Certified Medical Transcriptionist

  • 6 Months
  • 195 Course Hours
  • $2,845

Overview

Become a Certified Medical Transcriptionist

Medical transcription is a vital part of the patient care process. Professionals in this role are making a difference to the patients who depend on accurate medical documentation of their diagnosis and care, and to employers who depend on highly qualified and reliable specialists to complete their work in a precise and timely manner. Medical transcriptionists, sometimes referred to as healthcare documentation specialists, create reports and other administrative documents from dictated audio recordings from physicians and other healthcare providers.

In the Certified Medical Transcriptionist course, you will develop skills using online simulations and learn about speech recognition software and its impact on the medical transcription industry. This course will also prepare you to take the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) exam. The exam fee is included in the course.

During this course, you will put into practice your knowledge of proper transcription formatting and medical terminology through case studies that cover a wide variety of medical situations. You will practice transcribing real medical reports that include medical procedures and treatments; consultations; operative, pharmacology, and radiology reports; and death and discharge summaries. This intensive hands-on training will help you develop your listening, attention to detail and time management skills, which are strong qualities that employers are looking for from candidates.

What you will learn

  • Describe the importance of maintaining the confidential nature of medical reports
  • Transcribe medical reports using correct report format and correct capitalization, punctuation, abbreviations, symbols, and metric measurements
  • Correctly spell English and medical terms in addition to abbreviations, either by memory or by using a dictionary or reference book
  • Identify the knowledge, skills, abilities, and responsibilities required of medical transcriptionists

How you will benefit

  • Learn the proper format to transcribe doctors' notes into medical reports
  • Understand the importance of confidentiality & accuracy
  • Gain hands-on experience via case studies covering a variety of medical situations

How the course is taught

  • This is a non-credit program offered in partnership with ed2go.  You do not have to be admitted to the university to enroll in this program. 
  • This is an open enrollment program, which means you can enroll and start at any time.  There are no set start and end dates. 
  • This course is entirely online and can be completed at a pace and time that is convenient for you.  There are not set times you must attend classes.  
  • You will have 6-months from the date of enrollment to complete this program.  

Prerequisites

You should be proficient in keyboarding. Accuracy is initially most important, but some jobs pay based on production, so speed will become a factor.


Job Outlook

Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 3,100 medical transcriptionists. That number is based on the retirement of 5,000 existing medical transcriptionists.

Earn $31,000+ annually
According to CareerExplorer.com, medical transcriptionists earn an average yearly salary of $31,988.  Wages typically start from $21,236 and go up to $48,184.
 
Expected -3% Job Growth
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says, employment of medical transcriptionists is projected to decline 3 percent from 2018 to 2028. The growing volume of healthcare services is expected to continue to increase demand for transcription services. 

 

Requirements

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 8 or later.
  • Mac: OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • ExpressScribe software. You will be provided with download instructions in Lesson 1 of the Medical Transcription course.
  • Microsoft Word 2013 or later (not included in enrollment).
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download the Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins, except for the ExpressScribe software.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Materials: 

The instructional materials and supplies required for this course are included in enrollment. The following will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

  • Hillcrest Medical Center: Healthcare Documentation & Medical Transcription
  • Medical Abbreviations
  • Grammar and Punctuation Guide
  • Stedman's Medical Dictionary
  • Medical Terminology for Health Professions
  • AltoEdge USB foot pedal and Transcriber Headphones

     

Curriculum

Medical Terminology
Introduction to Medical Terminology
Musculoskeletal System
Cardiovascular System
Lymphatic and Immune Systems
Respiratory System
Digestive System
Urinary System
Nervous System
Special Senses The Eyes and Ears
Integumentary System
Endocrine System
Reproductive System
Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology
 
Medical Transcription
The Medical Transcription Industry
Medical Records: Confidentiality and Legal Issues
English Language Basics for the MT
Understanding Medical Terminology  - A refresher
Mastering Common Medical Terms
Pharmacology
Report Types and Formatting Standards
Transcription Rules and Formatting Standards

Preparing to Transcribe


 

 

Instructor

Jennifer Della'Zanna

Jennifer Della'Zanna has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, having worked as a medical transcriptionist, practice administrator, biller, and coding specialist. She writes courses and study guides on the use of technology in health care and regularly contributes to publications about health issues. She is a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders and the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Albright College.


 

FAQs

WHAT DO MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST DO? 
Medical transcriptionists listen to voice recordings that physicians and other healthcare workers make and convert them into written reports.
 
WHAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT DO MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST WORK? 
Most medical transcriptionists work for hospitals, physicians' offices, and third-party transcription service companies that provide transcription services to healthcare establishments. Others are self-employed.
 
DO I HAVE TO BE ADMITTED TO MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY TO ENROLL IN THIS PROGRAM?
No, you do not have to be an admitted student to Mississippi State University to enroll in this program.  Our online non-credit advanced career training programs are open to all. 
 
WHEN CAN I START THE COURSE? 
This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.
 
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THIS COURSE? 
This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive 6-months to complete the course.
 
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE MY COURSE WITHIN THE TIME FRAME PROVIDED? 
The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact your Student Advisor to help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.
 
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WILL I RECEIVE?  
You may be assigned with an instructor or team of industry experts for one-on-one course interaction. Your support will be available (via email) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our instructors are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach. You will also be assigned to an Advisor for academic support.
 
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I COMPLETE THE COURSE? 
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Mississippi State University Extension.
 
AM I GUARANTEED A JOB?  
This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.
 
CAN I GET FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?  
This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some cases, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available, to learn more go to: https://www.ed2go.com/career/financial-assistance
 
HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS COURSE?  
If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-662-325-5002 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Request More Info" form.

Overview

Become a Certified Medical Transcriptionist

Medical transcription is a vital part of the patient care process. Professionals in this role are making a difference to the patients who depend on accurate medical documentation of their diagnosis and care, and to employers who depend on highly qualified and reliable specialists to complete their work in a precise and timely manner. Medical transcriptionists, sometimes referred to as healthcare documentation specialists, create reports and other administrative documents from dictated audio recordings from physicians and other healthcare providers.

In the Certified Medical Transcriptionist course, you will develop skills using online simulations and learn about speech recognition software and its impact on the medical transcription industry. This course will also prepare you to take the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) exam. The exam fee is included in the course.

During this course, you will put into practice your knowledge of proper transcription formatting and medical terminology through case studies that cover a wide variety of medical situations. You will practice transcribing real medical reports that include medical procedures and treatments; consultations; operative, pharmacology, and radiology reports; and death and discharge summaries. This intensive hands-on training will help you develop your listening, attention to detail and time management skills, which are strong qualities that employers are looking for from candidates.

What you will learn

  • Describe the importance of maintaining the confidential nature of medical reports
  • Transcribe medical reports using correct report format and correct capitalization, punctuation, abbreviations, symbols, and metric measurements
  • Correctly spell English and medical terms in addition to abbreviations, either by memory or by using a dictionary or reference book
  • Identify the knowledge, skills, abilities, and responsibilities required of medical transcriptionists

How you will benefit

  • Learn the proper format to transcribe doctors' notes into medical reports
  • Understand the importance of confidentiality & accuracy
  • Gain hands-on experience via case studies covering a variety of medical situations

How the course is taught

  • This is a non-credit program offered in partnership with ed2go.  You do not have to be admitted to the university to enroll in this program. 
  • This is an open enrollment program, which means you can enroll and start at any time.  There are no set start and end dates. 
  • This course is entirely online and can be completed at a pace and time that is convenient for you.  There are not set times you must attend classes.  
  • You will have 6-months from the date of enrollment to complete this program.  

Prerequisites

You should be proficient in keyboarding. Accuracy is initially most important, but some jobs pay based on production, so speed will become a factor.


Job Outlook

Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 3,100 medical transcriptionists. That number is based on the retirement of 5,000 existing medical transcriptionists.

Earn $31,000+ annually
According to CareerExplorer.com, medical transcriptionists earn an average yearly salary of $31,988.  Wages typically start from $21,236 and go up to $48,184.
 
Expected -3% Job Growth
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says, employment of medical transcriptionists is projected to decline 3 percent from 2018 to 2028. The growing volume of healthcare services is expected to continue to increase demand for transcription services. 

 

Requirements

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 8 or later.
  • Mac: OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • ExpressScribe software. You will be provided with download instructions in Lesson 1 of the Medical Transcription course.
  • Microsoft Word 2013 or later (not included in enrollment).
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download the Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins, except for the ExpressScribe software.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Materials: 

The instructional materials and supplies required for this course are included in enrollment. The following will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

  • Hillcrest Medical Center: Healthcare Documentation & Medical Transcription
  • Medical Abbreviations
  • Grammar and Punctuation Guide
  • Stedman's Medical Dictionary
  • Medical Terminology for Health Professions
  • AltoEdge USB foot pedal and Transcriber Headphones

     

Curriculum

Medical Terminology
Introduction to Medical Terminology
Musculoskeletal System
Cardiovascular System
Lymphatic and Immune Systems
Respiratory System
Digestive System
Urinary System
Nervous System
Special Senses The Eyes and Ears
Integumentary System
Endocrine System
Reproductive System
Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology
 
Medical Transcription
The Medical Transcription Industry
Medical Records: Confidentiality and Legal Issues
English Language Basics for the MT
Understanding Medical Terminology  - A refresher
Mastering Common Medical Terms
Pharmacology
Report Types and Formatting Standards
Transcription Rules and Formatting Standards

Preparing to Transcribe


 

 

Instructor

Jennifer Della'Zanna

Jennifer Della'Zanna has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, having worked as a medical transcriptionist, practice administrator, biller, and coding specialist. She writes courses and study guides on the use of technology in health care and regularly contributes to publications about health issues. She is a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders and the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Albright College.


 

FAQs

WHAT DO MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST DO? 
Medical transcriptionists listen to voice recordings that physicians and other healthcare workers make and convert them into written reports.
 
WHAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT DO MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST WORK? 
Most medical transcriptionists work for hospitals, physicians' offices, and third-party transcription service companies that provide transcription services to healthcare establishments. Others are self-employed.
 
DO I HAVE TO BE ADMITTED TO MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY TO ENROLL IN THIS PROGRAM?
No, you do not have to be an admitted student to Mississippi State University to enroll in this program.  Our online non-credit advanced career training programs are open to all. 
 
WHEN CAN I START THE COURSE? 
This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.
 
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THIS COURSE? 
This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive 6-months to complete the course.
 
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE MY COURSE WITHIN THE TIME FRAME PROVIDED? 
The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact your Student Advisor to help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.
 
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WILL I RECEIVE?  
You may be assigned with an instructor or team of industry experts for one-on-one course interaction. Your support will be available (via email) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our instructors are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach. You will also be assigned to an Advisor for academic support.
 
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I COMPLETE THE COURSE? 
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Mississippi State University Extension.
 
AM I GUARANTEED A JOB?  
This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.
 
CAN I GET FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?  
This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some cases, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available, to learn more go to: https://www.ed2go.com/career/financial-assistance
 
HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS COURSE?  
If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-662-325-5002 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Request More Info" form.

Registration Information

The Certified Medical Transcriptionist is 100% online and allows you to enroll at any time.  After enrolling you will have 6-months to complete the program at a pace that is convenient for you.  You can get started today by clicking the "Enroll Now" button below and completing your registration at our partner ed2go site.