Medical Transcriptionist Jobs: Find one now!
Whether you’re looking for full-time or part-time work, medical transcriptionist jobs are a great option for people who want to take control of their career. With the option of working in an office or from home, becoming a medical transcriptionist opens up an array of options. If you’re looking for a medical transcription job, just enter your desired job title and location in the box below to see what openings are available in your area.
Medical Transcription: Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about medical transcription Jobs
For those who have considered starting a career in medical transcription you likely have several questions about what it’s really like to be a medical transcriptionist. As with most careers, your success in medical transcription has a lot to do with you, your level of medical transcription training and your dedication. There is a lot of information available about becoming a medical transcriptionist and below are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about the medical transcription career.
1. How much does medical transcription pay?
How much you can make in medical transcription jobs depends a lot on what kind of work environment you want. Those who choose to work in a medical office or for a transcription service generally receive a set salary which can range from $33,000 to $40,500 per year. Those who prefer to complete their medical transcription jobs at home can make substantially more because they generally bill on a per-line basis which means that if they control their medical transcriptionist salary with how fast they can work.
2. Can medical transcription jobs be part-time?
Absolutely! One of the benefits of a medical transcription career is that’s it’s flexible which makes it perfect for those who can’t work a full-time job or one with set hours. If you want to work for a transcription service you might find it a little harder to find a part-time medical transcription job but if you’re willing and able to do medical transcription jobs at home you can work as much or as little as you are able.
3. How much can one make doing medical transcription from home?
How much you can make doing medical transcription from home really depends on you. Because at-home workers generally bill on a per-line basis, your medical transcription pay will be completely dependent upon how fast and how much you work.
Medical transcriptionists who have a lot of experience can not only charge more per line but can usually also work faster therefore they make much more than those who are starting out. So basically your medical transcription salary is up to you and how much you’re willing to work.
4. Can I start my own company providing medical transcription services?
Most definitely! As mentioned above, one of the benefits of a medical transcriptionist career is the flexibility. This mostly comes into play with those who decide to start their own transcription service. Going this route can be more challenging because you have to manage your books, find clients and constantly develop new business but for those who are motivated, the possibilities are endless. If you’re interested and able to secure enough business you may eventually be able to hire additional medical transcriptionists to do more of the actual transcribing while you focus on building your own business.
5. Will I receive benefits?
If you decide to work in a medical office or for a transcription service you will likely receive some benefits if you are a full-time employee. These could include medical, dental, vision insurance, paid vacation, sick days and more. If you choose to start your own medical transcription service you will likely not receive those benefits but you’ll receive others including flexibility, the ability to charge your own rates and some tax advantages. Many times you can also receive health benefits through medical transcription or small business associations at a reduced rate which can be tax deductible.
Hopefully you’ve found the answers to some of your questions about being a medical transcriptionist and they’ll help you decide whether a medical transcription career is right for you.
Medical Terminology: The key to starting your medical career
Anyone who is seriously considering pursuing a medical career, particularly medical transcribing, should plan on taking a medical terminology course. A solid foundation in medical terminology is needed to provide the quality of work necessary to advance and be successful. During the medical terminology course you will acquire an in-depth knowledge of the human body and the terms commonly used to describe it and it’s conditions.
During the medical terminology course, students will learn the different word parts which are combined to describe various specialties and conditions. They will also learn pronunciation and spelling because many of the word parts sound and look similar but have very different meanings. Prefixes, suffixes and roots are essential knowledge for most people who want a medical career and you’ll learn them all during your medical terminology course. Once you’ve completed your training you should fee comfortable identifying the various terminology components and using them to determine the meaning of the word being used.
Students will be shown various word parts and learn how to connect them to provide meaning. For example, many medical terms are connected using the letter “o”. Take the word gastroenterology. This word consists of three parts: two root words – “gastr” (which means stomach) and “enter” (which means digestive tract) – and the suffix “logy” (which means the study of). They are all connecte together using the letter “o”. By knowing what the various word parts mean, you can determine that the word gastroenterology means the study of the stomach and digestive tract.
Learning the various word parts makes deciphering the meaning of medical terminology you’ve not see before much easier.
Medical Terminology for the body systems
In addition to learning all of the various word parts, you will also have to master the medical terminology associated with the body systems. There are ten body systems that you will need to become familiar with. They are:
- lymphatic
- circulatory
- digestive
- endocrine
- reproductive
- musculoskeletal
- nervous
- respiratory
- urinary
- skin and sense organs
These ten systems are what form the body and they can be complicated so it will take some dedication to master the information relating to each.
Medical terminology students will also study pathology which is the branch of medicine dedicated to studying the development and indentification of diseases which impact the different body systems. Students will learn how various diseases can affect different body functions. To go along with this knowledge, students will learn about the tests and treatments medical professionals use to fight various diseases. This part of the course will generally be divided by system and students will get an overview of the most frequently used tests and procedures.
As you can see, someone who is planning on making their career as a medical transcriptionist should plan on taking a medical terminology course as part of their medical transcriptionist training. It’s an investment of time and money that will pay off in better jobs in the end.
Transcription: What’s it all about?
What is transcription?
transcription is the act of converting spoken word or written notes into typed or electronic text. It is used in many industries by those who don’t want or are unable to type up their own information and it can be a very lucrative business if you have the right training and motivation.
What are the most common types of transcription?
There are many different kinds of transcription businesses. If an industry conducts, interviews, meetings or conferences, it potentially has a need for transcription services. That said, there are a few different types of transcription services that are more popular than others.
- Medical Transcription – Medical transcription is one of the best known types of transcription. As a medical transcriptionist, you will work with health care providers typing up their recorded or written notes for the patient medical files.
- Legal Transcription – Legal transcription is much like medical transcription in that you will work closely with attorneys, paralegals and other legal professionals to type up notes, statements and agreements.
- Interview Transcription – More and more businesses are beginning to record and transcribe interviews as a form of protection against legal claims. In addition to employment interviews, an interview transcriptionist could type up many other types of interviews for various professions.
How do you get started in transcription?
There are many ways to get started in the transcription business but the best is to complete a training program in the specialty of your choice. By going through an accredited training program you will drastically improve your employability because potential employers will know that you have received the basic knowledge and training necessary to do the job well. There are many certification programs available and I invite you to look at our medical transcriptionist training resource page to find one that will suit your needs.
How much can you make doing transcription?
As with most jobs, how much you can make as a transcriptionist depends a lot on the industry and your experience. The more experience you have, generally the higher your income. Additionally, those who are willing to put in the time and effort needed to start their own transcription service have the ability to potentially make much more than those who work directly for a company or another transcription service.
Is transcription work right for you?
Only you can answer that question. It can be a challenging and very technical field but it has a lot of potential for growth. It also has the bonus of allowing you to operate your own business so you can work when you have time rather than having a set work schedule. Transcription work is not for everyone but if you’re up for a challenge an willing to put forth the effort to master the skills, it can be a very good career choice.
Medical Billing and Coding: What is it?
What is medical coding?
Medical Coding is the process of transcribing medical procedures and diagnoses into universal medical code numbers. These code numbers are used during the medical billing process.
What is medical billing?
Medical Billing is the process of preparing procedure invoices for submission to insurance providers for payment. It is this process that ensures that health care providers get paid for the treatment they render to patients.
What kind of training do you need?
While those who are interested in becoming a medical billing specialist are encouraged to become certified by enrolling in a medical billing and coding training course and completing a certification program (CMRS Exam, RHIA Exam, etc.), it is not required by law. However, those who have undergone training will find that they’re more likely to be hired for medical billing jobs and at a higher pay rate. At the very least, those interested in medical coding and billing should consider attending a medical terminology course.
How much does medical billing pay?
As a medical billing specialist, your salary will be impacted by both the training you have undergone and the certification(s) you have received. The pay for medical billing jobs is also impacted by experience. In general, the more of each you have (training, certification and experience) the higher your hourly wage will be. However, those with significantly more experience can sometimes make more than those with more training or certifications.
With little education or experience individuals looking for medical billing jobs can expect to start at around $10/hour and can increase up to $30-40/hour as your education and/or experience increases. Salary is also impacted by geographic location.
Since there are no legal requirements for training/certification, medical billing is definitely a career where you can work your way up from another position if you already work in the health care industry.
How much does medical coding pay?
As with billing, medical coding salaries depend on education, certification and experience. However, because medical coding is much more detail oriented, medical coding jobs tend to make a higher hourly wage than billers.
Can you do medical billing and coding at home?
Absolutely! With the increased strain on the health care system being caused by the baby boomer generation, almost all medical careers are growing and medical billing and coding professionals are in demand.
Because it’s a job that doesn’t have to be done onsite, billing and coding is frequently outsourced to either billing and coding services or individual specialists. If you have the drive and connections needed to build a business, medical coding and billing can be a great option for those who need flexible working hours and the ability to make a good salary.
If you’re thinking of starting your own company it’s important to remember that starting your own business is hard. It would be best to get some good training and experience under your belt as that will not only make your medical billing and coding more viable but it will also help you build contacts, establish your hourly rate and learn of the challenges involved in this medical career.