Medical Transcriber Course
Dictating your way to good health & pay
I. Defining what a Medical Transcriptionist is and does?
Information includes: basic definition (i.e., medical transcriptionists transform the oral dictation of healthcare providers into written text for print or electronic storage.); overview and history of the profession; and specific environments in which to work (e.g., hospitals, corporations, clinics, private practices and part of an outsourcing team).
In addition, we will also include a general framework of the skill sets utilized by medical transcriptionists (dictation, listening and proofreading"editing abilities, as well as, personality traits (detail-oriented, analytical-minded, disciplined, possess an avid interest in medical subjects, and a people person) and the core knowledge (physiology, anatomy, currency with industry policies and procedures) required.
II. Earning Potentials, Career Path and Forecast for Professional Medical Transcriptionists
This lesson will focus on the basic practical considerations related to the profession: average salary figures, average workloads, vocational paths, and anticipated future demand for medical transcribers, etc.
III. A Day in the Life of a Transcriptionist
In order to understand how and where the medical transcriptionist fits into the healthcare picture, we will provide an insight into the relationship between medical practitioners and transcriptionists, the types of reports transcriptionists generate (operative reports, diagnostic studies, and procedure notes) and the importance of accuracy, speed and competency.
Additionally, this chapter will touch upon the code of ethics transcriptionist need to honor with respect to patient confidentiality, full disclosure and always conducting oneself in a dignified and manner.
IV. Training"resources"credentials for Medical Transcriptionists
In order for one to begin on the path of becoming a medical transcriptionist, this chapter will outline the methods available for obtaining knowledge (books, online tutorials, etc); recommended certifications (certified medical transcriptionist-CMT); accreditations; and an estimated timeframe and costs involved in education and certification"accreditation process.
V. Medical Transcription Materials
To embark on a career as a medical transcriptionist the following basic tools are required: transcribing equipment (recorder); software (medical"pharmaceutical spell check); and reference books (inclusive of The Book of Style for Medical Transcription (published by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity-AHDI), a comprehensive Medical Dictionary, the American Drug Index, and The Medical Word Book, The Surgical Word Book).
VI. Learning Basic Medical Skills
This lesson will explore the general steps involved in: taking and recapping dictation; enhancing one’s aptitude for English and grammar; becoming familiar with medical vocabulary; the concept of word building—specifically, words associated with anatomy and physiology; memorizing"quickly being able to look up select symbols and abbreviations; and metric conversions.
VII. Focus on Medical Terminology
As medical terminology and subsequent applications are critical aspects of a transcriptionist’s job, we will devote the entire chapter to discussing the structural formation of medical words, etymology the study of words and their origins (Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes), word dynamics, and the basic laws of English grammar & punctuation and those that apply specifically to medical documents (American Medical Association-AMA-style rules).
VIII. Reporting & Documenting
Once dictation has been taken, it is the transcriptionist’s job to produce ‘official’ reports and documents. Thus, we will use this chapter to both explain the various formatting styles that exist, as well as, introduce the range of documentation used (i.e., forms" reports inclusive of: hospital billing & medical reports, patient histories, operative reports, diagnostic studies, clinical documents, insurance carrier paperwork, consultations, admittance and discharge papers).
IX. Medical Legal Issues
When producing ‘official reports’ it is pivotal for transcriptionists to be abreast of the current laws affecting healthcare"patient service activities and the proper policies and procedures for completing and submitting ‘official’ documents on which they work.
Medical Terminology Concentration
This lesson will present a breakdown of Medical Areas with which transcriptionists will need to become well-acquainted. Each of the subsequent lesson will include a summary of the group—how all areas relate to one another—an indication as to their frequency of use and examples of applications and commonly used abbreviations"symbols.
X. Medical Terminology Concentration
Group A to cover the following specialty areas: cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, hematology/oncology, hepatology, pulmonary medicine, and rheumatology.
XI. Medical Terminology Concentration
Group B to cover the following specialty areas: allergy and immunology, alternative medicine, chiropractic, dermatology, emergency medicine, family medicine, genetics, infectious disease, neurology, nutrition/dietetics, otorhinolaryngology, pain management, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, podiatry, psychiatry/psychology, and vascular medicine.
XII. Medical Terminology Concentration
Group C to cover the broad area of General Surgery
XIII. Medical Terminology Concentration
Group D to cover the following specialty areas: cardiac surgery, dentistry and oral surgery, neurosurgery, obstetrics/gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, thoracic surgery, urology, and vascular surgery.
XIV. Medical Terminology Concentration
Group E to cover the two specialty areas of: Anatomy and Physiology.
XV. Medical Terminology Concentration
Group F to cover the singular specialty area of Disease Processes
XVI. Medical Terminology Concentration
Group G to cover the area of Pharmacology
XVII. Skill-Training for Transcriptionists
To enhance one’s basic understanding of the transcriptionist profession, this lesson will offer useful suggestions and tips for improving one’s skills in the following areas: deeper medical knowledge; increased dictation speed; production of more professional-looking reports; ways to develop better working relations with medical practitioners, and, down the road, advanced certifications"accreditations to potentially pursue.
XVIII. Associated Organizations/Resources
To help guide both those looking to become transcriptionists, as well as, those already working in the field, we will supply a list of respected organizations (i.e., American Association for Medical Transcription-AAMT-and the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity-AHDI) and links to sites (e.g., Journal of the American Association for Medical Transcriptionists-JAAMT) where regularly updated healthcare news may be found.
