Bachelors versus Associates?
Posted By: No comment on 2009-06-03
In Reply to: Hey that's me - sm - Laverne
Thank you for your response. Glad to hear I am not the only one. Out of curiousity, would you suggest going for a bachelors right away? A $15/hr job covers everything I need in order to work outside the home (i.e. daycare coverage and gas), so I would be more than happy with that and I already have 1 semester of generals that transfer from a different associates degree, so would only really be needing to go for 1-1/2 years, so figure an associates to start with might be the way to go. What would you do (now that you already have your associates and haven't been able to find much)?
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
Bachelors of General Studies
Summa cum laude, thank you very much.
Long, complicated story. Basically, I'm a clinical year short of a Clinical Laboratory Science degree, but I won't go back and pursue it barring losing my husband. Also, if I'd have thought more carefully when I switched out of the CLS program, I was only 3 or 4 classes short of a B.A. in psychology. Oh, well. What I ended up with is essentially a liberal arts degree with lots and lots of science classes and lots of psychology classes and a smattering of language studies.
Like some of the other posters, my ultimate goal is to get into P.A. school once my youngest kiddos are school age. I think I'm too old for med school now, but it raises my hopes to see the post below. Being a transcriptionist pays the bills, but some days I do kinda get upset with myself. Here I am doing the same thing I went to school not to do any more. Sigh...
MTing is not bad, but I just don't get enough people contact, and it certainly doesn't have a lot of money or prestige associated with it. Sigh.. again. Ah, well. It works for my family right now.
Currently working on bachelors degree in Psychology
:)
Go for the Associates first - sm
If you are going to a community college, most have concurrent certificates you can earn along the way - ie, general accounting, advanced accounting and then your degree. Just make sure if you are going to transfer to a 4-year University for your BA eventually, pursue the AA Business/Accounting and not the AAS Accounting. Better even, check with the university you plan to transfer to as to their requirements. MOst have transfer agreements so that if you receive your Associates in Arts Accounting/Business degree, when you transfer you will transfer as a junior and be able to eliminate some of the crazy requirements. In my case, I was able to skip a science, religion (private univerisity) and philosophy class by doing this which basically erases an entire semester for me.
I am not able to work at $15 per hour unfortunately and as I want to specialize, I plan to get my BA, get a halway decent job and then pursue my Masters so I can sit for the CPA test in my state. Hopefully, at least from my research and talkign with various accounting firms, my age will not be a problem as there is a definite shortage of accounts and most will even help pay for your continued education for my Masters program.
Also, join a local chapter of one the accounting organizations. The meetings are great and the student benefits are well worth it as far as networking and job prospects.
Rider & Associates
I had a phone interview with them last week. Her phone kept cutting out and she was really hard to understand.
Associates degree is not in different field.
Sorry if I wasn't clear in last post. There is only 1 hospital in my area, so there are not many jobs in the medical field where I live period. I went to school for 2 years and got an associates in Medical Administrative Specialist, which included 4 semesters of transcription courses (2 years worth). So, I have 5 years experience and an associates degree, but have been offered the same pay (7.5 cpl or lower usually) as those with 2 years experience and no degree. How does that seem well compensated?
and how many liberal arts and science bachelors degrees & beyond are held on this board?
LOL
Anyone on this board interview with Austin Radiological Associates
with them on Wednesday. Got a rejection letter today!! Doesn't say why.
65 character line versus gross lines versus pay by word
I am checking into other options for transcription. Can anyone tell me how to compare all of these types of lines & also payment per word? I know companies use different scales, so I wondered how they compare. I have been paid on a 65 character line with spaces, but I may be making a change in the future - don't want to get burned.
Thank you in advance!
Two associates--health science, radiography; and applied science, medical transcription. NT
Question versus gross lines versus 65-character lines....
I have always charged or been paid by 65 or 60 character lines or per letter or space typed, but have never been paid or charged per gross line.
What is the advantage of this? If I were to charge 11 cents per 65-character line including spaces, what does this figure out to for an average line rate and how do you do this calculation?
I'm wondering if it is financially beneficial for me to bill by gross line or to keep it the way I have it. I do know some accounts will only pay per 65-character line, as this was the deal my first own account I recently acquired. They were adamant on a 65-character line, but didn't specify with or without spaces and I personally would never not charge for spaces.
Thanks for explaining this. I appreciate it and hope everyone has a speedy day.
PPD versus ppd
Ok - maybe I am having a brain fart - the dictation says the guy smokes 1 "ppd" (pack per day) should i do ppd or PPD?? It is verbatim.
HELP!
x versus X
I need to know if it should be x or X. IE 8 mm X 7 mm.
CMA versus CNA
Medical Assistants ARE allowed to give medications and injections, and have been taught properly by their MA schooling how to do this. CNA is all patient care, changing beds, changing clothes, bathing, taking vitals (maybe), but no giving of medications. They were not schooled in this and legally should not be doing it...and that is probably universal through all states. That was what I was taught when taking my MA courses. LPNs can, FNPs can, RNs can, PAs can, but not CNAs. Totally different area of care.
RMT versus CMT - sm
The RMT (Registered Medical Transcriptionist) credential that is for those MTs who have just recently graduated or have been working but do not have the required 2 years of acute care experience to write the CMT (Certified Medical Transcriptionst) exam.
You can find information about the CMT and RMT exams and credentials at http://www.aamt.org/scriptcontent/creddesig.cfm.
RE: cc versus ml
We were told cc was on the "Do not use" list, according to
Joint Commission for a couple of years now.
CVA versus CVA
One is an infarct in the heart, the other is an infract in the brain, but I agree with other posts. Many times it will be dictated in the body of the report and you can determine the exact differentiation between the two. However, if you absolutely cannot do this, you cannot guess in a diagnosis and have to simply leave it as CVA, or possibly defer it to QA, in which they probably cannot determine it any more than you can, and they would probably leave it as CVA.
MT versus MLS
How about the MTSO Company who now refers to their MTs as Medical Language Specialists. Does anybody believe they get more money for being an MLS instead of just a plain ole MT?
MT versus becoming RN
Hi all.
I did a search in my area to look at RN salaries. I know working from home I can make $52,000 with some effort. The having to pay my own taxes is offset by not having to drive to/from work. Just curious of any of you have decided to go to school to be an R.N. My husband thinks it would be a good idea, but since I have been at home for over 10 years, it would take some convincing! |
|
|
|
Base Salary |
$59,036 |
70.4% |
|
Bonuses |
$150 |
0.2% |
|
Social Security |
$4,528 |
5.4% |
|
401k / 403b |
$3,670 |
4.4% |
|
Disability |
$947 |
1.1% |
|
Healthcare |
$5,328 |
6.4% |
|
Pension |
$2,486 |
3.0% |
|
Time Off |
$7,740 |
9.2% |
|
Total |
$83,883 |
100% |
Well, I'm not sure that you really want an answer of HOW to do it versus
just defending yourself, which is fine, by the way. Well, if you want an opinion on your situation, you see the problem yourself. You admit that you didn't discipline them and let them always have their way, which you feel is responsible for today's behavioral problems. Chances are they would have the same problems were they not with you 24/7 cause its your parenting skills that are at issue. Know what I mean? No, being an MT at home and raising your kids is NOT equivalent to what you, yourself, admit you did. You can't sit and type and let children run the house free will. You have to use your head and multitask, as the other poster said! Plan your days, plan activities, have a schedule for them, etc. Not trying to be mean, but that's really obvious, isn't it? You realize it now. Why not say something encouraging, like, Gee, I'm sure it can be done, but not the way I did it. I messed up. Rather, you post your negative experience which YOU caused and act like it can have no other outcome. It can. I have 3 kids, and all 3 different personalities. My oldest and first was the most demanding. I basically set up a Little Tykes playground for her in my office, and STILL she didn't want me to "type", as she grew to call it. Constant battle of wills, but guess who prevailed? Me! I'm the parent! She grew to understand that she would have her fun time AFTER my work - i.e. going to the park, movies, etc. My second child was an angel and would just sit on the floor playing with fuzz if that's all there was. My third child was a boy, and enough said there! I had no help whatsoever - unless you can include a bunch of negative relatives who mocked me rather than offer a hand in help, but it CAN BE DONE, and we were SO happy together. It is SO worth the effort - these are your children - your legacy - your LIFE. If they aren't your life, then my words are falling on deaf ears. I work around the clock - still do - typing hours here and there to have MY FAMILY as my #1 Priority. All my employers have always understood that and been more than willing to work with me. Also, I had stayed away from working for some companies that demand a set schedule because I refuse to work a set 8 hours shift with kids. Know what? Every single company said they would let me do "my own thing" on hiring, so while everyone else complains about having to work a straight 8 hour shift, I didn't have to! It can be done, even with the strictest companies! They respect where our hearts are, if its with our kids! Again, sorry for what sounds like a horrible experience for you and your kids, but you, yourself, admit it was your own fault. You are not the majority, though, again, the posters on this board are definitely anti-kids, so you've found your niche in that regard, so to speak! And, also, now that your kids have behavioral problems, severe, I believe, per YOUR words -- is the solution going to come from an outside source? From a stranger? Or from you? It doesn't sound to me like its working now. Only YOU can really fix your mistake and change your kids. As long as they're still with you, no matter how old, there is hope. But passing them off to the school system, or counsellors, or some "expert" is probably not gonna be too successful. Ground Zero is Mom, good or bad, positive or negative.
melena versus whatever
You are correct - and heaven help us all (including the patients) if that's the kind of QA you're getting on your job. Just to get more confused, check out "melanosis coli" which refers to dark pigmented lesion in the colon - NOT to bleeding or melena.
IC versus employee
 I have been an IC/MTSO both married and divorced for the past 15 years. I feel that I bring home "more" of a dollar than if I were making the same amount as an employee. I do have quite a few write offs as I do have a real "office" in the home, I take my depreciation on the house as I feel when and if I sell prior to dying, will deal with it then. I do deliver and pick up so have mileage. I save for my vacations and time off. I have the flexibility to take time off during the day if needed --work at night true but I CHOSE it not someone else. When married I just had my husband over withhold a little more and did not need to worry about the "tax bite" on April 15th. I planned and planned so I knew what he had to over withold. But again, when I make over $50K and end up paying SS on only $15K or so, it is well worth it to me. I did take a small "in-clinic" employee status this year to get out of the house as with no hubby - thank the Lord, and no kids it gets me out and I take out more of my taxes that way. But when I did not do that, I just took 5 to 10% out of each check and put it in a special account and it was more than enough to cover my taxes. Truly look at your paychecks as "employees" and see what you really bring home but everyone thinks that because your "employer" pays those taxes FOR you, you are not really paying them. So you just have to do the same. And you have to add the two salaries together even as an employee so that also hurts. But again, I feel being self employed or IC is the only way to go. Even when on vacation I stop in a local transcription company or a couple of clinics or hospital and talk to them about providing services so I can count part of it as a write off. Also look for seminars in cities you want to visit. I go to Vegas every year for the "electronic show" to see what is new for my company. Again, if you look carefully at deductions and plan, plan, plan it is better - at least to me - financially to be an IC. Patti -- e-mail me if you wish
IC versus employee...
Am thinking about going from employee to IC - what is involved with being an IC? Taxes, etc...would appreciate any advice from IC's. TIA
how did they come up with 40mg versus 40 mg?....
i was taught not to do it that way. i understand that every company has "their own departmental specs" or "preference" if you may, but that is a little bit to much for me.
MTs versus RHITs
From my experience with RHITs, the resentments and hostility was and is because our profession is based on production. While the RHIT has traditionally had a fixed salary, we as MTs are paid mostly by production. I cannot tell you the amount of hostility and resentment from RHITs because of this issue. Now, I'm not saying all RHITs are bad people, but whenever an RHIT can see an MT was able to make more money, well, that had to stop! The attitude from RHITs was that we were typists. No clue as to the intricate details our work demands of us. I can tell you from experience when Edix was formed, those RHITs that were the managers in the beginning could not wait to whip those transcriptionists into line! They wanted their foot on every transcriptionist's neck to show them whose boss!! Same old, same old!!
Subcontracting versus IC
At some point this becomes about who makes more/does better. Right?
8 cpl IC versus employee
No I mean money wise what is the difference once you take out the taxes. 8 cpl as an IC is less money than 8 cpl as an employee when the employee pays half your social security
IC versus employee
I was following you until you said "my regular scheduled hours". Um, if you are IC, you shouldn't have scheduled hours, only a set amount of production within a specified time period (say 2000 lines in 24 hours). I'd say you are already crossing that IRS rule of who has control without even considering the OT issue.
But, to answer your question, they can ask for help and you can say yes or no, but you are not under any obligation to do it. As the other poster did point out, preference might be given to someone else at a later time, but IMHO, not working "every weekend" is acceptable. You can give yourself permission to take some time off. No, they do not have to pay you overtime, but you could ask for incentive pay for the work you provide on days you are not already comitted to (they will probably tell you no).
cpl WITH versus cpl WITHOUT spaces
I really don't want to open a can of worms about poor pay, but I am really trying to compare these two options. I need to make a decision about which company to go with. Since I have no idea which has the better platform or better dictators I'm pretty much flying blind. The obvious difference is that one pays for spaces and one doesn't (I didn't know there were still companies that DIDN'T pay for spaces). Both are part-time IC.
Company 1 -- 7.6 cpl with spaces, no headers or footers
Company 2 -- 9 cpl with headers and footers, no spaces
Any insight would be very welcomed.
IC versus Employee
I am trying to figure out if going from employee status to IC is worth it. Anyone have any opinions?
ic versus employee
Hate to burst your bubble to but you are better off with your own accounts. Most of the nationals out there want strict hours and a requirement of how many lines you are going to do. Some do pay a little extra for holidays and weekends but not always and most you will get stuck working on weekends as well.
MTs versus MTSO
I don't know what MTs you hire, but I have always given 100% to my jobs. Right now I type an average of 2000 lines a day, 98% accuracy, willing to change my schedule so I can get work...........but its been the MTSO that have let me down. Right now I am struggling to get work becuase they have overhired AGAIN and this has happened with every MTSO service I have worked for. (4 to 5 in the last 4 years). Finally I am returning to a local hospital where I don't have to worry about running out of work.
By the way, I am not saying there aren't sorry MTs out there........I am just not one of them. I work my butt off, 1.) Because I like the challenge of transcription and 2.) Because of a little thing called bills, responsibility, and family. 3.) Satisfaction and the end of a long day.
Hot key versus pedal
Hot keys are the F function keys and they do the same things as the pedal. Personally, I don't like having to take my fingers off keyboard to start/stop using the hot keys. Much quicker for me to use the pedal, like driving a car, and I can regulate the dictation so that I am typing smoothly and continuously. However, when I am editing, I like the hot keys better cause I can ff and reverse quicker using them.
Pay versus quality
I understand that experience warrants more pay - however, if working means I take a lower rate, and work up to a higher rate - than I take it - it does not mean I give less of myself - Being a Transcriptionist I take pride in my work and work hard at whatever the rate. Too many jobs going over seas for a much much lower rate than 7 cents a line - if we want to get it back, and / or continue working than you do what you have to for the time being. I have companies that pay me 7.5 and clients that pay me between 7 and 14 - and thank goodness I am busy enough to make a decent living. I am not a prima dona who picks and chooses - I have a responsibility to my family to make money, and a desire to work and maintain a household.
However, I will not work for someone who does not pay at all, bounces checks or disrespects me in any way - but my quality never wans for any reason - that is my reputation on the line not any one else's.
So, yes we should make more money - but if this is what is out there, I will take it.
VR versus typing
For straight typing I get 8.5 and for VR I get 4.8 with 6 years experience. I usually produce around 170-200/hour typing and 150-200/hour VR. I loath VR.
ic versus employee
True definition straight from IRS is that they can make you commit to so many lines a day between so and so hours but if they say you have to do this many lines between this and this time than employee.
vr versus straight
I make more money doing straight typing as well. Boy, is this an offer from TTS in NH?
Experienced versus New
I have to admit that even though I have 19+ years of experience, this article is strikingly true. I am not saying that a new MT has the experience in that they can make a decision in an instant as some of us with many years, but they are trained now to follow AAMT, which I had never heard of until I set out on my own and came online to find work. I also have seen posts on this board of people that have worked in a clinic setting for 10+ years and have no idea about what else is available to them online or how to set that up for themselves. How many times have we seen posts that someone has worked on one platform and never anything else. I don't think that article is a plug for that school. I think that article speaks for what is going on today in the MT industry. I think someone who has just finished school has been shown a lot more than what we all have had to learn on the job. I could probably type faster and know more about terminology than any new MT, but a new MT should know BOS and be more computer savvy than I was starting out.
IC versus employee
Employee is definitely the way to go. I too was new a year ago and found a company paying .12 a line, .13 for nights. Taxes hit me really hard this year. I have to paid time off, no 401K, no sick days, no insurance. I would rather work for .10 a line and have benefits. No one should work for less than .10. I you ask me, experience transcriptionists should be making .15 a line.
I worked in Radiology and quit a job making almost $16.00/hr with six weeks paid time off after 29 years.
Now I make less, have no time off, no benefits and work harder with more hours as an IC and they don't offer employee status.
IC versus Employee??
Hey everyone. I just finished school and am doing the job search thing. Great fun right. javascript:editor_insertHTML('text',' ')
Anyhow, I know that I have a better shot of getting hired if I work IC but I don't know exactly what that would mean for me? Anybody have current info. on how it all works?
Thanks =0)
IC versus employee
I have to agree...it's very concerning how companies try to save $$ by hiring you as IC and not as an employee, yet try to exert much control over when and how you work. I don't think transcriptionists are aware enough of what/how much control a company can technically exert before they are really treating you like an employee and should be paying you as such. The IRS website discusses "behavioral control" and I would be willing that many transcription companies exert much behavioral control over the ICs, which would technically classify them as employees.
Whatever the word you used versus
what it is supposed to be, apparently it was wrong. Since you will not tell us the word, we have no way of knowing. Maybe the QA person misspoke by telling you not to guess, as they would have no way of knowing, but--did you use the wrong word or not????
11 o'clock versus 11:00
Hi Aud,
It is an AAMT standard that if something that indicates a position, for e.g., speculum was placed at 10 o'clock position or a lump was found at 7 o'clock position of the breast.
If doctor indicates the time
transcribe it as 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
whomever versus whoever?
Whomever: You are him.
Whoever: You are he.
Do you get it now? Texas? That explains it.
PS - check out the VR versus transcription
...a physician's study, on the right under in the news...
Still think we have a future?
line versus report sm
There is just no way of knowing until you're there. It's crazy. I used to work for a company that paid by report, but they were all MRIs and specials. Then I worked at Spheris for a few months being paid by the line and could never get my line count because #1 the platform sucked (copy and paste.. it took longer to save a report than to type it) and #2 I was getting a lot of short reports. A lot of companies pay by the line on certain accounts and by the report for others. So you just have to try it. If it's not working out for you after a month or so, it's time to look elsewhere.
numbers versus numerals
Grade is always NUMBERS, Stage is always NUMERALS
Hope that helps some :) (good English, I know)
grade versus stage
grades are regular numbers, 1, 2, 3, etc. Stages are I, II, III. It's easy to remember this way - The Romans are on the Stage.
Nationals versus locals
I'm not sure if you mentioned how long you worked for MQ, but working for a national is not the same as working for a local company.
Your MQ supervisor might not have even remembered that you had a health problem... maybe she did, I don't know, but when working for a national, you cannot expect that one-on-one treatment. It's just not going to happen. I never elaborate on personal circumstances about why I have to take off. I just send an email saying I can't work for X amount of days because of an unexpected crisis or circumstance and if they need to know more, they can contact me.
The same goes with being routed work types with at which you excell. When you work for a national, 95% of the time you are expected to be able to do all work types. I wonder how many MTs like the same work types as you. Not only that, it would be quite time-consuming to document hundreds of MTs areas of expertise and then assign them only those work types.
I'm just crossing my fingers that MTs who are "friends" with supervisors aren't routed work types I prefer to do as well.
I hope I'm not being harsh, but the reality is that when you work for a national, you can't expect to be treated like an "individual."
I'm not saying that this is always the way it is, but to expect anything else is just unrealistic. As posters said below, your real family and friends are the ones you need to rely on for support and compassion.
etrans versus etranz
Are there 2 that sound alike? I work for etrans and they have never bounced anything.
disk versus disc
I used to type for a neurosurgeon who requested that I put "disc". So there! Either way is correct.
MELANOTIC VERSUS MELENIC
So, I guess if it is dictated melanotic stools...we should correct the doctor???
|
