Newsletters
24.06.2010
Blog, Newsletters
ANNOUNCING MEDITEC’S NEW STUDENT REFERRAL PROGRAM
How would you like to help a friend and earn $100 in the process and a discount for them?
With our unique referral program, the person you refer gets 10% off our training program and you receive $100 when they enroll. Refer as many people as you like; there is no limit on the reward dollars you can earn.
Simply fill out the form at http://www.meditec.com/student-referral-program/.
We’ll send a unique referral code back to you (or directly to the person you refer if you provide us with their e-mail address). That person has up to 3 months to enroll and provide the code to us. We’ll give them a 10% discount and send you a check for $100. It really is that easy.
WORD EXPANDER/TYPING ABBREVIATION SYSTEM
Intro By: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Manager of Student Services/Instructor and ABCZ content by Jon Knowles
Medical transcriptionists use productivity tools to boost their typing speed so they can increase the amount of work they produce and make more money. There are many abbreviation software expanders available. Three of the most exceptional ones are Shorthand (http://www65.pair.com/lim/shorthand/), Instant Text (http://www.fitaly.com/), and Abbreviate! (http://www.words-plus.com/website/products/comsoft.htm). Having any of these programs installed on your computer allows you to type a few characters, hit the space bar or enter key, and the entire word or phrase expands into your document. For example, instead of typing esophagogastroduodenoscopy a hundred times a day, one could create an abbreviation such as esoy and have it expanded into the full word. In MS Word, there is the Auto Correct feature that works in a similar way. Some MTs start out using Auto Correct as their expander program. However, it cannot hold a lot of abbreviations, so a commercial expander program is preferable.
Once you have obtained a commercial expander program, you will want to develop a system for creating abbreviations. Outlined below is the ABCZ system created by Jon Knowles. Also, please note that one can purchase pre-made lists of words that include the ABCZ abbreviations and import them into your Shorthand or Instant Text expander programs. Information will follow at the end of this article as to where these types of lists can be purchased.
ABCZ Typing Abbreviation System
The main rule is indicated in the name of the system: ABCZ
This is a short, simple yet powerful rule that makes many words easy to type. English being what it is, other rules are, of course, necessary.
UNSPOKEN RULE: No abbreviation should form a common English word or proper noun. However, a word like ox or ay, for example, is considered rare enough to be used as an abbreviation in business or medical transcription.
NOTATION: For simplicity, when describing a rule, we will let a, b, and c stand for the first three letters of a word and y and z for the last two.
ABBREVIATION RULES FOR WORDS:
LONGER WORDS:
1a. For words of six or more letters, the basic rule is abcz.
That is, absolutely = absy radicular = radr
Does this mean you have to count letters as you type? In practice, one’s fingers pretty quickly come to “know” when an abbreviation is called for.
1b. In cases of conflicting abbreviations for the same word, use the form abcyz.
That is, infn = infection infon = inflammation
ADDENDUM: More expanders now (2002) have visual advisories (Instant Text, Shorthand for Windows, Smartype) and you can use a method such as:
abcz isnfn = infection
abczb infnb = inflammation
abczc infnc = information
abczd infnd = infarction
SHORTER WORDS:
2. In the “spirit of the main rule,” use az for 4-letter words and abz for 5-letter words as much as possible.
Short forms for some of the 150 most common words and 150 common subject-verb combinations can be included (and are in the commercial versions of ABCZ).
ABRREVIATION RULES FOR PHRASES:
3a. PHRASE of 2 WORDS: the rule is abab.
That is, the first 2 letters of each word.
osab = osseous abnormality anan = antinuclear antibody
3b. If there is a conflict, the form is ababc (first two letters of first word, first three of second word).
meme = medial meniscus memen = medial meniscectomy
ADDENDUM: Again, more expanders now (2002) have visual advisories (Instant Text, Shorthand for Windows, Smartype) and you can use this more powerful method:
meme = medial meniscus
memeb = membrane
memec = memorize
memed = methyl methacrylate
memee = medial meniscectomy
Note that words and phrases can be interspersed and still easily differentiated with brief short forms as they are here.
3c. For the plural of a 2-word phrase, use ababs.
That is, osabs = osseous abnormalities
4. PHRASE OF 3 OR MORE WORDS: the rule is aaa or aaaa
Four such letters is the standard length for phrases of 4 or more words (even if the phrase has 5, 6, or more words). Add a fifth letter if you need it to differentiate two phrases:
hoo = hospitalizations or operations
tyvm = thank you very much
tyvmf = thank you very much for the opportunity of allowing me to see
iicb = if I can be of further assistance to you in this matter
RULE FOR PREFIXES:
5. The rule for abbreviating a prefix is: a
a = anti, c = com, con, d = dis, f = for, h = hyper, hypo, i = inter, intr, intra
n = neuro, s = sub, super, sup, t = trans
Then construct the word according to the usual rules:
construction = cstrn (a abcz)
discussing = dcusg (a abcz)
ENDINGS:
6. In many cases, the z of abcz already includes the ending. However, since some words (e.g. verbs) take varied endings, it is often convenient to omit the last letter (z) which we would ordinarily put there:
construct = cstr (rather than cstrt) dissolve = dsol
Then add endings as you desire: cstrs = constructs
cstrd = constructed cstrg = constructing
This method can also be used with nouns, adjectives, adverbs, etc.:
cstrn or cstrj or cstrz = construction
larr = larger lart = largest
trey or trel = tremendously
SPECIAL CATEGORIES:
Additional suggestions for forming abbreviation for different categories of words. (Note: Some expanders do not allow beginning a short form with a number.)
7a. Abbreviations containing periods. Begin with a number such as 6.
For example: 6rn = R.N. 6bid= b.i.d.
7b. Addresses: Begin addresses with a number such as 7. One form of address is this form using the abab rule:
7abab = 7 ab (of last name) ab (of first name)
e.g. 7thhe gives:
Henry Thorne, M.D.
2000 Summit Street, Suite 200
Oakland, California 94609
Note: The ab from the last name is placed first so the list in the lexicon will be alphabetical by last name for easy reference.
7c. Medications: Begin with a number such as 8, e.g. 8code = Codeine
7d. Signs and maneuvers: Begin with a number such as 9, e.g. 9treg = Trendelenburg
SPECIAL FEATURES:
8a. Expansion of abbreviations: use x
e.g. Magnetic Resonance Imaging = mrix
8b. Written out numbers: cj8 = eight, cj21 = twenty-one
oj1= first, oj2= second, oj22= twenty-second
Where c stands for cardinal, o for ordinal, and j is a null. Mainly useful for longer numbers.
8c. Geographical names: For place names of one word, use the form abx. For place names of two words, aax.
That is, Emeryville = emx, San Francisco = sfx
8d. Special characters: You may prefer to use a trigger letter (k and f in these examples) for commonly typed words by category:
Category: family: Form: f* e.g. fb = brother fs = sister
Category: anatomy: Form: abk e.g. fok = forearm brk = brachioradialis
9. When you use a word or phrase very frequently, the regular abbreviation can be shortened:
approximately = appy = ay
subsequently = sseqy = sqy
consultation = csuln = cn
however = howr = ho
Please see Jon Knowles’ Web site for further information about the ABCZ system: http://jonknowles.net/index.htm
An Introduction to the Exciting Thought of a Medical Billing Career
Many have found the medical billing career to be an excellent choice for them. This particular position in the industry of health care is a very important one. The professionals that serve on the medical billing panel work to ensure that the medical professionals receive the proper compensation for the services they provide. This allows the professional medical doctors and their assistants the funding that is necessary to continue in their practices. Here, you will receive a glimpse into this exciting profession. If you have always wanted to take part in the industry that is directly responsible for optimizing the health of individuals around the world but never found an area where you feel you would fit, this may just be it!
There are many areas of billing in the medical profession. If you have ever had a medical procedure done or visited a local emergency room, you have probably received an itemized bill that details what it is that you are expected to pay when it came to the many services that you were provided during your visit. Billers that work in the medical profession focus on ensuring that each area of service is accounted for, and compensation is received for each of these services. Some examples of the areas of billing that you will work on as a biller in the health care industry include physician billing, outpatient services, inpatient services, medical equipment, pharmaceutical, home health care, emergency & rescue, and specialized departments, just to name a few.
Here is how it works: let’s say that a patient came in on an ambulance to a local emergency room with a broken leg. When handling the billing process for this particular individual as a biller, you would be required to itemize at least some of the following services. For example, emergency & rescue (the price of the ambulance and services provided in the ambulance), pharmaceutical (the cost of any and all medication that was required in the ambulance as well as in the emergency room), emergency room (the base fee of the emergency room visit, as well as any and all fees required to compensate the medical professionals).
Then, you will also need to bill for medical supplies (the cast and any other medical supplies required to mend the leg) and specialized services (such as X-rays to help confirm the break). Once you have itemized the services that the patient received on their visit, it is then your job to determine the prices for those services and bill either the patient directly or the insurance that the patient has.
Those in the medical billing career have to know and completely understand some basic items as they relate to the many medical services provided, as well as the methods of payments that most use. It is ideal that the candidate to this career understands the different types of billing in their state, as well as how medical insurance companies work when it comes to ensuring payment for medical services. State and Federal procedures regarding items of interest such as medical payments, direct payment methods, copayment, and similar terms must also be understood. Coinsurance and “copayments” must also be included in the spectrum of knowledge for the individual in medical related billing.
If you have always wanted to go into a profession in the medical career but could never find an area where you felt you would be proficient, billing may be an option. This is an exciting look into this exciting career. If you are ready to jump start your future, the medical billing career may be right for you!
About the Author: Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on medical billing and medical billing service at http://www.medicalbillingindex.com. From http://www.articlesbase.com/
WORDS OF THE MONTH
Medical Word
zwitter hypothesis: That an amphoteric molecule (e.g., an amino acid) has, at its isoelectric point, equal numbers of positive and negative charges, thus becoming a zwitterion (dipolar ion).
Legal Word
lucid interval: A brief period during which an insane person regains sanity sufficient to have the legal capacity to contract and act on his or her own behalf.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Congratulations to our new graduate Sherri C:
Hi, my name is Sherri C, and I just finished the medical coding course. I was based in Las Vegas, NV for 30 years, but now I’m living in the hill country near San Antonio, TX.
I have been in the medical field as a C.N.A, medical assistant, and medical transcriptionist—all prior to taking the coding course. I also owned my own business selling durable medical equipment and doing in home oxygen for 12 years.
A number of things interest me, from green living to vegetarian cooking. My hobbies include writing articles for animal magazines on topics of stopping animal abuse, as well as writing about primates. I enjoy vegetarian cooking, good music, and spending lots of quality time with family and friends.
Currently, I work for a local medical transcription company, but hope to start a career in medical coding since passing my exam. I also plan to get my coding certification.
I decided on Meditec due to Jari being so personable and helping me get started in transcribing through the jumpstart program, which is an awesome program, since starting a transcription career is hard without 2 years experience. I found that after completion of my transcription course at a different school it was not easy to get someone to give me that first break and Jari helped make that happen with an internship. I felt that Meditec offered more than most with helping their students to obtain work in their new field, once graduated. That is a very important thing to consider when choosing a school because the education is nothing without the opportunity to use your new skills. All in all, the staff and instructors at Meditec were very helpful with everything involving the medical coding course. The only thing that could have made the course better would have been an internship for coding also. Now I am on to making this a career. Wish me luck! Special thanks to Dawn, my instructor, Gary, the enrollment manager, and of course, Jari!
Note from Instructor Dawn Moreno: Congratulations Sherri C! You worked really hard in the coding program and it has paid off big for you. A coding internship is a great idea, and we’ll look into the possibilities of that in the future.
17.05.2010
Blog, Newsletters
What you should know about a Medical Billing Specialist
by: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager/Instructor
Whether you are a person thinking about becoming a medical billing specialist or a company looking for a medical billing specialist, then this article is for you. There are several things that you should be aware of in the medical billing industry, and I will walk you through them so you will have the background information to help you make a decision that will best suit your needs. We will first take a look at what it takes to become a medical billing specialist, and then we will explore the alternatives to hiring a medical billing specialist.
What is a Medical Billing Specialist?
A medical billing specialist is someone who works with a medical office and is in charge of the company’s medical billing. If you desire to be a medical billing specialist, then accuracy and attention to detail are a must because you will most likely be dealing with claims processing, charge entry, and billing and collections. However, most medical offices will hire someone to do more than just handling medical collections. They will want someone to be more of a medical assistant as well. Job duties will then expand to include things like:
- Accounts payable, payroll, and banking tasks
- Prepare and maintain patient charts
- Schedule appointments
- Receive and make phone calls
- Perform insurance verification and referral duties
How do I become a Medical Billing Specialist?
Most businesses will require you to either have several years of experience working as a medical assistant or some kind of advanced certification as a medical assistant. There are several programs out there to help train and educate you to become a medical billing specialist. By doing a Google search for “medical billing specialist,” you should be presented with a lot of options to guide you in becoming a certified medical billing specialist. There are programs that you can complete online and at your own pace. Others require you to attend some classes for a couple of semesters. In my search I found many of the programs to cost around $1000, but some were as much as $6500.
Is it worth it to become a Medical Billing Specialist?
The medical industry is experiencing a tremendous demand for individuals knowledgeable in medical office operations. Medical billing specialists are one of the fastest growing professions and are currently a very high demand job. According to the American Medical Association, there are over 1.2 million medical specialists in the United States. If you are interested in this kind of profession, it would be to your advantage to learn more about it.
What about outsourcing?
Because of the time and meticulous accuracy that medical billing requires, there are some companies that only specialize in being a medical billing specialist. Medical offices outsource all of their medical billing practices to these companies rather than hire an in-house specialist to manage their medical billing needs.
Is there software that can do everything a Medical Billing Specialist can do?
There is yet another solution to managing your medical billing needs. Companies such as AdvancedMD provide a software solution to be your medical billing specialist. An advantage for a medical office to go this route might be that it will be cheaper in the long run to have software to manage all of its billing needs. Also, the electronic medical billing specialist will be less prone to errors unless they are due to a human entry error.
As you can see, there are many solutions to help you better manage your medical office. There are advantages in every category; it just depends on what will best fit your office. If you are thinking about becoming a medical billing specialist, I feel that it is worth looking into as it is a very high demand job. However, you should be aware that with alternatives out there, like outsourcing and medical billing software, you might have a little competition.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com /ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mike Nielsen is a client account specialist with 10xmarketing – More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For more information, about medical billing specialist, visit www.AdvancedMD.com
Now is the Time to Become a Paralegal
by: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager/Instructor
Are you interested in legal work but not law school? You might want to consider a paralegal degree. Attorneys are ultimately responsible for the legal services they provide their clients; paralegals – also known as legal assistants – help attorneys in almost every aspect of their work. Being one of the fastest growing careers nationwide, those with paralegal training will be able to find jobs in any part of the country.
The American Bar Association (ABA) defines the role of a paralegal or legal assistant as an individual who is capable by education, training, or work experience, employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, to perform specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.
Paralegals provide valuable assistance to attorneys by helping them prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. Paralegals also assist attorneys at trials and in estate planning, as well as in drafting contracts and agreements. The valuable employees also maintain office financial records and coordinate the activities of law office employees. Their duties can also include researching legal documents, finding witnesses, getting affidavits, and tracking case files. Depending on where you choose to work, your paralegal duties can vary widely.
The most common paralegal programs are associate’s degree programs offered at community colleges or specialized schools. These are generally 2-year programs. There are also certificate programs and online paralegal programs. Certificate programs are an equally popular paralegal training option. Most certificate programs are intended for students who have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Some certificate programs only call for a high school diploma or GED for admission. Certificate programs are generally completed in several months. There are also a small number of schools that offer 4-year bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees in paralegal studies.
Paralegal degree and certificate programs usually include courses that introduce students to law and legal research methods. Some students might choose to study a specialized legal area, such as probate or real estate. Paralegals in small- to medium-sized law firms typically carry out duties that require general law comprehension. Paralegals employed by large law firms, government agencies, and corporations are generally likely to be specialized. The legal assistant/paralegal occupation is expected to grow by 33% during the first 10 years of 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With projections of growth, now is a good time to earn your paralegal credential.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com/ ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melissa Steele is a featured writer for EducationGuys.com. She offers exceptional insight into the college degree & distance learning process.
WORDS OF THE MONTH
In both the Medical and Legal fields, it is important to expand our knowledge of terminology. This section of our newsletter is dedicated to presenting a few medical and legal terms. Students or new graduates are encouraged to keep a list of unfamiliar terms in a tabbed notebook for review.
Medical Terms
1. rocker-bottom cast boot shoe: A shoe designed to help with normal gait when the foot or leg is in a cast.
2. rongeur: A strongly-constructed instrument with a sharp-edged, scoop-shaped tip, used for gouging out bone.
Legal Terms
1. Voir dire: The process of questioning potential jurors for biases.
2. Stare Decisis: The practice of deciding new cases against past decisions.
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Medical transcriptionists, medical coders, medical billers, and paralegals all use the Internet at times for research. When we find an interesting Web site, we will list it here. It is suggested that Meditec students and new graduates keep an organized list of reference links in an MS Word document or Excel file for easy and quick access.
Law Guru
Law Dictionary
US Legal Terms
http://www.m-e-dical.com/english/acat.htm -Surgical Instruments
Surgical911.com ~ Surgical Instruments- Surgical instruments
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Featuring Barb Glasgow. Barb is a recent Meditec graduate who has entered into our Jump Start Internship program. Barb graduated from the University of Cincinnati 33 years ago and started work as a secretary. She hated it except for one thing—she likes to type. Barb was perfectly happy to quit altogether and raise a family, 2 girls, now grown (She is a grandma!). After they left home, she decided to go back to her first love: animal care. She’s been working for a veterinarian for 6 years and loves it, but she realizes that she’ll never make much money working for a veterinarian.
Barb says, “I can type, and I type well. Also, I now have experience in the medical field. I’ve decided to combine the two and take medical transcription (my sister recommended Meditec.com. She took the course a few years ago).” Barb’s plan is to work part time at transcription and part time at the clinic, eventually also taking the medical coding course through Meditec. Then, when her boss at the veterinary clinic retires, she wants to work full time at transcription and coding.
Barb’s hobbies include: sewing, needlework, caring for her animals—2 cats, 2 goats, and 1 chicken.
Note from Barb’s Instructor: Barb, we are so glad that you chose Meditec for your medical transcription and medical coding training. We are also glad to have had the opportunity to train your sister. We wish you all the best in your new career!
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
You May Need A New Lawyer If:
- Your lawyer tells you that his last good case was of Budweiser.
- When the prosecutors see your lawyer, they high-five each other.
- Your lawyer picks the jury by playing “duck-duck-goose.”
- Your lawyer tells you that he has never told a lie.
- A prison guard is shaving your head.
POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH
*Your Point of Power is in the Present Moment.
* People always come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
26.04.2010
Newsletters
How to Avoid Getting Taken for Ride by School Scams
by: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager/Instructor
I read an article in BC Advantage magazine this month about an online billing school owner that enrolled numerous students, took their money, and then disappeared. Thinking about scams of this nature reminds one that diligence must be used before turning your hard-earned money over to any school.
Some tips to assist in avoiding the scams include:
1) Make sure the school you wish to attend is licensed by the state they operate in. In many cases, licensed schools must post a bond in order to become licensed and this gives students some safety and recourse if the school goes under or doesn’t follow through on their promises.
2) Check the Better Business Bureau for excessive complaints against the school.
3) Talk to current students and former graduates. Are their graduates employed and are current students happy?
4) Choose a school that has been in business many years and has stood the test of time.
In this time of recession, when people are out of work and looking for new career paths, the problem of school scams is growing. Be a wise consumer. Meditec has been in business over 40 years, is licensed by the state, and has a stellar BBB rating. Additionally, we are one of the few schools that offers an MT internship program to assist our students, and even graduates of other programs, to get working quickly.
Do your research, and choose well.
Medical Billing Service as a Home-Based Business-Is it Lucrative?
Medical billing service as a home-based business may sound like a great business idea but it is not that simple. If you are assuming that you are going to make big money from this venture, you are likely to be disappointed unless you are realistic about your expectations.
It is very important not to fall into the trap of different ads that have been posted on various sites as many of these are scams. Make sure your eyes are wide open before you decide to jump into this field of business.
Below are five keys to success:
1. Do your research. In order to make this business successful, it is important that you find out all the requirements and gain complete knowledge about this field. It is also very important to know medical terms and medical billing terminology, how to conduct transactions on the Internet, correct coding procedures and diagnosis in order to avoid any denials etc.
2. Build some experience first. Billing is very tough if you have no experience or if you haven’t worked elsewhere in this field before. So before starting your own home-based business it is advisable to gain some work experience, as the people who have successfully started their business and are doing extremely well have had traditional work experience in the field of medical billing.
3. Take the time to set up right. Setting up is a process which should be done carefully and each step has to be thoroughly analyzed before putting it into action. It is important to work in a quiet atmosphere without any interruptions. Any help you get is good. Always remember, one small mistake can cost you a big deal or even a client.
4. Expect to have to invest at first. When you initially set up this business, your expenditure will be high and you will have to attain all the required books and softwares. Don’t expect to generate high incomes right away, it will take time.
5. Don’t be shy about asking for business. Do not hesitate to go around asking health care professionals or doctors in your locality if they require your billing service. Make calls and send letters to tell them that you are ready to render your help and services. Have patience but at the same time be a little persistent and always maintain a polite attitude.
Be realistic and patient and you will see that you can turn your medical billing business dream into reality.
About the Author: Ms. Pinky is a mom of 3 school children. She is a Systems Engineer, a Technology Researcher and an Independent Medical Billing and Coding Consultant. She and her family is well-traveled all over the world. Her blogs and Web sites focus on stay-at-home moms, dads and students who wants to work at home or build home-based businesses. You can find her at Mommyisworkingathome.com. You may also want to visit her interesting site on Asian Travels and Destinations at GoingplacesinAsia.com. This article is adapted from Articlebase.com.
Is Learning Medical Coding Difficult?
by: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager/Instructor
Many prospective students who call us asking about a career in medical coding want to know if it is difficult to learn. Whereas everyone perceives levels of difficulty differently, comparably speaking learning medical coding is less difficult than learning medical transcription. Why?
Medical transcription is a wonderful work-at-home career choice but it is very skill-based. It takes a good period of time and persistence to tune your ear to the dictation. For some people this can take a few months’ time, but for others it can take up to a year. Additionally, learning to listen for the nuances in each dictator’s style takes much practice.
Conversely, medical coding is very procedural in nature. Once a student learns the basic procedures and rules concerning medical coding, then it just takes some practice to learn how to effectively put those skills to use.
Medical transcriptionists make excellent medical coders and pick up medical coding very easily because they already understand the patient medical record. MTs can easily pick out the diagnosis, procedures, and supplies used during each medical visit.
Meditec teaches medical coding using special coding reference materials that make learning to find the codes quick and easy. The typical training time to learn medical coding is about 3 months. Whereas, learning medical transcription typically takes 6 months to a year. Of course, there are variances in the “typical” training time based on how much of it is spent each week studying.
Another question that comes up frequently is this: Do I have to be good with numbers to be a medical coder? The answer to that question is emphatically NO! To be a good medical coder you need to enjoy reading the patient medical record, and understand how to apply proper coding procedure. Also, the software available, such as Alpha II, makes medical coding so much easier. In the Meditec course, the student has the option to purchase the Alpha II coding software and to use it while doing the course’s exercises. We do recommend that you do the first 100 exercises manually using only the ICD and CPT code books to get used to manually looking up the codes.
Medical coding is a great career choice. It pays well, and jobs are plentiful. The training time and expense is very reasonable as compared to other career fields. From training time to finding your first job as a medical coder could be as little as just a few months.
If you are interested in this career path, please email us at info@meditec.com and request your FREE career e-book Everything About Medical Coding & Billing.
How to Start a Home-Based Medical Transcription Business
First of all, what is the typical day in the life of a medical transcriptionist?
Basically, a medical transcriptionist listens to dictated recordings made by health care professionals such as physicians. Then, he or she transcribes them into medical reports and other correspondence. Part of the job involves editing materials and checking for inconsistencies. The transcriptionist then returns the transcribed items to the medical professional.
These transcription documents can include physical exam and operative reports, autopsies, discharge summaries, progress notes, consultations and other medical-related materials. Although fairly basic work, there are a variety of different types of documents, keeping the work interesting.
Why start a medical transcription home-based business?
The Internet has made transcription work easier and faster to complete at home. Many transcriptionists telecommute, which has sparked an interest with entrepreneurs who want to work for themselves in the comforts of their homes.
It is easy to understand why medical transcription is quickly becoming a popular home-based business. Although advanced education is not required to become a medical transcriptionist, completing a 2-year associates degree or 1-year certificate program is highly recommended. In addition, you can demonstrate a higher transcription skill level and qualification with a “designation”. You can earn the designation of a Registered Medical Transcriptionist or a Certified Medical Transcriptionist, both of which require ongoing education to pass re-certification every 3 years. This is a good selling point to clients, especially when you run your own business.
Speaking of clients, a good way to find medical transcription clients is through online medical transcription networking sites like MT Daily. You may also be able to land contract work through online job Web sites dedicated to medical transcriptionist careers such as MT Jobs.
But I am getting ahead of myself. When you start your medical transcription business, you will need transcription equipment. Initially, you will have to choose between the standard mini-cassette transcriber method and the newer digital dictation style using the Internet and your computer. This will determine the equipment you will need, such as a computer, high speed Internet connection, word-processing software, headphones, a foot pedal, copier, printer, a server and a data storage device.
Sometimes you can find great deals on eBay.com. Next, a medical dictionary is also a good item to have in your office. You can find several used dictionaries at bargain prices on Amazon.com. Lastly, as with any job where you sit and type a lot, invest in a comfortable chair and desk. You may also want to take a look at wrist support or an ergonomic keyboard. These will pay for themselves in the long run. Keep in mind that you can start small and then upgrade your equipment as your business grows. Your clients may also dictate (pardon the pun!) the type of equipment you use, depending on their needs and requests.
Addendum by Dawn Moreno: The Meditec medical transcription training course is equivalent in semester to 1 year of college time (33 semester hours). Our program is comprehensive, self-paced, and online with textbook back-up.
About the Author: Sue Barrett has been the Director of Business Solutions at Home Business Center, Inc. for over 10 years. Specializing in small and home business issues, she provides quality insight and reputable training, licensing, financing and tax resources for those wanting to start, manage and grow their own home-based medical transcription businesses. From Articlebase.com.
POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR MARCH
By: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager/Instructor
As our economy is slowly recovering, many people are finding it still difficult to get by. When things get tough, it’s easy to lose our perspective and fall into a negative cycle of thinking. This nearly always keeps that negative cycle fueled with energy and ongoing.
Remembering to take a moment to align our thoughts with positivity, faith, hope, and compassion can help us weather life’s storms. we were never promised a rose garden in life, but we do not have to bask in thorns day in and day out. Seek to find your own inner joy!
Affirmations for March
- I embrace and accept change.
- I embrace and accept new opportunities.
- I am constantly attracting new and exciting opportunities.
- I give and receive love freely.
- I forgive myself and everyone else for past mistakes.
- I am open to giving and receiving love abundantly.
MEDICAL FUNNIES:
Doctor: Nurse, how is that little girl doing who swallowed ten quarters last night?
Nurse: No change yet.
From: http://www.1millionjokes.com/jokes/87.html
Referral Program
Do you know someone who is interested in career training? Refer them to Meditec and if they enroll in our one of our programs within the next 3 months we’ll send you $100 as a thank you gift. That’s $100 for every person who enrolls – and there’s no limit to how many referrals you can make.
All you need to do is email us at info@meditec.com with their first name, last name and what state they live in (so that we can keep track of your referrals).
Returning Student Discount
As a special thank you, all past Meditec students (those not currently studying with us) will receive 25% off for any training programs in which they enroll.
This Month’s Recipe
Eggplant Parmigiana
Ingredients:
1) 2 large washed eggplants, sliced in 1/4″ thick slices
2) Flour
3) 6 Eggs
4) Oil
5) 1 large jar Ragu Spaghetti sauce
6) Mozzarella cheese – shredded 4 cups
7) Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Scramble the 6 eggs. Dip each slice of eggplant in the egg mixture, and then in the flour to bread it and set aside. Do this with each piece of the sliced eggplant. Fry each slice of eggplant in a frying pan under tender, and set aside on a paper towel lined plate (to help absorb some of the oil). Once all the eggplant slices are fried, spoon some of the spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 13×9×2 baking dish. Then add a layer of the fried eggplant, top with more sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Continue layering eggplant, sauce, and cheese until you run out of eggplant or space in the pan. Top with a layer of mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake in over preheated over at 350 degrees for approximately 30 to 45 minutes or until all the cheese is melted and it’s nice and hot all the way through. Take out of oven and let stand for 15 minutes or until slightly cooled before slicing. Serves great with garlic cheese bread or buttered french bread and a nice crunchy garden salad. Enjoy!
Variation:
You don’t have to layer the eggplant like a lasagna. You can just put some of the spaghetti sauce in the pan, and then put all the eggplant in, then top with more sauce, and cheese. Additionally, you do not have to slice the eggplant into slivers but can slice it thicker and then cut into quarters, and bread and fry it that way.
28.01.2010
Newsletters
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| Solving the Home Based Business Puzzle, How to make Money at Home, Online or Offline by Anne Talbott
Why, When, Where, What and Who can be an Entrepreneur
Why a home based business and should it be online. How to make money and how to recognize an opportunity.
One of the most important factors in starting out is to determine why you might want to make money online or have a home based business. I have found that most people beginning to get an education are very focused on the “what to do”. Even as children we are saying “when I grow up I want to be”. I have found over the course of my lifetime that “why you do anything” is a critical 1st step.
Before you decide what to do, determine why you are choosing a particular field. Are you interested in only making money? Are you pursuing a passion and don’t really care whether you make a lot of money or not. When a person is young and doesn’t have a family, maybe even still lives with their parents, then that person is sometimes disinterested in the amount of revenue available. That will change when there are car payments, mortgages, medical and dental bills, savings for college, insurance etc. So having said that, perhaps the more you can earn from invested time the better.
I suggest that you drive around different neighborhoods and decide how you want to live. What kind of car or cars do you want to drive? Do you want children or what kind of colleges do you want for the ones you already have? Do you want to travel to exotic places? Do both of you want to work? If you are a woman do you want to work after having children; do you mind if they go to baby sitters or daycare? We all have dreams and goals and want the finer things of life. So the 1st thing to do is identify why you are going to work and secondly what you are going to do. Write out a list of activities that might turn into a part time at home based business.
Why working at home might be an advantage.
A W-2 wage earner is someone who has the fewest tax deductions. A person who operates a home based business has the same tax advantage as a big business or a person who has an outside office, and many of your ongoing expenses can turn into tax deductions if you have a legitimate home based business. You must have intent to profit or it’s considered a hobby.
Consult with material from the IRS as well as a professional. I am not going to give you tax advice but suggest that you find a tax adviser who can help you set up your home based business properly. It is very important that you keep good records. Document everything; this is where a day planner is crucial.
The five W’s are important on your tax record, why you did it, who you did it with, when; the day and time of the activity, what transpired and the business reason you met and where the activity took place. This might take extra effort but is essential to your record keeping. You can go to http://www.irs.gov/ and find periodicals covering what you need to do to have a home based office as well as what constitutes a legitimate business venture and not just a hobby.
Follow my blog for further information about offline and online home based businesses. My next posts are Rants, Raves and Reviews of products I’ve investigated in my marketing adventures.
About the Author
My 40 year business experience posted on my blog. Content from GoArticles.com
Medical Transcription, Coding, & Billing as a Home-Based Business
By: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager, Instructor
From the many calls we receive each day, it is evident that many people want to know if starting an at home MT, Coding, and Billing business is a wise idea in our current economy. It is important to differentiate those that would like to work at home for someone else from those that want to start their own business. There are many jobs available for those who would like to work at home for a medical transcription service that someone else owns. There are some jobs available for those who would like to work at home doing medical coding and billing for someone else.
Because the healthcare field seldom feels the effects from a recession, jobs are plentiful and clients available for those that would like to start their own home-based business in this career field, and the start up costs are pretty reasonable compared to other businesses. The first step to starting your own MT/Coding/Billing service, or any of those individually, is to obtain quality education in each career field. Meditec offers great online combination courses that fill this need. The second step would be to gain an understanding of starting your own home-based business regarding how to find clients, marketing, contracts, taxes, accounting, start up costs, etc. Meditec offers the Home Biz-Medical book which not only covers all of these areas but also includes actual forms, contracts, and other great tools to help you be successful in your venture. The third step is to make sure you have enough capital on hand to launch out. Because you can start out slowly, taking on one client at a time, this investment is comparably small in nature. To bring on medical transcription clients you would need money for good accounting software (or a good accountant), equipment costs, and marketing costs. A couple thousand dollars would be sufficient to get started. To add medical coding and billing services, the start up costs do increase to include a good medical billing and coding software package, and clearinghouse fees. Remember that the tax write-offs for a home-based business are substantial, which adds to your bottom line.
Some Meditec students start out working for an established company, whether it is a medical transcription service or a coding/billing entity. They work at home or in house. After gaining some experience, they tend to want to cut out the middle man and get their own clients. Other graduates start their own businesses immediately upon graduation and they are well prepared to do so.
The bottom line is that the fields of medical transcription, medical coding, and medical billing offer great flexibility. One can choose to work for someone else, or they can choose to start their own home-based business.
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The Tax Savings Of Starting Your Own Business Are Too Impressive To Be Ignored
by Chintamani
If you start up a business from home, the tax deductions are impressive. If you are working a steady job outside of the home or if you’ve recently been laid off or have become unemployed, right now is an ideal time to begin a home based business of your own.
As a business owner and employer you will receive great tax benefits in the form of deductions and credits.
You can cut your taxes 30-50% by starting and operating a home based business.
There are major tax breaks available to people operating home based businesses.
Congress has decided that these breaks are necessary because home based businesses provide a safety net to Americans who might lose their jobs or face layoffs during these tough economic times.
You are not dodging taxes or tricking the Internal Revenue Service. You are taking advantage of legitimate means to minimize your tax liabilities. The congress wants you to have this incentive because they believe home based businesses will be good for the economy.
Your tax refund could grow by thousands of dollars through your home-based business. That should be enough to cover all your start up costs and leave you with 100% of what your home-based business earns.
As a home based businessperson, you have the following advantages, tax wise.
You can deduct household expenses such as mortgage interest, utilities, and home improvements.
You can get deductions for hiring your spouse and legal aged children to work for your business.
You can deduct automobile expenses if you use your car in some aspect of the business. You can even put a small sign advertising your business on your car and write off gas and travel expenses every time you use it.
Deduct your vacation if you distribute business cards where you are staying or make business contacts along the road.
Deduct meals with colleagues, even if they live with you.
You can deduct part of your phone bill, cell phone bill, and the bill from your Internet provider.
Any computer equipment like printers, monitors, routers, can be deducted as long as you are using the computer for business.
Office supply costs like pencils, pens, paper, and the furniture in your office space are tax deductible.
Marketing expenses are deductible.
Deduct the expense for trade journals.
There are many other things you can deduct, as well as receive tax credits, for operating your business from home. Look into it and see if a home based business might be your best job option for impressive tax savings.
If you are managing a home based business, there are a number of legitimate opportunities for you to reduce your taxes. If you have proper documentation, your business can save you thousands of dollars every year.
About the Author
Chintamani Abhyankar, is a well known expert in the field of finance and taxation for last 25 years. His famous Tax eBook “Stop donating your money to IRS” which is now running in its second edition, provides intricate knowledge and valuable tips on personal finance and income tax. Just visit his website http://www.planningyourtax.com/ and claim your FREE eBook.
SOMETHING NEW at Meditec!!!
MEDITEC IS NOW ON FACEBOOK AND BLOGGER:
Meditec now has pages on both Facebook and Blogger! On both pages you will find unadvertised specials on our products, services, and programs. Additionally, we will have interesting industry specific articles, news, and career information. We intend to have new medical terms, quizzes, and games as well for our students and new MTs.
Please join us! The links are below!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Layton-UT/Meditec-Learn-at-Home-to-Work-at-Home/147578657605?v=wall
http://meditechomecareer.blogspot.com/
Referral Program
Do you know someone who is interested in career training? Refer them to Meditec and if they enroll with us within the next 3 months we’ll send you $100 as a thank you gift. That’s $100 for every person who enrolls – and there’s no limit on how many referral you can make. All you need to do is e-mail us at info@meditec.com with their first name, last name and what state they live in (so that we can keep track of your referrals).
Returning Student Discount
As a special thank you, all past Meditec students (those not currently studying with us) will receive 25% off for any training programs in which they enroll. |
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POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR FEBRUARY
By: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager/Instructor
As our economy is slowly recovering, many people are still finding it difficult to get by. When things get tough, it’s easy to lose our perspective and fall into a negative cycle of thinking. This nearly always keeps that negative cycle fueled with energy and ongoing. Remembering to take a moment and align our thoughts with positivity, faith, hope, and compassion can help us weather life’s storms. Whereas we were not promised a rose garden of life, but we do not have to bask in thorns day in and day out. Seek to find your own inner joy!
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Affirmations for Joy and Happiness
- Life is a joy filled with delightful surprises
- My life is a joy filled with love, fun and friendship all I need do is stop all criticism, forgive, relax and be open.
- I choose love, joy and freedom, open my heart and allow wonderful things to flow into my life.
Affirmations for Abundance
- I prosper wherever I turn and I know that I deserve prosperity of all kinds
- The more grateful I am, the more reasons I find to be grateful
- I pay my bills with love as I know abundance flows freely through me.
Excerpted from: http://www.vitalaffirmations.com/affirmations.htm#example%20affirmations |
MEDICAL FUNNIES:
| Lethal Food |
| A dietician was once addressing a large audience in Chicago.
“The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here, years ago.
Red meat is awful. Vegetables can be disastrous, and none of us realizes the germs in our drinking water.
But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all and we all eat it. Can anyone here tell me what lethal product I’m referring to?”
“You, sir, in the first row, please give us your idea.”
The man lowered his head and said, “Wedding cake.”
Excerpted from: http://www.coolfunnyjokes.com/Funny-Jokes/Medical-Jokes/Lethal-Food.html |
This Month’s Recipes
TATER TOT CASSEROLE
□ 1 can cream of mushroom soup
□ 1 bag tater tots
□ shredded cheese
□ 1 lb of ground hamburger meat
□ serves: 6 or 7
Brown hamburger meat. Add cream of mushroom soup and stir together continuously.
Let simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.
Place mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish. Lay tater tots neatly on top of the mixture.
Place in oven on 350′ and let the tater tots brown.
Sprinkle with cheese; melt it in the oven and ENJOY.
(Side note from Dawn M: You could add a little sour cream to the cream of mushroom soup for a bit more “zip” to this recipe).
Submitted by: Danielle Watson
Excerpted from COOKS.COM
01.11.2009
Newsletters
Alpha II and Meditec Announce New Contract
Real-life clinical scenarios have been added by Meditec to enhance Alpha II’s user manual and Meditec will continue to encourage coding students to learn the Alpha II software for coding system. See the full press release here.
In 1999, Meditec began using Unicor Medical’s Easy Coder ICD-9CM in its training programs, and was excited to add the Alpha II software when it became available, both for practice management and for its coding-billing training process. Under the terms of the new agreement, Meditec has been confirmed as fully authorized reseller of Alpha II’s Coding System application.
The Alpha II technology solutions support coding, compliance, claims editing and revenue analysis for more than 30,000 healthcare professionals at medical practices, hospitals and health systems, clinics, billing services, outpatient facilities and other healthcare organizations, both commercial and governmental. The Alpha II software product offered by Meditec is available as either a free trial subscription while training, or may be purchased as a user license for one or more use.
SOMETHING NEW at Meditec.com!!!
MEDITEC IS NOW ON FACEBOOK AND BLOGGER:
We finally did it…social networked. Meditec now has pages on both Facebook and BlogSpot Blogger! On both pages you will find unadvertised specials on our products, services, and programs. Additionally, we will have interesting industry specific articles, news, and career information. We intend to have new medical terms, quizzes, and games as well for our students and new MTs. Please join us! The links are below!
FaceBook
Blogger
Medical Billing Software
There are many aspects to consider when comparing medical billing software. Before deciding which package is right for you or your provider, it is important to determine what features you need, and to research the various medical billing applications that fall within your budget to see how they match up.
Though the main purpose of medical billing software is to manage patient records, there are a host of related features available that can help to make the job much easier. One such feature is the ability for multiple users to access the same record simultaneously. This allows staff to update insurance and billing information while the physician meets with the patient and simultaneously may access the patient chart.
Another feature included in many medical billing software applications is remote access. This allows doctors and other medical professionals to access patient records from a location outside the office. This can be useful in situations where it is necessary to obtain information quickly and easily. If the provider wants to access information at home, s/he can. If the work piles up and a staff member has permission to do it from home, that works too.
Prescription handling is another important feature. It can not only automate cross-checking for harmful drug interaction, but can also automatically transmit prescriptions to the pharmacy. This is of great benefit to the patient, and can help eliminate confusion since there is communication between the pharmacy and the provider.
When choosing new medical billing software, check to be sure that information can be easily entered. Among the many questions to ask the vendor are:
- Is this process intuitive?
- Can you skip certain sections if they do not apply to certain patient situations?
- Are you allowed to include non-standard information?
Other important factors relate to the level of automation and ease of use. If you are unable to quickly and easily find specific information about a patient, you might want to consider a different application. You should also make sure the various screens are easy to understand and navigate.
There are many medical billing software applications from which to choose, so don’t be wowed by the bells and whistles. Remember, every sales person will tell you theirs has the features you need and is right for your company. Stay focused on the features that are most important to your facility, and always keep your entire staff in mind before choosing the application that will best suit your needs.
Meditec staff have researched many (and used various in their own business management), so here is a list (of just a few) for you to check out:
http://www.meditec.com/medical-billing-software.html
Source (adapted from): http://www.articlecircle.com/ – Free Articles Directory
Denials and Delays in Your Medical Billing Claims
Are you wary about fighting a denial on your medical billing claim? Don’t be. Sometimes medical billing claims are denied for legitimate reasons and other times a claim that should have been approved might be denied payment. Once in a great while your staff may miscode an item because they simply are not up to date on the CPT and ICD-9-CM rules and just plain old human error will factor in now and again.
Appealing a claim you feel should have been reimbursed is the way to maximize the revenue into your practice. Many practices lose great sums of income every year because they don’t appeal denied claims due to either staff constraints or they simply didn’t do it. Sometimes those claims get filed away by your staff with the good intention of handling them later but with day to day goings on, later just seems to be pushed further and further away and then your window for appealing a claim denial is gone.
Most denials can be grouped into a few categories:
- Recording errors – simple mistakes like an incorrect insurance number or a mistyped date of birth can be all it takes to get a claim kicked back.
- Coding errors – these will sneak through now and then even with all the checks and balances.
- Processing errors such as incompatible edits.
Delays in medical billing are another issue that will cost your practice a lot of money. Delays can happen due to not getting a preapproval on a procedure or DME item. It also can happen when you forget to include documentation such as time line or medical necessity. Delays in payment due to errors are frustrating. They cost time and money in the form of someone on your staff will have put whatever they are doing aside and research the claim, pull files and resubmit.
Source (adapted from): http://www.articlecircle.com/ – Free Articles Directory
POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR NOVEMBER
“Nothing on earth can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”
- Thomas Jefferson
“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
- Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi
Source: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/4-24-2006-94315.asp
MEDICAL FUNNIES:
Two Patients…
Two patients limp into two different hospitals with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement.
The FIRST patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for surgery the following week.
The SECOND sees his family doctor after waiting 3 weeks for an appointment, then waits 8 weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn’t reviewed for another week and finally has his surgery scheduled for a month from then.
Why the different treatment for the two patients?
The FIRST is a Golden Retriever.
The SECOND is a Senior Citizen.
Next time take me to a vet!
WOOF*
Source: http://www.medijokes.com/hospital-patients.php
This Month’s Recipe
This month it’s about quick and easy! Since we have a holiday that includes a big well thought out meal, the beginning and mid-month dinners can be simpler. Here are a few simple recipes that are fast and tasty.
Scalloped Potato Casserole
- 3-4 boxes of your favorite Scalloped potatoes
- Add 2 lbs of cooked ground beef, sausage, or chopped ham
- Add 1 bag frozen chopped broccoli
Zatarains Dirty Rice
- 3-4 boxes of Zatrains Dirty Rice
- Add 2 pounds of cooked ground beef or sausage
- Serve with a cooked vegetable
Mexican Cornbread Casserole
- 1 package of Marie Callendar’s Mexican Style cornbread mix (just add water).
- 1 package of precooked Johnsonville Smoke Brats (cut lengthwise, then lengthwise again, then horizontally into thirds).
- Mix up the cornbread, add the brats. Cook as per package instructions.
- When done, top with slices of Velveeta cheese and bake until melted.
- Serve w/ dollop of sour cream on top.
- Variation: Add a can of drained Mexican style corn, and 1 small can of drained black beans to cornbread mix before baking.
Holiday Cranberry Sauce: Fast and Easy!
- 2 cans of whole cranberries cranberry sauce –Ocean Spray is really good
- 1 large can of mandarin oranges.
Drain the oranges, and mix all the cans together, stirring really well. This is fast and delicious!
By Meditec Instructor: Dawn Moreno
We at Meditec at are very thankful for the wonderful year that we have enjoyed in 2009 and we’d like to express our gratitude by extending our October cash discounts through the month of November. And, to all of you, HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
877.335.4072
