If you are already an MT, school is worthless
Posted By: MTinNC on 2009-02-27
In Reply to: MTEC - Which option to choose if I am already a transcriptionist, but - WS
I have been an MT for nearly 10 years, OJT for me, as well, and I can tell you, I have never felt the need to go to school to get a piece of paper that tells people what I already know... I'm good at my job. The only thing that might possibly get you a better paying job is certification. If I was going to waste a year on studying something I already know, it would be for that. If I owned an MTSO, I would take a veteran MT who had OJT over a newly-schooled MT anyday. Give yourself some credit!
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POLL: Home School vs. Charter School vs. Public School vs. Priv ate School...
Pros and cons of each too. I have two little ones that will be starting school soon and I would like opinions on all. Thanks in advance! :)
How is it that my opinion is worthless
and yours is always the only opinion that is right? Everyone has a right to say what they want. If you don't like it, then don't respond. People could say the same about your 2 cents. You think you know everything, but you sound like a Fat Sajak most of the time. See ya later B-town.
You are so right - it's basically worthless
nm
Many of us agree that it is worthless...
Very few companies pay more for being a CMT. The so-called "credential" is not valued nor recognized by MOST healthcare facilities as well as individual doctors. This is not just an opinion, but it is a FACT based on research with which I am currently involved. (Whether a CMT differential is paid is only one small bit of information collected).
Also, you said, "...The name change came to be to allow others who work in the industry access to the association should it be their wish to join. Previously those people had been excluded."
Those wishing to join who had previously "been excluded" are not American MTs. It is common knowledge that the AAMT will collect a dollar wherever they can, including from off-shore MTs that are running the industry into the ground through both poor quality and accepting sub-par pay.
Taking "American" out of the name is very fitting.
The AAMT had NEVER been a true representative of American MTs. Even the BOS is simply a money maker. It could be very useful. However, arbitrarily changing some of the most basic rules of grammar by putting those new "rules" in a book is ridiculous. By what authority does someone just CHANGE grammar rules??? Now that two editions of the BOS are published, you can be sure someone is working on changing more rules to enable a third edition to come out.
Hogwash! AAMT, BOS...all pure HOGWASH.
Maybe some here should get together, form an MT organization, decide to publish a book with our own new set of grammar and other rules, make up a test (and even charge to take the beta version), and issue a "credential" to those who pass.
That would be exactly what the AAMT has done.
Unfortunately, some online schools push the CMT until all their new grads think it is the coolest thing on wheels. Only when they get a bit of real-world experience do they realize (hopefully) that they wasted their money. Oh, and now while they wiat two years before they can sit for the CMT, they have the RMT (equally useless) so they can donate to the AAMT early on.
AAMT/worthless
Once upon a time....I was a cheerleader for this organization. I was a local and state chapter board member, committee chairperson, worked in the ranks. We went to meetings in other states to support out colleagues. We held big symposiums that took a lot of planning and attendees gained CECs. The national group from AAMT was never supportive of the local or state chapters -- it was all about their presence and money. They never listened to our members' concerns or delegates/members views. National had an agenda and the rank and file were not a part of their plans.
Take note that many many productive chapters have folded over the years. There was a time when AAMT was very anti on-line presence.
AAMT sold us down the river, as someone else said. Previous national board members were very involved with training and providing work off-shore, under cutting bids for work, at a time when they were hiding these facts. Many of them were never in the trenches and they were more concerned with corporate politics than the working MTs.
As for the CMT credential, that's a personal choice, but most of us never saw any benefit, and it was not cost effective. It's another way for AAMT to make money.
.... and the list goes on.
TL is a do nothing, worthless added layer of
management to make some people think they are more important than they really are. Most of them know jack-sh** about anything, are just company pets and get paid to be a PITA.
Money is worthless in that kind of disaster.
i
Then that makes the "wonderful" features of IT worthless.
IT takes so long to get used to using that increase is production you may eventually get is not enough to cover for the money you lose while trying to learn the program. If you have to memorize everything, you might as well use Autocorrect.
Shorthand is much better and easier to use.
This kind of post is worthless without reasons. nm
:l
Forget the worthless AAMT certification
It will help you a lot more in the long run.
If you want to sue, you MUST have damages to sue for. GO to the DOCTOR or a suit is worthless.
I've seen enough Judge Judy (I love her, too!) to know this. If you have no damages, you get no money. With no PROOF of damages, you basically have no damages.
You would need to take pictures of any scrapes and bruises that you have as a result of being dragged, falling, the leash pulling you, etc. You also need a doctor's report. A judge won't just take your word that you were hurt. Good luck!
Never heard of RMT. In my experience, CMT is worthless in the job market.
x
I have a 100% discount for you. Don't take the test! It's worthless as is the association be
...counter not working... does that make them worthless?
Thanks DeeAnn, that link helped confirm what I thought. Neither of the counters are working on these two machines. Everything else is (tone,speed, etc. adjustments), peddle, power and headsets are all fine. Just no counters. Out of curiosity, do the counters not working tremendously devalue them? The neighbor was offering to give me one of three machines if I'd sell the two remaining ones, hence my involvement and interest. I've wondered about getting into MT (lord knows I can't handle full-scale court reporting school but am quick to learn, fast on keyboard and diligent though I need to sharpen grammar and proofing a bit). I was going to ebay these but with broken counters not sure what they are potentially worth, if too low then he may not want to part with anything. Otherwise, I'd go ahead... Refurbs are outrageously expensive but say around $50 each unit - is that asking too much? Opinions?
I did that with 2 kids with time mgmt and a high school girl who babysat 3 days a week after school
nm
The cost of running a private school or any school is expensive....
Why do you think public schools are so run down and can't find good teachers? Because the government and people to not put forth the effort or $$$$ to improve the educational system.
The School of Hard Knocks is the best MT school
n
Hahaha You mean a wooden nickel -- worthless! Hahaha
:)
We met in high school. My high school sweetheart
introduced us in a discussion over Ford versus Chevy versus Dodge. I used to race my Dodge Coronet with oldstyle 318 V-8 engine against the guys on the back roads and old highways. High school boyfriend had a Chevy truck. DH had a Ford Fairlane and later an AMC Javelin that just made me swoon. We didn't actually start dating until three years later, and my old high school boyfriend was a bit surprised at that since he introduced us.
I'm old school, but still know its 3/6
nm
never went to MT school!
I have been doing this for 10 years now. I have a great job, great QA reviews and make great money. So what???
ol school
LL Cool J and caramel
been to school should have known, especially since they
basically had the words correct. They were such common terms I don't know how anyone could have gotten through school and not had them at least 100 times.
Also doing one search on Google with the misspelled words would have probably turned up the answer.
going to school
Don't get discouraged - you will be able to use your MT skills in other areas to help with the cost of schooling. I'll be doing that too even if I have to work at a doctor's office part time as a receptionist! Just knowing I am making my way out of this field is something to aspire to!!!
Went to school and got my CPC
I have a national coding certificate. I cut back on my MT work and got a job auditing physician records and scoring their documentation, then gave them feedback to maximize their reimbursement for the services they provided. When I moved to a new area, the field for the type of coding I was doing had less of a demand, so I increased my MT work. Now that I'm back in my "home town" I need to network and re-enter the field. The money is just as good, if not better in some cases, with much better benefits, plus it is something you leave at the office at the end of the day.
d~
School
Northeast Guilford Senior High, North Carolina
School
North Clay Community H.S., Louisville, Illinois! SHHHH, don't tell anyone.
By the way, I'm also from old school....sm
But I try to keep them all as simple as possible, one office with 2 surgeons has their own letterhead, so no problem there and they want things very simple. All work for all also, besides getting printed by me, is put on a diskette for them to download on their systems for them to make whatever changes they choose. All others with no letterhead, I supply all paper for (Xerox) and free delivery and pickup to all. It is free for them, I pay someone to pickup/deliver. That's how simple I want it, and I also want to bill out and get paid only once a month.
Everyone seems to like the idea, and it has been working for quite some time (10 years) and my theory is, if it isn't broken, don't fix it. *LOL*
As for the national, my weekend work, each client has a CP (client profile) and some of the CPs are more difficult than the others and once in a GREAT while, I might forget SOMETHING but then I contact someone beyond who usually fixes whatever I messed up. 
I went to school for
two years to earn a certificate in medical transcription (at a junior college) but so far no one has ever asked me if I was certified or if I went to school. I guess they didn't care as long as I could do the work.
School
I would not recommend if you actually want to get a job!
I am considering RN school...
I am almost 29 and have a daughter and am pregnant with another one. I've been going to school to get my RHIT but am bored with it and may go to RN school instead. I don't know... I feel too old to do it!
You should ask the school what they want.
/
school
Aug 14 for us here in Douglas County too. We're neighbors!
Woo-hoo - 1st day of school!!! sm
Both kids survived it quite nicely. That's 1 down, 179 to go!!!
school
All I can tell you is that I was thinking of going into nursing a few years ago, and a friend of mine who used to be a nurse discouraged me (strongly). It's not what it used to be - lots of paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, lots of long hours and tough shifts. She got her Master's and is now in nursing administration.
Old school
In the old days of 1" on top, bottom, 1" sides it was 54 lines, it was six lines per inch and using the common font of Courier 10 font which is now a 12 font. But now fonts are all so different as well as margins but I used to get 62 ines per page when doing continuous chart notes. One way to check in your font is to number 1, 2 3, 4 down a page and see how far you can go or check the line count is word but usually runs 54 to 66 again depending on margins, fonts, etc.
What MT school did you go to? nm
x
It might if you went to a school that
that is not well known or has a less than stellar reputation. However, if you went a school with a good reputation in the industry, you don't really need it. Companies know who prepares their graduates for entry-level positions or above, who produces graduates that need more assistance, and what programs do not even provide remedial knowledge.
Having your RMT credential might show an employer that you have the basic knowledge required to do the job, but you would need to weigh cost versus the benefit.
School is a must!
I respectfully disagree with the above poster. Not having gone to a quality school puts you at a serious disadvantage in today's MT market. Nobody wants to hire a newbie to work at home, UNLESS they attended Andrews, M-TEC, or possibly Career Step. That's because those schools really prepare you to work at home. I got a job right out of school (wasn't even job hunting yet - the company contacted my school, M-TEC, and hired me right before graduation). I have been very successful as an MT and started making very good money after my first year on the job. I wouldn't even think about trying MT without the right education. Even if you do get hired by someone, you will be so far behind it will take years to catch up, and you probably WILL only make 5 or 6 cpl. I was paid a reasonable cpl rate from day 1. My education was worth every penny I paid.
Re:school
"And yes, I have trained and QA'd Andrews and MTEC graduates and they have sucked eggs just as much as the next newbie MT."
I highly doubt the above response, but okay.
Also, MT profession is not losing their pay to new MT's as much as it is because of offshoring to other countries!
MT school
I graduated from CAI and got an offer to test with MQ the week I graduated. I also have a friend who took the CAI course and got a job soon after she finished. It covered all the word parts, abbreviations, and had lots and lots of real doctor dictations to practice. There is nothing like on-the-job experience and I will be the first to admit I learn something new almost everyday, but I felt I was ready to work by the time I was done with the course.
Great post BTW. I get tired of hearing about the "top 3" as if there is no other way to become an MT.
No School
I learned on the job 20 years ago. Approached a local transcription company, "bargained" a shift with them if they would train me. Worked there 3 years and then on to the home office. I now work for a wonderful company in QA/Auditing and I also learn something new every day. I continue to learn through articles, webinars, seminars, etc. There is no end to the knowledge one can have in this profession.
Yes, been to CR school
But it is very, very difficult. Maybe 1 or 2 in 100 makes it through to certification. Am not saying you wouldn't be that one, but be prepared. I had to quit after 6 years because I also worked full time and just couldn't cut the 50 mile round trip commute to school anymore. Figure I had about two more years to go. That's the thing -- you never really know when you will finish because you might fly through one speed level then get stuck for 2 years at the next. If I had it to do over again, I would have stopped working and just concentrated on school. You have to be really accurate and fast to close caption too. I really loved doing CR though! So if you really want to do it, just look into it in depth!
Who was the MT going to med school?
Can you tell me how busy you are with that? I just wondered if you actually have time for anything else. I have friend who is 1 semester shy of her bachelor's degree and is considering putting med school off because she has a daughter, and is worried about how much time she would actually get to spend with her.
School for MT
I have not heard of these schools, but I would suggested Career Step if you are looking for a good course for MT.
I am going to school now myself -
I just started my second quarter and am going to be an accountant. Thinking about going into forensic accounting since there obviously is so much greed and criminal activity in the money world - gotta love the job security!
school
I am definitely aware of what is going on with the economy. It just happens that now is the perfect time financially for me to go to school. Also, I do not plan on going to school for economics, finance, or marketing, which are the main areas grad students are having a hard time finding jobs for (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008149224_gradjobs31.html). For some of us, there is no time like the present.
There is no QA school because
it requires EXPERIENCE. What a strange thing to say...
Did you miss the part about different levels of MTs? Or did you even bother to read it?
Does your school have a job
placement program. Most companies require at least 1 year experience. Good luck.
old school
I have heard that old school MTs who learned the usiness when they were working on typewriters and with carbon sets, etc. learned to listen ahead several words so they could hear any changes the dictator made before they got to it so they didn't have to stop and correct anything. I've never figured out how that works, though. I get a couple of words ahead of where I'm typing, but if I get too far out I confuzzle myself too much.
I think MTSO management doesn't always want MTs to talk to other MTs because then they might find out how crappy they are as bosses.
The other thing that has helped me enormously on my speed is to put errors in my Expander - when I type teh for the or pretty much any typo I make. This makes a huge difference, especially when my hands are tired or stiff, and I'm not stopping to fix stuff like that any more.
I'm in school too -
I am so ready to leave this profession. I started school for an accounting degree and will graduate in December with my associates, then on to another school to finish up.
Things have changed so much for me over the years that I cannot stand it anymore. there was a time when I thought I would die doing this because I loved it so much --- not anymore!!!
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