| Medical transcriptions are medical language specialists. | | | | off on purchasing specific specialty word books until |
| The bulk of the transcription work in this country is | | | | you have a need for them. If you are beginning a |
| performed by home based professionals. As | | | | new transcription specialty account or expect to be |
| statutory or contract employees or subcontractors, it | | | | assigned to a specialty work group then a good |
| is generally up to the home based professional to | | | | medical word book is not only invaluable, but should |
| develop and maintain their own library of professional | | | | be considered essential. It will add immeasurably to |
| industry resources. While there are a lot of options | | | | your productivity as a transcriptionist. |
| available, there are certain medical transcription books | | | | Titles from the Stedmans library of Medical Word |
| that should be considered mandatory for any home | | | | Books include: |
| based MT professional. | | | | - Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Words |
| A Basic home library should include at a minimum: | | | | - Dermatology & Immunology Words |
| 1. A Standard English language Dictionary - Try | | | | - Emergency Medicine Words |
| Webster's. | | | | - Medical & Surgical Equipment Words |
| 2. A Comprehensive Medical Dictionary - Try Dorland's | | | | - Neurology & Neurosurgery Words, 4th Edition |
| Illustrated Medical Dictionary or Stedman's Medical | | | | - OB-GYN & Pediatric Words, 5th Edition |
| Dictionary | | | | - Endocrinology Words |
| 3. A Good Drug Reference Book - Try Stedman's | | | | - GI & GU Words |
| Quick Look Drug Book and/or American Drug Index | | | | - Oncology Words |
| by Facts and Comparisons | | | | - Ophthalmology Words |
| 4. A Good Medical Abbreviations Book - Try Medical | | | | - Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Words |
| Abbreviations: 30000 Conveniences at the Expense | | | | - Orthopedic and Rehab Words |
| of Communication and Safety by Neil M. Davis | | | | - Plastic Surgery, ENT, & Dentistry Words, 5th |
| 5. A Good General Medical Word Book: Try Sloane's | | | | Edition |
| Medical Word Book | | | | - Internal Medicine Words |
| 6. A Solid Grammar and Style Guide - Try the Book | | | | - Radiology Words |
| of Style (AHDI), or the Chicago Book of Style. | | | | - Surgery Words |
| In addition to general purpose resources most MT's | | | | - Organisms and Infectious Diseases Words |
| will rely time to time on specialty resources. Every | | | | - Alternative and Complementary Medicine Words |
| medical specialty has its own peculiar terminology and | | | | - Psychiatric Words |
| vocabulary. Radiologists will use an entirely different | | | | As a medical transcription practitioner, you will be |
| set of terms to describe their findings compared to a | | | | continually adding books and resources to your |
| internal medicine specialists, for example. Stedmans | | | | personal library over the years. Be aware that many |
| offers an entire library of medical word books. These | | | | books are available on CD and increasingly are |
| books average $40 a piece and are continually being | | | | available online. The ability to search electronically can |
| revised and updated. You would be advised to hold | | | | add significantly to your transcription production. |