With the right tools and a firm grasp of medical terminology, the average person can produce more than 400 lines per hour!

Back when I took typing in high school, the goal was 72 words per minute on a manual typewriter, (yes, it's been awhile). When the class began, none of us knew how to touch-type at all, and we didn't have special training tools like The Keyboarding Module - just a simple exercise book. Yet, most of us were able to type 70+ wpm by the end of the year.

For typing purposes, a "word" consists of 6 keystrokes, (five characters and the space bar). So, 70 words per minute equals 420 keystrokes.

In medical transcription, a line equals 65 keystrokes. At 70 wpm, the MT produces 6.46 lines per minute, or over 387 lines per hour, assuming she doesn't have to stop every few minutes to look up a term she is unfamiliar with.

With the proper tools, such as The Productivity Module, an average of 40% of keystrokes are eliminated, increasing productivity to over 540 lines per hour!

The 40% average savings assumes transcribing for an unknown source. In other words, if you are transcribing for a doctor you have built a glossary for, (see The Productivity Module page for additional information), you will eliminate a much higher percentage of keystrokes, thereby increasing your productivity even more - up to 80%!

Assuming the average of 40%, you only have to reach a typing speed of 52 words per minute to produce over 400 lines per hour. Anyone who is not suffering from a physical handicap can learn to type 52 words per minute. With The Keyboarding Module, it's quick, easy, and fun.

It's exciting to note that because many medical transcriptionists are ignorant of productivity tools and scorn typing skills as secondary to their profession, 400 lines per hour is considered incredible productivity for top-notch MT's. This will excite the best employers and attract the highest pay.

What if I get stuck and need help?

We are always as close as your phone, email, or ICQ. Our support is absolutely unlimited - we're here to help you with anything you need.

What if I can't reach the productivity skills necessary for the job placement assistance program?

Stop worrying: if you do the work, you'll reach the goal. If you can't reach 300 lines with 98% accuracy, you're doing something wrong or not doing something right. We'll help you figure out what that is and correct it, and in any case, we'll notice it during assessment testing long before it becomes an issue.

However, if for some reason you really can't reach that level of productivity, you can still find a job. Remember, most employers are used to being contacted by people who can only transcribe 150 lines per hour. Anything above 150 looks good to a potential employer.