This blog is part of a series on transcription. If you haven’t read the other blogs in this series, make sure to check out the summary page for a listing of all transcription blogs. For part two of this interview, please click here.
These questions cover the medical transcription schooling itself, and the support offered to the students. Again, here is Susan, Director of M-TEC:
What medium does M-TEC incorporate when teaching (tapes, CDs, Internet, books, forums, etc)? M-TEC uses CD as well as digital files for our transcription. We use college-level textbooks and workbooks for our core competencies of anatomy & physiology, advanced medical terminology, human disease processes, laboratory procedures, pharmacology, professional development, formatting using the AAMT Book of Style, and have developed our own technology text along with an online component to our course which is the online M-TEC Student Learning Center. We hold online virtual classes and have message forums available for our students to network.
Are there any limits on how long the course is “good for” (ie, do students have to purchase extensions after a certain amount of time, and if so, how much are the extensions)? The state requires that students complete their course in 18 months. The average time to complete is 12-14 months; however, as long as a student is making progress, we will allow them to go on extension. There is a nominal fee for extending past the 18 months.
What kind of support is offered to students while they are in school? Each student is assigned an instructor (a CMT) who works closely with them, grading tests, reviewing assignments and answering questions along the way. This person is available via individual toll free phone lines as well as via email. Students are also given a technology instructor who works with them, as well as the ability to work with many other M-TEC instructors during our weekly general class sessions. We offer online class support as well as a message forum. Students have set up study groups to chat with each other privately as well as to help each other study and keep on track. The students are always encouraged to contact their individual instructor with any questions or the program directors with any concerns throughout the course. We also have student support staff onsite to help with any number of issues.
If the student already has experience in the medical field, is there is “fast track” option? Because our experience has been that many individuals have had little or no prior college-level training in the core competency areas, we believe that they need at least our Tier I Basic course to gain experience in those areas. If someone has been performing medical transcription, acute care level, but has not had formal training, then this level would work best for them. We are the first school to offer a tiered approach to training and offer a Tier II level for healthcare professionals wanting to make a career change to medical transcription as well.
Coming up next will be the last blog for this interview, where we will be covering post-graduation support.