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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

MT home study distance learning programs

Posted By: Lisa on 2006-01-28
In Reply to:

This post is to those of you who received their MT training via a home study/online program.  Was it easy to get a job after graduation?  Which home study course (company) did you use?  Would you recommend them/it?  Thanks for your input.


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Agreed -- Bear is pretty much THE authority on accreditation and distance learning (NM)
nm
Employment after home study
Does anyone know who will hire a Transcriptionist who has studied at home? Also, will they hire you if you have not been employed as a transcriptionist outside your home? (I have a little hospital experience but years ago).
My son car shops on Ebay. He says keep the distance close to home
so you can check the car out before bidding so you don't get a lemon. He's done really 2 out of 3 times, so just be cautious and keep it close to home.
Can I use AT&T unlimited home long distance with a c-phone?
Hi all! I was wondering if anyone here using a C-phone uses AT&T home unlimited long distance? If so, do you have any problems with them? Thanks for any help you can give!
Word Expander Programs - Are there any expander programs that are easy to use and learn
that are similar to the MS Word expander?  I prefer something very simple.  I like MS Word expander; however I have gone over my limits and cannot add any more shortcuts so I need a program that will hold a larger amount of shortcuts.   Many thanks.
New study on MS and
Vitamin D, you can Google it.  Are you in the great lakes area?  Very common in that area.  I don't have it but many of my relatives do including my 20-year-old neice - she's doing very well with treatment.  Good luck
swallow study - sm
swallow study to check for safety in swallowing, to check for aspiration, swallowing problems, and what type of diet to give pte, puree, nectar thick, etc.
What is recommended to study for CMT?
xx
Sleep Study
Get this: I had an appointment with the doctor this coming Wednesday to discuss a sleep study. Last Wednesday 2/1/06, his office calls me wanting to know if I was coming in because I was late for my appointment, and I reminded her that it was not that Wednesday but this coming Wednesday and she remembers and admits she got it wrong. This morning same girl calls to remind me of my Tuesday appointment!!!! Went through the same thing again and then she says, "Oh, yes. It is Wednesday. Can you come in Thursday? He's going to get called to the emergency department!!!" Uhhhhh did I miss something or is she clairvoyant on emergencies? This is why I do not go to the doctor unless it is absolutely necessary. I guess he has a golf game lined up.
That study used very old data.
EHR has come a long way since 2004.
CMT study workshops or

I am looking for some reputable websites for info regarding the CMT exam that also include study material. Any info would be greatly appreciated :)


Honestly, probably the best way to study for it
is to work, work, work.

Good luck!
Get a Sleep Study
It could be sleep apnea or narcolepsy. Yes, you can be healthy as a horse and still have sleep apnea or narcolepsy!
S/L Perfifth study per neurology?

I can't seem to find anything.  Any suggestions?


 


Thanks!


vellum - in swallow study???
is this correct
Sorry, you guys need to study up. "Affect" would never, ever go here. SM

Just FYI, to say "affect" would mean that the bleeding would change the procedure -- which makes not a lick of sense.


"Effect" would be the right thing, meaning that if this woman were to continue bleeding, she'd have to have a hysterectomy.


I didn't really like the wording of it anyway, but I thought I'd throw my two cents in because there seem to be people here still confused on the issue.


Sleep study transcription...

I have been approached by a sleep study doc to do the transcription for them.  I have not done these before and I'm not sure what to charge.  Does anyone have any advice for what to charge them or any sample reports?


 


Thanks so much


I found the study guide (sm)

was good with examples on the test and covered all areas.  However, the dictation CD probably has caused many a heart attack.  None of the dictations were as bad as that thing!


I don't really know how you can study too much for the beast besides brushing up on the ol' BOS.  The first part was a stinker, though.


Thanks, by the way!


Study your options though before committing...
I fill in when needed, vacation, sickness, etc, for friend at a local small town phys's office. Typist has been in hosp. and out off and on over the last 2 months. cpl confused Drs. wife so I said $10/hour, thought it was only temporary. I'm usually only there 2-4 hours, usually if it is 2 days of stuff. They work weird hours, 9 sometimes 11p.m. I work 10-6 so I tried to get in when I could in morning or go in evenings. Too aggravating, they are constantly interrupting me. I hooked their system up for C-phone access. Half time they forget to plug it up! But, anyway I have continued to do it by the hour. I will be changing to 10 cpl if this continues. Working at home by the hour I am cheating myself. I type it faster because I am more comfortable so end up shorting myself $10-15 each time. Some would say, drag it out but I can't do that I feel like I'm stealing, yet they are stealing my time.

Here is a sleep study website
http://www.sleepnet.com/definition.html
I ran into this system when I had a sleep study
Last winter outside of Orlando Florida. I waited to be set up for the initial sleep consultation, and the technician who takes vitals went into the template and asked me questions and filled it in. I told her what I did for a living. She smiled and said so does she, now... except it took under 3 minutes to do my whole history and physical etc. with better accuracy because she had drop down menus for just about every possible suggestion I had etc. She gets paid hourly as a tech and did not get a raise when this system came in. But she does it for the job security. I asked the doc and he said it is not only cost effective, but safer not to send work outside of the office or even out of the exam room because of HIPPA reasons. I can understand this. Knowing all of this, for some reason, I did not feel in the least intimidated or put out. I say the serenity prayer. If and when these systems are the norm rather than an oddity, another door will open for we transcriptionists which is better than what we have now. We have to believe as things evolve better for the medical record-keeping, indeed so will the jobs evolve better for us, even into a new career. To not believe that would be fatalistic. Somewhere in fate, IMHO we have to be willing to accept the times moving with or without us, and what our part will be in a positive way, rather than think it will be a negative thing.
You could join a study group through sm
AHDI, but there is no radiology-specific CMT credential.  In fact, I took the test within the past year and there are hardly any rad-specific questions on it.
My dad had a carotid ultrasound study done today --
and the technicians couldn't find his right vertebral artery.  From my limited knowledge this could mean it's occluded and it sounds like something to be concerned about.  He's worried but he doesn't want his doctor to think he's crazy for calling and asking about it right away.  The technicians told him the doctor would contact him in 2-3 days.  I don't think he should wait.  Any other opinions out there?
No, that's baloney. Study-up on meaning of 'cult'.
x
I would agree with getting a sleep apnea study,
but have you also tried cutting out the caffeine to get rid of the headaches? I have migraines that are related to caffeine withdraw. So, whenever I have caffeine, my body will crave more of the drug and have withdraw, thus a migraine. I used to have horrible migraines daily and then I met this wonderful neurologist who had me cut most of the caffeine out of my diet and it has worked wonderfully! Also, when I do get a bad migraine, I simply take Tylenol or aspirin with a Coke and it always makes the migraine go away. If you look at the ingredients in OTC migraine medications, they all have caffeine in them too, which for me helped confirm that my migraines were caffine-withdraw induced and not actually caused by the caffeine. Anyway, I only have about 2-3 migraines a year now, which is a HUGE improvement!
Graveyard shift study results
I just had to put this here.  This study came out about 2 days ago, and I did not find that anyone posted it here so I am going to comment on it.  If this is redundant please excuse the double post.  The other day on the news at 6 they reported that studies show that there is a new risk for developing cancer which could lead to an early grave... working the graveyard shift (punny).  Anyway, they said that because it goes against our biological clock, we produce less of a certain brain chemical when we sleep at night and this chemical helps our body fend of carcinogens (I forgot the chemical).  Do you know the American Cancer Society is seriously considering putting third shift workers on the list as being high risk for cancer?  Can you imagine?  What is this, a way for the insurance companies to have an excuse to deny us night owls insurance or to make the rates higher? I think it is hilarious because I personally never do anything risky.  I work at home as an MT after all, I do not lead a risky life in the least. Now, because I work nights so I can be a mom during the day and do everything supermom should do I am going to have cancer... what next?
Stedman's sells a study guide. NM
x
Recent study done... excerpt..see link ...

I read this just last night, as I too have been researching and gleaning information regarding the future of MT and pondering making any career changes.


http://govhealthit.com/Articles/2009/01/07/Spending-on-health-IT-would-generate-212105-jobs.aspx


EXCERPT:


The analysis found that a $10 billion health IT stimulus program would create or retain 43,410 jobs directly, most of them in areas such as software and hardware sales and system installation. Another 115,670 jobs would be created or retained indirectly, in areas such as sales of trucks and food to those holding the new jobs.

And the availability of new and improved networks and information would create 53,025 jobs, the foundation reported.

Stephen Ezell, a senior analyst at ITIF, said in answer to a reporter’s question that the analysis did not take into account the potential loss of jobs in areas such as medical records management and transcription of physicians’ notes.


 


Typing for a sleep study laboratory...sm
I make $5.00 a page, $5.50 a page for letters and $6.00 a page for stat dictations.  BTW, this is whether there are two lines on the page or a full page.
frank went to hawaii to evaluate and study the accomodations.
Frank didn't think this Hawaii vacation would serve the purpose he had in mind so the CEOs are putting their heads together and doing a study and are sure that the new Hawaii vacation they come up with will please all involved but in the meantime please continue transcribing as they value all of our efforts and will get back to us on the Hawaii vacation in a year or so once the CEO and managers form committees to study the vacation and fair way of chosing a winnner while studying the effects of a vacation on work habits of the lowly MT.
Depends. Did you just study or have you actually transcribed lots of tapes as sm

part of your training?  If you can't put down on your resume that your home study included multiple tapes in many specialties, etc. you are going to be hard pressed to find a good job. 


On the other hand, you might be able to type some orthopedics or pt notes (and then at least have some experience to put on your resume.)  Orthopedic doctors have TONS of dictation.  Besides their clinic notes, etc, most of them do IME (independent medical evaluations) which are fairly easy to do.  You'll need some good ortho books to get you started, but most will let you start without the experience if you can demonstrate you know the terminology.  Good luck.  Get some experience and the doors will start opening REALLY fast for you.  Sometimes, taking a low paying job is okay in the beginning just to get the experience.  If you can possibly get in a PCP's office to help out with clinic notes (even offering to to backlog/vacation stuff, you will get good experience and your resume will look great for the future stuff that comes up.  Good Luck to You.  Hang in there and learn everything you can.


A study a year or two back was assessing if hormone changes were
Specifically, does LOSS of estrogen cause memory loss in women. Multi-year study, BIG study, lots of subjects.

Upshot? There WAS memory loss happening. It was not due to hormones. Middle-aged women were SO busy and SO stressed and had SO many things on the brain and things to do and places to be and things to remember about spouse, kids, job, parents, extended family, that they were STRESSED TO THE POINT THEY COULD NOT REMEMBER IT ALL! Bah on the hormone theory. We just get full up to our eyeballs of all the things we have to do and something has to give.

Like, spelling the word school or something. No can do, school does not exist in this brain any more, it got kicked out so I can remember to pick up beer on the way home!
I don't know if the study guide has changed in the last 5 years, but when I bought it, it was so

not worth the money!  It was like a little pamphlet with maybe 20 sample questions.


That was back when the test was in two parts, so hopefully they offer some a bit more substantial as a study guide.


Cardiology and sleep study transcription questions

I am looking for other Transcriptionist that have cardiology and sleep study backgrounds. I am a newer MT, I am starting a cardiology and sleep study transcription account next week and have never transcribed for this specialty.


I wanted to know if there are specific word books or websites that you find helpful and are there specific things that you could tell me about the specialty that may help me?


 


I would appreciate any feedback


Thanks,


Angie


I got a discount by joining a study group...I think they still offer that. nm
;)
Always looking and learning
What is a marker, is it product specific or would shorthand have it? Sounds great
learning op
Try this book: Stedman's Medical Transcription Skillbuilders: Creating Surgical Reports. (also comes with 2 cds)
On my way to a Bible study. When I arrived, the other gals there had no idea what had happened. sm
I couldn't even find the words to explain - it was a little after 9. I was listening to, like the poster below, Bob and Sheri (on my way to Bible study - go figure) and Bob and Sheri were in a mood I had never, ever heard before. Very solmen. Describing word for what what they SAW. I didn't even know they were in NYC.

Anyways, I had to pull over as I started bawling. My younger son had taken an accompanied minor flight just a few days prior to that out of Dulles, so this hit quite close to home.

Anyways, we heard while in our Bible study (we decided to meet and pray for our country) about the other flights, but not flt. 93. We heard about that when our local newspaper (a giant) had people walking around McDonalds handing out FREE newspapers around 12 o'clock with pics and everything. The last time that newspaper did that was probably after JFK got shot. We were all scrambling for a paper which I still own to this day.

I remember my 9 year old son reading it in his room (I left it out like a dummie) and he cried like a baby for all those people on those flights who died. The WTC accident got to him the hardest. He still talks about it to this day. Tragic.

I don't know about you, but I do fear another attack like this again. It's hard not to.
Learning radiology.....sm
You should definitely give it a try, but "only" if you let them know up front that you haven't done radiology.  You can say that you feel you have enough experience to adapt to it and hope they'll give you the chance.  After all, the more specialties you have under your belt, the better your chances are of staying in this field.  But I would not take the job without being honest.  The transition is not all that difficult, but it will take some time.  And besides, you always have your former skills to rely on if it doesn't work out.  Good luck.
Yes, I'll be learning DQS...
I have wireless internet so I can't imagine why I would need a modem. I'm hoping that's something that's just in the manual for people that are still on dial up.

The lady I talked to made it sound like I had to rent the computer, although she quoted a fee of $25 a month. Is it not something I have to rent? Honestly, I don't mind it for right now just because my computer has been doing some crazy things, but when DH gets my computer upgraded I'd much prefer to just use my own computer. I'd rather not use all the other stuff if I don't have to.

Is DQS hard to learn? My training is Thursday and Friday so I assume I'll learn it then but I'm also not the best at remembering every single detail right away. I just want to get through this. I'm excited because they're letting me do acute-care work even though I tested for clinic work. I've been wanting acute-care experience and am thankful to be getting it. I just feel so overwhelmed with these three huge boxes sitting in my living room when I was only expecting one. The enormous DQS manual is also adding to the anxiety.

Thanks again.

Carole
Learning to read...

Yes, that problem brings you right back to the lack of early stimulation, schooling success, etc.  You can offer the world, but just like the "horse to water", you can only do so much in getting people to accept education and work hard at it to be successful.  It is NOT a solution to have people work at McDonalds, and unless they are literate, other options are just not going to work.  I would guess that all states have vocational training in community colleges that provide tuition assistance, scholarships, and financial aid for those in need, but again, the ambition and dedication to finish something like that needs to come from the individual.  Also, chasing down dead beat "fathers" is fine, but maybe young girls/women need to be smarter about taking reproductive chances.  Nobody died not having sex.  Perhaps more education in that arena is something the government could do.  But again, you can only lead a horse to water, and people ultimately have to be responsible.  We need to stop sugar coating the facts in our society in fear of offending somebody.  The facts are that blacks are disproportionately more impoverished in America, but they also have babies at a 70% out-of-wedlock birth rate, and that is a problem.


Could not do without it. Small learning sm
curve, but worth it.
Looking to start learning soon
Hi all,

I found this board doing a Google on a company I hope to join soon. They will train me to work for them. I am excited to be able to finally get into this business.

I stared taking a course twice, but have been battling Diabetes. It was hard to find the motivation and keep the momentum going. Now my Diabetes (type 2) is better under control. I am also tired of working for someone else outside my home.

I have been looking at doing transcription work for 3-4 years now. I have researched positions I can take once I get some experience, and I don't mind trying to hustle up my own accounts.

I am posting here to keep my dream in front of me and keep me looking towards my own business. I plan to join AAMT and my local chapter once I get working. I am so excited!

Thanks for the information your board posted while I was researching the company to make sure it wasn't a scam. I am satisfied it is not and can't wait to start learning!javascript:editor_insertHTML('text',''); Thank you all!
Thank GWB for that. It is all about the testing, not the learning.
x
Learning MSWord - need help

Finally have given in and am switching from WP to MSWord. I work from home. If anyone has any encouraging words about MSWord, I certainly would like to hear them. So far, I am going crazy, i.e., I have put in "gray boxes" but when I enter my autocorrect short cut for the "shell", my cursor goes to the bottom of the page and I have to page up 2-3 times. I am missing something?


Any help would be so very much appreciated


Thank you.... bw...


learning word
There is a really good web site called MTwerks.  They also give really good tech support and have a news letter with helpful tips.
Learning the English would be
a big help!  They come here to make money and should learn the language.  Benny Hinn does a great job with the English language when he's asking for money!  so apparently it is doable.
Yes, but I have to use the mouse. But....am learning (sm)
more shortcut keys as I type!! Thanks!
I switched but still learning,too

I used SH for a year. To me, it was like AutoCorrect, which I used to love, but IT does so much more. I've been using IT for about a year. There are so many things you can do with it that you can't do with SH.


As the other poster said, check out the productivity website and you will fiind zillions of ideas.


Some have a different learning curve than others

I had an in-house job for 3 years, hired in off the street, no experience.  Three months later, another girl hired in, same situation.  Paid hourly, no ESL, and we had the opportunity to talk to the doctors in person about any issue.


By the time I left, I was the highest producer in the office.  She was still struggling with the simplest words and phrases, still asking the same questions she asked the week she hired in, still needing help from somebody else all day long. She would cry from frustration because she couldn't get her act together.  Other people that hired in after her got the hang of it much faster and were soon helping her too.  I asked management on many occasions why they just didn't show her the door, and they said I was being harsh and that some people just couldn't learn as fast as others.  I wonder why she didn't just go find a different kind of job instead of hanging around driving herself and everyone else nuts.


learning another language
It isn't that I wouldn't like to learn another language if I had the time. I would. It would be neat to be able to speak another language, but I don't. And it makes me fustrated when immigrants come here and expect me to know their language when they are the ones who came here. They should know proper English. Or just decent English. If I moved to South America I would not expect them to understand me. I would take it upon myself that if I wanted to communicate I need to learn good Spanish. And if I had a job where I did something such as dictating, I would make sure I knew decent English and tried to make myself understandable. Some ESLs act like they don't care if you can understand them or not. There ARE some who try though.