Help for the Medical Transcriptionist

Tips for Doing Medical Transcription at Home

• Many women who do medical transcription are at home all day alone, without the benefit of being surrounded by co-workers. Be careful about answering the door for just anyone who knocks! It is your privilege not to open the door to strangers!
• One of the best things you can do for yourself, if you are going to be typing long-term, is to get an ergonomic keyboard.
• A good set of references -- either books or computer resources -- will be invaluable.

Want To Be A Good Medical Transcriptionist?

How To Be A Medical Transcriptionist

Help With Medical Abbreviations

• Acidic or ascitic. Acidic pertains to pH. Ascitic pertains to ascites in the abdomen.
• Bizarre or bazaar. Weird behavior is bizarre. A church yard sale is a bazaar.
• BNP or BMP. BNP is brain natriuretic peptide, which is a test that helps assess lung/heart status, for things like congestive heart failure. BMP is basic metabolic panel (or basic metabolic profile) which includes sodium, potassium, chloride, etc.
• Nuchal or knuckle. Nuchal pertains to the neck. Knuckles are on the hands.
• Do you know the difference between "lead" and "led?" He "led" me there! "Lead" me to the room. It has "lead" in it!
• Make sure you don't make this typo: "does" instead of "dose" or vice versa.
• Do you know the difference between ileum and ilium? Ileum pertains to intestines, ilium to bones.

My Best Recommendation For Help With Medical Abbreviations

Medical Abbreviations: 28,000 Conveniences at the Expense of Communication and Safety (Medical Abbreviations)

Some Good Reference Sites:

Oncology:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/cancer/druglistframe.htm
http://www.chemocare.com/bio
Cancer.Org
Rx List - Great site for looking up meds
Types of Lymphoma--At ehealthmd

MT message boards

MT Stars

These Could Have Been Bloopers

A foreign dictationist I work for says "short-term rehab" but it sounds for all the world like "shot gun rehab." Talk about recovering under pressure!