Things
to Look for in a Medical Transcription School
How do you know what questions to ask when searching for a medical
transcription program? Did you know all schools are NOT alike?
Here are some important questions to ask of any school you're considering
for your medical transcription training . . . .
Is a certified instructor available to answer my questions if I call them or are they only available via e-mail? Some "schools" we know don't answer their phones (you'll only get a voicemail) much less provide an instructor for you to call. At MT Advantage, not only do we encourage communication, we expect it as part of your training! From day one, you'll have our phone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses and 24-hour access to our Student Forum. There is never a dumb question and we've been told we have the patience of a monk! Whether you need hand-holding or just an occasional answer, we're always here for you!
How long have your instructors been practicing MT? Have they
had MTSO (medical transcription service ownership) experience?
We have heard from past students of other schools that their "instructors"
were individuals who were teaching medical transcription as well as
car repair and interior decorating, all at the same time! To be trained
properly and thoroughly, you should look for a certified instructor
who has taught MT extensively. If they have past experience as owner
or manager of an medical transcription service, that is even better
because they will KNOW the industry from the inside out. There is
just too much to teach without having "been there and done it"
personally and hands-on!
At MT Advantage, we employ only top qualified certified instructors.
Our founder and MT instructor was the MTSO of one of the largest services
in Virginia and has owned and operated (and successfully purchased,
grew and sold) a number of services. To BE the best you can be in
this industry, make sure you LEARN from the best.
How long has your school been in business? Does your school teach 100 other subjects as well as MT? When looking for that perfect MT program, you'll want a school that EXCELS in teaching exactly what YOU are looking for, not 100 random programs that are non-related. A number of these "matchbook cover" schools change their names every few years because of the bad reputation they get from selling inferior courses.
Many other schools are selling coursework that is old and outdated. Some still include equipment that is not being used in today's market - for example, a tape transcriber and footpedal. (A transcriber and footpedal were used years ago to transcribe tapes, but are no longer the norm for today's standards. Today, we use wav pedals which attach directly to your computer, and work is transferred via encrypted software electronically to and from employers and hospitals.)
One school we know of even gives you a tape transcriber WITHOUT the capability of adding the footpedal to it. What are you supposed to do - stop and start the tape machine with your finger when you want to use it? This type of action is simply a money-saving venture on the part of the school that either doesn't know about today's technology or doesn't care about its students enough to implement it.
Does the school include extensive computer training? Our studies have shown that an excellent (advanced) transcriptionist does not come from MT training alone. There are other variables, some just as important, that must be learned along with proper MT training from a certified MT. One of these areas is computer training.
Since the computer is the primary tool in a transcriptionist's career, it makes no sense to us why a quality school wouldn't include EXTENSIVE (not just simple) training in things such as operating systems, computer maintenance, computer repair and upgrades, advanced research techniques, Google tricks of the trade, AS WELL AS specific computer skills in such areas as word processing software such as MS Word, drug software, medical spellchecker software, word expander techniques and software.
Without exception, EVERY SINGLE medical transcriptionist who is making good money from home is using these techniques. It's a MUST HAVE, yet most schools leave this to on-the-job experience for you to learn these things. At MT Advantage, we want you to have this knowledge BEFORE you graduate. You get the benefit of OUR 20+ years of experience before you even talk to your first employer.
This fact may surprise you: A transcriptionist with a typing speed of 45 wpm who KNOWS her computer and software, including how to create macros, templates, shortcuts and word expanders, can actually outperform a transcriptionist who types 70 wpm who does not know these things!. Imagine what you could do if you had a typing speed of 70+ AND all this computer knowledge. We have seen over the years the training that some other schools have provided in this area and it is sorely lacking. Even if you have computer and software knowledge (which means you're already ahead of the game!) you will still have a learning curve if you haven't had specific practice by applying what you know to the medical transcription profession. Who better to learn by than an experienced MT guiding you? That's why MT Advantage teaches all these skills and more in our Advanced MT training, and our students are NEVER left in the dark to figure it out on their own.
Does the school teach the AAMT/AHDI Book of Style? We were surprised to hear that some of the old schools still don't teach with this book. If you're looking to work from home for a national service, there is a 99% chance that you'll work for one who requires you to know this style guide.
Why is this important? For the services that employ MTs who work
from their homes around the country, a unified style in each report
is a must so that all work looks the same and has the same type format.
There are numerous grammatical and vocabulary rules that medical professionals
use. As a trained MT, it is VITAL to patient care (and when applying
for MT positions!) that you know this style guide inside and out.
Not only does our school have ALL of our coursework incorporating
this particular style guide, we also include the latest version of
the book in your shipment of books and materials upon enrollment.
Our online course refers to the book's contents often, and the practical
experience you gain while doing the transcription work is also done,
under the supervision of a certified MT, according to the book's guidelines.
The result is that you finish our program knowing this style guide
inside and out. You'll know how each situation is handled and you'll
be able to apply that knowledge to any medical report. This means
that not only will you pass the employer tests in this area, you will
excel on the job because you were properly trained in the first place.
What is the job placement ratio of graduates? Can you guarantee me a job when I finish my training? This is a question we get asked quite often. An ethical school WILL NOT and CANNOT guarantee you employment. (This goes against all states' school licensing certifications that we know of.) What the school CAN tell you is how many of its graduates are successfully working. If the school cannot place all of its graduates (or does not include job placement as part of your tuition) you might want to keep looking elsewhere for your education. Don't accept an emailed list as part of your job placement service that you are entitled to and don't pay extra for it. The best schools, including ours, will have job placement as part of what you pay for, without asking you for more money for it. And obviously, the higher the job placement ratio, the better.
Are there any other fees associated with your school? Another unfortunate occurrence that we have seen time and again is a school that offers a low enrollment fee. Only after the student enrolls are they told about additional charges for the application fee, processing fee, supplies fee, renewal fees, extension fees (if you don't finish the course in the specified time they give you), internship fees and graduation fees just to name a few. The end result is that you end up paying as much for a subpar course as you would have just to enroll in a quality program in the first place. At MT Advantage, we never charge an additional fee for any of these things. Everything is included except a one-time shipping charge which we tell you about up front. Extensions are free just for the asking. There is no materials fee. There is no graduation or certificate fee. Everything is included.
Be very careful of schools that have typos in their online websites! You would think this would be obvious, but if they don't care about their website, why would they care about your training? Part of what makes an advanced (or experienced) medical transcriptionist different from an average one is her ability to proofread. How can a school proofread your reports and give you the feedback that is so necessary to your career if they can't even find their own errors in their website? We all know errors are human, and we make them too, but to train you the way you SHOULD be trained, a good school must be on top of these things.
Is your school a member of the Better Business Bureau? Believe it or not, some schools are not members of the BBB because they are not eligible. If a school has too many complaints against them or does not handle their business or treat their students properly, they will lose their membership or not qualify to receive membership in the BBB. Ask if the school you are considering has BBB membership and don't hesitate to call the BBB and ask about that school's reputation. If they are not a member, ask why, then call the BBB anyway. (You'll be likely to get an earful!) By the way, we ENCOURAGE you to call our local BBB and ask about MT Advantage. You will learn firsthand about our reputation with our students-- and one that we take great pride in!
Choosing a great online MT school doesn't have to be difficult.
This is time for YOU to do your homework that can determine the rest
of YOUR career, so it shouldn't be taken lightly.
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late -- Over the years,
we have had students enroll that were past graduates of some of these
other schools, but for one reason or another, could not gain employment
after graduation. Sadly, these students realized too late that they
enrolled in a school and did not ask the right questions. They realized
they needed additional training to make their career well-rounded
and gain employment. We have heard many problems of these other schools
and felt the frustration of the student involved.
Fortunately, if you are reading this right now, chances are YOU are not one of these students who have been burned with a subpar school. You have the information now that YOU need to make an informed decision -- the decision that is right for you as an individual and a future medical transcriptionist.
We strongly suggest YOU make a list of the schools you are considering and rate them according to the features that are important to YOU. Call them and ask questions. Call them a second time or even a third if that's what it takes to answer YOUR questions. After all, this is a decision that is vital to your career as a new medical transcriptionist, and YOU deserve to have your questions answered.
Let Us Know If You Need More Information. If you have any questions about anything discussed here or would like additional information on becoming a medical transcriptionist, we would be happy to talk further with you. After all, YOU are the one that needs to make sure the school you choose is the very best.
Remember, our school is not the biggest, but we are considered the
best by many students, graduates and employers. When we train YOU,
our reputation is on the line when you apply for a job, so we make
SURE you are not only employable, but above average in everything
you do. Why not give us a call and find out for yourself?
Feel free to call us anytime at 877-336-8222 or email
us.
U.S. Government Outlook site for Medical Transcription
MT Advantage Career Center has been certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
