MEDTRANSCLASS.COM - Medical Language Specialist Program

I have 25+ years' experience as a totally blind medical transcriptionist, and have experienced this job from the IBm correcting selectric, through the DOS days, all the way to computer-generated transcription programs - complete with patient census, pre-formatted report type forms, word expanders and MP3 files of dictation. I have worked in various settings including hospitals, physicians' offices, local and on-line transcription services, and as the owner of a transcription service. I will soon be updating my CMT credential through the AHDI; and participate in and provide continuing education opportunities through this organization. I am currently working with an electronic medical records software company to insure accessibility of their program, which involves transcribing for a local clinic. This course is currently featured in the (2008 and 2009 editions of Who's Who in America; 2009 Who's who in American Women; 2009 Who's Who in the World; 2009 Who's who in Health and Medicine; and life time VIP recognition in Who's Who in Business and Professionals. (Please see the "personal qualifications" link for more of my personal story.)

The answer to this question has a great deal to do with the needs and availability of the student. However, many students who have tried both methods, feel that the classroom setting gives the structure, interaction and accountability which helps a student remained focused and motivated. Independent study can allow for completion of the course in more or less time, depending on a person's needs. This setting works well for students who are already working, or who have obligations which would limit the time they can devote to both class and assignments.

Classes meet for three-hour sessions twice weekly. Time in class consists mainly of interactive lecture on each unit. Once a week, time will be allotted at the beginning of class to review material covered during the previous week. "Spell and Tell" sessions, and other interactive "reviews" will be done from time to time. Students are required to record classes, utilizing the built-in recording feature of the conferencing software, and transcribe the recordings. There is an assignment requirement as well, consisting of skill-building drills, "reviews," and the transcription of medical reports.

Independent students are sent recordings of lecture material which they are required to transcribe. A summary of the material covered in the lecture is required before the next recording will be sent. Each student meets with the instructor at least twice during each unit to go over material, answer any questions or clarify anything that has not been answered through email or messaging, and to discuss new information. Otherwise, the assignment requirement is the same as for those in the classroom environment.

The textbooks from which I gathered my material were recommended by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI, and the Allied Health Professionals curriculum. Two of these texts have been compiled to provide equally important approaches to each of the 18 units covered. One book covers terminology and transcription from the anatomy and physiology standpoint, giving students definitions of the terms they will be typing, as well as an understanding of where these terms fit in regard to each system, and how each system functions under both normal and abnormal circumstances. The second book is a practical, down-to-earth look at how all the words and phrases in the language of medicine translate into practical report processing. A third book utilized throughout the program, is the AHDI Book of Style, second edition. This book provides the preferred guidelines in such areas as how to transcribe numeric values, abbreviations, problem dictation, and the various medical report types. Other reference material and internet resources have been correlated to build this course. (See the "course description" link.

The work students turn in is not graded. I like to see students gain a sense of pride in their individual abilities to achieve the goals set out by the course, and by themselves. Corrections based on content, style, formatting, grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc., are sent back for the student to make as I receive each assignment or review. I encourage students to work closely with their classmates, and am happy to give individual help when needed.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS

What does a student need to participate in the MEDTRANSCLASS.COM Medical Language Specialist program? The following information will give you the requirements, recommendations and "extras" for the class:

• RELIABLE INTERNET CONNECTION - this can be checked by playing streamed audio for several hours, and monitoring whether or how often a computer either loses the connection, or buffering problems cause the machine to lock up frequently.
• t the very least 512 MEG/RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY OR ABOVE, though 1 GB is preferred; and a fairly fast processor.
• A WORD PROCESSING PROGRAM - preferably Microsoft Word, with the complete Microsoft Office suite. (generic versions of this application do not have all the tools the student will need for report processing.)
• THE LATEST VERSIONS OF SCREEN READER AND/OR SCREEN MAGNIFICATION PROGRAMS - if applicable.
• A MICROPHONE - it is fine to have an inexpensive Wal-Mart mic, though some students prefer headset mics. The student should be familiar with the settings for microphone volume, etc., found in the Sounds and Audio Devices section of the Start menu.
• A good media player -- Express Scribe preferred, which is a free download from NCH.com, which can be used with the purchase of a foot pedal. Winamp with some modifications in the global hot keys settings would be another option; though a foot pedal cannot be used with this software, which is also a free download. the media player will be used to play and take notes from the class recordings, and for other assignments and "reviews", which will be given as MP3 files.
• FAMILIARITY WITH THE INTERNET - it is preferred that students be familiar enough with the internet to use search engines effectively, bookmark favorites, and use adaptive software efficiently with internet sites.
• WORD PROCESSING - Preferably, students will be familiar with the basic commands in MS Word, including creating folders, saving and opening files, sending and receiving attachments, editing and spell checking documents. A good knowledge of the basic menus is helpful. The student should be knowledgeable in utilizing all screen-reader functions within his/her word processing application, as the ability to hear punctuation, capitalization, style changes, attributes, etc., are all essential to medical transcriptionists.

The above list contains the preferred requirements. Some flexibility can be given with some of these, because the course itself will help students learn to work within these parameters. Rapport within each class can be enhanced as students help each other with many of these things.

EXTRAS

Here are some other things that are not required, but which some students have found make their time in class much easier:

• NOTE TAKERS, CD PLAYERS, OR CASSETTE RECORDERS -- Students are required to transcribe lecture material either as document files on the computer, text files in note takers, or in some other format such as braille. Students are encouraged to use this as a method of furthering their typing skills, and becoming used to the idea of listening and typing what they hear. If done with a note taker, a tape recorder/player, DVR (digital voice recorder such as an Olympus which has talking menus), or a CD player, the need for changing from window to window on the computer can be eliminated, and the student can save much time.
• FOOT-PEDAL CONTROLLED PLAYBACK - Because a part of student life at MEDTRANSCLASS.COM is listening to and transcribing recorded lecture material, some students (particularly those who do not have note takers), or those who want to do as much on the computer as possible to prepare for actual transcribing, have discovered two options:
  A. TRANSCRIBING MACHINES - These units are like cassette recorders, and use either regular size or micro cassettes. They come with a foot pedal which allows for playback and rewind. They also have speed control and "back space" capabilities, which means that when the play side of the pedal is released, the machine will back up so many syllables, depending on where the user sets it. This unit can be used to record the class, or to record the recording, which ever the student prefers. The cost, depending on whether it is ordered on line or at an office supply store is between 90-120 dollars. (I now have these machines for sale for $35 each.)
• FOOT PEDAL AND SOFTWARE - Several companies including START-STOP and BYTESCRIBE, sell a package with foot pedal and software which allows the user to do everything from the computer, including stay in the word processing window while listening and controlling the recordings with the pedal. These come in a variety of packages; some companies even offer the pedal without any software, which gives the consumer the ability to play and rewind the recording, but nothing more. These companies can be found on line, and most of the time ordering is done directly through the manufacturer. the most recent, and very accessible alternative to these is ExpressScribe as above, which is a free download, has very accessible menus, and foot pedals which work with it can be purchased for between $60-$70. Even without a pedal, the function keys used for playback, and the other functions of this program are easy to navigate and easy to change.

Again, these options are not requirements, but are added here for thought and exploration if the need arises.

• the AHDI Book Of Style, 3rd Edition. I have these available to students at my cost which is $35 plus a self-addressed, stamped envelope to mail it in.

If you have any questions about the above requirements and "extras," please do not hesitate to contact me using the Contact link above.

Upon completion of this course, students will receive a diploma of completion from the course, also endorsed by medical professionals, including physicians. A letter from me to future employers will explain the program in general, and specific participation by the student throughout the course. Each graduate and I will work together to select a body of work to represent facets of the program which can be shown upon request by an interviewing entity. Graduates will be prepared to pass the RMT (Registered Medical Transcriptionist) examination, which is now the only credentialing exam offered internationally for new graduates by the AHDI, which is the only credentialing entity internationally. Once some experience is gained in certain areas of transcription, students can easily become certified through the AHDI, by passing the CMT (Certified Medical Transcriptionist) exam, which is the only certification offered internationally, again, through the AHDI. I actually designed the course so that students would be prepared to pass the certification exam upon graduation, because the course was started before AHDI broke the credentialing they offer into two examinations rather than just the CMT.

Students will be given tools throughout the course to help them as they seek employment possibilities. They will be encouraged to participate in continuing education opportunities offered by the AHDI in regard to job placement. As of this writing there are two on-line companies interested in allowing graduates of this program to participate in externships. These companies will hire upon successful completion of these externships. Students will learn about finding MT job postings, about on-line companies, including those which hire blind/visually impaired transcriptionists. The EMR company I am currently working with has promised to recommend graduates of this course to any company who buys their software, and is looking for MTs. I am working with this company to provide my own externship program through them in the near future.

According to the AHDI, there is an even larger market now for transcriptionists, as on-line services have taken the transcribing of medical reports to new technical heights with encrypted programs and the added bonus of the typist living far from the facility, creating even more the certainty of privacy. My immediate response to the concern about voice recognition is amusement. Veteran transcriptionists have experienced every kind of dictator - from accents to mumbles; from talking around a mouthful of food to dictating in a busy operating suite or emergency department hallway. Voice recognition is here, and it is being used to some extent - but editors are and will always be needed to correct what VR cannot handle. I have experienced this first hand with the EMR program I am working with. The reports that are generated with these programs must be edited not only from a medical terminology standpoint, but for grammar, spelling and punctuation. Voice inflection, the use of homonyms, and colloquialisms will greatly influence even the best software in these programs to produce incorrect transcription. Also, according to the AHDI, many facilities which have obtained these systems, are going back to dictation because of this. (The percentage in the last article I read in the Journal of the American Association of Medical Transcriptionists (JAAMT), was about 83.5 %.)

Yes. I am currently on the Vendor lists for the states of Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

I work with the voucher system that most states utilize, and since the course is not exactly divided into semesters, I will accept half of the total cost of the program, until the student reaches the halfway point, at which time I will bill for the second half. I will provide progress reports as often as the counselor requires.

No, this course is for anyone who wants to take it. I am happy to offer the program to anyone who is interested. In fact, not all of the students and graduates from this program have been blind or visually impaired. The program is also open to people from any country who have a good command of the English language, and good grammar skills. I am pleased to work with any rehab agency or other sponsoring agency or service which might be interested in assisting a student financially to complete the program.