Now that you have your office space and desk selected, it’s time to think about your chair, your computer setup, and finishing touches that will help boost your productivity as you do medical transcription from home. Your chair is going to be your very best friend (well, unless you plan on solely using a standing workstation) while working as a medical transcriptionist and editor.  A chair can make or break productivity. You want something that is ergonomic and comfortable enough to sit in for extended periods of time. A kitchen table chair is not going to cut it.  If you already have an office chair that is comfortable and functional, great!  If you don’t, definitely go and try out a bunch of chairs at your local office store or furniture store and find the one that works best for you. The big debate in this industry over computers usually boils down to one question: laptop or desktop? There is no easy answer to this question because, truly, this is a matter of preference.

You can set up an effective workstation with either a laptop or a desktop. The laptop does require a few additional considerations and I will discuss these here. For medical transcription and editing work, you don’t need a super expensive, powerhouse machine, but there are a few basic things you will want to look for. Firstly, you will want to look for a computer that has at least 2 GB of RAM and 250 GB hard drive. Most modern computers have much more than that, so you should be fine. You will also want to make sure that the computer has a pretty good sound card. You will be playing audio files a lot, so you want to give yourself the best chances of success. Beyond that, some companies will want you to have Microsoft Word, though the version required will vary from employer to employer. If you plan on using a laptop, great! A lot of medical transcriptionists and editors like laptops because of the ease of portability. Their tiny screens and uncomfortable keyboards, though, make laptops a bit of a nightmare to work on for extended periods of time.

There are a few things you can do to make them great work machines, though.  The first thing to consider is getting an external ergonomic keyboard.  You can find plenty of great USB ergonomic keyboards to connect to your laptop. Check out your local Best Buy, or any other store where electronic equipment is sold, to try out some of the models and see what works best for you.  Second, consider getting one or two external monitors to hook up to your laptop. An external monitor can go a long way to preserving your eyesight by reducing eye strain.  Using two external monitors side by side can be extremely beneficial because you can have your research windows open on one monitor and have the report you are transcribing or editing open on the other. Last, you might also consider getting an external USB mouse so that you don’t have to reach over to your laptop’s touch pad to navigate around your computer.  Essentially, you can turn your laptop into a desktop machine for when you are working in your office, but still maintain the portability of it if you need to take it somewhere else. 

A laptop docking station (you can find one for your specific laptop brand by googling the brand with the words “laptop docking station”) can allow you to plug all your peripherals into it, which, in turn, will allow you to connect your laptop to the docking station to use it with the peripherals.office chair base 28 diameter with 5 casters If you want to make your laptop really secure to help with HIPAA compliance, most laptops come with a Kensington Security Slot, or some equivalent of it.  eames chair price hong kongThis slot is part of an anti-theft system and it is a small, metal-reinforced hole used for attaching a lock and cable apparatus.  bean bag chair shark tankLocks are generally secured in place with a key or combination lock attached to a rubberized metal cable. cheap glider chair toronto

The end of the cable has a small loop that allows the cable to be looped around a permanent object, such as a heavy table or other similar equipment.Your office space is almost complete! There are just a few finishing touches you may want to make. First, even though you do want to make a distinction between your office space and the rest of the house, it’s okay to bring in a few personal artifacts to make you feel a little more at home. hanging egg chairs for sale brisbaneYou don’t want to overcrowd your workspace, but a few fun family photos or your child’s artwork in cute frames can be just the touch of “home” you need to remind you why you want to be a medical transcriptionist and editor.bean bag chair rental atlanta Once you have everything set up the way you think will work best, try out your space!

If you find that your resources are just a little too far out of reach, try shifting things around until you feel comfortable.  Adjust your computer equipment until it feels comfortable, and make sure your desk and chair are at comfortable heights. It’s better to get everything comfortable now than to wait for when you get out into the workforce. Fumbling around can waste valuable productivity time. One last finishing touch I would like to mention may sound silly, but it really can help! Make up a sign for the door to your office space (or entrance to your office space) that informs passersby that you are currently working and do not wish to be interrupted except for an emergency. You can slip the sign in a clear sheet protector and hang it using a Command hook.  This makes it easy for you to put it up when working and take it down when you are on a break or done for the day. This sign might also help while you are going through the course, to stay on task!This website collects pictures of different home office ideas and can give you some great visual suggestions if you are a little stuck.