 TRANSCRIPTION JOBS FOR TYPISTS, MEDICAL CODERS AND DATA ENTRY OPERATORS
Medical Transcription and Other Transcription Jobs
Transcription Jobs
By Kelly Land, © 1999-2009, All rights reserved.
My sister took one of those dictation or transcription classes from home back in
1994. She bought a dictaphone and trained at home in her spare time.
I don't think she ever worked doing any transcription though. Not sure if she just
didn't pursue it, or there was just no work to be found. She lived out in
California at the time, and was pregnant with her first child.
I decided to call her and ask her about the whole medical transcription business
and "transcription job" thing and
why she never actually did it for a living.
After grilling her on the phone (she was pregnant with her 4th child this time
and in the middle of building a house -- so she didn't have a lot of free time
to chit chat...), she explained that she very much enjoyed the classes she took
at home and felt they were worthwhile, but she just couldn't fathom the thought
of leaving her high paying job at a credit union to work part-time at home for a
low wage.
Low wage?? What do you mean?? I thought medical transcription was HOT and that
people were making gobs of money doing it from home. My sister said...."Maybe a
few are - but I don't see a lot of people making an actual living doing it."
Now remember - this is my sister - she does not profess to be a medical
transcription business guru of any sort. She took her classes back in 1994 -
that's quite some time ago.
I wonder....have times changed? With the internet booming and everyone owning a
computer is it more feasible? Has the equipment and training improved? Is it
less expensive to take classes now?
I decided to do some research.
Looks like training costs hover around $1500 for "ONLINE or AT HOME" Courses!
OUCH! But many offer payment plans that are interest free.
You can get free, NO obligation info on
transcription training and at home courses through Penn Foster. I
would suggest at a minimum start there. Penn Foster is reputable and the info is
FREE. They send you a "career kit", delivered to your mailbox - how hard it
that??
Also - for those more interested in Medical Coding - Penn Foster has a medical
coding career kit as well. Again - totally free, no obligation...mailed right to
your home.
Medical Coding and Billing
At least by getting these free career kits, you get some idea of the steps you
need to take, the classes...etc.
You can also check with your local community or tech
college and see what they charge for transcription courses or medical coding
courses. You won't have the convenience of taking
transcription classes at home - but it might save you $100's. Most colleges do offer 2-3
courses on transcription - so find out what is offered at your area schools
FIRST. And there may be financial aid available to help you with costs too!
I have heard from other active transcriptionists that there was at one time a
9-month course offered in transcription at the Des Moines Community College. I
have not researched yet to see if that is still available. But by attending a
local school you will get instructors to help you face to face and in some cases
even contact info for your local hospitals and medical facilities that are
needed transcriptionists.
Bottom line:
YOU HAVE TO HAVE EXPERIENCE (2-5 years) in an ACUTE CARE facility before ANY
reputable at home company will hire you. YOU HAVE to be able to work on your
own with minimal help, and when you first do MT, you need lots of help. BUT,
some companies are starting to train you on the job as they are desperate for
help ALL THE TIME. This is why, at least looking into whether or not you want to
pursue some kind of training is important. At home training allows you to go at
your own pace and it's convenient.
Transcription training and at home courses.
A working transcriptionists recently emailed me regarding salary and pay, she
said:
"Salary is around 30K-40K to start and up depending on how many hours you work
and how good you are at it. Full benefits, the works. IT IS A GREAT job for
someone who is willing to take the time to get the experience, which requires
you sometimes to take lower pay until you do. I worked at a small hospital for 3
years at minimum wage and then went to at-home transcription with a company
called TSI based in Houston Texas making 30-40 plus the first year. With no
driving, meals out and clothes to worry about, I actually made more in the long
run."
What about finding jobs after you're trained?
Just a quick search online and did appear that there was a lot of hiring going
on. Now, what they pay and how much of it can be done from home is anyone's
guess. Just one site lists several openings:
http://jobs.biohealthmatics.com/Jobs/MedicalTranscription/
or even
MTJobs
lists several jobs at any given day of the week.
You might also see if the following companies are hiring. But do NOT apply if
you are not trained or if you don't meet the qualifications that each company
specifies.
MorningSide - Currently hiring financial transcriptionists.
Virtual Assistant Needed - Hiring virtual assistants of all types.
Production Transcripts - Highly proficient and experienced transcribers.
Only transcribers with experience transcribing from digital files will be hired.
CyberDictate - Legal transcription
TigerFish - Only accept apps via email.
American High Tech Transcription - Must be a U.S. citizen with
excellent English.
Task
Transcription Services - LEGAL transcription only.
Mass Transcription - Hires skilled transcriptionists and
proofreaders.
SpeakWrite - They are not hiring at this time.
Talk2Type - Must type 75+wpm
I know from my own experience researching telecommuting type jobs for my weekly
newsletter, that each week I come across a handful of transcription type
positions. (This
job listing newsletter is free if you
would like to subscribe.)
After surfing around I've come to the conclusion that there seems to be work
available -- the pay seems to coincide directly with experience and most want
someone with a few years experience. These are things to consider of you're
planning on quitting your day job altogether and jumping careers. I would train
at home in my spare time (just like my sister did) and then attempt to take on
some small assignments if you can get them, so that you're resume is ready when
you start going after some of these positions.
If you already have experience in the medical transcription business field - then get your resume out there and see what it
stirs up. You'll never know unless you try.
* I want to personally thank all the folks that currently do transcription from
home for emailing me and giving me lots of great info!
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