"What a fun job! I get to work at home in my PJ's and make $50,000 a year doing it!!"
If this is your understanding of what a career in medical transcription is all about, go no further. It is not the field for you.
On the contrary, successful MTs work hard and offer crucial expertise and support to medical teams everywhere. While it can be fun and you may work from home, the job of a medical transcriptionist is much bigger than that.
The best way to be successful is to know what you're getting into and determine ahead of time whether it's the right field for you. Below are some questions that might help you answer this question.
Frequently Asked Questions about a career as a medical language specialist:
Question 1 - Medical transcription is always a work-at-home job:
True False
Actually, most times the beginning MLS does not work from home. Depending on the setting, i.e., hospital vs clinic, employee vs contractor, etc., a transcriptionist may or may not ever get to work from home. However, technology allows this job to be done from home, so a home-based office is a perfect fit for today's MLS. Most employers require that the MLS "earn the stripes" to do this from home. "Stripes" come from meeting quality metrics, proving dependability, meeting production milestones, etc. If an MLS cannot be trusted to perform daily activities from home, he or she will probably not be allowed to work from home.
Question 2 - An MT has a flexible schedule:
True False
Most definitely - yes! - to a point. The flexibility of today's transcriptionist is better than almost any other job in the field. But there is a point beyond which the flexibility cannot go. Physicians still need their dictation processed on time or early. Stat notes must be transcribed or edited within stringent deadline requirements. It is never appropriate to skip a day's work, but some flexibility within parameters set by the client is a routine part of what we do at ELTS.
Question 3 - MTs can make really good money:
True False
Yes, they definitely can! Full-time MLS's who are very good at quality, quick on the computer, and very fast typists make very good money, often in less than 8 hours per day. But this goal is generally not attained for a few years after school. It takes a while to become a "seasoned veteran" at this job, and our school has plenty of productivity exercises to help the student become more proficient.
Question 4 - Once I’m finished with training, that is all the school I will need:
True False
No, no; this is not true at all. Since the language of medicine is quite dynamic, an MLS will need to keep his or her skills up to date through continuing education.
Question 5 Working at home makes for a really easy job:
True False
Yes, it can be, if an MLS understands how to use the flexibility as an advantage. Many MLS's find it easier to work early, early in the morning or late at night when family members are asleep so that production requirements are met more easily. Each student will have to find what works for their particular situation, and be sure to understand - this job is no cake walk, but if the right parameters are put in place, it is very easy to perform at home.
Question 6 - Medical Transcriptionists are really not that important to patient healthcare:
True False
Oh, ELTS takes this one on with great enthusiasm, and we go all over the US teaching the importance of the MLS, especially in the setting of the EMR. Most definitely we know how important the MLS is to the patient care team. Our leadership team has actual patient care experience, and so we understand how providers rely on accuracy in the medical record.
Question 7 - Getting up early and working late are common in medical transcription:
True False
Yes, this is true, and it's part of how the flexibility of the job can be an asset, a huge tool, for at-home workers. Do expect days that start at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning - or even end at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning - but know that the rewards make the sacrifice all worthwhile.