Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions are ones that are frequently asked by people who inquire about the Medical Transcription program.
1. What is medical transcription (MT)? What does an MT do?
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. Do I need to be a good typist to be a medical transcriptionist?
If you have reasonable typing skills (50 wpm or greater) and a desire to learn, then we will take care of the rest. Our Keyboard Kinetics is designed to help you increase your typing speed and your accuracy, both of which are vital to the success of a medical transcriptionist. If you need assistance to get your typing up to the 50 wpm entrance requirement, we recommend that you acquire a copy of 'Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing', which is inexpensive and widely available at office supply and computer stores.
3. 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 MT's throughout North America . With international services hiring, location is not an issue and with an aging population there is no end in sight for the growing need for MT's.
4. What type of student support can I expect?
You have access to both Thompson Career College's and Career Step's student services departments. They exist to help students in whatever ways they might need help. We answer questions about the course, any problems or confusing issues students may have. We try to offer encouragement. We give suggestions and pointers on working effectively through the course and accept and pass on such suggestions and pointers as other students may come up with. We grade the final exam and provide instruction for those who do not pass it in hopes that our input will help them pass it the next time. We monitor the forum and focus on the issues that students bring up there. We welcome calls, emails, and letters from students and try to be responsive to their concerns in a timely manner. We simply see ourselves as mentors, trainers, and supporters, here to address whatever needs the students may have relative to the course and to the goal of becoming working medical transcriptionists.
5. How much practice transcription is included in the course?
There are more than 800 ACTUAL MEDICAL REPORTS, which you will type as part of your Career Step training. REAL DOCTORS dictated the majority of these. Medical transcriptionists and other people who were successfully involved in the medical transcription industry developed the whole Career Step program. The training you receive is the most practical and comprehensive available anywhere.
6. How long does it take to finish the course?
The program is 9 months long on a full time basis (37 weeks of class time and a 2-week break) requiring 30 hours of work per week, including 25 hours of online interaction with course materials, and 5 or more hours of time participating in online chat sessions, guest speaker sessions, typing practice and review.
Through conscientious transcription of the medical reports in the course, you will become fully qualified to work as a professional medical transcriptionist. You have access to the online course for one year. Extensions are offered in three-month increments for $150 each extension.
7. How is the final exam administered?
When you have completed the course, you contact Thompson Career College and request your final exam. Your exam will be taken online. You will be emailed the web address of the exam. You will have five working days from the date of receipt until your finished exam must be submitted online. You do not have the full five days to take the exam, however. You are on your honour to complete the exam in two days (which two is up to you), but the extra three days give you a cushion during which you can choose the days most convenient for you to take the exam. The computer initially grades your exam, but you do not need to fear that your exam score depends on the judgments of a computer. Our counsellors, human beings with medical transcription experience, will carefully evaluate your exam. You must achieve an 85% or higher in order to pass. If your score is less than 85%, you have two opportunities to take the exam again, at a charge of $50.00 per retake. Upon successfully passing the exam with a score of 85% or more, you become a Thompson Career College graduate, the goal for which you have worked so hard. Then it's onward and upward from there!
9. How soon will I receive my materials?
Students will receive a password by e-mail and may start the Online Course immediately. You do not need to wait for the reference materials or foot pedals to start the course. The course materials are shipped via ground courier. The average wait is about 2 weeks. Shipping is included in the price of the Books/Kit.
10. What are the benefits of taking an Online Course?
Online learning offers a great opportunity to improve your computer skills and develop your medical transcription skills and knowledge faster.
11. Working environment and system requirements
. A quiet study environment with a desk, a phone, a computer (specified below), good lighting that minimizes eye strain, a good chair that supports your lower back, and a mouse and keyboard that minimize hand and wrist strain.
. A computer running Windows XP or Vista with high speed internet access, a headset or head phones, an available USB port, any basic word processing program, an Internet Explorer or Firefox browser, and a printer.
. A good monitor that minimizes eye strain (17 inch or larger flat panel is recommended)
. A transcriptionist foot pedal (provided through the College)
. A headset for the phone is desirable, for hands-free discussion with support personnel and employers via the toll-free numbers.
If you have hardware or software that exceeds the recommended specifications, the course will work even better. |
