58, AHP/self-taught, trained at hospital 5 years, now with 2 of my own accounts for 10 years, employ
Posted By: Getting aged on 2005-07-25
In Reply to: need some feedback on article I'm writing - mary anne
Also worn out 2 keyboards in 4 years. I will never retire. DH will come home some day from work and I'll be slumped over my keyboard. I put in 14 hours a day 7 days a week.
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49 years old/self taught/daughter 20 years old/self taught. I'm a CMT, and daughter is studying t
take the test soon.
When I trained, back years and years ago
We did not have spell checking nor the internet (Google for instantaneous help). OMG, how did we do it? We used Correcting Selectrics with the lift-off tape to correct errors- you only had dictionaries, both English and medical, to look up things so yes we did have to learn to spell all those big longgggggggggg words.
I've been MT for 17 years and was taught (sm)
that from the beginning. "Patient sent to Radiology" is "The patient was sent to Radiology." I remember covering it at AAMT meetings and training interns from the local college who were taught that also.
I'm 36, been doing this 26 years, trained on the job.. nm
.
I was trained for 4 years at a
vocational technical high school and learned transcription for 4 years straight, 4 hours a day at least. I then went on to transcribe when I graduated for a lawyer, and then into the medical field I went. That was 25 years ago. We learned shorthand, accounting, typing, biology, among many, many other things.
Please don't assume that I went to what you call one of these transcription schools because I did not. I don't have to explain to you that I had 17 years of on-site training with physicians. I learned straight from the dictator, so don't go there. AHDI has brainwashed these new people entering this field with their silliness and money grubbing paws.
Okay, so I'm simply stating that to question someone's education for a job that they may make 20 grand a year of their lucky is just downright ignorant and nasty. I make way more than that but only because I've been at it a while and have my own accounts and I'm not bragging at all; I'm just saying.
Whether you want to believe it or not, the ER reports were done through medical records as well as the basic four. I know because I worked there in many different departments and did the transcription. We had a separate entity for radiology and for the cardiology department. Everyone's situation is different and not all worked at the one hospital you did for one lousy year where ever that may be in the US.
We all have our stories, but my main concern is the post regarding questioning this poster's education. Get over yourself! 
Trained inhouse 25 years ago. LOL :)
Never been without a great work situation. Job changes to meet new circumstances in my life.
I trained in house 5 years ago
They had such a turnover they would hire anybody off the street that felt like giving it a try. One in-house self-study medical terminology course, and a lot of help and support from my co-workers and I was good to go. Since then I've worked for 2 nationals (and had to unlearn a few bad habits - I'd never even heard of BOS inhouse, LOL). I never spent a cent to begin this profession - I got paid hourly to do it.
I was trained on site, but that was 30 years ago.
x
Barbara Tice - I trained you 10 years ago
Hey Barb:
I was looking through some of these boards and came across something you applied for in Raleigh in September. I worked with you all those years ago and would like to catch up. Write me.
PA's go to school for 5-6 years, longer than RN and are trained
in medicine. Some PA's specialize in the operating room, orthopedics, family medicine, neurosurgery, etc. They do rounds for physicians in the hospital and can write prescriptions. PAs can make up into the mid 100K range in salary and sometimes more.
MA pretty much is a 6-month to 1 year certificate program to work in a doctors office doing vital signs, blood work and paperwork. Nothing major and not a great salary.
24 years MT, 7.5 years with the same hospital nm.
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28 years, 9 years at 1 hospital..sm
9 years at one hospital, 8 years with 2 services, then went out on my own (11 years ago) and got a bunch of surgeons and I moonlight on weekends for a national (9 years with national).
If I knew what I know today, with how the MT business has gone down $$-wise for us over 20+ years, if I had my druthers and could start over again, I would have stayed with CODING/BILLING instead of MT work (though I love MT work) as billing/coding is still lucrative in this country....
just my 3 cents 
32 years, 18 years at hospital...
7 at Medquist, 7 at Spheris. Starting at Transtech Medical tomorrow.
I have had my accounts for 17 years, through
with me because I provide superior quality and they have had it with national services. I have four separate accounts that I have had all these years. I have yet to lose one of them. All of them have tried national services and don't want to go that route. All of them have had bids from other services and stayed with me. So nice that you are wishing failure on me. But don't worry about me; I am doing fine and will continue to do fine. I'm constantly learning and evolving and getting better. I think you people just like to be miserable, because if anyone comes along and tells you it is possible to make money you call them liars. If someone tries to tell you what it takes, you say it's impossible. You can stand someone making a lot more than you and instead of trying to learn from them to see how YOU can do it, you tear them down.  If I thought the way you do, I'd still be working in a hospital MT department making a lot less than I do now. You have already told yourself you can't do it, and as long as that's how you think, that's exactly what your reality is going to be. No one can change that but you.
Same accounts at 2 companies for 3-1/2 and 4-1/2 years.
..
3 years for hospital sm
but it was from home and they don't really know me.... i've been working IC from home for over 12 years and so it's not likely I will go to a hospital at this point to work
7 years, last 5 at the same hospital. nm.
x
I've been doing it for years now....with own accounts, can make more $$ than that. nm
x
have had own accounts for years, and CPA finally said to incorporate
I did, and really don't see the benefit....although I'm sure he does since he charges me double for my return now; one charge for personal and one for corporate.
I use IChart dictation system through Dictaphone. It is an 800 number that doctors call in and dictate to, and costs about $100 per month. I think it holds something like 1000 minutes which is plenty for me.
At my hospital, even 25+ years ago, you were required SM
to type 1100 per day. That was with NO spell check, NO expanders. Nothing. Everybody typed a lot more than that.
I think the trouble that you describe must have something to do with working on some company's lame platform. I work in Word, I make my own expanders, my own everything, and work 5 hours a day, if I have 150 minutes to do. That is about 2000-2200 lpd. It is not a problem, because I do what's fastest for ME. The people at the hospital do some kind of merge thing and put everything in their system.
Working on a platform that is designed for anything other than MT will only cost you money. They make these systems to help coding, discharge, everybody but us. I'll never, ever do it again. I'd rather work at Wendy's -- Just kidding! Just kidding! Don't get THAT started.
29 years, 16 at hospital, 4 as IC, 9 w/national
with the most lucrative income as an IC, although it sucked having to be responsible for accounts 7 days/week with no reliable backup subcontractor(s) for 2 of those years as an IC.
I worked for a hospital at home for 4 years. sm
We had to work set hours. My advice is allow youself 1/2 hour for lunch, and at least two 15-minute break periods. Work 2 hours, take a break, work 2 hours, take a lunch break, etc. Otherwise, you may find yourself having back, shoulder and hand problems. Working 9 hours may seem like a drag, but not being able to work at all is even worse. Remember, if you were working on site, you would not only have to work 8-1/2 hours, but would have travel time on top of it. Just my experience.
Aeron chair - never would use any other. About eight years ago my hospital
bought all of the transcriptionists Herman Miller chairs and we always say we are taking them when we leave. Yea right, BUT, I would buy one even if I had to pay for it over time. It is so worth it considering we sit all day. It is made of some kind of a nylon mesh that gives to your body weight and is always comfortable. There is tons on line about it. I love my chair, I love my chair, I love my chair.
Years ago, I used to get a $25 gift card from the hospital I worked for.
I haven't gotten so much as a card in recent years.
In 5 years there won't be any transcription departments in any hospital. All will be outsourced.
Same thing happened to me and if those HIM hags who control our destiny think it's a good thing they are so WRONG. Life has been hard since having to work at a service, and I refused to work for the Monster MTSO that took my job as a matter of principle. I think we should all write to Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Amy Klobuchar (the MT in MN can write to her), etc., and express our strong needs to have MT jobs and American information STAY in America with American MTs.
I've been in MT for 20 years. Started out in the office at a hospital.
Switched to working for services from home for a while and now I work for the same hospital I started out at, but I work from home now. So I guess you can say I've come full circle and now I'm back where I started. I much prefer being an employee of a hospital versus an IC or employee of an MTSO.
It may be that your user profile in EXText is not set up to allow you to add normals. I've found with services they don't give their MTs a whole lot of freedom with their software. 
I meant hospital for 8 years (not months)...going on 15th year.
x
Quit after 2 years. If I wanted to work 8 hours a day, I would have stayed in the hospital. Seemed
to be working all day long just to make a decent living. Although, I wanted to be home with my kids until the baby was at least 5, had to breakdown and return to working outside the home, to make ends meet. Just to stressfull trying to make a good living with the rates they are paying now.
I have 13 years experience and just started a hospital job working from home making $16 an hour
and with a really good incentive plan. I live in the Kansas City area. $10 seems like a low starting point even with only two years experience which is the usual benchmark for hospital MT jobs.
It's been my experience that the low end of the pay scale for hospital employed MTs was around $12 an hour. Also, it's been my experience that the pay offered is usually based on years of experience and how well you perform on the transcription test.
I would say if their pay is that low, they should at least be making it up with incentive and it doesn't sound like they are.
JMO
Lost account of 28 years to Dictaphone because hospital believes it will eliminate all transcription
Curious if any of you are working for Dictaphone or Infomatics and doing an account out of Miami with mainly ESL dictators? I was convinced I would not lose the account after a few days with VR. However Dictaphone is not using VR right away and will transcribe reports the regular way until they have a database. I am certain this hospital will never be done by VR. I posted a job on here about a year ago offering 18 cents per line to help with this account and not one person accepted after hearing the ESL doctors we have. They are that bad. Anyone else have this happen to them? Losing to Dictaphone And we have had to do most of the work for over a month since they supposedly took over because their system is not working.
Keystrokes is hiring due to new accounts. I trained on one of them on sm
Thursday as a backup to my main account. I have been there for nine months and have been very happy with the change. There are a lot of posts in the archives; use your own judgement. It has been a good company for me.
I'm 49, trained in 1973, hospital course, been at it since!
x
Pack years = packs smoked per day x years of smoking - sm
25 pack-years = 25 years of 1 pack a day, or 12-1/2 years of 2 packs a day.
I don't think pack-years applies to someone who smokes only cigars. But I don't know for sure.
I worked for Cbay for 3 years. I was also part of their lay off back many years ago. sm
Even though I got stuck in a lay off era, I still love the company. They paid well then. The people were nice (exception of 1 person) and if I had the opportunity I would go back again. Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how u look at it), I have a great paying job right now, so I am not looking for a change. I do know that at one time, they asked management to accept late paychecks, but never sure of the reason why. My check was never late.
I know it used to be 5-10 years back, but the laws changed within the last 2 years. They can only g
x
6 years legal then switched to medical 17+ years ago. sm
I don't mind doing legal and will do it now from time to time, but be prepared to be totally bored out of your mind.
At least that's the way I feel. I love to transcribe, learned legal in college, went on to get my paralegal degree, etc., etc., but I did temp work when the kids were younger, which was about 90% medical and I would never go back to legal except for once in a while.
Booooooring.
Only 3 years away from reaching total years for retirement
but if I had to do this and raise a family, would feel exactly like you do. The pay is terrible compared to what I used to make. I work 32 hours a week, hope to be able to continue even after full retirement age. I have worked on VR now and unless places get to where they really do not care about how their reports look, think they will need MTs. I very seldom do a report and it is 100%, just cannot remember 1 like that and most take a lot more editing. Working now because want to, not have to anymore, thank goodness!!
I dumped my ex 20 years ago, but got lucky 13 years ago
It would take me all night and pages and pages to describe what a bad person my ex-husband was. After six years of putting up with his OCD, verbal abuse and alcohol, I left him the house, took the kids (5 and 1) and didn't look back. That was 20 years ago.
I wasn't looking to get married again, but I did. After 13 years I only complain when hubby doesn't see things my way. :)
My older kids, who were 5 and 1 when I left, are married and have kids of their own now. My husband gets the Father's Day cards. Their "real" father sits alone in the perfect little house I left behind and let him have and he drinks himself into oblivion every night because nobody is "perfect" enough, including his kids and his grandkids that he never sees.
Sad, but true. So glad I smartened up and got out of there when I did.
We have been supporting other countries for years and years now.
What is the big deal. Look at your clothes, cars, items in your house. You will see mostly China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan etc., etc. We have not supported our own people like we should have for years now!!!!
Only 2 in 13 years for me. First Edix for 8 and now Webmedx for nearly 5 years. nm
.
MT: 24 years. Same company: 11 years same co. after buyout.
x
Grammar Question: 9 years' ago or 9 years ago? *sm*
 I have a terrible time trying to remember this rule! HELP!
Worked inhouse for years and years
Inhouse transcription from 1973 to approximately 1992 and we had no downtime for answering the phones and when the physicians came into the room (or others) needing some assistance, just part of the job. I did not feel bad about doing it then and I dont see why you would either. You don’t realize that probably you are making right now more than if you are outsourced, right? You have hourly salary plus incentive. Guess how many of us have that now? Probably inevitable about outsourcing so I would say just enjoy while you can. The pay our here now sinks further and further. I make, for instance, 4 cents a line for voice recognition and 8 for straight. Now, more complaining?
19 years old...married 26 years. nm
n
they've been doing this for years and years (nm)
IMHO
People have been saying that for years and years - SM
however, I am working fewer hours and making more money. I think maybe the answer here is working as an IC for a one-owner company. MTSO was an MT for many years and she knows the secret to making lots of $ is putting your MTs doing what they do best and leaving them alone.
I don't think it is the "national" part of services that hurts. I think the low wages can be gauged by the number of suits in the company. More suits = less $.
And why pay QA? Just hire people experienced/good enough to do the work correctly the first time.
I have been doing Radiology only the last two years after several years (sm)
of acute care. I love it and find it easier although not as interesting as acute care. I was told by those who hired me that a good medical Transcriptionist will be able to do Radiology even with no experience in it. There are some specialized terms but easy to learn. I would never go back to acute care unless there were very good dictators and good sound quality.
30 (!) years; OTJ (don't think there were schools 30 years ago) nm
:)
Years ago it was 7 years. Not certain as to status now.
10 years here, too, and making 8.4....same as i was 5 years ago. nm
f
Shame on me.. Am I the only one with 4+ in 2 years, but with my last one 2 years.
Lots of little "stints" in between, just trying to keep my head above water.
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