Medical Transcription Course Curriculum

The comprehensive curriculum of Blackstone’s online Medical Transcription course covers a broad range of topics.

Unit I: Blackstone’s Skills for Success

Chapter 1

Covers learning styles; intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation; self-efficacy and self-determination; visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners; and field dependence versus field independence.

Chapter 2

Covers study skills, including choosing a place to study; scheduling time; goal setting; monitoring your study sessions; and avoiding procrastination.

Chapter 3

Covers learning strategies, including SQ3R; note-taking skills; memory tricks; references; and how to take multiple choice tests.

Unit II: Introduction to Computers, Keyboarding and Office Technology

Chapter 1

Covers how computers are used in the office today, the different types of computers, and the parts of a computer system.

Chapter 2

Covers basic keyboarding skills using Blackstone’s Online Typing Tutor.

Chapter 3

Covers the Internet, the World Wide Web, URLs, the different types of Internet connections, search engines, email, and other uses for the Internet.

Chapter 4

Covers other types of office technology, including different types of telephone calls; fax machines; photocopiers; multipurpose machines; transcribers; digital cameras; and wireless communication.

Unit III: Anatomy and Medical Terminology 1: An Introduction

Chapter 1

Explains how medical terms are constructed and analyzed to determine meaning; discusses types of medical terms; explains the function of combining vowels and how terms are pluralized.

Chapter 2

Covers prefixes relating to number, size, color, negation, position and direction, as well as those with the same meaning or opposite meaning.

Chapter 3

Covers common roots and combining vowels as well as suffixes which indicate the word’s part of speech; also discusses suffixes related to pathologic conditions, diagnoses, and surgical incisions.

Chapter 4

Introduces the body cavities, body planes, and directional terms.

Unit IV: Anatomy and Medical Terminology 2

Chapter 5

Discusses the anatomy and physiology of the skeletal system, including the bones; the axial and appendicular skeletons; and the joints and ligaments; also provides a list of relevant medical terms.

Chapter 6

Covers the muscular system, including the types of muscles and their functions, and related diseases and disorders; lists relevant medical terms.

Chapter 7

Provides an overview of the integumentary system, including the skin, hair and nails; discusses diseases and disorders as well as lists relevant medical terms.

Chapter 8

Covers the respiratory system—including the nose, pharynx and lungs—as well as diseases and disorders related to this system; lists relevant medical terms.

Unit V: English Usage and Written Communication

Chapter 1

Covers the parts of speech, including nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

Chapter 2

Covers the parts of a sentence, including the subject, predicate, direct and indirect objects, subject complements, phrases, and clauses.

Chapter 3

Covers pronoun/antecedent agreement and pronoun usage; explains how pronouns are used in sentences; covers subject/verb agreement.

Chapter 4

Covers sentence types and sentence punctuation.

Chapter 5

Covers fundamentals of written communication, including using active versus passive voice; writing unified and coherent paragraphs, and writing topic sentences for paragraphs. Discusses common types of business communication, including business letters and memorandums.

Unit VI: Time & Stress Management

Chapter 1

Discusses determining personal values through assessment activities and making decisions based on personal values.

Chapter 2

Covers creating new habits and patterns of behavior.

Chapter 3

Explores setting realistic goals and objectives to achieve desirable outcomes.

Chapter 4

Discusses prioritizing activities, projects and to-do items.

Chapter 5

Covers effective planning and scheduling.

Chapter 6

Explores how to analyze and deal with interruptions.

Chapter 7

Introduces the use of daily TimeLogs.

Chapter 8

Covers tips and tools to use in personal and work settings that assist with time management.

Chapter 9

Explores how self-esteem influences productivity.

Chapter 10

Provides tips for controlling stress at home and in the workplace.

Unit VII: Anatomy and Medical Terminology 3

Chapter 9

Covers the cardiovascular system, including the structure of the heart, function of blood vessels, and related disorders and diseases; lists relevant medical terms.

Chapter 10

Discusses the function and parts of the urinary system, including kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra; covers related diseases and disorders as well as medical terminology.

Chapter 11

Introduces the digestive system, including the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and accessory organs; covers related diseases and disorders as well as medical terminology.

Chapter 12

Covers the peripheral and central nervous systems, their function, related diseases and disorders, and medical terminology.

Unit VIII: Anatomy and Medical Terminology 4

Chapter 13

Discusses the glands that make up the endocrine system as well as related diseases and disorders; also lists relevant medical terms.

Chapter 14

Provides an overview of the anatomy of both the eyes and the ears (the sensory system); covers related diseases and disorders as well as medical terminology.

Chapter 15

Covers the blood, lymphatic, and immune systems and their functions; discusses relevant diseases and disorders as well as medical terminology.

Chapter 16

Provides an overview of both the male and female reproductive systems; covers related diseases and disorders as well as medical terminology.

Unit IX: Introduction to Pharmacology

Chapter 1

Covers consumer safety and drug regulations; discusses drug laws, the FDA, DEA, and laws affecting healthcare workers.

Chapter 2

Covers drug names and references; discusses classifications, drug names, legal terms relating to drugs, and terms indicating drug actions, drug references, and drug cards.

Chapter 3

Covers sources and bodily effects of drugs; discusses how drugs are processed by the body; explains absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and other variables, and unexpected responses to drugs.

Chapter 4

Covers medication preparation and supplies; discusses standard drug forms and supplies.

Chapter 5

Lists and discusses abbreviations and systems of measurement.

Unit X: Critical Thinking Skills

Chapter 1

Provides an introduction to the critical thinking process, explores the importance of critical thinking skills and characteristics of critical thinkers, and describes a method to use for critical decision making.

Chapter 2

Covers schema, inference, and judgment and how these apply to critical thought.

Chapter 3

Discusses metacognition, the process of thinking about thinking, and how it builds critical thinking skills.

Chapter 4

Explains how consequences, assumptions, stereotypes, connotation and impulsive thinking affect critical thought, as well as how to identify strong conclusions to critical issues.

Chapter 5

Provides analyses of persuasive strategies that help develop arguments, including ethos, pathos and logos.

Chapter 6

Explores how to interpret and use three main critical theories—Marxist, Feminist and Deconstruction.

Chapter 7

Covers deductive reasoning, establishing premises and validity in critical thought, and interpreting and creating syllogisms.

Chapter 8

Defines emotional intelligence and explains its role in the critical thought process.

Unit XI: Fundamentals of Medical Transcription

Chapter 1

Covers the medical transcription profession; the medical report and the healthcare record; technology; references; work environments; medical readings: history and physical examination; laboratory tests and pharmacology.

Chapter 2

Covers ethics and professionalism; transcribing foreign accents; employment issues; job searching; employment enigmas and avoiding work-related injuries.

Chapter 3

Covers grammar, punctuation and style; acronyms and abbreviations; brief forms and medical slang; eponyms; flagging reports; and editing.

Unit XII: Disease Processes and Transcription Practice 1

Chapter 4

Covers dermatology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Chapter 5

Covers otorhinolaryngology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Chapter 6

Covers opthamology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; vision charts; common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Unit XIII: Disease Processes and Transcription Practice 2

Chapter 7

Covers pulmonary medicine, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Chapter 8

Covers cardiology and hematology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; a doctor’s view: cardiology and cardiovascular surgery; common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Chapter 9

Covers gastroenterology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; a doctor’s view: a surgeon’s view of gastroenterology and practice; common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Chapter 10

Covers endocrinology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings; history and physical examination; a doctor’s view: metabolism and nutrition; common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Unit XIV: Professional Development and Medicolegal Ethics

Chapter 1

Discusses how to maintain a professional appearance through attire and good grooming habits, as well as attitude and self-esteem; covers verbal and nonverbal communication, proper introductions, and business etiquette.

Chapter 2

Discusses medicolegal ethics in healthcare; covers the code of ethics; discusses aspects pertaining to the healthcare record including the purpose of ownership, how to correct mistakes, and the importance of timeliness.

Chapter 3

Guides allied health students through the HIPAA guidelines, discussing the Privacy and Security Rules, Protected Health Information, access control, de-identified information, and work area security.

Unit XV: Disease Processes and Transcription Practice 3

Chapter 11

Covers urology and nephrology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Chapter 12

Covers obstetrics and gynecology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; a doctor’s view: a brief look at STDs in women; common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Chapter 13

Covers orthopedics, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; a doctor’s view: common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Unit XVI: Disease Processes and Transcription Practice 4

Chapter 14

Covers neurology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; common diseases; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Chapter 15

Covers psychiatry, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: history and physical examination; a doctor’s view: depression; common diseases; diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Chapter 16

Covers pathology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings: pathology reports; a doctor’s view: gross and microscopic examination of tissue; diagnostic and surgical procedures, laboratory procedures and pharmacology.

Chapter 17

Covers radiology, including anatomy in brief; terminology review; medical readings; a doctor’s view: diagnostic radiology; common diseases; pharmacology.

Unit XVII: Creating an Effective Workplace Environment

Chapter 1

Discusses the various types of knowledge, types of goals used in the workplace, different means of providing feedback, incentives common to the workplace, and the different roles exhibited in the workplace.

Chapter 2

Explains techniques that promote effective nonverbal communication, listening and speaking. Explains proper technological communication techniques.

Chapter 3

Explores the concept of culture, the importance of cultural diversity in the workplace, and overcoming barriers caused by diversity.

Chapter 4

Covers attributes of successful teamwork, the role of the team leader, and overcoming barriers to effective teamwork.

Unit XVIII: How to Find a Job in Healthcare

Chapter 1

Covers job search correspondence including resumes and cover letters.

Chapter 2

Discusses job-search techniques such as networking and using online employment search engines.

Chapter 3

Discusses job interviews; explains how to dress for an interview, what to bring to an interview, what to expect during an interview; discusses common questions asked during an interview and how to follow up after an interview.