Ten Myths about Medical Transcription
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about the ins and outs of a medical transcription career. Some of it comes from honest misconceptions; the rest comes from training companies that want your money.
Medical transcription (MT) is interesting and challenging. You can train from home and work from practically anywhere you can get an Internet connection. There are opportunities to work nontraditional hours, part-time or full-time, as an employee or as self-employed independent contractor. MT has a lot going for it. It isn’t, however, a free ticket to prosperity with no strings attached.
Medical transcriptionists make $50,000 a year working from home
This particularly alluring myth frequently appears in advertisements promising to take you from zero to medical transcriptionist in a matter of months — just come to our free seminar to find out how! Don’t believe it, and don’t sign up for training (or even attend a seminar) from any company that makes such a claim.
Are there medical transcriptionists who make $50,000 a year? Yes, but they’re few and far between. A quick trip to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website reveals that the average annual salary for a full-time medical transcriptionist is closer to $34,000.
Medical transcriptionists can work and take care of the kids at the same time
If you’re picturing yourself tapping away at the keyboard while your little darling plays quietly at your feet, pinch yourself and wake up! There’s no way you can transcribe medical reports and take care of children at the same time.
MT work requires intense concentration and undivided attention, two things that aren’t compatible with supervising little ones (or much of anything else). If you have young children at home, you’ll need to arrange for childcare during your work hours or work while they’re sleeping.
Medical transcriptionists just need to type really fast
The ability to type at warp speed is a great asset, but it isn’t an automatic ticket to success as an medical transcriptionist. The things that really make the difference are largely mental:
An inquisitive mind and love of language so you can learn (and keep learning) all those medical terms
An independent, pressure-resistant mindset
The ability and motivation to concentrate intently for extended periods of time
Medical transcriptionists need little or no training
Unless you have formal medical transcription training, your résumé will never make it into the “to interview” stack. The training must be from a recognized, reputable source, such as a community college program or well-established medical transcription school. Otherwise, you’re toast.
Plan on spending a bare minimum of nine months preparing for your new career. You’ll study anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, formatting of the different report types, and many more skills you may not anticipate needing but definitely will. When you graduate, you’ll have that crucial formal training to include on your résumé and the know-how to do the job.
Speech recognition technology will make medical transcriptionists obsolete
Speech recognition technology (SRT) is in widespread use as a way (in theory) for medical facilities to cut transcription costs. Working medical transcriptionists refer to it as “speech wreck,” because the results sometimes have more in common with a multicar pileup than a quality healthcare document. Under ideal dictation conditions, SRT can do a decent job, but it takes very little to send things awry.
Despite its substantial shortcomings, SRT seems to be here to stay. Because the results of SRT are unreliable and require constant supervision, it now figures into what medical transcriptionists do on a daily basis. Speech recognition has added a fresh twist to the ever-evolving MT profession, not made it obsolete.
Electronic health records will eliminate the need for medical transcriptionists
This is only true in the minds and marketing materials of people who sell EHR software. Somewhere along the way, the idea of digitizing medical information seems to have become equated with transforming the recording of healthcare details into an entirely point-and-click process, but it’s increasingly evident that it can’t be done.
Some elements of healthcare documentation are enhanced by restricting input via check boxes and drop-down lists, but for some things, fill in the blanks just doesn’t cut it. Healthcare providers need a way to incorporate narrative observations, opinions, and conclusions — in other words, dictation.
Most medical transcription work is being outsourced overseas
Everything else seems to be going to cheaper, offshore workforces — why not medical transcription? After all, who can afford to pass up a chance to save some green? Medical transcription began going abroad in the 1990s, and more was headed that way, but then things changed.
In 2010, changes in federal laws related to protecting patient health information made compliance with federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules an even higher priority for medical transcription companies and healthcare facilities. In order to achieve tighter control over patient information, it’s being kept closer to home.
Getting certified is the best way to break into medical transcription
Any advertisement that entices you to “become a certified medical transcriptionist” is feeding you a line of hogwash. You don’t need a certification or a license to become a medical transcriptionist. There is a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) credential, but it’s not an entry-level kind of thing, and no training program can give it to you.
You may opt to earn it eventually, but you’ll need at least two years of experience under your belt first. Even then, you’ll have to pass a rigorous exam that will test your medical knowledge and transcription skills across multiple medical specialties.
Medical transcription is low-stress work
You may think medical transcription is a low-pressure job. How hard can it be to listen to what somebody says and type it up in a report? A lot harder than you can ever imagine until you’ve actually done it. You’ll be astounded by what comes across your headphones — guaranteed!
For starters, medical dictation often arrives amply stocked with background noise and interruptions — and don’t forget the crackers (dictators seem to frequently have a mouthful of them). It includes words you haven’t ever heard before and have no idea how to spell, especially at first. Many times, a thick foreign accent will be slathered on top. So, let’s just say the clarity isn’t always the best. . . .
Real men don’t become medical transcriptionists
Okay, maybe nobody says that, but you may get that impression when researching the field. The current crop of medical transcriptionists is overwhelmingly female, but men and women are equally capable of becoming excellent medical transcriptionists.
It’s not any harder for a man to break into the field than it is for a woman. As more men seek out work they can do from home or on a flexible schedule, they’re discovering medical transcription. Medical transcriptionist employers care how many reports you can produce, how fast, and how accurately.
Careers Glossary
academic curriculum vitae resume
A resume format that includes a comprehensive biographical statement of three to ten pages. This resume format emphasizes professional qualifications and activities.
Careers Glossary
accomplishment resume
A variation of the hybrid resume that includes qualifications and accomplishments.
Careers Glossary
Americans with Disabilities Act; ADA
A document signed into law that makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against (or refuse to hire) a person simply because that person has one or more disabilities.
Careers Glossary
applicant tracking system
A software application that helps a company recruit employees more efficiently. Includes features to post job openings online, screen resumes, acknowledge the receipt of resumes, and generate interview requests.
Careers Glossary
behavior-based interview
A type of job interview in which candidates are asked what kinds of behaviors they have used in the past to handle certain situations and solve problems.
Careers Glossary
blog
A Web-based journal that is written and updated by one or more blog writers, or bloggers. Today's more sophisticated versions read like media stories and columns.
Careers Glossary
branding statement
A marketing tool for job seekers consisting of a brief statement that communicates who you are in the workplace; typically used in resumes and job interviews. Also sometimes called a branding brief.
Careers Glossary
broadcast letters
Self-marketing letters that a job seeker sends to a large but carefully targeted list of potential employers. These letters are designed to uncover an opportunity in the hidden (unadvertised) job market.
Careers Glossary
career management documents
A family of job letters that are self-marketing tools for people who want to be hired for the best jobs. Includes job ad reply letters, broadcast and prospecting letters, resume letters, follow-up letters, and e-mail cover notes.
Careers Glossary
competency-based approach
A resume style that focuses on the skills and talents needed to be able to perform a particular task to a certain standard. Connects your behaviors with your accomplishments.
Careers Glossary
core resume
A starting resume that you use as a base or template to spin off targeted versions of your resume (for specific positions) when you must move quickly.
Careers Glossary
cover letter
A self-marketing document designed to sell yourself and get an interview for a specific job; typically accompanies a resume.
Careers Glossary
credit histories; consumer reports
Reports that contain your payment history to creditors. These reports may also include names of previous employers, residential stability data, divorce information, and estimated prior earnings.
Careers Glossary
directive interview
A type of job interview in which the interviewer maintains complete control and walks you through the discussion to uncover what he or she wants to know.
Careers Glossary
EEOC
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC is a U.S. federal agency that investigates discrimination complaints.
Careers Glossary
e-mail cover note
An e-mail message that introduces a resume that you distribute online. Typically, a shortened and more informal version of a cover letter.
Careers Glossary
e-resumes
Electronic resumes. Resumes that you distribute online.
Careers Glossary
font
A complete character set comprised of a single size and typeface, such as 12-point Helvetica.
Careers Glossary
font size
The height of the characters in a font set, measured in points, such as 10-point or 14-point. One point is equal to 1/72 of an inch.
Careers Glossary
foundation skills
A skills language used in cover letters to communicate your expertise in fundamental job skills — includes basic skills, people skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities.
Careers Glossary
functional resume
A resume format that focuses on portable skills or functional areas and ignores chronological order. This resume format works well for career changers, new graduates, ex-military personnel, work-history gaps, or special-issue problems.
Careers Glossary
hybrid resume
A resume format that is a combination of the reverse chronological resume format and the functional resume format.
Careers Glossary
instant messaging; IM
A real-time form of communication between two or more people online, who type messages back and forth in a window. Job seekers can attach resumes to messages.
Careers Glossary
integrity test
A test administered by a potential employer during the interviewing process that rates honesty, responsibility, and reliability for the job.
Careers Glossary
intellectual property
Work samples that you submit to a potential employer during the job interview process, such as portfolios, project materials, and proposals.
Careers Glossary
international curriculum vitae resume
An excruciatingly detailed resume format used to apply for international jobs. This resume style is typically six to eight pages long and often uses the reverse chronological format.
Careers Glossary
job ad reply letter
A letter that is written in reaction to a published job opening in print or online.
Careers Glossary
job board
A Web site that posts general or specialized job listings, such as CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com.
Careers Glossary
keyword resume
A resume format that places a profile of keywords at the top of a document. This resume format is not in common use today because current resume search databases can pick up keywords anywhere in a resume, not just at the beginning of a document.
Careers Glossary
keywords
Internet search words (generally nouns and short phrases) that identify your qualifications. Employers use keywords to search and retrieve e-resumes in databases for available job positions.
Careers Glossary
linear resume
A resume format that flows one line at a time and relates achievements, winning moves, and star points in short, quick spurts; designed to attract the eyes of busy readers.
Careers Glossary
marketing pitch
A personal commercial that you create to sell yourself during a job search. A marketing pitch should be about one to two minutes long.
Careers Glossary
nondirective interview
A type of job interview where the interviewer's questions tend to be broad and general so that you can elaborate and tell stories about yourself and your qualifications.
Careers Glossary
OFCCP
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. The OFCCP is an agency that tracks the diversity hiring record of those applying for positions with federal contractors.
Careers Glossary
online executive bio
A short profile (about 200 words or less) that is placed on social networking sites and job boards to advance employment or business objectives. Includes keywords and a link to a full resume.
Careers Glossary
online profile
A lengthy multi-link document that appears on Internet networking and career sites such as LinkedIn.com and VisualCV.com.
Careers Glossary
online referral service
An e-mail job distribution method paid for by employers. This service helps you identify which of your contacts may know people at companies where you would like to work.
Careers Glossary
online screening program
A form of pre-employment screening that verifies that you are a good fit for the position and that you haven’t lied about your background. May include online tests, assessment instruments, and questionnaires.
Careers Glossary
patterned interview
A type of job interview (also called a structured interview) in which the interviewer works from a written list of questions asked of all candidates and writes down your responses.
Careers Glossary
personality test
A test administered by a potential employer during the interviewing process that measures choice, preference, values, behavior, decisions, attitudes, and job-related interests.
Careers Glossary
podcast
A digital audio or video file that is available for downloading from a Web site. Usually available in a series that is often packaged like a daily newscast or commentary.
Careers Glossary
podcasting
The process of creating and distributing audio and video feeds over the Internet. To make a podcast, you need a computer, microphone, Internet access, and recording software.
Careers Glossary
portfolio
A collection of work samples often delivered as part of the job interview process for those in fields such as design, graphics, photography, architecture, advertising, public relations, marketing, education, and contracting.
Careers Glossary
professional resume
A resume format that emphasizes professional qualifications and activities and is typically three to five pages long. This format is essentially a shortened version of the academic curriculum vitae resume format.
Careers Glossary
prospecting letters
Self-marketing letters that a job seeker sends to a relatively small and select number of potential employers. These letters are designed to uncover an opportunity in the hidden (unadvertised) job market.
Careers Glossary
recruiter; headhunter
An employers’ personal shopper, tasked with going into the marketplace and bringing back the best qualified candidates for the thriftiest prices.
Careers Glossary
resume blasting services
A service that advertises their willingness to save you time and trouble by “blasting” your resume to thousands of recruiters and hiring managers all over the Internet — for a fee. These services are generally not recommended due to privacy and identity theft concerns.
Careers Glossary
resume letter
A self-marketing document that combines a cover letter with a resume (the resume is not a separate document). This type of letter is typically two pages long, but can be one page.
Careers Glossary
reverse chronological resume
A resume format that includes employment history from the most recent jobs working backwards, showing dates for employers and educational institutions. This resume format works well for those with a steady career progression.
Careers Glossary
screener
An employee (typically an administrative assistant or HR specialist) who monitors phone calls for a company when you call their main telephone line.
Careers Glossary
screening interview
A first-cut job interview that is used to weed out all applicants except those who are best qualified for the position.
Careers Glossary
selection interview
A job interview in which you meet with a supervisor, department head, or another person who has the authority to hire you.
Careers Glossary
SEO
An acronym for Search Engine Optimization. SEO is a method of using technical and strategic maneuvers to increase the traffic driven by search engines to a Web site.
Careers Glossary
serial interview
A type of job interview in which you are typically passed from the initial screener to a line manager to a top manager — and perhaps a half-dozen people in between.
Careers Glossary
social networking services
Web-based services — including discussion groups, message boards, e-mail, and blogs — that give users a way to find and interact with people who have similar interests. Some of this interactivity focuses on job search and recruiting.
Careers Glossary
spiders
Automated programs (software) used by specialized search engines to scrape (crawl) the Web to find and haul in content, such as job postings. Also called robots or just 'bots.
Careers Glossary
stress interview
A type of job interview in which the interviewer intentionally uses various intimidation tactics to attempt to put pressure on you.
Careers Glossary
targeted resume
A resume that is customized for a specific employment goal or position in a job search.
Careers Glossary
typeface
A specific family of fonts in a similar design style (including multiple sizes of that font), such as Arial or Times New Roman.
Careers Glossary
vertical job search engines
Online search engines that search only for job listings, across multiple job sites at once. Examples include SimplyHired.com and Jobster.com. Also called verticals or aggregators.
Careers Glossary
video resume
A canned video interview in which a candidate speaks about his or her qualifications, goals, and strengths; sometimes called a video podcast.
Careers Glossary
watermark
A faint image ingrained in quality-stock paper. Resumes are commonly printed on paper stock that includes a watermark.
Careers Glossary
Web 2.0
The second generation of Web design that uses sites in which people communicate and share information. Web 2.0 tools include blogs, instant messaging, podcasts, RSS feeds, and social networking services.
Careers Glossary
Web resume
An electronic resume that you post on a personal Web site; also sometimes called an e-portfolio or HTML resume.
