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Assciate in Arts, medical secretarial curriculum. 2 years with courses in sm

Posted By: CL on 2005-07-18
In Reply to: Associate's Degree in Medical Secretarial Science - sm - Susan

anatomy and physiology, biology, clinical biology (taking and processing lab tests--drawing blood on each other!!), filing, skills on all types of office machines, English composition, accounting, psychology, economics, medical terminology/transcription, and, of course, typing.  In the second year we did internships at local city hospitals. 


I went into transcription after working as a medical secretary for 7 years in a very large clinic. 




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Associate's Degree in Medical Secretarial Science - sm
2-year program with emphasis on transcription.  Terrific - wouldn't have learned it any other way.  Taught me to be a good MT - not these quick-fix on-line programs where everyone things they can early a huge salary as soon as they are done.
Apply for a medical secretarial position, which almost always includes transcription in the job desc

Ordered from Medical Arts Press catalog
on a previous job. They have different styles and sizes to choose from.
What are the best at home medical billing courses out there?
Have a friend who is interested in training to become a medical biller/coder from home and I really have no idea where to tell her to start.  Can anyone help?
Associate in Applied Medical Science, Bachelor's in Liberal arts with emphasis on Psychology
and looking for a way to get out of MT before voice rec takes over!

Kids are grown and gone and I no longer need to be home all day. The cats don't need as much supervision as the kids did.
6 years legal then switched to medical 17+ years ago. sm

I don't mind doing legal and will do it now from time to time, but be prepared to be totally bored out of your mind.


At least that's the way I feel.  I love to transcribe, learned legal in college, went on to get my paralegal degree, etc., etc., but I did temp work when the kids were younger, which was about 90% medical and I would never go back to legal except for once in a while.


Booooooring.


 


 


The school curriculum has changed since then.
It's changed in the last 10 years since my oldest was in kindergarten.  Now, the kindergarteners go to school full days here.  They have to know their colors, letters, numbers, and social skills before going to kindergarten.  They have homework.  It's not coloring or pasting, but spelling words and math.  They have to know how to read by the end of kindergarten, do addition and subtraction, and be able to spell a list of 100 words.  Shoot, we used to fingerpaint, have snacks, and take a nap when I went half days to kindergarten.  Ah, the good old days...  It's no wonder so many kids are stressed out and in therapy now.  Things have gotten tougher for them.
I had 2 years of school for medical
records as they called it then with a semester in transcription. I transcribed office notes for a PT part time while in school and applied for FT in the hospital where my PT worked and basically "trained" on the job. However, this was 27 years ago and they did train you inhouse, and we were on typewriters.
Northern Counties Secretarial Services - MN

Anybody ever work for Northern Counties Secretarial Services in Minnesota in the 90s?  Used to be what seemed like a great company, but in the end, they did a few really good MTs dirty. 


Culinary arts
There is a demand for the culinary arts field. Depending on where you live, you can land a pretty sweet job in an upscale hotel or restaurant, or even start your own business. I thought of that also because I love to cook and consider myself a gourmet cook. The reason I did not pursue culinary arts is that my tastes are limited - I don't like most seafood or organ meats, and some of these gourmet dishes require a wide, and I do mean wide, palate of taste! Good luck to you and do what your heart desires.
Remember ARTs?

Accredited Records Technicians?  They used to offer that program when I was learning transcription, about 25 years ago.  Do they still have those?  I haven't heard anyone mention that title in years. 


I remember doing secretarial work on those old typewriters. I can't imagine MT w/o technology.

Every year technology makes my job easier.  Google, internet dictation, spell checks, expanders.  I can't remember the last time I opened a reference book.  Direct deposit.  Banking on line.  I can't remember the last time I was actually inside a bank.  Love the technology for MTs and payment process. 


I do remember standing in line to get check cashed on Friday at lunch when I was a secretary in medical office. Ughh.  I do remember having to get all dressed up to sit in an office w/o windows, too hot in the winter and too cold in the summer, to type and file.  Ughhh.  I remember lines of traffic going into town to get to work and then trying to find a place to park close to the building.  Ughh.


Lovin the new things/gadgets to make my life easier and don't look back with any regrets for the "good old days"


Just one thing though. I wish we were paid according to 2005 cost of living standards.    What's up with that?


 


Back to school....or secretarial jobs??? Selling on Ebay??? Not sure myself....sm
I've been pondering all of the above, back to school and ebay seem to me to be better than back to the clerical/secretarial pool.  I'd like to get into working with kids or with people in general.  I'd like to work with disabled children, specifically children with speech problems, occupational therapy, speech therapy, applied behavioral analysis, something like that.  I know this job will not be here for the rest of my working life, time to start planning now I guess.
Bachelor of Fine Arts - sm
Used to do craft shows (high dollar ones not flea markets) for jewelry, sterling silver and niobium. Once kids are out of school will probably get back into it again, have a full studio collecting dust - never made tons of $, but $400-$800 gross a weekend at a good show.
I'm going to a local community college for culinary arts, I'm 52. nm
xxx
Proper or pretentious to use *AA* (assoc/arts) after one's name professionally? (nomsg)
xx
MT courses and pay

I was hoping to get some recommedations for online courses and find out what the going rate is for a new MT per year. 


I do medical coding & billing right now, but would like to work from home since I am a single mom of 3.  The only thing is I currently make $44,000 per year and cannot make much less then that because of mortgage and bills.  Thanks for any info.


and how many liberal arts and science bachelors degrees & beyond are held on this board?
LOL
Best on-line courses?

Hello,


I'd like to take an on-line transcription course, does anyone recommend one over another? Thanks!


Kirsten in CO


Have you taken MT courses yet? Or are you just jumping in on your own? nm
x
I never took any special courses, but I had
worked a total of almost 15 years in a hospital, first in billing, where we had to code all the diagnoses and ops ourselves, and then in another hospital in rehab, where part of my duties were transcription for that dept and some of their various clinics. After my second child was born, I quit the hospital and a friend who had 20 years in transcription taught me what I needed to learn. I got hired by one of the first company's I applied with, and have been doing this for seven years now, and love what I do!
Not bogus, there are good courses..
Some are scams. Career Step is not a scam. However, really nobody makes decent money starting out. I used to train MTs, some from Career Step. Most made close to minimum wage at first. They were also limited in the number of reports and work types at first and hours worked. They had the basics but didn't have the overall experience so it takes a lot of time and patience from both the trainer/mentor and the MT. But these MTs are the ones that usually do well. If you start out with a national and are just handed a job and not given a trainer/mentor per se, you will not learn much and will likely fail the QA reviews but hopefully they will give good feedback and you can learn that way. Newbies don't usually do well with that kind of situation in my experience. So finding a company that is willing to take on trainees and mentor them as a first job is a good idea. The pay is also not like it used to be and even after training if you have a job with a national paying 6 cpl you would only be making around 9 an hour based on 150 lph. In my experience I have rarely seen a newbie getting over 150 lph accurately until maybe after a good six months of heavy mentoring/close monitoring by an experienced MT. JMO. Hope that helps.
Taken courses, but not much hands-on experience as of yet. n/m
m
courses with Career Step

Have you seen the new issue of Women For Hire and the article about MT, how you can be making up to $32/hour and "you control how much you make."  They also suggest you go to AHDI website for more info.


Universities with the best free online courses
http://education-portal.com/articles/Universities_with_the_Best_Free_Online_Courses.html
The schools are in the business of "selling" their courses.
Of course they are going to "sell" the profession as fastest growing, make great money staying at home, etc.
I'm studying coding too. I've been looking at different courses plus I bought SM

Step by Step Medical Coding by Carol J. Buck along with the workbook that goes along with it.  So while I'm trying to decide on a school, I can be studying on my own.  According to the AHIMA website though with my years of experience as an MT, I am eligible to take the certification exam without having to complete a formal coding course.  Transcription is considered part of the HIM department and thus if you have worked in any position in HIM, you are qualified to take the test.


So, I may find that studying on my own will benefit me better than paying money for a course I'm not sure about.  I also have the benefit of tuition reimbursement with my employer and I may take advantage of that if I find a program I like.


So, I'm with you!  Let me know what school you decide on or what avenue you decide to take.  Might help me make the decision in the long run!


Andrews School or M-TEC online are excellent courses. See inside.
If you complete one of those courses, you should have no trouble finding a job working from home. They are a bit more expensive than some of the other courses, but MANY companies will waive their 2 years' experience requirement for grads of those two schools. Do not be suckered in by cheaper schools, MT companies know which schools supply good training and which ones don't.
community college. those online courses/schools are not very good and
very expensive.

but don't do it just to work at home.
Either one are 9 month courses at the local community college..worth a shot!
!!!
I would buy new a Dorland's Medical Dictionary, Stedmans Medical and Surgical Equipment...SM

and Tessier's The Surgical Word Book, 3rd edition.  Books you could buy used I would say would be Stedman's Pathology and Lab Medicine and Cardiology/Pulmonary word book.  These are all the books I use the most during my day.  You could buy other speciality word books as you need them and could probably go used with those.


I wouldn't bother with buying a drug book, new editions come out every year and I just stick to the FDA website and RXList as my drug references.


Also FYI, not a book, but I use my Stedman's Electronic Medical Dictationary a lot.  It's easier to open the program than it is to pick up a huge 30-pound dictionary.


Medical Transcription In The Era Of Electronic Medical Records
EMR has revolutionized the healthcare industry in recent times. Many experts felt that EMR & Voice Recognition would totally replace Medical Transcription - however; the industry soon realized that transcription has certain advantages over point & click charting and many physicians preferred to dictate notes rather than document the data at the point of care themselves.
At ease, soldier! This isn't a medical document. I repeat, this isn't a medical document. nm
x
I've thought about coding. My DH does medical coding and I think with an MT's medical termino

background and anatomy and physiology knowledge, a transition into coding wouldn't be hard at all.  From what I can tell by looking through my husband's books, an MT would have to learn insurance regulations and legalities.  We've basically got all the medical background down or we should be if we're worth our salt as an MT.


I even contacted AHIMA and found that the qualifications for taking the CCS or CCP coding exams are completion of the a coding program, RHIT program, or RHIA or related work experience.  Transcription is part of HIM, albeit the red-headed stepchild of the HIM department, but a part nonetheless and so satisfies the qualification of having work experience.


The test is tough though.  My husband didn't pass it his first time out and I think I read something like only 20% or so pass it the first time.  So it would probably be best to take some sort of formal coding class, in my opinion.


medical abbreviation list and medical drug list
Hi,

Anyone there who could help me out finding the latest abbreviations list.
I even want the latest drug list because my current program does not have many drugs.

So if anyone could suggest anything which is available online for informationd quick look purposes.

any help for medical abbreviation list and medical drug list would be very helpful.

Your English teacher does not do medical reports. This is for medical reports.
.
58, AHP/self-taught, trained at hospital 5 years, now with 2 of my own accounts for 10 years, employ
Also worn out 2 keyboards in 4 years. I will never retire. DH will come home some day from work and I'll be slumped over my keyboard. I put in 14 hours a day 7 days a week.
Pack years = packs smoked per day x years of smoking - sm
25 pack-years = 25 years of 1 pack a day, or 12-1/2 years of 2 packs a day.

I don't think pack-years applies to someone who smokes only cigars. But I don't know for sure.
I worked for Cbay for 3 years. I was also part of their lay off back many years ago. sm
Even though I got stuck in a lay off era, I still love the company. They paid well then. The people were nice (exception of 1 person) and if I had the opportunity I would go back again. Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how u look at it), I have a great paying job right now, so I am not looking for a change. I do know that at one time, they asked management to accept late paychecks, but never sure of the reason why. My check was never late.
I know it used to be 5-10 years back, but the laws changed within the last 2 years. They can only g
x
Only 3 years away from reaching total years for retirement
but if I had to do this and raise a family, would feel exactly like you do. The pay is terrible compared to what I used to make. I work 32 hours a week, hope to be able to continue even after full retirement age. I have worked on VR now and unless places get to where they really do not care about how their reports look, think they will need MTs. I very seldom do a report and it is 100%, just cannot remember 1 like that and most take a lot more editing. Working now because want to, not have to anymore, thank goodness!!
It's not a MEDICAL spellchecker. You have to convince them to add the medical spellchecker.
unless you feel like adding 10,000 medical terms on your own time LOL
I dumped my ex 20 years ago, but got lucky 13 years ago

It would take me all night and pages and pages to describe what a bad person my ex-husband was.  After six years of putting up with his OCD, verbal abuse and alcohol, I left him the house, took the kids (5 and 1) and didn't look back. That was 20 years ago.


I wasn't looking to get married again, but I did.  After 13 years I only complain when hubby doesn't see things my way. :) 


My older kids, who were 5 and 1 when I left, are married and have kids of their own now.  My husband gets the Father's Day cards.  Their "real" father sits alone in the perfect little house I left behind and let him have and he drinks himself into oblivion every night because nobody is "perfect" enough, including his kids and his grandkids that he never sees. 


Sad, but true.  So glad I smartened up and got  out of there when I did.


We have been supporting other countries for years and years now.
What is the big deal.  Look at your clothes, cars, items in your house.  You will see mostly China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan etc., etc.  We have not supported our own people like we should have for years now!!!!
Only 2 in 13 years for me. First Edix for 8 and now Webmedx for nearly 5 years. nm
.
When I trained, back years and years ago
We did not have spell checking nor the internet (Google for instantaneous help). OMG, how did we do it? We used Correcting Selectrics with the lift-off tape to correct errors- you only had dictionaries, both English and medical, to look up things so yes we did have to learn to spell all those big longgggggggggg words.
MT: 24 years. Same company: 11 years same co. after buyout.
x
Grammar Question: 9 years' ago or 9 years ago? *sm*
I have a terrible time trying to remember this rule! HELP!
Worked inhouse for years and years
Inhouse transcription from 1973 to approximately 1992 and we had no downtime for answering the phones and when the physicians came into the room (or others) needing some assistance, just part of the job. I did not feel bad about doing it then and I dont see why you would either. You don’t realize that probably you are making right now more than if you are outsourced, right? You have hourly salary plus incentive. Guess how many of us have that now? Probably inevitable about outsourcing so I would say just enjoy while you can. The pay our here now sinks further and further. I make, for instance, 4 cents a line for voice recognition and 8 for straight. Now, more complaining?
19 years old...married 26 years. nm
n
they've been doing this for years and years (nm)

IMHO