What are normal lab values?

Lab values, simply put, are the meaning of test results. Normal lab values, on the other hand, are lab values that fall within what’s considered the normal range by governing health agencies and industry professionals. When your test results show that your lab values fall within the normal range, this means that the organ relating to or producing the sample being checked is perfectly healthy. The test results for a particular sample may pose risks, however, if they’ve been found out to be higher or lower than the normal lab values.

An example of a normal value range is 12 to 15 g/dl (grams per deciliter) for the hemoglobin count for women, while 14 to 17 g/dl for men. Low values could mean that the person has anemia. But the presence of the symptoms of anemia, such as fatique, tachycaria, tachypnea and dyspnea, also have to be checked and ruled out first before arriving at this conclusion. The person’s diet and activities would also be checked and evaluated, as well as the recent medications he or she may have taken. Further testing may be requested to determine the patient’s speculated illness due to the meaning of the results.

Normal lab values are quite esoteric for the average person, unless he or she is familiar with the normal lab values for various factors and substances, or may have taken a medical coding or transcription course. Aside from the common abbreviations, the lab values also have a corresponding scientific notation, which may be indecipherable for the average person. 

Normal lab values are variable and may differ slightly among laboratories. Note that some labs make use of different standards of measurement or samples. If you’re a little confused about your results, talk it out with your physician. Your doctor would be able to give you an accurate description of your test results as well as the things you need to do about it.

Still curious about normal lab values? Check out our partial list of normal lab values here.

If you’re browsing the site for medical career training information, just click the medical and healthcare tab above the page to be directed to our training programs.

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Military Education Benefits: An Overview for Military Men and Their Spouses

Military men only deserve to get the best out of the life they will be returning to, after shedding their sweat, blood and tears for serving and protecting the country. But for some of these military men the transition can be frustrating. The changes in lifestyle and environment could also overwhelm them and prevent them from enjoying life to the fullest.

Some military personnel would still pursue military service as a lifelong career. Others may use their military experience as a springboard to a civilian career or entirely new career path.

Should army men wish to pursue a new career path or continue their educational goals, they can benefit from the government’s tuition assistance program. This benefit allows military personnel to obtain their degree or training certifications for free.

Military scholarships aren’t just limited to army personnel. The spouses of military personnel can also take advantage of military education benefits with what’s called a MyCAA program. MyCAA, which stands for Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts, has been relaunched in 2010 by the US Department of Defense, and offers up to $4,000 in tuition assistance. This allows military spouses to register for MyCAA-approved courses from career training providers like Meditec.com for a fraction of the cost.

Eligibility requirements are as follows:
•    Should be a spouse of active duty service members, guards and reserve members who belong to the E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2 ranks. 
•    Spouses of guards and army reserves should begin and complete their courses while their sponsors are currently in service.
•    The program is restricted to associate degrees, licensures and certifications.
•    As a general rule, military spouses should complete their chosen program within three years.
•    Coast guard spouses are not eligible for the MyCAA program. 

What’s great about these career training programs is that you can take them literally anytime or anywhere you want! You’re just one click away from completing a degree or certification.

By putting your military funding assistance into good use, you can create a new life for yourself and your family, while building a career along the way. 

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What are the Hottest IT Jobs for 2013?

Which career track should you pursue this year? Is the IT industry a great destination for career-shifters looking for greener pastures? 

Based on recent data released by CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI), 6 out of the 10 best jobs today are IT industry-related. Employed and self-employed individuals spread across 90 national and government employment resources were surveyed for the study—most of whom were raking in five to six-figure salaries annually. Listed below are the top six IT jobs in the United States based on employment statistics and outlook:

1. Applications and System Software Developers

The outlook for software developers is still going strong since 2010, with a 7 percent growth and 70, 872 people employed.

2. Computer Systems Analysts

26,937 analysts have been employed across the US since 2010, reflecting a five percent growth in employment rate.

3. Network and Computer Systems Administrators

18, 626 network and computer systems administrators have been employed since 2010, realizing a five percent growth in employment rate.

4. Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, Computer Network Architects

Just like the previous two positions, growth for these three professions has seen a five percent growth since 2010. 15,715 people have been employed under these job titles.

5. Computer Programmers

Job availability for this title has seen a three percent growth since 2010 with 11,540 jobs added.

6. Database Administrators

Hiring for database administrators have increased by seven percent since 2010, with 7,468 jobs added.

What is a CompTIA Network Certification and how do I earn it?

A CompTIA Network certification is an imperative requirement among network administrators, technicians, IT installers and help desk technicians. This type of certification equips the said professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge in networking technologies and trends, network configuration, and ensuring network safety.

According to the CompTIA official website, tech bigwigs like Dell, HP and Xerox require their specialists to be CompTIA network-certified. A CompTIA certification is also a requirement for technicians who’d like to join the Apple Consultants Network. It is also recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense as an essential IT certification. Currently, there are over 900,000 IT professionals who are CompTIA network-certified.

Getting certified couldn’t get any easier with CompTIA. It’s just a matter of choosing the entry-level or advanced certification, the accredited training center and the exam location you prefer.

Certification holders can update their CompTIA license by enrolling in a continuing education program for higher-level certifications such as those of Cisco, Microsoft and IBM.

How can an MOS course help boost my career?

¬Based on the results of the Microsoft Certification Program Satisfaction Study in April 2012, 91 percent of HR managers prefer candidates who have an MOS certification. Moreover, 64 percent of IT managers consider IT certifications of great importance in “validating the skills and job expertise” of applicants. This only goes to show how indispensable candidates with IT certifications are to the corporate world.

There are three main categories for the Microsoft Office Specialist certification based on concentration. These concentrations are Microsoft Office 2013, Microsoft Office 2010, and 2007 Microsoft Office System and Windows Vista.  

Passing the Microsoft certification exam entitles you to take part of the growing Microsoft Certified Community, giving you access to the privileges provided by the Microsoft Certification Program. These privileges include unlimited access to MCP member sites where one can download their certificates, and view tools and current news.

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Medical Transcription FAQs

Currently, there are over 105,000 medical transcriptionists employed by various healthcare institutions across the US that include state-owned and private hospitals, doctors’ offices, outpatient care clinics and diagnostic laboratories. Fueled by an increased demand for healthcare services, the profession is projected to grow by 6 percent between 2010 and 2020, as reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

More and more medical transcriptionists are finding rewarding jobs in the abovementioned health care institutions, which should be reason enough for you to take advantage of this trend and take charge of your healthcare profession. If you are looking forward to further your career in the health information management industry or if you’re new to the world of medical transcription, then you’ve come to the right place as we have the answers to some medical transcription FAQs.

1.    What does a medical transcriptionist do?

A medical transcriptionist is a healthcare professional that listens, documents and interprets doctors’ voice notes. These notes cover a patient’s medical history, referrals to other physicians, prescriptions, operative and discharge reports. As these recordings heavily contain medical jargon, medical transcriptionists are expected to have a medical background, although not necessarily. 

2.    What can I expect from a medical transcription program?

A wide range of e-learning institutions, colleges and vocational schools offer different online medical transcription packages that would fit your needs and schedule. Typically, a medical transcription program covers medical transcription theory and practice, medical terminologies, and a comprehensive compendium on surgery and pharmacology. The program would also teach you the rudiments of writing and editing and acquaint you with the legal issues involved with healthcare documentation. Certifications would be provided upon the completion of the program.

3.    How much can I earn from the job?

The average median annual income for medical transcriptionists ranges between 33,000 to 39,000. The hourly rate for transcriptionists average for $16 an hour, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Transcriptionists may also be paid per output or by word count, which is usually the case with home-based or contractual transcriptionists.

4.    What devices do I need to use to facilitate my job?

Thanks to recent technological advancements, the job of a medical transcriptionist has by far become more convenient. Gone were the days when transcriptionists had to listen to the whole voice recording to transcribe it verbatim. Specialized speech recognition software is now available to automatically transcribe the voice notes for the transcriptionist in a word-processor. All the transcriptionist has to do is to check the document for errors. Medical transcriptionists also make use of an audio playback software that plays the voice notes and a foot pedal to controls the speed of the playback.



5. Are there any free career guides for medical transcription?


Thanks to Meditec.com you can take advantage of their free career guide which is not just for medical transcription but for a lot of other industries you might be interested in at. Check out http://www.meditec.com/resourcestools/request-free-career-guide/ for this free guide.



6. Are there any military grants available for this career?


Again, thanks to Meditec.com (Meditec is a leader in portable career training for various industries), you may enjoy military education benefits. To learn more about this program, check out http://www.meditec.com/military-grant-overview/ today.

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Meditec.com Unleashes Online IT Program Discounts for Enrollees

Austin, Texas—Medical and healthcare training provider Meditec is offering a 20 percent discount for students who are interested in enrolling in its online IT courses. Titled “Spring is in the Air,” Meditec’s promotion is in line with Meditec’s objectives to offer a new start for people wishing to change careers and grow in the greener and ever-changing employment landscape of the healthcare industry.

Saving money couldn’t get any easier when enrolling in Meditec’s technology program. To avail the 20 percent discount, students only have to key in the discount code MED20IT before checking out their online course. All students have to do is hit the “Enroll Now” button, enter the discount code and pay the course in full. They’ll receive the 20 percent discount once their payment has been processed.

Technology courses covered are CompTIA Network, Cisco Network Technician, Microsoft Office, Oracle Database Administrator Courses, Certified Ethical Hacker training and more. Meditec’s Department of Defense Directive 8750.1 training package, a must for DND employees, is also covered by the twenty percent discount.

A 15 percent program is also applicable for the rest of Meditec’s course offerings. The discount code for this promotion is MEDAP. The same procedure applies to avail the said discount. Programs included in this offer are categorized under Medical and Healthcare, Business, Legal, Real Estate and Insurance.

“We understand how hard it is to find a reliable educational provider on the internet, all the more find one that fits the budget—today’s economy considered,” says Meditec founder Jari Davis. “With our seasonal discounts, we get to address that challenge for students and at the same time, bring quality online training closer to them.”

Students have to note, however, that purchases paid by third-parties are not eligible for the promotions. These third-party providers include resellers and other entities who are authorized to sell Meditec’s services.

Learn more about Meditec’s career training programs by visiting its official website, http://www.meditec.com. As a practitioner or industry professional, you can also make most of the site’s resources for industry news and updates as well as for medical terminology and tools.

Brief Profile

Meditec Inc was established in 1969 as a medical transcription service provider for US-based hospitals and physicians. The company pioneered medical transcription in the country and developed innovative systems for outsourcing medical transcription and dictation as well as the requisite training relating to it.

Meditec was the brainchild of Jari Davis, a medical data processing coordinator for the World Health Organization and University of Utah Medical Center. Davis also co-developed the first registry program in Utah, back at a time when healthcare documentation and information management were still in their nascent stage.

Through the prodding of her staff, Davis took Meditec to the internet in the early 1990s. Since 1994, Meditec has been one of the first companies to offer online training on medical transcription, coding, billing practice management and legal programs. Since 2002, Meditec has partnered up with 360training.com, to widen its reach and make its career training programs more accessible to professional.

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