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Time for a New Career?
Time for a New Career?
By: Meditec Contributor Dawn Moreno
Spring is around the corner and signifies renewal, rebirth, and the change of a season. In talking to the many people who contact Meditec each month interested in career training, we are hearing grave concerns about the economy, finances, mortgages, and job losses. Many are feeling a need to change careers because of massive lay-offs and job losses in their chosen professions.
Two major areas that seldom encounter recession and are not overly affected by economic problems are the medical and the legal field. No matter what else is happening in the world, people still get sick or hurt, and require health care. The same is true to some extent in matters of law. People just keep suing each other for a variety of reasons. The government keeps on adding new regulations that require legal interpretation and support.
If you are concerned about the stability of your job, then it would be wise to consider training for a career in the medical or legal field. Medical transcriptionists, medical coders and billers, paralegals, and legal transcriptionists are needed everywhere and as the population increases and ages, the expanded need for more professionals follows. Pick up your local newspaper and read the classified ads. You’ll see what we mean. The best news is that these careers may be launched from home and managed as your time allows, even to include starting your own business. Does it make sense to start a business in a weak economy? Yes, it does and this is a basic key that will stimulate and correct a failing economy. It’s small business that makes the economy in this country strong. Starting a medical or legal business at home may just be the catalyst that takes you from worry to financial security and abundance. The choice is yours. Either a job or a business works!!
Lucrative Paralegal Jobs
Overview:
Although lawyers are mostly responsible for legal court work, they allocate lots of practice responsibilities to paralegals. Paralegals actually do most of the basic court work in the process of enforcing and collecting judgments, for instance. One of the most important tasks of paralegals is to help the lawyers to prepare for hearings, trials, corporate meetings and closings. Paralegals perform the background investigation into the facts of the case and make sure that all the important information has been considered. In addition to this preparatory work, they perform a number of other important functions. For instance, they help in drafting contracts, separation agreements, instruments of trust and mortgages.
Areas Of Work:
Many organizations require the expertise of paralegals. Law firms, legal departments of large corporate houses and government offices employ their services. Within these organizations, they work in different aspects of applied law, such as corporate law, personal injury, real estate, family law, employee benefits and even criminal law. Since law has increased in complexity, paralegals now also specialize in their services. Paralegals in corporations and the public sector usually work a standard 40-hour week.
Training:
How do you become a paralegal? The most common is a paralegal program at a community college that matures into an associate’s degree. The other common method is through a program of certification in paralegal studies. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in paralegal studies are also available at a number of schools. Some employers also train paralegals. They hire college graduates with no legal experience and train them hands-on. Or, home training programs like Meditec’s are available.
Costs for brick and mortar schools are around $15,000 to $20,000 and require about two years to complete. Home study programs are a fraction of that ($1500 to $5000). Since with home study, one can move as fast as possible, it is usually common to complete in less than nine months.
Familiarity with technical knowledge and the working of computers are also essential in paralegal work. The Internet and computer software are regularly used to research legal literature and manage databases. Therefore, a course in computer operations can be extremely useful and is virtually essential.
Job Outlook:
Employment for paralegals is expected to grow much faster in the future. Employers are trying to cut costs by hiring paralegals to take care of a number of tasks that were earlier performed by lawyers. Experienced and formally trained paralegals have the best employment opportunities. Insurance companies, banks, real estate agencies and title insurance firms are now hiring paralegals. The demand for paralegals will increase with the expanding population’s demand for legal services.
A number of states provide paid internships for paralegals.
Earning Prospects:
Earnings of paralegals and legal assistants vary. Salaries are based on experience, education, training, the type and size of the employing company and the geographic location. In general, paralegals working for large legal firms or in large cities and metropolitan areas usually earn more than those who work within smaller firms or in remote regions. In addition to the salary, many companies offer a system of bonus to paralegals. The average starting salary can be anything around $30,000. Even the lowest paid is close to $26,000, while the top make as much as $60,000 or more.
After five years of experience, the average salary increases. The average paralegal salary for the top bracket can increase to as much as $80,000 in five years.
If you have an analytical mind, and like law, then a career as a paralegal can prove to be immensely satisfying.
Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/
About the Author:
Extracts of the above information are from Tony Jacowski a quality analyst for The MBA Journal.
Medical Transcription Career versus Coding/Billing Career
Many who visit Meditec are confused as to which career choice to make between medical transcription and medical coding and billing. There are definite differences in skill set between the two career choices, but both careers actually may complement each other, particularly for those who wish to set up a home business or provide consulting services.
Medical transcription is extremely fast paced, production, and detail oriented. It involves sitting at a computer for long periods of time, doing detailed research, and production (fast paced) typing. One must have great auditory skills, and be able to decipher difficult dictation to create the patient medical record. A detailed study of medical terminology, anatomy, disease processes, pharmacology, laboratory medicine, and great English grammar skills are essential to a MTs’ success. Medical transcriptionists also will use technology to their advantage such as word expander software, medical spellchecking software, foot pedals and associated programs, etc. Therefore a desire to work with and understand the personal computer and different types of software is essential. Medical transcription is a developed skill and takes time to practice in order to build both speed and efficiency.
Medical coders and billers work quite differently. Whereas the job is definitely detail oriented it is not as “skill” based as MT. That doesn’t mean that medical coders/billers do not need specific skills. What it means is that coding and billing is more procedure based than skill based. As a coder/biller you will learn the procedures, rules, and laws that affect the coding and billing procedure. Knowledge of medical terminology is important for a coder or biller but not as detailed as is required for medical transcription. The ability to remember rules and procedures is important. Applying those learned procedures to the coding and billing process correctly is tantamount to success. The medical coder and biller will work with software, and that software can be pretty detailed. Most medical coders and billers will have to obtain continuing education in order to stay current on new rules and procedures in the coding/billing process.
So, which of these careers is right for you? If you are not so hot with English grammar and you don’t enjoy typing for long periods, then it is suggested to consider the medical coding and billing career choice. Some people cross-train into both careers and this is a wonderful idea. The medical record is first created by the medical transcriptionist, then it goes to the medical coder to be properly coded, and then goes to the medical biller to be billed to the insurance company, both careers work hand in hand. If a person was considering working at home as a medical transcriptionist and obtaining their own accounts, they could conceivably increase their income by also offering that client their coding and billing services. Cross-training is a formula for success. Not to mention employers who seek as much background as possible for the best positions in provider sites. Medical Record Blunders
Source: http://www.geocities.com/medicaljokes/
# Bleeding started in the rectal area and continued all the way to Los Angeles.
# Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation. (Excuse me, what are you doing with that pen light?)
# She is numb from her toes down.
# Exam of genitalia was completely negative except for the right foot. (Anatomy review time!)
# While in the emergency room, she was examined, X-rated and sent home. This Month’s Recipe:
By: Meditec Contributor Dawn Moreno
Veggie Plates: Quick, Easy, and Healthy
-1 can pickled or plain red beets
-1 can 3 Bean Salad
-1 jar green olives
-1 jar artichoke hearts in oil
-1 can baby corn
-1 container cottage cheese
-1 can garbanzo beans
-2 cans of canned fruit of your choice
On center of dinner plate put a large scoop of cottage cheese and add pepper to taste. Drain all canned items, and arrange around the scoop of cottage cheese on the plate. On the side, add a bowl of canned fruit, chilled. This is fast, easy, and healthy. Meditec – “Learn at home to work at home!”
During the month of March we are offering discounts from $75 to $700 off the retail price of selected courses and eBooks. NOW is the time to enhance your skill set and increase your employability. It’s never been easier or more affordable and we’ll even take an additional $50 off of your total order if you pay in full by Tuesday, March 31st. If you’ve been thinking about career training, NOW is the time to act. Contact us toll free: 877-335-4072 or send an inquiry to: info@meditec.com. We are here to help you!
