Medical transcription is a great work at home job but it has its challenges. This job requires more training than many of the other common work at home jobs. You can’t just apply and get a job.
The reason for this makes quite a bit of sense. You’re working on people’s medical records. You must know what you’re doing and you have to be exceptionally accurate.
So training is the first step, right?
Nope. The better medical transcription training programs available online won’t even look at you as a student unless you have certain skills already. You have to be able to type fast enough. 40 wpm is a good minimum, and you will want to speed up from there. You have to have an excellent vocabulary and grammar. You have to be able to pick up new terminology quickly.
Once you have those, then you can start looking at training. Depending on your needs you can consider an online program or check out your local community college for courses. You will want a high quality program as that is what helps you to land that first job. Take the wrong kind of training and no one will want to hire you until you have experience.
I personally recommend online training. For one it is the most similar to how you will be working at home. Training at a school is, well, training at a school. You aren’t learning as much about self discipline.
Online training also has the advantage that the best schools are well known to the major medical transcription companies. This improves your chances of getting a job as the companies know the quality of students these schools turn out.
Keep working on that typing speed, as many companies will want more than that basic 40 wpm that let you get into medical transcription school. Besides, the faster you work the more you can earn as most jobs are paid by the line.
If you work for a medical transcription company you may not need to buy any of your own equipment, assuming you have a computer already. Many companies will provide you with the minimum software, foot pedal and headphones you will require. If not, they will tell you what is compatible with their systems.
Before you get hired you will want to have a good place to do your work. You will want relative quiet. Maybe you want to work at home to have more time with your family, but when you are working you do need to be able to work in peace. Trust me.
The trouble can be that many doctors dictate very poorly, as though they don’t realize anyone has to understand what they say. Nurses who have gone into transcription have been known to be shocked at the difference. So don’t assume your children can play at your feet as you work. Find a quiet place in the house or work when the kids are asleep or at school.
If you are serious about a career in medical transcription your time getting prepared will not be wasted. You can earn good money as a medical transcriptionist and have highly flexible hours. But it’s not for everyone.
anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/are-you-ready-to-be-an-at-home-medical-transcriptionist-97825.html
#1 by gliddergrl on October 23rd, 2009
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How hard is it to get hired as a medical transcriptionist working from home?
I’m getting ready to start school soon and I’ve heard that once your done, it’s hard to get a job working from home if you haven’t worked in a doctor’s office first. Just wondering how hard it is to get hired on if you’re in this situation
#2 by toao1978 on October 23rd, 2009
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you NEED experience. Without it no good medical facility is going to take your word and trust you. You need a history before they trust you at home with important information.
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#3 by zippythejessi on October 23rd, 2009
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It depends. You may have to work in an office before you can get work from home. Some newer or larger practices are more willing to teach a newbie the ropes, some are so set in their ways, no change is good. Just do your best in school and apply for anything and everything you’re qualified for. It helps if the school has job placement assistance – often these are companies who know they’re getting a newbie and, while the pay is sometimes less, it’s good for experience to work for them for at least six months to a year. Good luck!!!
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I’m a medical biller.
#4 by MELISSA B on October 23rd, 2009
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I don’t know of any place that will hire you to be a medical transcriptionist to work from home without first having you work from their location, which is usually a hospital. You have to understand that because of patient confidentiality issues employers have to make sure that any employee that they hire is going to be of top quality, and they just can’t do that if they are automatically sending work home with employees. Once you have proven yourself though, many places will let you start working from home.
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#5 by Shay on October 23rd, 2009
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My brother does medical transcription from home, but worked for the hospital on-site for several years. Many places in NY are now outsourcing their medical transcription overseas, unfortunately, so he considers himself lucky. Good luck to you!
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#6 by lovellovel on October 23rd, 2009
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hey its not that difficult, it depends on the company, by the way there are many listings for experiences/inexperienced medical/general transcriptionists at-
http://www.pcworkathome.net
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http://www.pcworkathome.net
#7 by Tonja M on October 23rd, 2009
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It’s not really that difficult.
Here are a couple of sites to help you out:
http://mtjobs.com and http://mtstars.com
both are job forums–check them out and hope this helps you.
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