Changing careers
Posted By: Cheryl Klopcic on 2007-12-19
In Reply to: MT vs. coding vs. RN - kathy
I have been an MT my entire life. I had no formal training - just had a knack for it and always had a job doing transcription. I was sought out many times. However back about 1993 I started hearing rumors about voice recognition. I at that time decided to go to school and get a nursing degree as I wanted to stay in healthcare. I obtained my LPN- RN - then BSN in 1999. Took me awhile but I did it. Since that time I have done some coding, worked as a nurse and been promoted to transcription supervisor in 2000. I also teach transcription at our local college. Since I have such a broad range of experiences in all the things you are looking at I would suggest nursing - you are going to get the most valuable education in that field - with many opportunities. If you don't like it you would have the bulk of your education and could easily slip int to coding or transcription. Just my opinion.
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
Changing Careers
I absolutely LOVE medical transcription work. It is the best kind of work for me. I have always, up until five years ago, made plenty of money to support my family (I am a single 45 year old mom).
However, I have become very scared. So, I have 80% decided that I have to go back to school and start over. It makes me sick, but I can't watch my pay decrease every year like this.
I really, really, really want to continue MT work, but it just doesn't feel secure for me anymore.
AND - changing careers at my age is also scary, but I have a friend who did it at 50-something years old, so I guess I can, too.
changing careers
It seems a lot of people are feeling the same crunch. I have been an MT for 10 years I too used to have a excellent hourly plus incentive with great bennies in-house jobs which was outsourced to an Indian Company. I worked from home and make ok. Now it's hard to even find a decent line count with benefits at all. I am working as an IC at 9 cpl and no bennies. As a single Mother I simply cannot do this anymore. There companies who offer employee status and bennies but the line rates are so low or they want you to work 2nd or 3rd shift and with my family situation this is not possible.
I too am making a career change plans. It seems that nursing is all the rage with the high paying jobs and plenty of them. But as a former nursing student years ago before MT I know it's not for me. Too high pressure and the bullying in nursing school is unbelievable as is the 2 year committment to school full time.
I decided to try Assocaites degree Accounting/CIS. I hope to enter as a clerk or bookkeeper and work towards the Bachelors degree once working as a clerk. In the meantime I have been brushing up on Powerpoint, Excel, etc and applying for secretarial and admn assistant jobs.
I had considered medical billing but I am somewhat soured on the healthcare system and outsourcing. I figured Accounting is much broader and can work for more than one industry, but have seen accounting positions in healthcare systems too.
I wondered if people would share what fields they were considering.
For new MTs... the field IS dying between VR contsantly improving and outsourcing/offshoring our jobs are dwindling as are the pay and benefits. If you are a married-stay-at-home type of Mom with luxury of a second income and your husband's benefits MT might still be ok for a little extra money on the side. But for anyone trying to support either themselves or their family on MT -- forget it. Its a good part-time Mom job these days and that is about it.
Sad. There are many excellent and quality MTs who have a ton of knowledge. I wondered how they intended to transfer skills to another profression. The writing is on the wall. I hope to be out in 2-1/2 years tops.
changing careers
After almost 30 years of MT work under my belt, I'm ready to throw in the towel and hit the pavement. I'm already out there interviewing. Even if I make only what I make as an MT, if it's a job that I like, then it'll be worth it. Wish me luck!
I had a person sound really interested in changing careers and doing this...
until I mentioned that she had to take a really reputable course in this field and that it would cost a fair amount of money but that for this price they would mentor her into a position, and not to pay for a course that offered less than this if it were what she really wanted to do, and this changed her mind quickly. She didn't know it would cost her!
careers
I don't think medical billing is the next logical step for MTs. To me personally the logical thing is something else in healthcare, but for other people the logical thing would be what they are interested in, health care or not, or what opportunities arise. I'd like to slowly start to work on something else as I don't see MT carrying me to retirement in 30 years. I'm thinking about radiology tech, ultrasound/MRI tech, health care administration, or nursing in its various levels since there never seems to be a shortage of need for those.
I haven't done billing before but have done coding and don't see it with a long-term future, either.
When I click Careers and try to get to job back
Am I overlooking something? Having an operator error? Or do we not have a job bank anymore? Thank you!
Legal Scoping Careers?
Has anyone looked into or taken the training course from the lady, Judy Barrett who posts on the "other" board about the scoping career? I am curious if any one has gone through the course and if anyone has found this lucrative? Any information on an outcome would be appreciated. Thanking you in advance.
IMHO and experience, in most, if not all careers-SM
the better your memory and flexibility, the better your success. If your memory is so-so, then find tools that will increase your success, i.e., account post-its and sample reports, even reading something out loud. For me, if I handwrite what I am given in print regarding an account/doc, I am more likely to remember it. Making handwritten notes takes time, but helps things stick in my memory.
And why would you want to switch change careers?!..
I am an MT and not a newbie, about 15 years of experience and I don't make $44,000 a year (oh, how I wish)! Why would you want to break into this business? This career is just going down hill in so many ways. I hear medical coding is on the rise and some seem to be transitioning from MT to just that. I also understand medical coding and billing can be done from home as well. I would be checking into that if I were you. If you are expecting to make $44,000 a year as a new MT, you are SO dreaming! Sorry so harsh, but would hate to see you make a huge financial mistake, IMHO!
Sorry, meant to say change careers
nm
Interesting article about best careers in 2006. sm
http://biz.yahoo.com/special/job06_article1.html
Question for MTs pursuing nursing careers.
I am also considering going back to college and studying to become an RN. I took a 2-year course in "medical records technology" 18 years ago at a junior college and got a lot of the prerequisites out of the way including Anatomy and Physiology I and II. If I decided to go back to college, how long would it take me to complete an RN program? Isn't it typically 4 years starting from scratch? Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!
A-M-E-N! The main reason women in all careers - sm
earn less than men (and employers get away with paying them less) is that it's impossible to get groups of women to stick together on ANYTHING, let alone anything that might involve a little initial personal risk before things are ultimately straightened out and this archaic pay disparity between men & women in the US workforce is resolved. Can you imagine the kind of clout MTs in this country would have if they all stood firm together and demanded that they be paid fairly for a job that not just anyone with a PC and a set of headphones can do? A few years ago when HIPAA first came about, we should have taken that and run with it, when it comes to securing our profession on US soil. We didn't do it then, but I think if we were to dig our heels in, and start writing and talking to the right media, we could still use HIPAA to our advantage. Think about it.
What kind of alternate careers can MT's transition into?
Guys, I've finally made up my mind that the profession that we used to know is gone and is never coming back. The industry leaders have made it their business to turn MT's into the equivalent of sweatshop workers, and I don't find that dynamic at all appealing.
Can any of you give any suggestions as to what types of careers we might transition into and make a decent income? I'm polishing up my resume now, but I fear that I've stayed in this industry for far too long and have handicapped myself from being able to take advantage of any other career opportunities that might exist out there.
Any and all feedback would be appreciated.
Time to switch careers. I did and life is much less stressful.
x
But it does open our options to move on to careers rather than joe-jobs
and bring people the respect they deserve.
How do they think that changing their name....sm
would matter diddly squat in the industry? If their rationale for considering it is because no one knows who they are then changing the name isn't going to change that. Seems silly that members and supports would be asked to pay for the costs of changing instead of focusing on marketing.
CHANGING COURSE
Well, after the reading and research I have done, I think I agree with one writer that stated that at the rate things are going now in the transcription world that in 5 years 80% of us will be out of jobs!! Either through technology and/or offshoring!!
So, instead of waiting for another axe to fall on me...I have been chopped up enough by the MTSOs...... I am hoping to decorating cakes for a living!!!
I am waiting to hear back from a local bakery where I just interviewed.
I have taken all the Wilton cake decorating courses and have done quite a few birthday, wedding, and mother's day cakes in the past...I definitely am not Duff or anyone at Charm City Cakes, but it is something I truly enjoy doing and it was my "therapy" that got me through a divorce about 10 years ago.
So, I will be working 8 hours a day only, get immediate feed back, paid hourly and not production, and hopefully will be able to transition into this job permanently....
So, I hope and pray that I am wrong about the future of this profession for which I have worked so long and hard....but the stress now is almost unbearable and ain't worth it no more!!! 
Changing Course
That is a great idea. You might work into doing some on the side and go into business for weddings, etc. I had a friend who did that and make good money. She was in great demand too. If you get a business of your own, you would make a lot more and could probably do a lot of it sitting.
Probably not...just changing
I work on a VR account, and trust me, there will always need to be people behind it checking what the computer types. There are just certain things that need an actual brain to decipher that a computer just cannot pick up.
Oh, I am not changing what I said
because again, have not seen it ever used with lung.
Oncology because of the always changing...sm
meds. And I have to admit, though I have done ortho a lot in the past and know it well, I just don't like it.
Anyone know anything about changing sim on cell?
Can you remove sim card on Sprint phone and put in a T-mobile? Please help if you can for I am a "technically challenged MT."
We are changing the company.
Watch and see. And all your rage and CAPS can't change that. The lawsuits, the SEC, the shareholders, the clients. We are all changing the company.
Who's changing the subject?
and so am I.
Try to keep up.
This is changing the subject a bit, but.....
What about birds? If people had a bird that they had in a cage, and not let FLY for exercise, is that a bad pet-owner? Most bird owners that I know of, have birds in a cage and they let their birds poo in a cage on the paper in the bottom of the cage.
What about cats? Cats are domesticated animals just like dogs and some people NEVER let their cats go outside. They let their cats do their business in a litter box.
I just don't see any difference in this and using the potty pads, and like I said, I have used potty pads with previous dogs I have had. They do not smell if you pick up the dirty pad right away, which I do when at all possible. It's the dog hiking his leg on the furniture which is NOT acceptable to me and I agree--it stinks and I have a terrible problem going on with this---I try to clean it up as soon as I can, but he is definitely ruining my floors and thus why I was asking for advice on the hiking of the leg. We need new floors (carpet) in our house anyway and we are planning on replacing them soon but I need to get the dog re-trained somehow before we get the new flooring or else I'll still be in the same boat I'm in now. I've just got to figure out how to retrain him back to the potty pads. Wish me luck!
Have a nice day!
Jen, seriously, the face of MT is changing. sm
Get that degree. Trust me on this. Yes, it's nice sitting home in jammies with the kids. I did it a lot of years, but I made way more money then than now. Things are changing drastically and fast in this field. Get the degree.
You are changing your position.
I breed Yorkies and was in the pet care business for over 30 years. Of course, you love your pets and they have a place in your family but you do not let a dog growl at you, as you stated. One of your original posts you said if a dog growled or bit, oh well, dogs have bad days, too. That gives a very different impression than the one you are trying to make now.
changing the subject a bit . . .
 Does anyone know of a really good hair product for the "frizzies" ?
With summer coming, I'm dreading my hair curling and frizzing with the heat and humidity, have tried a lot of products without success. Any tried and true methods? thank you in advance ! 
So what are they changing it to? The Anal
.
Not sure if changing jobs will help...
There are very few places now that have no ESL doctors. When I changed jobs last November I thought I would lose my mind because there are so many ESLs on the accounts, but honestly after getting the same ones over and over, they should get easier. I actually miss the days when I was just starting out getting 5 cpl typing nothing but ER reports. Yeah, it got boring sometimes, but I was bringing in more money then than I am now making 8.5 cpl. Ah, the good ole days!
Changing jobs ....
I'm wanting to buy my first house this spring. Ive been working at home for the same national for the past 3 years. I have been an MT FT for 9 years. Does switching jobs really affect your credit poorly? I think I could be making a lot more money, if I changed companies, but Im afraid it will hurt me being at a new job and trying to buy a house. I have also heard that as long as you are in the same line of work, it won't matter...Any insight on this?
changing jobs
If you are an IC, it would not matter as you do not have to say "who" you work for - just prove your income.
and the QA people wonder why we ever get anything right. It is always changing.
nm
changing email
Hi Moderator:
Can you please direct me how to enter my new email addy? Either on line and send it to me at my new one? or what? Thanks so much
The MT's are now the editors. Everyone changing to SR. SM
They are calling MTs "editors" for doing SR. They are also hiring like crazy, since they predict many new "editors" will quit because of cut in pay.
The field is changing, Just Me, and SM
those whose incomes are dropping drastically are either unable or unwilling to change with it. The unables have my sincere sympathy; but in any case, don't make the mistake of basing your decisiosn on those who are on the way out. If your talents suit the work you'll end up doing over time, whatever that turns out to be (you won't be doing straight transcribing, though), you'll make a decent middle-class wage appropriate to a skilled clerical worker. Which is what we are. If the changes lead you to advance your secondary education and move to a higher skill level, well, hopefully you'll make even more. Best wishes.
I don't think it is dying, I think it is changing sm
There will always be a need for a hand typed medical narrative. Having said that, how much need is anyone's guess. FOR NOW, many companies are moving towards at least some VR. I have watched my company ramp it up and now ramp it down again. Why? The quality isn't there and part of that is the MEs who are doing them.
Being an ME usually only appeals to someone who can't actually type the report with any speed and accuracy (not a real MT in my book) or an MT who can longer tolerate the wear and tear on her hands (a real MT). The pay is less, which might not be a problem IF the software didn't require so darn much editing! Either the software needs to be a LOT better or we need to be paid more, if they want to the best quality, so that real MTs are doing the ME thang.
What I see happening, even now, is that companies who will hire a traditional, old-fashioned typing MT want the very best they can get at the best price they can get her. It is and will be increasingly a buyers market for our services. It will edge out any MT who is marginal...in speed, in accuracy, in attitude, in work ethic. That is to say, those of us who can stay glued to our desks and produce 99.5% or better accuracy AND do it with speed, will still be around for quite a while yet. The tolerance that some companies for not showing up on time, not getting your minimums, not producing very good work, is decreasing. I see this as a trend.
Less work? Not for some of us. No work, as in we don't need the chaff of this industry? You bet, and it is happening already.
The truly top-notch MT will always be needed. Do you have any idea how very few of us there are? I have not talked to a company who has more than 1 or 2 of us that they consider the cream of their crop. If you want to stay, look at what you need to improve, be it work ethic, speed, accuracy or scope of knowledge. If you don't, you'll be in one of the first groups out of this business.
Changing jobs
If you are working now, I would recommend you keep that job.
I don't know what you mean by taking classes, but if you have not completed a coding program and learned enough in it to pass an AHIMA or AAPC certification exam *right now,* it is unlikely that an employer will hire you for coding.
Taking a job in medical records might help you break the ice at that facility, but taking a job in other areas isn't likely to help much. Any possible benefit from taking a housekeeping is so small and so unpredictable that it isn't worth losing the job you now have.
This counselor sounds as though she doesn't have a good grasp on the requirements of the coding industry.
Your best bet is to set up a study plan and work toward passing a certification exam in coding, then look for a job.
Changing settings
You can change the settings. With your mouse on the main desk top screen, right click and go downto properties. Go over to the settings tab and this will give you options for changing the font size. You can change it in that setting by changing the pixel settings, or you can click on the Advanced button and change your DPI setting (or both).
Hope that helps.
If they are changing the rules...then all
you can do is keep your emails to prove that you are just doing what they previously told you to do. If you keep deleting, then you don't have a leg to stand on
As far as the ridiculous corrections like a instead of an, that may be ridiculous, but one way is correct and one isn't. I am a QA and my reports get reviewed by the client. If I let one of the ridiculous corrections go through, then you better believe that they point it out. I mean I agree that they aren't the really important errors, but if the client cares, I care. If the client is going to jump on me for it, then I have to correct the MT. So, don't look at as the QA nit picking you...she is just doing what the client wants.
On the other front, save your emails or you don't have a leg to stand on.
It's not going downhill but it is changing
The job is evolving into an Editor process and there is a higher-than-ever ratio of difficult dictators.
The line rates are not something you can count on moving upward but they never have been. Where money is usually made is in production with incentives and bonuses.
Changing to a new expander
Cathy,
You may want to read through Sharon Allred's experience switching from PRD to Instant Text - click on link below. Instant Text can be set up the way you want it, and you can skip learning all the advanced features if you don't want to use them.
Instant Text can import your pp2 file with a few clicks so you can use your PRD list as before with some restrictions concerning entries starting with numbers and entries containing symbols.
Like ShortHand Instant Text is a Windows software.
Marianne
Textware Solutions
800-355-5251
Try changing the extension to .vox
nm
Line count changing
I have noticed lately that mine line count has been dropping on a daily basis. I finally started checking my own lines as opposed to the company line counter and I have realized that I am NO LONGER getting paid for my spaces, without telling me. I have half a mind to start typinglikethisbecauseifyoudonotpayforthemyoudonotgetthem!!!!! Is it me?
why would the resolution change without someone changing it?
nm
I hate changing it either way - wish they would leave it alone
nm
My PT recommended changing the height sm
and the position of the chair a few times a day, getting up and walking around q hour, etc. Sitting for prolonged periods as we do causes us to "freeze" and get into trouble with aches and pains. It really does help to move around a bit.
The industry is changing and as it stands
now I would not recommend this field to anyone, but I am not worried about not having a job, at least not in the next 5 years. I am good at what I do and can do any work type, can do ESLs with little problem, have done QA, so I feel like there will always be a job as long as I want it. The pay may never get any better though.
There aren't that many jobs available, but there are so many people looking for work that a lot of companies don't feel like they need to pay to advertise. Check with employment agencies or temporary agencies. I worked for temporary agency years ago and got offered full-time positions with every place I worked.
Not sure what your career of choice is in, but you can get just about any degree on-line, or at least do all the basic courses.
Not sure of your financial situation, but if still paying for technical school, going part-time probably won't work for you so you could go to school or get in some type of internship for whatever you wanted to do.
You can sit back and wait for someone to knock on your door and offer you your dream job, but you'll most likely die waiting, or you can get your goal and work towards it. If you aren't willing to do that, then you are stuck where you are.
Thinking of changing jobs again...
any companies to avoid like the plague? 
The field is changing in a lot of different ways
this is one of them. I agree that the doctor is responsible and that it is not my job to make him sound educated. Years ago, it might have been different. There also was better pay and respect. Now it is all about TAT and price reduction. There has to be a balance.
If one of my regular docs messed up, sure, I'll fix it. With this type of dictator...nope. Respect for the patient? It has to include the doctor too. If it involves vital information then I'll indicate in the note that the information needs to be verified. Maybe HE is in the wrong field...not me.
|
