News

Medical Transcription Program Gains National Approval

(Released 2/8/2010)

JAMESTOWN - The Healthcare and Office Administration Medical Transcription Program at Guilford Technical Community College has been approved by a joint committee of two national organizations.

The GTCC program, which is an online course that consists of 16 classes, becomes the first medical transcription program among the state's community colleges to gain this designation, according to Deborah Fondow, chair for GTCC's Healthcare and Office Administration Department.

The Approval Committee for Certificate Programs, a joint committee of the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity and the American Health Information Management Association in Modesto, Calif., determined that graduates of the GTCC "comprehensive medical transcription program possess the necessary job skills to attain success in entry-level transcription positions."

Medical Transcription was approved for the GTCC curriculum several years ago by the N.C. Community College System, but became a completely online program in the fall of 2009.

The program consists of 48 credit hours, and the completion of a 160-hour required internship during the summer semester. It is a one-year diploma course that can be completed in three semesters.

The Medical Transcription curriculum prepares students to become medical language specialists who interpret and transcribe dictation by healthcare professionals. Graduates can qualify for employment in hospitals, medical clinics, doctors' offices and transcription service companies.

Information about GTCC's online programs is available at www.gtcc.edu/programs-of-study/medical-transcription .

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