B. S. in Medical Technology
Posted By: Ellen S. on 2005-07-18
In Reply to: Do you have a college degree, and in what? - Why do you do MT?
I worked in a hospital laboratory for 33 years and retired in 2001. I found out about a year later that my husband was losing his medical insurance after he retired on disability and so I had to go back to work. I had dabbled with transcription in the pathology department and so I decided to make it my second career and I just love it. I get to work from home and don't have to deal with the office politics and all the bureaucratic red tape that comes with working at a hospital.
Color me happy!!!! 
Ellen S.
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BS in Medical Technology
I worked as a medical technologist (lab tech) in a hospital laboratory for 30+ years before retiring in 2001. I was interested in transcription as a second career so I volunteered to cover the pathology secretary's days off just for the experience.......and here I am and love it. The pay is only half what I made in the lab but there is much less stress and I love working at home. Obviously, my many years in the medical field helped tremendously with terminology but there was still a tremendous amount to learn; it's a continuous learning process. 
50, A.S. in Medical Records Technology.
Of course now that course would be called HIM. Transcription was included. My first job was in a physician's office and consisted of mostly transcription. High school courses were heavy in typing. I do not know that I could contribute to a rebuttle. The company that I just left had mostly older employees. This company just closed. Now I am an IC with about the same pay. I do not believe that there are as many young people entering the profession. Part of that is because it is hard work, and no longer pays well in proportion to other jobs they can train for. Also, who wants to spend money and time training for a job that may be outsourced at any time? The only young people I know going into this profession are doing it because they want to work at home. This once was a good profession to enter, but now things really seem to be going sour.
A.S. in Medical Record Technology
This included a course in Medical Transcription. Went to work in a physician's office. My job title was medical records, but the main component of the job was transcription. This led to later full-time transcription job.
We have evolve with the technology. MT will simply become ME (medical editors).
What doctor's don't know is that speech recognition still requires A LOT of editing from a Transcriptionist in order for their report to be chart-ready. If we let reports go as they are straight out of the SR software... it just isn't going to happen.
I do strictly SR editing and there is a ton of editing that has to be done to each and every report. There will still be plenty of work, it just depends on how adaptable we can become. Of course, we will have to fight for a decent wage because the natural instinct of management is to want to pay us less, because in their minds we aren't working as hard if we don't have to type every single character in a report. Nevermind the knowledge base we have... but that's a discussion for the future.
Yep, it is new technology. Anywhere you can
get cell phone signal, you can get service. I am sure it will get better.
What a world to live in these days. I didnt want to spend the whole summer indoors, so I got it.
It is just combersome (however you spell that word) to lug around foot pedal, headphones, etc. lol
Not to mention the books if you need one, but it gets me out for a couple of hours a day with the kids.
ASP technology
i would recommend looking into an ASP if you are not great with computers. They make things pretty easy and do all the "tech" work for you. We use Medikin, I would say check it out ... and GOOD LUCK! :)
Technology
I used to fear for our profession...rumors of voice recognition technology, then decided to embrace it, not fight it. Times will always change. I jumped on the bandwagon, and am speaking reports, not typing them, and am up to almost 500 lines/hour. We can either spend all our time worrying, or we can use our God-given intelligence to make changes work for us.
No it isn't the same. Technology
seems to have stolen some of the personal touches.
I am not laughing at the technology.
At this point, at least to my understanding, the health insurance industry and Joint Commission require detailed documentation,especially the insurance companies who love to quibble on what they'll pay. When the detailed documentation is no longer being required and standard text and check off systems are used, the docs have no way to cover their butts. Let a few of them be sued for malpractice because they have no detailed proof of exact treatment, and we'll see just how wonderful this mobile system works. The insurance companies will be in an uproar over the judgements they are paying out.
Right-it has nothing to do with keeping up with technology... sm
if it means compatibility with a company platform.
technology smarter than you think
An advert for *TAKE THIS MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION COURSE AND START A NEW CAREER!* was sifted into my junk email box.
could mass producers be using technology? (sm)
A friend once told me (a man, of course - haha) I should be using VR personally, for my own work at a national company. I considered it, but did not have the time (or money) to invest; however, I have noticed a couple of posts on here regarding such. Something about the dragon- dragone, not sure what it is called, but I do think there are individuals using the technology, as employees. I mean, why not really...
If MTs are using it personally, if it were to catch on, couldn't that cut out the work force significantly? What if companies supplied us with it, wow, we would just be editing all day long, how hard could that be? Lines would be gobbled up.
Not that I am accusing this person of doing that, but if she is, it would definitely explain how there are people making huge bucks in the MT world.
Perhaps that is what it will come down to...weeding out about 1/2 of us ??
It's called technology and progress.
Things change. It's been happening since the beginning of time.
Does anyone suppose that with all the advances in technology that
there might be some more companies willing to take those MT's who only have satellite in the future? There are so few now. Really limits a person's options. Wadyathink? MTSO's - any response??
If you doubt progressive technology, remember
We've gone from typing in WP51 from cassette tapes, looking up words in a library of books rather than on Google, printing our own work and delivering it by courier to transcribing dictation directly into EMRs via internet-based software that was recorded on palm pilots. The extent of technology that we've seen in such a short time to me is amazing and scary at the same time. I also would like to think that there will be a long-term demand for editors (I am one), but common sense tells me to start thinking about a different avenue.
Anyone have exp with Vscript platform by MT Medcore Technology?
I just left EMDAT Inscribe and don't want a repeat of a horrible platform. Thanks for ANY information!
Technology has made it so much easier for dishonest people to
take advantage of others. On the internet you can be Miss America, you can be a millionaire, you can be a movie star, you can be anything you want to tell people you are and these services are a breeding ground for people like this.
No thanks.
I'll size people up in person, at face value like anyone should who has nothing to hide.
Normal people don't have to resort to hiding themselves behind a monitor.
It's better sound for one thing. C-phones are just old dinosaur technology.
x
I remember doing secretarial work on those old typewriters. I can't imagine MT w/o technology.
Every year technology makes my job easier. Google, internet dictation, spell checks, expanders. I can't remember the last time I opened a reference book. Direct deposit. Banking on line. I can't remember the last time I was actually inside a bank. Love the technology for MTs and payment process.
I do remember standing in line to get check cashed on Friday at lunch when I was a secretary in medical office. Ughh. I do remember having to get all dressed up to sit in an office w/o windows, too hot in the winter and too cold in the summer, to type and file. Ughhh. I remember lines of traffic going into town to get to work and then trying to find a place to park close to the building. Ughh.
Lovin the new things/gadgets to make my life easier and don't look back with any regrets for the "good old days"
Just one thing though. I wish we were paid according to 2005 cost of living standards. What's up with that?
Babies looking for attention.They have the technology of the Woodroow Wilson administration.
They'll get some kind of concession and go back and try to think of another way to get money out of us. Happens all the time.
I would buy new a Dorland's Medical Dictionary, Stedmans Medical and Surgical Equipment...SM
and Tessier's The Surgical Word Book, 3rd edition. Books you could buy used I would say would be Stedman's Pathology and Lab Medicine and Cardiology/Pulmonary word book. These are all the books I use the most during my day. You could buy other speciality word books as you need them and could probably go used with those.
I wouldn't bother with buying a drug book, new editions come out every year and I just stick to the FDA website and RXList as my drug references.
Also FYI, not a book, but I use my Stedman's Electronic Medical Dictationary a lot. It's easier to open the program than it is to pick up a huge 30-pound dictionary.
common sense dictates you read the writing on the wall. technology has made you obsolete.
and the government has seen to it that american workers are no longer necessary and allows business to outsource many middle income jobs.
Medical Transcription In The Era Of Electronic Medical Records
EMR has revolutionized the healthcare industry in recent times. Many experts felt that EMR & Voice Recognition would totally replace Medical Transcription - however; the industry soon realized that transcription has certain advantages over point & click charting and many physicians preferred to dictate notes rather than document the data at the point of care themselves.
At ease, soldier! This isn't a medical document. I repeat, this isn't a medical document. nm
x
I've thought about coding. My DH does medical coding and I think with an MT's medical termino
background and anatomy and physiology knowledge, a transition into coding wouldn't be hard at all. From what I can tell by looking through my husband's books, an MT would have to learn insurance regulations and legalities. We've basically got all the medical background down or we should be if we're worth our salt as an MT.
I even contacted AHIMA and found that the qualifications for taking the CCS or CCP coding exams are completion of the a coding program, RHIT program, or RHIA or related work experience. Transcription is part of HIM, albeit the red-headed stepchild of the HIM department, but a part nonetheless and so satisfies the qualification of having work experience.
The test is tough though. My husband didn't pass it his first time out and I think I read something like only 20% or so pass it the first time. So it would probably be best to take some sort of formal coding class, in my opinion.
medical abbreviation list and medical drug list
Hi,
Anyone there who could help me out finding the latest abbreviations list.
I even want the latest drug list because my current program does not have many drugs.
So if anyone could suggest anything which is available online for informationd quick look purposes.
any help for medical abbreviation list and medical drug list would be very helpful.
Your English teacher does not do medical reports. This is for medical reports.
.
It's not a MEDICAL spellchecker. You have to convince them to add the medical spellchecker.
unless you feel like adding 10,000 medical terms on your own time LOL
QT Medical does not. nm
medical ins
Thanks for the info. Did you like working for them?
IC but not medical
From what I understand there are online "marketplaces" where a Transcriptionist (medical, legal, or other) can bid on jobs. If you don't want to work for a week you simply do not bid that week.
One is called Guru. I can't remember the name of the other one.
Medical experience
I guess I should have worded that different...I've been in the medical field for a total of eight years (medical assistant, medical secretary/admin. assistant, EEG Tech), but only being doing MT work full time for 4 years. I've also taken A LOT of extra classes on terminology and anatomy/physiology. Plus, MT is just one of those things that came naturally for me, it's been really easy to pick up the "language." So I guess I'll stay with this company then, if that pay is not bad. Thanks.
Medical Dictionary
Does anyone know if there is a place to download a free medical dictionary?
Medical Dictionary
MT Mom
Hey thanks guys for the suggestions. I am going to be doing transcription at home for they physician I work for and am using Word perfect 12. It has a spell check on it but was looking for a medical spell check I could download and use along with a general spell check.
Dragon-Medical 7
Got mine on e-bay for half of Softscan.
An MT is a Medical Transcriptionist...sm
Here is a link and some helpful information on desertion in the military. http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Desertion
Good luck!
ME = Medical Editor. nm.
nm.
You ARE a medical transcriptionist, right?!
Geez, how idiotic can you be?!
It addresses ALL medical transcriptionists. Again, the new definitions for two classes of their transcriptionists have apparently been updated. That does NOT exclude SEs! LOLOLOL
Ya can't see the forrest for the trees can ya?! LOLOLOL
Medical Insurance??
I am looking at moving back to working from home, I am currently 'in-house' working for a hospital clinic but I need more flexibility for my children's schedules.
I have a decent lead on an IC position, but I am trying to figure out if I can find/afford health care. I really only need catastrophic type care and plan to pay for my own routine care.
Does anyone know of a decent insurance company??
Thanks VT_MT
It is a Medical Transcriptionist
and Medical Editor. I was confused at first too but you can do both. They never had ME's before.
medical trancriptionist
I am looking for a medical transcrioptionist job in the following area: Clarksville or Nashville TN. I have experience in medical transcription work and would like to work from my home. I am eager to hear from anyone in this area. Thyank you Nancy Seymour
Sorry, don't know about Cort Medical,
are they in Wisconsin also? Also, do you do SLMC ER for Accustat?
OMG! I think I worked there, too! Except it was a medical
insurance company. We had to be at our desks 10 minutes before our shift started. Then my coworkers turned the company in to the Department of Labor and Industry for unpaid overtime to the tune of approximately 40 hours per year. So the company changed it to 5 minutes and rewrote their OT policy. We had to give blood to earn time off. The same thing for personal phone calls. They actually had recorders on our desk phones for beneficiary purposes, but that didn't stop them from using it to monitor our personal calls, too. I found out that the recorders were recording us while we weren't on the phone as well, so any nonbusiness discussions between workers were recorded and listened to. That's how they targeted who would be fired next. Our Internet usage was tracked, even though we were allowed to use it on our breaks. They were firing people with 15+ years or more with the company because they could get younger college grads for a fraction of the wages the "older" workers earned. When I was hired, it was to replace someone they fired, so I had zero training and had to figure it all out myself. The boss' pet got special treatment and was recruiting people for her Internet business by bypassing the proxy server on her work computer during business hours. We got in trouble for snacking at our desks, but the pet took long lunches to run errands and then ate her lunch at her desk when she was supposed to be working. I got in trouble for taking too many bathroom breaks (I have kidney problems) even though I skipped my regularly scheduled breaks to make up for it. There were so many "unwritten" rules that I didn't know, so my coworkers backstabbed me for not following along. What, being psychic was a job requirement? I could go on and on, but my blood pressure's going up just thinking about it. I quit and even gave a statement to the fired older workers to sue. I think they dropped the suit because most of them got hired by a competitor. I vowed to never again work for a big corporation after that.
if it was in my medical record?
It would depend upon whether or not it could have a negative impact upon my medical care. If the doctor dictated something like, "The patient has diabetes" (when I don't), yeah, I would ask them to correct the record. But for something like what was stated originally ... heck no. Let it stay.
But that's me ... I don't have OCD and I'm not anal retentive about this business like others. Never have been and never will be.
I still think you need to lighten up. There's a lot more to worry about in life than something like that.
medical transcription ?
Does anyone know of a legitimate work from home transcription company who wants someone with there training but has no experience yet. Thanks!
IC to medical secretary
 Thanks everyone for your input. I have a lot to consider and you all have been a great help.
This is why every MT should own a medical dictionary. NM
x
www.medical-speller.com
You get a free trial of the spellchecker. Later, if you choose to buy, I think it is $29.99. Don't know of any others.
Medical expenses
January, 2000 - DH tore rotator cuff, needed MRI/arthrogram, followed by rotator cuff repair.
January, 2001 - I had foot surgery in podiatrist's office.
January, 2002 - DH had cervical MRI/myelogram, followed by anterior cervical diskectomy with fusion, two levels.
January, 2003 - DH had knee MRI, followed by arthroscopy.
January, 2004 - I had LASIK surgery.
OMYGOSH, it's almost January again!
He can't discontinue medical. sm
I am sure he will be bound by law to continue the children on medical insurance if he has it available to him. My ex-husband did and my present husband is bound by law to provide it for his children even though their mother provides dual insurance. Check with your lawyer.
new job - no medical spellcheck
Hi all ... yesterday I started a new job - hospital MT, decent pay, great location. But guess what - the program is so old there is no medical spellcheck in it! And the old lady that works the other shift, who's had the job for light years, does not use the AutoCorrect feature of MSWord! The boss told me feel free to use it (thank God) - but can you imagine that????? Any advice ?
Thanks guys!
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