Transcriptions - What's in it for you?

What do you get with all the hard work once you've completed transcription training?

I got my first job as an Admin Assistant for a medical transcription school. At first, I didn't understand what someone would get from transcription training. But as days went on, and our of curiosity, I browsed the Internet and read some articles about it.

Although I have not yet finished my training in medical transcription (MT), I was able to get a part-time and home based job as a business transcriptionist. You might as me how I got a client. I was able to get the part-time job because if the people I knew. You might also ask me why I took MT Course and not Business Transcription Course (BT). The reason for that is because the medical transcription course has a higher competency. And the higher the competency, the greater the chance to land a job. And besides, the longer the training, the better for I would be able to familiarize the work in transcriptions and to familiarize the computer as well. And another thing is that, the more transcription practices with different slang and accents, the better.

My point here is that, during these times when there are too many graduates and few hiring positions available, the newly graduates are forced to leave another year unproductive because they can't seem to find a job.

The best assets that every aspiring transcriptionist should acquire are: 1) good English skills, 2) 50-60 words per minute speed in typing, 3) ability to listen very well with different slang and accents, 4) editing and proofreading skills, and 5) computer and Internet savvy.

I am not saying that everyone who has the skills is ready to become a transcriptionist. At first, I thought transcription jobs are easy to do. That was a wrong perception. Transcription is about learning the job and loving the job that you do. You can earn from doing transcription and you can also learn from the transcripts that you are doing. It only requires dedication, patience, and not more than a year and a half to study.

Study Tips for the Aspiring MT

The basic foundation of all learning is the development of a study habit. The habit of reading, understanding, researching, and listening is a result process of constancy. The medical transcription course similarly entails such a habit. Since an MT course is primarily the development of skills in listening, research, and typing; the knowledge of medicine makes the backbone for such a skill. Thus, here are some study tips for the aspiring MT:

1. Read and listen. I cannot overemphasize the importance of reading the topic of discussion prior to its lecture. In this way, you are able to prime your brain of what to expect and possibly get the answer to the questions you encountered while reading.
2. Application by usage. There is no better way to memorize anything than to frequently use it. In medical transcription, we are trained to be medical linguist. Therefore, any new knowledge of its language must be used in our day to day activities
3. Compile. The medical science is so vast. With the longest training of 9 months as an MT, one cannot expect to grasp the totality of that field. So whenever you encounter a new word (especially drug names), write it down in your notes. Take note of the pronunciation, spelling, and their usage. Compile all these and who knows, you might come up with a new thesaurus of your own?
4. Practice, practice and practice. Since medical transcription is a skill that we can develop, the only way one becomes good or even the best is to practice… practice typing, practice listening, and practice researching.

Written by: Jeanette Lee-Nicolas MD/Medical Transcriptionist

I Can Be A Medical Transcriptionist

Being a medical transcriptionist is not easy. It is not enough for someone to just have good listening skills and computer skills. You must also have a comprehensive knowledge on medical terminologies and language skills to become a transcriptionist. Medical transcriptionists must also develop their typing speed to be able to transcribe medical dictations as fast as possible but still ensuring high quality of work. One must also be hardworking and determined to excel in this profession. Patience is also very important. Aside from that, medical transcriptionists also face a lot of responsibilities. They are also responsible in ensuring that the patients' data and other confidential informations about the patients are kept in private as governed by HIPAA (Health Insurance Accountability and Portability Act).

Before I studied medical transcription, I really didn't have any idea that it would take a lot of patience, hardwork, and determination to become one. When I heard about it on the radio, watched documentaries about it on TV, and read articles regarding medical transcription on newspapers, it seemed like a very easy and simple job. And then, when I decided to study medical transcription, I discovered that I was completely wrong. It is not that easy at all. But I said to myself, "I can do it." I know I can finish this course if I just study hard and do my best.

In reality, becoming a medical transcriptionist is not a thing that could be done overnight. It really takes a lot of effort, patience, hardwork, and determination. I am still a neophyte in this field; I have just started working several months ago. I have yet to further develop my skills and learn a lot of things.

I enjoy my work now. I discover and learn many things everyday. I become more patient, my typing skills improved, and my listening skills are much better than before. I am a more responsible person now. To those of you who are aspiring to be a medical transcriptionist, your good listening skills, typing skills, comprehensive knowledge on medical terms, and language skills together with your patience, hardwork, and sense of responsibility will help you go a long way in this profession. And most of all, love what you do; it definitely helps!

Written by: Pinky Verdon
Nursing Undergrad

Why I Took Up Medical Transcriptions #1

I took up medical transcription because my sun was setting and I had nowhere to go. Sometimes we come to a certain point in our lives where we are left with limited choices. I too come to face to face with this dilemma, but I guess fate was still on my favor. For I stumbled upon medical transcription. I have to be honest though, medical transcription was unfamiliar territory for me. An unrevealed terrain which needs further exploration. Although I had a background in the field related to the medical realm, it never really made a gargantuan difference for technically medical transcription is different. My first month was hell so I had to gather massive amounts of patience just to survive the day-to-day transcription war zone. I kept holding on to creeds just to keep my wits intact and to be sure that my sanity was still with me as my shadow is and of course, prayer was in my arsenal

Alex Bolor
Nursing Undergraduate
MTC Academy Graduate