Catalog description of program

This program provides instruction and experience in medical transcribing procedures to train the medical transcriptionist who is a heath professional responsible for word processing medical letters, charts, and reports from tapes dictated by physicians.  Medical transcriptionists have the option of working in medical offices, clinics, or hospitals, or to be self-employed.  Their work is interesting and challenging, and it has excellent income potential, which includes encouraging tax benefits if the transcriptionist is self-employed.

Description of job for which program prepares students

The Medical Transcriber is a health care professional who is responsible for word processing medical letters, charts, and reports from tapes dictated by physicians.  There are many specialty areas within the profession including general medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and radiology.  Demand for specialty knowledge varies depending on place of employment and area of medicine.

Entry skills needed

Keyboarding ability and word processing proficiency (IBM PC)

Recommended preparation

          q  Allied Health 111: Medical Terminology

Certificate Program

Students receive a Certificate of Achievement without the Associate Degree

Does this program transfer?

No

Procedure for program admittance

Enroll in first semester courses as space if available

Program start

Fall semester of each school year

Employment possibilities upon program completion

Medical offices, hospitals, self-employment

Employment prospects

Excellent

Salary

Starting salary range: $0.10/line or approximately $10/hour

Length of program

Two semesters

Spaces available

18

Accreditation of program

This program is accredited by CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs). For more information, go to www.caahep.org.

Contact information

Margie Willis, Program Coordinator                    Dan Adelmann, Allied Health Advisor

Office: C & L 100 A                                   Office: C&L 114 B

mwillis@occ.cccd.edu                                      dadelmann@occ.cccd.edu

714-432-5658                                                714-432-5541 
                                                                   714-432-5702 appts

Allied Health program assistant
Jane McLaughlin
jmclaughlin@occ.cccd.edu
714-432-5729