About Medical Transcription

1
About Medical Transcription

• Lea Sims, CMT, FAAMT
• Kim Buchanan, CMT, FAAMT
• Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity

2
What is medical transcription?

• Translating from oral to written form the record
  of a persons encounter with a healthcare
  professional

3
What characteristics are needed to be a medical
transcriptionist?

• Strong English grammar
• Compelling interest in the medical field
• Superior research skills
• Competent use of the computer
• Keen listening skills
• Fine attention to detail
• Ability to sit (and concentrate) for long
  periods of time

4
Where do medical transcriptionists work?

• Doctors offices Hospitals
• Medical schools Legal offices
• Insurance companies Veterinary offices
• Rehab facilities Radiology departments
• Pathology departments Clinics
• Laboratories Medical libraries
• Research centers Medical transcription companies

5
What other job titles do skilled
transcriptionists hold?

• Quality Assurance Specialist Editor
• Supervisor Teacher
• Manager Department Head
• Mentor/Trainer Business Owner

6
How to get started

• Find a QUALITY medical transcription training
  program
• taught by qualified instructors, certified in the
  MT field
• based on the AHDI Model Curriculum, 3rd edition
• with access to a minimum of 30 hours of authentic
  physician dictation
• incorporating the Book of Style, 2nd edition
• with an advisory board that includes CMTs
• that offers job placement assistance
• that emphasizes excellence in medical
  transcription training in their advertising
  (rather than focusing on working from home)

7
MT Education Program Approval

• Approval Committee for Certificate Programs
  (ACCP) collaboration of AHDI and AHIMA
• Evaluates transcription programs and offers
  approval to those that meet a strict list of
  criteria
• Approval good for 3 years
• ACCP votes quarterly

8
Approved Programs

• Are supported by industry employers
• Have a proven track record of employable
  graduates
• Have students that pass the RMT exam (83 pass
  rate)

9
Evaluate the Advertising

• Approved programs
• average 9 to 18 months in length
• average approximately 3000 in cost
• provide a minimum of 40 hours overall of
  authentic dictation
• adhere to the Model Curriculum
• encourage participation in your professional
  organization (AHDI)

If it sounds too good to be true it probably is
10
Too many choices?

• To narrow down your options, ask yourself these
  questions
• Are you disciplined enough to study from home, or
  do you need to be in the classroom to focus?
• Do you need deadlines, or would you rather work
  at your own pace? (the difference between open
  enrollment and seasonal enrollment programs)
• Do you prefer direct contact with an instructor,
  or is email communication okay?

11
Questions for schools

• What is their studentteacher ratio
• Are the teachers experienced MTs?
• What kind of feedback from your teacher can you
  expect?
• Do they accept financial aid or offer a payment
  plan?
• What is included in the quoted cost of the
  program?
• What equipment do you need if youre studying
  online?

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Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT)

• Level 1 exam geared toward recent graduates and
  transcriptionists with limited experience
• Two-part exam multiple choice and practical
• Successful candidates earn the RMT credential
  good for 3 years

13
RMT Exam

• Online Prep Assessment Courses
• RMT Review Guide published by Stedmans
• Book of Style Student Workbook published by
  Stedmans
• Cost of exam 120 AHDI members, 200 nonmembers

14
Registered Apprenticeship

• National program recognized by the Department of
  Labor
• Eligible Graduates of approved schools who earn
  the RMT
• Apprentices paired with employers for 2-year
  commitment
• Apprentices paid an hourly wage that increases
  over the course of the commitment
• Apprentices receive on-the-job training in acute
  care work

15
Finding the first job

• Expect to work full-time until youve gained
  experience
• Dont expect to find the perfect job right out of
  school (though it does happen sometimes)
• Many employers hire graduates of approved schools
  right away
• Many employers hire RMTs right away

16
Excellent resources

• Consider purchasing
• Getting Your Foot in the Door Two Years
  Experience Not Required
• A Career In Medical Transcription
• E-books available through AHDI - 35
• Full of valuable advice about the industry and
  finding your first job

17
Employee vs. Contractor

• Employees can expect their employer to take taxes
  out of their paychecks. Some offer benefits like
  paid time off, health insurance, and even 401-k
  accounts.
• Independent contractors own their own businesses.
  They are responsible for paying their own taxes.
  If they take time off from work, they dont get
  paid.
• Some companies hire independent contractors to
  work for them.

18
Salary range for MTs

• BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS www.bls.gov/oco/ocos2
  71.htm
• medical transcriptionists had median hourly
  earnings of 14.40 in May 2006. The middle 50
  percent earned between 12.17 and 17.06. The
  lowest 10 percent earned less than 10.22, and
  the highest 10 percent earned more than 20.15.
  .
• ADVANCE MAGAZINE 2007 Salary Survey
  www.advanceforhim.com
• MTs reported an average salary of 27,829, up
  from 2006's 25,408..
• The number of certified medical
  transcriptionists (CMTs) rose about 1 percent
  from last year, and the pay for CMTs grew from
  31,949 last year to a 37,864 in 2007.

19
Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT)

• Level 2 exam geared toward transcriptionists
  with at least 2 years of acute care (hospital)
  experience
• Two-part exam multiple choice and practical
• Successful candidates earn the CMT credential
  good for 3 years
• CMTs earn a minimum of 30 CECs every 3 years to
  maintain their credential

20
CMT Exam

• Online Prep Assessment Courses
• CMT Review Guide published by Stedmans
• Cost of exam 195 AHDI members, 275 nonmembers

21
Is there a future in MT?

• Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a need for
  5.3 million healthcare workers
• Supply not keeping up with demand
• MTIA predicts 25,000 current openings
• Aging population will put incredible pressure on
  our unprepared healthcare system

22
Speech Recognition

• FRONT END Physician dictates into a computer
  program, a draft copy of the report appears on
  the screen, physician edits the report and then
  signs off on it. It goes into the patients
  record.
• Pros Record available as soon as doctor
  dictates, no transcription costs
• Cons Not cost-effective for physicians to spend
  their time editing, no checks and balances,
  physicians are resisting

23
Speech Recognition

• BACK END Physician dictates into a computer
  program, draft copy of report sent to
  transcription for editing, transcriptionist edits
  report and sends back to doctor, doctor signs
  off, report goes into record.
• Pros Provides checks and balances, physicians
  dont have to edit, editing can be faster than
  transcribing
• Cons Some physicians are not good candidates
  for speech rec (ESL, poor dictators, etc.), can
  be expensive to implement

24
Point-and-Click Templates

• Physicians use laptop computers to enter patient
  information directly into patients medical
  record using drop-down menus and small text
  fields.
• Pros Information immediately available and in
  the record, no transcription costs
• Cons Expensive, physicians act as
  transcriptionists, no checks and balances,
  relies on technology (which doesnt always work
  properly), does not allow for narrative which
  tells the patients story, some physicians are
  resisting

25
Future is bright

• - for professionals willing to commit to lifelong
  learning
• - for professionals willing to embrace standards
  and credentialing
• - for professionals looking for a career and not
  just a job

26
Career Path of an MT
27
Questions?

• Lea Sims, CMT, FAAMT lsims_at_ahdionline.org
• Director of Communications and Publications, AHDI
• Kim Buchanan, CMT, FAAMT kbuchanan_at_ahdionline.or
  g
• Director of Credentialing and Education, AHDI
• AHDI Association for Healthcare Documentation
  Integrity
• WEBSITE www.ahdionline.org