Friday, May 16, 2008
custommalldesign on eBay
If you need to email me about a website, eBay store or template banner, please contact me HERE
Monday, April 21, 2008
Syndromes List EXTENSIVE
I cannot say that every syndrome name is here, but there are ooodles of them, arranged alphabetically
HERE.
HERE.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Should you learn transcription on the internet?
QUESTION
I hope you don't mind, but I have one or two questions. I am really interested in becoming a medical transcriptionist, because one of my goals is to be able to work from home. After seeing your Word Finder Series publications on eBay, I realized that you would be the right person to ask. I have been checking into courses that I might be able to take at home (distance education/learning) and some of them are extremely expensive. Is there one that you would be able to recommend? Can you please give me your advice? I wold be extremely grateful.
ANSWER
I do not know much about the advertised correspondence programs, or the complete programs with practice tapes sold on e-Bay and elsewhere. However, I would recommend that you look into these options just as you would consider buying a home or car. Contact each of the programs you see that may be of interest to you and request that they mail (snail mail) you information about their program. Ask them if they can give you the name of someone who has taken their course, so that you may contact them with questions. Or, ask if they have a representative from their company that you can speak with by phone. If they are a legitimate operation, this should be no problem. I personally would recommend a community college program, if that is at all possible for you. Money-wise, if you need it, most of the community colleges and or trade schools have student loans and grants available. Time-wise, if you work during the day, you may want to ask about night courses.
In addition, I would advise that you contact the nearest community college and plan a trip to "sit in" on a transcription class if you can. I am not saying that you can only succeed by attending a community college. I taught myself medical terminology. However, I then attended an LPN school on a scholarship program for six months. I also had prior work experience in a physician's office. In my opinion, the most important thing for someone in your position needs to do is really stand back and take a hard look at this profession. There are a lot of people out there that are trying to take advantage of people like you. To become experienced enough to transcribe at home, one must do the "homework" so to speak. And, preparing for such a career, particularly, when you have children at home is not easy. Additionally, most physicians want "experience" before they would even consider hiring a work at home transcriptionist. Depending upon how you are able to learn transcription, and the time it may take you to feel comfortable enough to apply for a job or transcribe for a doctor at home, your children may already be in school.
Medical transcription has been a wonderful profession for me, but until I was able to begin my career, I was a stay-at-home mom who took in two other children to supplement my husband's income. The income was not great, mind you, but enough to help by the groceries and clothing. During this same time, I worked one day a week, a Saturday, when my husband could be at home with our boys. I worked for this physician for four years. After a move across the country to another State, I worked for two ENT physicians for a year. My background is too lengthy to talk about here, but what I am trying to tell you is that it takes time, and more time to learn medical transcription.
A medical transcriptionist must love to type, be able to work in a quiet undisturbed area, have a broad background in the medical field, and be confident enough that a physician would trust her or him with their patient reports. A transcriptionist is typing a report that must be accurate, particularly since if a physician is sued, the transcribed record must be accurate. Any mistakes by the physician can at times be picked up by the transcriptionist, and until you are thoroughly familiar with what you are typing, this is not possible. In closing, I hope I have answered your questions in a manner that is helpful to you. Good luck to you!
I hope you don't mind, but I have one or two questions. I am really interested in becoming a medical transcriptionist, because one of my goals is to be able to work from home. After seeing your Word Finder Series publications on eBay, I realized that you would be the right person to ask. I have been checking into courses that I might be able to take at home (distance education/learning) and some of them are extremely expensive. Is there one that you would be able to recommend? Can you please give me your advice? I wold be extremely grateful.
ANSWER
I do not know much about the advertised correspondence programs, or the complete programs with practice tapes sold on e-Bay and elsewhere. However, I would recommend that you look into these options just as you would consider buying a home or car. Contact each of the programs you see that may be of interest to you and request that they mail (snail mail) you information about their program. Ask them if they can give you the name of someone who has taken their course, so that you may contact them with questions. Or, ask if they have a representative from their company that you can speak with by phone. If they are a legitimate operation, this should be no problem. I personally would recommend a community college program, if that is at all possible for you. Money-wise, if you need it, most of the community colleges and or trade schools have student loans and grants available. Time-wise, if you work during the day, you may want to ask about night courses.
In addition, I would advise that you contact the nearest community college and plan a trip to "sit in" on a transcription class if you can. I am not saying that you can only succeed by attending a community college. I taught myself medical terminology. However, I then attended an LPN school on a scholarship program for six months. I also had prior work experience in a physician's office. In my opinion, the most important thing for someone in your position needs to do is really stand back and take a hard look at this profession. There are a lot of people out there that are trying to take advantage of people like you. To become experienced enough to transcribe at home, one must do the "homework" so to speak. And, preparing for such a career, particularly, when you have children at home is not easy. Additionally, most physicians want "experience" before they would even consider hiring a work at home transcriptionist. Depending upon how you are able to learn transcription, and the time it may take you to feel comfortable enough to apply for a job or transcribe for a doctor at home, your children may already be in school.
Medical transcription has been a wonderful profession for me, but until I was able to begin my career, I was a stay-at-home mom who took in two other children to supplement my husband's income. The income was not great, mind you, but enough to help by the groceries and clothing. During this same time, I worked one day a week, a Saturday, when my husband could be at home with our boys. I worked for this physician for four years. After a move across the country to another State, I worked for two ENT physicians for a year. My background is too lengthy to talk about here, but what I am trying to tell you is that it takes time, and more time to learn medical transcription.
A medical transcriptionist must love to type, be able to work in a quiet undisturbed area, have a broad background in the medical field, and be confident enough that a physician would trust her or him with their patient reports. A transcriptionist is typing a report that must be accurate, particularly since if a physician is sued, the transcribed record must be accurate. Any mistakes by the physician can at times be picked up by the transcriptionist, and until you are thoroughly familiar with what you are typing, this is not possible. In closing, I hope I have answered your questions in a manner that is helpful to you. Good luck to you!
Monday, February 18, 2008
M.D.'s will always need M.T.'s
If you are considering starting a career in medical transcription, friends and family members may tell you that they “heard” that medical transcriptionists will not be needed in the near future. They say that because of the new electronic devices, doctors will only need to talk into a hand held recorder that will magically convert his or her words into a typed, or transcribed document. Believe it or not, I heard similar warnings 28+ years ago.
There have been several computer software programs touting that one only needs to speak into the microphone and the words will be typed. I agree that a simple software program can understand and type everyday conversational English; however, it will not correct improper grammar. Another caveat is the different manner in which everyone pronounces words. Therefore, one must "teach" the program to recognize a myriad of different voice intonations. For example, if born and raised in Boston, you have a Bostonian accent. Born and raised in Texas, Milwaukee or Georgia? Additionally, imagine how differently a physician from another country pronounces drug names or the names of surgical procedures. We’re talking medical terminology here, not ordinary speech. Think of the time and effort involved in getting any software program to recognize and type the words, add the necessary punctuation and correct the grammar too.
Trust me, medical transcription is a safe career choice.
There have been several computer software programs touting that one only needs to speak into the microphone and the words will be typed. I agree that a simple software program can understand and type everyday conversational English; however, it will not correct improper grammar. Another caveat is the different manner in which everyone pronounces words. Therefore, one must "teach" the program to recognize a myriad of different voice intonations. For example, if born and raised in Boston, you have a Bostonian accent. Born and raised in Texas, Milwaukee or Georgia? Additionally, imagine how differently a physician from another country pronounces drug names or the names of surgical procedures. We’re talking medical terminology here, not ordinary speech. Think of the time and effort involved in getting any software program to recognize and type the words, add the necessary punctuation and correct the grammar too.
Trust me, medical transcription is a safe career choice.
A new resource for medical transcriptionists..
I hope this blog will be of interest to both newbie and seasoned medical transcriptionists. I began my career in medical transcription over 28 years ago and have learned quite a bit that hopefully will serve to "aid and comfort" fellow transcriptionists. I hope you find my posts both helpful and fun to read.
More on my profile coming soon....
More on my profile coming soon....
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