Inside Medical Transcription

There are two things in particular a Medical Transcriptionist is most known for. Those are:

*A love of words
*Their use of medical references

Unlike many years ago, today there are volumes of excellent reference books and software available for the Medical Transcriptionist, most of which can easily be found online, in software and in print. Some of the medical reference materials include:

*Medical dictionaries
*Medical specialty word and phrase references
*Medical abbreviation references
*Medical style manuals

Each of these references fulfills a particular need for the Medical Transcriptionist. The medical dictionary provides definitions to know the difference between similar-sounding words. Medical dictionaries do not contain many of the specialty words, abbreviations, and surgical instruments.

Medical specialty word and phrase references contain terms from one medical specialty and include slang, surgical instruments, drugs, new and unusual terms, abbreviations, and laboratory tests for that particular specialty.

Medical abbreviation references contain common and unusual abbreviations and their definitions from all medical specialties.

Medical style manuals offer suggestions on how to format reports, punctuation, grammar and spelling medical reports.

A regular word dictionary is also a must and a staple
of the Medical Transcriptionist’s library of reference materials. Physicians often have an extensive vocabulary and will dictate English words that are new to the Medical Transcriptionist.

The following is a list of medical references that should form the basics of a library for Medical Transcription students and practitioners:

*Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary
*Stedman’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary
*Current Medical Terminology
*The Medical Word Book
*Medical Phrase Index
*Word and phrase reference books published by Health Professions Institute in the specialties of Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Orthopedics/Neurology, Pathology, Psychiatry, and Radiology
*A standard English dictionary such as Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary
*American Drug Index
*Physicians Desk Reference
*Saunders Pharmaceutical Word Book

If Medical Transcriptionists get stumped on a drug question and cannot locate the answer in her library of reference books, he or she can always seek help from a pharmacist. Pharmacists often have a wealth of information they rarely ever use and most are glad to help a Medical Transcriptionists with questions about drugs.

A Medical Transcriptionist or student should never be without up-to-date reference sources. Regardless of how much I find online or in software, I still like a shelf of books in print.

If you already have a background in medical terminology you can become a medical transcriptionist without taking a medical transcription course. This article outlines some strategies to get started in medical transcription without a course.

Steps

1. Have a background in medical terminology. If you have no background in medical terminology at all, you should get that experience either through work or training, before attempting to become an at-home medical transcriptionist (if you do opt for training, http://www.andrewsschool.com is one of the few well-regarded distance training courses).
2. If possible, get some outside experience before working at home. Most of the large agencies that hire at-home medical transcriptionists simply will not hire a person who has not had a course and/or real-time medical transcription experience at a hospital or doctor’s office. Therefore, if you have the freedom to work outside the home for a couple of years it may well be worth looking for medical transcription experience outside of the home before attempting to start your home-based transcription business.
3. Network with local doctors and hospitals. In one case, a transcriptionist who was starting a work-at-home medical transcription career did not take a medical transcription course. She did, however, have a medical career background before transcription. She mentioned to a doctor she knows that she wanted to do transcription from home and he passed her contact information along to his transcription service. Before she knew it she had work!
4. Highlight your transferable skills. Present your prior medical terminology experience or training in a way that makes it easy for a potential client or employer to see that you have medical familiarity. A “Skills” section at the top of your resume that clearly lists medical terminology, typing speed, and any transcription experience is vital.
5. Perform your audition transcript with utmost care. This is your opportunity to shine and it is the most important stage of the hire process. If you are provided with any instructions for the audition make certain you follow them exactly. Proofread your transcript several times and double check every medical term online or with a good medical dictionary.

Tips

* Remember, if you have the basic skills then getting medical transcription work is really a matter of being in the right place at the right time and presenting the right information (a good professional resume, cover letter, and a painstakingly-performed audition).
* Keep contacting potential clients and employers until you find someone who recognizes your potential and gives you that first break. Fast, reliable transcriptionists with good language skills and an excellent grasp of medical terminology are always in demand!