Friday, July 12, 2013

A Career In Medical Transcription

Medical transcription has been in use since the 1950’s. This is used to keep records of patients and since the doctor cannot do it themselves, this is where people like you who have the training can come in to help them and at the same time make some money.

There are a lot of medical transcription companies that offer their services to clinics, healthcare facilities, hospitals, the individual sector, laboratories and physician groups. Given the strong demand, you can even get into it yourself with the proper training and the equipment needed for this to work.

To qualify, you have to enroll in an institution that follows the syllabus designed by the American Association of Medical Transcription or AAMT. This is available in vocational schools and colleges. Those who don’t have time to go to school may also find a program online so they can learn at their own convenience.

The important thing for you to learn are the medical terminologies often used by doctors so they will be able to transcribed the patient’s autopsy reports, clinical notes, consultation notes, discharge summaries, laboratory repots, psychiatric evaluations, operation reports, X-rays as well as referral letters.

Once given the job, you have to make sure that these are all error free otherwise; the doctor will decide to cancel your service and find someone else who can do a better job.

Just to give you an idea, some medical transcription services have been outsourced abroad because of cheaper labor costs. Two countries that have been doing quite well in this endeavor include India and the Philippines as majority of the people who come from there speak English quite well.

Some of the services that have been offered to them include cardiology transcription, chiropractic transcription, emergency room transcription, gastroenterology transcription, general Surgery transcription, internal Medicine transcription, maxillofacial surgery transcription, physical medicine transcription, plastic surgery transcription, radiology transcription and surgery transcription.

What kind of equipment is needed in order to have a medical transcription business? Most MT companies would require a toll free number, digital recorders, computer dictation systems, computers and a server.

They have to make sure that the line of communication is secure and that it is hack proof so information about the patient does not fall into the wrong hands given the rising number of incidents relating to identity theft. This is achieved or course using hardware that is HIPAA compliant secured with 256 bit AES encryption.

What kind of career do you expect with medical transcription? For those who are starting out on their own, they can make money if they are able to keep a client with error free documentation and submit this back on time.

If they are no longer able to handle the load themselves, they can train other people to do it or hire people who have passed through the same training and then hire these individuals to work for them. In short, you are able to start up your own medical transcription company.

Will medical transcription still be around for the foreseeable future? Many experts say yes because although there are already computer software programs that have been built and used by doctors to encode the data of the patient themselves, there are still issues that they have to deal with before medical transcription which has been around for more than 50 years will be phased out.

Is Continuing Education Needed for a Career in Medical Coding?

Choosing medical coding as career can be ideal for a lot of people because it is a lucrative way to make a living that does not come bundled with the usual stresses of a regular 9-5 job. In fact, on the contrary, choosing a medical coding career is choosing to make a living with flexible time and work from home benefits. The question remains though: is continuing education needed for a career in medical coding?

The simple answer to this is yes. In order to better your employment opportunities, it would be beneficial for you to acquire the necessary training required to familiarize yourself with the different ins and outs of medical coding.

One needs to be able to understand and learn all there is to learn about medical coding. This is because a medical encoder is in charge of assigning specific codes to different medical services and procedures to enable healthcare providers to be able to bill for services rendered. This is the reason why medical coders are in demand in the industry.

If you have a propensity for organization and enjoy administrative work, learning medical coding will be easy for you. There are specialized courses and trainings available for individuals who want to learn the special ways used in medical coding. However, not all of the available courses will give you the necessary certifications needed to advance your career in this field. It will however equip you with the knowledge to pass necessary examinations to enable you to be awarded certifications.

You will find that going the extra mile and investing time and resources into continuing education for a medical coding career will take you far. After all, medical coders are needed by several institutions like hospitals, medical clinics and offices. If you have the proper accreditation and certification for this job then more opportunities present themselves to you.

The American Academy of Professional Coders offers different types of certifications after individuals have been able to pass their examinations. Each certification is nationally recognized and while you can still get a medical coding job without these certifications, your options for employment are limited. If you are serious about a career in medical coding, it is better to take the examinations and acquire these certifications.

Most specialized trainings that medical schools offer for individuals who choose a career in medical coding are prepared to take the examinations provided by the American Academy of Professional Coders. For this purpose alone, it is beneficial to acquire additional education. 

The American Academy of Professional Coders offers Procedural Coder Certification to those who pass a particular examination for this. After passing the exam and being a Certified Procedural Coder, the individual can then be considered for various prestigious opportunities as medical encoder in different professional healthcare facilities, offices and clinics.

That type of certification is basic and if one wishes, they can also take the other types of examinations offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders. They offer Specialty Credentials that will enable an individual to prove their expertise within their present focus or they can even use this to jump start their medical coding career into a different type of specialization altogether.

It really is worthwhile to pursue continuing education needed for a career in medical coding because not only will the proper certification allow for a wider range of employment options, it will also open the door for you to be able to have and manage your own medical coding company.

Building the Foundations of Your Career in Medical College

An individual begins his career as a doctor in medical school while an individual who wants to get into the fast growing and promising medical field builds the foundations of his or her career in medical college.

As a result of an aging population and a technologically advanced society, the demand for excellent healthcare services and procedures is increasing and experts say that this trend will continue for several years henceforth. With this trend comes the proportional increase in opportunities for employment in the medical field.

Now students fresh out of high school and individuals with careers outside the medical path can now rightly contemplate the possibility of investing time and resources in medical college to be able to acquire the proper credentials to enable themselves to be qualified for careers in the medical field.

To get into popular medical field careers such as those as medical encoders, medical billings, medical assistants, lab technicians, pharmacy assistants and medical supply sales specialists, one needs to undergo proper training and pass the examination for certification. Many of the most promising employment opportunities will require certified individuals to prove their competency and credentials for the job.

Since is this is the case, be sure to check whether the medical college that you plan to go to for training offer certification courses or check if they can at least properly train you for certification. Otherwise, your time and effort will not be a very efficient choice after all. You can check out the different medical colleges in your area through their websites.

Make sure to explore the websites of each medical college in your area and understand the different programs they offer as well as the different reputations each college has. A reputable school will look better in your credentials.

A career in the medical field will be challenging but proportional to the amount of challenge are the benefits and satisfaction of securing a job in this career. For instance, the training and certification for being a medical coder will not only land a job as a medical encoder in the different types of healthcare and medical facilities such as medical clinics, hospitals and outpatient facilities. But one can also decide to own their own medical coder business and earn more money by servicing different clientele through a successfully managed outfit.

This option will not only secure one’s financial needs but will also allow one to choose and manage their own time and schedules. That’s certainly more than one can ever hope for in some other line of business or career.

Good opportunities don’t abound for the medical coder. The same is true for almost all other types of career in the medical field. For instance, medical assistants can opt to take continuing education into the field of nursing. Once a medical assistant graduates into a career in nursing the pay and incentives are considerably higher for them.

This is why the money and effort into medical college is time and money well spent. Not many other career options can offer the same privileges and guarantees. This is why if you want to take advantage of this opportunity, you better be on the look out for a good medical college to apply for.

Even if you already have a job and cannot afford to take the time off to go fulltime in building a career in medical college, don’t despair. Most if not all medical colleges offer courses during flexible times to allow individuals to take continuing education without having to quit their day jobs.

Career Medical Training

We start going to school at the age of 4 or 5. We graduate from secondary school at the age of 17 or 19. Those who want to pursue a career being a doctor will have to endure 4 years of undergraduate studies, 4 years of medical school, 3 to 7 years as an intern and resident then a couple of more years to move into a more specialized field. This means that you will have only established yourself as a doctor after you have reached the age of 30!

Do you really have to wait that long to undergo medical training and make a career for yourself? The answer is no. This is because aside from being a doctor, you can do something else that is in the medical field. To give you an idea, here are some of them.

For those who don’t want to work in a hospital, they can try to get a job as a pharmacist. This person is the one that dispenses drugs at the store. They can also recommend a drug similar to what was prescribed if this is not available or way beyond your budget. Sometimes, they also help doctors determine the proper dosage to be given to the patient as they are well aware of the side effects of giving too much to a patient.

Another job that you may apply for is that of a lab technician. These individuals depending on their training are the ones who test samples or man the X-ray or mammogram when a patient has to be examined.

One job that is high in demand right now in the US is that of a nurse. This is because a lot of those who are working right now are nearing retirement age and the youth these days are no excited about that which is why nurses are being hired from other countries.

Training for each of the jobs mentioned varies. For pharmacists, lab technicians and nurses, they don’t have to study for 8 years or more when they already qualify for their position after a couple of years in vocational school.

Here, they will learn subjects such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, infection control, medical terminology, physiology and several others before undergoing hands on training.  There will be exams to test their knowledge with regards to each subject so there won’t be any problems when it is time to do the real thing.

You can also be successful working outside the hospital with a little medical training. You can get into medical transcription since all you have to do is transcribe what the doctor has said using a tape recorder. The work can be done at home and then the document is sent back to the doctor.

Another alternative will be to get into sales as pharmaceutical companies need sales agent to sell their drugs to doctors and hospitals.

Anyone can make a career once he or she has undergone medical training. You just have to decide what you want to specialize in and then go for it. For those that don’t have the money to study full time, look for a school that offers this part time or online.

Remember, this is only temporary because once you earn your degree, you can already make your career out of it.

Options for Careers in the Medical Field

Most people are now considering options for careers in the medical field whether they are fresh out of high school and want to pursue a career in healthcare or they are already well established individuals needing a change of focus in their careers. Despite a career in healthcare services being challenging, the returns for acquiring a job in this type of profession can be very rewarding in terms of professional and personal satisfaction. This is why many individuals are beckoned to join the healthcare field.

Fortunately for these individuals, there is a high demand for skilled professionals in this field. The high numbers of jobs available and the continuously growing demand for individuals to fill these positions is a result of an aging population coupled with advancing technology.

So while people get older and age, technology allows for more services and treatments in healthcare that lengthen life expectancy and improve one’s life quality. It also doesn’t hurt that lobbyists continue to push the agenda of healthcare at the forefront of the political platforms of heads of state.

So all in all the future for individuals in the medical or healthcare field are quite promising. With attractive benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and varied areas to choose from to suit each individual preference and inclination, the medical and healthcare field has indeed become the place to be for people who want to take charge of their lives and improve their careers.

The opportunities in the medical and healthcare field are indeed numerous. When traditionally the only positions that were top of mind for individuals in this field were doctors and nurses, now doors to vast opportunities have opened up and there are positions for medical assistants, medical encoders, medical billing specialists, medical supply sales people, and lab technicians have come to fore. This is only scratching the surface because the list of opportunities goes on and on and while job opportunities increase so does the list of medical colleges increase.

So now if you want to secure a career in the healthcare and medical field, you won’t lack options for choosing a medical school to go for. Even better is the fact that these medical and healthcare schools conduct their trainings and lessons using flexible schedules that allow students to study and continue working on their day jobs. This makes the time, effort and money invested into medical college all well spent.

While traditional medical school that train individuals to become doctors is also time, effort and money well spent, this path is clearly not everyone. The amount of money and time spent to become a doctor cannot be afforded by everyone. Fortunately, for less time and less money, individuals can still be a part of the fast growing medical and healthcare field through medical colleges that offer specialized courses and training.

One can simply not go wrong in choosing to explore the possibilities offered in the medical and healthcare field because the options are vast and there is sure to be an option suitied for each individual preference and requirements.

For instance, people in sales can choose to move and launch their career as medical supply sales agents where they target physicians and other healthcare professionals and specialists to purchase or endorse their particular products to their patients.

Careers in the medical field are numerous so be sure to choose one that suits you best.

Careers in the Medical Field for Everyone

If you are considering careers in the medical field, be sure to learn and understand that there are several opportunities to choose from. Traditionally, people think that a career in the medical field is limited to the many types of doctors and nurses. Truth of the matter is there exists an entire plethora of options almost anyone can consider.

This type of information is especially helpful to those who may want to be part of a promising and lucrative career in the medical field but is daunted by the cost and length of study required in medical school. Remember that although there is a certain glamour in being a doctor and an air of nobility in being a nurse, other professions under the medical field is gaining as much popularity too.

Now more than ever, more and more individuals are realizing the career potential in the medical field. If you are interested in improving your career track and getting into the medical field, you first need to assess and take stock of your existing qualifications. For instance, if you have been previously enrolled in medical school and for one reason or another begin to think about not continuing to pursue being a doctor, all is not lost or wasted. 

It is not uncommon for individuals enrolled in medical school to begin to have doubts and rethink their plans in mid-course. This is because some medical students may realize that they don't really like interacting with patients and lack the certain charm for a good bedside manner. Also, individuals may be interested in medicine and the medical field but know that they are not cut out to be doctors. There are all some individuals who are not at all connected to the medical field but would like to improve their careers and their lives in the process.

Almost anyone can take advantage of the growing medical field and individuals from different walks of life are welcome to do so, even those without any medical background. In fact, the medical field and its diverse options are open to homemakers wanting to earn a better living while working at home. It is also open to individuals who have not yet finished undergraduate studies or for those who are already working but would want the opportunity to explore other more lucrative career options. 

The fast growing medical field now provides that opportunity to willing and able individuals. There is bound to be a job in the medical field that is right for you. There are options like lab technicians, physician's assistant, medical transcriptionist and many more.

For these types of jobs, specialized training and short certificate courses are available. Check out different options for these from pertinent government agencies to be able to take hold of your life and be the master of your career.

Now there is simply no more excuse to not take hold of your life with a better career option. Careers in the medical field are continuously growing and offering challenging and satisfying opportunities for almost everyone. This means that the fruitful career that you have always been dreaming of need not only remain in your dreams.

Go and be sure to find out more about the different careers in the medical field and which one is well suited to you.   

The Benefits of Choosing a Career in the Medical Field

Choosing a career in the medical field is one of the best options available for most people these days because of the job security, possible career advancement and other intangible factors for job satisfaction in this type of decision. Naturally, there are certain training and certifications required before consideration of eligibility in the different careers available in the medical field. There are some short courses, certification examinations with varying lengths needed for preparation and immersion.

This should not hinder anyone from pursuing careers in the medical field. Whatever time, effort and resources invested into trainings, learning and certification will be well worth it. There is no need to worry about not being able to strike while the boom in the industry is hot. Naturally, some individuals may feel hindered by the fact that they cannot join the medical field until they have completed necessary qualifications and some of these may take as much as a couple of years to achieve.

This is no reason to despair though because experts say that the boom in the medical field will continue to peak until 2012 and that leaves plenty of room and time for interested individuals to prepare and acquire the job in the medical field that they would like to build a career with.

Whether you decide to become a nurse, a medical assistant, a medical supply sales specialist, or a laboratory technician, many promising opportunities will continue to present and offer itself to you after you have accomplished the necessary training and certifications. Just remain diligent, determined and passionate about your chosen path and a bright future is yours for the taking.

Now before deciding which type of job you want to build your career from in the medical field, you must make sure that you are laying down all the cards in front of you. Be sure not to make your decision based on what you’ve heard and just your own perception. Make sure that you do your own research and more importantly, be sure that you familiarize yourself with everything that your choice entails. This way, you won’t find yourself in the middle of training and wanting to bail out because it turns out that your interests lie elsewhere.

Remember that wherever your interests, skills and inclinations lie there is bound to be a job in the medical field that you can choose. It is very important for you to find the right fit in this regard because if you like what you do you will be willing to give more of yourself and the chances of being burned out or unhappy is less to non-existent.

Fortunately, the opportunities in the medical field are vast and varied enough to accommodate a wide variety of individuals and their respective interests and inclinations. For instance, if you have no previous medical training but know that you want to take advantage of choosing a career in the medical field then all you have to do is think about your personal strengths and existing experiences and skill sets to date.

A person who is an extravert and has excellent communication skills can decide choosing a career in the medical field as a medical supply sales specialist or even as a medical assistant, depending on the details of their preferences.

Just make sure that you weigh and take into consideration all that is needed to be able to make the choice that is right for you.