Office Skills Lab Offers Medical Office Program
That Gives Flexibility of Working at Home

CONTACT: TRACY ETHRIDGE, 226-7774

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/24/2000
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Like a growing sector of the population, Laura McCollum and Karen Johnson dreamed of careers that would allow them to work from the convenience and comfort of their own homes.

Both enrolled in medical transcription classes several years ago at Tri-County Technical College's Office Skills Lab because it offered them the flexible scheduling and training they needed to realize their dream of self-employment.

With morning, afternoon and evening hours in an environment suited to independent adult students, the Office Skills Lab's Medical Office program appealed to both women.

The program offers students beginning and intermediate training in Medical Keyboarding, Medical Terminology and Medical Transcription. A course in Medical Billing is also available.

The convenience was what first attracted Mrs. McCollum of Hartwell, Georgia, to Tri-County's Office Skills Labs.

Mrs. McCollum, who now transcribes for a physician and a hospital, used the five nights a week time she was spending waiting for her daughter in a gymnastics class to study at Tri-County's Pendleton campus.

"The classes were ideal. I dropped her off and went to class. It was so convenient," said Mrs. McCollum.

"I like the flexibility of the lab," she said. "You can start when you are ready at the Anderson Mall or on campus. You don't have to wait for a class to begin. I prefer independent study."

Self-employment is the path Karen Johnson of Salem chose after several years of working at Redfern at Clemson University. She decided to use her evenings to train in medical transcription classes and completed her certificate in two years. Following completion of her training, she left Redfern to work for a local urgent care facility.

Mrs. Johnson picks up tapes every day and returns the transcribed reports within a 24-hour deadline. She works five days a week for around eight hours per day.

"I love the flexibility of being self employed," said Mrs. Johnson. "I already had a computer so I purchased the medical software and was ready to go."

She continued: "I felt confident branching out on my own because of the in-depth instruction in the Office Skills Lab. It really caters to people who work," she said.

Mrs. McCollum and her husband farm breeder hens full-time so her "at home" career allows her the flexibility to help him with the family business. She picks up work from the hospital three times a week and averages working five hours a day. She also works on weekends.

"You must be disciplined," Mrs. McCollum said. "It's challenging. It's the best job I've ever had."

Both agree the salary is excellent. Bonuses are paid for speed, and "the faster and more accurate you are, the more you make," said Mrs. McCollum. "The beauty of this is if it doesn't work out at home, you can always get a job at a hospital or doctor's office," she added.

Around 1,000 students train at the Office Skills Labs annually. Instructor Barbara Hammond has noticed a surge in the numbers of persons participating in the medical office program who have the goal of working at home.

The 150-hour program is offered year-round, on weekdays, evenings and Saturdays at the Pendleton and Anderson Mall locations. A student's start date determines his or her completion date.

"It is almost impossible to find training that offers this kind of flexibility," said Mrs. Hammond. To allow adequate individual attention from the instructor, classes accommodate 10 to 12 students.

"Both Laura and Karen are dedicated and motivated. They each had a goal, and the Office Skills Lab helped them to achieve those goals" said Mrs. Hammond.
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