Online Degrees in Medical Transcription
An online degree in medical transcription can enable students to qualify for entry level positions in medical transcription in a variety of employment settings. As in several health care professions, a certificate or Associate degree is the typical requirement for beginning a career in a health care career.
- Online Medical Transcription Certification provides students with a one year program that educates and trains them in the basics of medical transcription and tasks that medical transcriptionists may be expected to complete. This is an excellent credential for entry level positions.
- Online Medical Transcription Associate Degree prepares students for a professional career in medical transcription positions through education and training that enable them to record accurate information by health care providers for the benefit of patients and other health care professionals.
Online Medical Transcription Courses
Coursework in programs for online medical transcription degrees may vary depending on the college and degree level. However, some common courses to expect include information on medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal issues, health care documentation, grammar and punctuation, speech recognition software, computer operation and the Internet, patient ethics and communication, office procedures and protocol, medical transcription, human biology, computer transcription, proofreading, business English, and other related courses.
Medical Transcription Degree Careers and Salary Information
An online degree in medical transcription enables people to enter a career as a medical transcriptionist, medical secretary, medical records administrator, or other related position. The median entry level salary for people with a degree in medical transcription is $36,729. However, this may range from $29,917 to $44,325 depending on the person's employment setting, level of education, and on-the-job experience. Employment settings may include hospitals, offices of physicians, business support services, medical and diagnostic laboratories, outpatient care centers, offices of therapists, and other health care facilities. The number of medical transcription careers is projected to grow by 14% by 2016, which is faster than the average for all occupations. A growing and aging population will create a higher demand for medical services and scientific and medical advances will lead to new tests, treatments, and procedures. The combination of these two factors results in an increased need for medical records and, therefore, an increased demand for medical transcriptionists and related positions.