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Questions for transcriptionists
I'm giving serious thought to becoming a medical transcriptionist. Any insight or words of wisdom you have for me would be great.
The medical field has always been interesting to me. In high school I thought I wanted to be an RN or OT. Neither one got much past the thinking stage. I can't type and flunked out of my high school human physio and medical terminology class, as well a two years of latin. English class was never my friend either. Back then I was dumb enough to think I could learn through osmosis. Now I wonder if this aging brain will let me correctly learn anything as complex as MT. I'm leaning toward a self paced online course. I'm still in the research stage there. I have a learn to type CD-ROM and a fairly current college level med. term. book I plan to work through before plunking down the money for MT classes. Any tips on picking a course? I'm leaning toward AHDI approved online only offerings. Words of wisdom to help me study? I'm a hands on, not lecture, person. Is MT a lousy fit for someone who is hands on? I'm thinking part time job not full time. What seems to be the hardest thing to learn? What should I make sure I'm taught? Anything else you think I should know? Feel free to send me a PM. Thanks for your help. |
I'm taking one now-it's through MTecinc.
I have to tell you, I majored in English, and took Anatomy/Physiology and cellular bio classes in college, and have a huge interest in the medical field, and this is tough. There's so many grammar rules, and you need to learn word combinations, and type while listening to docs drone on and on. I would like to quit, but my DH wants me to try to fight through and finish...it's not cheap, either. If you can't type, it will be difficult. You have to take a test before you're accepted. It's a timed typing test, and you can't have many errors. If I had my druthers, I'd go into radiologic technician courses instead. But I never know how my sxs are going to affect me. Maybe you should try for a medical assistant course. It has some terminology, and you have to learn about charts, blood pressure, etc, but it might not be as difficult as what I'm taking. Go online to MTechinc.com, or AHDI, which has a bunch of schools listed. Good luck, and let us know what you decide. |
Thanks for your words of wisdom. I baled half way through a two week nurse assistant program so I know that isn't for me. Plus I'm looking for something I can do part time from home. I am looking at AHDI approved schools.
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JustWeave, Do you mean an STNA or CNA course? I signed up for one. What's the class like?
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Oy! You're asking me to think back way too many years. As I remember, from 20 years ago, it was a nurse assistant course, but may have been a nurse aide course instead. It ran every day for two weeks at a nursing home. On Friday the instructor mentioned we would learn how to give enemas on Monday and I baled over the weekend. It was a combination of lecture and hands on training.
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I too have been thinking about this my question is do they give you jobs or do you have to search and find doctors who need help and or want a medical transcription person? or whuh?
good luck weavie:hug: |
I'm looking at AHDI approved schools and it seems like a lot of them help you find a job after graduation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ DS found my learn to type CD-ROM. This is going to be extra hard to learn since I use a computer at work. The going back and forth between real typing and hunt/peck will be a real challenge. Like I need any more of those in my life. :rolleyes: |
Weave, just a thought... you might want to check with your local school district if they have an adult learning program. Some city and county systems have evening adult classes and might offer a beginning class in medical transcribing.
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Many years ago I did medical transcription for an insurance company. I had a wonderful boss who could really say everything as it should be. I also was a health claims adjuster at the same time. I really enjoyed it all and learned so much when it came to all kinds of health issues. I still would enjoy it. And I am still into learning about health issues whatever they may be. That, of course, is so easy now with the Internet. At one time I wanted to be an LPN and then perhaps an RN. My life went in another direction after those years of working for the insurance company.
You do have to be a fast, expert typist with little to no errors to do this. And you must be good at English. At any rate, that was my experience. |
I do medical transcription from home. I don't do a lot of it because I can't sit for that long. If you are a good typer, accurate, and can sit for long periods of time it can be a lucrative career. One of my friends earns up to $4,000 a month doing it. However, she spends HOURS typing from home.
If typing is an issue for you, you may want to consider medical billing and coding. That is a huge field with lots of possibilities. The lady that I work for gets calls all the time asking if she does billing/coding. There are lots of facilities including veterinarians that need people to do this and it can be done at home now thanks to the internet. Check out the aacp website for information. |
TKTC- I think my local community college has MT classes. I'm looking at AAMT "approved" schools since they seems to have an employment edge. That may come in handy later.
Kitt- Thanks for your insight. tkrik- I thought about just coding before. I don't remember why I decided against it. Maybe I should reconsider. I'm in the process of teaching myself to type. I'm pretty accurate but very slow. Speed will come in time with lots of practice I'm told. |
Another question
The other day I was thinking through the transcription process when a concept stopped me in my tracks. So tell me if my slow brain figured this out right.
While Doc drones on in a language I don't fully understand, I have to listen to what he says, quickly type it with correct spelling while Doc says it, and continue to hear what he says while I'm typing prior said info? My last remaining brain cell is gasping for air after reading that. I would probably be okay if I was fed two or three words at a time, then stopped the tape to type, then a few words, stop and type, ect. Somthing tells me if anyone hired me like that they would soon fire me too. Typing speed would not matter as the constant stop and start of the tape would slow me down too much. I'm looking for 10-15 hours a week of work not 60. Do I have this figured out right? |
Weave - You use a foot pedal to start and stop the dictation. It really isn't as bad as it sounds and you get used to the drs dictating, their style, their language usage, the eating while dictating, flushing toilets, etc. LOL
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Flushing toilets?! Ewwwwwwwww. I think I'm going to be really sick.
I knew the foot pedal stops and starts the tape. I just figured doing so after every 2-3 words would be way too slow a pace to keep me happily employed. |
You can slow down the speed at which they are talking. When I was typing for a rehab hospital I had to do that. The ladies at the clinic that I type for I used to have them at a slower speed but as I got used to their voices and such I was able to play them at normal speed. On my good days I can type as they talk without stopping and backing up.
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You can slow the tape down? A lot or just a little?
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As much as you need. You can even make it sound like Charlie Brown's Grandma if you want. LOL. You can also speed it up to sound like the Chipmunks but I wouldn't recommend that. :D
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Well my interest in becoming a MT just went from hanging by a thread to looking at schools again.:D Thanks for your input.
I have my school choices narrowed down to six I think. I'm starting to make a list of questions I want answered by each place. Are there any questions you can think of that I should make sure I get answered? All six of my school picks are AAMT approved. |
Just in case anyone cares... I have my school choices narrowed down to two. Basicly $1000 separates them. Will keep researching.
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