You Must Read This: Do You Need A Medical Transcription Contract For Your Accounts? The Debate Rages On (Susan Eliot)
Nov 30, 2009
This is something that most people do not think about before working medical transcriptionist jobs. If you intend on working on your own, you might need to consider the structure that a transcription contract can provide. Depending on what your goals are, your decision to obtain a contract can go either way.
The Pros of a Contract
The upside about having a medical transcription contract is that it offers security. Having agreed with a particular doctor on the set terms of a contract will promise you the pay that it states. There will be no concerns about not getting paid on time, as well as not getting paid at all. You can also trust that there will be ongoing work. The dates and times of pick-up and delivery will be outlined, so there should be no gray areas. A transcription contract will make everything very clear in regards to how much you will be paid and how often. Above all else, contracts help to provide clear structure and organization to any medical transcriptionist's career.
The Cons of a Contract
There are some people who may feel restricted on a contract, especially if there is an hourly pay involved instead of a cents-per-line payment. It would be my advice not to get involved in that kind of contract, as they do exist, and can often be very limiting in terms of payment, especially since the longer a medical transcriptionist works, the faster they get. Always make sure that the doctor knows how much you expect in payment. It is very possible that both the doctor and medical transcriptionist can come to an agreement on per-line rate. People who prefer not to have ongoing work may not like the whole "feel" of signing a contract. It is best that if you aren't looking for a structured schedule, continuous payment, and ongoing work to avoid contracts altogether.
The Bottom Line is a Medical Transcription Contract is Recommended
If you are serious about working medical transcriptionist jobs on your own, an agreement should be made. Having a contract can help you to avoid any misunderstandings such as how much you will be getting paid, when the projects are due, when they should be picked up, etc.
There is also a lot more input involved on your part. You will most likely be getting paid more, especially since it is you who is helping come to the agreement about the set rate. As a contracting transcriptionist, you are your own boss and make the majority of the decisions. The most important thing to remember if you are going to sign a contract is to make sure that you can abide by your own rules and meet both yours and your doctor's expectations.
About the AuthorSusan Eliot is a wonderful resource in this field and is an expert when it comes to medical transcriptionist jobs. She owns and manages her own transcription company and knows first hand all the details about medical transcriptionist jobs..