First of all, there are so many variables...work type, formatting, platform, etc. SM
Posted By: MT415 on 2007-12-26
In Reply to: Low MT pay v. those who make $40k+ - SoonToBeMT
It is possible to make that kind of money, but I would not expect that for a long, long time. Making money depends macros, focus, work type, pay for lph, not having to look things up (for me its drugs), stuff like that, but most of all be persistent. I have never made $40,000, but I know people who do.
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It depends on what type of work (sm)
you intend to do. I would personally choose Multispecialty. You will learn the most there as far as variety and that will be a good base for you moving forward. Radiology is also good, but if you go that route you will limit yourself in terms of what jobs you can apply for. So, it might possibly be easier now for testing purposes, but it could cost you later on. 
there are so many variables
It depends on the accounts, where you live, the difficulty of your accounts. Once you get more experienced you will find more opportunities. I wouldn't necessarily listen to all the negatives being said here.
There are many variables (sm)...
In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, I would say you might be able to make $1,350-$1,450 per month before taxes to start, but I think that is a high estimate. I calculated 1,200 lines per day (which I think it is a lot for someone new to MT) and multiplied that by 6 CPL, which is, I think, average for a newbie (maybe a little higher, maybe a little lower). Having said that, you may find it hard to reach 1,200 lines daily. There are many who have been transcribing for years who are struggling to reach that. It also depends on the account and how the company counts lines. I would say 800-1,000 lines daily is more realistic. Let's see what some newer MTs have to say.
Formatting Questions?
I am looking into becoming a MT, can anyone tell if there are any other references or templates available for formatting a medical transcription document or is formatting info only outlined in the AAMT Book of Style? Also, are there different formats for different reports?
...or maybe even a 3rd if the different formatting doesn't
s
Too many variables involved to answer
that question. You shouldn't compare anyway.
Do you use a platform..
or are you working in word? Abacus is great for making invoices.
I don't know; my platform does
all that stuff on the back-end so I just leave it. Never heard that the documents went through as gray, and I changed the color in the beginning of this year. Hope it helps. 
It is their platform.
It is a platform. It can be a very good one
depending on the account.
Platform question
I am about to begin work with a new company and I am not quite sure what the platform is because we haven't gone over that yet, but I am just wondering if all platforms run with Microsoft Word. I just got the Stedman's SmartType and I am gonna be bummed if I can't use it. But generally, do most platforms use MS word?
Anyone familiar with beyond text platform?
I am job hunting and an account that is available is using beyond text platform. Can anyone tell me what this is before I get in to deep.
EMDAT is a transcription platform
You will receive, edit and/or transcribe your reports in that system. You will also need a foot pedal that works with it that costs about $90-100.00 from Start-Stop (it has to be wired for that platform). You may be able to get it elsewhere for less. I hope that is helpful
Can't forget the AAMT Book of Style II! Gotta have it for style/formatting, etc. nm
s
that is rude of you to type that.
I'm sure that is why you did not post a screen name. Worried people may start screening your typos too.
If you don't absolutely know it, don't type it.
Blank it. Don't just type what you hear. Know what you are typing.
average MT can type 200 LPH...but...nm
With these new online programs, post DOS programs where we really cleaned up, that has dropped for some to between 130-175 LPH....A great MT should be able (pre online programs I do believe, my opinion only) to type nearly 2000 lines in an 8-hour period or 10-hour period. If I could do that on DOS programs, anyone could, and privately I still work on a faithful DOS program and for 10 years.
Decades of typing pre MT work helped and then 25 years of doing MT work is what makes some of us pros.
Go to rxlist.com and type in what
it sounds like to you. They will have a list come up with any drugs that s/l what you typed in and it lists what they are for and generic names if appropriate. If you can't hear but the ending of a drug - for example "illin" is all you can make out type in *illin and it will list all drugs with that ending and maybe you can figure out the rest that way. If ever in question never guess on meds.
A lot of times new drugs may not be on rxlist, in which case you have to google, but be sure you have a reliable source as there is a lot of garbage and misinformation on google.
I have Quick Look on my computer and it is very helpful. There are so many drugs, some you will have frequently and some that you may have once a year or so, and then new drugs are added all the time.
You'll get better with practice, but you'll have to do a lot of looking up in the meantime.
When I go to the drugstore I walk up and down the aisles and look at products on the shelf. At the pharmacy if I am able to see meds from the counter I look at the names. New meds usually have ads in magazines and on TV and I make notes about them.
Check out the All Type ad
They may consider you.
diabetes mellitus (cap or not?) type 2.
Is the word "type" capped?
thanks
type 2 is correct, no caps
x
What type of education did you get? What did you study?
??
Please don't type in all caps, it comes across as yelling. (SM)
You might get more responses if you downplay the tone a bit by that one simple change.
Goldbird
Their website looks like a school of some type. sm
Were you offered a job, or are they trying to sell you a training course in MT? If the latter, I wouldn't take it. I don't see anything on their website about hiring transcriptionists.
I'm like you, type, then go back and relisten. I used to just
read but kept falling asleep. I just turn the speed up several notches and relisten and it isn't so bad. I actually am sometimes able to get a blank with the speed up that I couldn't when I played it several times at regular speed.
what type of reports are you typing?
I do alot of psyche and some of my reports range from 150-450 lines per report. So when you look at it like that it is not bad. On the other had if you are doing radiology that would be totally different. Again some of mines average from 15-30 lines. That is with a 65 character line.
Freedom Type? Information?
Does anybody know anything about Freedom Type? Is it a good place to work, pay well, give newbies a chance, etc.? Let me know. Thanks.
Type, obviously, not taype, but at least it's just a TYPO. nm
x
no the word type after diabetes mellitus....nm
/
A specialty usually refers to the type of dictation
For example, cardiology, neurology, GI, hem/onc..... I have seen where some MTs just transcribe ER or just OPs, so I guess that application you filled out is strictly acute care and are looking for actually your preference amongst those particular choices.
It depends on what type of General Transcription
Focus groups can be hard because there are multiple speakers, speakings talking over one another, background noise, etc. Some is just one person speaking which can be very easy. I once did a motivational speaker. The pay is usually by audio hour. The best thing I like about general transcription is that a lot of companies don't have production requirments. There are a couple companies that if they have work for you, they'll ask you if you can do it and if you can't that's fine. I guess it's whether you like that type of work better than MT. Also, when doing focus groups some are specialized and there's another whole type of terminology to learn which can be just has hard.
LMAO, thanks everyone for your comments, maybe we type too fast and are not looking at the screen,LO
Or maybe we just like to irritate the ol MT's with spelling mistakes. LOL
Easy or not will depend totally on the type of dictators
s
Short for waveform.....type of sound file.
xx
it is a type of internet connection faster than dialup but still uses a phone line
but you can use your phone and be online at the same time.
Just type what you hear. Lots of things are repeated in differnent notes.
s
Usually the type of software - eScription, ExText, ChartScript, Crescendo, Fusion,
s
I've seen awful work from "experienced MTs and good work from new graduates
I've seen awful work from "experienced MTs and good work from new graduates.
Training and education really does make a difference. Some people just have 15 or 20 years of very bad experience. They may be fortunate that one employer was willing to hire and keep them, but if that one closed, they would be in trouble. It all depends on the person. some new graduates are a better bet then some experienced MTs. I would prefer to find an experienced MT with great skills and a teachable attitude, but many experienced MTs know everything and are only willing to do things the way they've always done them.
most psych work is included in multispecialty hospital work..sm
contracted to a medical transcription service that requires multispecialty experience because of the hospital work. Unfortunately, very rarely can a medical Transcriptionist these days be given only one specialty when working for a service or hospital. We have to be well versed in multi specialties. The Turn Around Time on demands have increased, and thus the service or hospital gives the MT many different types of work. Learn as many specialties and gain as much experience in different specialties, which in turn will make you a more valuable MT and more apt to gain employment.
Just be sure not to pay for work. There is an MTSO below who apparently charges to work for them (sm
It might be tempting when you're getting desperate for work to pay someone so you can work for them, but don't do it. You can buy software and a foot pedal on your own, so don't let them fool you. If you are approached via e-mail from this site by an MTSO saying they have work for you, please read the posts below before making any decisions.
Can you share where you work that the work is plentiful? nm
s
If you currently type in word, then do a word count
then I really can be of no help. Usually when trying to get an idea of a line count with spaces and without spaces, you can use this method. Some people have actual line counting software. I, however, do not, so I am not much help in that regard. Hope this helps at least a little.
Work for MTs
I was hired before I even graduated or had begun job hunting by a large transcription company. It was the easiest job I have ever gotten. I was hired because I attended a top-notch school (M-TEC) and did well in the program. There are plenty of jobs for well trained MTs, even new ones.
Work through it
Type the report thorugh the first time. Look up any you are not sure of to gain understanding of the report. Listen again full through and fill in blanks. Then listen again to problem areas to pick out works. Never guess. Leave blanks where you are not sure. Any hard dictator takes time to learn and multiple listens to the voice file to complete it to the best of your ability.
FT work and PT Mt work...
can this be done or am I getting in over my head. FT in-house, not MT and PT MT at home.
Anyone else doing this?
looking for work
Hi,
I would suggest NOT going to companies.....try docs you know personally or that have their own practice. That is how i started, just walked in, gave them a business card and flyer and made a deal, that if they gave me a chance, i would reduce the cost for the first 30 days. i got my first doc that way five years ago and he has referred me to many and i am still with him in addition to two others he referred to me! It is wonderful.....set your own hours, no rush on anything. good luck!
Cindi
Not enough work
I am actually an employee and they do have set hours kind of. Technically they say set hours but I have 2 split days and was told at the beginning as long as you get hour 40 hours in. But also at the same time, the first 2 hours of my work day I have been getting mabye 10 dictations, but they still ask you to tell them if you are not going to be around at any of those times, and when you will make up those hours. It is just frustrating because everything was starting to click into place. Finally getting up to 1300 lines a day and making some good money!
Not enough work.
I have been working for about 1-1/2 years now in med trans, almost a year for this one company. Still pretty new at the lingo and how the business side of things run. But lately, there has not been enough work with the company and I am sitting around for hours getting only a few dictations downloading. Your are assigned an account and also a backup but I was just wondering if this slow time thing is normal? This has been going on now for 3 weeks, also kind of has been occurring every now and then since this summer. I am just wondering how long what the usual is and how long should I wait until starting to look for another job?
Thanks
maybe her son will go to work for her too. nm
:)
Here's what seems to work for me
I have a very active 16-month-old and there's no WAY I can work when she is awake. She needs my attention every minute at this age. She stays home with me fulltime. I get up at 7 am and spend the mornings with her till naptime (around noon till 2 or 3pm) and work when she is napping. I then work after she goes to bed at night, usually from 8ish to 11 or midnight. I still get about 6-7 hours of sleep a night and although I could use a little more, it's so worth it to have my sweetie home with me :) I'm lucky enough to have a 24-hr TAT with no set hours and this helps immensely too. I tried part-time set hours and that was a bust at this point in our lives.
I also have a mother's helper (a 14-yr-old neighborhood girl) who comes 3 afternoons a week for 2 hours to watch and play with my daughter so I can get a little extra work/catch up on housework time. I pay her $4/hr and she is thrilled to get it.
Where there's a will, there's a way! :)
work!!
I work for a local dermatology clinic. I applied like crazy to more than a few nationals and no one would hire me even though I was passing their tests. But I like the fact that I can still work at home the majority of my work day, I have to go into the office to pick up my tapes and print what I typed the previous day. I live close to the office so it's not like I'm breaking the bank driving into an office 15 to 20 miles away everyday, and my children don't have to spend 9 hours a day, 5 days a week in day care like they did when I had my office accounting job.
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