Cynthia Ann Lewis
Experience & Excellence in Medical Transcription

I.  INTRODUCTION

This article was written to answer numerous posts on the AOL
message boards requesting general information on medical
transcription and, in particular, starting a home transcription
business.  In 1994 I made the transition from IT corporate
executive to home-based medical transcriptionist, and these are the
methods I used in my successful venture.  

The information and advice offered here are prefaced by a colossal
"IN MY OPINION" as they are drawn from my personal experience.
There is no single, definitive word of authority on any part of
this career.  There are as many ways to enter this field as there
are entrants, and every working MT has his or her own opinion on
the best way to prepare for success.

A few short years ago, transcriptionists were known as "medical
secretaries" and depended solely on OJT, a typewriter and a bulky
medical dictionary.  Now we have state-of-the-art hardware, complex
software programs, specialty reference books, CD's and online
resources, and many MT's are certified by the national association,
AAMT.  Our training today comes from many sources:  on the job
(still); under tutelage and mentoring by experienced MT's; local
community college or vocational school classes; distance learning
courses by excellent (and some not-so-excellent) organizations.  

The information in this document is a compilation of what I've
learned through my own training experience with At-Home
Professions, the collective wisdom garnered from many generous
online MT's, my ten years of MT experience as an independent
contractor, plus my previous years of business and writing
experience.  

There is a great deal of information about medical transcription
available to you on the Internet, on AOL and other online services,
as well as excellent periodic newsletters and books written
especially for independent MT's.  If you are considering medical
transcription as a career, or if you are already an MT and want to
start your own home business, please use this article as JUST ONE
PIECE of data in your research... and I wish you good luck with
your decision.  

Also, please note that while I give some general medical
transcription information, the bulk of this material is geared
toward a home medical transcription business.  Links are
provided elsewhere on this website, but you are encouraged to also
do your own research into your areas of interest.


II.  IS THIS CAREER FOR YOU?

Medical transcription is the process of producing reports from
dictation by medical providers of the details of patient office
visits, clinical, radiographic and operative procedures, etc.
Virtually every encounter a patient has in the medical arena is
documented in some way.  Most providers and institutions have
formalized this documentation into the patient's medical record
through dictation and subsequent transcription.  In addition to
typing the report into the desired format, transcriptionists also
verify the dictation for accuracy -- both medical accuracy and
English-language accuracy -- so that the final report is a clear,
medically accurate representation of the encounter between patient
and provider.  

This "verification process" means that the transcriptionist must
have a thorough foundation in medical terminology, anatomy,
physiology, pharmacology, laboratory tests and values, medical
equipment and procedures.  In addition, every successful medical
transcriptionist will have superior research and English grammar
skills, along with excellent computer skills, typing skills and (if
you plan to have your own business) some familiarity with business
marketing and management.  Paying close attention to detail is
another quality that is essential in a good medical
transcriptionist.

Just having a computer at home and knowing how to type is
DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH to become a working, successful medical
transcriptionist.

If you have a clinical background in the medical field you may have
a head start -- as long as your English knowledge is as broad as
your medical knowledge.  In my opinion, the real foundation for
this field is a love for the English language and outstanding
grammar skills.  All other necessary knowledge can be "layered"
upon these, but if you are weak in the English department, I feel
your success would be limited.  

As you will verify and often correct the provider's English usage,
you need to be CERTAIN that the final structure of each sentence is
grammatically correct.  You need to know WHY (technically) a comma
goes here, but not there.... how to make THIS verb or pronoun agree
with THAT subject's number and person.... the special needs of a
compound sentence -- and don't forget semicolons, conjunctions,
gerunds, modifiers and prepositions!

If you don't love the English language,
If you have to check the dictionary when you sign your name,
If hyphens and apostrophes give you cold chills,
forget medical transcription.  It's not for you.

Although medical transcriptionists are not necessarily solitary
creatures, this is a solitary job.  For most of your day it will be
just you, your transcriber (with that voice in your ear), and your
computer.  This job does not have personal interaction as would a
customer service or medical assistant's job.  You may care about
"your" patients and pray for their recovery, but you won't see them
or speak to them personally.  Your part of their medical care is
doing your absolute best with every report, every day.

So what do you get in return for your in-depth training and your
excellent work?

There's no easy answer to the question of compensation in this
field.  

There are many different working environments available to a
trained, experienced MT, including hospitals, clinics, individual
and group medical, chiropractic, radiology, physical therapy
practices, national transcription services that hire or contract
home-based MT's, local transcription services who may also hire or
contract MT's, and owner-operator MT's (who may also subcontract
work out).

Income varies by geographical area, by employment versus
entrepreneurial situation, by your own desire to work full-time,
part-time or something in between.  A broad range would probably be
from $10.00 per hour in a doctor's office in a rural area to $75.00
per hour as an independent (with all related expenses, including
"benefits" coming off the top), and even more as a service owner.

While this appears to be an excellent field for those transitioning
from another career to working at home, you need to be aware that
there can be a "catch-22" in this profession.  Because of the
difficulty of the work, experience is so valued that it is
sometimes difficult for "newbies" to get a job or clients without
experience (and of course, how do you get experience without a job
or clients?).

Many experienced (and very vocal) MT's on the Internet and online
services will flatly state that it is foolish to even attempt to
work at home without having spent time in an office or institution
or in an apprenticeship program or mentoring situation.  They claim
that only with an MT angel perched near your listening ear can you
make it through the first few difficult months.

Maybe so.  

I suspect that some of these MT's have not had formal MT training
and that they learned transcription through OJT with a helpful pair
of ears nearby, and thus they think it's the best way.

However -- I have a slightly different opinion since I began
working at home with my own clients the week I finished my MT
training, and have worked full-time-plus since.

I feel that IF you take a reputable MT training course,
IF you really learn all that the course offers,
IF you have outstanding English language skills.
IF you have at least five years' experience in another field
(where you had serious responsibilities and acquired real skills),
IF you have a comprehensive library of references PLUS
excellent research skills,
and IF you are 500% committed to building a successful medical
transcription business,
THEN you can do it.

Those are a lot of "ifs" and they cover a lot of territory -- but
with persistence, skills, commitment and the courage to follow your
dreams, it can be done.

There are also quite a few moms with new babies or toddlers who
hope that a field such as medical transcription will allow them to
supplement their income from home.  I can't imagine it myself, but
there are several women who participate on AOL and the Internet who
do have small children at home and who are successful MT's.  I
defer to their experience -- you'll have to check out their stories
on your own.  

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