Switching career paths
Posted By: Mom on 2009-08-24
In Reply to: If you can afford to go to school, learn something else. nm - MT777
I switched paths a few years ago, but backwards from you. I am an LPN, but went back to school for medical transcription. I have an autistic son who is 15 now. I left the workforce when he was diagnosed at 2 years old. About 4 years ago, he was getting more independent and I wanted to go back to work. My dilema was the child care issue and that is why I chose to study for something that would allow me to work from home.
I also had been going through personal issues with my marriage and know where you are coming from and how difficult this decision is. I still work from home doing transcription because balancing the costs of working outside of home (travelling, food, wardrobe, child care, etc.) against the benefits being at home, it has worked out for me better to stay at home. It was really important to me to be the one to provide care to my son and to be flexible enough for the day-to-day things that usually come up. My advice would be to really decide what is most needed and important for you right now, and go from there... and weigh the cost of both.
I tuck a little bit away each pay ( whatever I can manage) and claim my utilities and anything I can as expenses on my taxes each year.
Good luck with any decision you make.
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We must have crossed paths..
because I am with them for the same time you've been gone. They did pick up a few large accounts last year and just acquired a couple of others recently. The work has been steady for me, even through the 2 Christmas holidays I've been with them and steady work even on the editing side. I have not run out of work yet.
Yes, mostly IC positions and still a great group of folks to work for.
Good luck to you.
switching
You could work for Webmedx. They try to keep you doing the same accounts from day to day. I work there. I do the same accounts on a daily basis. Of course, you can ask for more accounts if you want.
Give them a try. Well worth the call.
They are switching over to SR SM
in a short period of time and I anticipate many people leaving because of the decrease in pay that will ensue.
Switching to VR
I worked for a local neurologist for over 13 years when one day he suddenly decided to go to voice recognition and have me come back into the office to help a very incompetent office manager run things. I informed him that I was a MT and not a billing or payroll clerk. I gave my 2 weeks' notice and went to work for a large MTSO.
A few months later I ran into another employee of his and they told me that VR was a total train wreck. He had programmers in the office on the average of once a week to change or enlarge voice plates, etc, etc. He had invested a large amount of money in this contraption and still had no success. In fact, he was losing money because instead of seeing the number of patients he could before when I did his transcription, he, himself, had become the MT, watching the computer screen to make sure it made no mistakes and if it could keep up with his speed. No one in the office had MT experience, so he was on his own. In fact, it got to the point that he actually consulted an attorney to see if he could have the patient sign a waiver indicating that they had given him a complete history, so he could just dictate the patient has agreed that the history he/she has given regarding the current problem is accurate and therefore, he did not have to take up the huge amount of time it took to dictate the actual history given, while editing his VR.
This brings me to the current use of VR and VR accounts. It is a popular speculation that VR will one day replace us all. However, if VR accounts still need MTs to edit and correct, how does that make it a wonderful technology? What would happen if MT companies nationwide, large and small, refused VR accounts. If a doctor or hospital wants to go to VR, then let them go it alone. Do you realize what a disaster that would be in perhaps less than a day? VR would be gone for good. I do not know of any doctors or hospitals that would want to sit and watch a screen to make sure the computer was not making errors. We are enabling VR to take over our jobs. I know it will never happen, because money is always the bottom line, but if we ever want to eliminate VR from our profession, that would be the only way to do it. Unfortunately, however, one day those of us who still wish to work in this profession (and who have not been lucky enough to retire by then, as I will have)will be working with VR accounts, making less money, and enabling a machine to take over what used to be a profession occupied by human beings who could do a much better job.
You're switching to DEP?
I was switched from DEP to DQS and my production drastically decreased. Made very good line count on DEP. What office is still using DEP?
switching from old programs
I posted this theory on the main board a couple of weeks ago. I read in the court papers for a lawsuit from a hospital that Medrite (specifically) had been inflating lines. It's an allegation, not proven, but if it's true, that means that transcriptionists on old programs such as Medrite are now experiencing a decrease in DQS because they were getting inflated lines before but no longer. I worked on MTs before and have noticed an increase in productivity on DQS. My MTS came out to a 65 cpl count, as does DQS (spaces included on both). Has anyone experienced a decrease in line count moving from MTS? So far I just hear people complaining who came from Medrite or cottage.
Switching accounts
I have been working at Webmedx for some time now and have not had any account switching going on. I have my primary account and a secondary account. I absolutely love it here!
thinking about switching too...sm
but do you have to work specific hours and days? I am used to downloading my work, m-f, and sending it back by ftp. do you have to work online through their platform? they sound great, but I am worried about having to work a weekend day. do you work until you meet your lines or set hours? just some questions. you can email me if you want to. thanks for your help. tough decision.
Switching accounts . . . . sm
When hired I was asked to please let them know if I wasn't happy with my account. I think they would rather place you on an account that you're happy with than lose you. It's just a win-win situation for everyone. I wouldn't hesitate to ask to be switched.
Switching Companies
In the last 5 years or so, every company I have worked for has done the bait and switch to one extreme or the other. Whether it was schedule, benefits, position, accounts, etc. They all did it. It is getting frustrating trying to find a decent company to work for.
my company is switching to DEP and I
want to know if anybody uses the DEP (document enterprise platform). Can you tell me how you like it. Currently we are using a Microsoft Word based program. Just looking for some feedback. Thanks in advance.
Do they still pay vision since switching
to TriNet? The rates went up pretty significantly on everything else.
Companies switching to VR...
I work for 3 companies currently and ALL of them have in the last 2 months announced that my accounts with them are going to VR. Two will be using MModal platform and the other eScription. Every one of them has quoted us a rate of 3 CPL!!!!!!  At first when the first company told us that line rate I was like, no way, that's ridiculous, but then when the other 2 also announced the very same line rate (with absolutely NO negotiation) I was extremely dishearted to say the least. From my research I was under the impression that 4-5 cpl was the going rate, but it appears that these companies are now down to offering only 3. 
For anyone working on the above 2 platforms, what are you currently making per line and are you able to at least make a decent wage? All 3 companies are touting well, you will be able to do 3-4 times as much work but the most I've heard tell of is 1.6 to 2x. Guess they're buying the crap sold to them from the VR software company.
Switching platforms
I switch platforms back and forth (not as much as I used to because I work on Chartscript primarily and keep busy enough) but I do help out on BT when needed or when Chartscript is slow. I don't find it difficult at all to switch platforms and maybe I've been lucky but I don't find the acct specifics on these different accts to vary too much where its been a problem. At one time I had about 12 different accts in my pool but that was just me...I had been burned so bad working for another service that I was terrified of not having enough work. I don't have the problem anymore.
Working with MQ, but thinking about switching.
Does anyone work for Transcend or Ascending Healthcare systems??? Just wondering if they are good companies. I am really fed up with MQ. Just cannot make any money with them. I am getting tired of working my rear-end off and not making anything at all. Seems like only nickels and dimes when I get my paycheck. Anyone care to comment or agree with me or even disagree???
Please someone respond to my post.
Suzy Q
you were scared of switching companies?
nm
Me too. I work in a Drs office, they are switching to
nm
Can't image switching back and forth sm
use this format, use that acct specifics. No thanks, guess must be self-limiting huh.
Anyone switching from IC to FT for MQ - qualify for sign on bonus? (nm)
;
LOL ... I loved switching those little font balls too. sm
I was in Heaven when we got the correcting Selectric -- no more white out, which of course is a major faux pas nowadays. I still have my old IBM Wheelwriter in the closet -- first typewriter with memory that I used and could store reports. I thought I had reached the technological edge then. (smile)
Thanks for making me smile. Although I love my PC, it is kind of fun sometimes to look back and see how far we have come. 
Switching jobs is an opportunity, the door to better
x
Are the Precyse and MQ DQS platforms the same thing? I'm thinking about switching
nm
I started there about a month ago. My two accts are good. Not sure on the switching nm
General question on training vs. switching to production...sm
Does there seem to be an average number of training hours/weeks for most companies before they switch you over to regular production? Here's my concern: I started with a new company a few weeks ago. They put me through one week (40 hrs) of training at an hourly rate and then switched me to production. I am typing any/all specialties for a total of about 50 different docs who of course each have their own specs along with the two clinics that each have their own specs along with having to learn the logistics of the software along with researching all the new terms I don't know and get used to the docs I cannot understand (yes that sentence was a run-on on purpose:) My point is, after one lousy week of training, my daily line counts are still so low since I'm learning and reading every little thing still that my hourly rate is literally about $3.50 right now and I'm busting my butt 40 hrs. a week. I thought companies usually utilized at least a 30-60 day training period. Am I way off here? My count goes up a TINY bit each day but not enough to continue to survive on this job.
True. Most have less issues than the Q, though. I worked there 10 years before switching.
Webmedx definitely beats them. You can trust management at any of these larger places anymore.
Perhaps they took the opportunity of switching to a new platform to slash line counts?
Maybe they figured everyone would blame the new platform and not THEM??
new career
I have been transcribing over 10 years and love it, but with the industry robbing us blind and using us I have been making less and less each year. I am in my mid 40s and hate to be thinking of going back to school, but I think I have to. I have always done office work but it is lower paying and I hate being stuck in a cubicle all day. I like the medical field but do not think I am cut out for nursing. Does anyone have any ideas that are decent paying in the medical field that do not takes years to earn a degree at? I looked at ultrasound tech, but I have to investigate this further, not sure if there are any schools in my area.
Trying to be optomistic.
Give them a call. So many people switching companies all the HR depts must be really busy. nm
.
When I went to school for this MT career
What happened? I barely clear $30,000 a year in this field working for a national. I'm in debt up to my eyeballs. Someone please help me.
I was told to think of it as a career.
/
been in this career for almost 2 months
Basic rate of pay that I have been seeing is 7-8 cents per line for IC and thats basically what it is set in stone at. I would be told that in some cases before even sending a resume and giving them my experience.
That is crazy, considering you can be paid that much as an employee. I agree about the taxes also.
Why would you have to give up your career?
If you can't get your job back, apply for a remote job - most companies are more concerned with *if* you can do the job (which will be apparent if you test well). As to a two year lapse in work record? Who says you have to be that precise with your dates?
You don't have to go to Career Step
I smell something a little fishy here. Are you advertising for Career Step? I repeat if you are already a transcriptionist, then you can apply for online jobs. It does not take a certificate from Career Step. I have been offered many jobs online, and I do not have a certificate from Career Step or any other training program. 
Career Step
Just to clarify about Career Step, the cost is nowhere near $5000. It is in fact, between $1500 and $2000 the last I knew. I do not work for them, but graduated a year ago and they did prepare me for acute care MT work. (After 9 months I am making about $20,000 a year, working 2 IC jobs for a total of about 40 hours a week).
Career Step
CS has been a dream for me. With their training, I had 7 offers for at-home MT employment within 2 weeks of graduation. It is a hard course, and the final exam has a 50% fail rate, but it really prepares you for the real world of MT. If it wasn't that hard I think I would be dead in the water. If you want to learn more, they have a forum for people who have questions about joining at http://careerstep.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/frm/f/6960008433
and their website is www.careerstep.com. Before joinging, I checked them out with the BBB and called them probably 20 times with questions. They were very helpful and have a shiny record with the BBB. Also, they are one of the few schools approved by the AAMT, as you can see from the AAMT website. They are also a lot cheaper than most places. Hope that helps!
Career Step
Career Step is legit (and I don't get any $$ for recommending them). The course is self-paced and allowed me to work from home right after graduation. The website has all the cost info. on it.
Career Step
If I knew then what I know now, I would not have attended Career Step. I would have attended MTEC or Andrews.
I like it! Most sites having to do with career changes - sm
seem to be geared to high-powered professional types, or computer geniuses. We're in such a NICHE, (or is that just a nice word for 'RUT'?), and our skills are specialized. Also, quite a few of us have been doing this for 20 or 30 years, and have specific problems with changing careers because we concentrated all our energies into MT. I, myself, lack the BA Degree so many places seem to want, even for lower-paying jobs. I only got as far as an AA Degree, and it's in Art. Totally useless. So, currently looking not too far down the road to my 60s, the thought of going back to school (which for me would mean all the way back to high school math, chemistry, etc.), just doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. Still, I have to eat..........
Career Steps
Everyone seems to want to hire Career Steps people. I went to Ashworth Career School online. I thought I was doing fine there, I liked the convenience of the course and the low monthly payments. But, they are not very recognized by MT companies.
Career Step
My sister took this course 3 years ago and was hired as a graduate. I was able to view this course and was very impressed with it and how it prepared the students. There is a lot of practice dictation starting from beginner to advanced, working your way up. Another good school is M-TEC. When I helped my sister research what companies were looking for in graduates, these were the 2 schools that always popped up as being recognized by companies that hire graduates.
I went to a local business school and worked on site at a hospital/clinic for 5 years before working from home.
Career decisions
I've done nursing and I am here to tell you all that it is not as easy as it looks. The money might be great, but it is so frustrating and exhausting, especially when you are right there on the front lines, so to speak, dealing with life and death right up close working in a somewhat dysfunctional medical system.
If you are young and energetic or just energetic at any age, it might be a viable solution to study nursing. For me, like some others, working from home, at home, is my top priority.
Through the years, I have noticed that many of the really happy MTs are those who do not have to depend on their MT jobs to pay their main bills, but may do medical transcription work part time to supplement their income. No, I am not discounting those who do it full-time and are very successful and really love it; I'm sure they do exist.
However, the suggestions made in this thread make total sense to me, kind of like having the best of both worlds. Now, the challenge is to find that perfect part-time MT job, as well as a really good career with a promising future, doing something else.
career change
ultrasound and radiology tech schools are pumping out a lot of students every year with not enough jobs to go around (have friends who are recent candidates who cannot find work). what is really in demand is occupational therapy tech and physical therapy tech and of course nursing. good luck with your decision.
I don't know when you started a nursing career but
I was more than happy to trade in mine for MT training. I worked as a R.N. for a health system that formed that wonderful alliance, as most have. I found myself working in all 3 hospitals, in 4 different areas. Years ago I worked in ICU and knew my patients and gave them ICU nursing care. The last time I worked in ICU, it was for 1 day, then it was off to a hospital across town to work a med-surg floor for 2 days and then back to ICU again, where I was told my patient had died. I blamed that on no one knowing her case and so much rotation that the patients have been forgotten. I worked swing shifts and weekends and witnessed more and more of my coworkers leaving for nursing homes just to have a half decent schedule, then becoming depressed when the elderly patients they got attached to passed away. I decided to go for what I now call hands on nursing care without really being there and I started working as a MT 4 years ago. I love it!!! Nurses may be paid more but for what in exchange? As for pay and benefits in the MT profession, I never expected benefits for being self employed so I provide my own. I also make more money doing this because I am in charge of my schedule and my work volume. I also no longer have nightmares about the patients I feel I had to abandon to satisfy a bunch of bureaucrats who run hospitals these days. So before you announce how much better nurses have it, become one and try out your skills in any hospital of your choice. Lots of luck!
I am hoping to start a new career with a new
company this year. Working on the resume now! I am so tired and burned out with my present employer and so unhappy doing QA. I want to transcribe again, or QA with a more professional company. Not too much to ask for, right? But change is hard. I hope I don't wimp out.
Worst experience of my career.
//
Career board dried up?
Have companies stopped posting on the Careers board? I assume work hasn't dried up in the two months I haven't been on here?
It's time to fine a new career.
nn
They do get a fee for all who actually enroll in career step.
My god, and you stayed in this career while failing
the only one to blame as I can't imagine why you would think that summation of your career any step of the way was a success. Per your description, sounds like nothing worked for you after a year or 2 at best. I've been in the biz the same length of time and experienced the complete opposite of your story. I would never have endured what you have endured, as I would have had the common sense to realize that the job was not cut out for me or vice versa. You have thrown your entire life away on this industry, and yet came back again, and are on here bitter and spewing hatred at complete strangers to you. Honestly, you need to re-evaluate - read your own life story and take some accountability, realizing that you should never ever have stayed in this industry. You have nothing to show for it, have lost everything per your own claims, so please reconsider and have the back half of your life mean something - anything, whatever is important to you. Obviously this industry is not suited to you. Please don't lump us all in with your experience. I can't imagine many MTs have suffered as you have - why would we? We would find a new line of work ASAP and move on with our lives, not sacrifice them as you have. I can't even feel sorry for you as a reader - none of your story makes sense as to why you have persevered - its just a sad meaningless synopsis.
Of course its my career - has been my entire life
That's what makes no sense about this rant above me. She recounts 30 years of her life as an MT and how horrible its been, all the failings, and how it has ruined her life since nearly day #1. Per her own words, she blames everything, from her blood pressure to her endometriosis, blames her divorce, missing out on her son, blames everything on MTing, yet she has done it for 30 years and now is back at it again. She claims over and over to have failed at literally every aspect in her life she felt worth mentioning, blaming it all on MTing, yet here she is an MT. What part of that makes sense to you? We're to feel sorry for her?? I've been in this business 30 years and have been a success. I've had a zillion trials and hardships and battles, but my career is a success, or I would have gotten the heck out of it when it became a disaster. If that doesn't make sense to you, which obviously it doesn't, then there is no reason or sanity with which you can be approached. Substitute MTing for any career - if you are failing at it, and you've lost everything in life due to that career, why are you still doing it? That's a big question, because the blame is not on the career, its on the person. Nobody else to blame but yourself. Period.
I think it's a good career policy to always have a
(nm)
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