Medical Transcription

1. What is medical transcription, how is it done, and what does it pay?

Medical transcription is the process whereby one accurately and swiftly transcribes medical records dictated by doctors and others, including history and physical reports, clinic notes, office notes, operative reports, consultation notes, discharge summaries, letters, psychiatric evaluations, laboratory reports, x-ray reports and pathology reports.
It involves receiving dictation by tape, digital system or voice file, and using ear phones, a foot pedal for start-stop control and a word processing program. A variety of word-processing systems are used. It requires good listening and language skills, computer skills and knowledge of medical terms.

Several dictionaries are necessary: Medical definitions, medications, medical terms by specialty, laboratory terms, surgical terms and abbreviations. Specialized word lists are also helpful, and journals and computer networking are helpful for current information about new medications and terms. Transcription is done more efficiently with the use of a medical spellchecker and an extensive abbreviation system such as Instant Text or Smartype.

As an employee in an office or hospital, transcriptionists may be paid by the hour. In the year 2000 in the United States, a starting transcriptionist in an office may make the equivalent of $8-12 per hour. After two years of experience, one can expect to make the equivalent of $12-20 per hour in an office. National transcription companies usually require 1-5 years of hospital experience.

Statutory employee status is the same as independent contractor except that the company pays half of the FICA tax (about 7.5%) and withholds the other half. Independent contractors pay the 15% as self-employment tax. Self-employed transcriptionists provide their own benefits. They may start at the equivalent of $10-15 per hour (7-14c per line), and within several years can expect to earn $15-40 per hour, depending upon the type of work and equipment used. Quarterly payments on taxes and self-employment taxes are required. Equipment expenses are tax deductible, including a percentage of home expenses if working at home.

Occupational Outlook Handbook on MT, http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos271.htm

Chart comparing IC and employee salaries, http://www.mtdaily.com/mentors/line/chart.html


2. How does one become a medical transcriptionist?

For an experienced word processor, it is possible to learn medical transcription while working in an entry-level position, but it is rare because of the need to learn medical vocabulary and formats. Some colleges and hospitals offer classes, and there are several home-study courses available.
MTs work in doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals and transcription services. They also work from home, usually after 2-3 years of experience in an office or hospital. With more experience, MTs go on to teach, supervise, consult, edit and write in the field.

How to Be a Medical Transcriptionist, book by Cynthia Peavler Bull, http://www.cynrje.com/medicaltranscriptionist.htm

Medical Transcription, Getting Started, book by AnnaBelle Berg, http://medical-transcription-gettingstarted.com

How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist, book by George Morton, CMT, http://www.workingfrom.homestead.com, 609-924-4748, georgecmt@aol.com, Interview, 11/98

Step-by-Step Guide to Medical Transcription at Home, book by Michele Miller, http://www.medical-transcription-at-home.com/

How to Start Your Own Home Medical Transcription Business, ebook by Ellen Jeffreys, http://www.homemedtranscription.com

Medical Transcription, Getting Started, book by Annabelle Berg, http://medical-transcription-gettingstarted.com

Home Medical Transcription E-Book http://www.homemedtranscription.com

Strategies For Establishing And Managing A Home-Based Medical Transcription Business http://www.medicaltranscriptionbusiness.com/

3.On-Line and Correspondence Courses:

Andrews School, http://www.andrewsschool.com/, Linda Andrews, 5601 NW 72nd #167, Oklahoma City, OK 73132, 405-721-3555. Dial 999 when the recorded message starts. You will hear a series of beeps. The system should allow you to leave a message if no one answers. linda@andrewsschool.com
At-Home Professions, home-study course, 2001 Lowe Street, Fort Collins, CO 80525. 1-800-333-2846, Fax 1-970-223-1678. http://www.at-homeprofessions.com/. Includes audio cassettes, lessons, text materials and flashcards. Susan Henry, SusanH824@aol.com.

Blackboard.Com, http://www.blackboard.com, free online medical terminology courses.

Brighton College, 3855 Fishcreek Road, Stow, OH 44224, http://www.brightoncollege.edu phone: 800-231-3803 fax: 330-673-4833

CAI Transcription, Cheryl Izzo, http://www.caitranscription.com, 609-698-6544, 116 Stillwater Road, Barnegat, NJ 08005.

CanScribe.com: http://canscribe.com/, CanScribe Career Centre Inc., British Columbia, Canada phone. 250.860.1535 fax. 250.860.4712, toll free. 1.800.466.1535 info@canscribe.com

Career Step, http://careerstep.com, 1220 North Main Street, Suite 6, Springville, Utah 84663, 801-489-9393, Fax 801-491-6645info@careerstep.com

Central Business School, http://www.upfirst.com/cbstrain/medtrans.htm, Central Business School, 906, 226-5270, michaeleen@upfirst.com.

Education Direct, http://www.educationdirect.com/index.html, 800 889-9593, FAX 570-343-8462, P.O. Box 1900, Scranton, PA 18501

Garb Transcription, http://www.garbtranscription.com, JGarb87517@aol.com, (415) 927-8132.

GMT Distance Learning Center, http://medicaltrans.net, PO Box 1421 Kaunakakai, HI 96748. Toll free 877-779-8779, direct 808-660-6603, info@medicaltrans.net

Kamtek MT Training, http://www.kamtek.qualdata.com/, Bellevue, WA, 425, 814-2239, kamtek@qualdata.com, Kathy Johnson.

Laird's School, http://www.lairdsschool.com, 1565 Highway, 37 West, Suite 2, Toms River, NJ 08755, 800-209-9899, fax 732-818-1825, info@lairdsschool.com

List of MT Courses: http://www.medical-training.info/medicalTranscription.html

Medical Transcription A to Z, http://www.medtranscription.com, 4022 E. Greenway, #11-168, Phoenix, AZ 85022, 800, 484-9731, Deborah Burns, dburns622@aol.com.

Medical Transcription Education Center, M-TEC, a 3-tiered program, http://www.mtecinc.com Susan Francis, sfrancis@mtecinc.com, or inquirie@mtecinc.com, and Kathy Kropko, kkropko@mtecinc.com.

Medical Transcription Made Easy: http://www.sylvansoft.com/medical-transcription-course.htm

Meditech, Inc., Personal Edge Course, http://www.meditec.com, 1572 South 400 East, Kaysville, UT 84037, 801, 451-9858, Info@Meditec.Com.

MediTrans, http://www.medi-trans.com, P.O. Box 99, 43 Main Street, Richmond, ME 04357, 207, 737-2381, fax 207, 737-2736, Pamela Lewis, meditrans@ime.net

MedTrans, http://www.learn2workathome.com, Park-Youhanaie Enterprises, 4025 East Chandler Boulevard, Suite #70-A27, Phoenix, Arizona 85048, mary@learn2workathome.com, (480) 777-9110, (877) 331-4222 Fax:(480) 759-3035.

MT Advantage Career Center: http://mtacc.net/ 460 McLaws Circle Williamsburg, VA 23185 Call toll-free (877) 336-8222

MT Support Services, http://www.mtsupport.com/, 15401 Warwick Boulevard, Newport News, VA 23608, 800-427-1039.

SETT, Inc., http://www.settinc.com, 908 Audelia, Ste. 200 PMB 271, Richardson, TX 75081-5150, sett@att.net, 972, 234-1283, Fax 972, 889-8083.

The School of Medical Transcription, Professional Career Development Institute, Atlanta, GA. http://www.pcdi.com/courses/yy/, 1-800-223-4542. Ask for Dept. XXJ909.

The SUM program, http://www.hpisum.com/mt_train.ihtml, from HPI, Health Professions Institute, Box 801, Modesto, CA 95353, 209, 551-2112, hpi@ainet.com

TNI, http://www.tniworkshops.com/

Transcription Services, http://www.transcriptionservices.net, Stephanie Jewett, 4615 Beaver Crest Drive, Des Moines, IA 50310, 515-255-0525.

Wolfe q.d. Transcription, http://www.wolfetranscription.com, 20 practice tapes. Debbie Wolfe, wolfescrip@aol.com, 407-657-6564.

4. Are there any organizations for MTs?

On-line MTs are researching and networking through email, newsletters, state boards, forums and web sites.
AAMT, The American Association for Medical Transcription, http://www.aamt.org was founded in 1978. aamt@sna.com, P.O. Box 576187, Modesto, CA 95357-6187; 800, 982-2182. Fax: 209, 551-9317. Members receive the bimonthly Journal of the Association for American Medical Transcription; access to AAMT's professional staff; discounts on products and services; educational conferences; the names of local AAMT Chapter Presidents; an examination to become a Certified Medical Transcriptionist; and opportunities to serve in local and national leadership.

MTIA, Medical Transcription Industry Alliance, for MT Services: http://www.mtia.com

HPI, Health Professions Institute, http://www.hpisum.com offers publications and seminars. Box 801, Modesto, CA 95353, 209, 551-2112, hpi@ainet.com.

AHIMA, American Health Information Management Association, http://www.ahima.org/index.cfm, 919 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60611, 312, 787-3672, info@ahima.org.

HIMSS, The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, http://www.himss.org, 230 East Ohio, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611-3269, 312/664-HIMS, Fax 312/664-6143, himss@himss.org.

Health Information Management Supersite, http://www.himinfo.com, OPUSCOMM Online, 200 Hoods Lane, Marblehead, MA 01945 USA, Phone: 800/650-6787, Fax: 800/639-8511.

Medical Records Institute, http://www.medrecinst.com, Medical Records Institute, 567 Walnut Street, P.O. Box 600770, Newton, MA 02460, 617, 964-3923, Fax 617, 964-3926, jasong@medrecinst.com.


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5. What journals are available?
Monthly Prescribing Reference, http://www.prescribingreference.com, 800-436-9262, Prescribing Reference, Inc., 53 Park Place, Suite 1010, New York, NY 10007 USA, Attn: Circulation Dept.--Code HS.

Advance for Health Information Professionals, a free biweekly to health information professionals: http://www.advanceforhim.com/, Advance@Merion.com, Merion Publications, Inc. 800, 355-5627

For The Record, a weekly for health information professionals: http://www.fortherecordmag.com/ Great Valley Publishing Company, 1288 Valley Forge Rd., P.O. Box 2224, Valley Forge, PA 19482.

Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Journal of AHIMA, http://www.ahima.org/products/subscription.html.

Journal of Healthcare Information Management, http://www.himss.org/ASP/publications_jhim.asp .

MT Daily Rounds, http://www.mtdaily.com/rounds, a Friday E-mail newsletter with highlights from MT Daily and links of interest.

6. What companies publish or sell medical dictionaries and word books and CDs?

See the Books Direct for all your reference book needs at the lowest prices.
Both the MTDaily.com Classifieds and the MTDaily.com Bargain page have used books at reasonable prices.

Paul Norton sells and buys used MT books, pnorton1@twcny.rr.com, 800, 628-8477.

American Association for Medical Transcription, http://www.aamt.org 800, 982-2182, Book of Style and word books.

Facts and Comparisons, American Drug Index, and Quarterly Drug Index http://www.factsandcomparisons.com/shop.asp, (800)223-0554 or (314)216-2100.

Health Professions Institute, http://www.hpisum.com, Box 801, Modesto, CA 95353, 209, 551-2112, hpi@ainet.com, word books and more.

Prentice Hall, http://www.prenhall.com, Saddle River, NJ 07458, 800-811-0912, Fax 515-284-2607

W. B. Saunders now Elsevier, http://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/specialty.jsp?lid=3&sid=442, word books and Dorland's.

Stedman's of Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, http://www.stedmans.com">, dictionary and word books.

Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia, Tarascon Publishing, http://www.tarascon.com/, 800-929-9926, PO Box 1159, Loma Linda, CA 92354


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7. What companies offer medical spellcheckers, electronic dictionaries, line counters, ergonomics, and other transcription equipment?

For WP5.1, books, and used equipment, see used sales at http://www.mtdaily.com/ads.html. Also see http://www.recycledsoftware.com, and http://www.ebay.com.
The Abacus line counter: http://www.theabacus.biz/index.html

MedPen and MedPad, automated formats, line counter, and more http://www.medpen.net, 800-579-4300, Fax 727-579-4300, Joe Vann, medpen@ibm.net, 3131 Emmaus Way, Cosby, TN 37722.

Stedman's of Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, http://www.stedmans.com, 800-638-3030, 301-714-2300, Fax: 301-824-7390, P.O. Box 1600, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

W. B. Saunders now Elsevier, http://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/specialty.jsp?lid=3&sid=442.

Spellex, spellchecker and online spellchecker, http://www.spellex.com 800, 442-9673, 813, 885-1968, Fax 813, 855-2581, custsvce@spellex.com, 8313 W. Hillsborough Ave Suite 430, Tampa, FL 33615

Sylcount and spellchecker, Sylvan Software, http://www.sylvansoft.com, 5144 N. Academy Blvd., #531, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, 800, 235-9455, fax 719, 495-8119, sales@sylvansoft.com

PractiCount line counter, http://www.practiline.com, Practiline Software, P.O. Box 34069 #381, Seattle, WA 98124-1069, USA, FAX: 206-984-3919, info@practiline.com

WP Count for WordPerfect, Productive Performance, http://www.foxcomm.net/productive/WPCOUNT.htm, 425, 788-8300, 31820 NE 103rd Street, Carnation, WA 98014-9710, 206-788-8300, productive@foxcomm.net

PC Anywhere, http://www.symantec.com/pcanywhere/ 9 Golden Hill St. Bethel, CT 06801

DataHand Ergonomic Keyboards, http://www.datahand.com, 3032 North 33rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017-5247, 602-233-6000; 800-875-7171; FAX: 602-233-3434, scotts@datahand.com.

Kinesis, http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/, ergonomic equipment, 5657 Memorial Avenue North, Stillwater, MN 55082, 888-881-7592, Linda Knothe, Cathy O'Brien, information@ergointerfaces.com.

Solutions for Humans, hydralic sit-stand tables and other ergonomic equipment, http://www.sforh.com, 365A Tesconi Circle, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, 800-9530-9262, 707-544-8000, Fax 707-522-1343, keyalt@keyalt.com

8. What is a C-phone? How is rerecording over the telephone done?

A C-phone is a digital receiver transcriber/phone that accesses digital dictation from another location over the phone.
Rerecording involves using a tape recorder or transcriber with recording capabilities, a speaker telephone, and an inexpensive phone coupler (such as those made by Radio Shack, http://www.radioshack.comOne method of re-recording involves using the telephone to dial into a hospital's digital dictation system and playing the doctors' dictations while recording them for transcription at a later time. Also see http://www.mtdaily.com/mt1/recording.html page.

9. What companies sell dictation and transcription equipment, including digital equipment?

Used equipment ads and auction on MT Dailyhttp://www.mtdaily.com/ads.html
All-Makes Office Machines, http://www.all-makes.com, 150 West 24th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007, Tel: 213-749-7483, FAX: 213-746-2905sales-support@all-makes.com

Arrendale Associates, http://www.aaita.com/, 800, 344-1323, 20484G Chartwell Center Drive, Cornelius, NC 28031.

Atlas Ergonomic Book and Copy Holders, http://www.copyholders.com, 800-get-atlas, Cincinnati, OH, dainoffm@copyholders.com

Auction Supersite, http://www.onsale.com, Auction Supersite

Barclay Enterprises, http://www.barclayent.com

Bob's PC Werks, http://www.bobspcwerks.com, 504 Bishop Avenue, Richardson, TX 75081, 214-763-3768, 877-320-1241

BVP Computers, (Bargain C-phone) http://www.dvips.com, 113 Grant Street, Plainfield, Ma. 01070, 413, 634-2187, Bruce Stockwell, bvpcomp@dvips.com

Bytescribe Development Company, digital equipment, http://www.bytescribe.com, P. O. Box 36183, Birmingham, AL 35236, 205, 425-1981 Ext. 4412, postmaster@bytescribe.com

Careflow Net, http://www.careflow.com, 15215 Edwards Ferry Road, Poolesville, Maryland 20837, 301-349-0700.

Catalyst Systems, http://www.catalystsys.com, 405, 943-1655, fax 405, 943-1655, P. O. Box 57210, Oklahoma City, OK 73157-7210, sales@catalystsys.com,p> Cooperative Systems, http://www.coopsys.com, 998 Farmington Ave., #101, West Hartford, CT 06107-2162, 860-523-1000, fax 860-523-1032, info@coopsys.com

Costal Audio, http://www.coastalaudio.com, 609-660-9211, Fax: 609-660-2131, 888-660-9211, info@costalaudio.com

Dictaphone, http://www.dictaphone.com, 888-483-6266.

Dictation Buddy: http://www.highcriteria.com/products_dic.htm, 4 Geranium Court, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada, L4C 7M7, 905-686-2285

Dictation Depot: http://www.dictationdepot.com/

Dictation Store: http://www.dictationstore.com, 877-894-7333, Scott Stuckey, scott.stuckey@digital-voice.com

Dictronics, http://www.dictronics.com/dictation.htm, Jim Harrington 781-444-2010 Ext. 550, Jharrington@dictronics.com, fax 781-433-7155, 110 Gould St., Needham, MA 02192.

Digital Accessories, 1-800-578-6854. Digital transcriber stations compatible with Dictaphone, DVI, and VDI.

Diskriter, http://www.diskriter.com/, 3257 West Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 800, 876-4737, Fax 412, 344-4834, info@diskriter.com

Dolbey Systems, 800, 878-7828

DVI, http://www.dvi.com, 417, 781-0717, Fax 417, 781-2589, dnolan@digitalvoice.com

Electronic Communications Systems, http://www.ecs-dictation.com, 4760 Mission Gorge Place, Ste. B, San Diego, CA 92120, 619-287-2000, Fax 619-287-2139, ecs@ecs-dictation.com.

Executive Communication Systems, new and used equipment, http://www.tvps.com, 1445 Donlon Street, Suite 1, Ventura, CA 93003 USA, (800) 644-9525 ext. 101, (888) 644-6979 fax, Tom Wilkes, tomw@tvps.com

FutureNet Technologies Corporation, http://www.futurenet-tech.com, Internet dictation service provider, digital equipment, 222 East Huntington Dr., Suite 208, Monrovia, CA 91017, 800-923-4258, 626-357-5032, Mary Patterson mpatterson@futurenet-tech.com

Graymar, http://www.graymar.com, Philips Speech Processing, dictation equipment.

Hilgraeve Inc., DropChute products, http://www.hilgraeve.com, 111 Conant Avenue, Suite A, Monroe, MI 48161, 800, 826-2760, sales@hilgraeve.com

Horus Development, http://www.horusdevelopment.com, digital rerecorder, Red Notebook word list.

HTH Engineering, Inc., http://www.startstop.com,825 Cypress Trails Dr., Tarpon Springs, FL 34688 USA, 866-254-0714, FAX 810-821-6940 sales@startstop.com

Internet Strategies, Webscription, http://www.internetstrategies.net/webscrip

Pretty Good Privacy encrpytion for E-mail, http://web.mit.edu/network/pgp.html

Novastor for E-mail encryption software, http://www.novastor.com, sales@novastor.com, 805-579-6700, Fax 805-579-6710, 80B West Cochran, Simi Valley, CA 93065.

Ronald Isabelle buys and sells used transcribers, 2623 McKann Avenue, Norfolk VA 23509, (757) 853-0362, chrismer@exis.net

R. T. King Co., http://www.transcribers.com, new and used equipment, 2971 Plaza Del Amo, Torrance, CA 90503, 213, 747-0194, boki@sprynet.com.

Lanier, http://www.lanier.com, 800-708-7088, or 800-526-4371, Fax: 1-800-252-9703, Lanier Inquiry Services, P.O. Box 785, Dayton, OH 45401.

Live Message America Smartset transcribe station, http://livemessageamerica.com/, 866-LMA-0000, sales@livemessageamerica.com

Martel Electronics, Discount, http://www.martelelectronics.com, martelsales@worldnet.att.net, 800-553-5536, 714-572-0180, 714-572-0183 fax, 2013 Miraloma, Placentia, CA 92670

Narratek, http://www.narratek.com, Joe Weber, 617, 566-1066

Norcom Electronics Corp., Trumbull, Connecticut, 877-722-7551, http://www.norcom-electronics.com

Office Depot, http://www.officedepot.com, sells a $30 Sony transcriber.

Office Direct, http://www.officedirectinc.com, 123 West Madison, Suite 402, Chicago, IL 60602, 312/739-0703, 312/739-0727, OfficeDirect@officedirectinc.com

Olympus Company, http://www.olympusamerica.com/digital/dhome.html, 800, 622-6372

PC Dart, C-phone compatible with Lanier, http://www.bcb.org. Dick Cummins, 800, 563-5418.

Programming Resources, Inc. (PRI), 4711 Trousdale Dr.; #124 Nashville, TN 37220, http://www.programmingresources.com/, 800-497-5281

Tek Discount Warehouse, http://tekgallery.com/, 888-262-8272.

ToppCopy/Copyfax, http://www2.epix.net/~ffalzett/h01.html, 1110 Saginaw Street, Scranton, PA 18505

TranscriptionGear.com, http://www.transcriptiongear.com, admin@transcriptiongear.com, 1.888.834.2392, International 1.540.582.5844, FAX 1.540.582.8095

Van Belkum, http://www.vanbelkum.com, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1-800-968-2740

Voice Network Systems, VoiceFlow, http://www.vnsi.net/index2.html, 3420 Pump Road, #201| Richmond, VA 23233 | (800) 380-7370.

Voice Systems, 800-327-5065, digital transcribers compatible with Dictaphone and DVI.

VoiceWave, Boston Bar Systems Corp., http://www.bostonbar.com, Unit #23 - 7695 Saint Albans Street, Richmond, BC, Canada, V6Y 3W8, 604-303-9876, Fax 604-279-9265, mgaylie@istar.ca.

VSI, Voice Systems Integration (interfaces for digital systems), http://www.vsi-inc.net/, 816-741-1954, sales@vsi-inc.net, 6100 NW 77th Street, Kansas City, MO 64151, 816-741-1954

Winscribe, http://www.winscribe.com/

10. What books are needed to do medical transcription?

An English dictionary, a grammar and style guide, a complete medical dictionary, a drug index, a laboratory and pathology word book, a medical word book by specialty, a surgery word book, a medical abbreviation word book, other specialty word books and a physician directory.
A few medical books that are used by MTs are lin the following list:
2000 American Drug Index by Billups, by Facts and Comparisons, sold through Stedman's
Saunders' Pharmaceutical Drug Book by Drake & Drake
Quick-Look Drug Book
The Medical Word Book by Sloane, 3rd Edition, Saunders
Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language by Gramercy
Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary,Saunders
Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Stedman's Radiology and Oncology Words
Stedman's Dermatology and Immunology Words
Stedman's Orthopedic and Rehab Words
Word Book in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine by Sloane/Dusseau, Saunders
The Medical and Health Sciences Word Book
The Surgical Word Book by Tessier, Saunders
GI Words and Phrases by HPI
Medical Abbreviations by Neal M. Davis
Stedman's Abbreviations, Anacronyms, and Symbols
Saunders' Abbreviations
Cardiology Words and Phrases by HPI
Stedman's OB-GYN Words
American Psychiatric Glossary by American Psychiatric Press, Inc.
The Herb Book by John Lust
And many more


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