Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I blame the schools also.

Posted By: mtmt on 2009-05-12
In Reply to: exactly! You have to be willing to work sm - MT30+-

Work at home, big money, easy job. Yeah, right. Just like stuffing envelopes.


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

There are schools, and then there are schools.... (sm)
and so far no one where I worked before or currently has been interested in hiring. Some schools are nothing but a scam. Others are excellent. It's the transition period from newly-graduated student to income-producing worker that has a lot to do with the MT shortage. Many newbies throw in the towel and quit the profession because even though they're ready to work, they can't get in. Back in the day, many services & hospitals would take a couple newbies under their wing (I was one of them) to basically learn on-the-job. That may not be a completely viable option nowadays, but something in-between would. Another thing that I'd love to see changed is the snooty attitude many old-timers have to newcomers to the field.
The two best schools seem to be
Andrews and M-Tec. I have been in this industry for decades, both as an MT and MTSO, and it seems that the grads from those two are the most ready to hit the ground running. I wish you luck with getting money back from TranSCAM; they have, unfortunately, ripped off many people who fall for their shtick.
Yes, these schools
just want your money because so many people who get into this field shouldn't be doing it in the first place. It takes certain skills to be able to do this and the schools don't even care if you know how to read, they just want your money. I took a $600 course and finished in 3 months and luckily I found work on this website 3 years ago as a newbie. Since then, others have talked to me about this career and I discourage them if they don't have the capabilities it takes to do this type of work. So many think that it's a piece of cake since they can already type. And it is very difficult to find a job with an internship included. And they want experience, usually 3 to 5 years. Those seem to be very difficult to find these days. I wouldn't recommend it myself and I do enjoy my job.
I wonder about schools s/m

KIds seem to be graduating now without skills in the old basic, reading, writing and arithmetic and it didn't just start recently.  Another of my pet peeves is hearing people say, I'm not reliable for accidents.  Good grief!!!!!  I've heard this spoken and seen it written.


A lot of the crap schools do

take that as truth.  I know I certainly did not.  There are schools that cannot get you a foot in the door, let alone promise that you can make those amounts.


Then there are schools like Career Step who have information about grads who did/do make that amount...but they don't promise it and have never promised that their grads would make that wage. 


It is very possible, but for a lot of us, it's not. We cannot really blame that on the schools. We need to blame ourselves and the companies for the the 5-7 cents a line that we settle for because, like all families, we need to feed our children and pay our bills.


I see it with colleges. You can make this much in this field, you can make that much in that field. It all depends on where you work, how productive you are, what state you are in, tons of factors. Same is true with MT, too many factors.


Nothing is ever promised, especially in this line of work.


I am just happy to have a job that I love, that I am able to have the opportunity to stay at home with my young daughter, have deductions come tax season. 


Hey, I made more waitressing than I did doing transcription my first year, but does that mean I want to go back to waitressing? Not a chance.  I could have made more at McDonalds, in fact, but do I want to deal with that crap?  Not really. 


I am thrilled about being an MT and would not trade it for the world and certainly didn't buy into the get rich scheme that a lot of those schools throw our way. 


It's a shame that schools have to use that as a way to get people to attend, but it works..and let me tell you, I have plenty of people that have never ever done transcription that tell me what a cake job my job is, you've all heard it before.. I CAN DO THAT, ALL YOU DO IS TYPE


...and THOSE are the people that get backed into the corner by these schools thinkin that this is going to be something that they just type and can throw out lines like crazy and make that $40,000 a year....because we all know, MT is EASY... psshhh.  Those schools should have to provide proof and stats.


Recommedations on DL Schools
I am looking to take my MT training. I want to make sure that I choose a distance learning school with very rigorous and demanding courses. I want to learn as much as possible. If anyone has any recommendations, they would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!
Two online schools

that have a record of getting their graduates placed in positions at home WITHOUT needing 2 years of experience are:


Andres


MTEC


 


Comparing schools
I took a quick look at their website, what they offer, and how much it costs. Are you interested in this course because they say they often hire top graduates? This course does not guarantee you a job with them. They even say you have to go out and market yourself.
As an M-Tec graduate, I can tell you that if you study hard and after graduation really stick to it, you will find a good job. You receive a large number of real books with M-TEC and not just some workbook. With M-TEC you have your own instructor to answer your questions and guide you through the course. Not to mention the online classes and vast online resources they offer. They have their own IT expert, who will answer your questions and holds online classes. After graduation, they will always be there to help if they can. They help with your resume, and after graduation they provide you with a large list of MT companies that hire new grads. Make a list of questions, submit them to the top 2 or 3 schools, and compare answers. Good education has its price, but it will also open doors for you!!
Shame on MT schools
Shame on these MT schools saying they can guarantee graduates $60,000 per year!! Of course some say up to, which is very subjective, though very misleading.  They ought to let people trying to get into this business know that unless they are fortunate enough to find the right fit, they are in for a bumpy ride.
these MT schools only care about the sm
money they can get and that is the bottom line.

On the other hand, there have been plenty of MTs on this board who have spoken against these MT schools and their advertising practices. We have said that this is no field to get into if you just want to work at home etc and that no school for four months, six months whatever was going to be enough to get into the field and that it takes years and years of working to even be qualified to work at home alone. But you know what? Everytime somebody talks against the schools and the fact that this profession is going down the tubes because of the attitude of wanting to work at home and make lots of money, we get blasted by other posters with rude and nasty posts.

Many of us have warned folks who wanted to go to these schools, not to do it and folks won't listen. They pay their money and just as you describe, they get out of school and still can't do the job.

Im glad somebody else is saying what the real deal is with these schools and these advertisements because for myself, this is the last time I will ever mention it. Some folks will only learn by doing and wasting their money. They won't listen.
Allied Business Schools, Inc.

I have had no problems getting job offers.  Right now I am working for a great lady that really respects her MTs.  She just got a new account, so she is growing, which is a good thing.  I can work whenever I want, literally.  The only she asks is that I do at least 30 minutes of dictation a day for five days a week.  Of course, I will do way more than that, but it is nice to know that if I need a break for a day or two then she won't mind.s


I wish you the best of luck!!!


There are 2 great on-line schools
that are so good their graduates are hired right away: Andrews and M-Tec.

Don't accept less than the best where your livelihood is concerned.


Here my schools requirements for an externship












I am enrolled at Kaplan University in the AS degree program for medical transcription


MR203: Medical Externship and Evaluation (3 Credits)

 
Course Description
Successful completion of this course will require 90 hours of transcription experience at an approved health care setting. Students will be evaluated on the performance of expected competencies at the end of the course. The course requires a final presentation. The online version of MR203 requires each student to locate their own externship site and obtain approval by the clinical coordinator prior to beginning externship.

Course Objective
By the end of this course, you should be able to:



  • Transcription of health care dictation to demonstrate accomplishment of the transcription program outcome (MRT-1).
  • Prepararation of patient care documents to demonstrate accomplishment of the patient records outcome (MRT-2).
  • Medical Transcription practice within the ethical guidelines, standards, regulations, and laws demonstrating accomplishment of the standards, laws, and ethics program outcome (MA-3).
  • Application of learned foundational knowledge demonstrating accomplishment of the foundational knowledge program outcome (MA-4).
  • Professional communication and conduct demonstrating accomplishment of the professionalism program outcome (MA-5).

 


I agree with you about the way substandard schools
operate, but I would call people who fell into their traps, 'suckers.'
I am convinced that they came into this profession with diligence and the honest wish to give their best, work hard. but were overwhelmed by what they were confronted as not well- and enough-trained newbies.

They were misinformed and taken advantage of by misrepresentation and false promises.
and they can afford to BUY TRANSCRIPTION SCHOOLS!!!
...and they didn't lower the cost for the HOSPITALS! They're just pocketing all the money they are making by RAPING US of our pay!!!!!

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT!
Gee, ya think that's maybe why the original poster asked about SCHOOLS??

Amazing! Obviously brains are not too much of a requirement...Ya just had to get that dig in about how hard it is due to medical "language", yadda, yadda.  Give it a break and say something we or the original poster DIDN'T know!


MQ will hire newbies from "approved schools", what are they? sm

I am considering going through a community college that has a 100 hour internship program at the end.  I want to know if this will be enough to hire on as a trainee with them. 


 


Is it just Career Step they approve of?  Anyone know? 


It's all those matchcover schools telling them they can make
$40,000-50,000 in their first year working at home while their small children play quietly at their feet! The only ones getting rich are the so-called schools. There ought to be somewhere to turn them in for false advertising.
How do these MT schools get away with saying you can make $40,000 per year. That is a fake
advertisement and should be banned!
Has anyone else seen ads for MT schools that promise 40,000 yearly? This doesn't appear to be tru
with my experience, at least starting out anyway.
I know of 2 MTs from reputable schools who started w/o the 2 year exp. nm
.
Yep, one of the "top 3 schools" has grads that will work for this.
On the forum of the MT school I graduated from, I see all the time new MTs taking jobs for 1-2 cpl for editing jobs. Right now there are posts of those willing to work for free just to get experience. It drives me crazy. They don't get that they are driving the rates down for everyone. Why would a company pay more when there are new grads beating down their door to work for 1-2 cents per line. They don't get that they are ruining the profession they have just worked so hard to get into.
They changed their name ... check the AAMT list of schools
it shows it as being changed
It's a myth perpetuated by the students and staff at those schools. nm
x
Don't blame you.
This career is nothing special. I have been treated as badly as in any career I've had. Doesn't matter how hard you work or how much smoochin ya do, you get burned every way you turn.

My opinion of this industry has changed drastically in the last year. It sux.

I used to come to this board and wonder why people were angry and bitter and negative. It didn't take me long to figure it out.

Companies think we are so desperate to sit at home in our little prison cells we call offices that we will put up with anything.

There's a few good places out there, but they continue to dwindle. I'm glad I happened into this line of work when I did. With just around five years, I'm not too stuck to get out. I got a nice job outside the house that's easy and fun and pays well, and this is just a hobby anymore. If I hadn't paid so much for my education, I'd find a new hobby.






I would be more apt to blame
your employer for this and not UPS .. all things are traceable through their system and when they tell you overnight .. they mean it .. unless this week you live in Denver.  I would talk to the FutureNet people.  UPS cares about their reputation.
Can't say that I blame you! nm
nm
they need to look at mgt & not blame the MTs
It is mgt/team leads that is telling MTs not to record extra hours for OT if they work extra. That is not the MTs fault!!! Don't be nasty to the MTs who are the bread and butter of your company or everybody will quit!
I don't blame you one bit but....
There is an unrest afoot that is probably going to impact the people who pay us peanuts for our valuable talent. I am an MTSO and still have lots of work but I am not fooling myself that it will get worse before it gets better. In the 1970s we all got fed up with the low pay and walked off the job. Then the powers that be realized that they must pay us more. It got better for a long time but now we are up against India, VR and EMR. All those things are proving to not be what they are cracked up to be and it is just a matter of time before they realize again they they must pay us for our valuable expertise. So if you still want to get out, may I suggest real estate? If you rae smart enough to to MT, then you are smart enough to do RE. Anyway, just my $.02 worth.
I cannot blame the ones who have
had bad experiences with MQ, everyone is different with different needs, but this is exactly why I came back to MQ. I tried others over the years and have had the same experience you mention here. I need to work full time to support my family and so far MQ has been the only company that can provide me with consistent work, unfamiliar or familiar accounts - it is all money to me.  
I don't blame you at all...sm
Let me know how it goes and if you get your own accounts.
Everybody else to blame
You chose where to put your money. Yes,it's easier to blame everybody else. Go ahead a be a victim if you want, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you keep blaming everyone else for your problems,don't expect your situation to get any better.

Half the problem with our economy now is the victim mentality and everybody wanting someone else to take care of them and tell them what to do, and then when things go wrong, throwing blame at everyone and refusing to take any responsibility for their own actions.
I don't blame you one bit...
for getting out if they cut your pay for editing yet they get the paid the same as text. I think it's awful, and more MTs should not be putting up with that. I'm just saying for myself, where I am right now, I enjoy my job, make good money, great boss, and flexible hours.
Hey I don't blame you
not in the least little bit.

It's rough out there and to be frank, after 10 yrs of this work it seems it's gotten to be kind've the same all over. Just a small recommendation though, keep looking for other jobs as well. I don't mean quit Oracle, just another part-time job in addition. It's good to have a safety net.

Good Luck and I hope it works out for ya !
I don't blame her one bit. She will sm
find another job probably better than the one she had. Family still comes first and these companies an scr## themselves!
But really, can we blame her? If any of us

do the same thing.  I worked for MDI.  I loved MDI.  I have always known D to be someone of yes, integrity.  I don't believe her integrity flew out the window.  There is surely a lot we don't know.  And of course, D would not have been at liberty to discuss the coming merger before it happened.


D is a businesswoman.  The purpose of a business is to generate income.  She ran her company with honesty and integrity.  I can't say I wasn't suprised, shocked even, at what has happened.  But I have known D since the early 90s and I know she is a good person and truly cares about people.  I don't know how to reconcile that with what has happened other than to think there is more to the story than we know and that it is the decision that D needed to make at this time for whatever reason, whether it be to ensure a secure retirement, whether it was because she was no longer able to compete with offshoring and VR - and I think this may be part of it because she had told me at one time that facilities were wanting to pay for transcription in light of VR and offshoring and their ability to get it for less elsewhere, or whether she was just tired and ready to not be the one at the helm any longer.


Whatever the reasons, I choose to believe that D is still the person of integrity I have always known her to be.  I just accept that there must be more to the story than I know.


I wish the best to D and to all MDIers.  I feel like an era has come to a close and it will never be the same again.  But I feel lucky to have been a part of Signal and MDI and to have known D.


A lot? You've got to be kidding. Name them. "Big schools" still don't equal experience.
x
blame on the advertisements
.
Hee, Hee - see all the stingy MTs - don't blame you either. nm
nm
Please, do not blame Dictaphone,
they are only doing what company says to do, they state that. The problem is, you don't know what the company tells them to put it at, unless Dictaphone does not know how to do this. I have found the most honest accounting is when you can go into sessions and it shows you the number of reports you have done and the line count. it is hard to manipulate line counts when you can double check them. You cannot do this when you have to go to the Dictaphone web site to get a conglomeration of line counts with nothing broken down. No single numbers, just the total line counts. Thus, if you lose 2-3 dictations in a day, no wonder you line count is down - your company gets the lines but YOU don't, not if the reports are dropped.
Don't blame you for wanting out. All
s
temporarily down and no one to blame
crap happens
ExText is not to blame .. the
clients determine the lines and how they are counted. ExText merely follows the commands of the person inputting the data as it is hardware that needs to be set by a person! Your company or hospital should, however, disclose how they are paying you and you certainly should ask for that information and get an answer or then I would certainly be wary.
Don't blame you for leaving

I worked for Focus for almost 5 yrs but with new management - aka Nuance - no thanks - income dropped, accounts lost, no job security and I was losing $500 a month compared to when Focus ran the show!!  You did great for leaving!!!


Blame it on the Indians! LOL ! Like everything else! LOL..nm
nm
VR companies to blame
I had the same experience.  My MTSO did not initiate the VR.  They claimed they would not be making any profit.  The hospital bought the VR platform on the promises of how great it was, how much money it would save them.  In a conference call about it, my MTSO said they were making no profit.  I am not sure I buy that.  But then they said something interesting, and I am not sure if I understood it correctly.  They said the VR company gets a percentage of the line rate for the hospital using the platform.  That shocked me.  So, the hospital is saving money, the VR company is making money, the MTSO is making money, and not much left for the MT.  I could have understood this wrong, but that was my take on it. 
Sure, blame the reader for your
You do realize it is neither your responsibility nor within your power to 'make' any other MT behave as you desire?

I understand why so many posters do this, though: It deflects the frightening possibility that low wages, downsizing, lost benefits, etc., could ever happen to them onto those to whom it has already happened. It's a denial/distancing/coping mechanism. Totally get that.

But it's still obnoxious and unhelpful for others to read. No one asked for the nagging, ma.

Further, I would gently suggest you look up 'victim' in the dictionary. You may note that victimization requires two parties. Insisting only one of them bear any responsibility for the circumstances is like insisting your kid make the seesaw go up and down when he's the only one on it.

Hope that helps! If I've inspired only one MT to surf on before posting another sanctimonious lecture, my work here is done! I will prove that my work here is done by returning to the thread continually to insist that I am right and everyone else is just wallowing in victimhood/poor reading comprehension! Then I will ice the cake by blaming the whole contretemps on their bad childhoods.

Sorry, but I've got nothing but eyeroll for your input at this point.
Yep, blame the MT for no work!

Same situation at both companies - I came, I worked, I made money, the work disappeared, I went broke, I moved on.


Sure, its MY fault that work dries up after a year or so at each job I get.  I spread the curse of no work everywhere, and soon I may be getting a job at your company - so beware!  Your work will disappear in the next year or so!


Do not blame the MTs for company mistakes

I just received an email from my MT supervisor stating that she wanted to let us know that we just lost 3 worktypes on a major account because we were not transcribing, editing and delivering to the client within our contracted turn around time.  She said she was sharing this information in hopes that we will realize how important it is for us to work our shifts,etc.


All of us working on this specific account are ICs. What has been happening is they want to treat us like employees.  We get demanding emails to work and tons of how to do lists.  No one at this company are employees,yet they want us to work like employees.  When are companies going to realize that if you want someone to work a set shift and answer and read daily emails, then they should make us employees.  This particular company send out daily long emails and only pay 5 cpl to edit acute care accounts with no benefits on escription.  As an IC I never put all my eggs in one basket and especially not for 5 cpl.  I do not feel the MTs should be blamed for losing these work types. I feel the company should take responsibility for this.


If the MTs are not meeting TAT or their said upon line count, then management should have let them go. However, I personally am required to meet 2,500 per pay and that is exactly what I do and no more at these rates and especially not for this company who make demands on us like we are partners in the company.  I feel companies try to get off cheap by hiring ICs, but then try to hold you down to a schedule and treat you like an employee when you are not.  This loss of work is the companies fault.  Any opinions.  Thanks


 


 


 


 


MTSOs have only themselves to blame for their plight.
They were so quick to jump on the bandwagon and train the indians, etc., to do work cheaply and now that they are trained, they are taking their work away. They will not wake up until they find that their nice little management jobs are just as easy to outsource as are the MT jobs.
I dont blame you on the taxes

My husband makes more than that himself though, so we are stuck with the taxes no matter what.  They take half our pay checks, I just did our return and had to write them a nice fat check for that, and then find out we dont get the stimulus check (big shocker there). Just seems like we get screwed from every different direction.


With the cost of living what it is, I sure don't feel like we are rich but the government seems to think we are and taxes accordingly.