+ Does this course come with support even though it is a self study course?
YES! You do get support from our staff , resume and Job Assistance along the way. While we do have our company phone number, we prefer that you use the online methods listed in the secure student area that you log into after you get your medical transcription course. We offer different ways to contact us online for messages / to chat with our staff along with our email contacts as well. We believe in being there for our students to assist them as well as having our FAQs listed also to generously assist students with ways to look up Frequent Questions that you may have along the way.
+ Are you a member of any Medical Transcription / Medical organizations?
We are a member of the ADHI (Formally known as the AAMT - American Association of Medical Transcription)
+ Are you a member of any organizations that we can check your company reputation / record with at this time?
MTatHome is an Accredited Business Member of the (BBB) - Better Business Bureau in good standing!
We are also a member of the Online Business Bureau. The OBB does through checks for online companies to ensure they are not a scam or fly by night company. We have not had any complaints with the OBB.
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Also, just for your own information; any company can receive complaints listed with organizations that have companies as members as well as a list of their complaints and what standing the company is rated even if they are not members of the organizations for your protection as the consumer so you can see if the company you are looking to purchase from has any complaints or not. Therefore, ALWAYS do a check on ANY company before making purchases. We recommend being very cautious with any NEW company that you cannot see if there are a track record of complaints. As we stated above We have been in business for 12 years with a clean record.
Please do your research when making any purchase (especially online as we mentioned above) because any legit company will NOT MIND answering questions about their company, any complaints with regards to organizations because sometimes a reputable company can have a few complaints that are beyond their control, however the complaints could also be very legitimate that they did something wrong, scammed a customer, etc. So always do research and ask any questions about any information with regards to the company, and if they are any type of good company at all they will not mind answering your questions.
You need to look at how long the company has been in business and then how many complaints the company may have, if they have any at all. Ask the company questions like what the complaints are and why they were filed, and if they were taken care of.
Reputable companies will expect and understand that you will want to know this information before purchasing their product. If they avoid the answers or get defensive about the pertinent questions then you need to put up a RED FLAG and be aware of the company. We are not saying that any company that answers your questions are 100% scam free, we just know that from looking at our company which is a reputable company we do not mind questions, and we understand and encourage them.
We know it is very natural to be skeptic and very understandable and will be more than happy to respond to your questions to be best ability, we can. Also, do not let anyone pressure you into a purchase. We feel it is of the highest importance that anyone which is considering Medical Transcription should have researched it and understand what being an at home Medical Transcriptionists is and what it takes to train to become one.
+ Is the course done online or off-line?
Once you receive your medical transcription course you will set up your student log in for access to the student area online. The course can be done off-line also, however you do need a computer and a CD ROM, We do ask that the chapter quiz results and the finals be either emailed to us or faxed or mailed.
To access the student area or student forum you will need online access.
+ Does this include the equipment or do we need to buy it separately?
You would not need the transcriber until towards the middle of the medical transcription course training. We offer several medical transcription course options so that you can decide if you want to get the digital transcriber / foot pedal on your own or get a package that already has the foot pedal included. Some people may already have one, or may be able to find one a little cheaper by getting it themselves.
There is also a course option that has both the Foot Pedal and all of the Mandatory MT Books, plus more. This course option is called: Course # 3 - Ultimate Package.
+ Can I work from anywhere no matter where I live?
You do not have to work in one area you can live in North Carolina and work for a company in CA. Which is the nice thing about the digital transcription .
+ What computer equipment do I need to have at home?
About 1/2 way through the medical transcription course, you would need to have a digital transcriber / foot pedal that hooks up to your computer at home. We have medical transcription course packages that offer you the choice of enrolling with or without the digital transcriber / foot pedal included with the class. If you choose to get your own digital transcriber, the cost can be several hundred dollars. It just depends on where you purchase it from. We do have a link on our web site of a place you can purchase a digital transcriber online if you choose to go with a medical transcription course package that does not include the transcriber.
You will also need a computer (desktop or laptop) that runs either Windows XP or Windows Vista. (Sorry, MACs at this time will work our course.)
+ Is there anything that does NOT come with the course that I need to buy extra?
Yes, You will need to purchase the AAMT Book of Style and also the AAMT Book of Style Student Workbook. Stedmans Electronic Medical Dictionary.
If you have never studied Anatomy & Physiology then you will need to get a book on this to study along with your terminology part of your course. (Before the transcription part.) We recommend getting: Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology
There is also a Study Guide book you can get to go along with it called:
Study Guide for Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology
All of the books mentioned above can be found in our online Medical Transcription Book Store - http://www.mtathome.com/mtbooks.html
Each of these range between $40 - $80 depending on where you find them online.
+ Will this course work with Windows Vista? What versions of windows does it work with?
Our course works with Windows XP and Vista-
+ Does your program work on both MACs and PCs?
Our program works on Windows based computer systems. We have had a few students that did use our program with MAC computers; however, we cannot guarantee it to work with a MAC. We suggest only using our course program on windows based systems. It will work with anything that has Windows XP or better.
NOTE: We cannot refund money on any medical transcription course bought for a MAC computer. While we have other students that have used our course on a MAC, we cannot guarantee it will work on a MAC; we can only say that it will definitely work on any Windows based computer. Sorry, however it is difficult to buy a transcriber for a MAC computer and to get some software to work with MACs therefore; we recommend waiting to purchase the medical transcription course until you have Microsoft Windows based computer if you want to go with our course.
+ What should my typing speed be before enlisting in the course?
You do not need a certain speed when starting, but it does need to be 60 - 70 when you finish. You can download free typing tutors at www.download.com and practice the typing throughout your course training. We have many students that will start the course at 30 to 40 wpm and will work on their typing speed during the course and completed the course at an average of 60 wpm or better.
+ Is your success rate high in Job Placement?
Our success rate is very high. We start the Job Assistance approximately 2 to 4 weeks after completion of the MT course because the resume and grade average has to be done when the MT course is finished. Once your course work is turned in we get your completed grades finalized, issue a certificate, process resume and job assistance. If your grades need to be higher to complete the course we will allow you to re-take the tests. There is no additional fees to re-take tests, this can be done at no additional charge.
+ Does your company have a refund policy?
Refund Policy: Do to the fact that we have such lower prices on our product / courses than most Medical Transcription Training Courses, we have to be careful to the fact that we do sale software with in our course program. With all the CD burners that are out there now, most companies that sale software online in a product, service or program do not allow refunds or cancellations. Once you enroll with our company, there are no refunds or cancellations on the order that can be made.
Please research this field very carefully, and if you are having someone else pay for your course for you then, please research anything with that as well before purchasing the medical transcription class, as there will not be a refund or cancellation allowed.
We do apologize, however we have built up a very good reputation over the past 12 years, and we do stand behind our service.
We have new students that come directly from referrals of other students that are happy with our course program. We feel you will be too. However, it is something that you will have to research and decide for yourself before ordering. We are very up front and honest unlike these scams, and we would rather tell you up front what our policy is then to surprise you with it, and then you can decide before ordering / enrolling if this is the medical transcription course you would like to take or not.
Like every company on the Internet and even walk in companies; would love to have a zero complaint / issues record. However, while companies including ours try to please the customers the best we can there will always be a few that no matter what just cannot be pleased. We are proud to say that in the 12 years we have been in business, we have averaged less than 1 every four years or more. While a zero would be fantastic, it is just not reality especially with an online company. A lot of companies have 10 or more for each year, therefore we are very pleased that we average such a low % of customer complaints / concerns for over 12 years. We have a lot of students / customers and to have less than 1% of them on average for each year or two is about as close to a zero as we can get. The reason we are telling you all of this is because we are honest and do want you to know that while we would love to be perfect, there just is not a perfect company out there that has been in business, as long as we have when it comes to customer concerns. We also have not had any complaints in the past 36 months. However, should a complaint arise we will do our best to resolve the issue within reason and our company policies.
Even though we do not issue refunds or allow cancellations on any order placed with us; we will replace any CD (software) should it not work for some reason - with the same exact software that works for you. We will NOT leave you on your own should you have software that does not work that you got with our course. We want to make sure you have everything that you need and working to ensure success in your Medical Transcription Course Training.
Thank you for understanding.
+ Where can I look for medical reference books?
MTatHome has an online book store built directly into our web site powered by Amazon.com. Purchases of these books are done through Amazon, not MTatHome.
Or you can view other web sites to look for discounted books.
www.discountmedicalbooks.com
www.amazon.com
www.ebay.com
+ What is a C-phone? How is re-recording over the telephone done?
A C-phone is a digital receiver transcriber/phone that accesses digital dictation from another location over the phone.
Re-recording involves using a tape recorder or transcriber with recording capabilities, a speaker telephone, and an inexpensive phone coupler (such as those made by Radio Shack, http://www.radioshack.com , or Skutch T-21P Phone Coupler, http://home.inreach.com/skutch/, 916, 786-6186). One method of re-recording involves using the telephone to dial into a hospitals digital dictation system and playing the doctors dictations while recording them for transcription at a later time. Also see http://www.mtdaily.com/mt1/recording.html page.
Reference: This Q and A came from MT Dailys Frequently Asked Questions, Thank You MT Daily!
+ Does your course cover Grammar at all?
Yes, on our student area web site there are links for Grammar sites available for people using the web to brush up on the following subjects. More are contributed on an ongoing basis.
Line Counting Information
Sound A likes
Editing for Correct Punctuation
Pluralizing
Punctuation Tips
Common Grammar Blunders
+ When answering Medical Transcription Job Opening Ads, do I count the course as experience?
No, you should not ever put your training program down as work exp.; however you can list it under the Education part of your resume.
+ Should I volunteer to work for a company doing transcription without being paid to get more practice and exp on my resume?
If you are in or have taken a Medical Transcription Course and do have prior experience, then I would say no that you should not do this. However, if you have never taken an MT course or have no experience other than training yourself then yes you might want to offer this. However, do it for a limited amount of time because while companies may not mean to, your services could get eventually taken advantage of.
+ Is there a certain type of key board that you recommend when typing.
Yes, we recommend to get the MS Natural keyboard or one similar to it. It will seem very strange to use at first however in the long run when you get used to it you will be glad you got it. Of course this does not mean that you have to have a special keyboard, we just recommend the Natural keyboard because the layout is better for your hands / wrists.
+ How long it would take to complete the Medical Transcription course?
The medical transcription course normally takes about 4 - 6 months. You can take longer if you need to because the course is a self-study course at home.
Even though this is a (self-study at home course) we are here to support you both on and off-line.
You will receive access to the student area when you receive the course.
+ I have been an RN since 1990. Do I need to take an MT Course?
It sounds like you have had a lot of medical terminology in your field of work as a R. N. Nurse. While a Medical Transcription Course may not teach you more than you know as far as a lot of the terminology of the medical terms, it will teach you the proper formats of how to transcribe each dictation report depending on the type of doctor / practice the dictation is coming from. Each type Dr. has different formats for their reports. (GYN, Family Practice, Urologist, Etc.) I am not saying that you cannot get a job without taking the medical transcription course. If you feel comfortable in knowing how to type the reports and feel that you know all the terms and terminology as well as how to break them down then you can always give it a try. When you apply for a Medical Transcription Job, they will look for Medical Transcription Training, however with you being a R. N. Nurse, they might overlook this. You would be sent the transcription sample test as all applicants that are considered by these companies are. The way it works is that they send you a sample dictation and will expect you to transcribe it to the best of your ability as well as in a timely manner. Once it is returned to them, they will then review it and make their decision as to proceed further in the hiring process or not. I can tell you that as you probably already know 1st impressions are of the highest importance, and you will want to make sure you are confident that you can pass their transcription testing before officially applying to any job.
+ What is the percentage rate for finding employment when you have completed this course?
There is a high % rate of students getting Medical Transcription jobs. We cannot guarantee anyone a job; however, we do assist in job placement by assisting with resume creation, submission and talking to companies in recommendation of our students that passed the medical transcription course. Any company that promises (guarantee) a job, as soon as someone completed their course, I would be very cautious because the hiring process is really between the person applying and the person hiring! When you apply for a Medical Transcription job you are sent a sample dictation to transcribe and return to them, so they can check out how well the work is done. You usually are only sent the test if they are seriously considering hiring you. This is why it is of the highest importance to have a resume which is professional with NO spelling or grammar errors. We do assist with this as well.
When you get your medical transcription course you also get access to the student area. The student area can be used throughout your MT course for assistance with the training, learning new terms and keeping updated on new terms. You also have a message board accessible to post questions. Most students e-mail the questions even though we do encourage the utilization of the message board.
+ What comes with the course program?
The program comes with the following:
Textbook with CD that has the quizzes on it. (We do work with you on your score % reports
CD ROM that is the Course CD Program with actual dictations from doctors for the students to transcribe with the Keys to show you the proper way to transcribe the reports.
Timer program that works on your computer (to help with the timing of your transcribing)
Medical Speller program that imports to MS Word only to assist in helping to not show the terms as misspelled.
Access to the Student area on the MTathome.com site.
Full Student support when it is needed. We have support through E-mail, Phone, or message board.
There are some course packages that come with the Digital Foot Pedal / Transcriber, and some that do not.
Our Ultimate Package does have a Digital Foot Pedal as well as all Mandatory books that would normally be purchased separate. It also includes many more books. See course details from our enrollment page.
Also, we have one course package # 4 that comes with both a Foot Pedal and Laptop.
+ What is a digital transcriber?
The digital transcriber is much like the micro cassette transcribers except it hooks to your computer and the dictation files are .WAV files on your computer. You listen to the dictations from the computer then transcribe them in a program such as Microsoft Word. A digital transcriber is also known as a digital Foot Pedal.
+ Is the dictation authentic Doctor Dictation?
Yes, the dictation is real Doctor Dictation.
+ Do the dictations that are transcribed have key formats as to what the finished transcript should look like?
Yes, there is the report formats included in the course.
+ Does the course include how to transcribe with the recommended digital transcriber?
Yes, the explanation of how to transcribe in details with the digital transcriber is included in the course and on the online student area.
+ Does your Job Assistance guarantee me a job after taking your course?
We cannot guarantee a job and no reputable company can honestly. When the students complete the course, we work on their resume with them, then we send their resume out to companies that are looking for Medical Transcriptionists. We will promote the resume until the student gets a job. The student will also want to promote their resume with other sites as well. We do provide a list of resource sites which is recommended for our students to check in with daily looking for medical transcription employment as well as to ask questions and get acquainted other Medical Transcriptionists on the Internet.
+ Do you get job position openings from the companies, Dr. Offices, Hospitals Directly?
Yes, we do get calls and emails from companies, Dr. Offices, Hospitals looking for Medical Transcriptionists, We also are working on getting direct contracts with Medical Transcription Companies that are looking to hire 1 or more MTs. We are always prospecting for new contracts to keep the number of job openings a nice number so that not only do our students get referred, but also we can refer MTs that have submitted their resumes to us that we feel may fit the positions open.
+ Do you hire new Medical Transcription students directly to work for your company?
No, we do Job Assistance, which means that we will refer you/ your resume with regards to a job opening that has been proposed to us. We also have staff that does contact companies looking for current Medical Transcription Job Openings to refer youre resume to the potential employer. Once the company contacts you they will usually request you do a transcription test for them of a Dr. Dictation. The hiring part is in the hands of the company and not us.
+ If I choose the medical transcription course with the laptop, does the laptop come with MS Office?
No, you will need to have MS Word which you may need to get separate. If you do not have MS Word or MS Office you can add the program for an extra low cost.
+ Is there a student area / message board?
Yes, there is a Student Message Board and a Secure Student Area that does require you to have a username and password to enter. Your log in is set up when you receive your course.
+ Where do I get my digital transcriber and how much does it cost?
If you choose to get the medical transcription course without the digital transcriber, we do have a company that we can recommend for your digital transcriber equipment. There is a link on our web site They have been very good with our students on support if there are any questions regarding setting up the digital transcriber.
The price they have listed currently (at the time this was created) is starting at: $199.00 plus shipping. This is the best digital transcriber that we have seen for a reasonable price online at this time. We also like dealing with this company on account of the wonderful support they generously give our students with their suitable product as we mentioned above.
The one you will need is the USB 2 or 3 pedal Foot Pedal that will play .wav files.
There are also other places online. You can search for Digital Foot Pedal that plays .wav files in Google and look at the different rates.
+ Does this course have different types of dictation? Another words, does it have different type of doctor reports?
The dictation includes some stuff that most courses dont offer, such as operative reports, and tough dictation from poor dictators that a lot of courses dont include because it may frighten students.
The problem with that is that the student is faced with this kind of dictation occasionally when they get a job, and we would rather they have experience with it BEFORE they are hired.
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