Earning from Home with Medical Transcription Jobs
In very simple terms Medical Transcription means the transcribing of medical records that have been dictated by health care professionals. This could be diagnosis, progress reports, chart notes, physicals, histories and even letters. Given the increasing risk of litigation faced by health care professionals keeping a record of every piece of information has become vital.
However, given the lack of time most healthcare professionals simply dictate notes. Converting them into typed documents has given birth to this 50 million dollar business. Here are some guidelines on How to Profit from Medical Transcription.
Estimated Start-Up Costs
$1000-$1500
You will need to invest in a home personal computer, word processing software and an Internet connection. You may also want to look at buying some editing software or voice recognition software if working from home.
Financing Sources
Since the start up costs are fairly low financing is required in very few cases. If you don’t have money to spare for the computer you can always look at paying for it in monthly installments. You can buy a working personal computer for installments as low as $50 per month. You earnings should more than adequately be able to pay your costs.
Essential Equipment
If working from home you need:
A personal computer
A word processing software
An audio cassette player
An Internet connection
If working onsite you will be provided with all the required equipment.
Skills & Training Needed to Succeed
A degree in is offered by many vocational schools, community colleges and online courses.
A Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) designation from the American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT) is valuable.
Expert level understanding of medical terms, spelling, diagnostic procedures and possibly background.
Very good listening skills to be able to decipher dictated notes.
Fast and accurate typing speed.
An aptitude for science and language helps.
Earning Potential
$30,000 - $90,000 per annum. This figure depends largely on your typing speed and accuracy and varies with your level of expertise. The going industry rates as of January 2006 are:
10-20 cents per line.
$5-$6 per page.
$15-$50 per minute of dictation depending on level of difficulty.
Target Market
Hospitals, physicians, medical and diagnostic laboratories, outpatient care centers, offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, audiologists and counselors are typical clients requiring MT services. Since it may be difficult to get work directly from these sources you may want to hook up with companies that outsource services to freelancers. Another way to source work is over the Internet on websites that cater to freelancers.
Advertising and Marketing Yourself
Search for Medical Transcription projects online. Create a website for yourself or sign up for a webpage on Medical Transcription websites. Include testimonials from clients you have already worked for in the past.
Solicit work directly from your dentist, counselor or physician. You could even visit the community hospitals and care centers and check in with their Medical Transcription teams.
Register yourself with other such services that use freelancers.
Tips to Succeed
Due to the continually evolving medical industry and new terminology, it is essential to keep yourself abreast of the latest terms in the industry. Look to upgrading your
knowledge every three years and getting new certification to state the same.
Increase your typing speed and accuracy skills.
Learn how to use voice recognition software and edit documents efficiently.
Given the fact that 105,000 jobs were held by Medical Transcription workers in the year 2004 and that this field is slated to grow faster than any other till at least 2014, now is your chance to become successful in the Medical Transcription field.
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