Course Description
This medical transcription course curriculum is developed for those who wish to pursue a career in medical transcription. Successful completion will also provide sufficient training to pursue certification, if desired.
Certification options include the CMT (Certified Medical Transcriptionist) or RMT (Registered Medical Transcriptionist) Exam. The certification testing is provided by AHDI (formerly AAMT) as well as other certifiers in the healthcare field.
Medical transcriptionists are vital members of the professional healthcare team. Medical transcriptionists transcribe medical reports to document patients` medical care and condition. Most medical reports are transcribed from audio files recorded by the physician, but a growing number of medical reports are first compiled by speech recognition technology, then edited and corrected by medical transcriptionists, or Medical Language Specialists, a new career descriptive. In fact, the emergence of EMRs (Electronic Medical Records) is a promising field of opportunity for medical transcriptionists since they are responsible in the main for creating most of the components of the basic record.
Dictated information is generated by doctors’ and related provider personnel to document a patient’s medical care and condition. The records may include office chart notes, history and physical examinations, consultations, letters, memos, admission notes, emergency medicine reports, procedure notes, operative reports, discharge summaries, x-rays, pathology reports, and many laboratory tests and diagnostic studies.
The medical transcriptionist transcribes each report with supreme care. Each transcription becomes a part of a patient`s permanent healthcare record. Medical transcriptionists need extensive knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, pharmacology, human diseases, surgical procedures, diagnostic studies, and laboratory tests to produce an accurate and complete medicolegal document. Medical transcriptionists must master English grammar, have knowledge of medical transcription practices and rules, and exhibit the highest professional standards.
The Medical Transcription Course prepares students for employment in a physician’s office, group practice, clinic, or hospital. It contains 300 hours of transcription practice from authentic physician dictation in the following specialties:
- Cardiopulmonary
- Dermatology
- Ears, Nose, Throat
- Gastrointestinal
- Genitourinary
- Gynecology
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Neurology
- Obstetrics
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- Plastic Surgery
- Psychiatry
The original medical reports are dictated by real physicians on real patients in actual healthcare settings. They have been carefully sequenced by body system and difficulty level to promote maximum retention of details, and provide the vocabulary density necessary for a uniquely effective transcription learning experience. Dictations consist of chart notes, letters, initial office evaluations, x-ray examinations, pathology reports (including autopsies), history and physicals, consultations, emergency department reports, preoperative notes, and discharge summaries.
Emphasis is placed on the development of accuracy, speed, and medical knowledge and includes a review of English Grammar and punctuation
A mastery of medical terminology, English grammar, structure, and style; a knowledge of medical transcription practices; skill in word processing, spelling, and proofreading; and the highest professional standards contribute to the medical transcriptionist’s ability to interpret, translate, and edit medical dictation for content and clarity.
Self-Assessment
Do you have what it takes to become a successful medical transcriptionist? Important personal and professional characteristics of the medical transcriptionist are listed below.
- Interested in medical science.
- Enjoy learning something new every day.
- Have excellent skills in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
- Enjoy reading for fun and information.
- Self-motivated and work well independently.
- Care about quality and excellence.
- Comfortable at a computer workstation.
- Desire a professional career in healthcare.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How long will it take me to complete this course?
A. The average student completes the transcription portion in about 160 hours. It takes an additional 240 hours to complete the reading assignments and exercises, so plan on 400 hours total. For example, those who study 30 hours per week can expect to complete the program in 13 weeks. The overall average is 6 months.
Q. Do I need a credential to work as a medical transcriptionist?
A. Though a credential is not required for employment in the medical transcription field, some facilities may offer incentives to transcriptionists to become credentialed. Check with your local or national professional association for information on credentialing.
Q. I’ve heard that medical transcriptionists make a great deal of money. How much can I expect to earn?
A. Medical transcription is a rewarding, interesting career that provides maximum flexibility and excellent earning potential that increases steadily over time. Entry-level transcriptionists can expect to earn at least twice the hourly minimum wage in larger cities, perhaps less in other areas. It is not unusual for highly experienced transcriptionists, especially those who are paid on production, to earn $60,000 per year or more. Your income will increase as you gain experience, but medical transcription is not a get-rich-quick profession.
Q: How do I complete daily assignments? How do I get graded on my work?
A: The course of study is based on platform learning where you are presented with a chapter of related information, then you test your understanding of it before moving on. It is self-directed but you have access to an instructor for questions or clarification. When your course is complete, you are required to take your final examination. Successfully passing the final will result in a “certificate of completion” which is often sufficient to find work. You may move forward to certification if you wish.
Q: What will I learn from this course? How will I help my medical career?
A. This program prepares students to transcribe most physician and paraprofessional dictation. Because most transcriptionists are paid on production, those with a solid educational foundation generally provide the best quality at a lucrative productivity level.
Q. Are there any recommended prerequisites?
A. The recommended prerequisites are a minimum typing speed of 50 corrected words per minute; college-level proficiency in spelling, English grammar, and usage. Your typing speed and accuracy will steadily improve during the 300 hours of transcription practice.