Medical Transcriptionist
(Software included)

Your at-home learning program offers courses designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you’ll employ in your new career in Medical Transcription. Your first Instruction Set will be sent to you as soon as your enrolment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.

In order to complete this program, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows®-based computer (running Windows Vista® or later), a current version of Microsoft® Office, and the Internet in order to complete your program with ICS Canada.

Here is an overview of what you’ll learn and the order in which you’ll receive your learning materials:

Instruction Set 1

• Learning Strategies
  • Successful studying methods; creating effective and efficient study tools; using study tools to improve your chances of success.
• Introduction to Health Care
  • History of medicine; health care in Canada; medical insurance and third-party payers; technology in health care; role of health information management professionals in health care; working in health information management; professional organizations.

Instruction Set 2

• Interpersonal Communication Skills
  • Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, evaluating, and terminating employees; legal and medical issues; privacy issues.
• Administrative Office Procedures
  • Task management; general business machines; telephone call management; business letter writing; electronic and print mail processing.
• Math for The Office Professional
  • Whole numbers; fractions; decimals; percents and percentages; calculating income; gross pay versus net pay; hourly wages.

Instruction Set 3

• Law and Ethics in Allied Health
  • Legal and ethical issues in the delivery of health care; the parts of tort and contract law that affect health care delivery; broad ideas concerning the functioning of the
    legal system.
• Confidentiality in Allied Health
• Basis of the confidentiality of health-care information collected; the laws regulating health-care information collected and maintained; how management of medical
  information affects the management.

Instruction Set 4

• First Steps in Using a Computer
  • How to start up and shut down a computer; using the keyboard and mouse to navigate the system; basic computer setup.
• Using Windows®
  • Windows® operations, including start-up; using Windows® accessories; using desktop commands; using Windows® Explorer.
• Internet Basics
• Commonly used browsers; how to use a browser; bookmarking; downloading files; receiving and sending email; search engines; plug-in and helper applications.
• Microsoft® Word
• Introducing Microsoft® Office Word; formatting; graphics and tables; themes, building blocks and mail merge.
• Microsoft® Excel®
• Basic elements and fundamentals; working with formulas and functions; working with charts and graphics; using and analyzing table data.

Instruction Set 5

• Using the Parts of Speech
  • A description of the parts of a sentence; how to use the parts of speech to write effectively; subject-verb agreement; use of the active voice; effective use of modifiers; producing correct, polished writing for business; common grammatical problems.
• Punctuation and Capitalization
  • Descriptions of punctuation marks and the purpose of each; using punctuation to properly document research sources; rules of capitalization.
• Writing Sentences and Paragraphs
  • Writing complete, correctly structured sentences and unified, coherent paragraphs; sentence length and variety; avoiding run-ons and fragments; constructing organized paragraphs.
• Improving Your Writing
  • Using particular patterns of organization, content, and language to most effectively convey a specific idea to a specific audience; revising, editing, and proofreading.
• Types of Business Writing
  • Composing clear, courteous, and complete messages; formatting and etiquette for letters, email, memos, and forms.

Instruction Set 6

• Introduction to Medical Terminology
  • Common root words, prefixes and suffixes; determining the meaning of a medical term by analyzing its parts.
• Cellular Anatomy/Integumentary and Musculoskeletal Systems
  • Introduction to medical terminology; chemistry/ laboratory; pharmacology; cells, tissues, and membranes; integumentary system; musculoskeletal system; blood and cardiovascular system; respiratory system; digestive system.
• Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Digestive Systems
  • Structure and circulation; electrical conduction; major blood circuits; blood; cardiovascular and blood diseases; tests and procedures of the cardiovascular system and blood; anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system; breathing; disorders of the respiratory system; tests and procedures of the respiratory system; tissues of the GI tract; organs of the digestive system; pathology of the digestive system; tests and procedures of the digestive tract.

Instruction Set 7

• Sensory Organs, Nervous System, and Endocrine System
  • Sense organs; nervous system; endocrine system; urinary/excretory system; male and female reproductive systems; lymphatic system; oncology and radiation; surgery and pathology; genetics.
• Excretory, Reproductive, and Immune System
  • Anatomy and physiology of excretory, reproductive, and lymphatic systems; pathology of the urinary, reproductive, and lymphatic systems; tests and procedures of the urinary, reproductive, and lymphatic systems.
• Medical Specialties
  • Oncology; radiology and nuclear medicine; surgery and pathology; genetics.

Instruction Set 8

• Prescribers of Drugs
  • Professionals who are licensed to prescribe medications; types of medications prescribed.
• Drug Information Sources
  • Types of professional pharmacy literature and delivery methods; official compendia required by law in pharmacies; common drug information sources.
• Drug Classifications: Body Systems
  • Understanding the basics of pharmacology; understanding drug use; understanding prescriptions; drugs classified according to body system.

Instruction Set 9

• Medical Transcription 1
  • Technical and legal aspects of medical transcription; career opportunities available in the field; transcribing and formatting various types of medical records; hands-on
    practical exercises in medical transcription with emphasis on spelling, word usage, punctuation, sentence structure, format, and appearance.
• Textbook: Medical Transcription: Fundamentals and Practices
• Learning Aid: Foot Pedal and Software

Instruction Set 10

• Medical Transcription 1
  • An introduction to the technical and legal aspects of medicaltranscription as well as career opportunities available in thefield. The student will transcribe and format various types ofmedical records.
• Learning Lab 2
  • “Hands-on” practical exercise in medical transcription withemphasis on spelling, word usage, punctuation, sentencestructure, format, and appearance.
• Textbook: Hillcrest Medical Center Workbook
• Online Supplements:
  • HIV/AIDS Awareness
  • Hillcrest Workbook Answer Key
• Learning Aid:
  • Online Audio File: Hillcrest Cases and Quality-Care Reports
  • Foot Pedal and Software

Online Library and Librarian
Students in ICS Canada have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with ICS Canada.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.