Returning to MT
Posted By: FlyType on 2008-02-01
In Reply to:
Hi, all,
Just needed some opinions. I've been out of MT for almost three years now. I do some transcription in my job as a project specialist at a medical school - interviews for research studies and the like - but I have been considering returning to medical transcription full-time. I enjoy the job I have but financially, I'm making less money than I was as an MT. (I decided to change careers as, in general, the medical transcription field has been so volatile in the past several years.
Has the field stabilized any? Are the work-at-home transcription companies paying more fairly? Are there still tons of problems with getting paid or getting decent benefits or getting a preferred shift? I need all opinions one could possibly think of (more than the questions I asked even), so feel free to let me know the good, bad, and indifference about being an MT in today's market.
I'd really appreciate it!
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Had some, returning them.
I bought them and had an allergic reaction to the plastic used on the earpieces. I am shipping them back tomorrow. I bought them from TranscriptionGear and they were $49.99. They would have been great - barring the reaction. If you decide to buy them, try the Noisebuster brand. Good luck.
Returning to MT field
I went through a training program and then worked one year for a national - Spheris. Had some health issues (and a young son paying daycare for) so gave my notice and got done. That was several years ago. My son is now in kindergarten and want to do medical transcription again.
What is IC and how does that work? Do all nationals have this? How does part time work for most of these companies?
Any hints on brushing up on my skills before I return.
Thank you for your help,
Hopeful MT
returning work
I would not assume if I were you to know why work is returned. One frustration going on right now that I can fully understand is the fact that too many people are on the same accounts and when you are typing your 4th, 5th or even 6th back up account almost all day and getting very frustrated, one might feel like send the report back. I am sure most of us have worked very hard on learning our own account doctors but there is lots of frustration right now and everyone has a breaking point. Then to add salt to the wound we are being told no samples will be send out, us the self help approach and look at your own archives. These doctors on secondary accounts are NOT in the archives if you have never done them before.
Thinking about returning to MT
I was an MT back in the late 90s. I stopped working in 2000 because my husband was making plenty of money. It's a different world now of course, so I'm thinking about going back to work.
When I was working everything was still on cassettes. Now it looks like most things are digital, which I know nothing about. So that worries me a little.
I've actually been toying with the idea of going back and re-doing an MT course just so I can gain confidence after being a SAHM for all these years. But I know that's probably not necessary and I'm just being overly nervous about returning to the workforce.
I'm also wondering if MT is as booming a business as it was when I was working. I had more work than I knew what to do with, and I couldn't find a decent subcontractor to save my life. I had planned on subbing out a couple of accounts when I stopped working, but I couldn't find anyone who actually wanted to work for a living. The few subs I was able to find either wanted to work whenever they wanted (like all the advertisements say) or just didn't care at all about the quality of their work. I finally gave up and just closed up shop.
I would love to start out like I did back in the 90s. Subcontracting and filling in for people on vacation. For people who hire subcontractors, do you hire subs locally or do you look for people online? Just wondering how wide to cast my net once I'm ready to start looking.
Thanks for any help or advice.
Nancy
Returning to MT work
You might want to think twice about it now. You probably made good money in the 90's but now the pay is miserable. I was a full-time employee for a group of orthopedic docs for over 26 years (plus did hospital work also) and finally retired. I wanted something part-time again and worked for several companies that only paid 8 or 9 cents a line. (I was salaried and made very good money at the group.) Working for these companies is a horse of a different color! Not to mention everything has not only gone digital but many companies merely want you to edit the work as now voice recognition and electronic medical records has replaced the Transcriptionist as we knew it. Yes, there are still some jobs out there but the pay is not good and frankly, I wouldn't advise getting back in it again unless you know a few docs locally where you could sub for vacations, etc. I miss doing the work but after my two "trials" it just wasn't worth it any longer. I spent more time looking up the patient numbers, etc., trying to figure out the company's platform to use, etc., etc. I felt like a beginner even though I have done this work for 30+ years. Frustrating to say the least. Good luck to you, though, if you do decide to return to the field. :(
Returning to school later in life.
http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=e771ecd5-47a0-4e12-8cc1-dcc90926da81&f=00&fg=copy
You may have to copy and paste this address but the subject of going back to school comes up often here so I thought this article would help. It seems to be a new trend.
me
Actually, returning to school is contantly on my mind
I think of a profession and try to realistically consider how long it would take to gain the training/credentials, how much I would make on the bottom floor and if I could compete with the younger generation on the entry level (I am 47).
It is something I must consider as I imagine I will be fending for myself for the next 20 yrs.
I must say this, I talked with an AOL tech from India and asked her describe the conditions in India where she was. She described the AOL job as in a new, state-of-the-art building with 5,000 employees who are bused into work and home each day. The pay is 10-15 dollars a week which provides her with a comfortable living. She was only 20 but sounded intelligent, professional and seemed to know her stuff. Her grandfather was an English man who had settled in India when it was colonized by the English way back when. Credit card companies and banks are popping up in their world, as well. No surprise there.
As you imagine, I pictured the future for remote jobs in a new way. How could we ever compete with their salary.
Airport greeting gift for hubby returning from the Middle East?
He has been gone for a year, working as a contractor. What type of gift might a man like at our airport greeting (besides me)? He is getting back in the evening, so I have really nice breakfast planned for the next day, but am wondering if he might like something special at the airport? Do you get men flowers, balloons, what? We have been married 23 years, but I am finding myself really nervous about this! You all have the best ideas, so please pass them on! 
If you work from a pool, it's onlyl a matter of returning a dictation to the pool for the poor sucke
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