Sault College to train medical transcribers

There's such a high demand for medical transcribers that some people working in the field are training family members to help take some of the work, says Laurie Poirier, chair of Sault College's continuing education department.

During a presentation to the college's board of governors this past week, Poirier related a story about an health office administration assistant she knows who is training her daughter herself at home - because there's too much work for her to do and no one to train others.

The college's board approved a new continuing education program to help fill the need to train new health office administrative assistants with specialization in transcription.

Board members learned about the planned course from Poirier and Rick Wing, dean of continuing education, business and hospitality.

The course will begin in January with the start of the 2010 winter semester.

It will be offered as a four-year part-time course of study or a two-semester full-time course.

Students taking health office with transcription specialization on a full-time basis may also be eligible for funding under the Ontario second career or skills development programs, said Wing.

The course has not been assessed for requirements to qualify for certified medical secretary accreditation, he told the board.

Through the health office administration assistant with transcription specialization course, students will learn medical terminology, word processing and communication skills.

They will spend two weeks on placement in a health care facility as part of the course.

Graduates of the course could find themselves employed as clerks, receptionists or clerical support people in hospitals, health centres, health professional offices, or long-term care facilities, Wing said.

They may also find themselves working from home on transcription work, added Poirier.

Board Chair Ben Pascuzzi suggested the continuing education department also investigate a possible need for and opportunity to train transcribers for the legal profession.