Do you like the idea of being your own boss? Would you like to start your own business where you call all of the shots? A medical transcription career can enable you to do just that! It’s a convenient, flexible career that lends itself to working independently from home. You can join the growing health care industry as a small business owner. What could be better?

With the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) citing that Medical Transcriptionists working as independent contractors earn more than those who work for transcription services, there’s no reason not to venture out on your own! A little planning and preparation can start your medical transcription career off right. Here’s what to do:

1. Complete a medical transcription course – If you haven’t already done so, you need to enroll in an accredited medical transcription school and complete your training. This will give you a solid foundation and serve as the basis for your future medical transcription career.
2. Create a business plan – You need to create a business plan. It is important to define your short and long-term medical transcription goals, detail your marketing objectives, and devise a business strategy. This includes determining how you are going to find business and manage your clients. You should follow this plan when dealing with the day-to-day operations of your medical transcription business.
3. Get the financing – There will be some start-up costs involved in the beginning of your new medical transcription business. Research your financial options and pick the one that suits your needs. Family and friends, investors and bank loans are typical sources for funds.
4. Fill out the proper paperwork – You need to make it official. There are city, county and state forms that need to be filed before you can operate your medical transcription business. These include licenses, permits and approvals. Find out which apply to you. This information is readily accessible online.
5. Learn about the competition – It is essential that you conduct research and learn about other medical transcribers in your area. Establish reasonable prices for your medical transcription services, and determine what will give you a competitive edge – how can you make your medical transcription business stand out?

The medical field, in all areas, is growing by leaps and bounds. And there are many opportunities for Medical Transcription (MT) professionals. But is this the correct career path for you? Read the statements below and see how many you can follow through with.

1. You want to start your MT training with a reputable school by taking the first steps with an accredited school or course. This step can put your career on the right track. Do your research and choose the best school. Medical Transcription Training, live student support and national accreditation are very important to get the education you need.
2. Do you need a financial assistance program? Enroll in a school that fits with your budget and puts your Medical Transcription training within reach.
3. You want Flexibility of hours. A Medical Transcription career can be tailored to fit your schedule. Whether you find your own clients or work for an established service, you can usually set your own hours.
4. You can meet deadlines. Do you finish assignments in a timely fashion? If you like to concentrate on the task at hand and get your work done, this career is perfect for you.
5. You have a high level of accuracy. Do you take pride in your work? If you like to get your work done with accuracy being a key component, you will make an ideal MT.
6. You like to learn new technology. You need some technical know how to succeed in this field. Your quick ability to adapt to new technology will give you an advantage.
7. Can you type fast? This is a skill that can be learned and honed, but if you have fast typing ability, you will be in an excellent position to succeed.
8. You must possess solid grammar and spelling skills. Using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling is essential to creating accurate and professional transcriptions.
9. Can you work well without supervision? The best part of medical transcription is that you are in charge of your career. You manage your own assignments and tasks. The more you do, the more money you make!
10. You need a good work space. Do you have a space at home that can be dedicated to work? A quiet work area will help you get your job done accurately and quickly without distractions.

Once you are working as a Medical Transcriptionist, you will want all the tips and knowledge you can find on getting jobs and building yourself in the field. But, what better way to understand the mechanics of the business than understanding what it is those who will hire you want?

First of all, companies looking to hire medical transcriptionists such as yourself are considering many different factors. First and foremost, they are looking for a good price. If you charge too much for your services, especially in the beginning, you just might find yourself with little or no work. They are also looking for turn-around time. Companies, doctors or anyone else hiring you want the most bang for their buck. They do not want to wait for their transcibed documents. Be as speedy as you can without sacrificing quality.

Though there are some places that will hire you right out of school (don’t expect a lot in the beginning), most companies are searching for transcriptionists that have a good and lengthy track record. The longer you have remained in business and been consistent and successful, the more people will want to hire you. Keep this in mind as you build your business. Prospective employers are going to want more than just a resume; they will also want references and possibly examples of your work.

Customer service is not only for retail businesses. When you are hired, you may have to deal one on one with those whose work you are transcribing. Your attitude will make a big difference. They will expect someone they can work with unhindered by a negative outlook.

Lastly, but certainly not least, your knowledge and use of technology will play a factor in your procuring jobs. Technology continues to change and grow and as a medical transcriptionist you should be able to keep up with the latest technology so that regardless of the software the client offers you will be at ease using it.

Medical transcription is a great career option but it is definitely not for everyone. And unlike general belief, it is not a cakewalk. Medical transcription is a specialized profession and not everyone can become a medical transcriptionist. In fact, I warn many people against considering this career option. Let me explain why.

Medical transcription is not for you if…

…you cannot motivate yourself. As a medical transcriptionist, your job is to transcribe medical information and create medical records, day in and day out. Do you think you can keep yourself hooked to the job in the long run? You need self-motivational skills for that.

…you don’t want to learn while you work. The medical transcription profession requires that you keep updating your medical knowledge. For this, you have to invest some time almost everyday. If you cannot handle learning and earning at the same time, medical transcription is not for you.

…you cannot remain focused for long hours. The nature of medical transcription work is such that it requires you to remain focused for extended periods of time. If you are likely to be distracted often, you cannot handle medical transcription.

…you think medical transcription is just about transcription. Medical transcription does not require only your hearing skills; it needs your analytical skills as well. It also expects you to research extensively as and when required. You need to analyze information in order to make sense of it.

Now you know that medical transcription is more demanding than you thought. Are you sure you can commit to the profession? We wish you all the luck.

Joining the medical transcription profession requires you to possess a certain aptitude. Discover the aptitude, complete a good medical transcription course, and you are ready for the profession. However, if you are thinking of making a career of it, you have to enhance your existing skills and develop new ones. Let me tell you how you can make this profession your career.

Discipline is the work when it comes to medical transcription work. All professions need you to be disciplined, but medical transcription more so. You have to set up a routine, and stick to it. You have to become your own boss and start monitoring your progress. All this requires tremendous amount of discipline.

You need to possess organizational skills. When you start work, do you have everything necessary within your reach? Or do you have to get up several times in the midst of work, spoiling your flow? You should have all transcription aids ready when you begin work. You should be proficient in planning and tracking your work and keeping accounts. If you are looking at making medical transcription your career, you need to be highly organized.

You should be able to motivate yourself all throughout your stint in the profession. The work in medical transcription tends to become monotonous and boring in the long run. You will have to keep it from becoming uninteresting. You have to keep motivating yourself in order to perform well consistently.

Can you be a student throughout your career? For the medical transcriptionist, the learning does not end with the training. He/she has to keep updating his/her knowledge on a regular basis. Now, one has to possess the willingness to learn for doing that. Without this attribute, one cannot rise in this profession.

So, do you think you can make medical transcription your career?

Gauging your potential is the first step towards the medical transcription career. If you are interested in medical transcription, you must find out whether or not you can be a medical transcriptionist. In today’s post, we give you a list of questions you should ask yourself in order to find out if you can join the profession.

Do I have an above average command over the English language?
If your grammar is poor, you will not be able to bring sense into the medical records, which may lead to misrepresentation of facts.

Can I handle the computer comfortably?
If you are not comfortable handling a computer, you should develop your computer skills before you join the medical transcription course.

Do I possess above average analytical skills?
You are required to analyze information logically in order to render meaning to medical records.

Will I be able to work independently?
If you long for guidance and supervision in all stages of work, this profession is not for you. You should be extremely disciplined and mature to handle work on your own.

Will I be able to take out time for regular learning?
The profession requires that you keep learning throughout your career. Obsolete knowledge can cost you your career. You have to make time for learning almost everyday.

Can I research extensively on my own?
As a medical transcriptionist, you are required to refer to external material in order to ensure that medical records are complete and accurate.

Look for a medical transcription course only if your answer to every question has been in the affirmative.

While most other professions give you a list of academic prerequisites, medical transcription doesn’t ask for your qualifications. And you need no experience of any kind to enter the field of medical transcription. Add to that the flexibility of working from anywhere in the world. Yes, you can be in a remote town in India and yet work for a medical transcription company in the United States.

But there must be something the profession wants. Yes, it wants a certain aptitude from you, an aptitude that is not measured by certificates and degrees. It wants an aptitude and the willingness to work sincerely. Now, if a profession accepts you for your aptitude, for who you are, isn’t that a wonderful morale booster? And this comes even before you start working.

Inside the industry, you will come to realize that your income is directly proportional to your proficiency. Given that the profession doesn’t have academic and experiential prerequisites, it definitely pays well. As you prove your merit and become more proficient in your work, your income increases accordingly. Now, isn’t that great?

Medical transcription offers tremendous flexibility. Which other profession will let you choose your work timings? Even when you are working in an office, you can choose to work as per your convenience. Then there’s the choice of working from home, an absolute delight. And if you choose to become a freelancing transcriptionist, you even get to say ‘no’ to work!

If you are a sincere medical transcriptionist, you will soon build a goodwill for yourself and see how fulfilling it is to be known for your work. In spite of the challenging nature of medical transcription, it can give you a satisfying career.

What are the skills and virtues that make you a good medical transcriptionist? Good hearing skills, computer proficiency, good command over the English language, ability to meet deadlines, ability to meet quality goals, willingness to learn and research, self-motivation are some of the factors that help make you a medical transcriptionist. But these factors are not enough for a long stint in the medical transcription industry.

There is another virtue one needs to add to all these. OK, let me end the suspense. I am talking about consistency. Not impressed? Well, imagine doing a great job for the initial year or two and then you become complacent and start delivering not-so-great work. Do you think your employer will let you stay just because you were a good transcriptionist earlier?

A simple lapse in medical transcription can impact the safety of a patient somewhere. Thus, the medical transcriptionist has to ensure that he/she keeps meeting quality goals and deadlines on a consistent basis.

Being consistent requires you to be disciplined and focused. And it requires you to keep motivating yourself. The medical transcription work is such that you may find it monotonous in the long run. You have to find out ways to prevent the work from becoming boring.

While you need to give utmost importance to your work, don’t let it take over your life. Letting work interfere with your personal life will just make you dislike work soon, affecting your performance. Therefore, take breaks, go on vacations, spend time with family and friends – do all that and more. As far as work is concerned, just spend a certain amount of time on it every day. A work routine will let you enjoy life and deliver good work.

It is not necessary that the medical transcription profession prove beneficial to you. Not unless you are prepared for the challenges in the profession. Here are four things that may come between you and your career in this field.

• You cannot meet deadlines consistently. The deadlines in the medical transcription profession are extremely stringent. They don’t give you much time to plan. Most of the work has a 24-hour turnaround time. There are some tasks that need to be delivered in a matter of a few hours.
• You cannot handle the quality goals and deadlines simultaneously. A careless error in a medical record can impact the safety of a patient. The overall quality goal of the medical transcription work is 98 percent accuracy, and you are not allowed even a single error when it comes to critical errors. Such quality goals make it difficult to handle quality and deadlines at the same time. This makes the medical transcription work very difficult.
• You need some kind of supervision at all times. The medical transcriptionist is required to work independently, without any supervision. Incomprehensible dictations, difficult reviewers and strict deadlines can cause the transcriptionist to lose his/her focus and patience.
• You are not willing to spend time on learning and research. As a medical transcriptionist, you have to keep updating your medical knowledge almost on a daily basis. Also, the transcriptionist is required to research extensively to make sure that the medical records are relevant and complete.

The state of your career depends largely on your interests and skills. Make it clear right at the beginning if the profession suits you.

Humans are not the same and each of us has a different learning style. One of the problems with distance training, particularly self-paced training, is that one can lose focus very quickly. The cause of this can be as simple as not comprehending what is in front of you, and having to wait, hours, days or even weeks to get a clarification. By the time it arrives, you have forgotten the context, and perhaps much of the work if the issue has brought you to a grinding halt.

Medical transcription training can be made a lot easier if a live mentor is available to answer questions. By its definition,  a mentor is someone who is highly skilled in the the area they are mentoring – in this case, medical transcription. Not only are they highly skilled, they are up to date with their training and are fully versed in the training material you are working through.

Of course, some medical transcription training businesses do have forums where you can discuss issues related to your course. But you are in effect discussing issues with other students – a little like the blind leading the blind. This can actually make matters worse since the advice provided could be totally wrong. This leads to even more frustrations down the track.

A live mentor is someone who is there ready to answer questions and, at the same time, offer moral support to help keep you motivated. Remember, they were once in your shoes, wondering which medical transcription course to take and whether or not a worthwhile career was at the end of the training. they have proved there is and they are offering their skills and experience to help you.

If you’re considering a medical transcription career then be sure to check on whether or not a medical transcription training program also includes a live mentoring program supported by qualified medical transcriptionists.