It depends on what you need to learn. Sm
Posted By: Instructor/Mentor on 2005-08-18
In Reply to: how much do you charge? - Interested in learning MT
Right now I have a gal starting Sep. 1 who has absolutely no med. training whatsoever so we are starting from scratch. She is paying for textbooks, cd's, materials, etc. I am having her pay as she goes along. I am not making any profit on any materials, but when she gets to the transcription part, I will have to start charging minimally for my time. Not sure yet how to go about that.
The second gal has some formal training and needs dictation practice and I am actually in the process of working with a company getting copies of microcasette tapes with approximately 800 minutes of dictation on them and will give those to my students.
I have a few accts. myself so when my students show that they are ready to tackle digital dictation, I may consider "hiring" them in the future. Right now, our goal is to get them trained and ready with my help, and to be able to pass a co. test.
I don't know where that box is to place my email address is and I don't want to post it in this spot. I will try to get my email available for anyone seriously considering getting into the field and being trained with an experienced MT who is willing to mentor them along the way to meeting their career goals.
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learn something new every day - thanks
See - learn something new every day. Thanks. I just knew about some laws passed locally last year on a city/county basis.
Did you learn
on the job, or were you taught by a friend, or self-taught?
Most of those tests nowadays are geared toward grads of official MT programs.
Learn something new every day don't
you. A consult is similar in format to an H&P, but 2 different things - for example, an elderly patient with diabetes breaks a hip and needs surgery. Most likely they are admitted to ortho, but need an endocrine of internal medicine consult to determine if diabetes is stable enough for surgery and no other medical problems that might be a contraindication to surgery, or need treatment prior to surgery.
You will never learn to do them...
unless you tackle them head on. You do what you can with the report, and you do what you can with the next report. You cannot avoid difficult dictations. If you don't learn to do them, you will never make any money and will probably get into trouble for abandoning too many reports.
Why would anyone want to learn it???
nm
Learn something new every day...sm
Outlook and outlook express are two different things I guess. I never knew this, but that's what I am being told. Outlook has a calendar option but outlook express does not. Very interesting indeed. Let me know if you all hear anything different from this.
Thanks for all your help. I have decided to try the yahoo calendar for free and see how that works. So far, it's perfect! Thanks for the info everyone! 
thats it! You have to learn the sm
hard way to understand. For my own personal experience, I have gone through a horrible illness and I know more than ever the importance of medical records that are perfect. I have seen some really bad stuff out there in medical records, my own included that not only is a disgrace but downright dangerous! I have always done my job with the idea that there is a patient behind all of this and they deserve the best we can give them. With all the ruckus about the state of our health care system these days, why would any MT not understand that this is not about us and lines typed and cpl etc. ITS ABOUT THE PATIENTS!!!!!!!!! you are right, the money comes later. Its a career long learning experience, one that I hope never ends on the learning part. Sounds to me like you have also been through enough life to understand all of this. The younger ones won't get it until they have been at this for many years. The only problem is, with some of the attitudes of "I won't do this and I won't do that" they won't be in the business years from now!
Learn from history
and think very carefully about this person and his sob story. Boo hoo!
His child is cruel toward animals, chances are this child is being mistreated in some way by someone. This is a red flag that something in not right in this child's life regarding the adults. Children are NOT naturally violent--it is learned behavior.
Be friendly, but takes things very, very slow and think of the safety of yourself, your children, and your pet (s). Better safe than sorry.
newbie trying to learn
I have recently finished an online medical transcription course. I have been reading the posting on this website and I'm very intrigued by some of the information. Not to sound stupid, but what are word expanders, auto correct, and shorthand? I have macros on my computer, but I never used them. I am trying to find my first medical transcription job, but it is very difficult as a newbie. I would love to be a productive, accurate medical transcriptionist, but it seems that no one wants to give the newbies a chance. Any thoughts of how to get started? thanks!
It is your job to learn the ESLs and if you can't/won't then you need to
find a new job because you are in the wrong one.
However, once you learn it, it's great!
I averaged $21-23 an hour doing radiology, about $15-17 doing acute care. If I were to go back into transcription, it would be doing radiology.
Thanks, i'd be interested to learn more
welcome; love IT and sure you will too when you learn it. nm
;
It was very frustrating to learn but
after 3 months, I have grown to like it.... well maybe I have grown not to dislike it so much. I would still rather work in MS Word. It is NOT the best platform out there to be certain. The spell check is awful and I copy everything into a Word document to double check. You cannot copy back into Emdat though. If there are any changes to make you must type them. For some reason if you copy from Word, although it looks okay to you, on the physician's end it is wrong.
It is nice not to have to worry about the line count. It is VERY nice not to have to save each patient separately. It is nice to have the patients name available (although that is not always the case). Overall, I give it a C.
Hope this helped.
I had to learn the same program sm
Whether it is worth it - is only a question you can answer.
Personally, the platform is so easy; however, I do not get the high line counts I am used to even with their expander. I am so used to working in a Word-based platform with over 5000 auto-correct entries. For me, the transition was not worth it. I could only average 240 lines per hour compared to my usual 350 - 400 lph.
You have to realize, every one is different with different needs and wants.
The packet of policies you mention really is no big deal. Just print them out and read them over and within a week you won't even look at them again. Starting any job is overwhelming at first, but then it becomes routine.
I would suggest you give it a shot. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
As for the ESL account, I have no idea which one that would be - mine is a good mix of all.
Thank you! Learn something new everyday!
.
I like it. Once you learn it, it is easy.
x
Is this so you dont have to LEARN which is which?
If so, no, theres no way.
If you need a shortcut, just put the nongenerics in your Expander as capped. Put your others in like ddiphenhydramine and it will catch on spellcheck and you will know it is generic.
Yes. Use MT while you learn something else. It's never too late. nm
x
Was very difficult to learn and there are
still some things I cannot get the hang of. But, it is the only Expander I am permitted to use so had to bite the bullet after resisting for a few months. Takes about three months go use it effectively. Try using it for a few hours every day. When you get frustrated, close it and type everything out. On short-fuse days, skip it altogether. Over a few months, with this method, you will begin to develop speed and each new problem will be solved one by one so your line count will not get suffer greatly. Using IT requires doing a massive amount of reading initially. But, I have to say, I love it now (and am still learning how to use it six months into using it).
That rate is better than most. You do learn
the ESLs. You just have to "train" your ears. I remember my first day on my current account. I had all ESLs and I had so many blanks and was so stressed, but now I would rather do these ESLs than some of my American docs. I still have times when I will have a blank with these docs but it is rare. When you get corrections back print them and keep a file for future reference and if you can relisten to the report once you get corrections and see if you can hear what they are saying this time.
Took me about a week to learn it. I sm
forced myself to do it the IT way (using their marker keys), and started out using it 1 hour a day. I purchased mine at fitaly.com for full price. I have seen it used on ebay & here on the equipment board.
because in med school they learn to be even
cockier and they also learn how to dictate even faster. They also learn to pretend that everyone's physical exam is exactly the same no matter what their problem really is and, by the way, the Transcriptionist should know what that physical exam entails from the very first report. So, they all decided to save their money and just be a P.A. instead of an M.D. 
yep, for some it's a big deal so learn it *LOL*
The patient will be seen for followup in a week.
Followup one week.
The patient came in for follow up of her acne. (I believe this can be hyphenated to follow-up.)
The patient will be seen for followup care in a month. (This, too, some MTs hyphenate to follow-up but I do not.)
The BOS has this very issue - Book of Style by the AAMT 2nd edition - discussed in it.
Where did you learn all these tricks?
I have the program and have really not got into it too much yet, but the manual leaves a lot to be desired. It is very highly recommended so I intend to keep on trying. I bought it about a year and a half ago, and admit I finally gave up and put it on the back burner, but I really want to learn how to use it. I will add, though, that I have had a lot of trouble learning the tricks with Word, since I am on my own and having to teach myself.
Is it easy to learn?
Thanks
It will help you learn MD names and
I think help you get a realistic idea of your nursing career. I don't have kids though. I hope you have a good support system.
Good luck to you.
LIve and learn...
her name? Isn't that a little unprofessional and childish on your part. Too bad you got a bad deal, but you chose her. Maybe she's making more money doing something else or had a family emergency. Did you have her sign a contract because if you didn't then you really have no leg to stand on. I just personally think it is poor taste on your part to try to smear her name. I wish you would produce your full name so that I don't work for you in case I want to quit - you won't smear my name. Grow up and quit  ! Just find someone else!
The system will learn...sm
If everybody types PhosLo in the beginning, the system will learn it that way and will eventually put out a draft with PhosLo in it. However you type things is how the system will learn it. At first, we were told every number had to be Arabic, even cancer stages and factors, but because of complaints by doctors, we started typing stages with Roman numerals. It has taken a while, and it isn't perfect, but the system is learning to type Roman numerals when the word "stage" is in front of it. Good luck with E-scription...I love it!
You have to learn not to take it personally - sm
when I started I was basically thrown to the wolves doing acute care, but I hit the ground running and became a good MT. In one of the jobs I had at the time (had 3 PT jobs my first year in order to get exposure to many types of work and good experience), the person doing the QA was less than nice at times. He would make the corrections and send them to me, but if I did a repeated error or did no pick up on the diagnosis from the assessment (usually repeated in start and end of report) I would get a nasty comment. If I made a repeated error his patience would just go and again with the nasty comments. I was "scared" of him for a long time but once I got used to his ways and took his comments as constructive criticism I did a lot better. Now he does not even look at my work (yes I still work there) and we have a nice working friendly relationship. The key is to (again) not to take the comments personally. QA sees report after report of mistakes and maybe yours that day was the one to break the straw, who knows; Also most importantly LEARN from the corrections. Make notes of words you have problems with, I use an address book, A-Z and write down any unfamiliar and new terms, got that tip on here from someone else, works great. Also remember there is such thing as a dumb question.
learn something new all the time
Thanks for all the input, I worked for a company prior to this one and "pay day" was the day I physically had a check in my hand via mail and if pay day landed on a Sunday or Holiday, it was always in my hand 1 to 2 early...it had me worried there for a minute
I agree many need to learn how
to speak English more gramatically. But their accent? Unless someone comes here at a pretty young age, the accent is not possible to eradicate. We're born with the ability to make all sounds but we lose it. So it is always appreciated when they are aware that they are hard to understand and try to enunciate and not go too fast.
You would need to learn format.
Perhaps if you take an at home MT course that would be sufficient, and with your medical background might be able to land a job. After getting a dentist's salary for so long, might be depressed when you see your paycheck, and with all the ESLs out there might not be so much fun. Not trying to disillusion you but just stating the facts. Also, need to be able to type pretty quick, and have listening/typing coordination - takes some getting use to in the beginning.
If you decide to do it, good luck.
I know you can learn accents
Ever wish you could take your post back after more thought? I spent alot of time thinking about this topic of ESL/accent/ignorant dictators, and I guess I would like to clarify now.
I understand that if you listen to the same dictator or dialect repeatedly, you learn to understand it, and there are several that I have become quite familiar with. But, my point was that for the $2.00 +/- per page that I get paid, I choose to listen to someone who is willing to take the time to speak with courtesy and clarity into the microphone. I understand that at some point I may not have the choice, but while I do, I choose to work for someone who gives what they expect. They expect clear reports, I expect clear dictation. And they get paid ALOT more than I do to hold up their end of the bargain.
On the same token, for the hundreds of dollars that I pay out in medical expenses every year, I choose to give that money to someone I can understand and that I am relatively sure understands me, without the language barrier. I don't want to chance a compromise in care because of a misunderstanding in communication; there are enough other things that can cause a compromise in care.
The medical language is hard enough when everyone is speaking the same language, with all the sound-alike words and similiar words, etc. I don't want to confuse it even more with any extra variations. I know it is here to stay, but I want to stay under my rock as long as I can.
Hope I haven't I haven't worsened my "foot-in-mouth" disease, or made anyone else even more upset...
learn from your feedback, that's all.
nm
Wow...so know we have to learn your language as well.
-
There is little or no incentive to learn and use
all these shortcuts, when one knows that the cpl will maximum be 4 cents.
you cannot expertly learn MT while sm
working production and having to worry about your paycheck. This is why newbies don't want to research because it takes from their paycheck.
Again they need to work in an office or a hospital or anywhere but in an isolate environment at home when first starting in this profession For the last time, it is the MT schools that have pushed this whole idea of working at home and making lots of money with no work to it.
I mean this kindly, you have much to learn
Keep your chin up about it. You do not realize this, but they are actually doing you a favor. They do not ever take on more work than they have MTs to handle. Quite frankly, it is the other way around. Many times they have to many MTs sitting around doing nothing waiting for work. This is your job - to help them handle ALL accounts, not just yours. Maybe you do not feel ready for this but you need to change that. This is the only way for you to become **professional** at what you do and build your skill level. I am trying to be very kind about this because you brought back memories of me walking in your shoes. It is not the company's fault about your income. Yes, it may go lower trying to learn a new account but that is only more $$ potential for the future. You should look at this as an opportunity to make yourself a more valuable MT.
"Once you learn it" was not my point....sm
If she's already learned it, then just disregard my post. I was addressing the issue of "not" knowing it, and thinking that past experience or training in other areas of medical transcription would make the transition an easy one. It's not that simple.
How do you learn when you know you are being trained wrong?
I am so sad. Right now I am a newbie and need to ger my experience in and learn from the bottom, but I think this is not going to happen and I will never be a good MT with any skills to get another job. I am currently employed with a company that has a QA manager that is not very good. She corrects my work with her own made up ways of grammar, drug terminology, etc. It is whatever she says, but when you tell her of her mistakes she won't listen and say just do it the way I say. If I stay here I will never be good enough to go to another company. Also, I will not be good enough to one day get hired by a national. What do I do when I am being trained wrong, but need experience. The people who hired the QA manager are clueless because they are not MTs.Therefore the QA person's word is the law of the land even when I know it is wrong. Help!!!
You really have missed something. They are usually easy to learn.
I like the ones where you can make your own. I now use Instant Text but there are others out there that are really good as well.
You just give frequently used words or phrases a short form and that's where you'll save time and make money instead of typing out every word. My theory is that the phrases are better because that's where you'll save the most.
no problems. you must learn to pay attention as you go along. once is enough.
btw, if it is a very difficult person to do i will listen twice in the course of transcription and then flag it for QA.
WOW - I have never heard of a beagle that could learn !! LOL
The beagles I had did what they wanted, when they wanted, and how dare I treat them like a dog, i.e. they hated it if I made them eat out of a dog dish or god forbid, I did not let them on the furniture or in the bed - LOL!!! They did not think they were beagles, but humans!
Learn proper English...
YOU BE HAPPY THERE - Perhaps you be stupid?
You learn as you go. Keep up the good work.
Despite the occasional nastiness of this board, the majority of posters are very helpful. I've always found it a great help when you need it.
Learn a lesson quickly...
After 8 years of loyalty, I can tell you one thing for sure loyalty gets you no where.
You don't need to go to school to learn terminology.
than any school could teach. No transcription school can teach you speed on a keyboard. If you have good English language usage and typing speed, start with a local physician who will allow you to type at home. Trust me. I know.
Learn to bellydance! It's fun and you WILL get in shape!
Thanks - learn something new everyday on these boards
nm
I need to learn to read! I'm making MORE than 3 yrs ago
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