Medical Transcription Curriculum
This curriculum is for
our Advanced Course. Our Basic Course includes all except Modules
28, 29, and 30 and Job Placement.
SECTION I: LAYING A PROPER FOUNDATION
FOR TRANSCRIPTION
MODUL E 1: Getting Started
• About our Student Forum
• Basics of Medical Transcription
• Sample Medical Reports
• Your Medical Reference Library
• Your Professional Image
• Ethics and Confidentiality/ HIPAA Laws
• Legal Aspects of Healthcare Records
• Proper Ergonomics for the Medical Transcriptionist
• MT Education
• Career Role and Responsibilities
• Metric System and Units of Measure
• Study Tips
MODULE 2: MT Basics
• Tools of the Trade
• FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
• The Future of Medical Transcription
• Hospital Medical Reports
• Preparation of a History & Physical
• Clinic Medical Reports
• Formats
• Organizing the Information
• Proofreading and Editing
• Basic Formatting Guidelines
• Flagging and Blanks
• Transcribing Foreign Dictators
• Methods of Line Counting
MODULE 3: Grammar and Punctuation
• Parts of Speech
• Nouns
• Pronouns
• Verbs
• Subject/Verb Agreement
• Adjectives
• Adverbs
• Conjunctions
• Interjections
• Preposition
• Commas and Semi-Colons
• Hyphens and Dashes
• Who/Whom
• Affect/Effect
• Good /Well
• Parts of a Sentence
• Abbreviations
• Capitalization
• Transcribing Numbers, Figures and Abbreviations
• Hyphenation
• Plural Forms
• Sound-Alike Words
• State Abbreviations
• Commonly Misspelled Words
• Practice Rules to Remember When Transcribing
• Grammar Practice
MODULE 4: Using Your Computer
• Maintaining Your PC Part 1
• Maintaining Your PC Part 2
• What is the Internet
• Getting the most out of the Internet
• Introducing the Internet
• Internet Explorer
• PC Maintenance- Doing It Yourself
• Build Your Own Computer
• PC Maintenance- Upgrading Your PC
• PC Maintenance- Sound And Video
• Getting Started With PCs
• PC Maintenance- Preventive Measures
• MS Word 97 Introduction, Intermediate and Advanced
• MS Word 2000 Introduction, Intermediate and Advanced
• MS Word 2002 Intermediate and Advanced
MODULE 5: Learning the Medical Language
• Getting Organized
• Using Your Flashcards
• Basic Word Structure
• Prefixes/Suffixes/Root Words
• Plurals
• More Sound Alike Words
• Tips on Researching Difficult Terms
• Using Google to Research
SECTION II: ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY BY SPECIALTY:
MODULE 6: Integumentary
(Sample Chapters:)
• Combining Forms Review
• Skin Anatomy
• Viral Infections
• Bacterial Infections
• Fungal Infections
• Parasitic Infections
• Follicular and Glandular Disorders
• Pigmentation and Inflammatory Disorders
• Burns and Cold Injury
• Diagnostic Tests and Signs
• Surgical Procedures and Other Treatments
• Common Drug Treatment
• Types of Medication Uses
• Abbreviations and Acronyms
• Vocabulary
• Glossary
• Sentence Clips for Pre-Transcription Practice
• Helpful Websites/Reference Sites
MODULE 7: Skeletal
MODULE 8: Muscles and Joints
MODULE 9: Nervous
MODULE 10: Blood and Lymphatics
MODULE 11: Laboratory and Pathology
MODULE 12: Cardiology
MODULE 13: Respiratory
MODULE 14: Digestive
MODULE 15: Endocrine
MODULE 16: Special Senses
MODULE 17: Urinary
MODULE 18: Male Reproductive
MODULE 19: Female Reproductive
MODULE 20: Obstetrics
MODULE 21: Child Health
MODULE 22: Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging
MODULE 23: Oncology
MODULE 24: Pharmacology
MODULE 25: Mental Health
MODULE 26: Gerontology
SECTION III:
MODULE 27: Beginning Medical Transcription
• Installing Your Wav Pedal
• Installing the Beginning SUM CD
• Beginning Transcription
• Procedures for Transcribing
• Most Common Errors of New Transcriptionists
MODULE 28: Intermediate Medical Transcription
• The Healthcare Team and the Operative Report
• Prepping and Draping Methods
• Surgical Positions
• Types of Anesthesia
• Wound and Wound Closures
• Installing the Intermediate SUM CD
• Procedures for Transcribing
• Most Common Errors of New Transcriptionists
• Dealing with Difficult Dictators
MODULE 29: Advanced Medical Transcription
• Expander Software
• Learning How to Use Expander Software
• Shortcuts and Abbreviations
• ABCZ Typing Abbreviation System
• Shortcut Rules for Long Words
• Shortcut Rules for Short Words
• Shortcut Rules for Phrases
• Shortcut Rules for Long Phrases
• Shortcut Rules for Prefixes
• Installing the Advanced SUM CD
• Procedures for Transcribing Advanced Files
• Preparing for Your Final Exam
MODULE 30: Preparing for Employment
• Preparing for Employment
• Your Cover Letter and Resume
• The Job Search
• What to Expect in a Job Search
• Let’s Talk Networking
• In the Beginning
• Independent Contractor and Employee Status
• Starting Your First Job
• Types of Pay and Pay Consideration
• Comparing Employers
• Starting a Home Based Business
• Important Questions to Consider
• Researching
• Developing a Business Plan
• Important Aspects of Owning Your Own MT Service
• How to Solicit Business
• Sample Contracts and Agreements for Clients
• Sample Contracts and Agreements for Transcriptionists
• Follow Up Contact
• Objections and Solutions
• Time Management
• Becoming a Certified Medical Transcriptionist
• Advancement Opportunities
• Review of HIPAA Laws
• Putting it All Together
• Samples and Templates
ADVANCED TRANSCRIPTION PRACTICE FILES:
This is post-advanced work, designed to simulate the employer’s
test that you will be doing when applying for a job. At this point,
you should be able to do any and all work that comes your way, no
matter from what source. This is our way of making sure you can do
it all and lets us know if there is anything else we need to finalize
before the job search begins. Each file contains authentic physician
dictation, some foreign, many talking fast, from various dictators
and contains a wide variety of medical specialties you won’t
find anywhere else with opportunities to put into practice everything
you have learned. You work closely with your instructor at this point
to make sure these files are done to the best of your ability and
to exact industry specifications. We critique on everything from file
name to transcription details to following directions to the letter,
and dotting every “I” and crossing every “t”
within the entire report. Each file is done according to the exact
standards of the Book of Style. This is your opportunity to bring
it all together with detailed one-on-one communication from your instructor.
These advanced files are so intense that many transcriptionists request
to continue working on them even after they have received the job
offer. As a graduate, you have access to this advanced work and our
critique as long as you want, up to five years.
FINAL EXAM:
Our final exam consists of a special set of advanced practice dictation,
much like the ones described above. You have four hours to complete
30 minutes of dictation according to industry guidelines. Transcribed
document is then emailed to our office for grading. Passing students
receive a gold Advanced diploma suitable for framing and signed by
our school founder. Those students who receive a grade higher than
95% also receive our letter of recommendation which can accompany
your resume in your job placement.
JOB PLACEMENT:
Our job placement process consists of several steps, all designed to help you find employment that is suitable and preferable to you. It starts with a heavy critique of your resume and cover letter. We look at these from an employer's perspective and often suggest tips for highlighting your strengths and minimizing any weaknesses in your career history.
We instruct you on employers: The different types of employers, what they offer to their transcriptionists, what to look out for, what to avoid, what to say during an interview and what to avoid during an interview. We explore the different methods of payment from employers and help you determine exactly the type of employment and payment method that best suits your needs.
Then we provide you a detailed list of companies with names, contact telephone numbers, and email addresses that we deal with who are known to hire our graduates, hire new graduates or have requested our graduates directly. These companies are the best place to start in the job placement process.
We also provide an extensive list of places on the Internet to go for job research, additional job knowledge, networking places and more to aid in your job placement process.
Finally, we are available as you begin to receive job offers to help you evaluate the different offers and different combinations of benefits for you and your family. Once you decide on an employer, we help you transition into the job and are available to answer general questions via email and phone.
As a graduate, you also have unlimited 24/7 access to our student forum where we post job offers from companies that have emailed us. Plus you'll always stay updated in the industry and have a chance to work with our new students who are just starting to learn -- a good skill to have on your resume!
Remember, no school can legally guarantee you employment. However, our job placement rate is 100% and we are proud of that fact. We would love the opportunity to work with you as well!
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