Medical Transcription

If you are interested in a career as a medical transcriptionist, this College Certificate program provides the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to work as a medical transcriber in hospitals, medical clinics, private practice specialties and community health agencies.

  • Study medical terminology, practise transcribing complex medical reports and learn medical office procedures
  • Benefit from supportive and experienced facilitators who are active in their industry
  • Courses are built with flexibility in mind and can be accessed anytime and from anywhere

Program Availability and Schedule

Availability

Schedule

Given the part-time delivery of this program, there is not a standard schedule for all learners.

Program Summary

Credential

College Certificate (See overview for details)

Program Code

Area of Interest

Health Sciences

To qualify for this certificate, you must complete the program within three years.

SUCCESS FACTORS...(read more)

Overview

If you are interested in a career as a medical transcriptionist, this College Certificate program provides the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to work as a medical transcriber in hospitals, medical clinics, private practice specialties and community health agencies. Students study medical terminology, practice transcribing complex medical reports and learn medical office procedures.

To qualify for this certificate, you must complete the program within three years.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

  • Possess good computer and word processing skills.
  • Enjoy working in a healthcare setting.
  • Have good written and oral communication skills.

Courses

Registration Note:

If you would like to take courses individually or start the program part time, you are not required to apply to the program. You can register for up to three courses per term by clicking on the course title and selecting "Register Online".

OnlineDistance Education   

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

HLT0008 Medical Terminology

Develop the language required to communicate effectively in a medical setting. Medical terminology and word structure related to twelve body systems will be studied. Terminology related to basic diagnostic procedures and basic pharmacology will be included.

ENL0011 Writing Grammatically

Students learn the rules of English grammar in a comprehensive, easy-to-follow manner. The course begins with a review of sentence parts, followed by an in-depth explanation of sentence structuring, and culminates in a practical review of stylistic conventions in business and professional writing.

HLT0262 Medical Terminology - Level 2 (Pronunciation)

This course has been designed for medical office professionals to concentrate on the pronunciation and verbalization of medical terminology that was learned in the first level of Medical Terminology. Students listen to audio files to learn the pronunciation of Medical Terms involving all body systems. Assessment of the student's ability to pronounce medical terms is achieved through audio files recorded by the students and submitted for evaluation.

HLT0077 Medical Keyboarding

This course is designed to familiarize the user with medical keyboarding, medical terminology in medical documentation, and medical office skills. It includes case histories for timed writings, medical terminology, medical letters, and a variety of medical reports. These exercises will help the learner increase their knowledge of terms they will encounter on the job, and will improve their keyboarding speed and accuracy. A very brief introduction to Medical Transcription is included. This course is a prerequisite for the Beginning Medical Transcription course.

HLT0259 Medical Transcription Styles & Practices

Learn concepts and standards of style and format of medical reports and basic grammar rules in medical documentation. Prepare for medical transcription by applying industry standards, as set by the American Association for Medical Transcription and presented in the AAMT Book of Style. The course introduces information not encountered outside of healthcare documentation. The CD ROM that accompanies the workbook includes "clips" of dictation that briefly introduce the student to dictation and allow for practice in applying the standards.

Pre-requisites: ENL0011 and HLT0008

HLT0261 Medical Transcription Fundamentals

This course will enhance the learning achieved in previous and prerequisite courses for medical transcription that students need to enter the field with confidence. Students will experience a practical and effective approach, with follow-up questions in each chapter to promote class discussion with exercises designed to reinforce concepts and procedures. Students will have a conceptual and practical understanding of general medical terms and various medical specialties in a way that is easy to remember. Detailed transcription tips throughout the course will offer useful information and hints, and there is a CD-ROM that includes 10 hours of actual dictation, sample reports, and other data needed to prepare the documents discussed in the text.

Pre-requisites: ENL0011 and HLT0008

HLT0078 Beginning Medical Transcription

This is a beginning medical transcription course designed to provide students with a working knowledge of transcription of medical reports. Transcription is taking the spoken word and turning it into a written document. Case studies are provided so that the student will gain knowledge in the transcribing of various medical reports. Medical reports will be transcribed from ten individual case studies, each of which concerns an inpatient with a specific medical problem. There are between four and eight reports within each case study. Students will be involved in the care of the patient from the date of admission through the date of discharge.

Pre-requisites: ENL0011 and HLT0008 and HLT0077

HLT0079 Advanced Medical Transcription

This course is designed for the transcriptionist wishing to perfect their skills in medical transcription and terminology. The main purpose of the course is to develop and refine transcription skills to a competitive level by using the learning activities included in the textbook.

Pre-requisites: ENL0011 and HLT0008 and HLT0077 and HLT0078 and HLT0259 and HLT0261

HLT0055 Medical Office Procedures

Medical Office Procedures is designed for the learner who is pursuing a career in health administration in a physician's office, clinic, or hospital setting. It will include information on professional and career responsibilities,interpersonal and written communications, safety standards, infection control, records management, order entry,financial administration, and managing the medical office. The Canada Health Act and the principles of OHIP medical billing will be introduced.

HLT0043 Essentials in Health Records Management

This course studies the record keeping practices in hospitals and physician's offices. Emphasis is placed on hospital and medical staff organization, patient record content, procedures in filing, numbering and retention of patient records, qualitative analysis, release of information, forms control and design, indexes and registers, reimbursements, regulatory and accrediting agencies, and alternate health care delivery systems.

HLT0018 Dental Terminology

Develop sound knowledge of dental terms, with an emphasis on anatomy, disease terms, and instrumentation. Terminology specific to infection control, pain management, tooth restorations, prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, pedodontics, and malocclusion is included.

HLT0080 Medical OHIP Billing

This course is designed to provide the student with the basic principles of efficient Health Claim Billing in Ontario. The student will learn how to use the Schedule of Benefits and Preambles of the Ministry of Health, as well as be introduced to computerized billing.

Pre-requisites: HLT0008

Careers & Pathways

Careers

Graduates may find employment in various hospital departments including health records and diagnostic imaging, pathology in physicians' offices, as well as online transcription companies, laboratories, insurance companies, government agencies, and medical supply companies.

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

Tuition & Fees

2024/2025 Academic Year

Fees are subject to change.

Fees for part-time programs are charged on a course-by-course basis and are published on each individual course page. For questions related to fees, please call the Registrar's Office at 613-727-0002.

Graduation Fee:
Once you have completed all the courses in the program, it is the responsibility of the student to complete a credential application (https://www.algonquincollege.com/online/certificationgraduating/). A graduation fee is charged when the application is submitted. After your credential application has been approved, you will be invited to Convocation.

Admissions Requirements

All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.

College Eligibility

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, OR
  • Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and without an OSSD).

Application Information

Registration Note:

If you would like to take courses individually or start the program part time, you are not required to apply to the program. You can register for up to three courses per term by clicking on the course title and selecting "Register Online".

Additional Information

Program Resources

International students wishing to study online should visit https://www.algonquincollege.com/online/international for information related to International online students and for international fees information prior to registering. Please note that AC Online programs do not qualify international students for new study permits or study permit extensions.

ACADEMIC PLANNER:
The Academic Planner provides registered part-time students the ability to declare into a program of study. The Academic Planner outlines successfully completed courses to date, as well as courses that need to be completed in order to meet graduation requirements. It is therefore essential that all part-time students declare to their program of study, allowing administrators to plan course offerings. The tool is available on ACSIS, located under 'Part-time Students' on the left-hand toolbar.

PRIOR LEARNING AND RECOGNITION (PLAR):
Students who wish to apply for PLAR need to demonstrate competency at a post-secondary level in all the course learning requirements. Evidence of learning achievements for PLAR candidates may include a comprehensive challenge examination and/or completion of a portfolio.

PROGRAM PROGRESSION:
As per policy AA39: Program Progression and Graduation Requirements when students are admitted to a program, they are assigned to the Program of Study that aligns with their start date. If a student takes a break for two or more consecutive terms the Program of Study is reset to align with the current version (when studies are resumed).

Contact

For additional information, please contact AC Online at online@algonquincollege.com or 613-727-4723 ext. 3330.

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