Program Overview

Career Step has been a leader in medical transcription education for almost 20 years and offers two medical transcription education programs: our premier program, Medical Transcription Editor, and Medical Transcription.

• Medical Transcription Editor is built on Career Step's trusted Medical Transcription program and trains you as both a medical transcriptionist and a medical transcription editor, preparing you for the future of the industry.
• Medical Transcription is designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to smoothly transition to the workplace as a medical transcriptionist.

Both of these programs offer you 24/7 online access to all program materials, providing the flexibility to study on your own schedule and at your own pace.

Medical Transcription Editor Syllabus
The Medical Transcription Editor online training program consists of 23 modules, or course subjects. The modules you will study in the program are as follows:

• Program Orientation

  This module provides an overview of training components, instruction on how to navigate the program, and tips and resources for getting the most out of the training program. A syllabus is included, outlining the learning objectives for each module in the program. Information on navigating, using the features and functions of the online program, and understanding tests and feedback is presented. Skills necessary to become a successful medical transcription editor are outlined. The available resources are also presented along with a detailed study guide designed to enable a successful learning experience.

• Medical Transcription Editing Industry

  This module introduces the student to the dynamic, growing medical transcription editing industry. This module will cover industry trends, speech recognition operations, and medical transcription editors' roles and responsibilities.

• Technology and the Medical Professional

  In this module, the student will become familiar with basic computer skills, including the use of hardware, software, peripherals, and wireless technology; use of the internet as a resource; and use of various methods for data storage and networking. The student will also study the multiple software and hardware products developed specifically for the healthcare environment.

• Keyboard Kinetics

  This module teaches the student keyboard basics–which fingers are supposed to touch which keys–and helps the student gain efficiency on the keyboard.

• Medical Word Building

  This module teaches medical word building, including root words, combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes.

• Grammar and Punctuation

  This module is a refresher of basic English grammar and punctuation rules. Upon completion, the student will be able to recognize and identify proper usage, language, and punctuation.

• Anatomy, Pathophysiology, and Disease Processes – Block 1

  In the first block of Anatomy and Disease, the student will learn basic anatomical structures, specifically studying the skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Disease entities, diagnosis, and treatment will also be emphasized as the student is introduced to pathophysiology and disease processes. Throughout this module, illustrations of the various systems and structures will be included to increase student understanding.

• Anatomy, Pathophysiology, and Disease Processes – Block 2

  In the second block of Anatomy and Disease, the student will learn basic anatomical structures, specifically studying the urinary, cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous, and integumentary/sensory systems. The student will also study organs of the body in this module. As in the previous Anatomy module, pathophysiology and disease processes will be emphasized, including disease entities, diagnosis, and treatment.

• Mastering Medical Language

  This module helps the student understand the specialized vocabulary used by healthcare providers and familiarizes the student with a variety of nuances specific to medical language. Specifically, this module will cover word differentiation, abbreviations, plurals, foreign terms, slang, and jargon in medical language.

• Pharmacology

  This module introduces the student to the science of pharmacology and provides an overview of drug actions and effects, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, drug classifications, and formularies. This module also provides the opportunity for the student to see and reference pharmaceutical terms and commonly prescribed drugs in the context of medical reports.

• Healthcare Documentation

  This module provides the student with an overview of healthcare documentation, including documentation types, report components, and formatting. The student will become familiar with healthcare documentation standards, HIPAA compliance regulations, and the adaptation of the electronic health record (EHR) in institutions throughout the United States and the world. Upon completion, the student will understand the role of the medical transcription editor in maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the medical record.

• Diagnostic Reports

  This module exposes the student to diagnostic reports. The student will take an in-depth look at emergency medicine, physical medicine, radiology, and pathology. Each unit will contain terminology, headings, exercises, and sample reports.

• Focus on Medical Specialties

  This module introduces the student to the various types of reports medical transcription editors work with, providing an opportunity to study reports from every major medical specialty. This module will expose the student to specialty-specific information, including terminology, abbreviations, types of reports, and document formatting through sample reports, varied exercises, targeted curriculum, and word lists.

• Midterm Exam

  This module provides an opportunity for self-assessment after completion of the objective modules and before moving on to the practical components of the training program.

• Introduction to Transcription

  This module smooths the transition from the objective portion of the course to the practical transcription portion. Transcription tips, exercises, and a brief preparatory transcription practicum will prepare the student for the subsequent transcription practicum modules.

• Transcription Clinic Notes

  This practicum module provides experience transcribing authentic clinic note dictation. This module is made up of a variety of clinic notes and progress notes across various specialties including, but not limited to, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary (GU), neurology, OB/GYN, oncology, orthopedics, podiatry, family medicine, and primary care.

• Transcription Basic Acute Care

  This practicum module provides experience following account instructions while transcribing authentic acute care dictation files. This module is made up of basic hospital reports, including radiology, emergency room (ER), discharge summaries, operative reports, procedure notes, consultations, and history and physicals.

• Transcription Advanced Acute Care

  This practicum module exposes students to various account instructions and acute care files with a high level of difficulty. The module is broken into an in-depth account instructions unit, verbatim instructions unit, radiology unit, complex account instructions unit, and an extremely advanced acute care unit. All dictation is authentic, and the full spectrum of dictator accents and dictation style is covered. The practicum files cover radiology reports, operative reports, consultations, history and physicals, ER reports, discharge summaries, procedure notes, and progress notes.

• Editing Theory

  This module introduces the student to the fundamentals of speech recognition and medical transcription editing theory. Specifically, this module will encompass the speech recognition draft and its components, efficiency in the editing process, and the various errors to be aware of when editing.

• Editing Technique

  This module teaches the student to use speech recognition software. The student becomes familiar with keyboard shortcuts and basic use of the software as well as advanced skills such as editing during playback. Practice editing authentic medical reports prepares the student for the editing practicum modules.

• Editing Clinic Notes

  This practicum module provides experience editing authentic clinic note dictation. This module is made up of a wide variety of clinic notes and progress notes across various specialties including, but not limited to, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastrointestinal (GI), OB/GYN, oncology, orthopedics, nephrology, and family medicine.

• Editing Acute Care

  This practicum module provides experience editing authentic acute care dictation files. This module is made up of basic hospital reports including ER, discharge summaries, operative reports, procedure notes, consultations, and history and physicals.

• Final Exam Preparation

  Upon completion of the program, students will have the opportunity to assess their skills through a final exam. This module contains information about the structure of the exam, tips for passing it, and how to schedule a time to take it.

Medical Transcription Syllabus
Because the Medical Transcription course provides the foundation for the Medical Transcription Editor program, all of the curriculum material included in the Medical Transcription program is also in the Medical Transcription Editor program. The program syllabi are very similar; however, the Medical Transcription course does not include any of the editing modules.

• Program Orientation

  This module provides an overview of training components, instruction on how to navigate the program, and tips and resources for getting the most out of the training program. A syllabus is included, outlining the learning objectives for each module in the program. Information on navigating, using the features and functions of the online program, and understanding tests and feedback is presented. Skills necessary to become a successful medical transcriptionist are outlined. The available resources are also presented along with a detailed study guide designed to enable a successful learning experience.

• Technology and the Medical Professional

  In this module, the student will become familiar with basic computer skills, including the use of hardware, software, peripherals, and wireless technology; use of the internet as a resource; and use of various methods for data storage and networking. The student will also study the multiple software and hardware products developed specifically for the healthcare environment.

• Keyboard Kinetics

  This module teaches the student keyboard basics–which fingers are supposed to touch which keys–and helps the student gain efficiency on the keyboard.

• Medical Word Building

  This module teaches medical word building, including root words, combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes.

• Grammar and Punctuation

  This module is a refresher of basic English grammar and punctuation rules. Upon completion, the student will be able to recognize and identify proper usage, language, and punctuation.

• Anatomy, Pathophysiology, and Disease Processes – Block 1

  In the first block of Anatomy and Disease, the student will learn basic anatomical structures, specifically studying the skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Disease entities, diagnosis, and treatment will also be emphasized as the student is introduced to pathophysiology and disease processes. Throughout this module, illustrations of the various systems and structures will be included to increase student understanding.

• Anatomy, Pathophysiology, and Disease Processes – Block 2

  In the second block of Anatomy and Disease, the student will learn basic anatomical structures, specifically studying the urinary, cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous, and integumentary/sensory systems. The student will also study organs of the body in this module. As in the previous Anatomy module, pathophysiology and disease processes will be emphasized, including disease entities, diagnosis, and treatment.

• Mastering Medical Language

  This module helps the student understand the specialized vocabulary used by healthcare providers and familiarizes the student with a variety of nuances specific to medical language. Specifically, this module will cover word differentiation, abbreviations, plurals, foreign terms, slang, and jargon in medical language.

• Pharmacology

  This module introduces the student to the science of pharmacology and provides an overview of drug actions and effects, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, drug classifications, and formularies. This module also provides the opportunity for the student to see and reference pharmaceutical terms and commonly prescribed drugs in the context of medical reports.

• Healthcare Documentation

  This module provides the student with an overview of healthcare documentation, including documentation types, report components, and formatting. The student will become familiar with healthcare documentation standards, HIPAA compliance regulations, and the adaptation of the electronic health record (EHR) in institutions throughout the United States and the world. Upon completion, the student will understand the role of the medical transcription editor in maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the medical record.

• Diagnostic Reports

  This module exposes the student to diagnostic reports. The student will take an in-depth look at emergency medicine, physical medicine, radiology, and pathology. Each unit will contain terminology, headings, exercises, and sample reports.

• Focus on Medical Specialties

  This module introduces the student to the various types of reports medical transcriptions work with, providing an opportunity to study reports from every major medical specialty. This module will expose the student to specialty-specific information, including terminology, abbreviations, types of reports, and document formatting through sample reports, varied exercises, targeted curriculum, and word lists.

• Midterm Exam

  This module provides an opportunity for self-assessment after completion of the objective modules and before moving on to the practical components of the training program.

• Perfect the Text

  In this module you will improve your editing skills by reviewing common proofreading problem areas, including commonly misspelled words, fragments and run-on sentences, punctuation, capitalization, incorrect words, and sloppy dictation.

• Introduction to Transcription

  This module smooths the transition from the objective portion of the course to the practical transcription portion. Transcription tips, exercises, and a brief preparatory transcription practicum will prepare the student for the subsequent transcription practicum modules.

• Clinic Notes

  This practicum module provides experience transcribing authentic clinic note dictation. This module is made up of a variety of clinic notes and progress notes across various specialties including, but not limited to, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary (GU), neurology, OB/GYN, oncology, orthopedics, podiatry, family medicine, and primary care.

• Enhancing Productivity

  This module provides you information and exercises for tracking and improving productivity, along with tips for preparing to be productive on the job after graduation. This module also includes extensive descriptions of productivity tools, software commonly used in the medical transcription industry, and a 4-month free trial of a word expander software program to be used with the training program.

• Basic Acute Care

  This practicum module provides experience following account instructions while transcribing authentic acute care dictation files. This module is made up of basic hospital reports, including radiology, emergency room (ER), discharge summaries, operative reports, procedure notes, consultations, and history and physicals.

• Advanced Acute Care

  This practicum module exposes students to various account instructions and acute care files with a high level of difficulty. The module is broken into an in-depth account instructions unit, verbatim instructions unit, radiology unit, complex account instructions unit, and an extremely advanced acute care unit. All dictation is authentic, and the full spectrum of dictator accents and dictation style is covered. The practicum files cover radiology reports, operative reports, consultations, history and physicals, ER reports, discharge summaries, procedure notes, and progress notes.

• Final Exam Preparation

  Upon completion of the program, students will have the opportunity to assess their skills through a final exam. This module contains information about the structure of the exam, tips for passing it, and how to schedule a time to take it.

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