Online Medical Coding & Transcription Degree Programs

Looking for a hot health care career? You might be interested in medical coding or transcription because of potential telecommuting opportunities, or maybe because you have a good eye for detail. Whatever your reason, career opportunities should be excellent: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in the field is expected to grow faster than average, increasing by 14 percent from 2006 to 2016.

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Medical Coding and Transcription Career Training

Medical coding transcription professionals assist physicians', hospitals, laboratories, and clinics in documenting interactions between health care professionals and their patients. Often, transcriptionists will listen to recorded transactions as dictated by doctors, laboratory personnel, or other health care practitioners, transcribing the vital information into medical reports, inter-office correspondence, and procedure findings.

Transcriptions are typed or coded into specialized reporting software, which then is used to create medical histories, diagnoses, lab and imaging results, consultation and referral letters, discharge summaries, patient instructions, and procedure descriptions used in billing.

Vital Skills for Transcriptionists

While demand for transcriptionists is rising, the BLS points out that the job opportunities will be best for professionals with experience and certification.

Because of the technical orientation of the work and patient sensitivity, transcriptionists must learn to format documents swiftly and accurately. Coursework may cover the use of digital and analog dictation equipment and sophisticated medical reporting software used in the industry.

You can train in vocational schools, community colleges, or through online degree programs, via a one-year certificate program or two-year associate's degree. Whichever you choose, your coursework will include the following:

  • Medical terminology
  • Anatomy
  • Legal issues
  • Health care documentation
  • Grammar and punctuation
  • Speech recognition software
  • Computer operation and the Internet
  • Patient ethics and communication
  • Office procedures and protocol

Programs also might include supervised on-the-job training.

Medical Transcription Salary and Career Options

About 41 percent of all working transcriptionists and coders work in hospitals, with another 29 percent employed directly in physicians' offices. Others work at outpatient care centers, medical and diagnostic laboratories, business support companies, and offices of speech therapists, audiologists, physical and occupational therapists. While hospitals are expected to remain strong sources of employment, many jobs will open with larger clinics and multiple-physician offices where record-keeping practices are subject to ongoing standardization.

Career growth will be sparked by an ever-aging American population requiring health care and, accordingly, increased documentation of medical procedures.

Progressively more employers allow transcriptionists to work from their homes, provided they have demonstrated their skills though practical experience. Work-at-home transcriptionists use the Internet to download dictations or documents that need formatting, returning their completed work online. Additional coursework in business can facilitate operating an at-home office for medical coding and transcription. The BLS reports that many transcriptionists can advance into consulting, teaching, or supervisory positions with additional training.

According to the BLS, hourly earnings for transcriptionists were $15.02 in 2007, with top-end salaries surpassing $44,000 a year.

Pursue your Medical Coding & Transcription degree today…

Allied Health Institute

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Allied Health Institute is a post-secondary vocational school offering a variety of Diploma and Associate Degree programs in the field of Allied Health. By utilizing online learning, students have the flexibility to continue their education from the convenience of their own home. Our virtual classrooms will enable students to attend classes and communicate with instructors and classmates. Students can complete some programs without leaving their current employment or sacrificing family time.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Medical Coding Specialist
  • Medical Office Assistant
Westwood College

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Westwood College is an institution of higher learning dedicated to providing quality, career-focused undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to launch, enhance, or change careers.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Diploma - Medical Insurance Coding and Billing
  • Associate Degree - Medical Insurance Coding and Billing
Ultimate Medical Academy Online

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Boost your career with an education from Ultimate Medical Academy Online.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Medical Billing and Coding - Diploma
  • Medical Billing and Coding - Associates
Virginia College

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Set your career in motion at Virginia College.

Visit www.vconline.edu
Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • AS - Healthcare Reimbursement
  • AS - Medical Office Administration
Fortis Institute

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Get the skills and training you need for a great career at Fortis Institute. * Programs vary by location * Please contact each individual campus for accreditation information * Fortis Institute- Indianapolis advertising code is AC-0163.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Medical Billing and Coding
  • Medical Administrative Assistant
Allied Schools

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Whether you want to train for a new career, advance within your current company, or simply learn new skills to stay competitive in today's job market, Allied's distance education training can help!

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Medical Transcription
  • Medical Billing
Kaplan University

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Advance your career with an online degree from Kaplan University.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • AAS in Medical Transcription
  • AAS in Medical Office Management