Med Workshops' Medical Transcription Training Blog

Q:  I was wondering if you could let me know how many hours I should be studying my medical books in this course?  Thanks, Alicia

 A:  Our course term is 8-10 months with 15 sections.   You’ll be working through the lessons one section at a time.  Start in the upper left corner of the assignment sheet and note the first book.  In the box below it will tell you which chapters to read.  This will cover an introduction and the topic of dermatology.  Read through the chapters as listed and complete any questions in the workbook.  Do the transcription on your CD that is covered at the end of that section. Let your student rep know when you are done with the first section and we will have a short quiz for you.    After that you’ll go back to the first book and start section two.  Continue until you’ve covered all sections in all books.

Expect the first few sections to take longer than later chapters because you will be building your understanding of terminology and anatomy in the beginning.  You will use this understanding to more quickly grasp material in later sections. 

 I tell students that the most important think is consistency.  Pick a time to study each day, even if it is just for half an hour, and stick to that time.  Don’t worry about trying to memorize everything—even doctors don’t know it all!  Try to pick up the basics, and it WILL get easier as you go through each section because each section builds on the one before.  Make sure to do all the exercises in the books, especially “Language of Medicine”.  I know it seems like a lot of writing, but it will help you a lot in the long run.

Q:  I was wondering if you could let me know how many hours I should be studying my medical books in this course?  Thanks, Alicia

 A:  Our course term is 8-10 months with 15 sections.   You’ll be working through the lessons one section at a time.  Start in the upper left corner of the assignment sheet and note the first book.  In the box below it will tell you which chapters to read.  This will cover an introduction and the topic of dermatology.  Read through the chapters as listed and complete any questions in the workbook.   Do the transcription on your CD that is covered at the end of that section. Let your student rep know when you are done with the first section and we will have a short quiz for you.    After that you’ll go back to the first book and start section two.  Continue until you’ve covered all sections in all books

Expect the first few sections to take longer than later chapters because you will be building your understanding of terminology and anatomy in the beginning.  You will use this understanding to more quickly grasp material in later sections. 

I tell students that the most important think is consistency.  Pick a time to study each day, even if it is just for half an hour, and stick to that time.  Don’t worry about trying to memorize everything—even doctors don’t know it all!  Try to pick up the basics, and it WILL get easier as you go through each section because each section builds on the one before.  Make sure to do all the exercises in the books, especially “Language of Medicine”.  I know it seems like a lot of writing, but it will help you a lot in the long run.

These tips come from a Professor who taught foreign languages all her life.  They apply to Medical Transcription Terminology too.

1                     A Medical Transcription student needs to let the language “come to them”.  You can’t force it by cramming in more facts.  This will be difficult for some students.

2                     Do the first lessons much more quickly than you would if taking math or science.

3                     You will start off slow and build learning speed.

4                     You are learning a new language and the beginning is definitely the hardest part.

5                     These are Latin and Greek words so give yourself credit and patience.  You need time to absorb this.

6                     Fact retention isn’t the key.  Neither is memorizing like you would multiplication tables- nope, this won’t work well.

7                     It can be thought of like a trip down a river in a kayak.  You do have to paddle a lot, but the reading and practice process (flow) will move you along just as much.

8                     Don’t get bogged down and try to be too perfect- a common problem for good students.

9                     About half way through the class the light bulb will start to go on.

10                 A little later, you’ll be amazed by how easy this new language is.

I hope this helps you,

The Staff