My recent job-hunting experience

Two decades of hospital experience here.  Applied at about 6 different large companies.  Some of the pay was atrocious (.07), some was fair (.08).  One offered .085 but had to work the hours precisely as they demanded as an IC with no flexibility and told me up front it was an extremely difficult and high ESL account.  (Now I realize that someone has to type those hard dictators, but would prefer that they be mixed in with an easier account -- been there and done that as far as an 80 percent HARD ESL account).

Of course I didn't take any of them and now I wish I had told them the pay was too low and that it was insulting.  I was not tempted to accept any of those jobs.  The recruiters for the most part acted as if I should be honored to be offered such a cruddy job with them!!  These were all companies who advertise heavily on the MT boards and perhaps that is why they are constantly advertising.

I took a job with a very small company who has decent accounts and were eager to pay me a better wage so I know they are out there.  I had interaction with 2 such smaller companies who offered good pay.

I really hate to see to see good transcriptionists take jobs that offer so little in return for our services as it hurts us all in the long run.

• outrageous - MTing
  • You can "thank" the offshore competition...sm - MTSO
    • Maybe it's time to push for legislation to make - offshoring of med. records ILLEGAL.
  • Competition is driving prices down. Companies are not making - more each year. They can't keep paying more an
  • My recent job-hunting experience - SaraS
    • That is why they always are advertising nm - Myong
  • If they are paying 7cpl for the editing portion lol nm - Msla MT
  • Someone else will. - sm
    • Well after a big fiasco with MQ, I tried - gd1
    • Thanks for you valuable insight - - MANAGEMENT!
      • No, just an IC who is well-compensated. - sm
        • So how much do you make for the time you spend - running your business but not typing?
          • I'm sure this won't make you feel any better, but... - sm
            • Amen to that sister!!! You go girl! - if only all MTs felt this way
              • Me too! I can't afford NOT to be an MT! - MT has been very, very good to me!
            • I've been doing it for years now....with own accounts, can make more $$ than that. nm - Sole-Proprietor
            • Please stop gloating! - anon
              • You can if you're good! - no message
                • in bed, and have a husband with a decent job - to take up the slack.
                  • With that attitude, you'll never make money in - MT. I make more than my DH and I take up the
                    • The word "HAUGHTY" comes to mind..... - nm
                      • All you want to do is complain. You reap what - you sow. Complaining gets you nowhere.
              • If she indeed makes anywhere near that, (sm) - 'Shroom
                • You are pathetic. I make $35 an hour with - no templates. Maybe if you WORKED
                • I average 37-43/hour - I do too
                • Two words--text expander. Try it. - nm
                  • Text expander: Got it, use it, embellished upon it, - been there, done that, got the T-shirt.
                    • Then maybe MT is not for you. - Try another job. I make a lot of money. nm
              • Not gloating at all. - sm
            • Anyone can type in any amount they wish - sm - Hmmm
              • You asked, I answered truthfully. It's not my fault you don't believe it. - nm
                • Show of Hands, Who Cares? - Amanda
                  • The people who care are all raising their hands. - sm
  • It is sad that this is what it has come to, i.e., low pay! - paintyper
    • As the quality of life rises in the Third World, (sm) - My 2 cents (a line?)
  • I agree with you. I won't take these jobs. SM - not me
    • Maybe you won't, but thousands of others will! - NM
      • They think they're smart to accept it, but they're - only perpetuating their own poverty.
    • That's one of the most effective things any MT (sm) - My 2 cents (a line?)
  • I was just saying that same thing yesterday! - Cardiology MT
    • what can we do? - my opinion
      • What we are worth - LK
      • We're halfway there, buying our own equipment, etc. nm - My 2 cents (per line?)

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that you wouldn't mind sharing.  I heard that they used to drop your pay based on how many reports you send to be QA'd.  Is it really that way?  Just want to know before I would consider applying.

Anybody else out there against hunting.  The reason I ask is that I know hunting season is coming soon and it makes my skin crawl knowing all those cute animals are going to be shot dead with either a gun or arrows and butchered up.  I am an active participant with PETA and often do protests. 

This should be illegal.  We need to save our animals.  In my opinion, hunting should consist of the animals having weapons as well!

Hi-

Could someone offer up some information on aquiring a position Transcribing with little current experience.  I seem to be hitting some walls.

I also hate to think about all the deer being shot, just reminds me to much of Bambi.

That said, I am surrounded on 2 sides by the worst car versus deer highways in our state.  The deer population is becoming way too much, they're multiplying like rabids and I'd rather see then killed quickly than lying on the side of the road injured or stuck in the windshield of the car that hit them.

Sorry, I value the life of a human over that of an animal and these accidents or killing, maiming and causing way to many families heart ache and grief

A few days ago I posted here in response to another MQ person nervous about leaving.  I was a little to forthcoming about my failure on a test and got mostly encouraging replies and a few holier than thou responses.

But anyway!  Good news!  A job offer late this afternoon at 8.5 a line!  I had tested on Monday - my favorite kind of test - basic grammar and terminology and then on to the dictation.  Three dictations (DS, Consult, and SOAP).  No mention on how I did on the test but guess it was good enough.  This is a big raise from what I was making at MQ - 6.5 cents!  Only problem is the time - they need eves - but feel I will take it just because the money is worth my while. 

Just wanted to let everyone know.  I felt so bad the other day, very ready to throw in the towel.  I still think that ours is a dying profession due to voice recognition and jobs outsourced but I am going to hang on for just a while longer.  Thanks for the encouraging words the other day.  I really needed it then.  And to Nervous MT 1, hope you are reading this and that you will keep us posted on how it goes with you.  There is life after MQ. 

Hi Everyone,

Recent grad here and an option after grad was to train with Scribes(a company that has an account set up with the school-Canscribe,to allow students to transcribe reports which get passed on to Editor for screening and feedback. Basically like you are on probation until they tell you that you no longer need it, but you are not paid, it is just training. I was just on my 3rd day when I was told that there was an aquisition pending and the training was on hold till furthr notice and to feel free to seek employment.   I have been reading  a lot on this forum about companies the school has recommended I apply to, such as Medquist, Spheris. I am confused and scared. Please guide me in the right direction to avoid a bad experience. What companies will give recent grads a chance? Appreciate any advice.

Toni

I recently left a hospital job 6 months ago because of climbing gas prices and started working for a MTSO.   After the six months, I cannot seem to get the correct line count to be eligable for benefits and I need benefits.   I can work for hours and it is like my line count barely moves.  I worked the same way at the hospital and made twice as much so I know I can do it but for some reason with this MTSO I cannot seem to make it move.   I thought I would try another MTSO.  I applied and they offered me a job and as soon as I got my new hire paperwork in they would ship me my foot pedal and what I need to get started.  Well, the next day after talking to that recruiter, I noticed an ad in the paper from a local hospital, just a block away, stating they wanted a medical records clerk, FT with benefits.   I jumped up and applied.  They called me in for an interviewed today and told me what the job entails, which has nothing to do with MT, gave me a tour of the hospital and they said will call me Thursday with their decision.   Oh best part is no weekends or holidays. 

What I am wondering is should I go ahead and fax that new hire paper work as if I don't have that hospital job or should I wait.  I told the MTSO I would have it in today and I would hate for them to go through the expense to send my stuff for me to send it back if I did get that job, but on the other hand I don't want to keep them waiting.   Also, I am not sure yet as for what the salary would be with the hospital as when I asked they said they would let me know by Thursday.   I have 2 in daycare so the job would have to cover that and I am not sure if it will. 

They are transitioning to EMR.  They have paper MR now and they are trying to get ready for EMR and they need help filing.  I have a feeling I would be walking in on a mess. I think the MTs still use tapes.   

Hang in there!  You can overcome a chronic illness and empower yourself.  It ain't easy, but doable.  Been that way for 12 years now.

Just make sure you file the disability with a disability attorney. SS is very well known for denying claims usually twice, then court before they grant it.  This waste many many months and tires us that are already tired, out.  You need all your energy to fight the disease, not for your rights to supplemental income you've paid for all these years. 

Your children will also receive dependent benefits until they reach 18, so again, get an experienced dis. atty.  Hang in there

Everything that I find in the archives is old.  I have already been offered a position with 1 and waiting on an interview with the other.  I have chosen IC status for both because I just cannot comply with the strict schedules that these companies have now.  I have tried being an employee but after 10 years of being an IC and working when I want, schedules are tough.  Does anyone have any advice please?

I just finished school back in Nov. of 2005. I've been looking and looking for a job online and still have had no luck. The only response I seem to get bac from anyone is that I don't have enough experience. Does anyone have any pointers on what I should I do, or how I should approach this field? Please help me!!! I don't know what to do anymore!!

I graduated this year from a community college which used the Career Step program in addition to some other courses.  It was all done online.  I have been working for 3 months, and have learned almost as much from working as from school so far.  The difference is that you are doing 800-1200 lines a day so you are exposed to a lot more information.  However, I don't believe I would have passed the entrance exams without everything I did pick up with the schooling. 

I would definitely encourage formal training of some sort because it is such a competitive industry.  I honestly don't think you could get hired from home, or pass an entrance exam without a good deal of training.  The 98% accuracy they are looking for on their tests is tough to hit without very strong grammar, med terminology, and AAMT/AHDI standards knowledge.  I am not making much money now, but I know within a year it will be different.  I am home and that is invaluable to me!

Good luck! 

there is the thread about podiatry, posts about companies, posts about cherry picking,  ESLs taking over, this company is the best.     How many hundreds of us are on these boards???   Its a good thing we are all individuals - and there is so much work out there because one type of person could not do all the types of work.  Not everyone wants to work for big corporation  - not everyone wants to run their own MT service.

Some of us hate short little clinic notes, some hate long operative reports.  Some love radiology, others want to type IMEs. Never work for a company that IMs you all day vs  this company never gives feedback.

Where I  recently worked - we always used to leave behind certain reports for the late shift person, stuff we all thought she loved until one day she complained - how come I HAVE TO DO ALL the _____ studies..  Its kinda funny- you might think someone is cherrypicking all the CT's and they think they are doing you a favor by leaving short reports. 

Of course NO ONE likes the really awful individual dictators, whether it is ESL or chewers, the accounts that have a million details or QA that keeps changing. I think most of us know you have to take some bad with the good and when you TRY to do the tuff stuff, the good stuff becomes easier.

So  when someone comes to vent - cut them some slack - who cares about typos here - we all know that when we are working, we use our spellchecks and pay attention to details. 

When I take time to answer on this board, it is never with judgement - I always try to say "in MY experience, psych reports are bad because ..."  or when I worked for  XYZ company, they did not count lines correctly.  You cannot make generalities about  a profession as varied as this one. 

I come here for information AND entertainment - it does take a certain type of person to do this work -  that has nothing to do with the skills involved - and I think we share an understanding of each other, even as we argue over everything.    We all saw a part of ourselves in the recently posted "You Might Be a Transcriptionist If..." and we all laughed as we shook our heads. 

Sad to say I am about to make the decision to try a career change - I cannot push myself anymore (after almost 30 years) to produce enough lines to make the money I need - thats not to say it can't be done these days, just that I don't want to/can't  work that hard anymore. 

Although I am married and it doesn't pertain to me...

The financial aid officer told all the parents there that if their child is 22, living with them or not, their finances will be looked at and considered when the kid goes to college.  So if you boot your kid out the door at 22, consider the fact that if you make too much money, your kid may not be able to afford to go to college without your help because their student loans, scholarships, etc. will be based on both the student's income and the parents.  If they are married or have children parent's income is not a factor, only the student.

I read this just last night, as I too have been researching and gleaning information regarding the future of MT and pondering making any career changes.

http://govhealthit.com/Articles/2009/01/07/Spending-on-health-IT-would-generate-212105-jobs.aspx

EXCERPT:

The analysis found that a $10 billion health IT stimulus program would create or retain 43,410 jobs directly, most of them in areas such as software and hardware sales and system installation. Another 115,670 jobs would be created or retained indirectly, in areas such as sales of trucks and food to those holding the new jobs.

And the availability of new and improved networks and information would create 53,025 jobs, the foundation reported.

Stephen Ezell, a senior analyst at ITIF, said in answer to a reporter’s question that the analysis did not take into account the potential loss of jobs in areas such as medical records management and transcription of physicians’ notes.

Quite a few posters who have been MTs for a number of years (myself included) have come under attack recently for comments posted here  -- what those of us who have done this for years are seeing is "I only want to work certain hours, won't do weekends, don't want to be on call so on and so forth"  Guess what?  I got an email from my supervisor on Monday asking me to cover a certain work type while that person was on vacation  -- I did it!!! -- She also called me today (Sunday and asked me to do 3 STATS  -- I cover STATS on Wednesday)  -- however, I did it because it it my JOB  -- since I started this job in October, I have NEVER run ouf of work  -- if the work type that I do runs out, I do to a differnt work type, it is similar to learning a new account which I have done in the past as well.  All I want to say, is be grateful right now that you have a job and if the "work does not fit YOUR FAMILY SCHEDULE" then learn to adjust  -- think PRIORITIES

My daughter's Middle School implemented some new safety measures this year. Visitors have to be "buzzed in" and when the kids go from building to building they must use their ID cards to enter the doors.

But one day my daughter forgot her clarinet and my husband took it to her. We are talking about a "country-boy" looking man carrying a small black case. A teacher and her class was exiting the main building and the teacher actually held the door for my husband to enter as they were exiting. She had no idea who he was. Scary.

Anyway, it seems the Amish shooter targeted that school so he could avoid the security measures that have been established in most schools in recent years.

My heart goes out to the families who lost and for those sitting at the bedside of the remaining girls. I hope and pray they will recover.

Thanks for letting me ramble. This has really been on my mind a lot lately

Microsoft Office Small Business 2000 (MSWord, Excel, Outlook, IE5.0. ) This software works as flawlessly as the day I purchased it.  Patches never required.  No hang-ups or crashes.  The only alteration I have made to it, is that I am running the most current version of IE.  However, most of the time I use a tabbed browser for my web experience. 

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