| I often hear from people who want to get into medical | | | | to use. Every transcriptionist has a preferred method |
| transcription. They've heard about it as one of the | | | | to find solid information on unfamiliar topics and |
| great work at home opportunities out there, and they'd | | | | medications. |
| like to be a part of it. | | | | There are a lot of medical transcription schools out |
| But what many don't understand is that there's a need | | | | there. For people looking to work at home, the quality |
| to get a medical transcription education first. And not | | | | online schools are my personal recommendation. The |
| just any education. A solid one. | | | | right school has a reputation with employers that will |
| Despite what many hope, no legitimate medical | | | | help you to land a job. Not many community college |
| transcription employer will hire someone and train them | | | | programs can offer that. |
| up. It takes too long. Several months is a minimum, and | | | | Right off the bat, I will tell you to consider Career Step, |
| many training courses take a year or more. You can't | | | | The Andrews School or M-Tec. These are the best |
| expect an employer to train a potential employee that | | | | online programs. There are some others that may be |
| long for most jobs. | | | | good, but those three I know have good reputations |
| That goes double for a career like medical | | | | with employers. Many other schools cost a lot of |
| transcription. First of all, it's not for everyone, and the | | | | money but don't really teach you what you need to |
| best time to find that out is in training. Transcription is | | | | know. Why gamble when you're paying somewhere |
| much more than typing what you hear. If you don't | | | | between $1000-3000 for an education? It's better to |
| understand the terminology it's just not going to work | | | | start things out right. |
| out for you. | | | | Do not assume a medical transcription school will |
| Second, you have to develop an ear for transcription. | | | | teach you everything you need to know to breeze |
| This is often more challenging than learning the | | | | through your early days as a working medical |
| terminology, which is formidable. If you can learn to | | | | transcriptionist. Your education gets you started, but |
| sync your fingers with your ears, you're on a good | | | | the reality of working will require far more of you. |
| path toward becoming a transcriptionist. | | | | There will be terminology you missed in training, new |
| Third, medical transcription requires some research | | | | drugs and doctors who are just about incoherent as |
| skills. With the Internet is has become simpler to | | | | they dictate. Your training will give you the background |
| research unfamiliar terminology and new medications, | | | | you need to figure these out. |
| but you will probably also need to know which books | | | | |