Employment with Focus Infomatics.
Posted By: Erin on 2008-12-08
In Reply to: Most common MT companies - Desi Frieden
Dear Desi:
I worked with Focus Infomatics a few years back when I got laid off from the hospital because of voice recognition. However, they do not pay worth a you know what. Apply with a better at home company, such as Spheris or All-Type. There is a free magazine that you can get for being a transcriptionist. It is called Advance. Call them up, and get a year's subscription for free, and you will see all the at home companies that are hiring.
I hope this helped you out.
Good luck!
Erin
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Focus Infomatics
Has anyone heard anything about this company?
Thank you
focus infomatics
my friend works for them and i am starting monday. i am concerned they only pay 8 cents a line though. what do you want to know?
Focus infomatics
Yes, I have worked for this company since October of 2005. The people are terrific to work for....very helpful and always willing to answer questions and make sure you're happy with their company. There isn't always a whole lot of work available, but they are constantly trying to remedy that and keep you busy. Drop me a line if you want to discuss things further. Amber (trblmkr778@netins.net)
Focus Infomatics
I am going to be testing with Focus Infomatics later today. Does anyone have any advice about their test? Also, does anyone know anything about their program Focus on Future? Since I am a recent grad, I would have to complete this 2-4 week program. Any info anyone has would be greatly appreciated!!!
Better than Focus Infomatics and MS?
Is Spheris at least better than these two companies?
Focus Infomatics
Focus is a good company to work for. I have no problem communicating with Team leaders as we use Yahoo IM. I have never had an issue of not getting paid on time. Pay is direct deposited and always on time. Team leaders are great!!! Highly recommend this company!
Focus Infomatics
I have read different posts about this company and have noticed good and bad feedback but it was from a year and sometimes two years old. What is the perception out there now about them. Is it still the same or have things changed? I begin my two week apprentiship on Monday and would like opinions of what the thought is on them.
Thanks in advance 
Angela
Focus Infomatics
Stay away from Focus Infomatics! They expect YOU to provide all of the necessary equipment and programs to do the job. They do not pay for training, and it is very poor training as well. I spent $600.00 getting MS Office, Shortcut, AAMT Book of Style, etc., as well as, ink jets to print all of the employment instructions. They drop you in the US the day you finish training, never contact you again, and hand you over to India. The account you train on is removed and they expect you to train again. Why?? Because they are very poorly managed. Meanwhile, weeks go by with the anticipation of working. In my case, the job never came through because of poor communication from India and the techs screwed up my computer. Don't waste your time. They also hired me at 8 cpl (in the event I actually ever ended up working) and expected me to login as an Editor at 4 CPL. What a joke. Not only that, all of my personal information is now the hands of God know who. Not a good experience at all. If they keep this up, there won't be a Focus Infomatics in the future at all. Good luck to all of you. An older MT who knows.
Focus Infomatics
I am always shocked when I read these posts because I have worked for Focus for over 1 year and they have been nothing but courteous to me. I started as a newbie and the training has been ongoing with feedback on QA scores and I have at least 5 accounts under my belt now. I will say that they have a lot of ESL docs and I hate only getting 4 cpl for editng, since editing is around 80% of the jobs. There is one account that I do on 3rd shift that is mostly typing and then my rate goes from 8 cpl to 10 cpl. I can also work whenever I want 24/7, anytime I choose and there is always work available. It was not like this initially, since I was a newbie and could only do clinics at first. I just hung in there and still trying to increase production, but I love my job. I do work for another company, American owned , but they do not have much work available on the account I was hired for right now. There are always peaks and valleys in this business, so I think it is best to work for 2 companies. I think I am very lucky to have 2 that I am happy with, and Focus has been there for me and given my great guidance. My QA scores are consistently above 98%. They even called me that day I hit my 1 year mark to congratulate me! I do admit that I am still working on understanding the Indian accent though.
Anyway, I wish you well in finding the company that works best for you.
focus infomatics
is this a good company to work for? i've checked out their website, but as a newbie, how do i know if it's good or not?
Focus Infomatics
Hello,
I'm looking for anyone working for Focus Infomatics. I have read several bad things on the forum about them. But that is true of almost any company. Maria called today and said I have passed the testing and in two weeks or so I will begin the internship for a few weeks. After that I will be sent back to her for clients. I am a new MT. This is the reason for having a mentor. Is this how it works? Just want to make sure. And is the pay and amount of work really that bad? Anything you can tell me about them would be great.
Focus Infomatics
Focus Infomatics no longer hires newbies. I just applied with them a few days ago and received an e-mail stating that I needed at least 2 years experience. If anyone has any other info, would really appreciate it.
Have you tested with Focus Infomatics?
If you pass their test, they will hire you. Even if you don't pass, if you come close they will hire you in a mentor program for a few weeks, pay you 1/2 pay, and then pay you full pay as soon as you can achieve 98% accuracy.
Information on Focus Infomatics
Does anyone have any information on Focus Infomatics in Boston, MA? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.
stay away from focus infomatics (sm)
there are many many posts about focus infomatics on this board. it is not a positive experience.
I believe she means Focus Infomatics - NM
NM
I meant better thatn Focus Infomatics and MQ?
Sorry for the typo.
employment
I am a recent grad and looking for work. Every place I apply wants at least 1 year experience (catch-22. Can anyone tell me who hires recent grads--I'm very flexible.
Employment
Hi, I was curious if you had an open position available for a new MT. I have been doing transcription for 6 months now and feel that I am ready to get more work. Please contact me if you have any further questions. I can get you a recommendation if needed.
Thanks so much
Jenifer
Employment Help
This is my first post. I not only am a recent graduate, but also live where I do not have cable or DSL available. Does anyone have any suggestions of companies that I could contact that do not require this? I have satellite available. Thanks for any suggestions.
Employment for New Grads
I am a recent grad. I graduated with a GPA of an A.
Is there any company that hires new grads?
So far, I have not found any.
Thank you.
employment for new grads
AMEN! While I am not a recruiter, I have run into that 2-year thing. I also agree with you about what CS consider 'experience'. Thanks for stating it!
New graduate looking for employment.
Hi,
I am a new graduate that is having a difficult time finding companies that are hiring new MTs. I have put in numerous resumes with "not enough experience" replies. Does anyone have suggestions on companies that are willing to give new MTs a chance.
Outlook for MT employment
Curious what the Board of Labor Statistics has to say about MT outlook and employment projection? According to their website:
"Contracting out transcription work overseas and advancements in speech recognition technology are not expected to significantly reduce the need for well-trained medical transcriptionists. Outsourcing transcription work abroad—to countries such as India, Pakistan, Philippines, and the Caribbean—has grown more popular as transmitting confidential health information over the Internet has become more secure; however, the demand for overseas transcription services is expected only to supplement the demand for well-trained domestic medical transcriptionists. In addition, reports transcribed by overseas medical transcription services usually require editing for accuracy by domestic medical transcriptionists before they meet domestic quality standards. Speech-recognition technology allows physicians and other health professionals to dictate medical reports to a computer that immediately creates an electronic document. In spite of the advances in this technology, the software has been slow to grasp and analyze the human voice and the English language, and the medical vernacular with all its diversity. As a result, there will continue to be a need for skilled medical transcriptionists to identify and appropriately edit the inevitable errors created by speech recognition systems, and to create a final document."
Seeking employment
Hi. I am a new MT graduate, but not new to the medical field as I am a nurse and have worked at the hospital for 3 years now. I have been applying, but do not yet have a job. I went to a community college program and I am hoping that will help me. If anyone has any suggestions or if anyone has a name of a company that may be willing to hire a new MT grad with previous med experience please let me know. Thanks so much
Self-employment taxes...sm
If you are self-employed, you must pay your taxes quarterly, regardless of other income in the family. You are responsible for the federal income tax as well as state tax. You can go online and pull off a state estimated tax form(voucher) and same for federal taxes (1040-ES/V) form. Both are due quarterly. Once you get going, it won't seem so foreign to you.
Maybe the OP should consider another field of employment. NM
x
testing for employment
Previous post said, if you test for a national and fail they make you wait 6 months before testing again.
Which national companies offer employment based on pre-employment testing results? ???
One reason I wanted to get into MT is that you get paid for exactly what and how much you DO and I hoped that my skills would speak for themselves when I tested for a position. But if every company wants to know what school you graduated from and how many years of experience you have, then I might as well have a liberal arts degree.
For those of us new, all this "3 years", "5 years" experience stuff is going to leave us dead in the water if we don't get an in somewhere.
Thanks for any reply.
Internship or possible employment
I have completed a transcription course recently with a school that did not offer internship. I have tested with VARIOUS companies even though I do not have the required experience. I was a CPC certified coder but let my certification lapse because employers informed me without experience, I would be too great of a risk to their company. I know I can perform the duties of a Transcriptionist but have not been given the opportunity to prove myself. If ANYONE could PLEASE PLEASE help me with this delima, I would be ever greatful.
Employment tests
Most services want to see 98%, or at the least 97%, on an employment test. Anything less than that is "failing" in their eyes.
Think about it from their perspective. If their clients expect 98% accuracy, you need to be able to produce 98% accuracy. If you can't do that while being tested, which they assume is your best effort, you're not likely to do it on the job later.
Not saying this is a great thing or not, just that it's what they may think.
Finding Employment
H. Just keep trying. You will eventually find something. Are you only willing to work from home, or is outside the home an option?
As far as from the home, there are several companies who may give you a chance if you pass their test. Some of the criteria for some of them may say "3 years + acute experience" or something like that, and that may be so. However, some at-home jobs may say that on their criteria but may still give you a chance. Just keep sending in your resumes and testing with reputable sites. It may take a while -- maybe even a few months -- but you will eventually find something. Good luck!! :)
Home employment
I was wondering if anyoen might have some tips. I realize that looking to work from home soon after completeting an MT course will either take a very long time opr not at all. Just thought some of you seasoned MT's would have some advice. If not, I understand. Thank you.
Employment after home study
I was wondering about the same thing. Who would hire you after home study, and who will hire with only one year experience; or no experience outside the home. I have a little hospital experience, but years ago.
Employment dilemma!!! Experienced MTs,
Hello everyone. I am a newbie. Not long ago I posted about having three job opportunities and how happy and fortunate I felt. I turned one down because the pay was excrutiatingly low--even for a newbie! The other was occasional part-time work for a day or two every month or so. I accepted that. Then I accepted a part-time IC position, which is what I really wanted.
Everything seemed fine--I was so happy. I took three different tests with this company (which I passed with high marks), an online interview, and a telephone interview. I went through two training sessions on the company software. And I signed all my contracts. Now....I have heard NOTHING from them. No letter. No introduction to my editor. No acknowledgement whatsoever. I've emailed them assuring my eagerness to work with them. But I've gotten silence. It has only been a few days, but still, doesn't it seem strange? In any other job I've had (all non-MT related), when I was hired, it was definite.
What should I do? Should I email them again? Should I send a letter via snail mail? Should I call? I hesitate to do that because it's a fairly large company and I don't even know if the receptionist will know who I am, since I never actually started working for the company!
I can't tell you how excited I was about this. I felt like I really "hit it off" with the company, if you know what I mean. I've begun testing for other companies again, just in case. I feel badly about it. If I get another offer before I hear from them (IF I hear from them), I'll most likely take it.
From reading this board, I've heard about "overhiring." Do you think I'm a victim of that? Folks, what would you do in my position? Thanks ever so much for any help anyone can give me!
flunked my 1st employment exam
I just took my first employment exam ever with Transolutions. I really wanted that job because it seemed like the best company that still takes dialup. I live near the edge of nowhere and we don't get DSL. You have to have a 96 to pass the test, and I got a 93.9%. I am so bummed. Anybody else ever flunk one of these? Any tips on how to improve? Any job leads?
Where can I gain PT employment from home?
Hi all,
My name is Jenn. I'm new to this message board. I just completed an MT course (awaiting the results of my final which I'm confident I did well on). I have a 97% GPA. I'm looking to get my foot in the door in a PT position. I have a two-year-old daughter, so I chose this profession to stay home with her and to have flexibility when she gets into school. Although working for a service and an individual doctor both have their ups and downs, I'm leaning toward working for a service for the flexibility aspect of it. I know I will likely make less money this way. I am not coming into this with the mindset that I'm going to make $25/hr or anything, just want to make a decent wage while staying home with my daughter. Thanks in advance for your response!
Jenn
Advice for finding employment?
I'm fairly new to this board, so I hope that I have posted this in the right place. I have recently finished a MT course and am looking for PT employment from home. I am completely overwhelmed by the number of companies when doing job searches. I was hoping perhaps somebody could offer some personal words of wisdom based on their experiences? I want to get in the door with a reputable company who is willing to take on a recent grad. Any advice? Thanks!
New grad finding employment
I am currently applying for transcription jobs as I just finished school. Some companies ask questions as part of their application process. I have trouble with these types of questions: How many lines per day can you reliably type? What do you charge per 65-character line? Being a new grad I have no idea what to answer for these.
Spheris employment question
I've been interested in Spheris for a while and just did a search here. What interests me most is that they seem to be favorable to hiring newbies, of which I still am at one year. The only negative thing I saw was about offshoring. Was there anything else really bad? I'd like to know if they habitually run out of work for MTs, if they keep shuffling around around accounts or give you stable accounts, QA and I guess the general working atmosphere. I know they consistently advertise, do they over hire or do they really have all that work? Is there anybody here working for them that can tell me those things? The nice things about this company really do seem to be nice and encouraging. Thanks to anyone who answers.
Sorry, meant pre-employment MT tests.
nm
I find it fishy that someone would contact you for employment instead of the other way around.
nm
Unfortunately they have a very poor record of grads finding employment.
Many companies will waive their 2-years' experience requirement for Andrews or M-Tec grads, but they know the education at Penn Foster, AHP, and many others is just not good enough and they will not let grads of those schools even take their employment tests. I'm not saying you CAN'T get a job, just that it will unfortunately be much harder, as evidenced by the many, many people who have taken these courses and posted online that they can't get a job.
Employment tests are not easy, even for entry level.
They need to know what you know. Sometimes the things you blank are just as important as the things you get right.
focus
I guess everone's experience must be different. I recently started with Focus and have received nothing but exceptional treatment.
FOCUS
I jus quit Focus....they do not speak English, can not type English, are no help, you do not get paid what they will tell you!!! I worked 60 hours for 2 weeks for a total of 120 hours and just got my paycheck of $106. Not even a dollar an hour. I ran out of work many times. They would tell you to do it one way one day, and a different way the next time. They are reallly good with insults! Please do yourself a favor and don't work for them!
Focus
I tend to disagree with the person who said stay away from Focus. A lot of the negative postings are older. I have been working for them for three months, and I have had few problems with them. Although, they may not be the ideal medical transcription job, they have allowed myself and many other newbies a chance to gain some experience. I cannot say the same for a lot of employers out there. Since working with Focus, it has enabled me to get my foot in the door with another company. I now work for Focus and another company. If it is a foot in the door you are looking for to get started, I would not automatically discount focus.
Focus
Experienced MTs won't work for 10 cent straight trans and 5 cents VR? Wonder if those experienced guys know WHERE their work comes from!!!!!
focus what?
What is the full name of this company? Thanks a bunch!
Focus
Meagan, I am glad to hear you enjoy working for Focus Infomatics. I will be starting their apprenticeship this month, and I am looking forward to getting started.
Focus
I started with them in March, and I am really enjoying working for them thus far. I have a great account manager! Actually, all of the people I have dealt with at Focus have been super nice. Good luck!
Focus
What exactly does lack of work mean? Are you struggling to have work sufficient enough to be considered part-time or do you have just 6 or so hours of work? I ask because I want to work full-time, but I don't want so much in the beginning to overwhelm me. Also, are you an IC? How does that work for you. I would need to work some in the morning and some at night. My husband works 2-11 p.m., and I have two small children. I really need to work around these hours, I just don't know if these is even considered by them. Right now I am waiting for the internship to begin. One more question, do you use a laptop and are able to travel while working? There is times this summer that I will have to be in a different location for a week or two at a time. I'm really nervous that once I get there, my equipment won't fully work. Any help on any of these questions would be fully appreciated. I know it's alot, but I'm new to this world. All I have right now is questions and many of them. But thank you for your information and any other information that you can give. I really appreciate your time and effort!!!!
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