Medical Transcription Technical Certificate Program

     

The Medical Transcription Technical Certificate Program prepares individuals who meet entry-level competencies for medical transcriptionists in various healthcare settings to understand medical concepts, medical terminology, and accurately transcribe medical reports.

Numerous career opportunities exist in hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, home health agencies and transcription services.  Graduates are eligible to apply to take the American Association for Medical Transcription certification examination.

Admission, Retention and Graduation Requirements

1.                  All students admitted into the Medical Transcription Technical Certificate program will meet the same criteria             as established for any technical certificate program offered by Walters State Community College.  Primary among these criteria is graduation from high school or a passing score on the GED assessment.

2.                  Indicate Medical Transcription as the desired major on WSCC Application form.

3.                  Each student enrolled in the Medical Transcription Certificate program will be monitored, advised and counseled.  Student’s grades will be evaluated at the end of each semester by the director of the Medical Transcription program.  A student must maintain the following standards or be dismissed from the program:  (a) a grade of “C” or better in each course; (b) complete designated prerequisite/corequisite courses.

4.                  Program graduation requirements include the successful completion of the courses listed below with a minimum grade of “C” in each course.

5.                  In addition, admission into an allied health program requires the following:  (a) a completed physical health form; (b) evidence of malpractice liability insurance; (c) a signed and dated acknowledgement of the Drug/Alcohol Abuse Policy and Consent forms.  The physical health form, malpractice insurance, and Tennessee Professional Assistance fee are at the student’s expense.

 

Frequently Asked Questions concerning this program: 

·         Pay ranges from $7.42 - $11.52 per hour in the hospital setting.  (This generally applies to physician offices as well.) 

·         Transcriptionists can also be paid by the line (10-12¢ per line) or negotiable contracts, or even on an incentive plan.

·          Incentive pay – the transcriptionist is paid a flat amount per hour for producing a minimum amount of work per day (usually 1200 lines).  Any amount of work above the minimum, the transcriptionist receives a higher rate of pay.

·         Pay is better in the larger cities such as Knoxville and Johnson City than in the more rural cities.

·         Medical transcriptionists can work in a hospital or physicians office or work from home.

·         If a transcriptionist works from home, he/she could be a contract employee, a hospital employee with benefits or without benefits, or in business for themselves.

·         Employers may require at least 1-2 years experience before hiring someone to work from home.

 

 

Estimated Expenses

Textbooks                                           $500-600 per semester

Professional Liability Insurance          $40

 

Medical Transcription Program

Curriculum

Course No.	Course Title	Credit Hours
ADOA 1040	Keyboarding	3
MDTR 1010	Medical Terminology	5
MDTR 1020	Basic Medical Transcription	4
MDTR 1030	Fundamentals of Medical Science	3
MDTR 1040	Advanced Medical Transcription	5
MDTR 1050	Clinical Practicum	3
	Total Credit Hours	23

 

Course Descriptions

 

MDTR 1010 Medical Terminology                                                                5 Credits

An introductory study of medical terminology utilizing the body system approach including anatomy and physiology, and laboratory/pathology terms, pharmacology concepts, terms and abbreviations.      This is an online course that meets in person once for orientation to using online software.                                                                            5 hours lecture/week      F, Su

 

MDTR 1020 Basic Medical Transcription Lab                                                           4 Credits

Transcription practice utilizing the body system approach to dictated medical reports such as histories and physicals, consultations, operative reports, admission and discharge summaries, pathology and x-ray reports.  Emphasis includes proofreading and revising copy, applying correct language skills and medical terms.  (Pre/Corequisite:   OADM 1040 and MDTR 1010)

                                                                                                8 hours lab/week            F

 

MDTR 1030 Fundamentals of Medical Science                                            3 Credits

Study of diagnoses, signs and symptoms, surgical and diagnostic procedures, medical equipment and instruments, laboratory and pharmacology applications utilizing the body system approach.   Emphasis includes current therapies and special procedures.  This is an online course that meets in person once for orientation to using online software. (Prerequisite:   MDTR 1010)

                                                                                                3 hours lecture/week       S

 

MDTR 1040 Advanced Medical Transcription Lab                                       5 Credits

Transcription practice utilizing authentic physician-dictated reports organized by body system or medical specialties.  Emphasis on accuracy, speed, and medical knowledge for transcription.  Content includes grammar and punctuation review, editing, and proofreading, and use of reference materials.  (Prerequisite:  MDTR 1020 and pre/corequisite:  MDTR 1030)                                                                                                              10 hours lab/week          S

 

MDTR 1050 Clinical Practicum                                                                     3 Credits

The clinical practicum provides on-the-job experience prior to employment.  Practical experience with original medical dictation and reports, as well as dictation systems, assigning work, report searches, and patient data searches.  (Pre/corequisite:  MDTR 1040)                                                                                                                                          6 hours clinical/week      S