MT Home-Study Programs for MTs

See FAQ for list of MT correspondence courses with email, web site and phone numbers.
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4/13/97,
Meditech, Inc., P.O. Box 540280, North Salt Lake, Utah 84054-0280

3/20/97, from Peggy LaChance, advice on studying for MT:

Students need to be concentrating on actually becoming a medical transcriptionist, getting the background information needed to do the job, developing the keyboard skills needed to do the job, and developing the auditory processing skills needed to do the job. When training is complete, concentrate on getting and keeping a supervised "apprenticeship" position somewhere in which you can further develop your skills until you can work independently and work well enough that you are actually a marketable commodity.

Buying transcription equipment and software while thinking about becoming an MT is like outfitting a law firm while thinking about going to law school. You will be in a position to get a decent job in which you can keep learning to transcribe. Services use different equipment, and some even provide equipment. Concentrate on getting the education first.

3/8/97, from Amy, AHAW611@aol.com:

I went to a seminar in Little Rock, AR for Career Step training program in 10/96 and signed up. The course was designed to take 4 months to complete, but I did it in 3 because I was (and still am) not working. I found the course to be great. Not only the price, but also the materials--grammar and anatomy workbooks, specialty workbooks, self-tests, tapes of drug names and terminology so you could hear them pronounced, and 8 tapes of dictation taken from actual medical reports to practice on. I found the course to be all it said it was and more, but I don't have any experience with any other courses. I passed my final tests in Jan. and now I am looking for work and have about decided to go with a hospital to get more experience before working at home, which is what I want to do.

There are 10 audio tapes in the course. The first two are pronunciation tapes of terminology and drug names, so you can hear how the words are pronounced. The next eight tapes are as follows: Tapes 3 &4 - Dictation tapes taken from actual medical reports, but dictated by a Career Step staff member. Tapes 5-10 are tapes dictated by real doctors (with the patients' names and personal info deleted, of course) with varying degrees of difficulty, with Tapes 9 & 10 being the most difficult (mumbling mushmouth doctors, loud background noise, Speedy Gonzaleses, strange accents--you get the picture). The grammar workbook section is also taken from real medical reports. Other areas covered include anatomy, prefixes, suffixes, root words, and abbreviations. In addition, there are separate workbooks for 10 medicine specialties that include actual medical reports containing terminology and instruments used in that specialty. I have not looked into any other courses, so all I know is this one. I know it was beneficial to me and provided a good base of information on which I can build through work experience.

From: Debra Walsh, dawalsh@WORLDNET.ATT.NET
After reading all the pros and cons on the various study programs out there, I am coming to a conclusion. I'd like opinions. It doesn't seem to matter where a person gets their training, whether in a school, classroom setting, or through correspondence. The only difference to me, that I can see so far, is that a student does not have to worry about time with a correspondence course. Meaning, well, take me for instance. I finish up the fall semester, and then had a 1-1/2-month break before the winter/spring semester. Granted, I had my textbook already for the next semester, but all I gain in studying it is preparing myself for when school starts again. I am not getting myself closer to the end, if you all know what I mean. With correspondence school, you do keep getting yourself closer to the end.

The bottom line seems to be, no program is perfect. You're continually learning in this field. Completing a program anywhere prepares you to actually tackle reports for a doctor, hospital, etc. But you are just beginning to embark on a path that is very long and requires a lot of hard work. Continually work and continually learn if you wish to become really good. With all the new drugs, treatments, etc., always coming out, there really is no end to the learning phase. Even these SUM tapes I have read about, they seem to me to be perhaps the best training tapes, but even there, they can't prepare you TOTALLY for everything you will encounter. No training program can.

So, I suppose one basically takes a shot, buys a program, gets a transcription machine if the program doesn't supply one, and goes for it, asking God to send His angels to watch over them. Send out resumes, etc., and hope to hear from someone. I was looking here for something that does not exist; I was looking for THE program that would allow doors to open with little or no problem. I was looking for THE program that would stop a doctor or hospital MT supervisor from saying, "Your training was not acceptable." I can see now, though, that if you can do the work, that is all that matters. I have already been told that by a local hospital, when asking them if they would consider hiring someone with a certificate from a college program, or a correspondence school. They said if the person could pass their test, it made no difference. They said a person could get a certificate from a college and not be able to pass their test, I'm going to ask God for guidance here, listen to my instincts, and decide which way to go. That is all any of us can do. This place is absolutely wonderful for giving each other support and sharing experiences, and for knowing we are all not alone, we are all in this together.

10/96, Susan Francis, YFYH58A@prodigy.com, and Kathy Kropko at kkropko@neo.lrun.com
Medical Transcription Education Center is a 3-tiered self-study program which was designed by MTs with over 25 years experience in hospital and physician's office transcription along with running successful home-based MT services. The program allows the student to choose the TIER or level of training they want to take. TIER I is the recommended protocol for beginners with little or no medical background. TIER II and III offer you a choice of modules depending on your current skill levels. We offer authentic physician dictation using the SUM tapes from HPI and actual hospital dictation. The references we have chosen will help you understand the body systems. The references are also useful when you begin your career as an MT. For the medical professional wanting to change careers, this program offers a variety of training tapes and textbooks. Call (330)733-4346 to get an informational brochure.

After reviewing all the other courses available and picking out the best of each, we think we are unique because we offer 3 levels of training. The first level is geared to the beginner and includes the SUM tapes, student syllabus and keys and a really fun and educational anatomy coloring book along with courses in terminology, grammar, and lab essentials to name a few. The 2nd level is for the RN, medical assistant, ART, etc who already has A&P, terminology, and a basic medical background but still require extensive dictation and transcribing techniques to become qualified in the field. They will be using SUM tapes also, but their references will be unique. The third tier is for the advanced student or practicing MT who wants to further their career. The students we have trained locally have done very well but they have had us working right along with them, so this has given them an advantage. We do offer phone, fax, email assistance to our students also and will walk them through every step of the way. We have been presented with an opportunity to train students in-house within the next year and will be able to hire qualified students after that. We want to share this with others who might be interested in the MT field and really think we have what it takes to help train qualified MTs. I think it is so important that more of us take on this responsibility at every level.

5/1/97, from Susan Francis:

I just wanted to make an announcement to all our Medical Transcription Education Center (M-TEC) students that our program has been recognized and APPROVED by the State Board of Proprietary School Registration! This was a long journey, but we are happy to say that it will benefit our students in many ways. Students now have a guaranteed student recovery fund, a medical transcription course program that is monitored by the Board of Proprietary Schools and which we are proud to say meets with their rigid guidelines. They will have a place to log a complaint (the State Board), to issue any positive comments, and can be assured that our program and courses adhere to the rules, regulations and standards set by the Board. We will keep working toward these goals and others in the future!

8/96, Silvercreek Resource Group, Inc. Marilyn Schmidt, Business Manager
mschmidt@mailroom.srgincorp.com
SRG, Inc. was formally incorporated in 1988. Donna Hill, President and Founder, has 10+ years of hands-on MT and management experience. SRG, Inc. has corporate headquarters in Oak Harbor, WA, as well as business offices and computer operations in Wichita, KS, and in Herndon, VA. We are full-time on the internet, using a private ftp server and e-mail at the present time. Within the next few days we will be putting up our first home pages from our own in-house web site.

We specialize in acute care/emergency transcription, but also offer services to smaller physician office and clinics. We are compatible with Dictaphone, Lanier, and DVI. We are also moving toward internet solutions to long-distance management of our national home-based workforce.

SRG developed its Medical Transcription Independent Study Course (MTISC) in 1990. Our course uses the SUM System, but includes SRG's own study guide with reading exercises, and transcription assignments for the full 31 units of the course. SRG also includes an excellent selection of 17 reference and college-level textbooks that will serve the student long after he/she has completed the course. Our course also includes a dictation/transcription unit, so that the student will be able to use the machine to tape off dictation later - plus being able to use it while taking the course. In addition, we intern many of our top students, bringing them in and working with them, helping them get their foot in the door. Very few independent (or even college) courses can provide an opportunity like ours. We provide excellent opportunity to our students, and expect their best work and highest level of effort in return. SRG has been bringing new transcriptionists into our field since 1988. Until a few months ago, the course was advertised only by word of mouth. We have been fortunate that our course has provided us with many excellent students and employees using that method alone. About a year ago, we began a complete makeover of the course. It has been expanded and we are beginning to market it publicly now. We have also begun the process to try to get the course accredited. More than 50 people have already taken our course. Not all have had the staying power to complete it and go on, but we have had a good percentage who have. We have 4 graduating students coming onboard as new interns with us this month alone. Our course sells for $2500.00, we offer bank financing with credit approval. If you are interested in seeing more information about our course, I'd be glad to mail you a brochure about it. Also, Donna Hill's e-mail address is: screek@whidbey.net.

7/96, from Cynthia Lewis
Correspondence courses often include anatomy and physiology textbooks and learning exercises, thousands of words provided on audio tapes and in workbooks to learn medical terminology, lengthy work on grammar skills, familiarization in every major medical specialty including laboratory tests and values and all types of radiographic testing. . . Learning by on-the-job apprenticeship may provide instant practical experience, I wonder if one gets as good basic foundation as one would get with a reputable home-study course? Can a working MT service owner really provide that kind of instruction to a student apprentice?
7/96, from Liz Hug
As a long-time MT and service owner, I agree with you wholeheartedly; however, I would not have agreed a year ago before finding this use wnet and learning how much time, energy, and money many of you future and current MTs have put into learning this business.

Those of us who started out working for and learning at MT service offices - and earning under $1.00 per hour until gradually (sometimes over five or more years) becoming capable of earning a real living at this - can resent those whom we perceive as just jumping right in and earning what we've taken years to work up to.

However, I now humbly acknowledge that many of you have learned things which I NEVER have learned, having been exposed only to the specialties which the agency chose to have me transcribe. As a result, I am learning more than I knew I needed to learn, just by reading postings on SMT. As a matter of fact, I must admit that after doing MT for over 25 years now, I have never, not even once, typed an OP report for a general hospital patient.

Therefore, speaking for myself (but maybe for many other "old-timers" as well) would like to publicly apologize for any past prejudice I have held for "newbies" in general; and if and when my business should grow, I would no longer hesitate to take on a subcontractor fresh out of one of the wonderful correspondence courses available today.

7/96, from Hummmmer
Thank you Liz for keeping an open mind. All we need is for an even-handed approach. There certainly are good and bad in any group. No one should be dismissed out of hand, and no one should be assumed competent by their experience. Sometimes people (including me) make the same mistake for 15 years! A basic knowledge, motivation, a willingness to learn and reliability are keys to being a good employee. That and these online groups will take a person a long way!
7/96, from Cynthia Lewis
I also cringe when I read that someone has a computer and a little extra time and wants to begin MT work from home without training or the necessary skills. . I feel I was very well prepared for entrance into the profession after completing such a course. Nor are the ads ludicrous about making $25,000+ working from home, even the first year -- been there, done that. I feel there are many valid ways to get a toe-hold in this field, and correspondence classes are one of them.
7/96, from Cyndie Tozzo
I am currently taking the CCHS home study course. It is very extensive. I have taken college courses in anatomy, medical terminology etc. I am very impressed with this course. I have to tell you, it is NOT easy. Studying from home takes A LOT of dicipline. I think, if you can stick it out it means you have potential for a lot of other things, including MT. You have no supervision so you have to kind of force yourself to just keep looking, reading etc. You have to use your own judgment, and obviously if you use the wrong judgment it will lead you to a dead end and you have to start over. There is absolutely no way of slacking off without hurting yourself. It would seem that the ones who can't hack it will drop out easily, so those who do stick it out and finish, I applaud you. I live with my husband, no kids, animals, and he works till about 8:00 p.m. I get out of work between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. and I still find it hard to find time for studies. I also enjoy the SUM tapes. I think this is a fantastic learning tool. But I have found through my day job, (health insurance) that there are many jobs that can be done with correct training, but on-the-job training is the BEST! A lot of people can go to campus and skip class, or not really pay attention, etc., and pass those exams. I am currently learning MT on-the-job now also!
7/96, from Judy Hinickle
Whether you have studied long and hard at home OR at school, if you succeeded you have a very different -and admirable- depth of knowledge than some of us who learned strictly OJT. If the work to be done is complicated (which occurs in ANY setting, not just hospital), or includes so many different dictators you don't get a chance to get to know them well, it is best in our service for a new employee (beginner or experienced) to have a "weathered" MT as a mentor until they get the hang of a particular batch of dictators. We hire new graduates (of any good course) based on how well they do on our test (it takes 4 hours) - not WHERE they learned their fund of knowledge. Most employers I am familiar with do the same.

When the MT demonstrates excellent independent accuracy, they are ready for MT work no matter where their keyboard is. (If they want to work from home, they need other characteristics as well.)

There are clearly some people who learn well no matter where they are (home, school or OJT); they just have "the knack". This would address some of the arguments on the board about "...school or OJT, who will be more accurate?..." A good learner seems to have a sense for those things and utilizes to death their resources. Give me THAT employee no matter where they learned - it's their creative brain, diligent attitude and good judgment that will make quality decisions. Just so they know what they don't know, and demonstrate some humility - No one in transcription knows everything! (Well maybe Vera Pyle and Judith Marshall...)

Aren't there a lot of you out there with the same attitude - the RESULTS of the education, and the way it is used, count more than the source of the education?

7/96, from Melinda Taylor:
To those who are struggling through home study courses, I'd like to mention that for me, the longer I do this (7+ years and counting), the more I wish I had the benefit of formal MT education. Seems the more you learn, the more you realize how much you don't know after all. Your studies are not a waste of time or money, and I'm sure will serve you well throughout your career.
7/96, from Linda:
I too learned on the job, and feel at times I was not adequately trained in some areas. I try to compensate for this as I instruct my classes by instructing the students in what I realize I should have learned all those years ago, and have learned by my own means or in classes since then. Both means of learning this profession have their merits, depending on the training supervisor at the job site and the home study contents too. Having taken some home study classes too, I wish the "Net" had been around to check into for help on some of those questions.
6/96, From Sharon Thomas:
I am trying to figure out what the transcription services are going to do when they convince all the hospitals that they can do the job cheaper, since they only hire trained transcriptionists and don't (in general) pay benefits, and all the transcription departments in hospitals disappear. Who will then train the transcriptionists? I understand why the services don't want to do this before they have to, but this problem with have to be addressed.

Training a transcriptionist is time consuming and expensive but someone will have to do it. Schools, as good as they can be, are just no replacement for on-the-job training.

From Debbie Hahn, debbicmt@visuallink.com
As a matter of fact, there is one transcription service which is already trying to address that issue. Digital Dictation, Inc. is working on the possibility of developing an MT training program in collaboration with a community college, hopefully to begin within a couple of years. As an editor, I was part of the curriculum development seminar, which was a fascinating process. The curriculum was developed from scratch, entirely from the input of two separate seminars, one a group of medical transcriptionists, and the second a group of editors. Every aspect of medical transcription as applies to working for a national service was covered, down to tax training and working-at-home issues. It would truly be a 'dream curriculum' for an MT. The goal was a one-year full-time training program which, on completion and passing of final exams, would produce entry-level transcriptionists who would be able to go straight to work for DDI - in fact, the last 3 months of their training course would be actual on-the-job transcription with DDI. I should also mention that this community college is located in an economically depressed area, so not only would it be benefiting the service by developing a new 'pool' of transcriptionists to hire from, it also would be benefiting the county in which it was located by allowing the residents to have access to jobs and income they could never achieve otherwise. I think it is a wonderful solution to the problems you mentioned, and I hope it gets off the ground and becomes available everywhere, not only with DDI but with other services!

From Mitz:
Our local community college (William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, Illinois) not only offers a seminar and externship, but requires it is a part of the 31 credit hour certificate program. The externship follows completion of all the other course requirements. I don't know how different the college's offering is from other schools, but it includes medical law and ethics, terminology, human diseases, pharmacology, and clincal lab, etc. Along with the actual transcription and the medical office management/technology courses, I think they cover the field pretty well. I know the service I sub from has hired Harper grads with no complaint. (And, yes, we do hospital work, including ops for pediatric subspecialties.)
6/96, From Judy:
I think I see a money making idea for someone here. What about a home study course in surgery for experienced transcriptionists interested in moving from clinic work to the more profitable (at least that's what I'm gathering) work for the big services.. It could be worked out with input from the national services (as well as hospitals) and geared somewhat at least to their needs. It could include lots of sample op reports, etc. and require some kind of satisfactory testing at the end. The services could then count it as equivalent to X amount of hospital experience. I did check the HPI page and didn't see anything like this listed. It may already exist somewhere of course.

At 48 I'm not willing to spend the next 5 years working for a hospital so I can make big money, but I would be willing to spend 9 mos -1 year "gearing up" if necessary and I think there may be others also.. If there is as much overlap in terminology as I think (others obviously don't) it wouldn't take that long.

6/96, From Linda Campbell:
The closest school to San Antonio that I can find that uses The SUM Program materials and receives state funding is Laredo Community College, West End Washington Street, Laredo, TX 78040. Don't have a phone number for them. South Texas Community College in McAllen (zip 78501) also has what appears to be a good program. If you are not impressed with any of the programs in San Antonio, you probably shouldn't settle for any of them at this point--you may very well find that you've wasted your time and money if you do. Instead, consider a campaign to encourage your local community college to invest in the proper MT educational materials. We invite you to visit the HPI web site at http://hpisum.com to see what kind of information you need to learn this profession.
5/96, name withheld
I have just recently returned to AOL after two years away. The first place I looked for was the Medical Transcription boards. I was wondering if anyone could tell me about "The School of Medical Transcription." It's a correspondence school based in Atlanta, Ga. I'm thinking about signing up with them. I first became interested in Medical transcription about 8 years ago when I started working for a small hospital as a Switchboard Operator/Data Entry Clerk. Our office was also the mail room and medical records would pass through our office. I found them to be facinating reading! After that I went to work in a larger hospital as an admissions clerk; same thing, I would come across patient medical records and be envious of the person who got to transcribe it.

Becoming a medical transcriptionist is something I just can't stop thinking about. I even went as far as to almost sign up with a local technical school just recently, but had to back out at the last minute because it would be too much stress with working, a husband, three kids, a neurotic cat and disobedient dog. I just wouldn't have time to study properly. The classes started today, so I'm feeling a little down. I ended up quitting my last job as admissions clerk because we moved and the commute became a real drag, not to mention 3rd shift (ugh). Now I'm employed as a waitress and bartender. The money is fairly good, but my legs won't hold out forever, not to mention I am suffering from "medical information withdrawal". Also, I run a small desktop publishing service from my home, mostly resumes, flyers, presentations, etc. I have read "The Independent Medical Transcriptionist" from cover to cover (great reading) and just about anything else I can get my hands on.

My husband got me a Sanyo standard cassette dictaphone for Mother's Day. I was so excited!!! I said, "How did you know I wanted a dictaphone?" He said, "You won't shut up about it!" It's a used machine, it's heavy and says "Sanyo Memo Scriber" on it.

5/96: name withheld:
Hello! It was so strange reading your message you posted, you sound exactly like a friend of mine who has been trying to get into medical transcription, and believe it or not, she is an admissions clerk AND has a very disobedient dog, and you are not going to believe this, but she is currently taking the Professional Career Development Institute transcription course!

Now, I must tell you that from hearing her experiences I strongly urge you to check out other options. The only good thing that I can tell you about it is that if you do not have some money saved for school this course looks great because it only requires $5 down and $28 a month for two years, But remember that by the time you pay for this course, it is the same, if not more than a more reputable one.

I, on the other hand was fortunate enough to have help from my wonderful parents to take the SUM program for beginning medical transcriptionist - and it was wonderful. Let me try to explain some of the major differences for you. The first and most obvious was the quality of the tapes. In the course I took the tapes were authentic doctors dictating real reports (omitting patient names of course) and I got some doctors that were foreign, some that were clear good dictators, and some that were very fast talkers, etc. When she got her tapes (and she is almost through with the course) every single tape sounds just like a computer voice talking, very slowly, over pronunciating every word clearly. Well, let's face it, real doctors are not like that so it will be very discouraging when she starts to work in the real world.

Second is that you cannot work without an extensive medical reference library. The SUM program for beginning medical transcriptionists provides you with an excellent start. With the course you receive a nice Stedman's Medical Dictionary, a Medical Phrase Index, an abbreviation book, a Quick Look Drug Book, and three other specialty phrase books. Let me tell you, work would be impossible without these. My friend on the other hand -- although in the broucher it looked like she would receive about the same -- only received a small paperback medical encyclopedia, a small paperback Webster's dictionary...both of which were copyrighted in 1984. That's It!

Third is the importance of having support when you get stuck on something or just need a little reassuring. My course has support whenever you call, right then you get the answer to your question or the reassurance you need. As you can probably guess, my friends course is quite opposite. You have to write down any questions that you have, mail them to the school where they mail it to the instructer who is not even in Georgia, she is in Colorado. As you can imagine, all of this takes quite a while, and is very irritating. I hate to bash this school, but I do not want to see anyone go through the stuff that my friend has went through. The only other thing is that with the SUM program, you get all of your course at the same time, so you can really work at your own pace. The course in Georgia sends you the course in segments. The turnaround time to get your graded material is about one month, yes one month before you feel confident enough to go on to your next step after seeing your graded report.

Well, I do not know what else I can say, except if you do not check into the SUM program, please check out different courses and stear clear of this one. And do not forget to ASK QUESTIONS! If you are interested in getting information regarding the SUM program, you can call Jennifer at 1-816-468-4403 or 1-800-951-5559. I hope I didn't confuse you, I hope it will help.

7/9/96, name withheld
I would like to add that if you are considereing taking the home study course from Professional Career Development Institute that you do the following:

1. The text they currently are using is Medical Terminology for Health Professionals, 2nd Edition. You can pick this up at a local B. Dalton bookstore for under $30. It is a very general introduction to terms. It is the only text used in this course and is very inadequate for medical transcription.

2. Invest in a transcription unit with foot pedals and headset. The "transcription unit" they offer with the course is a $20 tape recorder and headphones that hurt my ears. You need to learn how to use the foot pedals and use equipment that actually exists in the reality of transcription.

3. The dictation tapes will not prepare you for the reality of transcribing. I did have I doctor that actually dictated his punctuation and spelled any words he thought might be unfamiliar. This was only because his only experience prior to me was his secretary.

At Health Professions Institute you can order actual dictation tapes. These are realistic and will prepare you much better than their program. Basically you can pay them for these tools or you can buy the book and begin searching for other books to fill your library. Get a transcription unit, and buy dictation tapes from sources like HPI and you have composed your own beginning program for about the same cost as Professional Career Development Institute. I got burned. I will be spending well over the cost of their program in additional materials I need to be prepared to work efficiently in this field.

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