I started 18 years ago and gave up a very good career

• a survey for MTs - Sarah
  • To spend more time with my kids - MontanaMT
  • See message - Sarah
  • I love MT, but I am also so glad hubby has steady income and excellent benefits! - msmt
  • I love challenge. Hubby is self-employed, too as a tri-axle owner/operator. No bennies at all unless - Getting older
    • we pay for them ourselves. Ouch! - Getting older
  • I wanted to stay home with the two kids...sm - EB
  • Why I chose MT.... - MTMom29
  • why I chose transcription - maam
  • My husband is in sales...sm - Happily Married...
  • My hubs retired as a fire captain. Great benefits, thank God! nm - zippy
  • Nunya - nm
  • What is the purpose of your post? - Something's up here with you.
    • To the three rude posters... - 1timemom
    • what's wrong with her asking that question - sm - traveler
      • Because there's no reason..sm - Why
        • and there was no reason for you to have answered, if you -sm - nn
          • I simply asked her what the reason.. sm - That's why
            • SM - nn
  • Why would you ask (nm) - such personal questions
  • I started 18 years ago and gave up a very good career - Get outside
    • I could have written your post ! sm - The Box
  • Why I chose transcription.. - anon
    • I chose transcription - Rae

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I was relatively new to the MT world when I began working at MQ.  I recall it as an experience that almost caused me to totally QUIT the MT profession.  For one thing, the majority of dictators were horrendous.  Add to that the fact that communication with supervisors, QA, etc., was almost nil.  Then, I learned about the MT questions person, but I quickly became embarrassed and was afraid that he/she would get tired of me.  Working at MQ was definitely a learning experience, but it is my opinion that it harmed me more than helping me.  For one thing, I do not enjoy the experience of hypertension and migraine headaches, and I am sure that I would not enjoy the experience of a CVA.  Obviously, I do not work for MQ any longer. 

As it has already happened twice, I won't be surprised if I again receive a telephone call in which I am invited to reapply and work there again.  The first time that they called, I told them to take my name off their list, or put my name on their DO NOT CALL list.  But, they might call again.  For this reason, I have placed my old trumpet next to the phone.  A good blow of the trumpet in the caller's ear will be the only response they get from me.  I understand that pushing the O button on a touch-tone phone will create a similar effect. 

These MT schools are still cranking out the MTs as fast as they can (and taking their money).  I am sure they know that there already isn't enough work to go around and no work = no money.  Plus the fact that the MT trainee who could ever hit the ground running and make money right out of the gate is far and few between.

As for the coding, it is pretty obvious that is a huge candidate to be done by EMR and I'm sure it will happen in the not so distant future.  There will probably be someone an R.N.? LPN? EMT? who will do chart reviews to ensure that every possible diagnosis that could get another dime in reimbursement is put in the record.  That would be a few jobs depending on the size of the hospital.  I seriously doubt that these jobs will be offered to former MTs.

Another job opportunity might be that of what used to be called ART (acredited record technician), those people might be allowed to do chart reviews as they have always done it anyway, I even did it myself way back there.  The JCAH (forget what they're called  now) used to offer a study at home course but you had to be affiliated with or work for a hospital in order to have access to the records that were necessary to complete the course.  In some smaller hospitals ARTs (or whatever they are called now) were even heads of the medical record department.  I believe it is also offered as a 2 year course at some community colleges.

Sadly I think that those who have put themselves out for the expense and bother of getting and maintaining CMT credentials are just going to be SOL because I think those credentials and a buck might buy them a cup of coffee.

This is the way I feel and I could be wrong but I don't think so.

seem to be implying that since AAMT happens to be located in the US then that is why the association is named the way it is.  You are incorrect in your implication and it is not right to post it in that manner on a public forum where new visitors get the wrong idea. 

really did okay, bout 80% VR.  Not sure what it is but lately the reports are coming in such a mess and such bad quality I am now not able to make a decent line count.  I believe  the push was on and they added facilities way too fast without everything being in place and lots of docs needing to learn how to use the durn thing and the system not used to the dictators (and with some dictators never will) that these accounts are now really so bad MY counts are even way less on VR  than they were 5 years ago.  The system has to have so many reports in to make the words come up correctly in future reports but is supposed to eventually get used to things.  But like I said, way to big a rush and push for VR and I don't believe companies or the system were ready. 

BUT the sellers of these systems who make quite the profit don't care and the MTSOs certainly don't care that we make such a pittance being paid by the line or if we can pay our bills and probably never will.  As MTs, we are certainly taking the brunt of all of this.  Pathetic.  Wonder what they will all do when more and more MTs move on to a job they can make a living at and the hospitals tell them they can't offshore??? 

How in the world do you guys make any money.  I am thinking of calling company up and telling them no thanks.  I trained for 2 hours then was let go to work another two.  Did 350 lines at 4.5 cpl.  What are the keys to making money with VR. I am using Dictaphone Express Editor.

2 weeks, but the person I was supposed to train felt like she knew my job better than I did (although she knew squat) and was a pain to deal with, never on time, etc. so I only worked about a week of my notice before I left and told the person I was supposed to train that since she knew more than I did have at it.  Anyway the owner wouldn't pay me for vacation.  I filed a complaint with the labor board and they were more than happy to get my money for me.

Breitner can threaten all they want to.  If you can document that you are owed monies, if Breitner can't prove that you aren't owed monies the labor board will be glad to collect your money.  I would also file a complaint with the Attorney General .   I have heard several people have had payment issues with them while the still worked for them.  If people are willing to let them get away with it by just chalking it up to experience, then they will continue to try to get away with it.  I'd contact the IRS too.   I don't know what Breitner thinks they can do to you - let them threaten all they want to.  A word of advice - DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT.  

Right after I started with them, I was able to drag two MQer's over with me.  The three of us can't be any happier.  They run off DQS, but are NOT affiliated with MQ.  They fine-tune your work pool to exactly what fits you best.  I type mostly OPs, then RAD mixed in for variety. 

They're not planning on becoming huge.  They're family owned and small is quaint.  They close the office at 5 p.m.  We have our own mail site where we can all communicate with one-another as we are transcribing.  Also, no ESL and the pay matches all the big companies out there.  No honeymoon phase here, we are truly appreciated and respected.  Such a relief.  It's so sad reading these posts where people say there just are no good companies out there, when the truly do still exist.

or is it low?  I've recently had to start looking for a new job and am trying to figure out what a good cpl rate is for someone with my experience:  13 years of mostly acute care work.  It seems kind of low to me but maybe not.  I've been an IC for the last five years or so, but kind of wanted to get away from it for a while as I can never seem to be discplined enough for my taxes.  The 7 cpl text and 3.5 cpl VR is employee status, the only benefit right now would be PTO with insurance in a few months possibly.  I worked at my last company forever and only made 8.5 cpl as an IC, so all of this is kind of new to me.

Thanks!