Archive for November, 2009

Thoughts from a Medical Transcription Student

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Some thoughts off the cuff…..I think one aspect of flexibility, though at first seemingly frustrating, can be turned around to be seen as a great challenge; almost fun.  I know I may sound a bit naive, as I am “only” a student right now.  I also do not mean to marginalize the issues of experienced MTs who have legitimate gripes in what can be a demanding job.

I am a strong believer in re-framing thoughts, feelings, etc., in our lives.  It’s amazing how a different perspective can change everything. Instead of, “Why do all these accounts, doctors, etc., want everything done a different way; why so “nit-picky?”, say to yourself,  “I can be the BEST at sorting all this out! I will make notes, reminders, and think up memory tricks, etc., until I have a way of transitioning between ALL the requirements, ALL the different dictators’ preferences as they want to  “throw” at me!”

Student

Posted in Med Workshops Biz, Newbie Medical Transcriptionists, Study Tips, Transcription Tips | No Comments »

Medical Transcriptionist can’t understand the word being dictated- what to do

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Q:  What do I do when I can’t understand at all what word a doctor is dictating?

A:  When you are actually working you will have a log to note this on.  When you cannot understand what is being said you will leave a blank such as this: The patient came in with a history of ___________ for two weeks. 

Posted in Newbie Medical Transcriptionists, Transcription Tips | No Comments »

Medical Transcription and Doctor uses incorrect wording?

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Q: Having had lots of experience in writing,  I become nervous when I review the preferred formats page on the Med Workshops site and in the first line, see this: “SUBJECTIVE: The patient is a 35-year-old female who complain of a cough for one week.”
Clearly, the word should be complains. Also, “one week” should be “1 week” per the MT Workbook.  What should I do when dictation is grammatically incorrect?

A: Good catch.  We change the medical transcription samples often.  The doctor may dictate “complain”  instead of  “complains”.  We use real-life sample reports.  During your training you must transcribe verbatim. The “one week” is correct in this instance.  I know I know!  There can be two or more correct ways and this is the preferred way—- that’s life in Medical Transcription.   We can’t change it.  If you went through our program and didn’t experience these inconsistencies, we wouldn’t be introducing you to the real world; the work world.  As the mother of Medical Transcription, Vera Pyle said,  “there are often several acceptable ways to transcribe the same report”.

Posted in Editing and Proofreading, Grammar and Style, Newbie Medical Transcriptionists, Tips on Typing, Transcription Tips, Your Doc | No Comments »

Important MT Tip on Typing Dictated Dates!

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Q:  When a date is dictated, “April one, two thousand nine,” I must type as dictated and not 04/01/2009 as I had thought. I saw the sample report in Med Workshops with that date format so it seems my assumption was wrong. When the dictator says the date numerically, “Four, one, two thousand nine,” that’s the only time I type it numerically as well (04/01/2009). Is my reasoning correct?

A:  Your assumption is correct, you must type verbatim, including dates as dictated.

Posted in Abbreviations, Newbie Medical Transcriptionists, Transcription Tips | No Comments »

A few reasons why MedWorkshops is the right choice for an MT program

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Another comment from a recent student, now in Mentored Internship: 

 “I also appreciate the existence of such a high quality program that focuses on doing things right, professionalism and actually “pipelining” MTs into employment.  It is refreshing, considering the many disappointing choices out there that are, unfortunately, still  attracting many naive students, who so often cannot find work after graduation and are left hanging.  I imagine  (and hope) some of them find their way to the MedWorkshops make up class!!”

Posted in Employment Questions, Internship Questions | No Comments »

Post graduation pay for a Medical Transcription newbie

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Q:  What can a “newbie” MT expect to earn after graduation?

A:  I don’t have a simple answer for questions on beginning income for post graduate students who are placed by Med Workshops.  When you work from home in this field, you are not on an hourly or salary pay scale.  I know you will earn at least 5 to 7 cents per line depending on the company and the difficulty of the transcription they would like you to do.  I don’t know how fast you will be or how many hours you will work.  For instance you might want to work 10 hours, but the company only has 8 hours of dictation- or maybe it will be vice versa.

Rule of thumb on this is- give yourself three months or so to earn and learn after graduation.  If possible, keep your other job if you have one.  This is a tough field to learn.   However, once you gain some experience you will begin to enter what the MT calls “the zone”.  You’ll be able to do your MT typing without struggling at it or maybe it’s that you won’t have to think as hard.  Because of auto correct, macros and your growing skills, you will begin to fly through your transcription.  This is a new language and also, a hand, foot, eye and ear bit of coordination.  The people who are really good, belong in another league and earn very good money.  They can also find work almost anywhere in the U.S. quickly.

Posted in Newbie Medical Transcriptionists, Typing Production | No Comments »