Mompreneurs® Online - Medical Transcription

By Patricia Cobe and Ellen Parlapiano
Authors of Mompreneurs® and Mompreneurs® Online
Founders, MompreneursOnline.com

What You'll Do:
Transcribe physicians' dictation of medical reports, using a transcribing machine or digital system, earphones and foot pedal, and computer and word processing software. Besides being a speedy and accurate keyboarder, you'll need to make sure sentences are grammatically correct and that medical terms and names of drugs are spelled properly.

Skills You'll Need:
Training in medical transcription; excellent spelling, grammar, listening and keyboarding skills; and plenty of patience. Medical transcription courses are offered by local community colleges, trade schools and home study programs, and take one to two years to complete. Keep in mind that home study courses don't provide the face-to-face interaction and support that's helpful when learning how to decipher doctors' dictation and medical terms.

How Much Can You Make?
Anywhere from $10 to $30 an hour, depending on your experience and geographical area. Self-employed medical transcriptionists usually charge by the line, and average from around 7 to 15 cents a line (the faster you type, the more lines you'll produce per hour). Research what medical transcribers in your area earn by networking at professional organizations and online forums devoted to the profession (see resources below).

How to Break In:
It is easier to land home-based employment after you've worked onsite as a medical transcriber in a hospital or office setting. Start by getting at least a year of experience in a hospital, clinic or doctor's office, or at a medical transcription service (which usually require three years of hospital-based experience).

Create professional letterhead, business cards and flyers or brochures. Think about how your services can set you apart from others in the field. Can you guarantee 24-hour turnaround or offer free pick-up and delivery? Little extras like these increase your value to clients.

Compile a list of doctors and clinics in your area, then send each one a letter and brochure introducing yourself. You can get lists of physicians from your local medical society or hospital or by checking lists at online resources such as MT Daily (see resources below). Follow up with a call to the office manager. Ask what transcription service they use now, whether they are happy with the service and when their current transcription contract expires. Offer to do one tape or a day's work for free, so that they can sample your work.
Consider other opportunities, such as finding another self-employed medical transcriber willing to outsource some work.
Have a childcare plan. Medical transcription requires a great deal of concentration and is very difficult to do when kids are underfoot. If you have young children, consider getting some part-time childcare, so you have uninterrupted work time.
Join professional organizations in the field and network in person and online (see resources below). Medical transcription organizations often offer message boards, newsletters, resources for training and job leads and up-to-date information on the latest medical terms.

Seasoned medical transcribers agree that the job is not an easy one, but with persistence, patience and a good network of support, it can be a very rewarding home-based career.