Steps On Applying For A Medical Transcription Job
Are you looking for a new job with a flexible schedule, strong work-life balance, and great pay? Look no further. Medical Transcription Jobs are in demand and many employers offer competitive salaries, good benefits, reimbursement for certification courses, on the job training and advancement opportunities.
What's more? A career in medical transcription can give you the work-life balance that so many people want these days: You'll enjoy short workweeks because most assignments are completed in four to eight hours. And when you're not working, you can choose from the many rewarding jobs and hobbies that can be pursued with a flexible schedule. Learn about the steps you'll need to take to land that job and what you'll need to do for success.
Medical Transcription is a career that satisfies the need for flexibility, diversity and satisfaction. It's not just a job, it's an adventure!
Anyone in high school or college should consider learning medical transcription and then applying for jobs after graduation. Basic knowledge of computers (MS Word) will help make your job search easier as most employers are looking for computer literate medical transcribers.
If you are already out of school and looking for a new career, you should consider taking the first step toward becoming a medical transcriptionist by enrolling in an online training course.
Here are some of the steps to take to help you find a job in this exciting career:
1. Look at online training course options that provide hands on experience, including video lectures with other students and real life practice transcribing audio files.
2. Enroll in an accredited school for Medical Transcription or call the American Medical Association (AMA) for accredited schools with entry-level courses.
3. Attend a medical transcription program either at night on weekends or full-time during the day. Courses may be sponsored by local hospitals, schools, or community colleges.
4. Be prepared to learn about how Medical Transcription works, including the many different systems used by different doctors' offices to input data into computers
5. Learn about health history, anatomy and physiology terms that are used for transcription
6. Ask others in the profession about their typical day and how much time they spend transcribing
7. Make sure you know whether you should learn medical terminology first or if your school will teach it as part of their program
8. Ask about any special computer courses or courses for Windows systems
9. Learn about the differences between transcription, data entry and dictation
10. Find out what type of work schedule you're used to and whether you can handle a schedule that allows for a little flexibility
11. Decide if you prefer to work in-person with other students or on a computer; the choice depends on which type of training is best suited to your needs
12. Make sure you are trained in both medical terminology and transcribing real medical documents using audio files. This will make it easier to find work after graduation.
13. Get ready for certification; the more training and experience you have, the easier it will be to find a job.
14. Stay in contact with your school to see if there are any openings for part-time or full-time work during your studies or after you graduate
15. Get familiar with transcriptionist resources such as the Association of Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) and Transcription Jobs Online, which can help connect you with jobs in your area
16. Apply for a job as soon as possible; classes and credits are not transferable so every day spent studying is a day you're not earning money
17. Get a job as soon as you are able; there are lots of opportunities out there and the sooner you give yourself an edge, the better.
Medical Information Specialists play a vital role in the healthcare industry, providing valuable clinical data to physicians and other providers that they need to make informed decisions about patient care.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this career field will grow by 24% between 2010 and 2020 (compared with 14% for all occupations). The median annual wage for medical information specialists was $52,920 in May 2009. Most Medical Information Specialists work full time, but some work part time or from home.
The steps you take to become a Medical Information Specialist involve first choosing a field of concentration. For example, you may want to specialize in one area of medicine:
1. Family practice – this is the most common type of medical practice in the U.S.
2. Psychiatry – this specialty treats mental disorders with medications, psychotherapy and other therapies
3. Emergency medicine – this specialty chooses the best treatment for acute illnesses or traumatic injuries that present urgent risk to life or limb
4. OB/GYN (Obstetrics and Gynecology) – physicians who specialize in Obstetrics deliver babies, treat gynecological disorders, and perform routine exams on women
5. Urology – this specialty treats diseases of the urinary tract, reproductive organs and male organs
6. Internal medicine – this specialty treats diseases and disorders of your internal organs and circulatory system
7. Surgery – this specialty treats medical disorders with surgical procedures, such as surgery for headaches, back pain, hernias or foot problems
8. Neurology – this specialty diagnoses and treats diseases of the nervous system including disorders of muscle coordination, paralysis, epilepsy and mental illness.
9. Pulmonology – this speciality deals with treatment of diseases associated with the lungs including tuberculosis
10. Ophthalmology – this specialty diagnoses and treats eye diseases, injuries, and other abnormalities
11. Orthopedics – this specialty treats trauma to bones, joints and muscles
12. Gastroenterology – this specialty diagnoses and treats disorders of the digestive tract including ulcers, colitis and appendicitis
13. Cardiology – this specialty diagnoses and treats disorders of the heart including angina pectoris, coronary artery disease, heart failure and arrhythmias
14. Anesthesiology – this specialty diagnoses and treats conditions that alter sensation or consciousness including anesthesia related to surgery or labor/delivery
15. Otolaryngology – this specialty diagnoses and treats diseases of the ear, nose and throat including tonsillitis, throat infections and cancer
16. Pathology – this specialty diagnoses and treats disorders of the organs using laboratory blood tests
17. Radiology – this specialty utilizes imaging to diagnose disorder of internal organs (like X-ray), bones (like MRI) or tissues (like CT scan)
18. Dermatology – this specialty diagnoses and treats disorders of the skin, hair, or nails including acne or eczema
19. Emergency Medicine - This subspecialty focuses on acute care for trauma patients in life-threatening situations.
Conclusion
Your days will be full and rewarding, but your evenings and weekends will be your own to pursue other interests because Medical Information Specialists are in high demand. They must have an excellent command of the English language in order to accurately transcribe dictated medical records to the point that other physicians can read them easily. They must also have good listening skills in order to understand unclear points or words and the ability to ask clarifying questions when needed.