Best recommendation is chooosing an AAMT/AHDI approved course
Posted By: MTinTexas on 2008-02-11
In Reply to: Schooling for MT - Jill
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The big 3 are the first three AAMT approved schools. SM
These are: M-TEC, Andrews and Career Step (in chronological order of approval). Your daughter will not go wrong with any of the 3. I suggest that she visit the schools' website. She can register and post questions at both the Career Step and M-Tec forums, but the Andrews forum is for its students only.
Go with an AAMT-approved school.
You will get a quality education and have no problems finding a job upon graduation. I had three job offers within a week of graduating and had a choice of where I wanted to work.
This has nothing to do with AAMT/AHDI.
This has to do with a gal going out and taking a difficult test and passing it and wanting a tiny bit of validation from her peers. I am a nurse and lived through globalization with nurses coming into our country from everywhere .. transcription has been left alone for a long time and because it is us, we all scream like crazy. Did you care when it was nurses, or auto workers or garment workers or is it all about you? I am a nurse who came into this grind by choice .. can hear the grass grow and know how to punctuate and create a sentence. I read my account specifics and I follow the rules and make a very good living. Let your politicians fix what they have destroyed. Exercise your arm and vote for people who will not solicit money and gain off the backs of the constituency and turn their backs. Don't beat up a gal who is proud of an accomplishment .. this is part of the reason our industry is a mess, we cannot support each other first and throw out even a crumb of kindness. Stop feeling entitled .. nobody owes us a bloody thing.
AHDI is the new name for the AAMT.
nm
it's AHDI now, not AAMT.....sm
because they became an organization NOT for the American MT - and over the years, many of us griped about it and so FINALLY they changed their name (last year) to AHDI............since they have promoted offshoring for the past 15-20 years...........
BOS is just one more AHDI/AAMT rip-off. -sm
Just a bunch of busywork, and needless 'rules'. There may be one or two things that make sense safety-wise, such as 'daily' instead of q.d., but REALLY...
All the nit-picking the BOS spawns just takes the focus away from the main point of MT -- to type a readable and correct medical record.
Since when has AHDI/AAMT cared about anything
where US MTs are concerned?
AAMT/AHDI is what is sending all US MT's to
.
Anyone a member of AHDI/AAMT? (sm)
I'm interested to find out what benefits you actually get and use for your money, and if any employers are at all interested in the fact that you are a member etc. It's not a inexpensive prospect to become a member, that is why I wonder if the benefits are worthwhile to the working MT.
Thanks
AAMT/AHDI - Crooks, that is what they are!
I am one of the oldtimers who took the MT certification test in 1983. It only cost $75.00 back then. I had such high hopes that this industry was going to be a wonderful career move. But AAMT, now AHDI got GREEDY and tried to suck as much money as possible out of their MTs and never stood up for us. Money is all they cared about. And YES, the board members do receive a substantial salary. Who do you think is paying their salaries? Anyone who is idiotic enough to become a member. They lure in the newly graduated transcriptionists with their lies. I have been a Transcriptionist since 1980, and I have NEVER been without work. I only wish that I had not remained a member for 13 years. I regret that immensely. That money would have been better off in my pockets. I think they definitely be investigated and persecuted for their deceitfulness. They never intended to help the MT. They are a scam organization and only interested in stealing our lowly income. I hope they rot for their sins!
Then the unions would be in bed with AHDI (AAMT) huh!! sm
Don't we already have that going on anyway?
AAMT/AHDI is an organization that should be
AAMT/AHDI is the the same organization, and it -
has played the largest part in lowering MT standards and MT pay. They claim it's been 'raised' by their attempts at standardizing all MT work, and by offering bogus 'CMT' credentials, but all it's done is backfire for the American MT. We paid our US Dollars for these credentials, (at a higher rate than the Indians, I might add). AAMT/AHDI's power grew stronger as the duped more and more medical establishments to do things their way, due to the cut rates they were getting from national MTSO's who were in bed with AAMT/AHDI, and sending more and more of their work to India. That in turn has decimated American MT wages. I know of few (if ANY) other companies, other than those who are facing bankruptcy, that are paying workers less and less each year. The MT business is alive, well and growing, but each year its workers see less and less in the way of compensation for a job well done. It can't go on forever. Eventually they're going to hit the zero-point. Then what? Maybe we'll pay THEM for the 'privilege of doing MT work?
It's imperative that MTs start getting in touch with each other. Their co-workers, MTs they meet online, MTs who work at other companies. It's time to start comparing notes, and start coming up with a plan. Regardless of whether it's a walkout, a sickout, a letter-writing or phone campaign, posters, flyers, radio time, or an ad in the newspaper, the more people that contribute, even a tiny contribution in the way of time, skill, or just their own voice, the better our chances are of still turning this thing around before we all become extinct.
So go hang with the dogs at the AAMT/AHDI...
Fit right in
CMTer, AAMT/AHDI has done really nothing for me. I tried to see the forest that you
thanks to the way AAMT (now AHDI) has caved on US MTs over the years. It is my professional opinion (and after 24 long years, yes, I consider myself a professional in this industry), I believe taking the CMT is a waste of time and money. If you call my opinion a grudge, so be it, however to this end, it is my opinion based on many, many years of experience.
The only thing AAMT/AHDI "did their best" on was
I think it's a company that the Feds should consider investigating. What happened to US MTs is probably just the tip of the iceberg.
AAMT (now AHDI) destroyed our profession by
convincing the hospitals to outsource to services to save money. I have 25+ years experience too and remember when this profession could hold its head high. The numerous MT schools making unrealistic promises lured students into thinking this was going to be a dream job and easy money to work at home. All of us old timers know the sweat and long hours it takes to be a successful MT. The hositals are to blame also for being greedy. Most MTSOs cannot bid high on jobs because the hospitals want more quantity for less quality these days, and then in turn must pay their MTs lower wages.
Don't get sucked into joining AHDI (formerly AAMT)
AAMT/AHDI is run by and for the management of companies that offshore!
I too used be a member and an officer in the local chapter. I too attended all the activities. I have since let my CMT lapse. Never once has being a CMT earned me a better job or more money, it's all about the experience and the quality of work you can produce, not whether or not you're a CMT!
didn't you ask this last week? We told you, AAMT is now AHDI. sm
It's the SAME organization, but they changed their name over a year ago, hence the change in website. Look up the AHDI website.
No offense, but you were unaware of the history of AAMT/AHDI
I would suggest that you learn more about the history and realities of these subjects before calling for a big strike or walkout. Credibility is an issue here.
AHDI (formerly AAMT) group disability insurance plan ... sm
I'm in the process of trying to find an affordable individual disability insurance plan. I was browsing through AHDI's website and found that they've made arrangements for members to participate in a group plan for this! The cost of membership to the organization might be worth it for me to take advantage of this.
Has anyone here participated in this plan? If so, what was your experience?
Thanks in advance.
If It's Approved, It's Here
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm
This is the FDA site: you only need three letters at a time to pull up everything that includes them.
Was this approved by your supervisor or is this your own account?
If you pull reports out of sequence without your supervisors knowledge, you are cherry picking and it is wrong. If, however, you have approval or you run your own business, it's still cherry picking but the dynamics surrounding it have changed.
Looks to me like this is the current policy, approved 10/2004, and
nm
Unfortuntely, if you are young, a lot of times you DO have to be approved or (sm)
at least fight with them to pay it because of family history. This whole insurance business is such a racket.
No, but with an expander you can just set your expansions to the approved versions for that account.
nm
I just ordered a Dell off the website on credit and was approved!!! Yay! Man, I love the web!
It will be delivered by the end of the week! I'm back in business and not so limited on options. Thanks again for the advice!
My recommendation
It sounds like maybe you need a little boost of confidence technically. Your local community college, library, etc., will offer basic computer courses.
My recommendation - sm
J.K Lasser's Small Business tax guide. It explains deductibles in plain English and gives you all the details on how you are or are not eligible for the deduction etc. I have used it many times over and have found many deductions I didn't know about. I also have the 1001 deductions and tax breaks for personal deductions....very nice. (As an IC I end up paying less than i would as an employee after deductions)
Recommendation
I would highly recommend not going with book form but to the electronic form. It is so much better and so time saving. I use Quick-Look Electronic. You can order it on Stedman's site or you might try E-Bay.
passing along a recommendation
My husband learned from an associate of a program called Ewido, that is supposed to beat the pants off all other spyware products. I tried it against others on my system: Spy Sweeper, Spy Bot, and Spy Blaster. Ran all three first and then put Ewido through the paces. Ewido still found 7 more infected areas before it removed them.
You can try the product for free before you purchase it ($30). For anyone who is interested: http://www.ewido.net/en/
On-Line course recommendation
I am graduate of Career Step and I felt that the program was very good. Although, nothig can prepare you for "hearing" the words correctly. The only thing I qould tell you is to find someone that is a Transcriptionist and really listen ALOT to the dictation. As far as the job market: There are alot of jobs..... for people with alot of experience. I am working for free right now and I am about to try to get a job doing what I used to do. Dental Assisting. Either that or finish my Respiratory Therapy degree.
Good Luck to you in whatever you choose to do.
Monitor recommendation
My monitor is starting to go, and I have to replace it. Anyone have any recommendations? I'm considering a flat-screen to better maximize my limited desk space. Anyone use one?
I second that recommendation. also, no itch. nm
nm
I do have a recommendation. The Phillips comes with the ability
to download twice and I would make sure I set that up. Download to the file that will be coming to you. Then use the backup download to a file that is totally separate. I call it backupvoicefiles. I have found files in the backupvoicefiles that for some reason didn't come to me in the regular file. They would have been lost if I didn't know to check this. Phillips has no explanation for why this happens. I have been most happy with the Phillips equipment especially since I figured this part out. When the girls are looking for work that he claims that dictates and I have not transcribed, I know the approximate numbers to check and have them go into the backupvoicefile folder and check to see if it is there.
Good luck. My doctors love the Phillips better than they did the Olympus and much fewer problems. 
Canada pharmacy recommendation
I've personally used this pharmacy in Canada by mail and they have been great.
Thank you for the Koss headphone recommendation sm
I had to get another pair because think my $45 pair is dying and I can't afford another pair...and 2 new keyboards, a new mouse, a space heater, a special MT pedal and some software this month.
I was at Wally's and they had one type of Koss headphones only costing $5 and I bought them. I really like them and they are quiet. They even came with an extra pair of padded foam thingys for the ear part.
So, to all who said try them, I have and many thanks.
I switched to Dvorak quite a while ago. My recommendation
would be to attempt the switch when you are not working. I quit qwerty cold turkey, and it took about 1-1/2 to 2 weeks for me to get up to speed on Dvorak. It probably would have taken less, but I had to take a lot of timeouts to keep myself from chucking my computer out the window. It was incredibly frustrating to say the least, but I am glad I did it.
All I did was switch my keyboard driver over and print out the Dvorak layout to post beside my monitor. I didn't get stickers or anything. I do have an ergo Dvorak keyboard now though.
Does anyone have recommendation of a good treadmill? My cheap one..sm
just threw me off for the second time in about a month (the belt slips when going over 2.6 MPH). I have treadmill burns down both shins, one hand and an ugly bruise. I was not able to grab the "safety cord" in time to shut if off. I know good ones are quite expensive and have looked on Consumer Reports but would like to have personal recommendations if possible. TIA!
I recommended it and I stand by taht recommendation (sm)
The previous version (2002) still has some valuable information and the newest version, 2008, came out at the end of April/first part of May. Not sure if you can get it on amazon.com but you can get it from their publisher rayve (google it or the book title) or you might be able to find it on half.com.
I got the 2002 version on interlibrary loan from my local library, read it cover to cover TWICE and it was a wealth of information!!!! I strongly recommend this book to anyone thinking about starting out on their own. :)
I briefly talked to my uncle, who is psychiatrist, about Tater. His recommendation was to take her
to a pediatric psychiatrist for a thorough evaluation and then the appropriate referrals and/or medications can be started. There has to be an indepth evaluation why Tater is the way she is. It could be that her mother was never abusive towards her, but it could be that Tater may be showing the early signs of schizophrenic disorder and what we perceive as lies to us are realities to her. At any rate, shipping the child off may not be the best answer, but to get her the adequate help. I feel for your friend, because it is not easy to deal with a "problem child" but now Tater's Daddy and your friend are legally responsible and accountable for the child.
My number 1 recommendation is the Medical Phrase Index by Lorenzini sm
and would also recommend Stedman's Abbreviations and Labs - these are all more generic since you are doing a variety. It would be best if you could eventually get Stedman's Cardio and other specialities...but I highly recommend Medical Phrase Index for newer transcriptionists - it helped me tremendously in the beginning
I saw the "per" recommendation over at MT911, emailed my QA and never heard back ... about BOS
I had all my frequencies formatted as
q. 6h.
Then noticed they were being changed to
q.6 h.
Searched my BOS and found one ... very marginal (an exampled within antother entry) citation ...
Sure -- I want to do it the right way ... if only I could know what the "right way" was ...
It would be infinitely easier if some sort of "rationale" or reason for this-not-that were given.
Whatever.
Oh, someone benefits from AAMT - AAMT DOES!
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AHDI
I had been a member of AHDI, but when I had a problem with a MTSO not paying I contacted them. The reason I contacted them was to ask in their assistance, not in my instance, but to protect their membership from this type of company. They completely ignored the context of my letter and referred me to local agencies. My thought was that with this industry being so new and unprotected online, that they should take an interest in have legislation passed... went right over their heads. Thus, I did not renew my membership.
SO well-said! I think AHDI should be
nm
what is AHDI and sm
why are only 1/4th of them medical transcriptionists?
Wouldn't you think they all would be?
AHDI
I started a thread below about the government stepping in and making the MTSO companies step up to the plate and conform to a standard form of counting lines for US based medical transcriptionists and to perhaps have a baseline pay so that MTs are not sitting all day long waiting on one more report to try to make a count that is making the MTSOs richer. While not everybody agreed with my points, let me say that there are probably far more MTs in this country who are not independent contractors and who are trying to support themselves than not. ICs would almost be classified as (mini) MTSOs. Not everybody has the luxury of negotiating what they will work for. That whole conversation is moot when we are talking about the industry as a whole. ADHI has spoken for years that they support standardization but when they were recently asked about "policing" the MTSOs methods of counting lines, they dropped the ball. This is just my opinion, but there definitely needs to be an accountability to the U.S. worker concerning this industry. While on one hand we are described as highly skilled workers with a wide base of knowledge, we are then described as home-based, bunny-slippered, pajama mamas. It cannot be both ways. We are highly skilled and do have a wide base of knowledge and we need to band together. I do like the name United States Medical Transcription Association. Works for me.
AHDI
I am not sure it matters who is behind ADHI or their corporate sponsors. The reality is that the U.S. based MTs need to quit taking a knee jerk reaction to them. ADHI started small. Your comment about the displaced workers just proves my point that the government and the Dept of Labor do need to be involved in the restructuring of the MT Industry. When a major MTSO company can initiate a program whereby it cuts the salaries of thousands of it's employees for its own gain, there is a problem there. In the area where I work, there was an article in the newspaper about the outsourcing of the radiology dept on weekends to Australia so that coverage was 24/7. This is a U.S. owned company who employs radiologists from Australia. I am betting those doctors over there do not make less than their counterparts over here. So, it is up to us, the MTs of the U.S. to start to organize in order to reinstate the true value of the work we are entrusted to perform day in and day out.
AHDI
Completely with you. making almost minimum wage for over 30 years of work. mostly because of account specifics, slow platform, always blaming it on the Internet, awful audio.
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