scared of medical terminology
Posted By: Spokane on 2007-10-09
In Reply to:
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.
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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.
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
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.
Might want to take a medical terminology class at a local college. Anyone nearby to mentor with? nm
s
Get a copy of the BOS II for style guidelines and take medical terminology/anatomy classes at
s
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.
Scared
I want some feedback from all of you who are disgusted with MedQuist. I have been thinking about taking the Career Step course, now I'm scared to go through with it. Is the future really dim for MT's?
MedQuist is one of Career Step's PIE. Realistically, what can I expect?
scared too
You're not alone! I hope to be starting with Career Step at the end of the month, after taking out a Sallie Mae loan, and I've got to admit i'm more than a little scared. I want to be able to pay this money back, be productive. I guess I want to know that all this is going to be worth it. cherish
Just starting.. and scared..
Hi.. I'm so new, that in fact, I just signed up for an MT course at Career step.
Now, after reading this, i'm quite concerned that I will never have work when i'm done with this.
We live in a small rural community but there are a lot of doctors and one hospital.
I would like to stay home and work.. is there really money.
I see people talking about the money is not very good that they are making.
I only need to make 25,000 a year- can that be done? With outsourcing?
Thanks for your help.
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.
Another Medical Must
Does anyone know anything about this company?
I would appreciate any information on them.
Thanks !
Another Medical Must
Thanks. I did post it on the company board, but no replies yet.
Medical transcription is a lot more than just
typing. It depends on your knowledge of the material, how clear the dictation is, your knowledge of the material, how bad the doctor's accent is, your knowledge of the material, the quality of the recording, and, oh yes, your knowledge of the material. It also depends a lot on your knowledge of the material.
Becoming a Medical Transcriptionist
I am interested in becoming a MT but i'm not sure how to find out information on it. I'm trying to find out which is the best school, best rates and how it all works. Can I start working from home immediately or do I first have to work in an office? Is it hard to find a job? is the pay good? If anyone has any information for me please let me know - I'm getting desperate!
getting a Medical Transcription Job
I have taken a Medical Transcription course through PCDI but every job that I have applied for has wanted experience. How do you get experience if no one will hire you? Has anyone else had this problem? Please help...I'm so frustrated with the whole thing!!!
a medical transcription job
I finished a medical transcription class in June of 2005 and worked for a surgeon for 3 months. I was driving far for little hours. Can anyone tell me of a company that hires transcriptionists with very little experience
well, if you want to do medical transcription, then you want to get a job.
to get a job as a newbie is not as easy as you think. Some of the schools partner with companies who will take their newbies, with some additional specific training. So it increases your chances of getting a job - that is, if you want to work for the companies that partner with the school. Otherwise, you may want to go to the community college if they have a certificate program because at least you will have college credit towards your degree for your next job, when MT tanks.
Medical Secretary
Medical Secretary making $8.00/hr???? Where are you? Here in the DC Metro Area we are making $12-13/hr on average to start.
Do you have a medical dictionary?
x
AC Medical Records?
HI! Has anyone heard of AC Medical Records in Oregon? I was offered a position with them and was wondering if anyone had any info. Thanks in advance!
Amanda
Medical Transcription is
looked upon as a stay-at-home-Mom's dream job. A way to really make a great living while Junior is looking over your shoulder. The advertisements do state that this works very well for family life. Career Step has on the opening page "eliminate daycare". So, do you think that MT's are being mislead? If I had a toddler, I would jump at the chance to learn a way to make money at home all the while raising Junior. JMO.
not unless you have some medical training
nm
Medical Dictionary
Question for experienced MTs...can I find a good Medical Dictionary that can be downloaded into Microsoft Word or similar program...if not, can you please advise me on what you work with?
Medical Dictionary
Thanks everyone!
Medical Transcription
Hi,
I know what you mean. The same thing happen to me and now the only thing you can do is enroll in another school. I am enrolling in M-Tec at the end of the month. I have researched and researched. This is one I choose.
Best of luck to you!
Barb
Medical Spellcheck
Can someone tell me the best medical spellchecker to buy? I need a new one and I do not like the old one I used
Medical Transcription Job
Does anyone know who hires new medical transcriptionist? I've been searching for 4 months know and cant find anything.
Medical Transcription Job
I have been looking for a medical transcription job for 6 months know and have had no luck, it seems they all want someone with experience, if anyone could please give me some advice.
Medical Transcription Job
Could anyone let me know who hires new medical transcriptionist?
Best medical references
The school I am enrolled in sent me a Stedmans Medical Dictionary. I don't have any drug reference books or anything else. What do you recommend for drug reference books and dictionaries? Also, I am wanting to try to supplement my education as much as possible before I graduate. Does anyone have any advice on how to do this? I guess experience is probably the best thing?? TIA
New Medical Transcriptionist
Hi
I am a 2003 graduate of Mountain State College Parkersburg WV, with an Associate Degree Medical Transcription. After graduation I had my fourth child. I have not been able to get a job doing Transcription because I lack the needed experience. I would love to work from my home doing entry-level work. Anyone have any suggestions? I would appreciate some advice.
Thank you
Laura
slcdcp6@yahoo.com
Medical Transcription..sm
If it is really as you, Older MT, say, then I must say that
Medical Transcription
is just the most ridiculous, frustrating, unrewarding, exploiting, underpaid, disrespecful, unorganized, illogical, etc......
occupation there is.
This isn't even a profession!
medical records clerk
Are MTs over qualified for a medical records clerk?
MLS- Medical Language Specialists
Saw this posted on one of the message boards are they talking about accents? if not, what does it mean?
Ana
RE:MLS- Medical Language Specialists
Medical Language Specialists; another term for transcriptionist.
medical reference books
does anyone use Tabers?
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