Beginning MT Requirements

I get questions all the time about becoming a medical transcriptionist. Some people think all you need is to be able to type and spell. I have listed below some basic requirements that are important to become an MT.

1. You must be able to type! If you don't know how to type or you have not typed for some years, then you need to get a typing program and start learning and practicing. Some of the jobs require a certain speed starting at least at 60 wpm and up. For a new medical transcriptionist quality is much more important than quantity (yes, you do need to spell those drugs correctly) but your speed will pick up as you do more and more work.

2. Take a medical transcription course. I truly don't know how someone can do it without take an MT course. Maybe someone who is already working in a medical facility and already familiar with the medical terms could do it but the average person needs specialized knowledge for this type of work. There are many medical transcription schools out there. Start researching them and find one that suits you financially and academically.

3. I have only worked for clinics. Hospital transcription requires a more advanced course. You could talk to personnel at some hospitals and see what their requirements are. A lot of schools offer complete training that would qualify you for hospital and specialties transcription.

4. Even though you work at home you must see this as a real job requiring many hours at the keyboard. Most doctors and hospitals require 24-hour turnaround. In the beginning it will take a long time to transcribe as you will have to be looking up a lot of things so you will be pretty slow. As you get more experience your speed will pick up and you will then be able to make more money as you can take on more and more work.

Marilyn Roberts
Medical Transcriptionist

Medical Transcription Sample

I thought I would show you what a typical examination that I type regularly is like. This will show you the importance of taking a medical transcription course. As someone who had no prior medical experience, I could not type this dictation without having first taken my medical transcription course.

A lot of medical transcription you will learn from experience but you need to at least have some good training in medical terminology.

This dictation I am going to show you is a sample of what I typically type for a clinic with general practice physicians. The S.O.A.P. format is generally used for examinations and are Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.

Anxiety, Hypertension, Hypothyroidism

09/01/07

S: Patient is doing well on current medications. She needs a TSH and basic metabolic panel to follow up her hypothyroidism and hypertension. She currently needs no refills.

O: GEN: This is a well-developed female in no acute distress.
Psychologic: Good eye contact. Good affect.
HEENT: TMs are intact bilaterally with no bulging or erythema.
Nasal mucosa is moist and pink.
Eyes: Pupils equal, round, and reactive to light.
Oropharynx: Slight cobblestoning.
Heart: Regular rate and rhythm without murmurs, rubs, or gallops.
Lungs: Clear to auscultation bilaterally without wheeze, rhonchi, or rales.
Neurologic: DTRs are 1+ at bilateral patella and Achilles. Ataxic gait noted.
Extremities: No edema.

A: Anxiety under good control.
Hypertension doing well on current medication.
Hypothyroidism doing well.

P: TSH and basic metabolic panel obtained today.
Continue current medications.
Return to clinic in two weeks for repeat BP.

PMD/mjr

D: 09/01/07
T: 09/01/07