Medical Transcriptionist

Career Diploma

Program Outline

Here's how it works
Your program consists of courses designed to take you step-by-step through the knowledge and skills you'll employ in your new career as a Medical Transcriptionist. Your first course will be sent to you as soon as your enrollment has been accepted. Other courses will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.

Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need access to high-speed internet to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows® 10 or later, Microsoft® Office 2019 or Microsoft 365®, and an email account to complete this program.

Starting Your Program
Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program. Understand how to use your Student Portal. Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers. Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.

Program Goal and Outcomes

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

Program Outcomes:
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
  • Enter medical reports into electronic health records systems
  • Perform quality improvement audits

HIT100 - Introduction to Allied Health

In this course, you’ll develop the necessary skills to ensure your success in the program. You'll learn how you can improve your study skills, so you're able to use a number of tools that will help you to be successful. You'll then learn about the healthcare professions involved in the United States healthcare system. You'll learn about their common tasks, where they typically work, and how each role contributes to the patient experience. You'll then discover the hard and soft skills required across different healthcare professional roles. The course ends with an overview of the United States healthcare system. You'll examine the different levels of patient care, the differences between public and private healthcare, how facilities bill for services, and how laws and regulations govern healthcare practices.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
  • Explain the standard knowledge and skills required in healthcare careers

BUS090 - Medical Office Procedures

This course is designed to help you develop professional relationships in the workplace and professionally administer and manage office communications and procedures. It also provides a review of basic math operations, along with a basic introduction to working with Word and Excel.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Apply knowledge of basic arithmetic skills to complete math related tasks in an office setting
  • Identify how to create professional business correspondences
  • Recognize effective communication techniques in an office setting
  • Describe how to use Word and Excel to complete business related tasks

ALH016 - Body Systems and Medical Terminology 1

This course will familiarize you with various body systems including medical terms, structure, function, diseases, disorders, and treatments. You’ll also learn drug delivery systems, drug administration routes, drug classifications, and commonly used medications for various organ system disorders.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Define medical terms and regions and structures of the body by analyzing medical terms
  • Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the cardiovascular and hematologic systems
  • Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the respiratory and endocrine systems
  • Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive systems

ALH017 - Body Systems and Medical Terminology 2

This course is a continuation of Body Systems and Medical Terminology 1. You’ll continue to learn about various body systems, drug delivery systems, drug administration routes, drug classifications, and commonly used medications for various organ system disorders. You’ll also learn basic medication calculations, storage, how to assist patients with administration, and proper documentation.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the integumentary and musculoskeletal systems
  • Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the sensory and nervous systems
  • Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the immune system

ALH021 - Pathology and Pharmacology

This course describes healthcare professionals who can identify the four subdivisions of pharmacology and different drug classifications, including vitamins and minerals. Pathology and Pharmacology will also prepare you to explain the causes of infectious disease and techniques used to stop its spread. Finally, you’ll review the basic etiology of common diseases and conditions.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Describe four subdivisions of pharmacology: pharma codynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmaco-therapeutics, and toxicology
  • Identify different drug classifications, including vitamins and minerals, which a patient may take for a variety of health conditions
  • Explain causes of infection, disease, and techniques used to stop the spread of infectious disease
  • Explain basic etiology of common diseases and conditions

HIT130 - Electronic Medical Records

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.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Describe the contents of the Electronic Health Record and security, privacy, and confidentiality practices associated with medical records
  • Explain the administrative and clinical roles in the medical office and functions within the EHR that are utilized routinely in these roles
  • Describe the billing and reimbursement process
  • Complete simulated health records in practice electronic health record software

ALH029 - Medical Billing and Health Insurance

This course introduces the reimbursement process and the various methodologies involved, such as fee-for-service and episode-of-care methodologies. The course also covers important information regarding payment systems, fee schedules, chargemasters, coding, and the internal audit process. The course also explains the fundamentals of health insurance and types of health insurance.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Discuss various reimbursement methodologies and payment systems
  • Define health insurance

ALH028 - Law, Ethics, and Confidentiality in Allied Health

In this course, you’ll learn how law affects healthcare practitioners, the origin of law that affects medical professionals, the basics of the process of litigation and its alternatives, the common-law basis for the confidentiality of healthcare information, and the laws regulating healthcare information collected and maintained by government agencies.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Interpret civil and criminal laws related to healthcare
  • Assess ethical issues healthcare professionals face today
  • Analyze confidentiality laws and regulations

HIT207 - Medical Transcription 1

In this course, you’ll learn important information that’s essential for your career in today’s healthcare industry. This course provides you with an understanding of basic transcription information in a healthcare environment. You’ll complete a variety of practice simulations using an online learning platform. For the required transcription assignments, you must access your student portal to download the audio files and reports needed to complete the assignments. You must submit these required transcription assignments for grading.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Analyze the career roles, responsibilities, and equipment associated with medical transcription
  • Identify the various transcription guidelines and rules to follow for accurate transcription generation
  • Prepare a medical transcription on the recorded dictations and transcribed reports on different patient cases

HIT208 - Medical Transcription 2

After a brief review of important topics, you’ll take a deeper look at some other areas of the profession, including speech recognition and report preparation. This course will build on your Medical Transcription 1 knowledge and practice. You’ll complete a variety of practice simulations using an online learning platform. However, for the required transcription assignments, you must access your student portal to download the audio files and reports needed to complete the assignments. You’ll use some of these audio files to transcribe reports, and you’ll listen to the remaining audio files as you edit the reports that have already been transcribed. You must submit these required transcription assignments for grading.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Analyze the importance of maintaining medical records and reports
  • Show the intricacies required in writing business documents and the process of applying transcription positions
  • Prepare the required transcription on the medical information on different patient cases
  • Prepare the final required transcription on the letters and recordings on medical cases

 

Online Library and Librarian
Students in Penn Foster College have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with Penn Foster College International.

You must have a High School Diploma to enroll in this program.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

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