Medical Transcription: Overview

Medical transcription can provide a steady volume of work and as a result can be an excellent work-at-home opportunity.

But let’s get real. Really real.

Getting started

Medical transcription is a great work-at-home job and has been for years. If you are looking for a job at home as a medical transcriptionist, be aware that it can be difficult to get a job. The most important decision you will make after deciding whether or not you want to become a work-at-home medical transcriptionist is what transcription school to select. Go to TranscriptionSchools.com to find out more about entry-level requirements and what to look for when selecting a medical transcription education program.

If you have already graduated from a medical transcription education, you may be having difficulty finding someone who will hire you. This is one reason why the right school is so important. Some schools work with employers to ensure that their graduates will be hired. Others have internship or apprenticeship programs, and/or placement counselors. If your school doesn’t have any of these, getting your first job will be difficult.

What to expect

Expect to take at least a year before you can be at full production. Developing an “ear” for dictation takes time. Until you are up to full production speed, your earnings will be less than you may expect.

Expect to work nights and/or weekends. If you take a job as an employee, you will be hired for specific work hours. The larger transcription services do not hire independent contractors. Because the medical business is one that is 24/7, medical transcription is also a 24/7 business.

What not to expect

Don’t expect to go out on your own and get accounts immediately. The path to becoming a good medical transcriptionist takes time and training beyond just graduating from a medical transcription school.

Don’t expect to make top dollar. It’s expensive to start someone with no experience. Your rate will be less than that of experienced medical transcriptionists, and your production will also be less than average as you get used to the dictators and how the company works.

What does medical transcription pay?

According to the latest (informal) survey, the average medical transcriptionist makes $27,000 a year. However, the available information is from an informal survey and doesn’t take into account, part time v. full time, independent contractor v. employee, etc.

The average experienced medical transcriptionist can transcribe 150 lines per hour (65 character lines). Experienced transcriptionists who know how to use productivity tools to the maximum can double that rate.

What you make depends on several factors:

• How fast you type
• How well you hear and comprehend the dictation
• How well you use productivity enhancement tools
• How much your company pays per line

For information on how transcription lines are calculated, go to Verifiable Billing.

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