There are lots of job opportunities in the medical world if you just know where to look. You can be a nurse, doctor, practical nurse or just a simple assistant to the doctor; the options are endless if you want to work in an 8-5 shift. But if you don’t want to have a boss and be in this business, you still have a chance in a home-based medical transcription.
Medical transcription is one of those fastest rising industries today. What you basically do is to encode the audio file generated by doctors as they give their analysis to their patients. They upload the audio file to their server and you download them, transcribe and return them as a written document.
Compared to becoming a nurse or a doctor, you don’t need to stay in a medical school for this. Online and offline there are lots of vocational school that offers medical transcription as a short course. If you’re online a lot, you can sign up for different online schools. However, it’s still good to have some teacher in front of you for proper coaching. The training usually lasts for two to six months. What you need to learn is to concentrate on medical terms, practice on your listening skills and a higher WPM (words per minute). Usually a medical transcriptionist should be at 70WPM or more.
Once you’re done at school, it’s time to set up the equipment. Besides the high speed internet and a good computer, you need to have an audio pedal. Instead of clicking on stop and forward, this pedal will let you pause, rewind and play the audio file with your foot. In your medical transcription school, you’ll be taught how to use that properly so that all you need to do is to encode and let your feet do the rewinding in case you missed something.
Now all you need are clients. There are two ways of getting them: online and offline. There are thousands of opportunities online: you can either hook up with one of the major medical transcription companies or work for them only at home. But to prevent yourself from being scammed, I personally suggest you talk to a hospital or any doctor and offer them your services in your local community. But if you persist in going online, look for known medical transcription forums or Craigslist for postings on project, clients and even rates. If you find a potential client, be sure to prepare as they will test you in your typing skills.
The best thing about medical transcription is that you don’t need to get stuck in the medical field, although medical transcription usually pays more. From time to time, you can sign up to transcribe meetings, interviews or speeches if you don’t have clients or there is free time in your hands.
The only thing you have to remember about medical transcription is that time is always essential. Once the audio file has been uploaded, you are usually given 12 hours to do that. Anything beyond that is unacceptable since it’s already about a person’s life and you have to up for the challenge to transcribe and return the document as soon as possible.
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Really its incredible. How fast this world is revolving, After reading your article, i came to the conclusion that without going to college, i can become a home based medical trascription. Thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful information
Comment by sandie — March 18, 2008 @ 4:15 am