Medical Transcriptionist Diploma

To prepare students for an entry-level career in medical transcription.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Transcribe and interpret the dictation into diagnostic test results, operative reports, referral letters, and other documents
• Review and edit drafts prepared by speech recognition software, ensuring that the transcription is correct, complete, and has a consistent style
• Translate medical abbreviations and jargon into the appropriate long form
• Identify inconsistencies, errors, and missing information within a report that could compromise patient care
• Follow up with the healthcare provider to ensure the accuracy of the reports
• Submit health records for physicians to approve
• Follow patient confidentiality guidelines and legal documentation requirements
• Perform quality improvement audits

The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.

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.

Examine civil and criminal law, sources of law, and the steps of litigation; Distinguish between liability, negligence, and malpractice and explain how they relate to health care professionals; Explain defenses against medical malpractice and against criminal charges.

Identify the various ethical issues that health care professionals face; Discuss contemporary medical issues such as medical care access, experimentation, paternalism and autonomy, and organ transplants; Discuss ethical issues regarding death, the right to die, and assisted suicide.

Explain the uses and content of medical records; Describe the legal significance of confidentiality obligations, Explain the core concepts of HIPAA’s final Privacy Rule; Summarize the role of peer review in confidentiality issues; Describe confidentiality and security issues related to electronic medical records.

Office finance concepts; income; expenses; the computer and office finances; banking procedures.

Introductions to medical insurance; types of insurance; insurance terminology; the insurance claim process; specific insurance carriers.

Identify and name decimal place values; Convert measurements in the metric system and for foreign currencies; Identify prefixes of the metric system; Use percent to calculate percent increase or decrease, interest rate, sales tax, discounts, shipping charges, and base price; Identify the six steps for problem solving; Calculate the following values: three types of averages, deductions from a paycheck, and simple and compound interest.

Identify and use parts of speech; Demonstrate knowledge of the elements of sentence structure; Explain and identify subject-verb agreement; Identify and correct grammatical errors in sentences; Use end marks, commas, and other common punctuation marks; Use capitalization correctly.

Identify the correct way to answer and place interoffice, long-distance, and conference calls; List and describe at least six components of effective oral communication; Identify the correct way to process incoming and outgoing mail; Process routine information requests and correspondence; Assist in writing well-structured letters that are professional in appearance; Correctly format, compose, and address business letters; Describe the purpose and format of memos; Identify the correct way to organize an email message; Explain safe and effective uses of email.

Create new Word™ documents and Excel® spreadsheets; Edit and format existing documents and spreadsheets; Add graphics and tables to Word™ documents; Create charts; Use formulas and functions.

Explain how root words (and their combining forms), prefixes, and suffixes function in medical terms; Define many of the most common roots, prefixes, and suffixes; Determine the meaning of a given medical term by analyzing its parts; Identify the anatomical position and directional terms, as well as the three planes, four quadrants, and nine regions of the body; Describe the body sciences of nutrition and homeostasis; Describe the organization and formation of the human body from cells to body systems.

Explain the anatomy and function of the integumentary system and musculoskeletal system; List diseases of the integumentary and musculoskeletal systems; Identify tests and procedures to diagnose and treat diseases of the integumentary and musculoskeletal systems; Use combining forms to build and analyze terms related to cellular anatomy, the integumentary system, and the musculoskeletal system.

Explain the anatomy and function of the hematic, lymphatic, immune, and cardiovascular systems; List diseases of the hematic, lymphatic, immune, and cardiovascular systems; Identify tests and procedures to diagnose and treat diseases of the hematic, lymphatic, immune, and cardiovascular systems; Use combining forms to build and analyze terms related to the of the hematic, lymphatic, immune, and cardiovascular systems.

Explain the anatomy and function of the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems; List the diseases of the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems; Identify tests and procedures to diagnose and treat diseases of the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems; Use combining forms to build and analyze terms related to the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems.

Explain the anatomy and function of the endocrine, reproductive and excretory systems; List diseases of the endocrine, reproductive, and excretory systems; Identify tests and procedures to diagnose and treat diseases of the endocrine, reproductive, and excretory systems; Use combining forms to build and analyze terms related to the endocrine, reproductive, and excretory systems.

This course is designed to help you understand the reimbursement process and the various methodologies involved. You’ll be introduced to billing cycles and how health information technology is used in medical offices, and learn about basic accounting transaction terminology and apply this information to enter patient charges and payments.

Explain the anatomy and function of the sensory organs; List diseases of the sensory organs; Identify tests and procedures to diagnose and treat diseases of the sensory organs and the nervous system; Use combining forms to build and analyze terms related to the sensory organs; Differentiate between tumor types and explain how cancer develops; Classify cancers and describe the major methods of cancer treatment; Identify radiographic procedures and outline the types and uses of nuclear medicine tests; Summarize surgical methods and pathological processes; Describe the application of genetics to the study of diseases.

Define the basic elements of pharmacology; Understand basics of drug regulation agencies and enforcement.

Identify common drugs, drug names, drug references, routes and forms of drug administration, and drug classification related to body systems; Define drug action and effect according to specific classifications.

Define the basic elements of pathology.

Identify tests and procedures to diagnose and treat diseases of body systems; Identify basic surgical procedures.

In this course, you will be introduced to the medical transcription field and learn how to transcribe and edit a variety of reports.

Objectives:

• Explain the tools that medical transcriptionists use
• Proofread, make corrections to, and conduct quality assurance for transcribed reports
• Proofread and edit transcribed documents for correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, usage, and formats
• Transcribe numbers, figures, and abbreviations
• Prepare various types of transcribed medical documents and reports, such as outpatient medical chart notes, daily progress notes, history and physical examination reports, discharge summaries, operative reports, consultation reports, pathology reports, radiology and imaging reports, autopsy reports, medicolegal reports, and psychiatric reports

Textbook: Medical Transcription: Techniques and Procedures, 7th Edition

In this course, you will use online simulations to continue practicing how to transcribe and edit a variety of medical and business documents and reports.

Objectives:

• Compose letters and business documents, such as emails, memos, agendas, minutes, and policies
• Examine legal and ethical issues associated with medical transcription
• Use reference books to look up correct medical spelling, the correct spelling of medications and drugs, and the correct dictation of laboratory terms and values
• Contemplate and plan your future career as a medical transcriptionist