Ex-students sue for-profit Everest College

Saying they were cheated out of money and an education, 13 former students of Everest College have sued the for-profit school, accusing it of misrepresenting job placement rates, the quality of education and the ability to transfer credits to four-year nonprofit universities.

The suit, filed Tuesday in Dallas County district court, asks for unspecified damages against Everest; its parent company, Corinthian Colleges in Santa Ana, Calif.; and others.

The Everest students were enrolled in the criminal justice or the medical billing and coding programs. Everest College officials said those programs offered at its campuses in Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas are specialized career offerings whose credits may not transfer. That information is disclosed to students repeatedly before they enroll, Dom Montalvo, regional vice president of operations, said in a statement.

He also said, “Everest provides extensive career placement assistance, but no school can guarantee employment.”

Montalvo also said that Everest is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Education Department and that its programs are approved and regulated by state agencies.

But the suit, filed by Dallas attorney Julie Johnson, alleges that many of the school’s teachers were unqualified or uninterested in teaching and that turnover was high. At the Arlington campus, an instructor stopped attending a course and was never replaced, the suit says. When students complained in September that classes lacked rigor, they were told that they would have to take them again at their expense, according to the suit.

Former Everest students Sharhonda Harris, 31, of Arlington and Tonya Steed, 37, of Grand Prairie are typical of the students enrolled at Everest, Johnson said.

“They both fall into a very common demographic: young women with children, who are trying to do the right thing,” Johnson said. “They’re trying to raise their kids and provide a better life. They’re blinded by this notion that you don’t have to go to a four-year college and take math and science and English. You come to us and then in eight months to a year . . . and you’ll be on your way providing for your family.”

The two said they attended Everest’s medical billing and coding program at the Arlington campus beginning in April 2008. The eight-month program cost them each $12,695, they said. To help cover expenses, they were given loans.

Steed said she quit her job as a store manager to devote time to school.

Now unemployed, Steed said she has had to apply for food stamps. She owes about $8,000 on student loans.

Harris said she was sold on Everest when an admission officer told her about the school’s placement rate, with jobs paying $15 to $16 an hour, and credits transferrable to other schools. Students say they were told that job placement rates ranged from 90 to 99.9 percent.

But Harris said that even though she graduated with a perfect grade-point average, she couldn’t find a job in her desired field. She owes $7,500 on student loans. Officials at nonprofit colleges and universities have said they will not accept Everest credits.

Harris said she now works full time as a caregiver at a Mansfield retirement center.

“I want them to give us what they promised,” Harris said.

Staff writer Darren Barbee contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/1558670.html

Medical Transcription Training For Service Members

Military service has always been one of the highest callings to which young men and women can aspire. The desire to protect one’s country and the freedoms it holds dear is strong in many people, and a career in the military holds many rewards. Some of those rewards are financial, and the military branches provide excellent support for those who seek to advance their education with career training.

Of course the financial and educational rewards are not the only motivating factors, and a career in military service provides many other benefits as well. From the satisfaction of serving one’s country to the pride that comes from a job well done, there are many reasons why a career in the military is such a popular choice.

No matter which branch of the service you choose to make home, it is a good idea to explore the online education opportunities and one of the best options these day is medical transcription training. In fact an online medical transcription course is a perfect fit for the military lifestyle, since the medical transcription online program eliminates many of the burdens standing in the way of a traditional medical transcription course. Since a medical transcription online course can be earned from anywhere in the world, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen are free to learn wherever they may find themselves.

Choosing to study medical transcription is a great way for those military personnel to enhance their career prospects as well as their job satisfaction. A military background can be a big benefit when it comes time to seek a job in the private sector, and having solid medical training will make those former service members even more sought after.

But the benefits of an online medical transcription course go far beyond the service members themselves. To learn medical transcription is also a great choice for the spouses and family members of those in the military. Earning a medical transcription certificate is a great way for those spouses and family members to enhance both their earning power and their satisfaction. Survey after survey has shown that those with more education earn far more than their less educated peers, and the value of a medical transcription class from an accredited online medical transcription program simply cannot be denied.

Danielle Brunson is a marketing specialist covers medical transcription, medical billing and coding, and medical coding trends, news and careers for Allied Medical Transcription School. Allied is a distance education school offering online medical transcription training with live student support and financial assistance options. Established in 1992, Allied has helped over 825,000 students nationwide prepare for new careers.

What is HIPAA and Regulations?

What is HIPAA?

The Department of Health and Human Services has developed a series of privacy regulations known collectively as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”). These regulations are designed to protect the privacy rights of individuals with regard to their confidential medical records. The act greatly restricts the dissemination and transmittal of personal patient information and will dramatically affect the way healthcare information is handled.

Who do the HIPAA Regulations Apply to?

HIPAA regulations have been crafted to have broad application. The provisions of the Act extend to all health care plans, health care providers who transmit health records in an electronic format, and health care clearinghouses and billing companies. The bill refers to these organizations as “Covered Entities”. Ultimately, however, almost everyone will be affected in one way or another by these regulations, which will impact both consumers and providers of health care services.

5 Easy Ways to Start Medical Transcription Career

Want to start a medical transcription career? Medical transcription provides an ideal way to start a career in the growing health care industry.   Become a valuable addition to the industry without having to perform any clinical tasks — doctors rely on accurate transcriptions of their patient visits every day.

Here are 5 Easy Ways to Start Medical Transcription Career

Learn how to type – This is the most important requirement to start your medical transcription career. Anyone can learn to type – there are a number of “learn to type” programs which are available and many cater to the beginner. 

Take a medical transcription course – Most people may think that being a good typist is enough to succeed as a medical transcriptionist, but this is not the case. If you already have experience working in a medical environment, then you may be familiar with medical terminology. Most people will need to enroll in a medical transcription course – this will familiarize you with all the medical terms you need and provide a solid basis of transcription knowledge. Choose an accredited medical transcription school to get a high-quality education – many offer the medical transcription courses online, so you can study on your own time, even while you keep your current job. 

Improve typing speed and accuracy – In order to be successful as in medical transcription, you need to be able to type quite fast, usually from 60 words per minute and upwards as a beginning medical transcriptionist. If you already purchased a typing program to learn how to type, you can use the exercises to increase your speed. Medical transcription also requires that you produce accurate work. If you focus on the quality of work, you will also eventually improve your speed – the more you do, the quicker and easier the work will become. 

Set up a place to work – If you decide to work as a medical transcriptionist at home rather than in a medical office or facility, you will need to set up a work space that you can use as your “home office.” Remember that the more you type, the more money you will earn. Medical transcription usually has a 24-hour turnaround, so you need to be able to return any work you take on within 24 hours from receiving it. This will become easier as you get faster at typing. The good news is that by working at home, you can work around your schedule and complete your work when it works best for you.

Become a registered medical transcriptionist – You can get extra credentials by becoming a registered professional – many medical transcription courses will provide the basis you need to pass the Registered Medical Transcription (RMT) examination – the RMT exam is available through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) and provides you with extra credentials for your career. This will give you an edge over the competition, and demonstrate to employers that you are serious about your medical transcription career. 

1. Learn how to type – This is the most important requirement to start your medical transcription career. Anyone can learn to type – there are a number of “learn to type” programs which are available and many cater to the beginner. 
2. Take a medical transcription course – Most people may think that being a good typist is enough to succeed as a medical transcriptionist, but this is not the case. If you already have experience working in a medical environment, then you may be familiar with medical terminology.  Most people will need to enroll in accrededited online school – this will familiarize you with all the medical terms you need and provide a solid basis of transcription knowledge. 
3. Improve typing speed and accuracy – In order to be successful as in medical transcription, you need to be able to type quite fast, usually from 60 words per minute and upwards as a beginning medical transcriptionist. If you already purchased a typing program to learn how to type, you can use the exercises to increase your speed. Medical transcription also requires that you produce accurate work. If you focus on the quality of work, you will also eventually improve your speed – the more you do, the quicker and easier the work will become. 
4. Set up a place to work – If you decide to work as a medical transcriptionist at home rather than in a medical office or facility, you will need to set up a work space that you can use as your “home office.” Remember that the more you type, the more money you will earn. Medical transcription usually has a 24-hour turnaround, so you need to be able to return any work you take on within 24 hours from receiving it. This will become easier as you get faster at typing. The good news is that by working at home, you can work around your schedule and complete your work when it works best for you.
5. Become a  medical transcriptionist – You can get extra credentials by becoming a registered professional – many medical transcription courses will provide the basis you need to pass the Registered Medical Transcription (RMT) examination – the RMT exam is available through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) and provides you with extra credentials for your career. This will give you an edge over the competition, and demonstrate to employers that you are serious about your medical transcription career. 

How to Start Your Own Medical Transcription Business

 

Would you like to start your own medical transcription business? A medical transcription career can enable you to do just that! It’s a convenient, flexible career that lends itself to working independently from home. You can join the growing health care industry as a small business owner. What could be better? 

With the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS. citing that medical transcriptionists working as independent contractors earn more than those who work for transcription services, there’s no reason not to venture out on your own! A little planning and preparation can start your medical transcription career off right. Here’s what to do: 

1. Complete a medical transcription course — If you haven’t already done so, you need to enroll in an accredited medical transcription school and complete your training. This will give you a solid foundation and serve as the basis for your future medical transcription career. 

2. Create a business plan — You need to create a business plan. It is important to define your short- and long-term medical transcription goals, detail your marketing objectives, and devise a business strategy. This includes determining how you are going to find business and manage your clients. You should follow this plan when dealing with the day-to-day operations of your medical transcription business. 

3. Get the financing — There will be some start-up costs involved in beginning your new medical transcription business. Research your financial options and pick the one that suits your needs. Family and friends, investors and bank loans are typical sources for funds. 

4. Learn about the competition — It is essential that you conduct research and learn about other medical transcribers in your area. Establish reasonable prices for your medical transcription services, and determine what will give you a competitive edge — how can you make your medical transcription business stand out? 

5. Fill out the proper paperwork — You need to make it official. There are city, county and state forms that need to be filed before you can operate your medical transcription business. These include licenses, permits and approvals. Find out which apply to you. This information is readily accessible online. 

 

6. Get started — You need to decide where and how you will run your business. A home office will probably suffice for your medical transcription business. You will also need to determine type of business equipment is needed, such as a computer, software, medical transcription equipment and office supplies. 

7. Open the door — When all of the above steps have been completed, you are ready to start working as a medical transcriber — as your own boss. Put your business plan into place and start finding clients. 

Starting a medical transcription career from home can enable you to earn a steady paycheck while enjoying the flexibility and convenience of working on your own. With the proper groundwork in place, you will be prepared to become a small business owner and effectively manage your medical transcription career. Good luck!

Would you like to start your own medical transcription business? A medical transcription career can enable you to do just that! It’s a convenient, flexible career that lends itself to working independently from home. You can join the growing health care industry as a small business owner. 

 

With the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS. citing that medical transcriptionists working as independent contractors earn more than those who work for transcription services, there’s no reason not to venture out on your own! A little planning and preparation can start your medical transcription career off right. Here’s what to do: 

 

1. Complete a medical transcription course — If you haven’t already done so, you need to enroll in an accredited medical transcription school and complete your training. This will give you a solid foundation and serve as the basis for your future medical transcription career. 

 

2. Create a business plan — You need to create a business plan. It is important to define your short- and long-term medical transcription goals, detail your marketing objectives, and devise a business strategy. This includes determining how you are going to find business and manage your clients. You should follow this plan when dealing with the day-to-day operations of your medical transcription business. 

 

3. Get the financing — There will be some start-up costs involved in beginning your new medical transcription business. Research your financial options and pick the one that suits your needs. Family and friends, investors and bank loans are typical sources for funds. 

 

4. Learn about the competition — It is essential that you conduct research and learn about other medical transcribers in your area. Establish reasonable prices for your medical transcription services, and determine what will give you a competitive edge — how can you make your medical transcription business stand out? 

 

5. Fill out the proper paperwork — You need to make it official. There are city, county and state forms that need to be filed before you can operate your medical transcription business. These include licenses, permits and approvals. Find out which apply to you. This information is readily accessible online. 

 

 

6. Get started — You need to decide where and how you will run your business. A home office will probably suffice for your medical transcription business. You will also need to determine type of business equipment is needed, such as a computer, software, medical transcription equipment and office supplies. 

 

7. Open the door — When all of the above steps have been completed, you are ready to start working as a medical transcriber — as your own boss. Put your business plan into place and start finding clients. 

 

Starting a medical transcription career from home can enable you to earn a steady paycheck while enjoying the flexibility and convenience of working on your own. With the proper groundwork in place, you will be prepared to become a small business owner and effectively manage your medical transcription career.

Flexible Career as a Medical Transcription

The overall make-up of the American workforce is shifting, with more women taking up full-time positions than their male counterparts. With the increasing amount of layoffs and economic troubles today, more responsibilities are being placed on women’s shoulders to earn a steady income.

According to The New York Times, over the past year, 82 percent of the people getting pink slips have been men — leaving women to oversee the day-to-day operations of corporate America. It is projected that women soon will become the majority gender in the workforce.

Doctors need detailed, up-to-date records of their patients’ medical care. Medical transcription enables women to accurately and quickly transcribe the dictated words of physicians. With their knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and grammar and punctuation, they can build a solid career providing accurate and error-free reports. An online medical transcription program can provide the hands-on training needed to get started.

Medical transcription provides women with a flexible, convenient career opportunity – a way to effectively juggle personal duties and build a solid career. It is a career that can be performed at home and scheduled around family needs, while providing a steady income that can support their family. As the need for accurate and reliable health records increase, so will the need for qualified professionals.

How is this affecting today’s families? Women are being called upon to do more. They are making larger contributions to the family income. Where men were once the dominant providers, women are now becoming the primary money makers. It is also putting greater expectations on women as they assume more responsibilities – at work and at home.

There is a solution. President Obama’s Address to the Joint Session of Congress highlighted the opportunities available in the health care industry. Higher standards in electronic health records and new technology will lead to increased opportunities in health care careers such as medical transcription – creating a way for women to assume a stable career that is family-friendly.

Current economic times are changing the face of the American workforce. Women are assuming a more dominant role and making larger financial contributions at home. As they manage more responsibilities, they may need a flexible, convenient career that fits with their family – medical transcription can be the answer.

The overall make-up of the American workforce is shifting, with more women taking up full-time positions than their male counterparts. With the increasing amount of layoffs and economic troubles today, more responsibilities are being placed on women’s shoulders to earn a steady income.

According to The New York Times, over the past year, 82 percent of the people getting pink slips have been men — leaving women to oversee the day-to-day operations of corporate America. It is projected that women soon will become the majority gender in the workforce.

Doctors need detailed, up-to-date records of their patients’ medical care. Medical transcription enables women to accurately and quickly transcribe the dictated words of physicians. With their knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and grammar and punctuation, they can build a solid career providing accurate and error-free reports. An online medical transcription program can provide the hands-on training needed to get started.

Medical transcription provides women with a flexible, convenient career opportunity – a way to effectively juggle personal duties and build a solid career. It is a career that can be performed at home and scheduled around family needs, while providing a steady income that can support their family. As the need for accurate and reliable health records increase, so will the need for qualified professionals.

How is this affecting today’s families? Women are being called upon to do more. They are making larger contributions to the family income. Where men were once the dominant providers, women are now becoming the primary money makers. It is also putting greater expectations on women as they assume more responsibilities – at work and at home.

There is a solution. President Obama’s Address to the Joint Session of Congress highlighted the opportunities available in the health care industry. Higher standards in electronic health records and new technology will lead to increased opportunities in health care careers such as medical transcription – creating a way for women to assume a stable career that is family-friendly.

Current economic times are changing the face of the American workforce. Women are assuming a more dominant role and making larger financial contributions at home. As they manage more responsibilities, they may need a flexible, convenient career that fits with their family – medical transcription can be the answer.

Why Medical Terminology is Important for Medical Transcriptionist?

Medical terminology is the basis of all medical careers. Whether you go into a hands-on career such as nursing or want to start your career as a medical transcriptionist, you need a thorough understanding of medical terminology to succeed. It’s the starting point for a career in the medical transcription field.

It is important to note that in medical terminology, the root word usually doesn’t make sense alone – it wouldn’t be used as a standalone word in a sentence. This is because medical root words are derived from foreign languages. The prefix and suffix is added to make the term make sense.

Medical terminology is the basis of all medical-related careers. Think of it as a stepping stone to reach your ultimate career goal. You will get the foundation you need to do your job in an accurate manner. Your thorough knowledge of root words, prefixes and suffixes will lead to success in your transcriptionist career.  

Understanding term is fundamental to accurately performing  medical transcription career. Without a complete understanding, you would not be able to accurately spell or use medical terminology in your transcriptions. All medical professionals consult their medical dictionaries on a regular basis – add a handy medical dictionary to your reference library. It’s the perfect way to learn and verify medical terminology.  

At Allied, we understand the difficulty of traveling to a classroom, finding childcare and disrupting your daily schedule. Learn from the comfort of your home. This course provides the perfect foundation for further training in medical billing, medical coding and medical transcription.  Online courses offer students a quick and convenient way to learn.  As a medical Transcription student you’ll learn the fundamentals medical terminology necessary to successfully transcribe physician dictation notes, and easily identify medical abbreviations, symbols, punctuation and grammar.

Medical Terminology is an essential part of every Medical School program.  This specially designed online course will provide you with an even broader range of terminology to further your professional success. Distinguish yourself by communicating with doctors and other medical professionals on a higher level of expertise!

How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist From Home

Your ultimate goal is to work from home as a medical transcriptionist – and this is a goal that is within reach. Get your medical transcription training and make contact with doctors in your area. You might need to gain a little experience first, but it is possible to work at home in your career. Knowing the reality of the required training and experience will make it easier to plan for your work-at-home job. There are many ways you can be proactive when it comes to your medical transcription career.  

   

 

1. Enroll in a medical transcription school that offers job assistance – There are medical transcription schools that will help you find a job once you finish your training. This includes teaching you how to create an effective resume, conduct a solid job interview, uncover job leads, and more. Give your job search a leg up by choosing a school that goes the extra mile for you and provides job assistance.
2. Join a professional association – This is a great way to connect with other medical transcription professionals. Choosing an association, such as the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI), gives you access to other professionals in the field. You can find out first-hand what it’s like to work as a medical transcriptionist and even gain a lead on job opportunities.
3. Contact doctors in your area – If you want to really know what doctors require for their medical transcriptionists, contact them and ask pointed questions. Do they outsource their medical transcription jobs? Do they require experience before they let a medical transcriptionist work from home? This is a great way to learn what you need to do to work with doctors in your area.
4. Avoid ads promising “Work from Home” – Becoming a medical transcriptionist takes work and dedication. You need to get your training from an accredited medical transcription school and then make contact with doctors in your area. Your medical transcription course can take up to 18 months. Any ads promising a quick way to start your career or not requiring any education do not have your best interests in mind and should be avoided all together.
5. Get experience – After you complete your medical transcription course, try to get experience. Contact a local doctor’s office and maybe offer to work at a discounted rate for the first month or arrange to start an internship. This can provide the doctor with affordable medical transcription work and also enable you to get experience under your belt – leading to your ideal work-at-home medical transcription job.
6. Become certified — Take the extra step and become a certified medical transcriptionist. This can add credentials to your resume and let potential employers know that you are really serious about your medical transcription career. As you look for a job, this can really make you stand out and give you an advantage in the job market.