This article will give you step by step instructions on work at home as a medical transcriptionist. We will discuss the training and experience needed, equipment and software and resources to find a job transcribing at home.
Instructions
1. The first step to becoming successful at any work at home job is to make sure you have the proper training or experience to perform the job you want to do. Here, we are discussing medical transcription. This is a knowledge-intensive career field. Most transcription companies that hire independent contractors from home require that they have completed a medical transcription course either from a local community college, technical school or an accepted online course. These courses can take from one to two years to complete. They cover medical terminology and procedures as well as extensive anatomy and physiology, which are required to do this job properly. A good course will also go over the different types of forms or reports that the transcriber will be required to complete. Two popular medical transcription courses online are CareerStep and Andrews. The cost of these courses vary. Some courses cover the required software and foot pedal needed for transcription.
2. Prepare your office set up so that you can do transcription. The first thing you will need is a reliable, fast computer with adequate RAM as well as some type of broadband access to the Internet. Transcription companies today will store the work in audio files. The transcriber will access her work via the Internet. The next thing you will need is good transcription software. If your transcription course does not provide this, Express Scribe is available for download over the Internet and is a free program. Most companies will accept your work using this program. You will also need a good set of ear phones or headphones in order to hear what is being dictated. It is much easier to hear with these as they will cut down any outside noise as well as give you better sound for any hard to hear words or for speakers who are difficult to understand. You will need a foot pedal as well. There are several on the market that are good. Most companies and transcribers prefer a foot pedal with a USB connection to the computer. You will also need a medical dictionary. I recommend purchasing one in book form though there are dictionaries available online. There may be software programs available for this purpose as well.
3. Now that you have your office set up, you need to learn do transcription efficiently. In order to be a good transcriber lots and lots of practice is needed. Transcription is very different from sitting down at a keyboard and typing. You have to learn listen and listen really well. There will be speakers who are hard to hear or words that you will not understand. You will also need to get a feel for typing as you listen to speakers. This is a slow process in the beginning and it can be quite frustrating. However if you are persistent, you will become more proficient and much faster if you stick with this and practice a lot! There are audio files you can access on the Internet for practice on general transcription that will help you become more knowledgeable about he process and more comfortable.
4. Your next step is to actually go about finding a transcription job once you have completed your course and have your office set up. There are many resources for work at home jobs, especially in this field. Search the internet for forums that have folders set up for this type of job. There are forums specifically for transcribers. I highly suggest you go and read the forums and get a feel for the type of work you will be doing. One forum that has a great transcription folder is http://www.wahm.com/forum. You can find advice, support and information about particular companies that hire work at home contractors.
5. When you are ready, it is time to prepare your resume and start applying for jobs online. Many companies will accept medical transcriptionists with no experience if they have completed an online course that they accept. The good online courses will help you with job referrals as well upon completion. You will need to fill out an online application and send your resume online. Most companies do require a typing or transcription test to assess your abilities. Once you have acquired a position, companies will instruct you on access the work they have available. As stated above, you will open audio files found on the Internet or the company's site and then transcribe the materials. You will then upload the work to their site.
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