Transcriptionist?

[wolfspeaker]

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Has anyone ever done Medical Transcribing to supplement their income? I've always wanted to do this and just wondering if anyone here has done it. I'm really thinking about taking the course this year. I figure it could be a good supplemental income for anytime! While working FT, or going to school. You can do it from anywhere as long as you have the home office set up.

Thoughts?

 

[thedogisgreen]

I do transcription, but not medical - I've done it for therapists and journalists, all through networking and connections. All under the table, not through any official program at all. It's an awesome job, I've been doing it for over eight years, and I love being able to work whenever wherever. I don't use a foot pedal, but there's a really useful free program you can download called Express Scribe. I set the arrow keys to be my stop, rewind, forward, and play, which makes it nice and easy. Much better than back when I first started when we were still using tapes and hand held audio recorders!
I've looked into some of the websites that offer transcription jobs, and they require a certain format, a pedal, and a ton of tests that you have to pass. A lot of them also had certain times that you had to be online to transcribe. I haven't looked into it in a while, though, so things may have changed. But if you can get an informal position/a job not through one of the big companies, it's an amazing job to have. 👍

 

[CurrySpice]

My friend's mom is a medical transcriptionist and she loved it. She got to stay at home, attend all of her kids' games, and still work full-time. She has been one for many years, so I doubt she would be of any help in the modern certification process.

My only hesitation would be whether I would want to stare at a computer screen after studying all day. My eyes start to ache after a while.

 

[turquoisewolves]

👍 i agree with thedogisgreen, it can be a pretty amazing job.
I found medical transcription back in high school when the dr I worked for trained me. Then after college when I was working on applying to vet school I did a formal program to be elligible for more jobs. There are tons of formats and different companies require different things but you can't beat working from home. And there is a ton of variation within the job. I have worked for hospitals (everything is thrown at you from ER to surgery to psych ward), family doctors, and specialists. In the past I've worked every night for 4-5 hours or just weekends...depending on my classes and day job

GOOD LUCK! It can be a lot of fun especially if you like medicine.

 

[roombarider]

I've never done medical transcription but I have done a lot of other kinds of transcription and have generally found it to be an interesting, flexible way to earn money.

 

[wolfspeaker]

I like Medicine 😀 And I'm good with most grammar/punctuation. Transcribing is something that's always been in the back of my mind. While I know it CAN be done without formal training I don't think I want to go that route. I don't have enough experience in the medical field right now. I'd rather get formal training. Even though it costs around $3500. But it normally takes only 12-14 months to complete training and you get a lot more job offers with the training.

I figure it would be a good route for me to go. I still have 3-4 years of pre-requisite classes to do(going 1/2 time or so, haven't started yet) and this way I could work around my class schedules. I could also take it with me pretty much anywhere I go.

As long as I take regular short breaks, staring at a computer screen all day usually doesn't bother me.

 

[awaring1]

I Even though it costs around $3500. But it normally takes only 12-14 months to complete training and you get a lot more job offers with the training.

Wow. Is it really worth that kind of money and time? What is the pay-off?

 

[wolfspeaker]

Normal pay is $10-17 per hour. Work for 4+ years and be able to do it from just about anywhere. Not have to pay for fuel to get to and from work, not to mention vehicle upkeep. I'm thinking it will be worth it. And if need be, I could work PT during Vet School(albeit very PT).


E: Oh I did forget to mention that the program I was looking at was a long distance course that you do at your own pace. So really it can be done in less than 12 months, but 12 seems to be the average time)

 

[roombarider]

Which program(s) are you considering? Do you already know where you want to work? My employers paid for my transcription training in exchange for my agreeing that I would work for them for a certain amount of time. I don't know how common that kind of arrangement is in medical transcription but it might be worth looking into...