by M. Joseph

Created on: January 29, 2009

Speaking from personal experience here, I can say, with conviction, no. My mom has owned a medical transcription company based out of our home for the past 10 years. I have seenthe change. 10 years ago business was excellent. She typed for many doctors, she had a partner, employees, and very good income. Over time we have seen that change. Business is so light now that she works on her own, and there is just enough, but even that is slacking. There may be temporary opportunity, even for a few years, however it would be better to find a typing job in a hospital or in a secretarial position, rather than getting started from home. Many companies and hospitals require expensive equipment to be bought, and they don't usually provide it. When you type from home many times you are a sub-contractor, searching for your own work, or using a transcription firm to fnd work for you. My mother types for hospitals across the country, but the business is drying up. More and more hospitals are find it cheaper to use in house staff, and voice recognition software is rapidly becoming more and more sophisticated. In years past when someone asked my mom for help in getting a job, she would happily train them to transcribe, allow them to work for her for a while, and eventually help them find a position through a transcription firm. Now however, she tells people that it would be better to find a different position. The hay day of transcription has past. The market is drying up, and it isn't because of the economy, but rather the increase in technology and hospitals use of in house staff. This article deals mainly with medical transcription, however my mother's business has included several law firms, however they too have lost the need to have out side transcription. Another downside to transcription from home is the hours. My mom works from early in the morning to late at night to make her now small income from transcription. Many transcription firms supply a competitive source of typing, in other words, it is more like first come first served. Because of the lack of business she has begun creating a new business, though she has loved doing transcription from home she has realized that it is time to move on. If you have the skills for transcription and think it is something you would like to do, look for a position in a business. Though you may not be working from home it will give you flexible hours and probably good pay. Though you may be able to find temporary work from home, you'd be much better advised to look for something else.

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