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The Medical Transcription for Physicians Office, Hospital, Home Business course curriculum is developed so that a student who wishes to achieve Certificate or Registered status with the Association for Health Care Documentation Integrity, a national credentialing agency can do so.
Students who enroll in this course may after completion apply to The AHDI to take the CMT (Certified Medical Transcriptionist) or RMT (Registered Medical Transcriptionist) Exam. This exam consists of both medical transcription-related knowledge items and transcription performance items. The transcription performance items include transcribing dictation, editing, and proofreading. The examination is available worldwide where selected Thomson Prometric test centers are located. Upon completion of the exam at the testing center, a score report will be available immediately. If one does not pass the exam, a report will be given indicating the objective areas where improvement is needed. To Learn more visit the AHDI website. Please note, it is not necessary to be “Certified†in order to be employed as a Medical Transcriptionist.
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.
The professional healthcare team includes physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians, dietitians, and other healthcare support staff. A vital member of this team is the Medical Transcriptionist. Medical transcriptionists transcribe medical reports from doctors’ dictation in order to document a patient’s medical care and condition. These 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 job title “Medical Transcriptionist†has changed over the years. Originally called “medical steno†and then “medical transcriber,†the role of today’s medical transcriptionist continues to evolve with advancements in technology and healthcare documentation. Nevertheless, the goal remains the same: integrity in healthcare documentation.
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 medico legal document. Medical transcriptionists must master English grammar, must have knowledge of medical transcription practices, and exhibit the highest professional standards.
This Medical Transcription program prepares students for employment in a physician’s office, hospital, group practice, or small clinic. It contains 8 hours of 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, history and physicals, consultations, emergency department reports, preoperative notes, and discharge summaries.
Emphasis is placed on the development of accuracy, speed, and medical knowledge for transcription of nonsurgical medical dictation: letters, chart notes, history and physical examination reports, consultations, emergency room reports, and discharge summaries. Using reference materials and other resources efficiently. Editing and proofreading techniques. Understanding professional issues in medical transcription. Grammar and punctuation review.
The professional healthcare team includes physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians, dietitians, and other healthcare support staff. A vital member of this team is the Medical Transcriptionist .Medical transcriptionists transcribe medical reports from doctors’ dictation in order to document a patient’s medical care and condition. These 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 job title “Medical Transcriptionist†has changed over the years.
Because each report becomes a part of a patient’s permanent healthcare record, the medical transcriptionist transcribes it with care, relying on extensive knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, pharmacology, human diseases, surgical procedures, diagnostic studies, and laboratory tests to produce an accurate and complete medicolegal document. A mastery of 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.
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. Will I ever use all these textbooks and reference books after I finish my training?
A. Absolutely. You will use all of these books frequently when working as a transcriptionist, and they will become a permanent part of your professional reference library.
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: Upon completion of enrollment you will be contacted by the course instructor who will provide you with the details of how the course will be administered. A comprehensive Student Syllabus will be made available to you. The assignments outlined in the Student Syllabus are based on the textbooks listed below.
Q: What will I learn from this course? How will I help my medical career?
A. This program prepares students to transcribe most physician office 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. Who are The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity and the American Association for Medical Transcription?
A. The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI), formerly the American Association for Medical Transcription, is the world’s largest professional society representing the clinical documentation sector whose purpose is to set and uphold standards for education and practice in the field of health data capture and documentation. It ensures the highest level of accuracy, privacy, and security for the U.S. healthcare system in order to protect public health, increase patient safety, and improve quality of care for healthcare consumers. AHDI works to advocate for workforce development and credentialing in allied health and the critical role of the technology-enabled documentation knowledge worker in the electronic health record (EHR). The American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT), established in 1976, is a nonprofit professional association for medical transcriptionists. Membership is voluntary, and two credentials are currently offered for those passing examinations administered by the association. Individuals who have recently completed an MT program or who have limited experience may qualify to take the Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) exam. Experienced MTs may sit for the Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) exam. The program curriculum listed below and accompanying educational materials prepare students to pass such credentialing exams.
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. Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of courses in Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology are helpful but not necessary.
Q. How soon will I receive my books, foot pedal and transcription CD?
A. On average, from the time of your tuition payment the expected UPS Ground shipping will take anywhere from a couple of days (West Coast) to 7-12 days (East Coast).
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