Might want to take a medical terminology class at a local college. Anyone nearby to mentor with? nm
Posted By: wanderer on 2007-03-05
In Reply to: training - lauren
s
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- training - lauren
- Might want to take a medical terminology class at a local college. Anyone nearby to mentor with? nm - wanderer
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Take a medical terminology class - one class - at a community college (sm)
You don't have to sign up for the whole program, just take a medical terminology class and learn it inside and out. Get some medical terminology CDs and listen to them in your car. Find places with in-house transcriptionists to let you test and start out working in-house so that you will have help. It is very hard the first couple of months but gets much easier after that. I was a secretary, took anatomy and physiology and some other pre-nursing classes. Decided not to be a nurse, took a medical terminology class and that was it. Studied a lot, listened to tapes, went and tested, worked in house a few months. Have been doing this 12 years now.
Local college is best way to go plus a great mentor!
Wow, $6,000? I spent a fortune on a lousy school too before I went to the local college. I worked for the lady on the advisory board who trained me with a fine-tooth comb. It was the hard but best way to go. Besides, I got to dissect cadavers! Good luck!
Was your local course a single class or
a curriculum? How long did the training take?
I'm deciding on whether or not to train locally here or online with Career Step.
The advice you've been given sounds really good. I hope it helps you! Hang in there! :)
Medical terminology
I have to agree that this is one of the most fun courses in the MT program!
That said, do you have a good bookstore nearby? If so, maybe you can go in and take a peek in the "RMT Study Guide". That will give you a great idea of the extent of terminology you will be learning.
Good luck (but you'll do great)!
medical terminology
The medical terminology needed to be an MT is much more in-depth than most people realize. It's not something you can jump right into and start making decent money. There is also the fact that even if you know a lot of med terms, you have to be able to understand the doctors, who often have difficult accents or just don't speak well. Some people have been lucky enough, with a little knowledge of med terms and typing/spelling/grammar skills, to find a company that will take them on and train them (I did this, 13 years ago - I never went to MT school - I had a bachelor's degree in nutrition). I know there are others who had similar experiences. But this was years ago and these days (from what I'm reading on the board)I think the MT training programs are the best way to go. You'd be much better prepared. I know MT sounds like a wonderful work at home opportunity, and it can be, but it really does take time to build up the skills to make money at this. Good luck.
scared of medical terminology
Could anybody please explain to me how much medical terminology one has to learn while studying at M-Tec? Medical terminology to what depth? Superficially or like a doctor?
Thank you.
office experience + Medical Terminology - Is it enough?
Hi everyone,
I've been wanting to take an MT course for quite some time, but still haven't managed to come up with enough money. So - I was wondering. Do you think for a beginning MT job in a hospital, would previous office experience plus courses in Medical Terminology be enough? Have any of you successfully done this?
Thanks for the help! 
Christina
I went to a local college here.. and now...
I started off with $19/h plus incentive. Now, I make $22/h plus incentive at a local hospital. Yes it can be done.
How about seeing what's available thru your local college? Might be able to take
s
I went to my local Commuinty College
took all my courses online. Much less expensive than those "other schools" and the program I was in was more intensive than the others. I was hired by a national before I even graduated.
Best bet is local college for MT training
Please do not waste your money on those "fast track" schools that promise you training in 6 months to a year. I did one, and then had to go to the local college to get my real training along with a 2-year mentoring program typing OPs. Money used to be good (I was making $90,000 to $100,000) but now I cannot even make enough money to cover expenses (call-in system, phone lines, office rent, reference books, AAMT membership, DSL, voice file equipment, C-phone equipment, transcribers for local clients, stationary, constant software upgrades and reference book upgrades, business license, etc. Get the picture? Oh yeah, the most expensive of all--the medical expenses from 16 surgeries from all my work injuries as a Transcriptionist with 4 more surgeries to go and all the doctors, prescriptions at $1400 a month with insurance, insurance premiums, electric, etc. The list goes on. I truly wish I could get out.
Taking classes for medical terminology and "some transcription"
Most nationals will only consider you if you are an actual graduate of one of the AAMT-approved courses. If not, she may look for local clinics who are willing to train.
Check into your local community college.
You will get an excellent MT education and it won't cost you an arm and a leg. What people say about the "Big 3" schools is a lot of hype. JMO
training.....go to your local community college sm
and check out their training program.
Get a copy of the BOS II for style guidelines and take medical terminology/anatomy classes at
s
How long have you been away? Might need a refresher course from a local college or business school.
s
Any hospitals nearby?
I think if you want hourly pay a hospital is a good bet.
I think there is a national that pays hourly for the first few months or so, but I am not sure who.
Don't forget your local papers and local Temp. Agency or Manpower office. nm
s
Why not try local MTSO's or local doctors' offices
That's how I started out when I first became an MT. I found a very small local MTSO who gave me a chance and now I work for a local company and have been there for two years. It might be worth it to take a look. I basically trained at the MTSO's office for about a month so there was no testing involved at all. Just learning along the way. Good luck whatever you decide.
If you want to work local, take local course. Otherwise, online is the way to go.
Most msjor national MT companies will not be familiar with what kind of training you get locally, but they are familiar with Andrews and M-Tec training, and will waive the 2-year experience requirement for grads of those schools. A local hospital or doctor's office would be more familiar with a local MT training program than they would with national online MT schools.
The "expensive" online options really aren't all that expensive in the long run when you realize what an excellent education you get, not to mention help finding a job afterwards.
pay per class
Your husband is a SMART MAN! LISTEN TO HIM! If it sounds too good to be true it usually is. Many if not all of the "transcription schools" are nothing but a scam. An in fact, a lot of the "coding" schools are nothing but a scam. The ads are pushing the same thing that they pushed for transcription several years ago -- "Work at Home . . ." etc. Question, question, question. Kids or not, DO NOT GO INTO TRANSCRIPTION UNLESS YOU WANT TO WORK LIKE A WOMAN IN A THIRD-WORLD COUNTRY.
Math class
Some simple calculations would reveal that 0.055 would yield a mere $8.25/hr at 150/lph, which most newbies are not capable of producing. So let's be somewhat optimistic but more realistic and assume they could do 125/lph. That would yield a dismal $6.88/hr. I think we all know non-skilled labor that pays better than that; for instance, burger flipping. But to be truly realistic, most newbies can only hope to make about 100/lph for the first few months. There are state minimum wages that are higher than $5.50/hr.
Like I said, atrocious for ANYONE, even a newbie. As long as individuals are eager to grab up those slave wage jobs, the rates will only continue to drop. Sad reality.
Transcription--pay per class?
I need help. Through my research, I've found that all or most approved transcription schools require you to pay for the whole program (either up front or with a payment plan). I understand that since it is a specialized program with very specific content, it should be purchased as a "whole". My husband, on the other hand INSISTS that any legitimate school will have you pay per class and not commit to paying for an entire program.
Has anyone ever heard of transcription schools that charge per class?
never heard of pay by class
I can tell you what I did. I went to a vocational college locally that had a good program. They allowed you to pay by semester/quarter, and not the whole thing at once. Maybe that is what your husband meant. I don't have a lot of good experience with online schools. Check out ahdionline.org for accredited online MT schools if that is what you need to do. If you do go to a local college, you may be able to tap into local scholarships. That is what I did to help take the bite out of tuition. Or if you don't have a degree yet, there are government grants available out there. Most of the ladies in my class did that it seemed. Just do your homework and make sure you are comfortable with the program. Good luck.
I failed my first test...took another class and (sm)
got some medical terminology cassette tapes to listen to in my car - I listened to them everywhere I drove...no music for a few months, just terminology, listening and repeating. I went back to the same place and asked them to let me test again. They did and I passed. They had everyone work at their service for at least 3 months before working at home. The first month I made about $2.00 an hour - no kidding. I was just determined...it was very helpful to have other MTs working there with me to help (some chose to work in house and not at home). By the second month I was up to $13.00 an hour. Within a month I was working at home on my own. It is very hard at first but it gets easier - don't give up! 
OOhhhh - they have basket making classes? Too bad they don't offer a class on maturity.
**
Are you a medical transcriptionist? Have you experience or training in medical transciption?
You can't just say you want to be "an" MT and just start doing it. It is not easy.
FYI terminology
Hi Newbies!
Since I'm so ancient and all, I'd just like to pass a small note regarding a term I noticed while perusing this evening. Believe me, I've had my share of booboos in life (typed hypospadias with "ius" for 5 years before realizing it was "ias"!), so have always appreciated it when someone helps me along. I hope I'm not stepping on any toes.
When speaking of one nostril, it is a naris. When speaking of both nostrils, they are nares.
Therefore: "The left naris was infiltrated with topical anesthetic" would be the proper transcription.
Have an oh-so-wonderful weekend! 
....I mean 24, not 28, all have different terminology
nm
Medical Transcription/Medical Coding
Hi,
I am a MT and can't find a job or pass employment test. So, I have to take one of the AAMT approved schools this time around and was thinking about Medical Coding but, not sure of this. Does anyone know if Medical Coding is harder than Medical Transcription to pass or is the stress more intense? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a bunch!
Barb
Medical Coder or Medical Transcription
I am so confused!! I took a Medical Transcription course and could not find a job and it was not one of the BIG 3. I am about ready to go with M-Tec Medical Transcription School. But, I have been reading post about Medical Coders and now I do not know which to choose. I do not want to make another mistake and choose the wrong school or the wrong career. Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
BMT
MT terminology question
Continuing education is a good thing if you can get it. However, a good ear is more than half the battle IMHO. I started with 2 semesters of medical terminology. However, I started in the file room. Those 2 semesters of terminology are the only formal schooling that I have had, and I have been doing this for 16 years now. Get some really good reference books and develop your ears. That helps in the short term, and that may be all you need.
MT Terminology Question
Hi, I was hoping one of you could answer my question about medical transcription.
How well does one have to know medical terminology and surgical procedures to do this job? For example, when transcribing surgical procedures, does one have to understand every term of anatomy and everything going on in the surgery? For me this would be very difficult. And especially for surgeries, are MT's expected to understand everything so well that they are expected to catch if the physician may have misspoke about a surgical technique or other surgical aspect, and then query the physician? I used to do medical coding and for me surgeries were the most difficult.
Thanks in Advance
I would study terminology and if you can
get some practice tapes to use that would help. I know there are places on-line where you can test (google for them) to get an idea of where your weaknesses/strengths are. I don't know if your weakness is terminology or grammar or both and since you aren't getting your tests back and no one is telling you what you did wrong you may not know what the problem is.
If there is a test you can do on-line that you could do and send me and I could also hear the dictation I would be glad to give you some feedback.
The terminology in MT is much more in depth than
it is in nursing school. I can't tell you have many times I've gone to the doctor or been in the hospital and have had to spell medications for the nurses, or even describe the medication to the doctors.
You also have to be able to decipher dictation, which is just as bad as doctor's handwriting.
You can post your resume on the job boards and see if you get any hits.
Advice for new MTs needing help with terminology
Please ... AFTER you have done a thorough search on Google, etc., and you come to the Word or Drug board -- make sure you include the sentence the term/drug is in as well as the type of work you are doing. Of course, without the patient's name. LOL
...in our line of work. You NEED to know the terminology
z
You need the terminology/anatomy more. Each company has their own
way of formatting. If you have 25 accounts within a company each account can have a different format, so you learn a lot of that on the job. Being familiar with the Book of Style would be helpful. Not all companies go by BOS, though I think most do.
I don't know if there are specific things about format you don't feel like you learned or just in general ask questions, try to learn the BOS, there are style forums on some of the MT boards. There are also sample reports so you can get an idea of formats.
Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions and I'll try to help if I can.
The accreditation is actually the government's terminology. In other words, if (sm)
a school is "accreditated" it allows the student to apply for PEL grants, government loans, etc. Otherwise, they are private schools and not subjected to the government's way of running their program, etc., and the student is not eligible for the loans and grants that an "accreditated" school would be. This is no means changes whether the school is good or poor, just means whether or not they allow the government to dictate how they operate.
I totally agree with you, terminology is horrible!
NM
"Had I been able to even understand a little of the terminology they were speaking I could have d
That's why you need the education from the good schools. If you know exactly what the doctor is talking about, it would be much easier to understand him, even if he is a lousy dictator. And a LOT of them are lousy, and a LOT of them are ESLs. And the dictation certainly isn't any better just because you are doing it from home.
Mentor
I have been working as a Transcriptionist for about 5 months now. I have a really great job but still feel very new at this and would like a mentor. Preferably a mom, who did this job to be with her children. I have two small children and time to work comes in small short spurts. I just want someone to call about things, like Word Expander help, time management, general transcription questions. I also would not mind having a friend in this business. Thanks alot.
Mentor
I went to a good school, I did an internship with a company for 2 months, I had a good GPA, and passed the test. I am an IC and had a friend I graduated with got on with them first. I have been very lucky, but I work very hard to keep up.
mentor
How did you find a mentor? How do I go about finding one? I really want to start working. Thanks
To actually mentor someone
who didn't go to Andrews or M-Tec would require you sit in the same room with me so I could listen to dictators who are giving you trouble.
You could have paid only $4000 and you'd be hirable right out of school.
I need a MENTOR
Does anyone know of a legit mentor or mentor program so I can get some experience. I'm in catch 22 and can not get out of it. !!!!
Thanks,
Barb
Mentor
While I don't know of any off hand . . . I can offer some advice. Look for a local MT in your area who is willing to take you under her wing and show you the ropes. It is the best way to learn . . . just my opinion. An MT did that for me, not as a newbie, but when learning a new specialty and I will be forever thankful to her.
mentor
I would like a mentor I can't seem to find a job doing this. Help please
mentor
I would like all the help I can get. I have not found a job yet.
Thanks!
Becky
mentor
I would welcome a mentor!
mentor
 I am in need of someone to help mentor or just someone to help proof my work or something.
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