My concern about newbies getting a job -
Posted By: Ruthie on 2008-05-04
In Reply to:
In response to a previous post on newbies finding a job - I've been typing for almost 15 years and was lucky enough to "learn the right way" from a great mentor, learning all specialties. Editing speech rec jobs is relatively easy when you have the background in all specialties like "us old folks".
At least for right now, I believe speech rec is only as good as the experienced Editor behind it to eyeball and correct any errors. I hate to admit it, but speech rec has made dramatic improvements in its accuracy over the last few years. It's here to stay, it's improving - and surprisingly, the people I work with really enjoy editing.
My concern though is when the old folks like me in the field retire, and many of us are getting close. Newbies need the opportunity to get in the door and gain their experience in all specialties to take over as the older folks leave the field. There needs to be mentors to continue to be available to these newbies to guide them along the way. There are good schools out there, but to "learn it all" you really need to be actively working in the field on a job that gives the opportunity to learn all specialties.
This is my concern as speech recognition becomes more and more successful. We will continue to need quality, seasoned transcriptionists to become quality, well rounded editors in the future.
I've taught completely green people transcription, and I've taken newbies in and guided them along the way. It is satisfying for me because someone took me green 15 years ago and gave me this opportunity, and for that I am eternally grateful. Putting 3 kids through college was a lot easier thanks to my full time job and another part time job I had.
Best of luck to all you newbies out there - if you can get your foot in the door at a local hospital, even working in house to start, its a good place to begin. Gain all the experience you can. I'm not sure working for these big shlock houses, the nationwide transcription companies, is the best place to start - it can be frustrating when you're given all the ESL docs and junk work and try to plug through it.
Good luck newbies - keep on pluggin.
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Thanks for your concern - sm
All of these possibilities have run through my mind too.
In truth, I think the dad was trying to protect her, given the tragedy they have faced in the last year. At least that is the one possibility that I am hoping. That one can be forgiven as compared to other possibilities.
I can't even imagine what must be going through her head. As a mother, I would want to protect my kids too if they had been hurt as she has.
I did a little internet searching on the story he gave me and did find that the accident and deaths really did happen so I don't doubt that at all. I think it's dad trying to do his best and trying to protect her from further hurting but also trying to do the right thing too.
On my steps this morning I found a little bouquet of flowers. I think they may have been from her. Sure, they were picked from my flower beds but... hey, it's a gesture and looks like a little kid put them together.
Again, I'm holding out for putting the best foot forward and try to be a good neighbor.
Everyone deserves a second chance.
Thanks for your concern - sm
I don't think she's going to be a problem.
When my husband and I divorced, my little angels turned into monsters. They were angry, confused, and scared. This little girl lost her mother and her baby brother. They aren't coming back and it's still pretty fresh.
My kids see their dad every other weekend so they know he's still around.
Just try to put yourself in her shoes at that age. Wow, that's a big thing for such a little girl to handle.
I think her dad is doing his best, has her in counseling, has his sister helping him learn to be Mr. Mom, and just trying to be everything to his daughter.
From what I gathered from my conversation with him the day after the puppy incident, he was absent from the home a lot on business before the accident. Said he had no clue what to do after his wife and son were gone. Said he thought he was a dad before but this whole thing opened his eyes to what he was missing.
The guy has moved across state, lost his wife and son, trying to learn all over again to parent his remaining child, and starting a new career so he can spend more time with his daughter.
I think I'm safe with a 10 year old. I'll be more aware of what is going on when she is around but, she's 10. Still a baby to me.
By the way, they have accepted my invitation to dinner Friday night, all three of them.
It's going to be okay.
After my not so nice divorce (husband is now living with the reason for our divorce) I have learned that I really do have more patience than I thought myself capable of. Dealing with the nasty GF of the husband, the husband's betrayal, the kids anger for the separation and then the divorce, and my inital feeling of failure... I could list a million things but, I'm happy now, my kids are happy, I get along well enough with the ex, civil with his girlfriend, heck, this little bump over the puppy is small taters next to the past few years I have had.
I don't plan on saving the girl. I just feel bad for her and I know that her healing is just beginning. Doesn't help if I encourage my kids to alienate her. Not very nice of me as an adult either. Just because of one incident out of 6 months. No, I think she deserves a little understanding, forgiveness, and patience.
Thanks for your concern. sm
I have been in this business 25+ years and have had my own hospital clients for years. I know what happens when administration changes. I appreciate your concern, but believe me, I will be fine.
Why would some be so worried about another's line rate? If it is true concern, it is quite refreshing to see such caring fellow MTs rather than the bitter bunch usually here.
Thanks again, and best of luck to you.
Good luck to you.
no, I do not. thanks for your concern.--nm
nm
Yes, this is a concern.
Can you say which region of the country you are in? I have a feeling when this EMR stuff gets rolling, it's really going to impact MT quickly. My personal physician's group (in Michigan) uses it now for their office notes and has absolutely no need for transcription services.
What was the concern regarding Transform??
\
Overhiring is becoming a big concern.
Frequently, we are asked to get off the account we are working on as there is not enough work to go around, but this is sporadic, yet has been happening a lot lately so I suspect overhiring. If this continues, I may have to find another job, which is a shame because they are good person there but that will not pay my bills.
I think your concern is well founded. sm
I am looking to start re-schooling in the next year to get into a profession that cannot be offshored. Globalism is here to stay, and all jobs that can be used to extend corporation control into the global society will do just that. No sense not paying attention to the handwriting on the wall.
If benefits are a concern...
I would just find an job working from home that offers benefits. My job allows me to make money by the line, and also as long as I work full time, I get benefits. As the other poster, I too like being able to work from home and not deal with traffic getting to work, gas, work clothes, eating out, putting children in childcare, etc. It saves me so much money this way.
Also, I have been doing this for six years, and I haven't known any of the doctors personally.
Benefits are a concern. I am currently
working as an IC, and I am sick of the tax stuff - really wondering if I come out ahead to be honest working that way. I definitely want benefits and have a prospective company interested in hiring me that offers benefits. I have always known the doctors I have worked for. I guess it's sort of a new working situation for me not to know the person I am typing for. I don't know if I would miss that. Do you find it hard to deal with a company who is across country that you can't just drive to at a moment's notice if you have a problem and can't communicate by phone or email with anyone?
Please take this as intended; as concern
Hair colorants can be quite toxic; you may want to research here. I have no affiliation with this site other than I wish to be an educated consumer and I am concerned about what I put in and on my body. Not trying to be preachy. Good luck to you.
http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2/index.php
I understand your concern....
Sheri would like you guys to know this: When the site goes down and is replaced with old posts, then you will know it has been taken over. Please know she is working to get a new site at mtstars.net and it will be working as soon as possible. I do not work for MTStars and am just a poster but know what cybersquatting is. This is real. Be aware that a person has taken hostage the *domain name* for money (extortion) and if she doesn't comply in 12-24 hours, he will take over the site. This is real!
Hear your concern about
the line situation. I use ShortHand and have shortcuts up the kazoo. The only thing Shorthand does for me is save my fingers and hands as I don't see a huge difference in my lines.
In fact since I have gotten really proficient with my macros, my lines in fact have gone down or stayed the same. I thought it was supposed to be a line booster. One can only go so fast and still maintain accuracy and fill in blanks along the way.
Makes ya wonder what is going on with that?
I can understand that concern. To be honest, I believe
that there will still be lots of opportunity for overtime.
There's going to be a few months of transition and, with any luck, the unhappy MTs will leave and that situation, coupled with constant new accounts coming on board, will generate more work than you're thinking about right now. It will have to be done, period.
There may be some occasions where overtime isn't as readily available but I expect that we will have plenty of times where we have some offer of overtime.
That's my speculation, at least.
yeah, but since capitation, sorry, but how much concern is there
for the patient? Just big business, like Walmart. Push people in, push them out, cut services...
Hospitals now want everything for nothing, and do not want to pay for it, as evidenced by the complete explosion of outsourcing...
Thanks. That is encouraging. My biggest concern is
visiting family at holidays and other times. Do you bring some of your own food or just pick and choose from what is offered? Or do you go "off the lifestyle" and then make up for the damage later?
Bigger concern is your husband!!
Aside from the fact that your husband's friend is a jerk, what is your husband saying about the fact that he will not give you this female's phone # so you can call her back and let her hear a piece of reality here!! It's as if your hubby is saying this is a game here and it's "okay". Does the fact that this lady called him give him some kind of a charge, a little excitement for him? I would question his ethics first, after all, if he's willing to keep this number from you, what else would he think is none of your business? Sorry, but that's the bigger problem.
my concern with VOIP with a C-phone is
how is the voice quality? I would be interested in something like Vonage as I can take that with me and travel.
Thanks for your concern - no internet newbie here
What personal information? MT Registry only requires an e-mail address to register - no other information is required.
The e-mail address I use for any site can easily be dumped. Anybody buying gmail, hotmail or yahoo addresses is wasting their money.
First we have the conspiracy theorist and now a patronizing man acting like all the little women don't know how to protect themselves on the internet.
I actually am on my way out the door, thanks for your concern! but the situation will not change
x
Satellite is not secure so there may be concern for HIPAA
violation. Also satellite downloads are not dependable, sometimes they can be just as slow as dial-up, depends on the weather and how many others are on the server.
The trees are the main concern in a hurricane (sm)
the lake didn't even get close to the house during that supposed "100-year flood" in 1993 (not allison, the other one). We went to the other side of Houston for Rita, came back the next day. It was a mess with limbs all over but no trees down on our property. Next-door neighbor had 3 down. We've decided for the next one, we will stay in the garage and hope no trees fall on the house.
Take concern/questions to MTSO. Ask how line
you are being paid correctly at a certain line rate but if she cannot SHOW you how those figures are arrived at, I would be very leery that she is being less than honest with me. If she knows exactly how she is figuring lines to pay you, she should be able to demonstrate to you how figures are arrived at.
Maybe because of sincere concern for people who once were dedicated?
You probably support illegal immigrants working within the border.
What do you suppose laid off employees do until they get a job? Welfare and foodstamps? Who pays then? What in the world does a country do for its people then provide jobs when it is a 1st world infrastructure?
No holds barred? The man or woman who goes the extra mile for a company and then is dumped on the street - with every attempt made to block unemployment INSURANCE benefit - is only looking at the bottom line.
Believe me, good MTs still can find work but it may take a few months. So, give them some compensation insurance like the contract states. Otherwise, state: Once an MT is no longer needed, Unemployment Insurance will be denied regardless of the situation at hand. Then, I will not take the darn job.
Give me a break.
I appreciate your concern but that would be MY choice - if I wanted to decide to contact them...
of course, if you don't want to name your previous employer, that's up to you. I do appreciate your response.
However, I believe I make my own choices about where I work.
Voice Your Concern about Offshoring - E mail the President - see here
Go to whitehouse.gov/contact or ehow, etc. I did just that today. They invited me to e mail the president - so I did. Not sure he will ever get it but it was a nice friendly letter. I asked him to find out and report how many jobs are being offshored every single day, faster than he can create them. I asked him to try to get specific figures on tax implications and our social security system. No one has ever given out this information, which would probably be a difficult task since the offshoring companies will not fess up to how many jobs really leave the U.S. I figured if any one could find out it would be President Obama himself. As an aside I asked him could it be true that the big banks who received approximately $150 billion dollars of our money actually applied for 20,000 new visas for foreign workers (up 1/3). With our own money?
I asked him how his stimulus package was supposed to work. I have always stimulated the economy, worked, and paid taxes. Now my job has been given to a foreign worker who does not pay taxes. What gives? If that is not on a drain on the system, then the lines for unemployment income are. I mentioned that the stimulus checks handed out were never going to trickle down to the average American citizen. Look what they are doing with it. The best stimulus he could give us is to save our jobs. We can't spend what we don't have. I also congratulated him on his new job, financial security, the American people keeping the mortgage up to date on the White House, and that his kids certainly seem to have everything they need. Keep up the good work and get back to me on those huge figures. Oh, and I gave him my figures, unemployment at 50% of your earnings for 6 months.
Your e mail can be one sentence or up to 5,000 words. Can you imagine the President receiving e mails from 300-500 MTs in one week. Do it.
If insurance is your primary concern, then Trans Tech may not be an option for you.
The family insurance is horrid, over $1200 a month I believe, and the single coverage would have cost me $300 a month. I had to pass on the job due to this. I would be working just for the insurance.
Maybe I misunderstood the OP's concern. Pardon if my response doesn't pertain. nm
x
Not to discourage you, my concern would be if you can find someone to hire you. Good luck. I agree
nm
newbies
I applaud your attitude towards mentoring (especially since I'm a student and crave that!). To hold employees that are worth having the employer would only benefit by training the way he/she wants the employee to work.
As a baby boomer, I think the majority of us will work well past the retirement age set forth by the powers that be. I don't see that my retirement funds will pay for me to live another third of my life unemployed. Not to mention, the need to feel productive that many of us have. MT is the answer, allowing many to work at home (or in our RV's - not that I'll get one, not my thing).
As far as education goes, some schools are most likely sub-par, in it for the money only. Some are developing, some are downright outstanding. However, even a student attending one of the 'lesser' schools might be worth mentoring. Perhaps they attend that school because of fund shortages (I know that's why I am), that does not mean the student is sub-par. Yes, I agree some are looking for an easy buck, but some are looking for a CAREER, not a dollar. I know that's my goal.
ok - I'm getting off my soapbox, and hoping someone someday will give me the chance to work and help others too, when I get enough experience!
Newbies
Good luck in a field where our pay goes down each year, and our business costs soar. I received an e-mail that offered to transcribe my overflow for 3 cents a line. How can we compete with that? It seems the doctors just care about cheap labor instead of quality work....
It isn't that most of us have anything against newbies. sm
Just as in any field, when people have trained and worked hard to get where they are, they expect to be rewarded. Forlorn hope. As newer people come in, they are eager to learn, willing to take less money while they train. That means those of us that have been at it so long (18 years here) have to sometimes cut our prices to compete for the jobs. I won't even mention the off-shoring. Eighteen years experience means little to a company that only asks for two years. We do get bitter, not necessarily at the new people, but at the situation we're in.
People in all professions find this. New people come into teaching making as much as people that have been there 15 years. In other professions, a long-timer is replaced by someone new who works for much less. Do you think there isn't bitterness over this? The list goes on.
We all feel cheated, even those of us making a decent living, like me. Yes, I can make $16 an hour, but have to buy my own equipment, software, insurance, pay employment taxes, income taxes, Medicare tax, internet, long distance, etc. I'm lucky if I really make $8 an hour. Not much above working at WalMart, when you look at it like that.
Don't take it personally, most of us understand being new. But the money was easier to make then, and the competition wasn't so stiff. We're sympathetic with you, but we're also worried about our families. Ten years from now, when you're fighting to make what you make today, and utilities have tripled in that time, maybe you'll understand better. Good luck.
newbies
It's because so many newbies want to work M-F, at their own chosen hours and want to make $50K a year to begin with. They think because they took a course, they know everything and have nothing to learn. They resent established MTs who learned on the job.
I'm from the days when MTs were hired because of their good spelling and typing skills. They trained us on the job. We had very few resources, about 5 good reference books to use, but we were able to get feedback from the doctors, who actually respected us and what we did for them.
Now, too many newbies think that an online course or a couple semesters at the local community college put them on the same level as an MT with 10+ years of experience. Not true. There is no substitute for experience.
To the newbies who think they are too good to work holidays and weekends, I just say, why on earth did you take a job in healthcare, which is 24/7 365 days a year, if you want a 9-5, M-F job? Go to work for an insurance company or an accounting firm.
If you can't raise your family and hold down a job at the same time, then quit and let someone else have the opportunity.
There are so many newbies who cannot get a job and would
probably take that and not think twice. Twenty years ago I was making 6 cpl/gross line.
The newbies always do.....
d
Newbies.......
I have been in this field for 17 years and on 'another board' I was ridiculed beyond reason for posting a problem I had with a vendor who advertised on that site. Little did I know I was a site where there were cliques present, you know like high school. HEY we were all new at one time or another and how do you lean if you don't ask questions? Compassion, patience and understanding goes a long way.
we were all newbies once...
so what's with the vets vs. newbies attitude that has taken over this thread?
Sheesh people - it doesn't matter how many years we've been doing this - we're all in the same boat here. Just because some of us have more experience than others, that doesn't mean we're any better or that our opinions are more important.
I have to take back what I said earlier about having not seen any nastiness here because now I have - and it's right here in this thread.
Newbies
Like you, I had a mentor in a former R.N. who started a small transcription company. I knew some medical terms but not much. I did have the advantage, however, of being a very fast typist at that point. But I had never worked with any type of dictation equipment. I started when I was 26 and more or less retired at the age of 67. To say that this profession is on life support is probably the most accurate and honest statement I've heard in a long time. I was able to work at home with young children and it was a God-send at that time. For years I worked full-time for a large group as a salaried employee plus worked several nights a week at a local hospital because they had new computerized equipment and I wanted to learn that. I still love the medical profession and all that it entails and am truly sorry that now all the bits and pieces stored in my brain won't be used any longer for transcription. I still try to read about medicine and get on this site frequently just to "keep up" but, again, the profession as we oldies knew it is dead in the water. My own family physician has already switched to EMR. In fact, he types his own notes as he sees the patient. He said the group could not afford to hire a transcriptionist. To put it mildly, transcription "ain't" what it used to be, that's for sure. So sad, really.
Newbies
Hi! Where does a newbie get started? I am working at a large local hospital in the Transcription Dept. and have been here a year. I transcribe 2 days and I do tech work. I just finished my internship and I have my MT certificate. :) I do not know where to start to find MT work as a newbie. Anyone have any advice? I am able to get 2 days transcribing at my current job but I want a second job transcribing. Any adivce is greatly appreciated! :)
I think 100 may be a lot for brand new newbies. nm
nm
Message for newbies
Please go to www.careerbuilder.com. On the left hand side, enter into 'keyword' box, 'transcription work from home'. Do not enter a city or state or category. Now click on 'search'. There are several jobs her for transcriptionists with little experience. Some of them require that you live in a certain area. Many of them do not. When you call to inquire about these positions, make sure that it's not some sort of school thing that requires you to pay a fee. I hope this is helpful.
I think the newbies who are just getting into the business sm
need to hear the truth about this organization before they get taken in by them.
No, why do you ask? They are very good with newbies (nm)
a
Taking on newbies.
The company I worked for took on newbies who had completed an MT course or had experience in an associated field. They were hired on at a slightly lower rate. Some were raised up in about a month when they proved to be good transcriptionists, and went on to become excellent employees. Some realized very soon that they could not cut it, and usually quit on their own. They were given only as much work as they could complete, and only were let go if their quality was awful and they did not improve over a few weeks time. It can be done and is often very much worth the money and time spent.
I know of svl newbies who get offered what I get now with 13+ yrs in!! Sad..and
s
Well, I will tell you newbies make
the same as you! That's pretty sad considering how long you have been doing it, but I made that right out of school
Why do you accept low pay for newbies?
I said it below but trascribing is a higher skill than alphabetizing.
The low pay for new MTs is unacceptable. Even after the huge discussion I do not understand the idea that putting in your time = working for low wages. I don't expect a new MT to make as much as an experienced one but they still should earn more than a file clerk or housekeeper.
Hospitals pay for *months* of training when a floor nurse goes to the OR. The floor nurse requires one on one training in the OR. They also pay for months of training for OR/"scrub" and anesthesia techs before they are considered productive. I don't understand why a new MT should work for $9/hour when a file clerk earns more than that. I understand the file clerk is productive after a few hours but the hosptial pays training time for other positions.
I am honestly asking this. I do not want a MT strike, MTs to type their initials on screwed up reports or a MT sit in at the medical director's office. Why is it accepted in the transcription community for a new MT to earn less than anyone else in the doctor's office?
Most newbies ARE screwed.
I personally know two people, one of whom I mentored through her training program, who could get jobs in the field. No one would let them get a foot in the door. So I understand that frustration from that point of view, because these people have had to count their training money as a loss and go on to other things. I was so sad for them, and angry at the penny-pinching MT profession as it is today, which has few opportunities for in-house training for new people to learn what they need to know to succeed.
I think a lot of the bitterness you sense is really toward the big companies and the direction that the profession has taken. There is no place anymore for newbies to learn and "pay their dues" the way many of us had to do it.
I also agree with the poster below who said this is something that is in EVERY profession nowadays. My own father was pretty well forced into retirement, and yet they had the nerve to call him afterwards trying to pick his brain because his successor, half his age, couldn't figure something out. (He informed them of his consultant rate, take it or leave it.) As the other poster said, you find it in teaching and other professions, as well.
What concerns me about newbies is
that often they write these excited posts and reveal how tiny their working English vocabulary is. That's a terrible place to start out from. I try to be polite, but I do remember being a newbie for hospital work and how appalled the trainer was with the other MTs who had tiny English vocabularies. She about dropped her teeth because the first time I had to spell shotty adenopathy I spelled it right. I couldn't believe anybody would think "shoddy adenopathy" would make any sense. It's not logical.
How do you train people to THINK and be logical in their transcription? Those are things the person should bring to the table if they want to go into a career in the written word. Then you can build on that logic as you interpret MD slurring.
newbies beware
TO ALL NEWBIES, AND STAY AT HOME MOMS:>>DO NOT CONSIDER EVEN THINKING ABOUT THIS ON-POINT MTS.....THEY PREY ON PEOPLE OF INNOCENCE AND MORAL CHARACTER. THEY WILL NEVER PAY YOU. THERE ARE 34+ PEOPLE VICTIMIZED. THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, THE POLICE, AND VARIOUS INTERSTATE ATTORNEYS ARE ALL AWARE OF BAWNIE BARTLETT THE OWNER OF ON-POINT MTS. REMEMBER THE NAME, BAWNIE BARTLETT, ON-POINT MTS. UNLESS YOU LIKE BEING VICTIMIZED, AND TRANSCRIBING FOR FREE DO NOT THINK ABOUT WORKING FOR THIS CRAZY B----.
Wow are newbies really starting at...s/m
8 cpl? I have 17+ years experience and just started a job 3 weeks ago and 8 cpl is exactly what I'm making, I must mention that it is 8 cpl, but based on a 60 (yes 60)character line and she counts spaces. Would that be enough to make either a slight to significant difference? Math is not my area. Plus it is clinic work, that never runs out, with no ESLs.
I understand why you upset over your rate. My wav player just stopped on me today so there's 2 hours wasted.
I'm just happy to be working for a super-nice lady that is extremely flexible and knows the definition of an IC and what they are and ARE NOT obligated to do by law. She doesn't live all that far away, and is always easily accessible and happy to help us out. Thank goodness she is also our sole QA person too. Very nice setup, IMO. One more bonus is that this company has less than 15 MTs.
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