Medical transcription vs Medical coding and what's the best online school?

Hi Nik,

Anyone who has done transcription can tell you that your arms, wrists and fingers will hurt from all of the typing. You need to be familiar with Medical Terminoloy and spelling and must be fast, responsive and willing to get things right the first time. It's a lonely job as you usually work in your own quiet office, with headset on and foot pedal to control the tape speed. Most companies look for people that can type 60+ words per minute as you get paid by the word or line.

Coding is based on how the doctor treats the patient, understanding the procedure codes, modifiers, diagnosis codes and insurance carrier specific rules to your state, taxonomy code and provider specialty. You don't need to go to school for either of these jobs however; work experience is usually required before you can get through someones door to get hired (unless you are really persuasive in the interview process).

Certified Coders do require schooling however; most doctors won't hire you on just out of school because you learn the "overview" of how to code usually not speicfic to the doctors practice and they usually like to train people themselves. Of course every company is different in what they look for when hiring people :).

If you think that coding is right for you visit www.videotrainingpro.com/ and scroll down to view the free medical billing training videos. Basic Billing Videos, Advanced Billing and Collections would be more of what a coder / biller would handle in job responsibilities.

Hope this helps!

Jennifer
www.videotrainingpro.com/
www.medicalbillingsoftwarepro.com/
www.askamedicalbiller.blogspot.com/

Billie,

Thanks, for the info on CS. I'm sure decisions will be made appropriately for anyone who is looking for the best school for them to sign up to. Oh, and I did look at the BBB rate for CS and Allied, I am very aware of the B- rating. I also looked at how long they where a member of the BBB too. CS since 2001, Allied has been with the BBB since 1997. I'm sure over that amount of time its hard to maintain even that rating. They must be doing something right. I think we can agree the challenge will be to find someone to hire a newby after they finish the program. So with that said if we choose the correct program for us and then make sure we a taking care of our end of the deal by learning our material to the best of our ability so that transition can possibly go a bit easier. I wish all the best in their careers. I'm glad to hear CS worked out for you as well Allied is working out for me.

Hi Billie,

You can easily compare the medical transcription and coding just by going here, www.medtranscriptioncourse.com/compare-career.asp. Hope this would help.

getitrightMT in Spring, Texas said: Billie,

Thanks for the note...but I'll take my chances with going to an accredited school, why waste the time and money on a school that the employer may not even recognize. You say many schools use the CS program? Who? to name a few? I'm sure that employers want the school to be accredited more than they want this AHDI approved program. I'm sure there are other programs as well that help set the "standards" for MT, not just AHDI.

Actually, most national employers do only look at AHDI-approved schools. Accreditation of schools in this industry means little unless you are going to continue your education towards a HIM degree and can transfer credits. I don't know anything about the Allied program other than from the many posts I read from their grads who can't seem to find jobs. When someone asks me, I recommend M-Tec or Andrews for the simple fact that their grads get jobs and succeed in the workplace.

Penn Foster is actually a member of the AHDI

From AHDIonline.org: "Membership requires only payment of membership dues... in no way represents an endorsement for these programs by AHDI." Just about anyone or any school can be a member of AHDI. Being an approved course, however, is an entirely different category.

Nik in Wedowee, Alabama said: I am interested in either taking medical transcription or coding online and Ashworth University is one of the schools I have been researching. I like the price of it, although I was hoping to get a loan or grant as I am "financially challenged" right now. I have also been looking at Career Step (which does offer loan assistance but no grants and the price is twice Ashworths) and Everett Community College (accepts FASFA and has Pell Grant and price is 4X Ashworth) Can you or anyone give me any further info about any of these schools? I am subscribing to several forums and reading everything I can get my hands on about both fields. I did go to technical school back in the 70's and took Clerical. I haven't been in office work for quite some time - divorce put me in the mills to be able to support myself for a while, and after I remarried, I moved to a small town where the only work I could get was in mills or restaurants. I currently have an accurate typing speed of about 50 wpm, so will have to work on getting my speed up as well. As I get older, mill work is getting harder on my physically, and restaurant work is too low paying and frustrating, so I am committed to getting the education I need to improve my lifestyle. I am unable to take all the courses I need at the nearby community college and can't get to the other campuses, so the online route is my only viable option, I just want to make the right choice. I would like to hear from MTs and MCs and what are the pros and cons of both? Thanx for any help!

Hi Nik,

Listen I am an Enrollment Specialist, at an online college. We have a medical Billing and coding program. If you would like advice (And this goes for everyone on this forum) on what steps to take on getting into school. Send me an e-mail fgarcia@lac.edu. I would love to help all of you in figuring out your educational needs. Thanks for your time.

Frank Garcia

I am also trying to decide which training program to go with....what do you know about TRS Institute? It is an approved program on the AHDI website, and they have a self-paced program, and they claim 100% of their graduates are employed.

I'm a stay at home mom and I have been looking at MT for a little over a year, but now I'm wondering if Medical Transcription or Medical Coding and Billing would be better for me? I want to be able to work from home without having to work on site for 2 years. Does anyone know which program would be better for me, or any schools which have better programs? So far I have been looking at Career Step and Allied, although Allied won't give any prices or anything without you calling them, and right now I'm just comparing and dont want to get calls from them every 10 min! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I just started the medical billing and coding program with Penn Foster online school. The tuition is less than other schools I looked at and they let you put any downpayment and monthly payments you want (I did 50.00 down payment and 100 a month)

But they don't do anything to help you find employment like other places do. I found that out the hard way after completing the course.

Stephanie in Birmingham, Alabama said: I am in my 13th month of school for medical transcription with MTEC found at www.mtecinc.com which was the first online school to be accredited by AHDI. I looked into CareerStep when searching for a school, and I dont know very much about it but it was my impression that they did not offer courses long enough to learn this skill. Now over a year into this, I see that nothing short of a 12-18 month course could ever completely qualify you to step directly into the workplace. Choose the school that satisfies your needs, but in my humble opinion, you get what you pay for!

Stephanie, how much time are you putting into the MTec course? YOu say you are in your 13th month here...is that part time, full time, or what?

Billie in Winnemucca, Nevada said: Many at-home employers will not hire graduates of Penn Foster's Medical Transcription course.

Most employers require years of exerience. HOWEVER, many will waive this requirement if you graduate from an AHDI 'approved' school.

AHDI is the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity - www.ahdionline.org (formerly known as the American Association for Medical Transcription). AHDI sets the standards for MT courses. Employers know that graduates of these 'approved' courses have gained the skills necessary to begin their career as an MT.

If your looking into Medical Transcription pay the extra in tuition to attend an 'approved' school. When I was researching school options, I called several MT employers. I spoke to their Human Resources departments and asked about getting started in the field. All of them recommended attending an AHDI approved program. Many people have received training through inadequate programs only to find out that they are unable to find a job.

I attended Career Step ( mteducationonline.com ) and recieved a job (at-home) less than a week after graduating. I've received several more job offers since, but have stuck with my original employer. It can be a difficult job, but I love it!

I recommend CS because they are partnered with MANY employers, self-paced (you can finish in a few months or take as long as over a year or two), and more affordable than the other top 2 courses. Plus, I have personal experience (and success) with the program.

Attending your local community college will give you a good chance at a job in-house, but if you are wanting to work from home, an online 'approved' course is the way to go.
Good luck!

Billie, someone made a comment that a quick school under a year will not give you the training necessary to go out and get a job. Did you find this true with carrer step? I am deciding between carreer step and mtec. any help is appreciated...

Lisgolden,

Good Morning! I had responded to that statement after it was posted. In case you missed it, I'm going to copy and paste my response below. If you have any additional questions, let me know!

~Billie

"I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on this. I was able to finish my training in less than 12-18 months, and have had nothing but success in this field. In fact, I was working less than a week after graduating from the CS course.

MTEC is a good program and I wish you much success in your search for employment. However, because Career Step is partnered with multiple employers, on average their graduates are able to find employment sooner than those of other courses.

The course is self-paced and you get out of it what you put into it. I put a lot of work into the course and received multiple job offers. My employers are very impressed with my skills.

Also, the reason Career Step's course is cheaper than the other AHDI approved courses is because the founder, Andrea Anaya, wanted to keep it affordable. She knew that most students were signing up for the course in hopes of finding employment after graduation. Many of them needed a job that would allow them to stay home with their kids and generate an income for the family. Those needing an income, may not have much money in the first place. Therefore, Anaya wanted to keep the course affordable.

As I said, MTEC is also a reputable school, but I am completely satisfied with the training I received through Career Step (and so are my employers).

I wish you much success in this field and in finding employment after graduation."

Billie thanks so much for your reply, as it helped me a lot. I needed to hear that about CS. I think I will look into it further. Also I have a medical backgroud as I used to work as a nurse anesthetist. M-Tec had provisions for those with medical degrees. Do you have any feelings about me having a nursing background as far as compatibility with CS? Were you totally happy with the program, did you receive your materials timely, and so on. Please let me know more about the CS program because CS is half the price of the M-Tec program, but I just want to make sure you are not half as well qualified when you get out. One comment said that you get what you pay for...and that concerned me. Any negatives about the CS program? I appreciate all your honesty, help and time
.Fondly,
Laurie Golden

Laurie,

I don't know about M-Tec, but given your medical background, you will be able to 'test out' of sections within the CS course that you are familiar with - such as Medical Word Building. You'll basically be given the opportunity to skip those sections and move on to the areas where you need more instruction.

The CS course takes a lot of self-discipline. It is self-paced, so unlike M-Tec and other courses, you will not be given deadlines. You'll need to work on your own time and learn from your mistakes. From what I have seen/heard, the majority of people who do not do well in the CS course are those who need more structure. However, remember that once you start working, you may find yourself in a similiar situation - needing to be self-motivated, with the company offering little-to-no structure.

Personally, I was completely happy with the CS course. There was always someone available to answer my questions and offer advice. I've had several family members and friends take the course, as well. They are partnered with my local college. The college teaches the CS course in a college setting.

Hope that helps!

I just started the medical coding program with Allied Medical online school. The tuition is less than any other schools I was searching around and even they let you put small down payment and monthly payments. And I guess the best part would be "Pass or Don't Pay" guaranteed by Allied School.

www.medicalcodingcourses.com
www.medtranscriptioncourse.com

avonbloom in Avon, Connecticut said: I am also trying to decide which training program to go with....what do you know about TRS Institute? It is an approved program on the AHDI website, and they have a self-paced program, and they claim 100% of their graduates are employed.

Hi Avonbloom- I recently graduated from TRS and I enjoyed the education and thought the program was good (for the most part). They are AHDI-approved and use the SUM program. The claim that 100% of grads are employed is b.s.

I have been unable to find any work. I have tried most of the employers from all the lists of companies that are known to hire "newbies", so far most of the companies do not even acknowledge that I sent in a resume. The response rate is about 1 in 10. So far no offer of any work.

As others have mentioned on here, these schools are businesses and many seem to soften the harsh reality that "real-work experience" is what is wanted these days from MTs. I have had little help finding work through TRS (they gave a list of maybe 10 companies to check with and most were in-house, so you need to be in the area). I have noticed that all the schools put a happy spin on the negatives about this field. Not to discourage but I would pick another field if you havn't started school yet. MT work is stressful (98% accuracy at least) and the pay for even CMTs is low. Best I have seen is .10 cpl. Many of the hourly positions have been phased out as hospitals use national companies and no longer employ MTs in house.

I felt like I did alot of research on medical transcription before choosing this career but it seems like once your in it you hear much more than before. The vast majority of MTs that post on all the different forums say that this is a deadend career with low pay and super high expectations, but you get to work from home if you can ever find a job =)

Medical Transcription vs Medical Coding

Which career path you choose is dependent on your career goals. If you are looking for a job that you can do from home, medical transcription (MT) would probably be your best option. Over 80% of MTs work from home. Although you can work from home as a medical coder, it is not nearly as likely as an MT.

What does a medical transcriptionist do? A medical transcriptionist listens to doctor dictation and types it for the patient's medical record.

People generally get into medical coding because they have a medical background or because they want to get their foot in the door in a medical career. A medical coding job is a great start!

What does a medical coder do? A medical coder takes the patient's medical record and applies codes to the procedures and tools used. These codes are then used to bill insurance companies and patients.

Which online school is the best? Well Career Step of course! I love their courses! They offer both medical transcription adn medical coding courses. They have really been expanding on their medical coding course and now offer medical coding and billing for both inpatient and outpatient. I know that they partner with top employers in the industry and will even help you find a job after you graduate if you enroll in their Platinum course. They just started offering a demo of their course online. Its really awesome that you can go in and see what it would be like as a student in one of their courses. I will put links to their demos below in cas eanyone is interested!

Good luck!

Medical Transcription Demo- bit.ly/htGsG
Medical Coding and Billing Demo- bit.ly/mJsMQ

Debbie in Port Saint Lucie, Florida said: I have the same question - can anyone recommend a really good online school?

My daughter took an online course through Careersteps. I was very impressed with what a comprehensive program it was. I have been a medical transcriptionist for 20+ years. I would definitely recommend Careersteps.

I am a licensed massage therapist in florida. I currently am pregnant so the thought of working from home is a dream come true. I have many questions that I just can not seem to find the answers to. I also have been looking into career step for training. Is an online course really enough prep for the test? I would be greatful for any advice on the subject matter. As I said I am changing careers and its very scary to just jump into something.

Hello,

I live in Reno Nevada. I am a Legal Secretary that just got laid off 2 weeks ago. I know you guys are talking about Medical Transcription vs. Medical Coding. I type 95 WPM ... so I wondered if you guys from Nevada could tell me what would be more profitable ... I obviously don't want to waste my time with the wrong program as I have 11 years experience. Is Truckee Meadows or UNR accredited schools? With my background in legal, what would be better for me?

Thank you for writing me back.
musicalpam@hotmail.com

After 26 years in the customer service profession, I'm looking for a change. I'd at first considered Medical Coding but thought that it would be too boring/difficult to find employment locally/stuck between Doctors, insurance companies,and patients. Did I mention that I want a chance from customer service (getting yelled at :-) ). However, today I spoke with a local woman who runs an at-home Medical Transcription business and she said she thinks this is a dying field because of voice recognition software. She said coding is the way to go. I thought voice recognition software was still not up to par for the medical community needs? Anyone have a comment on that? I also attended a free MT seminar last night, sponsored by At Home Professions. $3000 for approximately 5 months of study. In reading through previous comment string, and checking the AHDI site (which doesn't list At Home Professions), I'm thinking this isn't the course to take but I'd be interested in comments from anyone who's familiar with them. Thanks! Laura

***Hello all. This is my first time posting on a forum & would appreciate any feedback from you. I have been studying MT through At-Home Professions & I will soon have the course completed. I do feel they are very thorough with their instructions & student services support is wonderful. They are strick with their grading, but this is only for the benefit of the student/s. My question/s is/are, should I wait to have my diploma before job searching? What is the best way to "get your foot in the door"? Benefits of working for a hospital/dr. verses self-employed at home? I'm so torn on what is my next step. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I do not know of anyone else in this profession. Thank much!!

I went to Penn Foster...before I found out that everyone felt this way. I had known someone who went there for MT and graduated and found a job...so far I've been unsuccessful and feel very frustrated and like I wasted my money and 12months of my time. Does anyone know where I can apply for jobs? Or know of any one that would hire me? I'm back in school for Medical Assiting now and I have a lot of knowledge!!

I think you should get an Associate Degree in Medical transcription or Health Information Technology. Check out Rasmussen College totally online.

www.rasmussen.edu

tell them you heard about it from Shannon W.

nkmills225@gmail.com

CS Grad in North Hollywood, California said: Actually, most national employers do only look at AHDI-approved schools. Accreditation of schools in this industry means little unless you are going to continue your education towards a HIM degree and can transfer credits. I don't know anything about the Allied program other than from the many posts I read from their grads who can't seem to find jobs. When someone asks me, I recommend M-Tec or Andrews for the simple fact that their grads get jobs and succeed in the workplace.

www.rasmussen.edu is accredited program in transription and health information technology and medical coding and billing its better to get a AAS Degree is entry level

nkmills225@gmail.com

Frank Garcia in Scottsdale, Arizona said: Hi Nik,

Listen I am an Enrollment Specialist, at an online college. We have a medical Billing and coding program. If you would like advice (And this goes for everyone on this forum) on what steps to take on getting into school. Send me an e-mail fgarcia@lac.edu. I would love to help all of you in figuring out your educational needs. Thanks for your time.

Frank Garcia

www.rasmussen.edu check it out

nkmills225@gmail.com

Debbie in Port Saint Lucie, Florida said: I have the same question - can anyone recommend a really good online school?

www.rasmussen.edu

nkmills225@gmail.com

Let me know what you think about the programs.

Shannon W.

Billie in Winnemucca, Nevada said:

Send me an e-mail at bcharmed 01 @ yahoo . com (remove spaces).

I've helped a few PF grads in their job search. It a bit more difficult, but there are a few options. =)

~Billie

Hi Billie, I was hoping to get some advice from you. I am looking into the Medical Transcription field as a second career. I have a Bachelors Degree but would like to stay home with my son & my current line of work doesn't allow me to. I have decided to go with Career Step but I am worried after reading entries on other forums that it is impossible to get a job in medical transcritions, working from home, making any money. Can you tell me about your experience with finding work after completeing Career Step's program? Are you making decent money? I don't expect to make $60K like I was but atleast a supplemental income. Also I was going to pay for the Platinum program, is that a waste of money? I was thinking of doing the Gold program & using the extra $200 to buy the text companion. Should I buy the Audio CD library too? Lastly, I was wondering how hard the program is? I can type pretty well, 65 wpm but I am worried about the medical terminology.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Hi Jen, I am writing to both you and Billie as you both completed the Career Step program. I have a few questions & would like some advice. I am looking into the Medical Transcription field as a second career. I have a Bachelors Degree but would like to stay home with my son & my current line of work doesn't allow me to. I have decided to go with Career Step but I am worried after reading entries on other forums that it is impossible to get a job in medical transcritions, working from home, making any money. Can you tell me about your experience with finding work after completeing Career Step's program? Are you making decent money? I don't expect to make $60K like I was but atleast a supplemental income. Also I was going to pay for the Platinum program, is that a waste of money? I was thinking of doing the Gold program & using the extra $200 to buy the text companion. Should I buy the Audio CD library too? Lastly, I was wondering how hard the program is? I can type pretty well, 65 wpm but I am worried about the medical terminology.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Medical Terminology is easy ... you can get a book on it from Barnes 'N Noble. That's the easier part as far as I'm concerned. I would definitely make sure they help place you because some schools won't.

Hi Kiki!
I was lucky enough to be working less than a week after graduating. I would recommend calling the school and asking what percentage of graduates go on to work (from home) and what the average time frame is for accepting (different from receiving) an employment offer. They send out graduate surveys and should be able to answer those questions for you.

I worked as a Medical Transcriptionist for a couple of years. I enjoyed the work (learned something new everyday). It can be challenging and a bit difficult, but as with anything - practice makes perfect.

You can check this site, www.bls.gov/oco/ocos271.htm, for the latest MT statistics, including average wages. There are several factors which will determine your wage - WPM, whether you use a word expander, difficult of the account, how well you know the terminology, etc. For this reason, it's hard to determine just how much you, personally, will make, but it is possible to make a decent income from MT. I worked two accounts and there was a big difference in my average hourly wages between the two. One was a fairly easy account. The other consisted of several ESL dictators.

I've heard amazing things about the extras that come with the Platinum course, but have no personal experience with them. I purchased the Gold and had planned on upgrading soon after graduating, but had received a job offer (from one of my top choices) before I had the chance to. As for the text and audio upgrades, that depends on your own preferences. It is the exact same material you will find in the online course. I didn't buy any of it and never missed it. A friend of mine bought EVERYTHING. She used the text to study while on the road, lunch breaks at work, etc. She played the audio while cleaning around the house to help train her ear to the terminology. It's just personal preference.

The course wasn't too bad. If your familiar with a section, such as grammar or medical terminology, you can skip to the end and test. If your test scores are high enough you can move on.

The beginning transcription was difficult for me. I kept plugging along, though. After completing several more reports, I went back and redid the first few and was amazed at how much better I had done after a bit more practice.

Also, remember that you can use any references you have available to you, both while working and through the course. A word list is a great tool and I always recommend building one as you work through the course, as well as bookmarking and organizing online references.

Hope that helps!

I just signed up for medical coding with career step. I took the transcription already and have been transcribing for a year. You can take BOTH courses through IFCC. It is a FRACTION of the cost and the same course. 350.00 for the entire course. It is a community college out of Fayetteville NC.
HTH
Linda

nspringer05 in Fairview, Oregon said: Billie:

How frustrating. I graduated from Penn Foster's medical transcription program in December 2008, and I'm having a heck of a time finding any company that hires new grads. Is it truly a lost cause?

Nicole

FEB 20, 201O

hey Nicole im currently enrolled in Penn fosters medical transcription program and im in my final course studies. i have maintained above a 90% for my over all grade and now that im at the end im really nervous about how i will do over all. as you know the first two assignments of the the last course are two thirds of that final courses grade and the very last assignment will be counted as one third of my over all grade. i thought i had really reviewed the previous transcriptions assigned in the medical transcription 1 course, but when i received my assignments back i scored a 70 on lab 1, a 85 on lab 2 and a 77 on learning lab 2. anyway i was having trouble hearing the dictations and every time i call Penn foster to ask for help the teacher is very rude. so if you had the transcription test results i would love to take a look at them. if you could help that would be great if not that's ok too. thanks for taking the time to read this i appreciate it.

sincerely,
Leslie
P.s. here is my email if you decide to respond. lgonz2483@yahoo.com

I'm about to finish Med Trans school through Penn foster as well. After reading through this i am very nervous about finding a job as well.. Any tips would help so much.. I've been looking around online for the past few hours and haven't found any jobs really.. I will be extreamly upset if i'm not able to find a job after i finish.

My daughter graduated from CareerStep a couple years ago. She was able to find a job right away with a company called Inscribe. Another idea: Go to MT Jobs and post your resume there. She was also contacted by some companies after posting her resume. Good luck to you.

Nik in Wedowee, Alabama said: I am interested in either taking medical transcription or coding online and Ashworth University is one of the schools I have been researching. I like the price of it, although I was hoping to get a loan or grant as I am "financially challenged" right now. I have also been looking at Career Step (which does offer loan assistance but no grants and the price is twice Ashworths) and Everett Community College (accepts FASFA and has Pell Grant and price is 4X Ashworth) Can you or anyone give me any further info about any of these schools? I am subscribing to several forums and reading everything I can get my hands on about both fields. I did go to technical school back in the 70's and took Clerical. I haven't been in office work for quite some time - divorce put me in the mills to be able to support myself for a while, and after I remarried, I moved to a small town where the only work I could get was in mills or restaurants. I currently have an accurate typing speed of about 50 wpm, so will have to work on getting my speed up as well. As I get older, mill work is getting harder on my physically, and restaurant work is too low paying and frustrating, so I am committed to getting the education I need to improve my lifestyle. I am unable to take all the courses I need at the nearby community college and can't get to the other campuses, so the online route is my only viable option, I just want to make the right choice. I would like to hear from MTs and MCs and what are the pros and cons of both? Thanx for any help!

Everett Community College uses the Career Step program.

Billie in Winnemucca, Nevada said: Hi Shannon!

I don't know too much about Medical Coding, but have been told that the field is more difficult to get into in a work-at-home position. From what I understand, most employers want a couple years of experience first.

As for which would be the better long-term career, I don't know. I would suggest checking into the Bureau of Labor statistics for both fields (expected growth, pay, etc.).

Best of luck!

Hi Shannon,
I am currently enrolled in San Jacinto College (junior college) for medical billing and coding. I will be certified at the end of 4 months if I pass the 5 hour exam in May. It is really hard but I cannot find a job in transcription and have 23 years experience. I also live within 30 minutes of the Medical Center in Houston and no one uses transcriptionists any more. When I worked at home, I made no money which is why I decided coding is definitely the way to go.
Thanks, Sally

Sally Edwards in Deer Park, Texas said: Hi Shannon,
I am currently enrolled in San Jacinto College (junior college) for medical billing and coding. I will be certified at the end of 4 months if I pass the 5 hour exam in May. It is really hard but I cannot find a job in transcription and have 23 years experience. I also live within 30 minutes of the Medical Center in Houston and no one uses transcriptionists any more. When I worked at home, I made no money which is why I decided coding is definitely the way to go.
Thanks, Sally

I am not in Deer Park but close Pasadena, Texas.

Sally,
I am working in the medical center in houston as a transcriptionist and am going to school for coding. Email me at LLANDMAN1@COMCAST.NET.
:D

Just looking into career choices.... Which direction to go? Medical transcription and editing, OR medical billing and coding??? Which is condusive to the job market. I can travel and relocate anywhere. Prefer the freedom of at home work, but not necessary. Please advise!

Nik in Wedowee, Alabama said: I am interested in either taking medical transcription or coding online and Ashworth University is one of the schools I have been researching. I like the price of it, although I was hoping to get a loan or grant as I am "financially challenged" right now. I have also been looking at Career Step (which does offer loan assistance but no grants and the price is twice Ashworths) and Everett Community College (accepts FASFA and has Pell Grant and price is 4X Ashworth) Can you or anyone give me any further info about any of these schools? I am subscribing to several forums and reading everything I can get my hands on about both fields. I did go to technical school back in the 70's and took Clerical. I haven't been in office work for quite some time - divorce put me in the mills to be able to support myself for a while, and after I remarried, I moved to a small town where the only work I could get was in mills or restaurants. I currently have an accurate typing speed of about 50 wpm, so will have to work on getting my speed up as well. As I get older, mill work is getting harder on my physically, and restaurant work is too low paying and frustrating, so I am committed to getting the education I need to improve my lifestyle. I am unable to take all the courses I need at the nearby community college and can't get to the other campuses, so the online route is my only viable option, I just want to make the right choice. I would like to hear from MTs and MCs and what are the pros and cons of both? Thanx for any help!

A medical coder is a drastically different job from a medical transcriber or editor. Medical coders code the record after the transcriber has transcribed the doctors notes and then it goes to the biller or it may be one function. I plan to take both programs but I started with medical transcription.

Carol

Trisha1 in Dallas, Texas said: Hello everyone. I am an affiliate with Career Step. I currently have a website through them offering the medical coding and transcription courses if anyone knows someone that might be interested in enrolling in the online classes please forward the link to my site at www.homecareerinfo.com/1176 . Thanks so much and everyone have a great day.

I am enrolled in Career Step I just enrolled a couple of weeks ago but already have made tremedous progress and I am working on the Grammar section of the module. I love Career Step and would attest that it is a fantastic program.

I am very interested in training with Career Step as a medical transcriptionist. I am curious about the flexibility of working from home. I have heard that you must work full-time and take designated shifts. This will not work for me since my motivation is to be able to care for my parents and work part-time on my own schedule. Is there anyone who can tell me what my scheduling possibilities might be should I graduate from Career Step.

Thankyou.

Your schedule will depend on the company you work for. Some are very flexible, especially those who hire independent contractors. Others require that you work an assigned schedule. When I started out, I work a part-time, flexible account. When I decided to start working full-time, I was given a set schedule.

I always recommend researching throughout the course. CS used to offer chats (I imagine they still do) with MT employers, which gave students an opportunity to ask any questions they had. Take notes. When it comes time to graduate, you'll know what companies offer the schedule and benefits you are looking for.

Best of luck!

Newbie in Sapulpa, Oklahoma said: I am very interested in training with Career Step as a medical transcriptionist. I am curious about the flexibility of working from home. I have heard that you must work full-time and take designated shifts. This will not work for me since my motivation is to be able to care for my parents and work part-time on my own schedule. Is there anyone who can tell me what my scheduling possibilities might be should I graduate from Career Step.

Thankyou.

Billie in Kingman, Arizona said: Your schedule will depend on the company you work for. Some are very flexible, especially those who hire independent contractors. Others require that you work an assigned schedule. When I started out, I work a part-time, flexible account. When I decided to start working full-time, I was given a set schedule.

I always recommend researching throughout the course. CS used to offer chats (I imagine they still do) with MT employers, which gave students an opportunity to ask any questions they had. Take notes. When it comes time to graduate, you'll know what companies offer the schedule and benefits you are looking for.

Best of luck!

Thanks Billie!

That is great news! I was getting a little discouraged. The more research I do the more I find that MT might be a great career choice for my lifestyle. I am trying to improve my typing speed while I save for the course. Do you use the 10-key pad when combining text and numbers or do you use the number keys on the keyboard? I type about 60 wpm, but become considerably slower when I include numbers and symbols.

Your advice is invaluable!

Thank you!

I use the 10-key pad when I'm typing up a long list of numbers. Otherwise I use the numbers above the the letters. There are word-expander programs (I used Shortcut) that are invaluable tools for increasing an MT's WPM. The program will expand predetermined or programmed shortcuts. "BP" becomes "blood pressure", "Mi" becomes "myocardial infarction", and so on.
Some MTs recommend getting a program while going through the course to give yourself time to become familiar with it. Others suggest waiting, because your employer may offer you a discount, free program or require that you use a specific brand.
Best of luck!

Sounds like a good plan to me. I will give both methods a try!
Thanks for all your support.