Please answer about starting as an MT

• Please answer about starting as an MT - SarahE
  • I started in the file room of a 6 doctor urology office.... - MT and worn out
  • I graduated from a local community college. sm - inhouse
  • Learned at my mother's knee. - CrankyBeach
    • for someone with your experience sm - MT 30+ years and running
    • I love your last statement... so true... - sm
  • your old doc - deenibeeni
  • Since you only have experience in one - sm
  • I had 2 years of school for medical - SM
  • My story . . . - CMA - now MT
  • message inside - MTGA

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

Please note there have been so many people apply in the last 24 hours ..its been a bit too much..please do not email me about this...thank you. mtgal847

Don't know if you've heard the world news about the remarkable stem cell therapy that is being done in Russia and London where people will start flocking for treatment who have no hope to walk again.

Also something called Planet Hospital where there are offices being set up where people can get insurance and go to other countries for surgeries and take a short vacation while they are there, they are doing this for dentistry also.

For people who cannot afford insurance this is a great deal.  I know my hairdresser went out of the country to have a bridge done and she said they did a great job.

Yes, this is an excellent field to get in no doubt.  I would love to start a self-paced training program, but around here it is a vigorous 2-year course.  I cant' see myself doing this before my school-aged children are out of school (another 7 years!)  I will be 49 years old!  YIKES.

How old are you?

Good grief, I must be older than God!  Anyone else start Mt-ing with a standard typewriter, the kind you had to reach up and fling the return lever at the end of every line? 

Before white out you had to actually erase and if it wasn't completely invisible, you had to start over.  White out was the greatest thing since sliced bread!  And ah, the selectric!  Nope, I sure wouldn't want to go back.

Anyone else remember when the only reference books were a Dorland's and a PDR?  Of course you also had your fellow MTs AND nurses and doctors and could actually look at the chart for help?

The only school was the school of hard knocks or OTJ training at minimum wage.  There was no "proper training," just whatever it took to get the job done right.  If you couldn't cut it , you were let go.   I dare say there were way more errors in those days of "untrained" MTs.

Yep, I think it's about time for me to retire.

I was told that I need to get a DBA for a business name unless I run under my own name.  My question is, can I use my last name and not register for the DBA.  Also, do I need a license to run a business?  Thanks in advance.

We as MTSOs absolutely have to start the pay lower and I'll tell you why.  Hiring and training is expensive.  We are paying editors by the hour to proof new hires 100% so we actually lose money on every report a new hire does.   3 out of 5 people we hire lie about their experience and are not qualified to do the work so it requires extensive editing and in a lot of cases, total retyping.   Over half of the people hired do not do their required lines or hours per day, some are scheduled to start and just do not even show, do not contact us or anything.  I get emails from people saying they are losing their home, their children, etc., and are desperate for work and then do 100 lines a day.  It is not cheap to advertise, it is not cheap to pay man hours to test and train. So we start lower, and in the 20% of the time we get somebody who 1) does have the required experience, 2) really does want to work and does the required hours or lines, and 3) proofs their own work so it's not a total wreck when we get it, THEN we give raises, and good ones.  

You want to know where all the 10-12 cpl pay per line went?   Get out your map and look at India, Phillippines, and Pakistan.   On the 11 facilities we have, the highest paying to us is 13 cpl.  Try renting an office, keeping the equipment updated, paying employees, etc., on that amount of money.  If we try and get a raise, they talk about other companies who have already contacted them and how they can outsource and pay only 8 cpl total.   I understand now why companies are outsourcing.  We can't find qualified workers or those who even want to work so it's easier for companies to outsource and pay to have the work proofed before being sent on to the facilities.  We do not outsource at all, but we have hired so far 19 people for FOUR positions and only 2 remain.  That's how bad it is for us.

The company I work for pays 11 cents a line...so they are out there! They also do not outsource and they need good transcriptionists....contact me if you want a good company to work for.

*EDITED* - NO E-mail posting allowed within message. Post it within the E-mail field/box while posting message.

I'm contemplating becoming a MT.  My computer skills, not just typing, are top notch.  I already work full time as an engineer for one of the #1 computer corporations, and a friend suggested I look into MT when he noticed my typing speed.  I've started to look into it but there is soooo much information that I'm not sure where to start, and even if I should start.

Anyone else's experience / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I've seen countless ads for online training, train at home, college courses, etc. and I'm a bit overwhelmed.  I'm looking to do this part time just to make some extra cash.  I am in no way looking for a new career - I already have a very fulfilling one.  Any suggestions on how to start??  Is it steady work?? 

Does anyone know where I can find/purchase information on starting my own transcription company?  All information/advice would be greatly appreciated.

I've been in your shoes, though many years ago, and I had 12 years experience before I had the guts to go solo. 

There is so much more that you need to know beyond the specialty you'll be transcribing.  You need to know how to run a small business.  Things like zoning laws - I kid you not; there are still places where it is technically illegal to work in your home.  Do you need a license?  Do you know the tax implications?  Do you know the insurance/liability implications?  Are you adequately capitalized?  You'll need backup equipment, supplies and something to live on until you start getting paid.  Banks don't like to lend to small transcription services because they so often fail.  As another poster said, contracts are difficult, if not impossible to enforce.  Are you aware of regulatory issues like HIPAA (especially for the speciality you have chosen)?  Are you technically savvy?  Not all offices use tapes with pick-up/delivery of work anymore.  Do you know what you need to make to live?  Sure you could undercut the competition, but can you live on what you'd make?  Do you have someone you trust to cover for you if you are sick, the power goes out or you just want a day off?  There's so much more, but I'm sure you are getting the picture.

Look for a business college, junior college/city college or regional state university in your area that offers classes for small business owners.  Is there an office of the Small Business Administration (government agency - your tax dollars at work) or SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives) in your area that offers classes?

You are looking to do a tough thing.  I'm not sure I'd want to do it again, but I don't regret the years I did it.  Give it some more thought.  Best of luck to you.

Definitely you can start out with your own accounts, but I noticed a spelling in your posting (inept not inapt), these are the details that count!  I started out with one family practice account in 1997 and now employ 8 subcontractors and make a good living, it can be done, you have to put in the time however and NEVER accept shoddy work, accuracy is the key.  Also reliability.  Good luck.

Hey!  Just starting to use macros here and have a few questions.

I have a few docs that say the same thing over and over, so I recorded macros using the following, and please let me know if this is what others do:

Control+D - neatly dressed and groomed

Control+T - thought processes linear

Control+J - judgment was intact

Just to name a few.  I have been adding alt + things for others and so on...

How do you all remember what you recorded for what macro?  Is this just you use it so much you just know?  Also, how are macros helpful when your doc doesn't repeat themselves or says things slightly different each dictation?  PLEASE UNDERSTAND I AM JUST STARTING AND DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM DOING.  So, those of you that would like to write back, "what are you stoopid???", please refrain.

Thank you!!