Name: Doralynn Kennedy
Job Title: Medical Transcriptionist
Where: Virtual
Employer: Independent Contractor
Years of Experience: 1
Education: Medical Transcription School
Salary: See PayScale’s Research Center for the average medical transcriptionist salary.
Working From Home: A Medical Transcriptionist Salary
“How do I find medical transcriptionist jobs?” is a question we hear more and more these days. Many people are seeking flexible jobs that allow them to work from home. Medical transcriptionist jobs offer a great option for anyone who dreams of working at their own home office. Medical transcriptionist Dorylanne Kennedy recently gave us inside information about medical transcriptionist training, helpful websites for medical transcriptionists, home-based medical transcriptionist jobs, and medical transcription companies. She also gave us a realistic picture of a medical transcriptionist salary and what it’s like to attend training. This interview is a must-read for anyone interested in working from home or pursuing medical transcriptionist jobs.
Medical Transcriptionist Job Description:
It’s a little difficult to explain. It may be helpful if I first give you the life cycle of a medical record. It all starts when the patient sees the doctor. After that visit, the doctor will dictate his report into a phone or a microphone. That dictation is captured on a voice capturing system. That voice file is then downloaded to the medical transcriptionist.
At this point, the transcriptionist transcribes the doctor’s file and uploads the completed document to the hospital or clinic – where it is filed for the patient. A coder then codes the document from the transcribed report. The biller bills the visit from the coded document. Insurance and patient are billed, then the completed documents are filed for the patient. As you can see, the transcriptionist provides a crucial link in the life of a medical document.
Since this is a legal document, it is important that the transcriptionist ensures the accuracy of each and every report transcribed. Each report must be grammatically correct, formatted correctly, and follow the style guidelines of the AAMT. The transcriptionist must also know the guidelines for the doctor, hospital, or clinic they are assigned to. Difficult medical terms must be researched. A medical transcriptionist must have a thorough knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and disease processes. He or she needs to know medical abbreviations and how to deal with them.
A medical transcriptionist needs to know what kinds of changes she can and can’t make to a doctor’s report. She also needs a good ear because there are many challenges in a dictation. Some doctors are good dictators, but most are not. If you think their signatures are bad, you should hear them dictate! They stop, lose their train of thought, start up again at a different point. They mumble, speed talk, dictate through ringing phones, dictate while eating, yawning, and carrying on conversations that have nothing to do with the report.
There is often background noise that makes it nearly impossible to hear what a doctor is saying. Another challenge faced by the transcriptionist is the ESL doctor. Some accents are very difficult to understand, so a medical transcriptionist needs a good ear for accents.
Why did you choose a medical transcriptionist job?
Before I studied as a medical transcriptionist, I had thought I could do the job since I had previously been a medical assistant. I had a thorough knowledge of medical terms and anatomy. I decided to apply at a medical transcription company, and they were kind enough to let me test. The test was a huge shock. I failed it miserably, but I did learn something from the test.
I learned that I wanted to pursue medical transcription. I started researching the different schools available and soon found out that not all transcription schools were created equally. In fact, there are very few schools that new graduates will get hired out of. I found one that medical transcription companies were working with and studied there. I passed their course with high honors and had three job offers shortly after graduating.
Can you give us some information about becoming a medical transcriptionist? What medical transcriptionist training do you recommend?
If you are interested in pursuing medical transcription, then I strongly encourage you to do so. I recommend the school I attended, of course. I am an affiliate there, but even if I weren’t, I would recommend it. It is one of the top schools for medical transcription training and is approved by the AAMT. I do recommend this profession. The job outlook is great! Think of all the doctor’s visits that occur on a daily basis in the United States.
It’s staggering. Each one of those visits must be recorded. Medical transcription companies are always hiring, and there are never enough medical transcriptionists to meet the need.
What is the average medical transcriptionist salary?
The average medical transcriptionist salary is about $40K. Pay is based on production, so the more productive a transcriptionist is, the more they earn. An experienced transcriptionist, with high production, easily earns $70K per year.
How does your salary compare to a medical transcriptionist salary? Find out with PayScale’s Salary Survey.
I am not sure where this information is from but this pay scale is no longer accurate and the average MT now makes about minimum wage. DO NOT GO INTO THIS FIELD. As an MT with 15+ years of experience in ALL DIFFERENT FIELDS I can attest to the fact that we are no longer valued, instead replaced by a computer doing voice recognition. Because of this many of us have seen our incomes PLUMMET in the last 8-10 years.… Read more »
i want toearn income from home through internet by medical transcription
Medical transcription as we once new it, is a dying job for a few reasons. Technology, large companies taking over hospital’s dictation, voice recognition and many teaching hospitals to enter the EMR and copy and paste. Soon, there will only be editing VR. Once a good product of dictation from each physician is established, you will get at most 4 cents a line to edit. Mind you, you will also get VR that is terrible and will take you longer… Read more »
Can any one help me…I M an Indian I finished b.sc nursing degree in India nd I looking for a job frm home becas I had married a few months ago …so Iplanned to do a course of medical transcription becas we can work frm home nd run my family life smoothly.ths s gud idea r I can try another thnk ..please guv ur advices
Payscale, would you like to add an update to this interview? When you interviewed me, it was at the height of American medical transcription. It is now at a low point. I don’t want to encourage others to go into medical transcription without being aware of these facts. Wages have gone down, and MTs who have been in this career for a long time are really dissatisfied with these lower wages. They are only making about $9 to $11 an… Read more »
Doralynn, what about other courses? Is it just medical transcription that is work from home, or are there other medical jobs where I can work from home?
In your dreams do they make that. You only make minimum wage up to $9 an hour working your ass off! Always running out of work. Some days no work and that means no pay! Just lost my job with major company after 5 years out of the blue through an email. They laid off tons of people including managers. Industry is fading away.
I have being hearing about this blank ATM card for a while and i never really paid any attention to it because of my doubts. Until one day i discovered a hacker called andrew. she is really good at what she does. Back to the point, I inquired about The Blank ATM Card. If it works or even Exist. They told me Yes and that its a card programmed for random money withdraws without being noticed and can also be… Read more »
Hello there, I am a licensed practical nurse with 10 years experience. I would like to learn medical billing and coding as well as how to be a medical transcriptionist. What do I need to do?
I am a management graduate.i know the basic of medical transcription.if i enroll in aamt,will they hire me since im not in medical fields.I Knw how hard it is coz ive experienced last yr and im thinking hard.i had a benign tumor surgery thats why i want to learn.
Hi Kare, there have been a lot of changes since I became an MT, and I began hearing scary stories immediately after I started working. Most of them have never happened, but I have always worried about these kinds of predictions. Here are the current Statistics from US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is from December 17, 2015. Job Outlook for Medical Transcriptionists: “Employment of medical transcriptionists is projected to decline 3 percent from 2014 to 2024. The growing volume… Read more »
Hi Abigail, I’m sorry to hear that. When I first started out, I talked to several companies. They were only hiring graduates from two places. Other than my school, I don’t remember the name of the other. I know it wasn’t WCO, though. I know CS still has a demand for MTs, and I know they are still placing graduates. Those with experience always have an easier time getting a job, though, so don’t give up. It does seem less… Read more »
I just got my Medical Transcription certificate through wecareonline.com and I haven’t been able to find a job online for months now. I am also entry level.
Hi Eden, thank you. I’m glad this interview inspired you. It’s not my blog though. I was approached by Payscale about my experience as a medical transcriptionist after Career Step, and that’s how I came to do this interview. After that, people started asking me questions, so I’ve monitored it since. Here’s my link: comein.ws. It’s a little hard to find in the interview. It just says I found one. Thanks again, DL
I’m in the medical field and working 2 FT jobs. I’ve been thinking about going into Medical Transcription to be able to give up my other job and just work at home for an extra income instead. You inspire me. Please let me know the name of the school you went to. Thanks for your blog!!
Hi Devonne, I just saw this. There should be a waiver of liability in any contract you sign. The physician is the one who is liable. Thanks for your question. DL
do you have to carry liability insurance as an independent contractor
Hi Sharai, sorry to take so long to get back to you. Have you tried MTJobs? DL
I have been searching for an at home mt job, but haven’t had success in locating any one hiring. Any suggestions on where to find companies hiring?
Hi Sam, here’s my referrer link: comein.ws. It is in my interview, but it’s hard to find. It’s under, “Why did you choose a medical transcriptionist job?” The words “I found one” link to my site and the school I attended. Thanks for asking. DL
hello,
Which school did you attend for your medical transcription training? I couldn’t find this information in your interview. Could you please post some details about the school so I can access them to maybe apply there one day. I’ve been thinking about medical transcription for a little but haven’t heard enough from people in this career to commit to it yet.
Thank you.
-Sam
Hi Donetta, I have heard back from my friend. She just confirmed what I’ve already said. Yes, the market is still good, and since you’re working from home, living in Alaska is not going to disqualify you. With that said, some companies are regional, but many are not. DL
Hi Donetta, the market is still good. I stay in contact with my old school, and they have companies clambering for medical transcriptionists. Depending upon company setup, it doesn’t usually matter where you are in the U.S. when you work from home. It’s actually people who want to work as an MT in a hospital setting that face a more limited job field. However, with that said, I am limited in my knowledge about Alaska. I know there are some… Read more »
I am wondering if the market is still good. I am in Alaska and wondering if it is difficult to find work from home here
Hi Lori. Rates are going to be based on your experience and how well you do in the testing. With your experience it will be competitive. Ultimately, it all boils down to your line count. It also depends on what the company is advertising in their job listing. You’ll get a better idea by visiting mtjob boards. Have you tried mtjobs? You can get specifics from each company on what they are offering. That will give you a better idea… Read more »
Hello Kavia, I don’t really know anything about the job situation outside of the U.S. I wish I could help. Good luck. DL
I am a senior medical transcriptionist with 13 years’ experience. I am considering becoming an independent contractor. Can you tell me what they ask for pay?
For bd devaraju: Hi, I’m not familiar with the job market for MTs outside of the U.S. and Canada. Best wishes. DL
sir /madam, i am 60 years man done my mt training in a local class. i am interested to become mt. i hails from mysore karnataka india. please guide me to filnd job. thanka in anticipation.
Hi Teresa, it depends on the company. Some companies have shifts, but there are companies that are flexible. I’ve always worked shifts, but the first MT company I tested for was flexible about hours. DL
Can an MT work from home, with erratic hours, if she is still able to do all of the work required in a given day?
Anil.M.K, what country do you live in? DL
Hi Jen, thanks for adding a link back in to my interview. I had a little trouble finding it at first. Then I realized the words “I found one” were active. Thanks again. DL
Thanks for the heads up, Doralynn — I added it back in.
I did this interview in 2007. Unfortunately, they have removed my link — which they promised to include when I did this interview. I hope that will be put back in this interview. It is comein.ws.
HI, My name is Imran and i have been doing Medical transcription for the last five years and i would like to if any one from usa can provide MT data to do at Pakistan outsource the data.
Thanks
Imran.
Imran160@gmail.com
Hello Riya, I wish I could answer, but I’m not familiar with the education requirements in India. I believe +2 is similar to a two year associates degree after High School in America. That’s not required here to pursue work in medical transcription, but I don’t know about India. Good luck. Doralynn
can i pursue diploma in medical transcription after +2?
can i pursue medical transcription after +2
Hello Mahesh, if you are in India, try Acusis India. If you are in the United States or Canada, the school I trained at is a good starting point. I’m not sure if they still do, but they used to include a book on starting a home medical transcription business as part of the course. If you are in some other country, let me know.
i want to know can i learn the medical transcription work and can i start it at my home ? advice me.
Hello Santosh Kumar Singh, I wish you the best. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the job market in India.
myself santosh kumar singh from chapra bihar done my B.Pharma pune university wishes to work as a medical transcristionist guide me in this regard
Hello Dheeraj Verma. I am not familiar with the job market in India. When I first began, none of the MT companies in America outsourced work. Part of the concern was that India is not bound by HIPAA. However, there are companies now who do outsource work to India. I don’t know which ones. When I was researching HIPAA compliance by companies in India, I did find one or two companies there that hire MTs, but I don’t remember which… Read more »
Hi my name is Dheeraj Verma i am based in Mumbai, India i want to know that how do i search a ‘Medical transcripter’ job in India..i mean i directly want to connect with compeny & Max to max how much i can earn per hour if i work from Home or Office & which is the Best US based companey who can offer me the Best pay.
Thanks & Regards
Dheeraj
Hi Jenny, thanks for the comment. I want to clarify something. I don’t really consider the last line a mistake, but it is inaccurate because it’s not something easily achieved. I based that on information I had at the time, and I’d remove it if I did this interview again. That last line was based on a job that was available at my local hospital. It paid either $30 or $35 an hour and may have included QA work. That… Read more »
@Shawn, I don’t know the job market nowadays or the schools. There are several online schools, but not all of them are good. Some of them used to be scams. Not sure if that’s still the case. There are some community colleges that offer training, but they have a dismal graduation and placement rate. I trained at the same school mentioned in the interview, and they placed me right after I graduated. Like I said, that worked out good for… Read more »
@Jenny would you be able to get me information on how I could work from home doing medical transcription? Where did you get your training, was it online? If not, do you know of a good place online I could be trained? And lastly, do you know of any doctors offices hiring work from home transcribers?
Thank you in advance for your information!
Hi Jenny, before this site was changed I had comments saying that if I could do this interview again, I would remove the last line. When I graduated, there was a job at my local hospital that paid $30 or $35 an hour. I can’t remember which. It might have included QA work. That worked out to about 70k a year. I have learned since that was not the norm. Also, at the time, the Department of Labor listed the average MT salary… Read more »
My sister got me involved in Medical Transcription work. When I first started as an MT, the wages were pretty good. After a couple years, I became the sole bread earner in our family. I wasn’t making 40k a year, but I was doing good. I was also working a LOT of hours. The last few years, I’ve been working a lot less because my husband’s out of school now. I’m lucky if I clear 25k and average $16/hr. I… Read more »