Medical Transcription Courses

As mentioned in the article Medical Transcription Jobs, finding the appropriate MT courses is imperative when seeking an MT job. MT courses can be condensed into one complete course, as long as you obtain your Certified Medical Transcription (CMT) diploma or certificate at the end of your studies. This article will categorize what you will need when you are seeking your CMT.

Also remember when searching for medical transcription training, that certification and medical transcriptionist salary both depend on the quality and accreditation status of your program.

The Objectives of a Good MT Course

  • The importance of a medical report’s confidential makeup.
  • A description of the usefulness of medical reports.
  • Transcribing reports utilizing correct formats.
  • Transcribing medical reports using the American Medical Association (AMA) rules.
  • Spelling the medical terminology correctly in addition to using the necessary abbreviations.
  • Defining the aforementioned medical terms and abbreviations.
  • Utilizing and defining the prefixes and suffixes in order to create the medical terminology.
  • Defining the prefixes, combining forms and suffixes presented and use them to build medical terms.
  • Identifying the expertise and tasks required.
  • Understanding the use of networking through professional organizations.
  • Finding good employment and identifying legitimate agencies.

The MT Syllabus

A MT course will have a syllabus that will include the above and the following important data:
The following is taken from an actual medical website (see footnote below) in part describing its course GES 113, which consists of 240 hours of study and practicum. Remember that this does not include the homework that will accompany this course. Even though most of the course consists of memorization, it will be incorporated in your job, thus becoming invaluable.

I. Complete the medical terminology portion of the course using the textbook and audio provided as well as the exercises provided on the GES web site. The textbook covers the following ten units:

  • Intro to medical and anatomic terms
  • Blood cells, cardiovascular, and lymphatic systems
  • Nervous system and tumors
  • Digestive system
  • Muscles, bones, and joints
  • Male reproductive and urinary systems
  • Female reproductive system, obstetrics, and neonatology
  • Ear, nose, respiratory system, and special senses
  • Directions and regions of the body.
  • Pathogenic organisms, endocrine system, and medical specialties

II. Complete the medical terminology portion of the course using the textbook and audio provided as well as the exercises provided on the GES web site. The textbook covers the following ten units:

A. Intro to medical and anatomic terms
B. Blood cells, cardiovascular, and lymphatic systems
C. Nervous system and tumors
D. Digestive system
E. Muscles, bones, and joints
F. Male reproductive and urinary systems
G. Female reproductive system, obstetrics, and neonatology
H. Ear, nose, respiratory system, and special senses
I. Directions and regions of the body.
J. Pathogenic organisms, endocrine system, and medical specialties

II. Complete the medical transcription portion of the course using the text-workbook and transcription equipment provided plus completing the 20 units on the GES web site. The text-workbook covers the following information:
A. Ten inpatient cases involving the following systems of the body:

  • Reproductive system
  • Musculoskeletal system
  • Cardiopulmonary system
  • Integumentary system
  • Urinary system
  • Nervous system
  • Digestive system
  • Endocrine system
  • Lymphatic system
  • Respiratory system

B. Ten inpatient reports utilizing a variety of body systems and formatting. These reports can be used as tests or as extra assignments. They do not test on a specific inpatient case.

C. Twenty-five outpatient cases, as listed below.

  • Gynecology Operative Report
  • Pathology Report
  • Cytology Report
  • Oncology Consult
  • Infectious Disease SOAP Note
  • Pulmonology Procedure Note
  • Oncology Consult
  • Correspondence
  • Infectious Disease Consult
  • Pediatrics-Emergency Center Report
  • Internal Medicine History and Physical
  • Psychiatry Consult
  • Radiology-Echocardiogram Report
  • Radiology-Colonoscopy Procedure Note
  • Radiology-CT Scan of Abdomen
  • Infectious Disease HPIP Note
  • Radiology-Mammogram and CT scan of Abdomen
  • Oncology Consult
  • Correspondence
  • Pulmonology-Sleep Study
  • Psychiatry Consult
  • Radiology-MRI
  • Pediatrics-Emergency Center Report
  • Hematology Consult
  • Correspondence

The Importance of Prerequisites

Since all instructors will insist on prerequisites such as creating reports using Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, they will assume that you know how to use these programs. E-mailing, printing, uploading and downloading files are just a few of the other prerequisites that will be necessary before you take these courses. You may even be required to learn how to use some sort of PDA (personal digital assistant), otherwise known as a Palm Pilot. Obtaining that certificate or diploma is not an impossible task yet you will have to work hard inside the physical classroom (or online) to give yourself an advantage when you graduate and enter the MT industry.

Top Medical Transcription Schools

US Career InstituteUS Career Institute – Work at home transcribing medical reports dictated by doctors. Since every procedure requires a report, there’s great demand for qualified medical transcriptionists.

Button US

DeVry University Online

DeVry University – DeVry’s Health Information Technology program prepares graduates to work with applications systems and manage electronic health information databases.

button-learn-more

University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix – The Associate of Arts in Health Care Administration with a focus on Medical Record covers important medical transcription topics, including medical terminology related to disease diagnosis and treatment, patient information management and medical claims processing.

Button U of Phx