In all my years (20+) of MT'ing
Posted By: SAM on 2009-04-22
In Reply to: My job doesn't follow BOS rules - LinK
I have never had a job that followed BOS. I have a copy of BOS 2, and I think I have opened it once or twice just to peruse it on my own but not for the account on which I work.
That being said, it would be much simpler for we MTs if every facility followed it. I've had some truly bizarre account specifics where following the BOS guidelines would have been much simpler, lol!
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In 12 years of MT'ing I've never re-read an entire chart. Edit/read as I type. nm
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Looking to get into MT'ing
Could you please recommend a reputable company that I can get involved with to begin doing some medical transcribing? I am eager to get started. Thanks.
Maybe this is the same Busy MT'ing who will be getting a
Bachelor of Science degree in December and is going to go on to medical school. Obviously, not as happy with job as would like for us to believe.
MT'ing in a nutshell
1. You must be able to be alone alot, or else you will get very lonely. I myself love it most of the time, but there will be a few days where I long for co-workers, happy hours, and gal pal'ing with colleagues, but then i'll quickly sober up and remember the backstabbing, office politics, all women in the office pms'ing simultaneously...I would rather be alone than deal with that even one day out of the month.
2. You have to be disciplined. I am, but not to a fault. There are still at least one or two days out of the pay period where I immediately "start work" by daydreaming, surfing the internet, checking email, chatting, float from room to room aimlessly. You have to be on time, every day, ready to work, or else you won't make any money.
3. Get ready to justify being an MT to just about EVERYONE in your life. Many people do not think of this as a "real" job, which I cannot for the life of me get over. Its not respected, even though i'm very proud of my profession, and able to support myself soley on it, have a few hobbies and manage to go to school, and plan on buying a house.
4. This is THE most important...KNOW YOUR STUFF! Research, never guess, if you cannot understand a word. You will learn so much and will become that much better in the long run.
I dont know if the girls can add anything else, but those of the double edge swords we deal with. Good luck 
TO BUSY MT'ING
Pay no attention to some of these people... they were abused as children. LOL
For busy MT'ing
You're quite sanctimonious, but not particularly smart. Since MQ's requirement for FTEs was never for hours, but rather 12,000 lines per pay period, AND the fact that FTMTs only get a per-line rate, what difference does it make whether they get 12,000 lines in 10 hours or 50? Does MQ plan to pay an hourly rate to go along with the line requirement? If not, why is there a new standard? I know you're a bulk producer -- as I have no way to know whether the quality of your work is as good as the amount, and assuming the QA is the same low caliber it has always been, they would never notice your errors anyway -- I'll assume you do nothing but easy accounts all day and never look anything up -- in any event, the new hourly requirement does merit questioning. MQ needs to pay an hourly rate if they are going to start a new hourly standard for FTEs. Period. Nothing unreasonable expecting they should do so. Also, YOU have a choice. You can ignore the posts -- stop reading them! You're righteous lectures are a tad tiresome. As of now, I am done reading anything YOU post.
MT'ing isn't all about speed, although...
of course it helps to type fairly fast. However, there is sooooo much more to it than just typing speed.
That being said, my own speed without using any text expansions isn't nearly as great as some mention here. I tested using expansions recently and hit well over 200 wpm. Thankfully, I am able to use a text Expander while working . . . otherwise I might starve to death. 
Really more stressful than MT'ing? nm
BUSY MT'ing is a mole, I would bet on it!
She sounds like like one of my supervisors.
MT'ing since 1998. Just turned 30
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QA should be used to teach and aid in the process of MT'ing sm
Not to pick apart and make the MT feel inadequate. Does it really matter if there is a comma missing....not really. The report still reads the same and is a technical document.
QA should be friendly and helpful, at least that is how I try to be in my QA position. We are in this together not against each other. We have the same purpose....to make sure that patient has the most accurate record possible. We all should work as a team, in my most humble opinion.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Busy MT'ing--please email me if you don't mind...
I've included my email address here so you can reach me. I wanted to chat with you for a second, if you don't mind....and just so ya know, I couldn't agree more!! You have hit the nail on the head! 
Busy MT'ing...you took the words right out of my mouth...sm
Great advice. Attitude is everything. It brings to mind a quote I read not too long ago...
"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails."
Oh yeah, I am Bwahaha'ing all the way to the bank (nm)
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Advice on brand, RAM, etc. to load MT'ing software on.
Needing to replace my old computer for a new one. I need to get a really deal on a really fast computer. Help, please, with your experiences.
Busy MT'ing never answered the question of how many hours she works in a week.
It's not that we don't believe, necessarily. We'd just like to know HOW. I'm sure most, if not all, of us think of ourselves as somewhat intelligent, fast typists, educated, experienced, motivated, and capable. Those are pretty much givens. However, there's got to be a secret that we don't know. Is it the work type, platform, keyboard, expander, account type, national or local, big or small MTSO, clinic or acute? If we have the same tools available to us, why is there such a disparity among earnings?
YOU, Busy MT'ing, are one of those that fail to reach mature conversation when you mockingly add
x
58, AHP/self-taught, trained at hospital 5 years, now with 2 of my own accounts for 10 years, employ
Also worn out 2 keyboards in 4 years. I will never retire. DH will come home some day from work and I'll be slumped over my keyboard. I put in 14 hours a day 7 days a week.
Pack years = packs smoked per day x years of smoking - sm
25 pack-years = 25 years of 1 pack a day, or 12-1/2 years of 2 packs a day.
I don't think pack-years applies to someone who smokes only cigars. But I don't know for sure.
I worked for Cbay for 3 years. I was also part of their lay off back many years ago. sm
Even though I got stuck in a lay off era, I still love the company. They paid well then. The people were nice (exception of 1 person) and if I had the opportunity I would go back again. Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how u look at it), I have a great paying job right now, so I am not looking for a change. I do know that at one time, they asked management to accept late paychecks, but never sure of the reason why. My check was never late.
I know it used to be 5-10 years back, but the laws changed within the last 2 years. They can only g
x
6 years legal then switched to medical 17+ years ago. sm
I don't mind doing legal and will do it now from time to time, but be prepared to be totally bored out of your mind.
At least that's the way I feel. I love to transcribe, learned legal in college, went on to get my paralegal degree, etc., etc., but I did temp work when the kids were younger, which was about 90% medical and I would never go back to legal except for once in a while.
Booooooring.
Only 3 years away from reaching total years for retirement
but if I had to do this and raise a family, would feel exactly like you do. The pay is terrible compared to what I used to make. I work 32 hours a week, hope to be able to continue even after full retirement age. I have worked on VR now and unless places get to where they really do not care about how their reports look, think they will need MTs. I very seldom do a report and it is 100%, just cannot remember 1 like that and most take a lot more editing. Working now because want to, not have to anymore, thank goodness!!
I dumped my ex 20 years ago, but got lucky 13 years ago
It would take me all night and pages and pages to describe what a bad person my ex-husband was. After six years of putting up with his OCD, verbal abuse and alcohol, I left him the house, took the kids (5 and 1) and didn't look back. That was 20 years ago.
I wasn't looking to get married again, but I did. After 13 years I only complain when hubby doesn't see things my way. :)
My older kids, who were 5 and 1 when I left, are married and have kids of their own now. My husband gets the Father's Day cards. Their "real" father sits alone in the perfect little house I left behind and let him have and he drinks himself into oblivion every night because nobody is "perfect" enough, including his kids and his grandkids that he never sees.
Sad, but true. So glad I smartened up and got out of there when I did.
We have been supporting other countries for years and years now.
What is the big deal. Look at your clothes, cars, items in your house. You will see mostly China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan etc., etc. We have not supported our own people like we should have for years now!!!!
Only 2 in 13 years for me. First Edix for 8 and now Webmedx for nearly 5 years. nm
.
When I trained, back years and years ago
We did not have spell checking nor the internet (Google for instantaneous help). OMG, how did we do it? We used Correcting Selectrics with the lift-off tape to correct errors- you only had dictionaries, both English and medical, to look up things so yes we did have to learn to spell all those big longgggggggggg words.
MT: 24 years. Same company: 11 years same co. after buyout.
x
Grammar Question: 9 years' ago or 9 years ago? *sm*
 I have a terrible time trying to remember this rule! HELP!
Worked inhouse for years and years
Inhouse transcription from 1973 to approximately 1992 and we had no downtime for answering the phones and when the physicians came into the room (or others) needing some assistance, just part of the job. I did not feel bad about doing it then and I dont see why you would either. You don’t realize that probably you are making right now more than if you are outsourced, right? You have hourly salary plus incentive. Guess how many of us have that now? Probably inevitable about outsourcing so I would say just enjoy while you can. The pay our here now sinks further and further. I make, for instance, 4 cents a line for voice recognition and 8 for straight. Now, more complaining?
19 years old...married 26 years. nm
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they've been doing this for years and years (nm)
IMHO
People have been saying that for years and years - SM
however, I am working fewer hours and making more money. I think maybe the answer here is working as an IC for a one-owner company. MTSO was an MT for many years and she knows the secret to making lots of $ is putting your MTs doing what they do best and leaving them alone.
I don't think it is the "national" part of services that hurts. I think the low wages can be gauged by the number of suits in the company. More suits = less $.
And why pay QA? Just hire people experienced/good enough to do the work correctly the first time.
I have been doing Radiology only the last two years after several years (sm)
of acute care. I love it and find it easier although not as interesting as acute care. I was told by those who hired me that a good medical Transcriptionist will be able to do Radiology even with no experience in it. There are some specialized terms but easy to learn. I would never go back to acute care unless there were very good dictators and good sound quality.
30 (!) years; OTJ (don't think there were schools 30 years ago) nm
:)
Years ago it was 7 years. Not certain as to status now.
10 years here, too, and making 8.4....same as i was 5 years ago. nm
f
Shame on me.. Am I the only one with 4+ in 2 years, but with my last one 2 years.
Lots of little "stints" in between, just trying to keep my head above water.
24 years MT, 7.5 years with the same hospital nm.
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22 years, same company 10 years nm
nm
32 years, longest was 28 years at same co. (nm)
*
28 years, 9 years at 1 hospital..sm
9 years at one hospital, 8 years with 2 services, then went out on my own (11 years ago) and got a bunch of surgeons and I moonlight on weekends for a national (9 years with national).
If I knew what I know today, with how the MT business has gone down $$-wise for us over 20+ years, if I had my druthers and could start over again, I would have stayed with CODING/BILLING instead of MT work (though I love MT work) as billing/coding is still lucrative in this country....
just my 3 cents 
32 years, 18 years at hospital...
7 at Medquist, 7 at Spheris. Starting at Transtech Medical tomorrow.
Do you need to have 2 years full time experience or just 2 years' experience? nm
..
49 years old/self taught/daughter 20 years old/self taught. I'm a CMT, and daughter is studying t
take the test soon.
I know I'm old - 30+ years as well
but I do remember specifically being told "double". Maybe there is something to the reason being that they used to "talk good."
I'm going on 35 years of doing this
and I try to keep my goals realistic dealing with rheumatoid arthritis, etc. I don't like to see a minimum of 200 lines/hour; occasionally can reach nearly 300 lph but depends on the dictators. Seems the account I do now mostly has dictators from India, the ones I dislike the most. I love Russians, Japanese, Germans, French, etc., etc., but for some reason I find the Indian accent very difficult!!!!
I, like you, do not use expanders or "normals" etc., mostly because I'm from the old school and I type every word. I'm sure if I used some of the crutches I could easily reach 275 to 350 lines/hour, maybe more who knows! I keep telling myself one day I'll relearn how to do all that but right now, I don't care....when the time is right I'll know. Mainly I just keep trying not to stress myself out too much. I've put in my time and paid my dues and do a great job. I'm not a young chick anymore and don't expct myself to produce these huge line counts, but believe me, I know I could if that was my wish!!! Don't worry.....Be happy!
My Dad is gone now 10 years....
The last present he brought for me was an anniversary clock which I placed on my fireplace mantel in the center....Well that's Dad's spot because whenever I move that clock to any other spot it stops working, but the moment I place it in "the spot" it works immediately. My youngest daughter was almost 2 when my Dad died. After his death she would wake up and tell me "Grandpop was here last night"....I know my Dad comes around many times.
18 years.
nm
As an MT for 25+ years
I wouldn't recommend this profession in this day of voice recognition being on the horizon. Most of us who are doing MT are 40+ years old and there's a reason for that. Most community colleges and junior colleges no longer teach this skill. There's a reason for that. It's soon to be a thing of the past, whether one chooses to accept that fact or not, it is.
Second, this is a great job for awhile. But if you notice that over time people start to get nutzo when they've been out of social circulation too long and start to get a mean, angry edge to them. This is not a healthy way to live, sitting by yourself all day with no contact with the outside world except over the anonymous internet.
This is a great part-time job if you want or need to earn some extra income, but if you're thinking of going to school and have the time and means to do so, I suggest earning a bachelor's degree, which will open your options to many, many different possibilities rather than winding up limiting yourself to being a one-trick pony in a dying field.
I'm leaving this field within the next week - hopefully forever. I have accepted a position that's totally unrelated to MT and want to start building a resume in a profession that has a future. I've also completed my bachelor's degree, at age 48.
I'm not going to paint myself into a corner and wonder what hit me five years from now when this profession no longer exists. I respectfully suggest that you take that into consideration as well.
Best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do, but so allow yourself as many options as you can and don't lose touch with the outside world.
I was a MT for 15 years before going....sm
into a supervisory role. My current day consists of such things as:
Teaching new physicians at hospitals/clinics how to dictate and the information we need to provide a complete medical record for them.
Keeping up with information to assist clients and employees with current 5 different platforms as well as staying aware of changes these platforms foresee coming in the future. Yes, I'm always learning new things.
Answer questions about various accounts that arise. Some of these answers are by the MTs who don't look at the written information we give them on an account but the majority of the questions are "one time" incident items for an account.
Answer questions about turn around times, process stat requests, vacation requests, schedule changes, questions about bills and all sorts of other things during the day from clients as well as employees.
Answer inquiries and provide insight to senior management about things going on with a current client, which of course means I'm talking to the current clients frequently to ensure there aren't any problems not being resolved as well as looking for future additional business with the client.
I also transcribe when needed, usually averaging transcribing between 1000-5000 lines a month while filling in for the accounts having peaks or MTs out for various reasons (including, like Dano said, the one whose grandmother has died 6 times.). I currently have 1 employee who has I presume about 8 grandmothers in nursing homes on feeding tubes in 8 different states and of course all of these grandmothers happen to develop "potentially life-ending" medical crises 1-2 days before a holiday. I do "wonder" how this employee is going to handle it when all 8 of these grandmothers do die if they die at the same time!
I do love what I do, even when I get a phone call from a hospital waking me at 2:30 a.m. stating that the entire hospital computer system is down for maintenance and they forgot to tell me it was scheduled previously and that is why our transcriptionists can't get in to work).
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