Don't waste your time
Posted By: with Focus on 2007-04-01
In Reply to: Please tell me about Focus, I'm thinking of applying. - Joan
Focus is known to hire new MTs, but then they rarely have work available for these MTs. Currently, they have hired a lot of people from my school and have postponed training because there is no work available. I would look elsewhere.
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.. So others don't waste their time & money on the same course.
x
Definitely, go for CS. Don't waste your
money on Andrews. You won't need hand holding through the sciences and vocabulary, and I'm sure you already have all the books you need. Why pay for a bunch of unnecessary materials that you are just going to skim over.
I was in the same position, and chose a less expensive school and have done just fine, and probably better than most.
They will try to sell you the more expensive schools here in a minute. Keep in mind that you don't know who is posting here, if they are school pushers or just school cheerleaders who are brainwashed.
CS will work great for you.
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.
You get what you pay for. Don't waste $442. You'll need it. SM
You can't learn MT for that.
Don't waste your money. It's ridiculous
to think that you'll get an education for $12.00 or $50.00.
If you are going to invest money in something, invest it in some legitimate tapes at Medword or HPI.
Don't waste your money on Penn Foster.
go to M-TEC, Andrews, or Career Step. These grads regularly finding jobs right after graduating. Most online companies that allow you to work from home will not hire grads from Penn Foster. You may be able to find in-house work, but since you stated your goal is to work from home, you should check out the 3 schools listed above. Otherwise, you are just wasting you money.
Dont waste your money on TRSI
Terrible school that takes your money and doesn't teach you anything or answer questions. I didn't learn anything and still can't get a job. I'm going to have to start over and will probably to go to MTEC or Medline. Jeni
Most companies will not hire grads of the "cheap" schools, so it's a waste of money.
Their courses are crap, and the people who do the hiring know it. They don't teach you anywhere near enough for you to be able to work at home on your own.
Also, you will have very little time to study/learn (or work, for that matter) with that many children. You need it quiet, and you need to be able to concentrate. You can't do this job with children running around, or on your lap, or at your feet. You have to do it when they are sleeping, or at school, or have someone watch them (which will most likely cost you money).
This is what I have talked about time and time
and time again and somehow the MTs get completely out of joint by just my saying it. I could not believe this "newbie" said she could not leave her home, she had to work from home. I did not get to start working from my home until 1993, hello!! This has not always been a stay at home job and then we did NOT ASK to go home, we were sent home because the hospital needed our space. We never demanded a job at home. Apparently you sound like really don’t want a job at all. If I were employing someone, I would certain run very fast away from you. The first little nosebleed from a child, you would stay off from work for 2 or 3 weeks. This again, folks, is why our profession looks really bad. These posts and yet people are highly inflamed when I call it to their attention. Same story, again and again on these posts. I cant work, junior is bothering me, gotta do the housework. Wake up, everyone! Do not ever expect to gain any respect for the job you do when you have someone like this tearing it down as just a reason to stay at home, oh yeh and I guess I might throw in a little work on the side. Enough said!!!!
I do believe its time....
Peggy
Thanks for the push.
I was sitting in the auto shop today, contemplating how I can afford to put the money down when I have all of these expenses this week: $100 tune up and oil change today, plus $600 for new tires for hubby, guestimate (my own) of $400-800 for 150,000 MI maintenance and fixing of a leaky tranny on my 93 volvo tomorrow, when I realized I CANNOT afford to wait.
My kids' school is not going to waive my tuition because I haven't gotten off of my butt to go to school and get a job. My car is not going to miraculously run forever on routine oil changes and tire rotations. Life is going to get more expensive and I am going to have to work at some point. Why not do it in a field I love (medicine) in a job that will give me the flexibility I need to work 5am-630, then 830-230, or something like that? Its either that or work 8-5 as an admin med assistant/receptionist for $8.50/hr and deal with all of the fun stuff that goes along with that. OR, even worse, work at Starbucks or Walmart because they are the only places that I can work "mommy" hours (ugh hate the term).
Plus, it seems there are a lot of MTs who have 4 year degrees so I don't think I will feel like my education was wasted because there are plenty of other MTs out there who have the same level or more and love their work as an MT. But I digress.
This time next year, I can be starting a job as an MT for a national company, but only if I start.
Time to go finish the paperwork and clean the house.
So much to do, so little time
I think I must have posted on the wrong board earlier...I got 55 views, but no responses to the following message..if anyone can help with info, I'd really appreciate it. I'm sure I had too many questions, but any answers will do just fine. Thx
*************************************************************************************************
Hello,
I am really hoping to get some detailed information about anyone's RECENT experience with TASK as a transcriptionist. Are you working steadily? How long does it take to get on board with them -- I returned the contract to them recently with no results yet. Just a little concerned. Also, I only found posts here on them from 2003 and 2004 which didn't sound great...how are they handling the growth spurt now? Have the checks been submitted in a more timely manner? Sorry about all of the questions, but I really want to start working on a full-time basis and want to know who/what companies to contact that will get me started and paid as soon as possible. Thanks for any help everyone!
Q & A time
Hi all!
Does anyone know anything about Allstate Transcription and the mentoring program through AIM? They are telling me that I would have to take this mentor program and that it would be $99. I am newbie and wanted to see if this is legit or just someone trying to scam me outta $$$$$.....are you hired on there after the mentor program? Someone please.....give me an A!!!
Thanks, Sher
not all the time
Thanks, Keri, for sharing your experience. The unsettling thing is that I *do* find myself missing the occasional word--not all the time, but enough to make me feel that I need to be re-listening to the file. I am always surprised when I've missed a word because I am listening so carefully. Sometimes I feel like a dog with its head tilted, waiting for the crunch of the family car's wheels in the driveway! Any advice on how to be a better listener??
Doing MT Part Time
I work 8 hours per day, 4 days per week, at my job outside my home. I'm doing transcription on Fridays and what I can fit in on Saturdays and Sundays. I'm an IC. I love doing the work, but you really have to discipline yourself to sit there in that chair and do it. It's very easy to get up and wonder off or take off somewhere and say "oh I'll finish this later. Before you know it the weekend is gone and you have to hustle to get it done. Luckily the company I'm working for has a QA person that is the greatest and she knows my schedule and time limit and sends me work accordingly.
The company I worked for before would send me work all during the week, and I was busting it trying to do that and work during the day too. It was tough. Best of luck to you.
She's been trying for some time to find
someone to tell her she can take the $1.95 MT course, then get a job making big bucks working only when she wants. She's been told the truth, she just doesn't want to hear it. And I don't care what you think of me, Carol.
I don't have to time or patience...
for people like her! MAYBE she needs to find a new career!
I have a FT job (not MT) and do MT part-time.
It's worked for me for over three years. I drop off the previous day's work and pick up my new work on my way home from my FT job. They want a 24-hr TAT, so that works out all right. Of course, it wouldn't work with a shorter TAT. It can work if the logistics are acceptable. The fact that I can do the MT work at home makes it easy to fit in with the rest of my life. If you're organized, it can be done.
Get another part-time to go with this one if
it is full-time. Don't wait for the work to come in. Do you have set hours or can you work when you want. I mean are you employee or self-employed independent contractor?
If you are an employee, you could get unemployment or partial but I doubt that you are an employee.
Do something soon. Don't sit and wait till there is no work.
There are typical times when there is not enough work but I don't think this is particularly one of them.
time with hubby
On the weekends..lol. He usually leaves me alone during the week, and he knows if I don't get my work done that I need to do, I'm not in a good mood anyway.
This was the same time I worked for her (sm)
I didn't work very long with her because I couldn't ever log into the site. She said there was "system failure"... right, a system failure for a week. What it sounded like to me was she didn't pay the fee for the website, just my opinion of course.
I never received my foot pedal either. I repeatedly asked her what the hold up was and she either told me she would check on it or just not reply to my emails. Finally, after I stopped working for her, she told me that she had a receipt where FedEx tried to deliver the foot pedal and no one was home. This I know to be false, the FedEx driver for my area is a personal friend and knows what to do with our packages if no one is home. I receive packages fairly often and this has been the only one I have ever had problems with. She told me when she "sold" the foot pedal she would send me the money for it. I won't hold my breath waiting for it.
As for the paycheck, same thing. I never received it. She said she would check and see if it had been cashed and if not, reissue one. This was at the end of July and I have still to receive anything from her.
As for what is going with her now, all I can say is she got what she deserved. The only thing that bothers me is the number of people that she scammed.
Time to complete
I keep careful track of my study hours with a timer. I have spent 790 hours studying so far. I am in Month 12 midway into Week 49. There are 77 weeks in the course. According to my quick calculations, it would take me 61.5 weeks to complete the course if I studied 20 hours/week, 49 weeks @ 25 hours/week, 41 weeks @ 30 hours/week, and 31 weeks @ 40 hours/week. I am a slow learner, but I have had most of this material before, so it is review for me. Also keep in mind that the estimates above do not include any time for illnesses, vacation, houseguests, etc.
put your time to work for you
If you're with a company and you know what Expander program you will be using, you can spend your free time working on that. Look up sites on the Internet that give free lists. Practice with them. If you have any reference books like Stedman's with sample reports, start building your program from them. Most of what you type on every report is common English phrases -- you can concentrate on entering them into your expander now while you wait for work. When the work comes, you'll be able to do it faster. Don't worry about what medical terminology to enter now. You'll type "the patient" and things like that many, many more times than medical terms. Enter phrases that begin with the words "was, were, in the, on the, over the, below the, into the, under the." Make shortcuts for blood pressure, pulse, temperature values. You'll get ideas from the Internet sites. In the end, it will really pay off when the work comes. Just practice condensing words and phrases into their least amount of letters and work on developing a system that works for you. Train your mind to think in "expander mode."
Takes time
My friend made $50,000 last year and has only been doing MT work for 4 years now. It can be done. You just have to find the right companies and work hard to get what you want. She has never worked for any nationals. She does do IC work for 3 companies right now. I just graduated and am looking forward to getting my first job.
Good luck!
It takes time
I think most do, but I have heard some do not. You just get to where you can proof as you go. I know it seems like you are not very fast right now and that 1200 to 1600 lines a day is completely unreachable, but it is possible. There is an MT with the company I work for who commits to 2300 lines a day. I could not do that. It just takes time to build up your speed and make as many shortcut keys as you can.
You will get better, it takes time
We have all struggled in the beginning. Pretty soon, you will find you look up less and less each day and many days you won't have to look up anything at all! Hang in there and persevere. You will be okay.
Sorry it took me some time to reply (sm)
It is totally normal to be nervous when you first begin a job. I have been an MT for a long time and I still get nervous when I first begin a new account. You will make mistakes, and that is to be expected. My best advice for you: Always be polite to QA. Do not take their advice personally. Thank them for the advice that they offer and let them know that you will always be open to that advice. Do not be afraid to ask for samples. Many times they are available. Make notes of all QA feedback and keep those notes on file. That is the best way to prevent repeat mistakes. It also shows that you value your job and are serious about learning the account. Good luck!
Part time MT?
Hello everyone,
I am interested in becoming a part-time MT and thought I would ask anyone willing to respond a few questions. Though it may make no difference whatsoever, I am about to graduate with a master's degree in education. I am interested in supplementing my current income. I have been researching MT for several months and would really appreciate any feedback. Here are a few questions:
How difficult is it to receive job offers without any formal training like Career Step in MT?
Does anyone know of a place that offers internship or other opportunities where I can obtain practical experience in lieu of formal MT training?
Is it realistic to make the amount of money publicized on many of the training websites without working 12 hours a day?
Thank you for your responses!
I had a hard time
I had a hard time getting through this course too, I found that I was marked off for things that were not wrong on the previous chapters. So I would argue every grade I got and although most of the time they fixed what they counted wrong they still never gave me a higher grade. I finally got finished with the course and the only job I got was one that has a severe history of not paying their employees. I trusted the school to provide me the jobs for life like I paid for and being new at this I didn't know any better, so I took that job and never got my money and when I contacted the school they said that they had looked up and researched that employer and was very sorry for all my troubles. I have not gotten another job yet and it has been since September. They do not provide doctors to work for like they say, they provide assessment tests and I have tested with hundreds and still had to take a part time job that has nothing to do with transcription work. I strongly urge you to research any job you get from them. I think the grade all depends on the mood of the grader that day, I did great the first half, above the expected grade and then about chapter 10 they were confusing on the grading and it took sometimes 2-3 weeks before they posted a grade and by then I was ready to submit my next test and was again waiting, Very rarely did anyone return my calls and so I e-mailed everyone that I had an e-mail address for with my questions, I figured somebody would answer. haha. It worked. Well good luck to you, but one thing I did find when I was working is that you learn so much more on the job than the school ever teaches you, Good luck to you.
This is not a good time to be SM
a newbie trying to get a job. We have a number of services not hiring at all right now and one that even just laid people off. You have a lot of experienced people out there looking and they will always have a leg up on someone with no experience. As long as the economy is bad and the MTSOs are tightening their belts, it's going to be tough for you to find a job.
4 hrs may be what they think is full-time
A lot of MTSOs staff based on the least amount they know an MT can do. They may be considering the amount they give you to be a full day's work.
If you are finding every MTSO to provide less than what you can do, it might be better to work for two MTSOs. Rather than changing jobs entirely, get a second job. That way, you'd have TWO assignments of what is, for you, a half-day's work.
I have a job, but it took a looong time
I graduated from a local college/vocational school that is not accredited, but they have tried for a few years to get accredited by AHDI. This was not an online course-I went to class several times a week for 12 hours. I graduated at the end of last September. I was in my first trimester of pregnancy, so I was not motivated to do any serious day-to-day hunting until after Thanksgiving. I applied to over 100 national companies and finally got one that had a new account and was ready to hire new MTs at the end of February.
My advice would be to just keep up the hunt. Two of my other classmates also succeeded in finding jobs at home like me with different companies. I actually tried contacting their companies and was told they don't hire newbies. Baloney!! Just apply to as many places as you can. If you need suggestions for job hunting let me know. There is no real secret besides persistance.
Well, I got a part-time job without any
trouble after graduation. However, I will say that working part-time makes it very difficult to get fast enough to earn very much money. Last year I worked 20-25 hours a week and made about $8000 at 7.5 cents/line.
You do your time in an office first, like the
majority of the rest of the MTs did. That's how it works.
There are new procedures and equipment all the time
so you can't possibly know it all, but you need to know when the doctor misspeaks, you need to have a good grasp of the systems so if you don't know the word you at least know where to look for it by knowing what system it is for. If you only do clinic it is easier, especially if you do family practice or if you only do urology dictation because then you only have to learn one speciality. If you do acute care you're going to have to have a good grasp of anatomy and terminology, even if you don't do Op notes.
It was a good field at one time
but I wouldn't go into transcription today.
I learned transcription the old fashioned way - my boss said "come here and let me show you how to transcribe." It turns out I had a knack for it and did very well. For several years I had no problem finding a job. I was often hired on the spot in many places. All hospitals had transcription departments in house, paid well and offered great benefits.
Gradually though more and more work was outsourced. Then one by one, hospitals closed their transcription departments. Now hospital jobs are extremely rare, yet most companies want you to have hospital experience. The jobs that exist now are mostly with agencies that pay you by the line rather than by the hour. No matter how fast you type you can't overcome the little things that interfere with your line count - foreign accents, mumblers, people talking and laughing in the background drowning out the dictation, line noise, phone lines going down, computer problems, servers going down, being switched to new accounts constantly so you can't adjust, etc. When those things happen you don't get paid.
It's very sad because I loved being a transcriptionist. Nowadays it's a completey different job than it was one a I started and one I would not recommend. You don't get compensated enough for what is expected of you.
I would recommend finding something that will pay you by the hour and guarantee you have a job. Best wishes to you and your new baby.
Wasting your money and time
I am a recruiter and Editor and I have not had anyone from PCDI who could pass the test to be hired. I even gave one person a chance because of her circumstances and she couldn't do the most basic of reports. I've had resumes stating "I want an all American account because I have not been trained on foreign doctors." It's a waste of money. They don't prepare you for anything.
part time work
I graduated from U.S. Career Institute in December and have started nursing school. I did this to work from home part time while in school. Does anyone know of any jobs out there for part time work. I have been a phlebotomist and CNA for 9 years and have a good medical background. Thanks for any help that you can give.
I think their ad said that anything under 40 hrs was considered part time. And several of us have
b
MT Schools worth the time
I have been being trained by friend of mine who has been a Transcriptionist for 15 years for 6 months. I feel like I need to still take a course to complete my training. I see many references on this website to the top 3 schools. Can someone please tell me the names of these top 3 schools. Any help is appreciated.
You have a great atitude to want to do better, which will come in time. (sm)
 First worry about quality and learning all the little things. I remember that first year and when I look back I am amazed at all I learned. Then, start in increments. First get up to 75 lph consistently, then 100 lph, then shoot for 125 lph...etc. Don't go into it trying to make 300 lph, because you will only discourage yourself so new into the field. Anything you did better than the day before is an achievement and the reward of that is knowing that YOU did a good job by YOUR standards, not someone else's. I am extremely accurate in my work and only do about 280 lph consistently throughout the day, but that is with over 10 years at this. However, I am very happy each night knowing I did a very accurate and thorough job and for that I feel rewarded.
Please hang in there. Remember that anything worth achieving is worth working for and you are worth it!!
You are going to have a difficult time. At-Home
is not one of the better "schools." You can post your resume on all the free job boards as there are companies that will hire from resumes but don't post positions. You probably need to get a menitoring position. There are companies that will hire newbies, but there are some who aren't legit so you need to ask questions before jumping in with both feet.
If you read the job boards you will see the equipment varies per company, just as pay does. If you need to download a test you can just use hot keys for that. Some foot pedals are configured to only work with one particular program, so no since is buying something that you might not need. I'd start building a reference library first because you'll need that anywhere you go.
I think you can download a test at www.mttest.com so you can get an idea of what it is like to test. If you Google on-line transcription tests you might can find other sources. I would do this a few times, see where your strength and weaknesses are and work on those.
You would probably be better off trying to get an in-house position until you have some experience. Try your local hospital and clinics.
Where to Start MT part Time
 Any ideas on where I start if i want to get into MT part time at home? Do I join one of these places that you pay for them to train you? Take training on my own? HELP.. Or am I totally nuts and really dont want to get into this? I have had Carpal tunnel in the past and work full time also...
Part TIme Work
I'm in the same boat as well, just got done with school and have certificate. Don't want to over commit myself and things not work out.
I have TOO (note 2 o's) much time on my hands. nm
X
I think most of the new grads are having a hard time.
I still haven't found a job myself, and I graduated this May. I would go through your local phone book and start calling all of the transcription companies if you haven't already. Call the hospitals, too. Start applying everywhere. MTdaily has a list of companies and most of the companies have a carreer or job opportunity link on how to apply. I know how frustrating it can be. I am actually considering switching to legal transcription.
Time frame varies sm
I am finishing up session 5 this month. I started at the end of August. I complete about a session a month, which would put me at finishing in about 18 months total (there are 18 sessions to the course). I have heard of some finishing in as little as 10-12 months, but I think around 18 is the norm.
The time you will be able to spend studying would affect how long it takes--I have 2 jobs and work about 50-60 hours per week outside of my M-Tec studies.
Don't hesitate to call the school office with any questions--they are closed until after New Years, but are very helpful with any questions you may have. Good luck!
This is also a bad time of year to be job hunting.
This is the slow season for MTs and companies don't tend to hire much from December to February. Don't give in yet if this is really what you want. But I agree with other poster, you might have better luck with a local MTSO that is familar with your community college's program. Good luck if you decide to pursue this further! It would be a shame to give up so quickly after completing the course.
Thanks for taking time to answer.
x
I was also an RT full-time and just recently
quit FT to go PRN. I'm doing transcription FT again as I got burned out at RT work. I can tell you, once you get your line count up, the pay is about the same (although it does take a bit of time to get your line count up), or at least in my part of the country. Just to give you an average, RT I was making $18 an hour day shift other parts of the country they make much more - up to $35, but this is a very rural area with low cost of living) With MT, I'll be making around $16-19 depending on the difficulty of work. So it's comparable.
What's time format rules in BOS 3?
Can anyone tell me what the specific rules are for time format in the new BOS on pages 337-339. A brief description would be great or u can scan and email it to me too, whichever is easier.
I do intend to buy my own soon but I have to wait till payday and I'm starting a new company right now that uses that book :(
TIA !
Being in the right place with the right skills at the right time helps too
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