not apply and get a job.

The reason this makes some sense. Are you working on people from the medical records. You must know what you’re doing and you have to be exceptionally accurate.

Therefore, training is the first step, right?

Nope. The best medical transcription training programs available online or even look at you as a student unless they have certain knowledge. You must be able to write fast enough. 40 WPM is a good minimum, and will have to accelerate from there. You must have an excellent vocabulary and grammar. You have to be able to pick up a new language quickly.

Once you have these, then you can start looking at training. Depending on your needs you might consider an online program or visit your community college for courses. You want a high quality is what helps you land that first job. Take the wrong type of training and no one will want to hire you until you have experience.

I personally recommend the online training. For one is more like how to work at home. Training in a school is, well, training in a school. You are not learning as much about self-discipline.

Online training also has the advantage that the best schools are well-known major companies medical transcription. This improves your chances of getting a job and firms know the quality of students in these schools in turn.

Keep working on the speed of typing, since many companies that want more than 40 WPM you for basic medical transcription school. Moreover, the work faster than you can earn more than most of the work are paid by the line.

If you work for a medical transcription company may not be necessary to buy any of the team, assuming you already have a computer. Many companies will provide a minimum of software, headphones and foot pedal is needed. If not, it will tell you what is compatible with their systems.

Before arriving hired must have a good place to do their job. You want relatively quiet. Maybe you want to work at home to have more time with his family, but when it works you do not need to be able to work in peace. Trust me.

The problem may be that many doctors dictate very badly, as if unaware of any person has to understand what they say. Nurses who have gone in the transcript are known to be amazed at the difference. Therefore, do not assume that their children can play at your feet while you work. Find a quiet place at home or at work when children are asleep or in school.

If you are serious about a career in medical transcription is preparing his time is not wasted. You can earn good money as a Medical Transcriptionist and highly flexible hours. But not for everyone.