"well-trained" is the important point here
Posted By: MT on 2006-06-05
In Reply to: Outlook for MT employment - nobitterhag
Those who aren't are running out of job options. The employers won't hire or keep people who are not properly prepared. They are dumping the MT services who don't have high standards.
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See important, important message inside.
I put my real name and e-mail up here. The rest of you, do not let this person steal your dreams.
I stumbled onto this profession 30 years ago when transcription was part of my office duties. I went from there to a huge hospital and worked there for 15 years, all the while taking extra work from home (mostly because I just love the work, but also for extra money).
During the past 30 years, I have supported my family of four without a lot of help from my husband. That includes buying my daughter a very expensive horse and all the accoutrements (sp?) - including riding lessons, horse shows, show clothes, etc., etc. My son has a very expensive hobby that I also funded. I ran an entire household on my earnings.
I'm saying this to illustrate to you that it can be done, but you sure can't send off sloppy records. You have to learn the correct way. You have to be smart. You have to listen and be willing to be humiliated once every now and then!
MT may or may not be for you, but do not let one unsuccessful person define your future. There are plenty of us out here who make a wonderful living at this.
You need to be trained sm
Sure, you may be able to learn easy things but who says your work is right? Have you had it checked by a CMT? Then you would know for sure if it is impeccable.
Do you know the 50 rules for comma usage--and not just when the doc says "comma" or when there is a pause? Do you know all the little rules like when saying "5 mL was instilled" is right over "5 mL were instilled" and things like that? Do you know periods basically always go inside the quotes and outside of parentheses? It is the little things that make the difference. How about when you say "I have 2 years experience." it is really "I have 2 years' experience."
I would say a nurse has a leg up, but you can't teach yourself to be a great MT. Anyone can type stuff, but they won't be typing it right.
You need to know the specifics about creating a medical document and grammar. I thought I knew grammar just fine until I went to school. I didn't realize (like I am sure you don't) all that I could have done wrong without schooling.
I know I won't change minds on here, but ask anyone trained and they will tell you--you can't possibly learn all this by yourself. At least not if you want to do acute care.
Got trained, got a job, and now I've got...
...pedal edema from sitting at the computer so much!!! (I am, however, proud and happy that I actually know what pedal edema is--thank you transcription training program!)  Has anyone else had this problem?? I know I need to get up and walk around periodically, but as a newbie my line counts are so low that I feel like I need to type all the time. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do while sitting--is there some kind of leg stretching or foot rotation that helps? Thanks in advance for any advice.
This is important. see message
You need to know that although you might have a "certificate" from an MT school, you are not a certified MT. In order to be certified, you need to have 2 years' experience and then take and pass a test with the AHDI (formerly AAMT).
You need to know this because when looking for a job, if you say you are "certified" and the employer checks the list of CMTs (certified MTs) and you are not on it, they will think you are lying about it to get the job.
It is a very common mistake, lots of new grads think because they have a "certificate" that they are certified, but there is a big difference.
Good luck in finding a job.
Go back to the school that trained you
and demand that they finish the job. They did not make you job-ready. Your English-language skills are too weak to make you employable in any position other than a dead-end, minimum-wage job. Bluntly speaking, if you do not improve your English communications skills, you will face disappointment in your job search.
It is important to get your foot in the door
You can command more money as soon as you can prove your skills. I agree with those who say to take this entry level job and move up the ladder from there.
QA says my work is right. The seasoned MTs who trained
me say my work is right. Yes, I know about commas. I also know that a lot of doctors don't know a flipping thing about grammar nor do they have a good command of the English language. That's why they have others do their transcription, so it will be correct. Yes, I know periods go inside the quotation marks. Yes, I know I still have a lot to learn. We all do. Things change, often on a daily basis. Yes, I know not everyone can go from nursing to transcription. However, I did and some others can, too. It all depends on how bad you want to learn and how willing you are to work at learning it.
Response to important message
Deb,
Apparently they have changed the requirements. If you go on the website they say anyone can take the test, but they suggest two-years acute care experience for success on the test. It used to be you could not even take the test without two-years experience.
It's hard to tell because you are leaving out one important item
it says "can work from home after training period."
Is this a place that is local to you? Why don't you try googling the email address and see what comes up.
There are some hospitals that are willing to train people for this job, but I have found that happens in very very tiny hospitals where they may have something like 40 beds or less.
That's exactly how I learned. Trained by people who knew
*what the heck they were doing.*
It may "encompass" transcription, but it's not enough to qualify you as a trained MT. NM
X
More important than typing speed I hope
you chose a good school. Doesn't matter how fast you type if you can't get a job because she chose a more "affordable" school that didn't give you the education you need to get a job.
Do not short yourself on the most important part of your career
You will be sorry if you try take the easy way out. Trust me, been there. After wasting 1 year and lots of money at one program, I went to the college and received excellent training. I graduated with straight A's on both programs.
Like someone else said, if you're trained only on "Ben Stein" dictation
you are in for a rude awakening when you get in the real MT world. Yes, you do have to be able to do a reasonably good job transcribing crap. What world do you live in, where all the dictators are slow, clear, precise, dictating in quiet places with no background noise, no accents, etc?
That's my point
Do you think that Donald Trump or Bill Gates gave up and stopped trying after someone said "you need two year minimum experience"
The answer is NO!! And look where they are today.
I am sick to death of MTSO saying they won't hire someone becuase they don't have the minimum experience.
I think that all anyone is asking is that you give the Newbie's a chance to show them what they can do.
I know plenty of people with experience in the MT field who might as well quit and go flip burgers!!
I say stop bashing the Newbies and give them a chance!!
And that's EXACTLY the point!
It would make your toes curl if you could see what kind of work so many of these so-called schools are provided these gals with. I get interns every week who say "I have learned more from you in the last month than I did the whole time I was in school..." and that includes interns from a wide variety of schools. It's a shame that that's the way it is, but I assure you there is most definitely a need for mentoring programs and I don't see any chance of that changing in the near future! As for scams, we have had multiple graduates of the AIM Program hired on as employees...and in fact all but maybe 1% are working as MTs now (and the few I know who aren't have chosen different career paths.) Talk to some of my former and current mentors....or some of the MTSOs I have been working with for the last 20+ years. I think you will find that we are very much legit and very much have the best interest of the interns in mind. Believe me, I could make a lot more money doing something besides mentoring...I do this because this is what I love to do and because I see a real NEED for the services we offer.
My point is you need to get over yourself.
This person starting the thread has a right to try any career she wants without you badgering and making her feel like she has not a grasp of the English language in your know-it-all posts! No one is perfect including you! We all live and learn. We have all done our time! Get over yourself already, geez! 
My point exactly!
If you've graduated from a lousy school and can't get employment, it's better to pay 100$ for experience than 1500$ to start all over from scratch.
lol, point taken
Really, if someone were to judge my skills based on that; it would not be good. :) Anyhow, I am doing all I can to get into this business. Persistence has to pay off sometime. Every "no" I hear, brings me that much closer to the sweet sound of "yes, come work with us." :)
good point
Knowing that pay=production can be a great motivator, especially if you are working for a company that provides consistent work flow and good HR relations.
Thanks for your input.
Good point!
Peggy, what excellent advice! I had not heard it put that way, and after thinking about it, I know you're right! thanks for opening my eyes to think "bigger".... better to be excellent, and more "employable", than to be somewhat limiting. I do plan to study in such a way as to be excellent! That's just the way I'm "built"! :) thanks again for your post.... -Anne (amh) :)
Good point..lol
nm
GOOD POINT
I'm glad that this was brought up. I have often wondered myself. What encourages me is that there is always something new to learn. Even the MTs who have been in this for years admits it themselves.
I am still a newbie but being an IC helps a lot in learning different areas in this field. I am thankful that my contact "feeds" me work from a new field gradually when she thinks that I am already catching on with the one she gave me prior. I say "catching on" because I can get comfortable with surgery and here comes a new case with totally different words that I need to research on.
Just like a former professor of mine said - "the more you know, the more you realize that there is still much to learn."
you are all missing the point!
MANY companies hire even before graduation if you went to a good school and are able to pass their employment test.
And your point would be? He did exceptionally well for
himself. Doesn't mean everybody could do it. Everybody can't transition from nursing to MT, but some can.
Point proven again.
Ow! Now I fell off my chair laughing.
Slowly for all following along. If you can't find a job even with training, just being a nurse will be worse.
OK. I think everyone has it now. For anyone who doesn't, that's fine. I only want to convince those who aren't an MT yet. Don't care about people already working so unbunch the old undies.
Just a minor point
Speaking only for myself, I do a load of ESL dictators. It is almost a sub-specialty of mine. However, and I'm guessing a lot of us ol' timers can say this, I like to get dictators that are EFL now and then. And the person that has been doing transcription for five years might have an easier time with them, too (as opposed to my 25+ years). But if they feed all the good and easy stuff to the newbies, the rest of us won't get that break from Gregor Svaslkdfjkjahsdfkjhsadfov or Mohit Chenaidehlimumbai. Considering there usually is not that much difference in pay scales between newbs and the transcription elders, it doesn't seem right to skim off the cream for the newbs. Maybe you should try doing doctors' offices and then you can select which docs you want (although also keep in mind that there are some native sons who are much harder to type than most of the ESL guys).
I understand your point (sm)
I just do not agree with you in this case. I believe this board is a place where people come to relax. Do you ever allow your English language skills to slide when you IM your friends? I do. I see this board in a similar way. It is definitely not a place to judge a person's English language skills. Also, if you are not aware of this fact, MTs are not required to have a degree in English (or any degree, for that matter). You probably would prefer that, but we do not make enough money to require a degree. You can insist on agruing if you'd like, but I will agree to disagree with you in this case. This conversation benefits no one at this point.
Good point
I would be weary, save for the fact this individual is sending me all the software I need for free. They are also paying for the software I don't have that I need. I figure if they are willing to spend a good amount of money to get me the software required before I have even started, than there must be something to it.
Of course, I will keep my eyes and ears open.
Oh, and the original point, which you
obviously missed, was that you don't have to go to one of the Big 3 schools to get into MTing.
thats a good point...
CrankyBeach- I was feeling disappointed, and not even looking at the obvious.
her point was if you don't like the offer, don't apply...nm
x
recruiter point of view
I am trying not to be "nasty" or "hurt feelings." Just stating my experience I have to agree with the MTSO post. I cannot tell you the number of resumes I get where the requirements absolutely 100% do not fit the person emailing me. And I love it when I post "please CUT AND PASTE your resume DO NOT ATTACH." Guess what, very few can read that. A second favorite of mine is ABSOLUTELY NO OFFSHORE COMPANIES APPLY. Guess what? Every Indian company out there cannot read because they apply ... oh, and they ATTACH a resume. The typos are sickening, but I won't get into that. But what really bugs me is how people take applying for a job so lightly. For instance, if you were to read a job opening in a newspaper, you would obviously construct a nice resume and mail it to the potential employer. Why on the internet should it be any different. I get emails for job openings with email addresses of "snoogleboogle@hotmail.com. Is it so hard to get an email address that is professional ... such as JaneSmith24@yahoo or Jsmith24@hotmail. And the ultimate ... "I have a handicapped child at home and need to be at home. Tell me what transcription is and I can do it. I'm sure it's not hard (LOL)." LOL???? Are you serious?? Nevermind the fact that, unfortunately, I cannot take into consideration your personal problems when I am looking to fill a position. So please don't tell me why you need to work at home, just send me a resume that says why you are qualified for this position. And LOL??? I will leave that one alone.
Oh, geez. You missed the point!
If you cannot get hired as a newbie, these mentoring programs are an option: They are taking risk and investing substantial money into getting work for you. They have to go over every single aspect of it with a fine-toothed comb and provide you with feedback to improve.
I guarentee you that for every report that they go over, they are losing money on it. The program cost just simply covers their administrative costs. Guarantee it.
NO, I don't work at any of those programs but I know 2 suits over 2 of those programs and have had great discussions over the programs.
Ok, anyone can take the test. But I doubt she has taken it, which was my point.
She is therefore not certified. (And shouldn't waste her money on the test without experience.)
Have you completed school at this point? I am confused as to the
question because I am not sure if you have completed your MT training or planning to work from home as an MT without schooling.
NOW versus KNOW - Learn the difference as you will need to KNOW it at some point.
Trust me, you don't scare us. As experienced professionals, we know what happens to MTs with delusions of grandeur; they are in for a very rude awakening, to say the very least.
Thought I would point out that you misspelled accurately
since you seem to be so keen on everyone being accurate around here.
you are missing the point - I am happily employed too but I see it's not going to last
you don't get to keep jobs by "wishing" you know. I am making anywhere from 12c to 14c to 19c on my own accounts but that doesn't change the fact that technology will virtually eliminate MT as we know it in the next decade. Nothing wrong with teaching newbies how to watch and analyze trends.
It still doesn't sound like you're getting the point
It would be great if we could just do our job, but when you're thrown into a national workpool where some MTs are getting 45 different clients with 45 different client profiles to try and keep straight on any given shift, that's next to impossible. I don't think any of the MTs want to be nurtured, but some simple respect would be a step in the right direction.
What else do you want to know? Some of the service areas have gone through numerous production supervisors in a short amount of time so that an MT may never know who they are supposed to report to or direct questions to, especially if a PS doesn't answer e-mails. (I am fortunate in that I have a PS who is very good with communication).
Add to the national work pool the fact that daily bonuses that a lot of the MTs depended on as part of their pay were done away with and with very little notice . This was replaced with a quarterly bonus, the formula of which is so convoluted and confusing, I have no idea how it's even calculated. If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, confuse them with BS, I guess.
This is the "real deal" from where I'm sitting for the next 2 weeks before I go elsewhere.
Who are you?? I think at this point someone is making up names to post. Get a life! nm
xx
Uh, you're missing my tongue-in-cheek point! :)) NM
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