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Answers

1. What is medical transcription (MT)?

   Medical transcription is the industry that renders doctor-dictated reports, procedures, and notes into an electronic or paper format in order to create files representing the treatment history of patients. Health practitioners dictate what they have done after performing procedures on patients.

2. What does a medical transcriptionist do?

   A medical transcriptionist translates the doctor dictated files into written form for documentation.

3. What is the future of the medical transcription industry?

   There will be a need for medical transcriptionists into the foreseeable future. Although much is made of the possibility of speech recognition technology forcing transcriptionists out of jobs, there are certain things a transcriptionist can do which a machine cannot. For example, speech recognition software and technology is based on the predictability of dictation. Thus, errors in pronunciation, syntax, and grammar at present can only be rectified by expert people- transcriptionists.

   At times current or developing medical procedures invoke specialized clinical conditions and these conditions cause new terminologies to be introduced. Once again expert people- transcriptionists- can make adjustments quickly. Speech recognition technology can adjust but much more slowly.

   Transcriptionists can adjust to the variation in practitioner speech habits, in their training, in dialect differences, and in foreign doctor dictation language differences.

   These are just a few of the facts that bolster the argument that we shall need transcriptionists for a long time to come.

4. What is the job market for a medical transcriptionist?

   A well-qualified, conscientious medical transcriptionist, according to all the latest information, has a secure future. There is a huge demand for such MTs in all areas of the country, although presumably some regions have a stronger demand than others. With national services hiring, location is not as crucial as it once was. While voice recognition systems are seen as a distant threat to the MT's vocation, experts are predicting that it will be years, if ever, before voice recognition takes over the MT's vocation. Even then, experienced MTs will be needed as editors and record managers.

5. How much can I earn as a medical transcriptionist?

   Pay varies a lot. This chart will give you the low end. This is figured at the STARTING RATE working for somebody else in the lowest-paid parts in the country; so between $0.05 and $0.06 cents per line. The dollar figure is the GROSS ANNUAL INCOME.

   Gross Annual Income (Lowest Paying Markets)

   	50 WPM	60 WPM	70 WPM	80 WPM
   10 hrs/wk	$6,240	$7,280	$8,840	$9,880
   20 hrs/wk	$12,480	$14,560	$17,680	$19,760
   30 hrs/wk	$18,720	$21,840	$26,520	$29,640
   40 hrs/wk	$24,960	$29,120	$35,360	$39,520

   Now if you get your own client, DOUBLE THAT. If you type faster, YOU'LL MAKE MORE. If you work more, YOU'LL MAKE MORE. If you get your computer doing some of the work for you, YOU'LL MAKE MORE. If you make more than 6 cents per line, YOU'LL MAKE MORE. You get the idea. Oh, and if you are fortunate enough to live in places with higher standards of living, such as California or New York, you will make substantially more. Some people have been known to average between $40 and $50 AN HOUR! Most people make MORE THAN $20 AN HOUR. Any way you look at it, medical transcriptionists make EXCELLENT MONEY!

6. Who do medical transcriptionists work for?

   A transcriptionist can live in Podunk Valley, California, 100 miles from the nearest city, and work for a client at the other end of the country, in Boston or New York. That is happening more and more. MTs may work for medical facilities as employees in-house; they may work for transcription services in-house (actual employee) or at home (independent subcontractors or statutory employees).

   Potential clients are doctor's offices, medical clinics, hospitals (of all shapes and sizes), rehab centers, ambulance services, company medical centers (some big companies have their own medical transcription departments), and transcription services, large and small.

   There is also the option for a medical transcriptionist (MT) to acquire his or her own clients, in which case that MT is a self-employed entrepreneur.

7. How do I find work after I've finished the course?

   As part of our Platinum Program, we offer assistance with finding employment. Upon a student's graduation, we will supply him/her with a list of names and numbers of possible employers. Because a person's employment potential is based upon performance, we cannot guarantee employment. However, we do try to aid graduates in getting started in their employment. Our support network extends nationwide and has hundreds of contacts including services, clinics, and hospitals. Once again, this option is for students enrolled in the Platinum program.

   For all Career Step students, regardless of the enrollment option selected, you will be able to accurately transcribe medical reports. The course provides actual transcription experience, and the majority of our students throughout the country find employment upon graduation.

8. What do I need to work from home?

   To effectively work for most companies you will need a COMPUTER, but nothing fancy. Every computer on the market today is about 10 times more powerful than anything you need to do medical transcription. Essentially as a transcriptionist you will be word processing. If you can use a typewriter, you can use a computer for medical transcription, EVEN IF YOU HAVE NEVER TURNED ON A COMPUTER BEFORE. (However, the more familiar you are with computers, the more productive you will be and the more money you will make.)

   You will also need a TRANSCRIPTIONIST FOOT PEDAL. This is basically a tape player with a foot pedal for the STOP, PLAY, REWIND features so your fingers never have to leave the keyboard. There are several different types of tapes and transcribers. You won't know what you need until you get your first job. Some transcription services provide their employees with the necessary equipment. So, wait to buy anything until you know you can make money with it.

   You will need a good MEDICAL DICTIONARY. As a medical transcriptionist you will want to be able to find definitions as well as find words doctors might be saying. If you enroll in the course, you will receive a Medical Dictionary.

   That's it!! As far as equipment goes there is not a huge investment, even if you want to set up your own business.

9. Is Career Step accredited?

   CAREER STEP IS REGISTERED UNDER THE UTAH POSTSECONDARY PROPRIETARY SCHOOL ACT (Title 13, Chapter 34, Utah Code).

   Registration under the Utah Postsecondary Proprietary School Act does not mean that the State of Utah supervises, recommends, nor accredits the institution. It is the student's responsibility to determine whether credits, degrees, or certificates from the institution will transfer to other institutions or meet employers' training requirements. This can be done by calling the prospective school or employer.

   Career Step satisfies all the conditions to operate legally in the State of Utah.

   SUMMARY: Accreditation is a peer review process extensively used in education. Career Step has not sought to be accredited (1) because of the expense, (2) because its program is competency based, (3) because traditional approaches to training medical transcriptionists are often both accredited and inadequate, (4) because external reviewers are unlikely to offer suggestions for improving our program, and finally, (5) because there is no commonly shared definition of shared content nor a professional organization at present by means of which content codification could be engineered or by means of which students could transfer from one program to another.

10. How long does it take to finish the course?

    The Career Step Medical Transcription training program is designed to be completed in 640 hours, or full time for a period of four (4) months. Extensions beyond the four month enrollment are available.

11. What is your refund policy?

    If, for any reason, a student withdraws within fourteen (14) days after the initial access to online program materials has been granted, his/her money shall be refunded IN FULL, less a $35 application fee and the nonrefundable shipping and handling fee, and the Enrollment Agreement shall be rescinded. Under this policy the student must return any and all program materials and supplies received from the school before receiving the refund. Dates regarding receipt of the program will be based on the date of email with password and login for the online program. The student must notify Career Step by telephone before the fourteenth (14th) day to receive a return code, and returned materials must be sent to Career Step at the student's expense, insured and tracked through the carrier. The student will be assessed a fee of $10.00 per book for minor damage or retail price of book ($8.00 to $95.00 per book) if materials are returned written in, damaged, or destroyed. Pack returned materials to prevent damage.

    If, for any reason, a student withdraws after the initial fourteen (14) day review period, the cost of the program materials is nonrefundable. The portion of the program fee attributable to tuition is $100 for all programs. Tuition only is refundable up to sixty (60) days after the date of enrollment. Any Student withdrawing under the circumstances described herein terminates his/her enrollment and his/her right to transfer the program materials.