FAQ - CanScribe

Frequently Asked Questions

We’re more than happy to help you with any questions you may have. Start with our FAQs below

Medical Transcription / Healthcare Documentation Specialist

1How does the job market look for Medical Transcriptionists/Healthcare Documentation Specialists?

There is currently a huge demand for CanScribe Medical Transcription/Healthcare Documentation Specialist (MT/HDS) graduates. With international services hiring and an aging population, there is no end in sight for the continuing need for CanScribe graduates. Employment of MT/HDS grads is projected to grow even faster than the average over the next few years.

Because of CanScribe’s reputation in the MT/HDS industry, 85% of our grads find employment within first two weeks after graduating. Our grads are in such high demand that we cannot keep up with the employer requests from companies such as iMedX and M*Modal, just to name a few.

2How much can I earn as a Medical Transcriptionist/Healthcare Documentation Specialist?

Earning potential is production based, the faster you type the more you will make. Each company and contract is different and there is an initial learning curve. Some companies pay per audio minute or per dictated line. There are several factors that influence the answer to this question.

A few common ones are:

Typing speed of the transcriptionist
Experience of the transcriptionist
Listening comprehension skills of the transcriptionist
Word expanders used
Types of reports that are involved
Accent of the doctor
Clarity of the audio

Most at-home positions are based on productivity. Depending upon how you choose to work and how productive you are, you can augment the family income by a few hundred dollars a month or earn more than $40,000 per year – and your earning potential should increase with every year you work.

Days Worked Per Week	Number of Lines Typed Per Day
Days Worked Per Week	500	1000	1500	2000
2	$5,200	$10,400	$15,600	$20,800
3	$7,800	$15,600	$23,400	$31,200
4	$10,400	$20,800	$31,200	$41,600
5	$13,000	$26,000	$39,000	$52,000

This productivity chart will give you an idea of what you can expect to make editing speech recognition documents. This is figured with a rate of 7 cents per line. The dollar figure is the Gross Annual Income.

Days Worked Per Week	Number of Lines Typed Per Day
Days Worked Per Week	750	1000	2000	2500
2	$5,460	$7,280	$14,560	$18,200
3	$8,190	$10,920	$21,840	$27,300
4	$10,920	$14,560	$29,120	$36,400
5	$13,650	$18,200	$36,400	$45,500

3What equipment do I need?

If you take courses on campus, everything is provided.

If you take courses as distance learning, you will need a computer and Internet access. You must have a Windows 10 (or newer OS) computer with speakers, an available USB port, and Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word and Excel) loaded onto your computer.

We also recommend that you have high-speed Internet. This is not a requirement to take our courses, but if you are interested in working from home, all employers require high-speed Internet.

4Is CanScribe Career College an accredited school, and does that even matter?

As the only school in Canada to have its Medical Transcriptionist/Healthcare Documentation Specialist program approved by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI), our students are sure to receive a top-quality educational experience. We are held to very strict guidelines by the AHDI and are audited regularly to ensure we are operating up to standard.

CanScribe also holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is a past Torch Award Winner for Marketplace Excellence.

Enrolling with an accredited school like CanScribe does matter. That ensures that you are receiving a high quality education that truly prepares you for employment.

5What does a Medical Transcriptionist do?

Medical Transcription is the manual process of creating electronic documents of voice reports. These reports are dictated by a healthcare professional and then created into a text format. Medical Transcriptionists are needed in hospitals, clinics, labs and doctors’ office. Most people do prefer the stay-at-home method, which is available to every transcriptionist. This is a great career for students who enjoy typing, it allows you to stay at home and earn a living while you are doing it.

6How long do students have to complete the course?

We do allow one year for completion, most of our students do complete the program around the twelve-month mark. How they make up the hours is up to them, but we do require a minimum of 23 hours a week into the course which is about 3.5 hours a day.

7What is the tuition of the course?

Canadian: The tuition fee of $4195 includes your foot pedal, headset, online reference materials, student support throughout the entire training program, practicum placement with medical transcription service providers throughout North America and Australia. You will also receive a full list of employers to contact upon graduation, all of whom are willing to waive their 2 - 5-year experience prerequisite to hire you as a CanScribe graduate. We also provide resume assistance, job placement assistance - even the taxes and shipping and handling are included. United States: $3495

8What are the upgrades?

Program Expansion Package - $500 This optional upgrade includes access to a one year typing course, CanScribe’s word expander list, lifetime access to continued learning webinars created by CanScribe, and 75 new authentic doctor dictated reports. eBook Upgrade - $500 The eBook Upgrade is a digital version of the course curriculum which can be downloaded onto a tablet or laptop, which then allows for portability of your studies when you happen to be away from the computer. The eBook Upgrade is an optional upgrade to the program and is not required for successful completion. Receive a $250 discount when purchasing the “All In One Package”

9What are your funding options?

CanScribe offers the following payment plan options in Canadian;

Full Payment - $3995
All in One Package - $4595.

Payment Plans:

Three Month Payment Plan - $1500 down and then 2 payments of $1397.50 (includes a $100 processing fee) for a total of $4295.
Six Month Payment Plan - $1500 down and then 5 payments of $579 (includes a $200 processing fee) for a total of $4395.
Twelve Month Payment Plans - $1000 down and then 11 payments of $317.72 (includes a $299.92 processing fee) for a total of $4494.92

Here are a few funding options for you to consider:

Student loan or student line of credit through the bank. http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/student-solution/
Government student loan.
Withdraw from your RRSPs through the Lifelong Learning Plan: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/rrsp-reer/llp-reep/menu-eng.html
Contact Service Canada for retraining options if you've been on EI in the last few years.
See what scholarships may be available for you http://canscribe.com/scholarships/

10Why should I choose CanScribe over other schools?

We are the only approved school in CANADA for Medical Transcription. Our program is now the updated MT/HDS which includes the latest technology of training the on the Speech Recognition platform and electronic health records (EHR).

We have over 1,000 dictations in our course and almost 1200 hours of theory. You can claim your tuition on your taxes, we include the foot pedal and headset and because our practicum is industry approved, employers will waive the 2–5-year work experience prerequisite for a new MT because you are a CanScribe graduate. We job place assist for a lifetime, and we have real medical transcriptionist instructors who understand the curriculum.

We are recognized by the Ministry of Education so you can take out a student loan. We highly support our students throughout their program so our graduates are very successful and 88% of our graduates are hired right out of their practicum. The course does teach Speech Recognition. CanScribe includes SRT and the latest industry technologies in the course. We consistently work with the industry and employers to ensure we include all the relevant training information required to continue to produce top caliber graduates.

Do you offer job placement assistance? We do offer job placement assistance for life to our graduates. We do have relationships with employers throughout North America and Australia. Although we do not make the final decision on career placement, we do play a huge role in the decision-making process.

What I can tell you is CanScribe’s recommendations are highly respected in the industry and as a result end in career placement. We cannot fill the demand! Upon graduation we will direct graduates to employment sites via website links, post, and email graduates about employment opportunities. We also display internal job openings initially to CanScribe graduates along with resume and cover letter review and suggestions.

11Does CanScribe offer a practicum?

Yes, CanScribe does have a 100-hour practicum. The practicum does eliminate the 3-5 years’ experience that employers are looking for. Throughout the practicum, students are supervised by quality assurance editors that will provide students with feedback and assistance. The practicum is to be considered their first job their new career and is to be treated as such. The practicum is 100 hours of unpaid, on-the-job work experience transcribing real patient files. Students are to commit to a minimum of 20 hours per week to participate in the practicum.

12Are there pre-requisites for the course?

There are no educational pre-requisites. We required a pass on our assessments to be accepted in the program. There are three assessments: 40 words per minute typing speed, a grammar test, and a distance learning assessment

13What are the computer requirements?

What are the computer requirements? Below is a check list of some computer requirements to look for when purchasing a new computer for your Medical Transcription / Healthcare Documentation program and career:

PC computer (Mac is NOT compatible)
4-6 GB's memory-Intel Processor is preferred
Windows 10
Have high speed internet-Firefox 8.X or greater
Adobe Flash Version 7 or greater
Javascript and cookies must be enabled.

14Can I get a student loan?

Yes, CanScribe is approved through the Ad ministry of Education for Student Loans. Please allow 4-6 weeks for approval and choose the start date accordingly.

15What about speech recognition? Is it taking over?

No! At least for the next one or two decades. Efforts in this regard began as early as 1936 and it was only in the early 1980's that the technology reached the commercial market. SRT also known as voice recognition (VR), automated speech recognition (ASR), continuous speech recognition (CSR), etc., is basically computer software that converts voice to text. Different people from around the world speak English in different accents with an accent similar to their mother tongue.

Voice recognition software needs to recognize these pronunciations. A lot of homework is needed to train the equipment before it can be used. Even well-trained equipment needs human intervention like editing, proofreading, and formatting. SRT cannot correct improper grammar, incorrect punctuation, incomplete dictation etc. Then there are many homonyms involved where the human brain processes and uses the appropriate words, while voice recognition software needs to prove their credibility in this regard. Background noise reduces the recognition accuracy. SRT may alleviate the tedious process of typing but it cannot completely be on its own without human intervention.

Currently, it is used as a similar application like macros or word expanders. There are 2 types of SRT; one is self-editing (front end) and the other is delayed (back end). With front end, the speaker dictates into the PC and the voice is converted to text concurrently and the dictator corrects the errors made by the software.

Doctors are reluctant to adapt to this system due to time constraints in their busy schedule. In back end SRT, which is commonly in use now with large hospitals and clinics, the voice to text conversion is done after the speaker has dictated, rather than simultaneously. Then an editor must listen to the voice file, edit for errors and proofread the draft. So in a nutshell, SRT can be a productivity enhancing tool to reduce turnaround times for the Medical Transcriptionist / Healthcare Documentation Specialist, but not replace them. You will be learning about this and editing in our program.

Virtual Assistant

1Is there job placement assistance for the Virtual Assistant Program?

A Virtual Assistant (VA) can work in any field they want. For this reason, it is incredibly difficult for us to provide job placement for our graduates from this program. There are just way too many different areas to take it in! What we do is cover an entire section in the program on how to go about creating a career in this industry. Then, upon graduation, we will let you know of any opportunities we have been notified of, refer you to some VA hiring websites, and help you with your resume. Our graduates of the VA program have been very successful in finding work in the industry!

2What is a Virtual assistant?

A virtual assistant is a worker who generally offers administrative services to clients from a remote location, typically a home office. Virtual assistants might schedule appointments, make phone calls, make travel arrangements, manage emails, manage social media accounts, marketing, bookkeeping, and many other skills. The typical virtual assistant will take on a few clients and provide their services to these clients. Some VA’s will specialize and only provide certain services, others will provide a mix of services. It is entirely up to the VA what they would like to do!

3What kind of work can I do as a Virtual Assistant?

Some typical Virtual Assistant jobs we have seen our graduates get into include:

General Administration – emails, phone calls, appointments, customer service
Social Media – managing social media accounts for a business, influencer, or celebrity, answering messages, posting, sharing content
Bookkeeping – accounting duties, payroll
Marketing – tracking and analytics, creating and posting within social media platforms, buyer persona identification, advertising, website creation

Some VA’s will do only one of these things, others will do a mix, it is entirely up to you! The Virtual Assistant program covers all these areas so that you get the choice upon graduation as to which area you would like to pursue.

4What resources will I need to take the Virtual Assistant program?

Students are expected to purchase a bundle pack of resources for the Virtual Assistant program. It includes the eBook: Administrative Professional: Technology and Procedures, 4th Edition + MindTap Instant Access (12 Months/Multi Term), 4th Edition.

We ask that students do not purchase this bundle until they are prompted to do so during the Virtual Assistant Program. This is the only way to ensure it is linked with all your other student information and the CanScribe specific MindTap.

5Why has the demand for Virtual Assistants increased?

The last few years have meant companies are implementing more technologies and many businesses are taking their office online. Employers now hire Virtual Assistants to do administrative duties, as opposed to having a full-time staff member onsite where it may not be necessary. These companies need the same work to get done, but they need it done remotely. Virtual Assistants can work remotely as an employee for a company or as an Independent Contractor on a freelance basis, typically handling the same types of tasks as those who work in-house. One of the best parts about training to become a Virtual Assistant is that you are not closing any doors. You can easily transfer your skills to an office. In fact, working from home is often more difficult, meaning you have a leg up on the competition. Start training to work from home.

6What kind of funding options are available?

CanScribe offers a 3 and 6 month payment plan for this course (interest free). You can also go through Provincial Student Loans.

7Will I be able to work from home?

Yes! That is one of the biggest benefits of becoming a virtual assistant. It is an entirely work from home based role.

8How much can I earn as a Virtual Assistant?

Canada

Glassdoor estimates that the Canadian national average in Canada for an Administrative Assistant is around $44,000 per year. They also estimate that you can earn between $30,000 and $57,000 which is dependent on your training, hours worked per week, and experience levels. As you gain more experience you can move into the Executive Assistant role, which has a median salary of $54,000 and a range between $37,000 and $84,000.

Virtual Assistants are more often paid hourly as contractors working from home. Payscale estimates the median hourly starting wage for a VA is around $20.00 per hour. The range varies depending on your specialization. Similar to that of an Administrative Assistant, the more experience and training you have, the more you can earn!

United States

Payscale states that the median hourly wage for an Administrative Assistant is around $15.00 with an average range between $11.44 and $21.36 per hour.

Virtual Assistants earn a median hourly wage of $15.80 as reported by Payscale. VA's commonly earn up to $29.84 within the first few years. With more training and experience, the more potential for growth you have!

9Can I finish the course faster than the 26 weeks provided?

Yes! The course timeline is 26 weeks so it is recommended that students put in at least 20-23 hours per week to meet that timeline. Many students want to complete their courses sooner, which you are welcome to do! Any additional time you put in just means you will complete the program sooner. Once done, you will receive a certificate as a Virtual Assistant.

10What kind of assistance do you offer graduates?

We are very proud to offer unlimited resume and cover letter assistance to our VA graduates. After graduation, you can come back to CanScribe and we will help you reassess your resume and cover letter to ensure you stand out in the interview process! Whether you come back to us 2, 5, 10, or 20 years after graduation, we will be here to help. Unlimited truly means for life!

CanScribe also has many employment partners and is able to assist with job placement for this program. Our one employment partner alone has asked us for over 1000 graduates per year!

Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist

1What is a CDIS?

Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist (Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialist in the USA)

2What is a CCDIS?

Certified Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist. You must write and pass the NCE (National Certification Exam) to become certified with CHIMA.

3Do I need to have medical experience to take this course?

Students must fulfill one of the following requirements:

A minimum of 3-years experience working as a nurse, physician, or other regulated health professional OR
A minimum of 3-years experience working as a Health Information Management professional, OR
A minimum of 3-years experience working as a coder with knowledge in medical terminology.

Transcripts must be sent to CanScribe for proof of experience/certifications. Students must also complete our distance learning assessment and a grammar assessment.

4Can I work from home after I graduate?

Yes! Many CDIS’s work from home, so it is a real option for you. You also have the option to work in a hospital or clinic as well. Whether you want to work face-to-face with people, or virtually, there are options available to you.

5Do you offer graduate support?

Of course! All graduates, from all programs receive unlimited graduate support. This includes things like helping you build your resume and cover letter, creating job posts when employers reach out!

6How can I pay for the course?

There are a two main options for funding: 1. Payment up front - $3495 for Full or $3845 for All in One package 2. 3-month payment plan: $1500 down, plus $1047.50 after that ($100 processing fee) Students can also go through 3rd party funders, a student line of credit, their LLP, etc. Students can also take advantage of our financing partner LoanConnect!

7Can I apply for student loans?

Student loans are not available for this program

8How long is the program?

The program is 100 hours long, however, you have 4 months to complete it. That is less than an hour per day if you want to take the full time to complete the program. If you put in 2 hours of work per day, you can graduate in less than 2 months!

9What if I need more time after the 4 months?

Extensions are available for $150 for 1 month and $350 for 3 months. Students can add on up to 4 additional months.

10Can I challenge any of the content?

Students are welcome to work through the course content as quickly as they’d like and take the chapter tests to prove their knowledge. This course is only available for those with medical experience so there is much more valuable information to learn than just medical terminology in this program!

11How much can I make?

Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists have an average pay of between $71,753 and $78,611 per year ($34.50 to $37.79 per hour).

12What is CHIMA?

It’s the ‘Canada Healthcare Information Management Association’, essentially the same as the AHDI for MT’s but for CDI’s instead. Canadian Health Information Management (CHIMA) A student enrolled in this program is recommended to obtain a CHIMA student membership for this program, however, it is not required. The link is: https://www.echima.ca/product/student-membership/

13What is the cost?

The grand total for this course is $3495

14Are there any upgrades?

There is an eBook upgrade available for purchase. This can be added for a cost of $500 or students can select the All In One Package for a total cost of $3845.

15Do I need to get certified through CHIMA after graduation?

It is not required to seek credentialing through CHIMA if you take our course. We have worked closely with CHIMA to ensure it covers the necessary information.

16Is there a required passing rate?

A passing grade for this course is 80%

17What does a CDI do?

A CDIS performs detailed chart analysis to identify areas within clinical documentation that need further review or improvement through a query process. CDI Specialists act as a liaison and collaborate with coding teams and physicians to ensure clinical documentation accurately translates into coded data. CDI Specialists will also educate by building training resources and tools to support both the coding and clinical team.

18Why should I take this course with CanScribe instead of somewhere else?

CanScribe’s student support is unmatched. During your time in the CDI program you will have support from our full team of staff including student services, IT, and your CDI instructors. You will have student services to keep track of your progress, support you, and listen if you need an ear. Our IT team is here to help with any tech issues. Your instructors are here to help with the program itself including the curriculum, content, and testing. You wont find this kind of support anywhere, you are never just a number with CanScribe!

19What are the computer requirements?

A computer is required for the entire program. Computer requirements are as follows:

Access to high-speed internet
Minimum download speed of 15 megabits per second
Minimum upload speed of 5 megabits per second
A minimum of 8 gigabytes of RAM (Random Access Memory)

For Windows Operating Systems:

Windows 10 or newer
Google Chrome or Firefox

For Mac:

Mac OS X Yosemite or newer
Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari

20What is ACDIS?

Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) is the USA version of CHIMA. Students will receive a “student package” from ACDIS as part of their tuition. This package is essentially the “mindtap’ of the CDI course. Students will receive an access code once in the course to access the ACDIS platform. This can also be found directly on the program homepage. It includes: Webinars Textbook - ACDIS Pro Handbook Additional resources and information

21Will I earn Continued Learning (CE) credits if I take this program?

Yes. You will receive 30 continuing education points upon completion of the program through CHIMA

22Are there any language restrictions?

This program is currently offered in English only. As part of your eligibility requirement so you will take the English proficiency testing your application process.

23How does your CDI program compare to others?

We offer the most comprehensive CDI program available!

General College and Course FAQ

1I would like information about CanScribe.

CanScribe has been open since 2003 and designated by PTIB (Private Training Institutions Branch) and approved by the AHDI (Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity).

2Are extensions available?

1 month; $150

3 months is $350

3How do I apply?

To start your application you can click here! Our application form is completely free and you can start it and come back as many times as you need.

4Is there a financial obligation to enrolling?

No, there is no financial obligation to enrolling. We can change your contract to whatever needs be.

5What are application assessments?

Some programs have assessments to ensure students meet minimum standards before enrolling. We always allow our potential students to attempt them as many times as they need.

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