My daughter teaches social studies and science.
Posted By: FBL on 2006-05-07
In Reply to: Interested in MD transcription--help! - Madeleine
She works the after-school program at her school for extra money, and an occasional Saturday school (also extra money). She has also signed up to teach summer school, and may do some private tutoring as well.
Just some ideas for you.
I have been doing MT for about 4 years now, and average about $10 an hour at 7 cents per line (no raise since I started). There is a tremendous learning curve, I did not feel productive and competent at all for the first couple of years. I got my certificate from the local community college. They offered night classes for the beginner course, then an on-line advanced course. I should point out that a certificate from any school does not make you a CMT (certified medical transcriptionist). For that you have to pass the test given by AAMT, and as I recall you cannot test until you have 2 years of experience.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
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
Two associates--health science, radiography; and applied science, medical transcription. NT
It Teaches You More Than Just MT
The BOS gave me a setpoint to go from in doing work for all sorts of clients--legal, focus groups, interviews, etc. I've used it in so many ways that are not just for medical dictation. Its order and logic creates a beautiful backdrop for adapting its rules and style in all kinds of transcription. Absolutely could not do without this book, though it goes without saying we all know an employer's choice in formatting comes first though. Still, best to have a guide book to start with.
If you have a Hancock Fabric store near you, they have a knit ball and video that teaches you how to
knit.
I love to quilt, if there is a quilting store near you that gives lessons, that would be great. Mine gives lessons where you can finish a lap quilt in a day.
Also ceramics is fun.
Science Writers
Believe it or not, the medical terminology we have would really be an excellent preparation for becoming science writers. OK, one drawback -- you need a Masters degree. But the pay is really good -- reportedly six figures. There are associations for science writers, I have this info in a book I was reading.
I've said before that general transcription seems to pay better than MT. I'm on an online group and we just took polls of how much we charge per audio hour and I believe the average hovered around $100. Depending on how fast you type, that can pay better than MT.
Transitioning into a VA (virtual assistant) if you have other computer/office skills than "just" transcription is a possibility. VAs as ICs apparently start at $30 an hour.
You can see I've been looking into this myself! ;)
Diane
It's not the fact that she said "rocket science"
Sarcastic and rude, and why? What purpose was there for that? The only purpose of the sarcasm was to make herself feel better by trying to belittle someone else. Tacky at best, especially coming from an administrator.
Engineering and science "geek"
I will take it in fun too. Don't know how I veered off track but I always liked math and science. I think if I could go back I might study math or engineering and try to get a job at NASA.
As it is, I am considering getting a second BS (in math this time) and working towards a MS in Biostatistics/Bioinformatics or MPH in Epidemiology (with concentration in Biostatistics).
What do you need a Master's Degree in to be a science writer?
?
Associate's Degree in Medical Secretarial Science - sm
2-year program with emphasis on transcription. Terrific - wouldn't have learned it any other way. Taught me to be a good MT - not these quick-fix on-line programs where everyone things they can early a huge salary as soon as they are done.
and how many liberal arts and science bachelors degrees & beyond are held on this board?
LOL
Lab studies words
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! If you couldn't figure out that one, give it up!
Sleep studies? sm
Can you make any money on sleep studies? Any good reference websites or sample reports I can get. Any info appreciated. TIA
New studies claim..sm..
cell phones are perfectly safe to use in non-clinical areas, such as waiting rooms and hallways. Just Google hospitals "cell phones". Tons of info.
Sleep studies
Here is a good web site for sleep studies. When I did them, I found them to be pretty easy. I think I added the link below too. But here it is again:
http://www.sleepnet.com/definition.html
Help Radiology MTs! How many studies do you do in day?
I've been wondering, on an average 8 hour day....how many reports do you get done? I'm not really talking very specialized reports, just MRIs, X-rays, US, CTs.
I've been doing rads for a little while now but still can't get a solid idea of how many I should be doing. Every once in a while I'll get a 3-5 min nuke med report but overall most of the reports are about 1-2 min (or less) with great dictators. When I ask my lead, she just tells me "as many as I can."
I'm the kind of person that can't just trot along....I need to have a goal of some sort and the other MTs on this account don't want to share their stats (greedy, I think, since I know they make more than I do and they don't want me "taking" any work from them even though there's more than enough to go around).
Help Radiology MTs! How many studies do you do in day?
I have been typing radiology reports for 30 years. I type 10 to 20 most of the time. Have typed less and can type more depending on the doctor. Some docs are long winded and every report is 15+ lines even for chest x-rays while others can be one-liners. Also depends on if you can type continuously or have to stop typing to listen because they are not speaking properly into the microphone. I would say average is about 17 or 18. What most of us focus on I think is how many lines an hour. 150 to 200 is good for me, which if you make 10 cents a line is $15 to $20 an hour. I make a little more than that. Good Luck to ya!
you are talking about 10-20 studies sm
per hour correct? Its been awhile since I did radiology and the reports have gotten a lot longer, but most of the time 125-150 reports a day.
Bachelors of General Studies
Summa cum laude, thank you very much.
Long, complicated story. Basically, I'm a clinical year short of a Clinical Laboratory Science degree, but I won't go back and pursue it barring losing my husband. Also, if I'd have thought more carefully when I switched out of the CLS program, I was only 3 or 4 classes short of a B.A. in psychology. Oh, well. What I ended up with is essentially a liberal arts degree with lots and lots of science classes and lots of psychology classes and a smattering of language studies.
Like some of the other posters, my ultimate goal is to get into P.A. school once my youngest kiddos are school age. I think I'm too old for med school now, but it raises my hopes to see the post below. Being a transcriptionist pays the bills, but some days I do kinda get upset with myself. Here I am doing the same thing I went to school not to do any more. Sigh...
MTing is not bad, but I just don't get enough people contact, and it certainly doesn't have a lot of money or prestige associated with it. Sigh.. again. Ah, well. It works for my family right now.
No, there are a bunch of studies out there indicating that
one drink per day of beer or wine is actually good for you.
Want to finish my studies this year - sm
So I can make the kind of living I was used to with less headaches and be able to do some traveling with my work.
Also will be able to buy a bigger house!!!
Please cite to the scientific studies...(nt)
There are numerous studies presently
taking place concerning this relatively new medication. Below is a single example of Fosamax prescribing from the "norm." If I were typing that report, I would type it verbatim and not flag/question the physician's dictation.
FOSAMAX DOSING
The prevention dose is 5 mg daily, the treatment dose is 10 mg daily. Alendronate should be continued indefinitely. Although discontinuation of the alendronate does not result in the rapid bone loss seen with HRT discontinuation, a gradual decline does occur, so some maintenance therapy should be utilized. The dosing may be modified once optimal bone mass is restored. One could then consider the 10 mg dose to the 5 mg prevention dose daily, or perhaps to 10 mg every other day. A once weekly dose of 70 mg or a twice-weekly dose of 35 mg is presently being evaluated as an alternative-dosing regimen but has not yet been approved. (Study results pending).
Source: Preventing and Managing Osteoporosis
Sarah Hall Gueldner; M. Susan Burke, Helen Smiciklas-Wright – Editors
Springer Publishing Company 536 Broadway New York, NY 10012
Helpful reference for ops and studies
Found this excellent resource for ops - sharing with all.
Associate in Applied Medical Science, Bachelor's in Liberal arts with emphasis on Psychology
and looking for a way to get out of MT before voice rec takes over!
Kids are grown and gone and I no longer need to be home all day. The cats don't need as much supervision as the kids did.
I stopped my HRT when studies showed it did not prevent osteoporosis. sm
I have osteoporosis. The govt halted a study on HRT as the women involved had more heart problems than those on the placebo. Too scary for me. In addition, my hair was falling out excessively. Since I have been off it, my hair is back to normal, but the flashes have come back. Even more repulsive to me was when I found out that the HRT I was on came from the urine of pregnant mares that were impregnated just to get the HRT ingredients, then the colts were destroyed. No way. There are over-the-counter remedies for hot flashes, but now they claim that black cohosh causes liver cirrhosis. So, I'm not taking anything. 
social anxiety
Maybe we're loners.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/partyofone/
Social anxiety, yes!!
So good to know I am not alone. Just last night I was at karate class watching my kids and watching all the other moms interact. This is how it always is for me. Watching everyone else chat and laugh and have a good time. I am very uncomfortable in social situations, and it seems like everyone else is not at all uncomfortable. Feels like I am the only one in the world with this. I don't really want to rely on a med, but I don't know how to get past this. All my neighbors are very close knit, I am the only one who never interacts or joins in on the get-togethers. They must think I'm stuck up. The truth is, I would rather take a beating than go to a block party! Any ideas on how to get past this?
social recluse
Why would anyone become an MT if they needed a lot of socializing? One of the main reasons I became an MT is lack of need for interaction with others.
I was a social recluse before this job.
...which I guess is why I have adapted so well to it. I could never handle gossip or having to walk around pretending to be a happy "team member" in an office setting. I watch "The Office" as a reminder as to how pukey that whole workin' in an office situation really is...but it is extremely funny when you aren't a part of that atmosphere anymore though. I once worked with a female version of Dwight and it was so not funny. Dwight=funny.
Social graces?
Been there done that. I have a Jewish doctor who mumbles and has a very strong New York accent - - and he has no social graces whatsoever - - burps, sneezes, coughs, sucks snot, eats with his mouth full -- YUK!!! The worst part is you have to listen again because you couldn't understand what he said the first or second time.
As an IC MT do you pay into Social Security? SM
I am an IC MT in California. Does anyone know if we can pay into SS so that we get compensated for retirement? As of yet, I have not but would like to in the future, if it is possible.
TIA
Social Security
If I understand it right, assuming you are paying your federal taxes, you are paying Social Security. It's something like 15.3% of your reported income, half of which you get to deduct if your income is under $102,000. Gee, think I just barely fall under that tax bracket! Google "self-employed social security" or something along those lines for a full explanation.
I need the social interaction too -
I have been applying for jobs in town everywhere, not necessarily in the medical field, but I am also spoiled - I get to thinking about it and wonder whether I really want to work 20 hours a week for 6 dollars when I could make that in 3 hours at home...
So, I decided I was going to go back to college part time and get a degree in something that would pay me what I make in transcription and give me the option of getting out of my house and meeting people and becoming human again.
I loved my job for a long time, but lately it is taking a toll on my health and emotional welfare. I have a degenerative joint problem in which the doctor told me I would be better off as the door greeter at Walmart than sitting in this darn chair all the time... I am becoming withdrawn from the world, I have gained lots of weight, and just feel down and depressed all the time.
It's time for me to "get a life" before I get too old and have these same problems with age discrimination.
I don't have much of a social life myself, but working on it
But being in my mid 30s I don't know if i'm going to click with anyone. I just know I cannot do the online dating anymore! Its so disppointing meeting the person after they've built themselves up AND have used the best picture ever taken of them in their entire lives on their profile. Some people swear theyve had good luck, its about 50/50. Its just not for me, very awkward and weird. Thats why a reality TV show on it will be fabulous! I'm just hoping its on tonight, supposedly ABC or something.
There is a balance though, people who are too social
People who tend to spend a lot of time alone seem to be a little sad. Just mix it up a little and find your balance. For me, if i'm around people too much, I feel absolutely drained, but if i'm totally isolated, I feel trapped and sad. So I socialize a couple times a week by taking classes, seeing family members, talking to neighbors, meeting up with a friend, and thats enough. Just not everyday, maybe not even every two days!
They are. Many of them get social security checks for
mental illness or other issues. Some of them spend their social security checks the day they get them on booze and gambling. Some people CHOOSE to be homeless, if you can believe that. There are programs out there for them if they apply. I got to know the homeless population of our city pretty well at one of my former job. I could tell you some stories about some of those characters. One guy is homeless, but he could have his house and bank account, his military retirement, and his social security. Instead, he pushes a cart around town and sleeps on park benches. One woman runs down the street in nothing but polyester pants pulled up to her armpits in the bitter cold of winter. She has shoes and a coat, plus welfare and social security benefits.
As far as the social situation is concerned, get
him in cub scouts, community sports, etc. This is really not an educational issue IMO and not the responsibility of the school system.
The school system in most cases will try to do as little as possible for your child, but if you have a diagnosis, you can write an IEP and they have a legal obligation to follow it, whether they like it or not. They also have to provide testing, like it or not, but we always had ours done on our own as I didn't feel like I would get an honest evaluation from the school system.
the self-employment tax IS the 1/2 of your social security...
"On top of the self-employment tax, etc., you don't get the benefit of your company paying 1/2 of your social security so that is where most of your money at tax time goes to. " please don't post if you don't know what you're talking about.
Anyone have social anxiety disorder?
nm
Social Security will take it from your Schedule C
Social Security will take your earnings from your Schedule C that goes onto your 1040. Whatever amount you declare and pay your self employment taxes on (15.75%) is the amount that they will use for your yearly earnings.
My kids are far from being a social recluse...
I have some of the most social kids in the neighborhood. Every day they are playing with other kids, and they are in karate as well. My daughter has Tourette's syndrome and she said people at school were making fun of her tics. I choose to protect her from those kids, but she is not at all socially isolated, only isolated from the kids who ridicule her...
If you are a social recluse, it won't make
you come out of your shell, but if your life has good balance, it should not hamper your social abilities at all. I definitely am a people person and have worked at home since early 90s.
How to get in touch with social security?
Went by the office this morning, unbelievable, just wanted to set up an appt but too many waiting. I tried to find the web site but had no luck therel. I have heard you can set up an appt that way, just need to know where to look. TIA.
Can somewhat please guide me as to how to pay Social Security, SM
federal and state taxes as an IC? I am new to this and dont know the first thing about it. How do I get vouchers for the taxes and how do I pay the SS...thank you!
yeh, we have to have a tight grip on our social graces
We'll start walking around wanting to backhand everyone who looks at us sideways. 
My DD is a social worker and says that she dictates directly into VR
and the report is on her desk when she gets back to the office. She said everyone in her department loves it!
Kate's obviously been out of social circulation too long
and passes her solitary days by picking fights on message boards.
Time to find a job outside the home, Kate.
Aren't politics and religion social no-nos? sm
And I believe there is a very good reason for that.
For IC MTs, when you pay your quarterly taxes that you calculate do you also add in the 15% social s
First time doing this.
Do you find that this job makes you a social recluse?
I never get out socially with anyone. It's just my husband and three kids. People used to call, but since I both work full time transcription and home school, I never had time to do anything and people just quit calling. Yesterday evening a neighbor had a party and invited women from the neighborhood, but not me. That hurt my feelings, and made me see just how isolated I am from the world. I am also pretty shy by nature, but being home all day and never getting out doesn't help. Do any of you feel isolated with this job? Does it bother you??
Do you pay quarterly taxes? Can you pay Social Security (sm)
I have always just filed at the end of the year. Does everyone else (IC) file quarterly?
Also, if I want to pay into my social secirty on my own, can anyone tell me how to do that?
Thanks!!
Paying Social Security is not optional.
|
