| What is a medical transcriptionist?
|
| A medical transcriptionist is a medical language specialist
who listens to and transcribes (types) dictation by health care
professionals (such as physicians) regarding patient diagnosis,
testing, procedures and operations. |
| What is needed to become a
medical transcriptionist? |
| English grammar, punctuation, and spelling skills
are required, as well as an interest in the medical language.
You must have good listening skills, since some health practitioners
speak English as a second language and dictation is often done in noisy
environments. A basic knowledge of computer and word-processing
software is required, as well as the ability to work for long
periods at a computer. |
| Where can I work as an MT? |
| Medical transcriptionists work in most health care settings
such as clinics, physician offices, hospitals, as well as transcription services
and insurance companies. Some transcriptionists work in their homes
as subcontractors or as independent business owners. |
| Where is medical transcription
taught? |
| Medical transcription programs are found in community colleges,
technical colleges, private colleges, and home-study programs. The best programs
allow feedback from the instructor and the ability for the students
to ask questions of the instructor. A good medical transcription
program should include information about English grammar and punctuation,
anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and ethical issues. Be wary of
"quick study" medical transcription schools that claim you can make $60,000 a year
after taking a one or two month course. Medical transcription is a highly
skilled profession and requires extensive study.
|
| How do I become a certified medical
transcriptionist (CMT)? |
| When you graduate from school you will have a certificate of
completion. This does not equate to being a certified MT. AAMT
(the American Association for Medical Transcription) developed the
certification test in an attempt to standardize the profession.
Certification is an AAMT convention and not an industry standard.
It is not necessary to become a CMT to be a medical
transcriptionist. In fact, most MTs are not CMTs, and being a CMT
does not mean that the pay will be any higher. However, it is a good
personal goal to be able to pass the CMT test, which usually requires
that you have a few years of experience in order to pass the intensive
written and practical testing process administered by AAMT. Also,
you should know that in addition to the initial cost of taking
the exam (several hundred dollars), CMTs are required to keep
their credentials up-to-date by obtaining yearly
continuing education credits. |
| How much money is usually earned
as a transcriptionist? |
| Salaries and earnings vary considerably according to area. Most MTs are paid
by the line if they work from home. However, some MTs are still paid by the hour.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average qualified MT
made an average of $13.33/hr. nationwide in 2002. This number varies considerably
depending on the geographical location, the type/difficulty of the work, the employer, and whether
or not the MT is an employee, subcontractor, or contractor. Contractors (those who
have their own accounts) can make significantly more, because they charge more per line
to cover their costs (equipment, materials, etc.). See the
U.S. Dept. of Labor website for
more specific information. |
| Is it easy to get a job as a
medical transcriptionist? |
| Qualified transcriptionists are in great demand,
but just as with any job search, you will need to put forth some effort.
While we want to be realistic, we also want to encourage you by saying that
we have seen many new graduates be successful at finding a
job right out of school. Most opportunities for MTs are not
widely advertised but are filled by word of mouth.
Your instructor will have much more information on job searches and resources, and will help
you put together a working resume for transcription.
|
| Is it possible to work at home as an
MT? |
| One of the great things about medical transcription is its
potential for versatility. Many MTs choose to work at home as
employees or subcontractors, either for transcription services or
hospitals. Another option is to operate a business and become a
contractor, providing services to health care facilities and physicians
offices. |
| What if I have questions
when I am on the job after I graduate? |
| Networking and utilizing organizations such as your local chapter of
AAMT (American Association for Medical Transcription) are valuable resources. There are also several good web
sites for MTs where new and experienced MTs post and
answer questions for other MTs.
It's critical that a new MT develop an adequate library of
resources (see recommended resources on the
resource material page on this site).
Thank you for your interest in the Kamtek medical transcription training
program! We look forward to hearing from you. You can contact us at
kamtek@qualdata.com, or call the phone number listed at the bottom of the page to leave us a message.
|
It's important that you understand what medical transcription is and
what to expect from the profession. You are making an investment
in a promising future with medical transcription, and it's to your
advantage to be prepared for what lies ahead. This is an interesting
and rewarding course, and the knowledge you gain will serve you
well in your work as a medical transcriptionist (MT).
