What Equipment Is Needed For Medical Transcription?

To get started in the field of medical transcription, you will need to have a few basic equipment and materials. For one, you are going to need a nice and quiet space with few distractions. Transcribing in a quiet room helps you hear the voices and words more clearly. You will need an up-to-date computer (within the last few years). It does not need to be expensive or a high end model, have access to Microsoft Word (at least 2000), and should have high-speed internet access (DSL).

You will also need medical transcription equipment such as a foot pedal, headphones, and reference medical books. Additional medical transcription equipment/materials may be required later on, but these listed above will be enough when you are starting out as a medical transcriptionist. 

I am going to explain to you exactly in detail what these highlighted items above are and where you can buy this medical transcription equipment for a good price. If you click on any image or links below it will take you directly to Amazon.com where you will find the best, reasonable, and cheapest price that is out there right now. 

Where To Buy Medical Transcription Equipment Materials:

Medical Transcription Foot Pedals: You will use a foot pedal to control the dictation. The basic foot pedal allows you to play, stop, rewind, and fast forward the dictation using your feet and keeping your fingers free to type. This will save you time and keep you from having to use the mouse every couple of seconds to start and stop the dictation. It's really easy and basic to learn to use a foot pedal. There are many types of foot pedals and all of them work with different programs including Express Scribe. More Foot Pedals

Medical Transcription Headphones (Headset): This is necessary to hear the dictation more clearly and block out other noises in the background. I usually prefer noise canceling headphones that fit over your whole ear. Try and pick a headset that is comfortable, has good sound quality, light weight, and has noise canceling. It can be a bit frustrating but here are some different and affordable styles that you can choose from. More Headphones

Medical Transcription Reference Medical Books: Medical transcription reference materials are what make the job as easy as it is. It’s practically like having all of the answers you need right in front of you at all times. These are some books that you should have at home when you first start off as a medical transcriptionist. I have been in this line of work for 7+ years and I still use them. A lot of this research can be done through the use of the Internet and other types of research can be done through having the correct medical transcription reference books at hand such as the ones listed below.   The most important ones to have right away would be:   1) Stedman’s Medical Dictionary 2) Stedman’s Abbreviations, Acronyms & Symbols 3) Quick Look Drug Book 2011

Why Do You Need Reference Material Medical Books? - Read more about this.

Additional Reference Material Medical Books & Resources - Here is a listing of addtional helpful medical transcription reference material books that can be very useful when you take your medical transcription course online and four future medical transcription employment and other helpfull resources.

Free Medical Spellchecker - Add to your Word Dictionary and Instructions on how to install it. Download this free medical spellchecker to add to your Microsoft Office dictionary to help you when spelling those difficult medical words. It’s a medical terminology spelling reference tool.

Stedman's Plus Spellchecker - This is a spellchecker that you can purchase through amazon. Stedman's Plus Spellchecker has nearly half a million medical, pharmaceutical, and bioscience terms encompassing over 60 major medical specialties, No other medical spellchecker on the market today provides you with the comprehensive coverage and accuracy you receive with Stedman's Plus Medical/Pharmaceutical Spellchecker.