At Home Computer Job?

C

cathe4me2

Cathlete
Hi Everyone,
I'm looking for a computer job, part of full time at home.
My neice recently told me that a person can work at home using the computerand make pretty decent salary. She mentioned working for insurance companies, lawyers etc.
How does one train or get schooling for those kinds of jobs, what creditials does one need and how does one seek out jobs for work at home?

I've used the computer in our family business for almost 2 decades so I know my way around different programs. Yet, I've never ventured beyond the farm.
I'm having difficulty in knowing what direction to turn.

I would sure very very much appreciate any feedback that I could receive from you.
TIA
 
I think there are a lot of at-home computer-based jobs in several industries, such as medical transcription and legal / paralegal work. You do have to have medical transcriptionist training; check out your local vocational or technical colleges. I know people with paralegal studies and certification can often do home-computer-based deposition summaries; again, you want to check out your local community and 4-year colleges for their programs in paralegal studies.

Other than that, I think your best bet is to do a Google search in the industries that appeal to you, then refine your search to see what at-home possibilities there might be.

Good luck!

A-Jock
 
Hi Wanda. Actually, I've been wanting to find something part time to do at home on the computer as well to help supplement my income. I know there are medical transcriptionist/biller classes you can order and train at home, but I've also been advised by alot of people that you really have to watch which ones you order from because alot of them can be scams........so, to that end, I would suggest maybe checking into your local community college?!? Let me know what you come up with, as I would be interested as well!!!

Kim
 
I'm an at home medical transcriptionist and I love it. I have no formal training as I started out in a clinic and then moved to working at home years later. For information on this, go to MTDAILY.com. There is a lot of information about transcription and maybe billing as well as job listings. Good luck.

P.S. You can make pretty good money if you're a fast and accurate typist.
 
Hi Kim, I don't have to worry about clients as I work for a clinic. And before that I worked for a transcription company. The only time I ever had clients was when I first started working at home. I never had a problem finding them as I am very well known throughout the Psychiatric industry in my town and they actually called me to do work for them on an as needed basis, i.e. inhouse transcriptionist would get behind or would go on vacation. I like working for someone else as opposed to working for myself. And most companies hire full time employees to work at home and provide them benefits, computers, software, etc. There is a company in Florida who even flies new employees to their company in Florida for training. Pretty cool.
 
Thank you so much for your suggestions. I suddenly find myself to be in the job hunting market. I know I need to hone up on or get new skills. It will help to know what job I need to be training for. :)

I hear it is very hard to learn the medical terms to be a transcibist in that field. So many words sound alike and if you type it in wrong, it goes on that person's record and you could be held responsible if the patient gets a wrong diagnosis and perhaps dies! That sounds scarey.:(

Since I already do payroll and accounting, I may check into the colleges and tech schools here and see what is available in that field.

Again I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond to my question.
 
Hi Wanda, I want to assure you that even though your initials are on a specific report, you are not held responsible for that report. The doctor who dictates the report is supposed to read over it and then sign off on it. He is responsible for errors. Some doctors will just sign reports without reading them first which is wrong. I know you don't want your initials on a report with wrong information, but it is not your responsibility.

Also, there are excellent reference books and online references. I could not make it without my spell check. Plus the company I work for is now processing all charts online. If I'm not quite sure about a medication, etc., I can pull up that patient's chart and look it up. Plus, you always have the option of leaving a blank for the doctor to either fill in and sign off the report or send you a message to fill in the blank for him.

I would say one of biggest responsibilities of a transcriptionist is making sure the document actually makes sense. If a doc dictates something that doesn't really make sense grammar wise, we are responsible for fixing it. Most of my docs are great dictators, but I have a couple who drive me crazy as they never make sense. If I typed exactly what they said word for word, it would sound terrible. :eek:
 
Kelley,

I could have written your inital post. I also do medical transciption at home and worked in a clinic for several years before working at home. I have no formal training either. It's a great job and like you said, you can make good money if you are quick and accurate. I have been doing it for about 12 years now so the medical community in the area where I live kind of knows me. I prefer to work for myself and find my own work. Really, the work finds me. I have never had to "seek out" a physician. Anyway, I thought it interesting that your name is Kelley and mine is Kelly and we work in the same field. LOL!!
 
Hi Kelley,

Thanks for clarifying the rumor that I heard about being held responsible for the report. You have peaked my interest more in the transcribing field.
Would it be possible for me to email you or you email me about how to get started? I have tons of questions. Like, would it be best if I start at a clinic? What skills do I need to work at a clinic? What type of schooling do I need? Should I go to vocational school in person or get schooling via the internet to work at a clinic or to do transcribing? What school would you recommend? I looked at 3 schools on the the internet. They vary in price range. One school offers an internship at a hospital if your grades meet their standards.

Am I nosey or what? :D My name isn't Kelley, but I have a cousin named Kelley. :9

Any information you can give is most valuable to me. Thanks
 
I'm really enjoying this topic. I used to do medical transcribing at home years ago, I mostly got through the training and then had children and never stayed with it. I know I've forgotten most of it, but I'd really like to start doing this again. Kelley, I wanted to know if you have a spell check specific for medical terminology - you must have, but I wondered who you got this from, your company or independently. There were many things that I still had to learn and I would be starting from the beginning again. I remember looking the terms up in a book (how archaic huh), I can't imagine having a spell check - that would be soooooo very helpful. Thanks for the information, Wanda we need to check into this!!

Briee
 
Hi There Briee,
I agree that we need to check into this. The spell check helps make this field a more 'doable' thing for me, especially if one is available for medical terms.
Briee, where did you go for training? If you don't want to tell me here on line, could you email me at home? [email protected]

Kelley and Kelly feel free to email me too, if there is something you'd rather not post on line.

I think this internet is great. It is putting me in touch with you girls that I wouldn't have had the chance to otherwise.
 
Hi Wanda, I really don't have a lot of information to share. I can't comment on formal training since I had on the job training. I can, however, say that one of the companies on www.mtdaily.com called Total Emed recommends www.careerstep.com. I have never heard of careerstep, but I have heard good things about Total Emed. I checked out their website today and it looks like they hire newbees. They are listed at mtdaily on the left hand side under MT Services. You could also check out your local community college if you think it would be easier in a classroom setting. As far as where to start, I'm not sure what to say about that either as every clinic/hospital has different guidelines. I actually started out as a Medical Records Clerk in a clinic. I've always been a good typist, so I tried transcribing one day and I loved it and found it very easy. I never looked back.

I don't mind anyone emailing me, but my knowledge is limited with schools, etc.
 
Hi Briee,

Yes, the software on my computer has a medical dictionary as well as a pharmaceutical dictionary. I also use www.google.com to look up words. I received my computer, software, etc. from the company that I work for free of charge. All of our work is transmitted through the internet. The dictation, however, is still over the telephone. That is supposed to change in the future and even the voice system will be through the internet. A lot of companies already do this, but the company I work for is always behind the times.
 
Kim I will be glad to share any info I get. You do the same okay?:9

I've learned quite a bit already here on this thread. :) I've always been taught, when you don't know something, ask questions and locate the answer:p
 
Wanda, the company that I worked for was called Transcriptions Unlimited in the Chicago suburbs. They gave me a computer, and all the equipment needed to get going. All I started with was a typing test. I was in training so at that time I made maybe 1.25 per page (this was like 12 years ago) and let me tell you it took me a long time and MANY mistakes (like I said, I was looking up terms in a book) so I never made much money, but it was good training. I sent everything through internet, but they would drop off and pick up dictational tapes. I did pick up a medical transcribing class at a community college, but I can't say that it was completely needed. You will pick it up "just doing it" that is if someone is patient with you and will invest the time into your training.

Sounds like it's come a long since then. After I have the baby I would like get through the first 3 months or so and then pursue this again if possible. Look in the phone book for any companies near you, I did this the other day and the lady that answered said I was calling her home and all her workers work from home. She said it was very slow right now, but that can change quickly and maybe she would need someone in a year or so. I'm in a tiny town, but you may find more work where you're at and a place that would be willing to take you on. I believe ideally there are much greater finacial gains by going on your own, but after you get your training you can think about that. I'd appreciate any information you guys get, also. Thanks a bunch.

Briee
 
Thank you all so much for your input. I just spoke with a CPA in my home town about transcribing. He said he has 4 clients who do this line of work.
One first came to him to do her taxes while she was going to school. He thought it was a rip off until the next year she came with an income to report. The lady goes around town to the different doctors and picks up tapes, then takes them home to transcribe. The only expense she has is the toner for the printer, paper and the gas for her car to get the tapes.

I have a question or two, is it hard to learn the names of all the surgical equipment? and.... is it difficult to learn the different measurements of that equipment...hexagrams (?) etc.
I ask because one girl is currently working on transcribing for a surgeon? She mentioned that you have to know all the different sizes of forceps and the names of the surgical tools.

I'm getting very excited about pursuing this further.:p

edited to add questions
 
HI Wanda, I have no help for you there as I do not transcribe surgical notes. I do Family Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN (my favorite), some Ophthalmology, and some Podiatry. I do, however, have a surgical word book that is very helpful. If you go to BN.com (Barnes & Noble) and do a search for medical word books, you'll find lots of good books. Pretty much all my books are by Saunders. They are excellent.

I also used to pick up tapes, type reports, and drop them off. That got old after a while. The company I worked for, however, paid for my paper and toner for my printer. I only paid for gas. Everything I type now prints out in the clinic through the internet. Much better and quicker.
 
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