Medical Transcription Refresher Course

This was a question I recently received from a subscriber…well four questions actually J

I've been away from transcription for three years and want to work from home. I was educated 10 years ago, transcribed very little from my home for a year then transcribed 20 hours a week for two years in a large orthopaedics practice. So, to summarize, I have a total of three years of part-time experience.

My question is, am I employable?! Is working from home likely with little experience? Should I buy materials to "brush up"? Is it likely a transcription company would hire someone like me with little experience?

If you’ve been away from medical transcription for a while you will probably need to brush up on your skills before finding work from home. The more polished your skills, the better your chances of making more money as an MT.

Since you have done medical transcription before then you shouldn’t have many difficulties getting back into it. It will take a little practice and time but I’m sure it will all come back.

My suggestion is invest in a product to brush up your skills. There are many companies hiring transcriptionists from home but you will need to pass a test before they considering taking you on. And if you’re going to look for your own accounts then you definitely want to make a good impression by providing quality transcripts.

The Virtual Learning Center offers a brief course specifically for MTs who’ve been away from the field for a while or for other professionals in the medical field who want to learn medical transcription. The course is suitable for those who have a background in the medical field or have previously transcribed. It’s very good value for the money and I would guess you can even make your investment back within the first few weeks of working. Refresher Course.

It’s very likely a transcription company will hire you with little experience as long as you can pass your MT test and prove that you know what you’re doing. As long as you’re skills are current you can also look for small local accounts to start with. You’ll make more money if you have your own accounts as well as work for an online service.

I know a lot of MTs who worry about coming back into the field and I can understand why. Technology for MTs changes very quickly and you also need to keep up to date with all the latest HIPPA regulations, terminology and formats.

If you really want to do things right and be in a position where you can pick and choose your work, then invest a little time and a little money, brush up your skills and you’ll be on your way.

Additional Resources:

Medical Transcription Refresher Course