Thinking of taking up a Medical and/or Legal Transcription Course ?! Everything you need to know about MT/LT Training . The hard facts spilled out for your appreciation. No fancy empty sales pitches common with a lot schools and other raining providers out to just get your money !!!

FAQ ABOUT MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION - If you cannot find the answers to your questions here, please contact us.

1. What is the expected growth of the MT industry?

Medical transcription is a billion dollar industry.  According to a study conducted by the Medical Transcription Industry Alliance (MTIA), the annual market growth is expected to be 15% - 20%. The US Medical Transcription Industry Alliance on the other hand, recorded the average employment of US transcriptionists to be 230,000 annually. The supply, however, is declining by 10 percent yearly due to MTs who are retiring (and other various reasons), thereby increasing the potential demand for offshore MTs coming from countries like the Philippines , India , Pakistan .  This demand for medical transcription in the US led to the increase in investments by medical transcription firms in other countries, including the Philippines .

 

Today, there is a shortage of over 300,000 qualified MTs worldwide according to the American Association for Medical Transcriptionists (AAMT).  Furthermore, according to the Department of Trade and Industry, medical transcription is the next sunrise industry after the call centers. While the share of the Philippines of the $5 billion outsourced business from the US is not even 1 percent, the government is optimistic that it will surge significantly considering the computer skills of Filipinos and their proficiency in English.

2. How long will the ACI Medical Transcription Course take to finish?

The course is designed to be self-paced.  Completion time depends on the individual student’s effort.  The total time required is approximately 300 hours.  On the average, students complete the course in 3-6 months.  Remember, this depends entirely on how many hours a student is able to commit to the course.  Some students have passed the course faster and some have taken longer.  Completion time will depend on the amount of time the students can dedicate to the course and the abilities of each student; it is afterall a self paced program.

3. Do I need to have my own personal computer (PC) to take up the course? What if I cannot afford to own one?

Yes, you need your own PC; and the good news is, if you cannot afford to buy one, IT Dynamics and some of its sub-licensees/area franchisees offer an affordable own-a-computer plan for as low as  Php3,835.00 – Cash, and Php4,250.00 – Installment (60-day term) for a Pentium II refurbished complete unit, which includes  CPU, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse & Pad (with 3 months warranty). For installment, make a downpayment of Php2,000.00 and  the balance of Php2,250.00 will be payable in 2 months at Php1,125.00 (30 days apart).

4. Do I need to have internet connection?

No, not necessarily, as you have several options on securing the modules and CDs. They can either be delivered to you, mailed (express mail, regular mail or even door to door courier), or you can pick them up yourself. If you take the purely on line course and do away with the hassles of snail mailing, then you need an internet connection. You will also need an internet connection if you will take the on-line OJT with us.

5. After successfully completing the ACI Medical Transcription Course, what proof will I have to show for it?

ACI through IT Dynamics will issue you a Certificate of Completion, Transcript of Records (TOR) and Certificates of Accuracy (before and after OJT).

7. How much will I spend to take the ACI Medical Transcription Course?

An on-line and/or home-based Medical Transcription Course in the US can easily cost over a thousand US dollars. However, due to IT Dynamics’ desire to support the Philippine Government’s (TESDA’s) jobs creation program, for the benefit of the Filipino people, we are offering the ACI Home-based Medical Transcription Course (Modular systems - with 14 modules and 9 CDs) for a low cash price of  Php17,850.00. For installment payments (add 5% to the cash price) for a net total price of Php 18,742.50; minimum down payment of Php3,570.00 and the balance payable on three (3) to four (4) equal payments.

 

For the purely on-line version of the MT Course, you get a 15% discount and save up to Php2,677.50, or for a low cash price of only Php 15,172.50. For installment payments (add 5% to the cash price) for a net total price of Php15,931.00; minimum downpayment of Php3,186.20 and the balance payable on 3-4 equal payments. Talk to your ACI representative and find out more about our group discounts and family member discounts.

8. Is the ACI Professional MT Course home-based curriculum (modular system and on-line version) TESDA registered/accredited?

At present, the  ACI Professional MT course is not yet TESDA registered/accredited for the simple reason that TESDA still does not have guidelines for home-based training. We at ITD have already written the TESDA Director General, Hon. Augusto Syjuco Jr.  on  March 19, 2005 and November 30, 2005 informing his office  that we would want the ACI Professional MT course to be registered and/or accredited by TESDA. In fact, it was only last February 2005 that TESDA issued their first TESDA accreditation to an MT training center (classroom setting; the training center is TTSI at Quezon City ). To date, the other training centers are either TESDA registered, TESDA accredited, or neither. The distinction between a TESDA registered  and TESDA accredited center are as follows: A TESDA registered center is classified as NTR  (No-Training Regulations) whereas a TESDA accredited center is WTR (With Training Regulations). 

 

Inasmuch as we at IT Dynamics Group are very much in support of  TESDA  and are closely coordinating with them for the development of guidelines for TESDA accreditation of  MT distance learning curricula, we however believe that our fellow Filipinos should not be deprived from availing of  the benefits of a tested and proven (in the US and in the Philippines) effective curriculum.

 

Furthermore, as far as we know, MT companies, both local and foreign, do not bother to ask if a graduate of an MT course came from and/or took up the course from a TESDA accredited/registered institution. In fact,  there are a  lot of professional  MTs  who did not even undergo any formal school/home based training, but learned on-the-job and were given  training (in-house)  by existing  MT companies themselves (among other methods of learning). Therefore, as far as we know,  MT companies do not discriminate given that the  demand for MTs is very great at the moment. It would be counter productive  for an MT company to discriminate on an aspiring MT on  the basis of not get training from a TESDA accredited/registered institution, as the company may be missing out on some very good Medical Transcriptionists.   What is of a greater concern by an MT company and/or MT contractor is the MT’s competence  (in terms of accuracy and output). Afterall, MT companies still give their own entry level testing prior to hiring and/or providing contracts of work, irregardless of where an aspiring MT may have graduated, whether it be in the most expensive MT school in the country with the so-called claim of having the best and the brightest trainors. The bottom line is, individuals develop their  MT skills at different levels (some make it,  some excel, some don’t make it). MT companies know this,  that is why MT companies still give their own entry level testing  prior to hiring.  

What this simply means is that, the accuracy level/rating of an MT- applicant  can be used as a basis for the MT company as to  whether or not they will bother to administer their own entry level testing to the MT-applicant, for why would an MT  company bother to waste their precious time to administer their own entry level testing to an aspiring MT who has a certificate of accuracy that is way below the minimum threshold entry level. On further feedback from our graduates, if the accuracy level rating indicated in the certificate of accuracy is below the MT company's minimum acceptable  (standard/threshold level)  for hiring,  then,  they do not bother to administer tests; however,  if the MT- applicant's certificate of accuracy indicates that the accuracy level is higher or at least near the  MT company's minimum entry level standards, then,  the MT companies may consider giving their own entry level testing.

10. If I enroll in the ACI Home-based Professional MT course and I go abroad before I have finished the course, can I continue taking the course?

Yes, you can continue taking up the course. You can bring with you the modules, or download your modules/exercises at the on-line version of the course. This is one of the obvious advantages of distance learning; and with the advent of internet technology there really are no geographical boundaries that can set one back from becoming a Professional MT. At present, IT Dynamics and its sub-licensees have trainees/enrollees based in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Canada and even some who have  migrated and are now working in the US.

11. Will I derive a considerable savings if I  take up the ACI  home based/distance learning professional MT Course?

Based on canvassed rates of existing MT schools that offer classroom setting/training as of January 2006,  we provide you with this general comparative analysis. So as not  to  be accused of making a big  issue on cost savings and/or be accused of unfair marketing practices, we will not mention the names of the training centers, but instead refer to them as Training Centers A, B, and C.

• Not included is the cost of transportation to and from the training center and other incidental expenses related to training, which has been estimated to be approximately Php 2,500.00 per month for a 5-days-a-week training. If you take up the purely on line version, you get to save more.   

12. Does IT Dynamics offer a guarantee hire program like the other classroom setting MT training centers?

In all honesty (given the literal meaning of the term “guarantee hire program,”) there is no such thing as a guarantee hire program. All guarantees for hiring are premised and  are on condition that an MT trainee/student, after taking up the MT training course is capable and qualified to do the job. What this therefore simply means is that, first of all the MT trainee/applicant must be qualified to do MT work, meaning their accuracy level must not go below the minimum entry level requirements set by the MT companies, which is usually not below 90%.

The situation of an MT trainee/student is the same as in other courses,  wherein if the student does not pass the academic requirements then he/or she is not allowed  to take up the board  exam (if the course requires a board exam by the PRC). No  company will hire a flunker. In our case, what we issue aside from the recommendations and referrals to existing local MT companies is what we call our Guarantee Certificate of MT partnership for possible local sub-contracting work aside from the inclusion of the successful ACI graduate in what is called the ACI JOB HUNTERS SUPPORT PROGRAM.  This is a service offered by ACI-USA to its successful  graduates wherein the names and other credentials of the successful graduates are included in ACI’s mailing list and sent out (electronically) on a monthly basis   for a period of one (1) year  to the different MT companies, MDs and other offices/institutions that may be in need of Medical Transcription services. This is done so that the qualified ACI graduates may develop their own direct contacts, and if qualified, do home-based MT work and/or  put up their own micro-MT company.

13.  What  is the  industry standard accuracy level for new  Medical Transcriptionists? 

Based on our survey of existing local MT companies, the lowest entry level (threshold)  accuracy rating  we have seen is a 90% accuracy. Others require a higher entry level  accuracy rating, most require a 93% to 95% accuracy rating.

14.  How much do MTs in the Philippines earn in a month?

This would vary depending on the MT company/contractor, as some companies pay purely on a productivity basis, meaning on a per line basis (65-character line). Some pay on a monthly basis (but with a daily and/or monthly quota). Some do both and offer a fixed monthly rate plus productivity based incentives and bonuses. However, based on what we have seen and based on media news reports professional Medical Transcriptionists have been reported to earn from a low of  Php10,000.00  to Php50,000 per month, some earning even more - this would  of course basically depend on the MT’s ability, skills, diligence, etc.

15. What are the long term prospects in terms of demand for an MTs' skills in the Philippines and abroad?

According to the AAMT and the MTIA, due to the present practicing MTs who are retiring on an annual basis at a considerable rate, there is being created, an annual demand of approximately 20,000 MTs worldwide. This is aside from the fact that there at present, over 35 MT companies/facilities in the Philippines, and the number is growing fast as a lot of business people want to enter into the seemingly attractive Medical Transcription Business and similar outsourcing ventures. This is the truth of the matter - there is a great demand for qualified MTs. In essence, in the Philippines at the moment, it is an MT’s market.

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16. While taking up the ACI Professional MT course, it would be normal for me to have academic and/or technical questions and concerns. Who will I contact or consult for this?

For all academic and/or technical concerns you can send an e-mail to atechsupport@itdynamicsphil.com or go to the A-Tech Support link to submit your concerns. The team will get back to you ASAP.

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17. How come there are numerous classroom based training centers for medical transcription in the Philippines compared to home-based or distance learning, unlike in the United States where there are more  distance learning programs for MT training compared to classroom setting?

First of all, some 10 or so years ago, the availability and cost of internet connection in  the Philippines was not that popular, and likewise affordable; but that is a thing of the past. At present, there are  numerous internet service providers spread over the country. In fact, some internet service providers (ISPs) offer unlimited residential dial-up connection for as  low as  Php400.00 per month (more or less) and  one ISP  even offers  wi-fi (wireless fidelity) internet connection for close to Php1,000.00 per month. In effect, because of the widespread internet and telecommunication infrastructure connections in the Philippines , there no longer are any geographical boundaries in terms of communication and learning. Simply put,  you don’t always have to go to the classroom, but instead the school or classroom can come to you via the internet.

 

Another main reason for the proliferation of classroom settings type of training in the Philippines is that business people would prefer to set up a classroom setting in order to be able to charge more for their services (normally- classroom setting charges more than on-line learning), which would mean more profit. For a lot of business people, it simply is business. As it is often said in tagalog - doon tayo sa mas-malaki ang kita. In the case of classroom training vis-à-vis on line learning, mas malaki talaga ang kita ng isang negosyanteng nagbibigay ng classroom training, that’s the bottom line.  IT Dynamics Group  and its sub-franchisees are not only concerned with profits, but are more concerned with offering the best possible and affordable training. This is one of our socio-civic objectives - to  help create jobs for the Filipino people at the lowest cost.      

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18. Will I not need to buy expensive hard bound books and other reference materials?

 You can buy hard bound books and other reference materials if you choose to, but it is not required and/or necessary. We provide to all ACI trainees/enrollees a listing of the usable internet websites for their reference.

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19. Some people say that the actual classroom setting is actually better and easier for me to learn and is a more effective method of training in order to become a successful MT. How true is this?

Admittedly, distance and/or home-based learning is not for everyone and may not necessarily be applicable to all types of courses/training (for more information on this please refer to the Resources link). What one must remember with regard to medical transcription training is that MT IS A SKILL, therefore, in fact one can develop and learn the skills whether one is in the office, at home or elsewhere, provided that learning has to be done in front of a computer/PC supported by a proven and affective distance learning modules.

 

Proof of this is,  when you do your own research and check out the internet, you will notice that aside from ACI, there are  a lot of other home based/on line distance learning MT courses being offered in the United States, which has for so many years,  been a proven and affective method in training MTs. If the Americans have found and proven that distance learning is as good or even better than classroom setting, are we Filipinos supposed to be any different from them and not welcome and take advantage of the benefits of  on line/distance learning? What one should perhaps ask is if the particular MT curriculum has been proven and effective. In our case, we are proud to say that the ACI Professional Medical Transcription Home Based/On Line Learning course curriculum, that is part of the ACI Learning Systems, has been proven to be effective both locally and abroad.

20. After finishing the ACI MT Course and I prefer to do home based Medical Transcription work, can I do so right away?

Yes and No. Yes, you can venture into home-based MT work if you happen to be qualified in terms of accuracy, MT skill, competence, have the right hardware (PC), have the right software, etc.  No you must not do home - based MT work if you are not that good with your MT skills, are not fully knowledgeable and compliant with HIPAA,  do not have the necessary infrastructure (fast internet connection, the right PC, etc…)

21. At present how many Medical Transcription companies or facilities are there in the Philippines ?

Based on news reports and other sources there are at least  thirty five (35) MT companies throughout the Philippines (and counting). This number is  expected to grow  as more and more business people are looking to open up more MT companies/facilities.

22. There are approximately how many Medical Transcriptionists (MTs) in the Philippines ?

Based on news reports and other sources, there are at present around Three Thousand (3,000) Medical Transcriptionists (MTs)  in the Philippines . This is a small number if we are to compare this to the contact/call canter agents in the country. In fact, the whole Philippine MT industry in terms of manpower could be compared to one (1) single major call center, as there are at present some call/contact centers that have around Five Thousand (5,000) agents in their company, even more than the whole MT industry combined.

23. Does IT Dynamics offer start-up consultancy services and training to interested parties who may want to set up their own Medical Transcription Company/facility?

IT Dynamics, in joint effort with its affiliate MT companies, offers start-up consultancy services to interested parties. For more details please our Business Opportunities link.

24. What if I am not an ACI trainee/enrollee, since I heard that you offer a comprehensive on line on the job training (OJT), can I avail of this?

On a case to case basis we accommodate trainees from other centers/schools for OJT after assessing their competence. All one has to do is e-mail to us a letter of intent, a copy of your grades indicating your level of proficiency (or its equivalent). We however charge a nominal fee for this.