Phil.Scovell@f810.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Phil Scovell) (06/28/90)
Index Number: 8907
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Linda,
I just mentioned to my wife again last night about your message. Maybe
when she comes home tonight I can get her on the echo to reply. My
wife has worked for a medical transcription company since about 1973
here in Denver. If you can type fast, you can make very good money.
There are several independent transcription companies in Denver. One
lady contracts with women individually and they type from their home.
She is just kinda the boss or manager who gets the contracts from
hospitals or doctors. My wife did work at home for about a year typing
for doctors herself. We had a separate phone line and continuous
answering machine. Doctors called and she typed whatever they
dictated. The biggest problem with such a home medical transcription
service is getting the typed materials back to the doctors offices
quickly. MOst doctors want the reports back the next day; especially
if they are charts. If a sighted friend can shuttle the reports back
and forth, that helps. The mail often just isn't quick enough to
satisfy doctors. I am sure, however, that any blind person who really
can type could work out of their home doing medical or legal
transcription work. Like any home business, however, it takes time to
generate business. One nice thing, however, is that many offices are
getting computers and modems which provides for the reports to be sent
back over the phone line. This is in fact what my wife's company is
now doing with their largest hospital account here in Denver. Nothing
in the office is on paper. After the reports are typed, the files are
collected and sent via modem to the hospital. The hospital prints the
reports on their end; thus no one is now required to shuttle the paper
work back and forth. Denver especially has gone to smaller independant
medical transcriptionist services. The disadvantage of such is
generally no benefits such as insurance but the money is big. Some
will suggest that since everybody is getting computers for home and the
office that such a home business isn't practical. Not so! Most
people with a home computer don't hardly use it and most offices,
unless they have trained someone to use the office computer, know next
to nothing about the computer and its software. I repeat, the biggest
problem is getting the reports back to the doctors quickly. I am sure
the legal transcription work is pretty much the same as the medical so
if you already have training in the field, you might consider staying
with it. Sandy took her medical termonology when she was at the Iowa
Commission for the Blind in Des Moines, Iowa in about 1968 but I'm sure
she'll be able to give you better information than I have Linda. I've
been self employed since 1975 and am a strong believer in home
businesses; especially since the talking computer opens up so many
possibilities for the blind.
Phil.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!104!810!Phil.Scovell
Internet: Phil.Scovell@f810.n104.z1.fidonet.orgMartha.Johnson@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org (Martha Johnson) (08/09/90)
Index Number: 9629
To take the course from Hadley if you've not taken courses from them, you
need to send for an application and they will send it to you with a Dr.s
form to fill out and then after that is all taken care of you will get an
orientation course to see if you follow dirrections. And after all that
you must take a medical trans profile, to see if or how well you can
type. After that is Med Trans I. That consists of alot of lessons with
a list of vocabulary, which you must put each word on a 4-by 6 file card
and keep all of them for further reference. It is time consuming, but
very interesting. I think they're trying to make a new book. The
teachers' name is Frances Holland. Then there is Med Trans II which
consists of many different reports. The ones I liked were the autopsys.
After you finish the course you will receive a certificate that has
C.E.U. (credit education units) I wish some day they would have regular
college courses. Also ask for a catalog. They have an 800 number, but I
don't know the out of state number. I am now taking personal psychology.
I don't know what I will take next. The address is: The Hadley School
for the Blind 700 Elm street, Winnetka, Il. 60093. I hope I have
answered some of the questions.
Martie
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Internet: Martha.Johnson@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.orgLinda.Iverson@f10.n130.z1.fidonet.org (Linda Iverson) (10/31/90)
Index Number: 11387
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi, Marda! Hope school is going okay for you. Say, didn't you say
your were taking the medical transcription course from Hadley? Could
you describe the course a little--what do you get as far as books?
Are your lessons returned promptly? Would you say it is a hard or
easy course? Does it take much time? I realize it isn't like experience,
but do you think that upon completion, you'd have adequate knowledge
so that you could be employed or would you need additional training?
Thanks.
Linda
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Internet: Linda.Iverson@f10.n130.z1.fidonet.orgMarda.Anderson@f9.n393.z1.fidonet.org (Marda Anderson) (11/02/90)
Index Number: 11471
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi, Linda. Nice to hear from you again. Yes, I am taking the Hadley
medical transcription course. (Actually, it's a series of three
courses.) So far I have found it to be quite enjoyable. Lessons are
graded promptly and thoroughly. I don't think it's a terribly hard
course, though you've got to plan to put in some time if you really want
to do it right. For instance, they recommend that you make your own
medical dictionary on file cards for quick reference. Well, there are a
lot of words and it takes a while just to copy the definitions. As for
whether or not you need further training after completing the course,
that's a hard one for me to answer. I know that these places like the
Houston Lighthouse take something like nine months to complete. I would
assume that there is more information given in that kind of situation.
But I took the course expecting it to add yet another skill to my
repertoire and hopefully provide employment. Oh yes, you asked about
books. Well, the first thing you get is the Medical Transcription
Profile Test. It's a casette containing a discharge summary which you
are to submit both Braille and typed. Then you get the first and largest
course. It's in eleven thermoformed volumes. The next course has you
actually typing doctors' dictation from tapes. I assume there is also a
text but I'm not that far along so haven't seen it yet. Hope that helps
some.
marda
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Internet: Marda.Anderson@f9.n393.z1.fidonet.org