Don't waste your $ on AHP.....sm

I took their course and will not recommend it to anyone.  First of all, they fail to tell you is that most companies won't hire you if you don't have at the very least 2 years experience not including school.  And a lot want even more than that.  It took me almost a year to find a job and for many others I've read about a lot longer.   If you research on the boards you'll find that's a very common problem.  However, you'll also find a "few" who found jobs right away.   By the way, I'm not trying to be discouraging about becoming an MT, just stating that AHP made it sound like you'll get a job right away and you'll be rolling in the money in no time.  HA!

The other thing, and this is what really, really has me so irked about them is that they teach you using standard cassettes for dictation.  There are very few doctors who use them, or mini/micro cassettes, anymore.  Most have gone with the  MTSOs.    That being said, they teach you absolutely NOTHING about the MTSOs, the platforms, expansions, templates, standards, etc.  Come to think of it, I don't even know HOW they dictate.   I think some use their cell phones or something portable.  All I know is it's not a cassette player.   I have absolutely no idea.   Not that it's really important but it would just be kind of nice to know.   T

They also don't teach you about ASR, VRS.  There was 1 little bity paragraph about it in course 5.  All it said was basically that it exists.   AND...at the company I work for, the MT's pay actually decreased (by about 30%, I believe) when they got put on ASR. 

As far as the med term, A&P and other subjects......medicine has come a long way from when those lessons were printed! 

Oh, I did get a chuckle when they said you could use a typewriter if you don't have a computer.  

Another thing, the tapes they give you are  everyone's "dream dictators."   If I could have those docs every single day my line count would be through the roof!  I'd be rich!!   AHP mentions a little something about ESL docs but don't tell ya anything about the American docs who dictate like they're are in the Indy 500 for dictation (it sounds something like this:  dflhofhdfhdkljoehkej....), nor the docs who think it's okay to dictate in the middle of the cafeteria during lunch hour, the ones who carry on conversations with other people while dictating, so you're wasting time which is money to you, or the docs who dictate while driving.  That one's fun.  You get to listen to their radio, the wind from the windows, a train, screaming kids in the backseat, the spouse in the passenger seat talking loudly on the cell.   Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, when it comes to dictating, these people with these 10 years + education and fancy degrees lack common sense when it comes to dictation.  (By the way, you even get an occasional doc who doesn't think you can hear the grunts, gas and plops when they're using the freaking bathroom!!!)  You'll here slurping from drinks, burps, blowing noses, passing gas, hacking, gum chewing/popping.  That's just to name a few. You name it, we've heard it.   Don't get me wrong, we do get those perfect dictations also, but not as often as we'd like and not often enough to make the kind of money we'd like.

That's just a few of the things AHP doesn't teach you about.  There's a lot more you'll find out when you get a job.  I think a major factor in myself getting a job was my 10+ years of experience in the medical field.  Don't take this wrong.  Like I said, I'm not trying to discourage you from becoming an MT.  Some love it, some hate it.  I actually like it.  I just would encourage you to at least research other schools (even your community college, which call it medical language specialist instead of medical transcriptionist) before you decide. It may cost a little more, but it's worth it in the long run.  This is definitely a case of where you get what you pay for.  Besides, a lot of the employers take into account where you got your training from.  I guarantee, if they had a grad from AHP versus a grad from Andrew's or MTec, they'll hire the the one from Andrew's or MTec first.  

Oh, AHP doesn't help you find a job either.  They give you a little packet about making business cards, talking to local docs, etc.  Pretty much stuff you learned in high school when they were preparing you for the work force. 

• Questions from a newbie - Melissa
  • Seeking MT info - Kelly
    • Don't waste your $ on AHP.....sm - Don't do it.
    • AHP - Melissa
  • I would not buy a pedal until you have a job. - me
    • She'll need a pedal to test. - Express Scribe is free.
      • Thanks - Melissa
  • I would suggest the Wav Pedal Infinity - USB which can be purchased online.
    • Thanks - Melissa

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