Actually, Andrews is considered one of the best
Posted By: MT schools out there on 2005-12-13
In Reply to: Andrews School....radiology & pathology - PathGuy
Definitely in the top two. Their graduates are very highly sought after. If they charge more, it's because they are very well worth it. If you do a search for Andrews School, you will see this is true. They are definitely not one of the rip-off schools out there.
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M-Tec or Andrews. nm
Send her to either M-TEC or Andrews.
www.mtecinc.com
www.andrewsschool.com
Andrews graduate..........sm
I really don't know about the pathology or radiology part of your question, but what I do know that Andrews school is fantastic. I have never heard of a company who knew about Andrews grads and didn't want to hire them. I had a job before I graduated. I have kept it for over 5 years and recently decided to change jobs. I had 4 offers immediately. I assume you talked to Linda. When I have talked to her on the phone she has been a delight. Yes, the school is a bit on the expensive side but she has to pay her instructors who are fantastic and spend a great deal of time with the students. The cost also comes with a full library of books. You won't need to purchase anything when you graduate except possibly a foot pedal and maybe software.
As an Andrews grad, I highly
I felt well-prepared when I got my job and never regretted having paid top dollar for my training; as with many things, you truly get what you pay for. In fact, many of the national companies prefer Andrews grads or M-Tec grads as the previous poster mentioned and as a newbie you will need every advantage. Good luck to you.
So what if you are an Andrews graduate, big deal
I just read a post on this board about an Andrews grad who quit Diskriter. I am sick and tired of Andrew graduates who think they are better than the rest of us newbies. They get better jobs and more opportunites. The rest of us newbies get penalized. I was fired from Spheris ( mentor program) because I could not met the line count. There was an Andrews grad in the mentor program also. She bragged about her great QA scores and how she was leaving Spheris because of the low pay and because she could. The rest of us could not leave because we were not chosen from Andrews. Big darn deal if you are an Andrew's grad. It only means you paid more and people think you are better. Andrew graduates are full of them selves and arrogant.
There are better MT education programs out there (M-Tec and Andrews) but
CS does have segment of their program that Spheris is involved with. However, my understanding is starting pay for newbies at Spheris is low, even by today's standards.
My suggestion would be to check out other schooling options and other companies to work for before taking the leap. Do some searching of the archives here for more info both on schools and employers. (Also, you should be aware that CS has an affiliate program where people make money by getting others to sign up for their course so you may want to take any rave reviews with a grain of salt.)
M-TEC and Andrews produce MTs that are the cream of the crop.
M-TEC's course usually takes anywhere from 9-18 months to complete. I'm not sure about Andrews.
I have hired MTs from both those schools as well as other lesser-known schools, and the M-TEC and Andrews grads are the only ones that were worth keeping onboard.
www.mtecinc.com
www.andrewsschool.com
Andrews School....radiology & pathology
I called Andrews School today just to see what they had to offer. The person I talked to said that radiology is like pathology and is typically done in-house. She also stated that in about ten years that radiology AND pathology will be eliminated departments in most hospitals if not all. What struck me though was her surprise when I told her that radiology is done by many at-home medical transcriptionists. I beg to differ with this lady because on the MTJobs.com board, I always see companies looking for at-home radiology medical transcriptionists, and quite frequently mind you. I would like some feedback about this please. Is this lady talking out of her ear (and I think she is.) Do you think radiology AND pathology will be eliminated as departments in the future? Is your opinion that radiology is frequently done by at-home medical transcriptionists? And what is everybody's opinion of Andrews School? Personally I think they are incredibly expensive. She quoted me 3800 bucks for the course with a minimum deposit of 1000 dollars. And she didn't seem too worried about quality but rather my typing speed and how quick I could get through the course. Any and all information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Anon. IF you do not know what an Andrews grad is then you don't know this business
Andrews school produces only the best baby!!!!!!!No exaggeration here. Ask anybody on this board about Andrew graduates. We produce like pros, which I am.
typo, I type 1,200 a day or more. Yes I really do. Andrews grad. HOORAY!!!!
nm
As a recruiter, I'd hire an Andrews grad in a New York minute. You're doing a great job of se
They are properly trained. They are ready and able to work from day #1.
Wouldn't YOU like to have training that made you a hot commodity the minute you graduate? Maybe you should go back to school so you can be an arrogant MT and not be penalized because you aren't cutting it.
As a famous model once said Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.
Good luck in your future endeavors.
What is considered
an average salary at today's rates for someone with 20+ years of experience who can do all types of medical reports but prefers to do op notes?
I had once considered them too
at the end of last winter when I was getting ready to change companies, but I ended up going with Keystrokes instead, and I am really glad that I did! I can't believe some of the things that Deventure has done lately. It just makes me sick. Do they have no ethics?
have you considered
or are you crosstrained? I know it's not always like this be right now for instance the account I work on is very backlogged...Glad to here someone else is happy with them though!
I think anything after 12 pm is considered
second shift, like 3-11, 1-9, 2-10, something like that. When I fill in on afternoons, I usually work 1-9. Hope this helps.
Believe what should be considered
is that not all ICs have the same arrangements for payroll deductions, for instance, one company I know of takes out for Soc Sec, Disability and state tax; only federal tax is left up to the employee.
Have you ever considered
maybe you're not a good MT? I mean, I'm not getting my wages cut every month and in fact I'm making great money. Maybe this just isn't for you? It's okay, it isn't for everyone.
You use your own computer, FT is considered
6000 lines per week, 1200 lines a day and part-time, I forget? Call and ask would be your best bet!
Considered this company first, but now
I think there are too many company plants or pets posting for it to be real. Sorry. This board does not normally have people volunteering at will to ask all the pertinent information about a company with ready-made answers in all categories. Sounds like a few ploys other companies used and those companies were terrible.
TransTech- what is considered
x
Are lph also considered? I heard
that Spheris also required their MTs to be up to a certain speed by typing (or editing) a predefined number of lines per hour in addition to the daily lines and number of hours requirement. I wanted to apply to them once, but figured if they ran out of work all the time (which I read), I would not be able to meet their preset requirements. Maybe some other companies have this requirement to stay employed, so did not apply.
TT, what is considered 1st shift? What is 2nd?
x
have you considered an air card?
Check with Sprint, Verizon and some of the other cell phone carriers. I got a USB air card through Sprint, and the connection is great!!! However, there are several factors that come into play with these, including how far you are from a cell phone tower, but at least with a USB card, you could utilize it with a laptop or a desktop as long as you have an available USB connection. Hope this helps.
All things considered...
You have no right to pass judgment on MQ MTs who complain. You don't do ASR and you don't visit the pool often (and when you do it's 3 hospitals vs others 25). You are not in the same situation as most MTs at MQ. If/when you go through these changes and hardships, by all means judge away. Walk a mile...
What would be considered good pay for
an MT working a nat'l, knows the basic 4/multi-speciality, 10+ years experience? I was just offered a job for 9 cpl (65 character line/spaces paid), no bennies. Is that good/bad/ugly? Should I hold out for more? Opinions needed. THX
Has anyone ever considered that not everyone is cut out to be a great MT? Not everyone sm
can do every job. I personally would not be a good teacher, because my patience and dedication are not in that field. Unfortunately, I realized that 3 years into a teaching career.
To make money in this field, you need to be fast, accurate and focused. You need to be able to sit down, work for 8 hours and produce a certain # of lines or reports. Not everyone can do that, but it is not a bash on those who cannot.
Just because someone has been doing something for a long time does not mean that it is the perfect choice for them. There are options out there that might be better for you.
Doing something for a long time, no matter how hard you practice, does not always make you good at doing that. If that were the case, everyone that takes piano lessons can be a professional musician or every girl who takes ballet for many years can be a prima ballerina. Unfortunately, not everyone can be good at everything.
Trust me in this: If you look in your heart and find what you want to do and are good at, you will be a happier person and work will no longer be painful, whether that be as an MT, a teacher, a musician, a SAHM, or a circus performer. You have to find what works for YOU and being miserable every day suggests that it might be time to make changes.
Life is too short to be so unhappy. Talk to your husband and figure out something that can work for everyone. I am sure he does not want you unhappy all the time.
I've Considered That
I have several musical instruments as I have 3 now grown kids and I used to play in community band myself. I considered it, but there's only a 30 day limit on getting them back, and the amount they offer is supposedly about 1/4 to 1/3 of what you would get if you sold them outright, so I am worried that if I don't have things squared away in 30 days, I stand to lose $2000 worth of instruments (and sentimental value), not exactly priceless but still unlikely to be replaced soon, for $500-600. I suppose I could start with the one that would be missed the least (the flute) and take/reclaim them one at a time as necessary/able.
Have you considered medication?
For your Joan of Arc complex?
Have you considered keeping the job you have
while working for a new company, that way you can decide if you like the new one before jumping all the way in. Your old job can be your safety net. Just a suggestion. Good luck to you!
That would be OK. They didn't want you doing more than 40 hrs a week as it's considered OT. nm
.
12,000 lines per pay period to be considered SE...nm
nm
Well, I make 10 cpl, which is considered maxed out
by most all companies - so I am at the ceiling of my earnings - I do 1200 lines per day, and if I only work 5 days a week, that $600 a week, and those are full solid 8 hours. I used to get paid by the page, and it was an honest size page. Over the years, the parameters kept changing - we never saw the final report, but I swore if I did see my company's version of my page, it would be the size of a bath towel! So while my page rate eeked up a nickel or quarter here and there, the size of the page ballooned out! Or the margins. Then when we were forced to cents per line - which is when I swore I'd quit this business - the same thing happened over time. I used to make 11 cpl, but it was a short line! Now the characters in the line keep getting longer, and the ambiguous things like headers and footers and patient info don't count as pay, and my salary loss is the result - there are lots of us out here in the same boat. So while it is great that you are making $30K your first year in, does it make any sense that those of us who are lifers are making the same as you? It doesn't. Yet I stay here because first of all it is my love, and I still choose being independent and working from my home. I could never change that - but its a sorry trade off. As others have said, it is a sad industry where when you become a master at your trade, you made literally the same as an apprentice. Again, I have applied and interviewed at probably 40 MTSOs. All were great to me and begging me to join them, but not one could offer anything near even the 10 cpl I am making now.  All blaming, of course, the market and the cheap labor offshore, high cost of overhead, etc. My company has explained how my work should be easier now, what with all the technology they have developed, but you know what? I actually don't find that much of a difference with all the bells and whistles. I still love to type in boring old Word and use even their Expanders without any problems.
Fighting low wages: Has anyone ever considered trying to (sm)
organize MTs throughout the country? It seems like, judging by what I read in MR forums, that part of the problem is that when people first come into the business, they have no idea of what their hard work is worth. Regardless of the fact that hospitals want to pay the lowest possible price for transcription, the only people who should be settling for less than 10, 12 or more cents/line are ESLs in India, etc. American workers should be standing up for American wages. Yes, there are some companies who will say, Fine, I'll contract with India. Believe me, you wouldn't want those companies as employers, or to work for hospitals or clinics that operate that way. Heck... I sure wouldn't put my care in the hands of a doc that uses offshore transcription services, that's for sure!
SO, what I'm saying is, there must be some way to bring MTs from all areas, and of all experience levels together (OUTSIDE of AAMT, which has been in large part responsible for alot of the problem!), and organize for a decent living wage and health benefits. If all of us were to stop working for 3 days, 1 week max, do you think that work would all suddenly be sent offshore? I don't think so. Some might, but then again, it's a good way to week out the undesirable clients & employers.
I think we our often our own worst enemy when it comes to wages. If we continue to accept less than what we're worth, then that's all we can expect to earn.
Also, I'm surprised that some entrepreneuring MT company hasn't cashed in on all the newbies and in-school MTs out there who just want experience and a chance. Imagine if one of the larger, more respected services were to open an MT SCHOOL as well. They would receive an income from instruction fees. MTs could gradually cross over from student to trainee. MTs could earn extra money as teachers. (And should be paid well for it, too.) The company training the MTs would have first pick of the best and brightest for work in their own company. Beyond that, there would be more money to be made when it comes to referrals.
The healthcare industry needs to be more educated in the fact that transcription is a vital part of their work, and how well their reports are done is a direct reflection of their competency. If you look at how much money is wasted in these establishments on FLUFF -- excess management, inept management, some community programs, and in some cases excess in building glitz and glamour, one has to wonder why they feel transcription is a less-valuable service than those provided by their janitors, groundskeepers, or food service personnel.
One way to fight the low-wage problem is to continue to lobby for an end to offshoring of personal information, not only in the healthcare industry, but in ALL American industry. NO personal data: phone numbers, credit card numbers, etc. should EVER leave American soil without the express written consent of the owner of that data.
Another way to fight low wages is to do as much research as possible on prospective employers. Remember, they are not just interviewing you, you are also interviewing THEM! Go with the best-paying company you can find. If you are new to the field, that will be harder, but in your case finding the best learning environment is your best bet, and then work hard at getting proficient enough to be able to LEAVE a low-paying employer ASAP for a better-paying one.
In terms of being an IC, I know it's difficult to deal with people undercutting you. But once again, don't forget that when someone turns down high-quality transcription and goes with the lower-quality provider, simply because of a couple-cent-per-line difference in cost, the way to look at that client is Good Riddance! I used to have my own, non-MT, service-related business. I had two ways of weeding out the undesireables:
One was a waiver of liability. If they squawked about signing it, or started picking it apart like they were big legal experts, then I knew right away they were a future legal liability. (Of course, that is less of an issue with MT... I don't know of MTs that make clients sign waivers! It's just a 'fer instance.) But the best way to weed out the cheapskates and nit-pickers was to charge a slightly HIGHER fee than my competitors. I offered a higher-quality, more personalized service than my competitors. So I stood firm on my prices. And you know what? There are clients who will actually LOOK for the higher fee, knowing that if you can command and get a higher fee, you are probably a better service provider.
Also, steer clear of new clients who want a special deal or discount right off the bat. They will NEVER be satisfied; give them an inch and they'll take a mile. I believe that discounted rates are EARNED, not given out on demand. A long-time client who is honest, pays on time, tips, is slightly flexible, etc., who gives you steady, reliable work that is easier to do, should be rewarded with a deal. But that deal should only be between you and them, and not broadcast to other clients.
Some of my BEST business clients turned out to be people who at first pooh-poohed my fees, and went with the cheaper provider. Quite a few of them came crawling back on their hands and knees later; sadder but wiser, and more than willing to pay what I charged. And often they had such a big mess that needed to be straightened out (usually caused by the cheaper provider) that I initially had to charge EXTRA, on top of my normal fees, to straighten it all out! These people often came to be my biggest TIPPERS, as well! 
I think we have all been conditioned to believe we are lucky to have a job at all, and we need to start rethinking that. MT's need to stick together, network, lobby against offshoring and unfair pay, UNIONIZE if at all possible or beneficial, and be far more VOCAL. The normally quiet nature of most MTs and their behind-the-scenes work usually works against them when it comes to fair labor practices! Those of us with many years of experience & skill need to TURN DOWN job offers that are insultingly low.
Anyway, that's my take on the el-cheapo employers & clients, and the low pay they think we'll get down on our knees and thank them for! 
Happy 2007!
1099s are not considered late until after Jan. 31.
m
Well that is not really considered family plan
A family plan is husband, wife, and children. If it were just one spouse and two children, it would be cheaper. You have to also consider your co-pay. $700.00 a month with co-pay of $10.00 and drugs for $20.00 tops (most cost us $5.00) is very good. East coast may be different though. The $700.00 comes out of two pays ($350.00) each pay per month and is before taxes. Not so bad especially when I hate clinics! I'd rather pay out-of-pocket then go to a clinic. Sorry, just how I feel. Gotta pay to play I guess... LOL
I considered them at one point as well b/c of Hayseed...
Even have a folder on my email with our communication, but I respect our Red Gate Farm girl and they just dropped down very far on my list. Shame on THEM...
Thanks for your info. I had considered doing PT flex with MQ (sm)
to sort of cover my bases, but I have such a good feeling about Webmedx and I want to go into the situation open minded and refreshed and free to put all my effort into the new position.
I too will be on the Enterprise side I think, at least I know I am using their computer.
Thanks again. Soon-to-be-coworker.
considered not concerned.. I think I am asleep..
,
what's considered full time
What's T-C? Is it Transcend?
It is considered derogatory in N. America. nm
Congratulations on that! I have considered going for my master's, too,
but I am worried if this is the right time especially in the area I live. Good luck to you :)
Wrong, my dear, this was considered a
profession at one time and one that I was proud of. More than anything else, I think what brought the profession down were women so desperate to work from home so they could stay home with the kids, that the salaries dropped and the problems rose. Years ago it was a lot better.
Have you considered anger management?
Softscript...anyone know how many hours are considered
P/T and F/T with this company and required lines. Thanks in advance :)
Worst experience of my life!!!! I considered
I went to work there and management put me through the ringer, literally. Please, do yourself a favor and find another company.
What is considered good pay $500.00 weekly and up or can I make more once I become more
experienced?
MT has gone from being considered a secure job that provided a comfortable (sm)
middle-class living, to what it is now - sweatshop labor -with near 3rd-world conditions when it comes to how little it pays, loss of benefites, and how much one must work in order to earn half of what they made 15 years ago. Why am I still in it? Because I made the mistake of putting all my eggs in the MT basket years ago, when I was still young enough to change careers. But back then I didn't need or want to change careers. Now I'm too old to go back to school long enough to learn anything I could do that would pay decently (who wants a 70-year-old newbie at ANYthing?), and yet still a good 15 years away from retirement. So, although I keep looking around for something else, there is very little I could do at home on my own computer. I'm so burnt-out on offices & management that I doubt I could ever go back to an office ever again. The thought turns my stomach. I'm just hoping that I'll have enough in Soc. Security benefits when I'm finally eligible that I'll be able to get by on that AND a full-time (i.e., 60+ hours a week!) MT job.
I cut myself off :) Experience should be considered always in lieu of certification. nm
x
you arent IC if you get benefits-- still considered employee
nm
Thanks. I think it would hurt even more to be screwed by someone I considered a friend. sm
I had that happen a long time ago. Fortunately, at the time I didn't need the money. She had called me and was panicked because she was snowed under and wouldn't be able to make TAT. I worked myself to death all weekend long, but when it came to pay me, there was one excuse after another, and finally she gave me a check ... and it bounced.
On a happier note, or at least I hope it turns out happy, I wrote to the woman in Virginia again and she finally answered me saying that she had taken care of it and not to bother her again as she had clients to take care of ... whatever. Maybe this time the old squeaky wheel theory works.
I am sure that not all people without direct deposit are cheats, and I am glad you have found someone you can rely on. It will just take awhile to get this bad taste out of my mouth and learn to trust again.
Nice thought, I am sure they has considered this & not concerned much sm
with a merger, they always say no changes (for now) they just need to line things up, placate the currrent MTs into thinking, HEY HEY. I don't believe this is so. Need to make plans NOW- always have PLAN B and PLAN C in all future, all the time. In the end, all this talk will get you no where, not really. Know what MQ did in the Monrovia office after they took over My Office Genie, came and reconfigured the PC system to take off 2 lines per page, yep. Only way we found out was the tech support people The suits will do anything, tell any placating fib. Sorry to be so negative but it is true, human nature, read the newspapers, red magazine, see TV, globally how humans are, more are, than are NOT.
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