AIM Mentoring Program

DETAILED OVERVIEW - AIM PROGRAM

Why "AIM"??

AIM is a 12-week long apprenticeship/mentoring

program offered exclusively to newly graduated USA-

based MTs, and is designed to help bridge the gap

between school and work, and to better prepare them

to be high-demand and work-ready MTs who are

capable of obtaining gainful employment.

Feasibility of the AIM Program:

The level of training for a lot of new MTs coming

out of many MT schools is severely lacking. Even

the best schools cannot produce enough work-

ready MTs to meet the needs of this ever expanding field. We believe that good mentoring, apprenticeship and internship programs can help provide the additional hands-on training that is necessary for new graduates to be work ready. Judging by the huge number of "newbie" MTs who contact us daily, they agree there is a need for a program like this.

Why would an MT want to participate in the AIM Program?

The AIM Program is designed to help new graduates to transition into the field of medical transcription by placing them directly into the workplace as apprentices, training on real files with real turnaround times, from real clients/physicians in the MT industry who participate with the AIM Program. The advantages of the AIM Program are obvious to the applicants. They will have the opportunity to gain a realistic perspective on the medical transcription profession, with a better understanding of the demands it presents as a career choice. The experience and guidance offered by the AIM Program Mentors can help the apprentice learn more effectively, elevate their level of success and help them gain self-confidence for entry into the job market.

How much does the AIM Program cost?

There is an initial $129 enrollment fee upon acceptance into the program that is due along with the applicant's signed confidentiality agreement and contract. However, unlike some mentoring programs, the MTs selected to participate as apprentices in the AIM Program are not charged for our mentoring services.

Why do you charge an enrollment fee?

Initially, we did not charge an enrollment fee. However, we have found that apprentices who are willing to "invest" in their future, seem to take their work and training more seriously and seem to do better overall.

Why 12 weeks?

This is not carved in stone. We find that some apprentices are work ready prior to 12 weeks...while still others require additional time. The goal of the AIM Program mentors is to help the apprentice attain the level of quality necessary to work as an MT in 12 weeks or less.

Are the interns in the AIM Program paid?

There is no monetary compensation offered to MTs participating as apprentices in the AIM Program until the apprentice has reached 98% accuracy or better on a consistent basis. What we do offer that leads to that is hands-on experience and QA reviews of 100% of their work, along with feedback which is aimed at helping them improve their knowledge and fine tune their skills, with a goal of making them work ready within a 12-week period. There have been and there continue to be opportunities for some of our apprentices to be paid during the last 2-4 weeks of their apprenticeship (based on the quality of their work.) Please note that we do not guarantee that an apprentice will be offered pay at any time during their apprenticeship, however. Each apprentice is assessed individually based on their achievements while in the program and the quality of their work.

What criteria must be met in order to apply to the AIM Program?

Applicants to the AIM program should have had at least one medical terminology course (preferably two), one anatomy and physiology course and (preferably) be a graduate of a medical transcription school. Working experience in the medical field may be considered in lieu of completing an actual medical transcription school, if the above-named courses have been completed. If an applicant meets this criteria, has a working knowledge of computers in general and MS Word, has computer that is equipped with Windows XP, 2000 or Vista and Microsoft Word 2003 or Word 2007, a DB9 or USB foot pedal and headphones (criteria are provided), then the applicant will be considered for acceptance.

If an applicant meets that criteria, what next?

Initially, the interested applicant will be asked to fill out an application. Once the application is reviewed and it is determined that the applicant is a qualified candidate, the applicant will be asked to take a written assessment test. Applicants must score at least 90% on each of the parts of the test in order to be accepted into the AIM Program.

Applicants are screened and selected based on the results of their assessment test, as well as their obvious desire to participate. We are looking for applicants who will be capable of working someday as INDEPENDENT contractors. We encourage our interns to be proactive in their approach to their career, to be responsible and dependable and to research things themselves. Our ideal candidates have all these qualities, and as such, do not require a lot of hand holding.

Expectations of the AIM Intern:

•

To consistently complete work within the TAT specified.

•

To complete work on a regular basis, as agreed upon prior to starting the AIM Program.

•

To apply feedback and instructions in order to improve his/her quality.

•

Avoid making unrealistic demands on his/her mentor by staying within parameters set by him or her with

regard to time and assistance offered.

Apprentices in the program will be expected to transcribe a minimum of at least 250 lines initially, working up to 500 lines per day (or 15-25 minutes of dictation each day.) A commitment of no less than 4-5 hours per day, 5 days per week is required of all apprentices. By the 10th week in the program, the apprentice will be expected to be at 96% accuracy and transcribing 20-30 minutes of dictation each day. During their final two weeks in the program the intern must consistently be at 98% accuracy, which is the accuracy rating required to successfully complete the AIM Program. At the end of their 12th week in the program, if the apprentice is consistently scoring 98% on QA checks, and they are able to transcribe a minimum of 30+ minutes of dictation daily, they will have successfully completed the AIM Program. Oftentimes, we are able to offer employment to the interns who successfully complete our program. However, if the apprentice chooses to accept employment elsewhere, they will be issued a copy of their QA scores (upon request), a letter of reference, and a certificate of completion showing that they did successfully complete an intensive 12-week long apprenticeship/internship/mentoring program that involved hands-on transcription of real reports in a real work setting.

Although we cannot guarantee employment or job placement for all apprentices, we can say that nearly all AIM Program apprentices who successfully complete the AIM Program have been offered employment either by us or by one of the companies that utilizes our graduates.

To fill out an on-line application to the AIM Program, please click here. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. We look forward to hearing from you!

Houck Transcription's AIM Mentoring Program • 1104 Riverside Drive • Pottstown, PA 19465 • 614-748-9330