Chicago Medical Transcription Training and Schools

About Medical Transcription Careers in Chicago

Medical transcription (MT) training is a valuable skill in Chicago. To be exact, there are 215 hospitals in the city. These hospitals are always in need of professionals who are trained in medical transcription to transcribe doctors’ notes for health insurance companies, hospital records and court purposes (in case there is a malpractice suit).

What Does Medical Transcription Entail?

Physicians dictate information about their patients’ surgery, therapy, prognosis, examinations, etc. on a tape recorder or medical transcription machine. The medical transcriptionist types them on the computer, usually wearing a headset attached to the machine. Sometimes, the doctors will dictate information over the phone. The resulting medical documents that the transcriptionist types is transmitted electronically to insurance companies and hospitals. Precision and speed are very important because typing the wrong word can cause a setback in the patient’s treatment, medical follow-ups and cure. This delay can be expensive.

Medical Transcription Salary and Education

For an occupation that doesn’t require an undergraduate degree, medical transcription pays well. In Chicago, the pay ranges from $27,000 to $40,000. The average is $29,000 to $32,000. Hourly rate usually starts at $15.00 and up. The medical transcriptionist can work at home, in the doctor’s office or in the hospital.

In order to work in the field, the transcriptionist must type fast and accurately. He or she should be familiar with medical terminology. The correct spelling for complicated sounding words is crucial.

Online Universities Offering Medical Transcription Courses

Kaplan University Kaplan University offers students a great deal of benefits, including career placement assistance, financial aid for those who qualify, and day and evening classes for added convenience. Kaplan University’s high-quality, caring instructors want to give students the training they need to be successful in their respective fields and the education they need to stand out to potential employers.
Career Step Career Step offers two medical transcription education Diploma programs. The full Medical Transcription Editor program is a vocational course designed for students without medical transcription knowledge and skills, while the Medical Transcription Editor supplemental program is designed for those who have a solid foundation of medical transcription knowledge and skills. The Medical Transcription Editor program is estimated at 640 completion hours and the Medical Transcription training program is estimated at 570 completion hours, but both programs are completely self-paced and can be completed in as little as four months.
Medical Transcription Education Center Medical Transcription Education Center’s Certificate program is designed for the novice with no prior medical training. This diploma-level program offers approximately 940 clock hours of optimum training in many specialties, for home-based and on-site positions. The program is an online home-study course that provides beginning, intermediate, and advanced training. M-TEC’s program is designed to be completed in 12 months; however, students are expected to commit a minimum of 25 hours per week toward their studies.

Correspondence Universities Offering Medical Transcription Courses

Allied Schools Allied Schools recognize the vital need for a quality curriculum in medical transcription education. Students will find focused training modules that provide the college-level education they need to become medical transcriptionists. Through Allied Schools’ 685-hour Medical Transcriptionist Certificate program, students are prepared with a comprehensive education that provides hands-on, practical experience.
Ashworth College The Medical Transcription Course is comprised of 18 comprehensive lessons that give students the skills you need in less than 6 months. This comprehensive program covers basic medical procedures and terminology, a study of the human body, how diseases are diagnosed and treated, as well as real-world transcription practice. Students can start at anytime, study online at their own pace, and move ahead as quickly as they like. Graduates of the Medical Transcription Diploma program are prepared for a flexible and rewarding position as qualified medical transcriptionists.
US Career Institute US Career Institute offers a Certificate program in medical transcription that can be completed in as little as four month. After enrollment, students are sent course materials and are allowed to work at their own pace. Once the course is completed, graduates will be ready to work as medical transcriptionists.