Does anyone know anything about medical transcriptionists, or whatever it's called??

[Serena]

I'm thinking that if I can get a job for the daytime, parttime or something like that, I would be able to do the medical transcription in the evenings and be able to be home with my girls.

Any advice, suggestions, whatever???

 

[JerseyJanice]

I'd look into that myself if I were laid off from my job.

The first thing I'd do is try searching around in the various 'net search engines to see what I got for "transcription." I've heard lawyers use this service, too, so the accent should be on transcription and typing, not medicine.

The next thing I'd do is try looking in hotjobs.com and similar sites, using "work at home."

Good luck, Laurie.

 

[doxdogy]

This is to strange. Just the other night I was talking to DH about doing that at home. Allows me to make an income and not have to leave home to do it. I have been meaning to post here on the CB to see if anyone had any info about this field.

Theresa

 

[CarolA]

Serena,
Call your local hospital and ask for the Health Information Department and then ask them for some leads on this. They probably can help you find the info you need. I know that you will need to learn some medical terms if you don't know them.

 

[Mermaid02]

I'm starting a medical billing and coding program in September... it's quite lucrative right now..... and it's only a year program.... call your local community college and see if they have a program!!

 

[LuvTigger]

Just wanted to reiterate what Mermaid said. Contact your local community college or school for adults and see if they have transcription classes so you can be properly trained and certified. Although you could probably do it without being certified, people may be hesitant to use someone that isn't certified.

At my old job, we frequently used a SAHM who was a legal transcriber. It was great for her, she wasn't even on our island. We would mail her the tapes and she would mail back the finished product. She would have to contact the people directly as far as payment for her services. I think she made pretty good money (something like $2.50-$3.00 per page). The only down side (based on this woman's comments to me) was that it was not always steady business, at least not in the legal field.

 

[janette]

You might check with SonjaH. She might know something.

 

[Serena]

You guys are the best!

 

[Tulirose]

Just because someone can type and spell mononucleosis, doesn't make one cut out to be a Medical Transcriptionist. At the barest minimum, take a class in medical terminology.

Be prepared to sit for hours in front of a computer monitor. If you are a social person and need to be around people, this is not the job for you. It is very self-isolating.

Computers have made the transcribing much easier these days with the spellchecks and short forms and formating already prepared. The word processing program you use will depend on where you end up working. So, you will need to be a little familiar with several.

If you should go so far as to take a MT course, be aware that in the real world, dictators will not be as clear and as succinct in their dictations as they are in the practice tapes. You will get a wide variety of accents, you will get more than your share of mumblers, coughers, burpers, and you will also get doctors eating while dictating, driving their cars (convertible no less) and doing various other things while dictating.

MT is not an easy field to break into. Most places want someone with a minimum of two years experience but with luck, you may find the one place desperate enough that they are willing to train a suitable candidate.

I do not wish to discourage anyone from entering this field. It has been my livelihood for 28 years and it has served me well. It has many rewards and is always challenging. I have just seen too many women (and a few men) attempt to enter this field thinking it will be a piece of cake and then get totally discouraged. You have to be self-motivated and very determined -- especially if one plans on working out of the home.

I just wanted to make sure you have your eyes wide open when entering this field. It really is a great field to be in and I wish you luck and success. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions you feel I may be able to help you with.

 

[Tulirose]

P.S. - In the meantime, check out this site. I forgot about it until just now: www.mtdaily.com

 

[Serena]

Thanks Tulirose. I wasn't quite sure how it worked.