Success Happy

Have any of you started a business typing Medical Transcription?

How successful or unsuccessful was it? What problems did you run into? Was it difficult to get work? Do hospitals and clinics "farm out" work to you? Thanks for the input!

Public Comments

1. As a medical transcriptionist, you can work at home for a national or small medical transcription service company. There are plenty of jobs. If you wish to get your own accounts, it's not "difficult" but take proper planning. It is starting you own business and I would recommend getting some good solid training to learn MT, and make sure the school teaches you how to get your own clients if you wish to go that route. There are a lot of subpar programs out there that teach me. Steer clear of the educational clearinghouses that also teach basket weaving and auto mechanics. Choose a school w/ a very good job placement rate. Best wishes to you.
2. Due to U.S. privacy laws governing the release of medical files and their storage or movement outside of a medical facility, there are no off-site, on-line medical transcription work. All U.S. medical transcription work must be on the premises of the medical facility. If you planning to take a course in medical transcription, go for it. But don't expect to find on-line medical transcription work [via the Internet]: it just does not exist. Good luck.
3. I started my medical transcription business in 1989. Like any business, its success depends on what you are willing to put into it in terms of effort and research. I no longer operate a transcription business but run an advertising site for medical transcription services. While digitial technology makes the work far easier to accomplish now than it was 20 years ago, vigilance is always required as it relates to security issues. A small medical practice may be enough to keep an individual busy full time. A hospital may either farm out work in its entirety to a large MT company or hire transcriptionists singly to log into their system for work. The point is, there are a great many scenarios under which business is obtained, and I believe the best thing to do is just get started with the learning process. There are probably a hundred different opinions for each course that's available to you. Overall I believe that a course you can personally attend is best. Online or in-person, though, I would suggest taking a very close look at the curriculum for each course you are considering. A course that includes a comprehensive anatomy section will endow you with a basic knowledge of bodily systems and the word roots associated with them. This is essential for accurate transcription and will ensure your continued employment and/or success in branching out on your own as an independent service provider. Good luck! MD MedicalTranscription.com Inc.