the best advice is learn to be flexible and...
Posted By: experienced on 2008-10-03
In Reply to: Wrong profession? - frustrated
give the client what he/she wants, even if it goes against what you were taught. I see a lot of newer MTs who really seem to believe that medical transcription is all black and white when in reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
Not every doctor follows the BOS to the letter (some don't even know what that is!) and if an account is verbatim, then that's how you need to transcribe it.
Also, not every doctor wants names replaced with "the patient" - I work for one doc who fills his letters/reports with not only the patient's name, but sometimes names of family and friends of the patient as well. (Many of his patients are very well-known from both the entertainment and sports industries, and this doc loves to drop names at every opportunity!)
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- Wrong profession? - frustrated
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Advice to YOU..1st learn to spell before insulting poster and trying to give advice...sm
Need some advice please on best way to learn new types of transcription
Hi everyone! I have been transcribing for 8 years, mostly radiology, some gross pathology, and noninvasive cardiac studies. I would love to learn a new type of transcription, maybe Acute Care? Can anyone please point me in a good direction? I've almost completed my AA and have taken medical terminology, a&p I and II and labs, and am very familiar with the medical language. Does anyone know of a company that will train me and pay me (a lower rate of course) to learn something new? Thank you so much for your advice in advance!!
I'm not sure how flexible. When I say
punch in you have to go to their website and go through a log-in when you begin your work and a log out. They need to stay with TAT time, so even as an IC you need to have scheduled hours, although you set your hours and can have flexibility with those, but once you commit to those hours there isn't a lot of flexibility in them.
Sure you can. I did it with 2. I have a flexible
job with 24-hour TAT and I worked bits here and there around my children's needs. It wasn't a piece of cake all the time, I got frustrated, was tired at times, but I had to work and was not willing to put my children in daycare full-time. When they were about 3 I put them in a mother's time out program for 15 hours a week to give me time to run errands, take a nap, work, or whatever.
Being flexible is a must...
and it is not your employer's problem that you need to take care of your kid. This attitude is the exact reason why MTs are not respected. People do get sick on nights, weekends, and holidays. You should have considered that when you decided to become an MT. It's a 24/7 job.
Being flexible is a must...
and it is not your employer's problem that you need to take care of your kid. This attitude is the exact reason why MTs are not respected. People do get sick on nights, weekends, and holidays. You should have considered that when you decided to become an MT. It's a 24/7 job.
Yes, Transcend is very flexible. - sm
You can pretty much choose the schedule you want to work, but then have to consistently work the schedule you chose instead of jumping around during the day. This works better for everyone involved because then it's easier for the managers to find coverage for accounts. If you just work whenever you want as long as you get your hours in, you're taking work from people regularly scheduled during those hours you don't normally work. The work week goes from Sun. to Thurs. or Tues. to Sat. Yes, they do pay shift differential.
Flexible work
I know of www.rapidtranscript.com that is looking for additional folks.
9-5 vs. flexible hours sm
You didn't state if you were going to be an EMPLOYEE or an INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. A company can tell an employee what their set schedule will be; typically 9-5 (or 8:30-5 with a 1/2-hour lunch at noon) etc. BUT a company CANNOT tell a contractor what hours to work; they can only negotiate what work you will be given, NOT how you accomplish that work. Lots of companies try to get away with the tax/financial advantages of using "contractors" and then treating them like "employees." Rare companies will allow their employees to flex their schedules to fit their personal life...So, ask yourself, Who's The Boss? Them? or You? Hope that helps...
Flexible hours. nm
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Flexible hours
If anyone knows of any jobs that offer 24-hour TAT please pass on! I used to have flexible hours as an IC just two years ago. What happened? That was the entire reason I went into this field!
flexible hours
Thanks for the input..
Flexible is my middle name! nm
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Flexible keyboard
Would anyone be interested in sharing their opinions or experience with a flexible keyboard. I saw one in a discount food store, a place called Aldis, and it was about 14, 15 bucks.
It looked interesting; however, I am so used to punching the keys down (the keys and board look almost wafer-thin!) so wanted to know if anyone has tried it and if they liked it or not.
Any input would be appreciated, thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving season to everyone.
And are flexible enough to be able to lick
x
Here is the brando flexible...
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00355
Not always...not all companies are flexible with schedules!
..
I understand how you feel but try being flexible
or go to a different company. I'll be the first one to admit I am an employee and rarely work my schedule. It is NOT a problem with management, in fact it is a plus. Why? Because when the work runs out, I have two other hospitals to back me up. If they are low, I log out, do my laundry, run my errands and sign back in after dinner when the work has built up again and there isn't anyone willing to work those hours. I log in on the weekends as I often get notes from my account supe advising everyone who is scheduled to work but are NOT working how behind the account is. My committment is to my accounts because if I take care of my accounts, those accounts take care of my employer and when that happens, my employer takes care of me. Patients don't always need treatment and/or dictation is not always done when you are scheduled to work. This is the nature of the beast and being miserable is no way to deal with it.
Over the last 10+ years, this attitude has been rewarded many times over by being a very valued employee and have appreciation shown in many ways that have made my life richer, in addition to providing an income that exceeds the average MT.
d~
Wal-Mart has a flexible keyboard for about $18
I do not have one yet, but would like to try out the flexible keyboard. The picture shows the keyboard being rolled up like a rubber mat. That's what it looks like a rubber mat with all the keyboard keys on it. The keys look like the soft keys of a calculator.
I love the flexible schedule!
I decided to stick with MT because of the schedule. (Plus, I can make more money in 6 hours of MT than 10 hours at a regular job with commute, lunch, breaks, etc.) DH and I had a long lunch yesterday at my favorite restaurant. I was able to drop off and pick up the kids at school, and be there for their sports practice. This next week is a Thanksgiving feast at the kids' school, so I get to go to that, too. I clean during the day while I'm working, so the house isn't a total pigsty.
yes they are very flexible. They are a great company to work for.
Best job I EVER had!
Correction - They will be flexible with HOURS/days, etc.
...rather than benefits.
You are lucky you worked for a flexible company
x
You need to be flexible. Nothing stays the same in MT. You do it how the person paying you says to
:+
This is strange. I just discussed a flexible on-call person
for radiology with the owner of Keystrokes, where I have worked for 4 years. We were discussing the feasibility of having someone trained on a few accounts, ready to do "x" number of reports a day without a fixed schedule, floating on a few different accounts.
If anyone is interested, please email the office. You can do so through the ads on the job seekers board.
But if that account is paying your bills, you must negotiate and be flexible. IMO
I know you can only lower a little bit, but to let them know that you are flexible and care about keeping their account may just encourage them to stay with you. I can't afford to let an account go without just a little negotiation.
I have a flexible schedule, I make decent money, better
than I could make working in an office, even though I haven't had a raise in 5 years and not likely to get one anytime soon. I homeschool my children, we don't have a 9 to 5 lifestyle, DH doesn't have a 9 to 5 job and it allows him a 3 day weekend so we like to travel. I am able to work anywhere I can get internet access so we can pickup and go at a moments notice w/o me having to worry about work.
I hate office politics. I don't have to spend $$ on clothes as I work in jeans or sweats, or can stay in my jammies all day. We only have 1 car and that works for us now, but wouldn't if I worked outside the home.
Life is just less stressful not having to get my kids up at 6:00 a.m. to get ready so they can catch the bus by 7:00. My DC would be getting home at 4:00 or later if they were in school and by the time they did homework and we had dinner it would be time to prepare for bed and we wouldn't have much family time. By homeschooling my DC have been able to explore their passions, have really developed a love of learning and we have developed a wonderful family bond. We spend hours every week talking about world events, relationships, etc. My DC are my #1 reason for working at home. When they have left the nest I may consider working outside the home, or at least exploring other work-at-home options.
Have Part Time Flexible Work in the evenings available, have emailed you. nm
.
Flexible schedule and reasonable line rate, at least 11 cpl for acute care!
I am not real "needy". No benefits as IC, just need flexible schedule due to very active family, and expect a good line rate. In return, I will go above and beyond what is expected to meet TAT and quality!
Sound advice from a fellow MT if you want advice or support (sm)
I have been an MT for over 10 years. I also am getting burnt out, tired of my job, day in day. However, I do love transcription and make excellent money at it, have grossed over $50,000 per year the last 5 years. I decided to go back to nursing school and am very happy with my choice. However, over these 10 years of transcription I have had my ups and downs. My biggest issue with being at home working is lack of socialization, being home day in and day out with just the kids and the animals really gets to a person, sure hubby is home at night and thinks working from home is the easy life, thus the return to school and boy has my overall enjoyment of life changed once I realized I was the problem, not everyone else and I needed to find myself again.
Anyway, my biggest advice to you three-fold:
1. Get into counseling for yourself, find out who you are and what your needs are, whether or not you think you need to, I sense you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone other than your family to talk to that can be nonjudgmental to your feelings and needs.
2. If you're only making $100 after you pay preschool you can either keep doing it and be miserable, or quit because you are lucky enough to have a husband who can support the family without your income. (See how fast his mind changes just by losing the income you do have as to whether your job means anything.) Or look for a different company or office that you like more and are more productive if you really want to do transcription (lots of fish in the sea as far as companies).
3. Find a local "mom's" group where you can get out and socialize. MOPS (mother's of preschoolers) is an excellent one that is nationwide, they have a website. Also Mom2Mom is in a lot of areas. They provide a once a week time for moms with kids the same age to get together, socialize, (some offer spirtual guidance some don't) and each week a different mom takes a turn watching everyone else's children at the facility that hosts it so the other moms can talk about things they have in common. Every stay-at-home and work-from-home mom needs to socialize with adults, without their kids, or they will have a nervous breakdown eventually no matter how much they love their kids.
Sorry so long but it does get better but you have to take the first step at making yourself happy.
learn something new every day - thanks
See - learn something new every day. Thanks. I just knew about some laws passed locally last year on a city/county basis.
Did you learn
on the job, or were you taught by a friend, or self-taught?
Most of those tests nowadays are geared toward grads of official MT programs.
Learn something new every day don't
you. A consult is similar in format to an H&P, but 2 different things - for example, an elderly patient with diabetes breaks a hip and needs surgery. Most likely they are admitted to ortho, but need an endocrine of internal medicine consult to determine if diabetes is stable enough for surgery and no other medical problems that might be a contraindication to surgery, or need treatment prior to surgery.
You will never learn to do them...
unless you tackle them head on. You do what you can with the report, and you do what you can with the next report. You cannot avoid difficult dictations. If you don't learn to do them, you will never make any money and will probably get into trouble for abandoning too many reports.
Why would anyone want to learn it???
nm
Learn something new every day...sm
Outlook and outlook express are two different things I guess. I never knew this, but that's what I am being told. Outlook has a calendar option but outlook express does not. Very interesting indeed. Let me know if you all hear anything different from this.
Thanks for all your help. I have decided to try the yahoo calendar for free and see how that works. So far, it's perfect! Thanks for the info everyone! 
thats it! You have to learn the sm
hard way to understand. For my own personal experience, I have gone through a horrible illness and I know more than ever the importance of medical records that are perfect. I have seen some really bad stuff out there in medical records, my own included that not only is a disgrace but downright dangerous! I have always done my job with the idea that there is a patient behind all of this and they deserve the best we can give them. With all the ruckus about the state of our health care system these days, why would any MT not understand that this is not about us and lines typed and cpl etc. ITS ABOUT THE PATIENTS!!!!!!!!! you are right, the money comes later. Its a career long learning experience, one that I hope never ends on the learning part. Sounds to me like you have also been through enough life to understand all of this. The younger ones won't get it until they have been at this for many years. The only problem is, with some of the attitudes of "I won't do this and I won't do that" they won't be in the business years from now!
Learn from history
and think very carefully about this person and his sob story. Boo hoo!
His child is cruel toward animals, chances are this child is being mistreated in some way by someone. This is a red flag that something in not right in this child's life regarding the adults. Children are NOT naturally violent--it is learned behavior.
Be friendly, but takes things very, very slow and think of the safety of yourself, your children, and your pet (s). Better safe than sorry.
newbie trying to learn
I have recently finished an online medical transcription course. I have been reading the posting on this website and I'm very intrigued by some of the information. Not to sound stupid, but what are word expanders, auto correct, and shorthand? I have macros on my computer, but I never used them. I am trying to find my first medical transcription job, but it is very difficult as a newbie. I would love to be a productive, accurate medical transcriptionist, but it seems that no one wants to give the newbies a chance. Any thoughts of how to get started? thanks!
It is your job to learn the ESLs and if you can't/won't then you need to
find a new job because you are in the wrong one.
However, once you learn it, it's great!
I averaged $21-23 an hour doing radiology, about $15-17 doing acute care. If I were to go back into transcription, it would be doing radiology.
Thanks, i'd be interested to learn more
welcome; love IT and sure you will too when you learn it. nm
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It depends on what you need to learn. Sm
Right now I have a gal starting Sep. 1 who has absolutely no med. training whatsoever so we are starting from scratch. She is paying for textbooks, cd's, materials, etc. I am having her pay as she goes along. I am not making any profit on any materials, but when she gets to the transcription part, I will have to start charging minimally for my time. Not sure yet how to go about that.
The second gal has some formal training and needs dictation practice and I am actually in the process of working with a company getting copies of microcasette tapes with approximately 800 minutes of dictation on them and will give those to my students.
I have a few accts. myself so when my students show that they are ready to tackle digital dictation, I may consider "hiring" them in the future. Right now, our goal is to get them trained and ready with my help, and to be able to pass a co. test.
I don't know where that box is to place my email address is and I don't want to post it in this spot. I will try to get my email available for anyone seriously considering getting into the field and being trained with an experienced MT who is willing to mentor them along the way to meeting their career goals.
It was very frustrating to learn but
after 3 months, I have grown to like it.... well maybe I have grown not to dislike it so much. I would still rather work in MS Word. It is NOT the best platform out there to be certain. The spell check is awful and I copy everything into a Word document to double check. You cannot copy back into Emdat though. If there are any changes to make you must type them. For some reason if you copy from Word, although it looks okay to you, on the physician's end it is wrong.
It is nice not to have to worry about the line count. It is VERY nice not to have to save each patient separately. It is nice to have the patients name available (although that is not always the case). Overall, I give it a C.
Hope this helped.
I had to learn the same program sm
Whether it is worth it - is only a question you can answer.
Personally, the platform is so easy; however, I do not get the high line counts I am used to even with their expander. I am so used to working in a Word-based platform with over 5000 auto-correct entries. For me, the transition was not worth it. I could only average 240 lines per hour compared to my usual 350 - 400 lph.
You have to realize, every one is different with different needs and wants.
The packet of policies you mention really is no big deal. Just print them out and read them over and within a week you won't even look at them again. Starting any job is overwhelming at first, but then it becomes routine.
I would suggest you give it a shot. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
As for the ESL account, I have no idea which one that would be - mine is a good mix of all.
Thank you! Learn something new everyday!
.
I like it. Once you learn it, it is easy.
x
Is this so you dont have to LEARN which is which?
If so, no, theres no way.
If you need a shortcut, just put the nongenerics in your Expander as capped. Put your others in like ddiphenhydramine and it will catch on spellcheck and you will know it is generic.
Yes. Use MT while you learn something else. It's never too late. nm
x
Was very difficult to learn and there are
still some things I cannot get the hang of. But, it is the only Expander I am permitted to use so had to bite the bullet after resisting for a few months. Takes about three months go use it effectively. Try using it for a few hours every day. When you get frustrated, close it and type everything out. On short-fuse days, skip it altogether. Over a few months, with this method, you will begin to develop speed and each new problem will be solved one by one so your line count will not get suffer greatly. Using IT requires doing a massive amount of reading initially. But, I have to say, I love it now (and am still learning how to use it six months into using it).
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