Good education DOES work. And there are more ways to get it than Three.
Posted By: A.S. on 2006-07-03
In Reply to: Good education works. sm - You're sending out a false message
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Education comes in other ways than only top 3 schools
I started my medical career as a paramedic and segued into MT (without any further formal training) so I could work while being on call. Though perhaps you might think I'm bumbling, perhaps you might not think so after I intubated and defibrillated your husband during his heart attack?
If you have a good MT education, work from home. Besides
There's not much help going on at hospitals and clinics these days. At least the national services have someone assigned to help you if you need help from home. I wish they had done that when I was just starting out years ago.
If you have already done the right thing and you have a good MT education, go for the work-at-home job. Good luck with your new career!
If you didn't get a good education, neither on site nor at-home jobs are going to make a difference. Just go get a good education and make things easier on yourself and your potenetial employers.
They are good in some ways and
not so hot in others. Basically, you will be learning independently at your own pace. You are encouraged to ask all the questions you want via phone, IM or email and they are answered quickly if not instantly. The problem with that as a new MT student is that you don't always know when you need to ask questions and since the only real test you take is the final, it might not be till then that you discover you were not quite on the right path. Their Jumpstart program will help you a lot if you do that, but that is just an option.
Also, they do give you an awful lot of varied transcription with keys to check your work, which is good. They certainly don't skimp there. The dictation you get is real world, some of it easy to understand, some of it tough. You will certainly develop an ear by the time you complete the course.
So, this is a good program for some, but not all. It may not be one of the top 3, but overall, it's not bad. Good luck to you in whatever you do.
Good education
I did have a good education! Did you? Andrews M-tech whatever..there are other schools out there that can provide good, solid training and I believe I received that! I wish you would stop judging, you have no idea what I can do! Check out the board a little more, there are some happy people out there .
Good education works. sm
The reason why most newbies can't get a job is because their education is lacking. The top 3 AAMT approved schools have a proven track record in producing employable graduates. Those are the facts and they'll never change. However, it's unfair for you to spread the false message that you're spreading of how education doesn't count. It does count and there's enough unemployed newbies on this website alone to prove it.
OR if you got a good education but test as poorly as some of my applicants
it won't matter if you go back to school (I'm assuming the posters mean to go to a REAL school, like ONE OF THE BIG THREE). If you got a decent MT education, and you aren't getting work, it may be either that you are not testing well or you haven't gjven it enough time. Another idea may be to ask an MT to test you and critique how your work is. That might give some insight. Or you could try to find an internship. Or you could ask an MTSO to exchange a sum of money for some on-the-job training. I mean, the possibilities are endless if you are willing to be creative.
You need a GOOD education to have the experience waived. Simple as that. NM
x
Put the money towards good education, not an unnecessary laptop.
It should tell you something that a school offers a "free" laptop to get students to sign up. List how many good things and how many bad things you have heard about Andrews and M-TEC. Then make the same list for Allied and TRS. There's your answer.
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.
there are all ways of looking at things
I'm going to respond to you, item by item –
>>>The seasoned MT's and recruiters are using this forum to vent on their frustration with the newer MT's.<<<
What I saw was one harshly worded message from MTSO. As a former business owner myself, I see where they are coming from. While I do not agree with the manner in which they expressed their views, I can look beyond their frustration and understand how they feel. Try to look beyond how MTSO expressed their views and focus more on what they were saying.
>>>This is just my opinion, but if you need to put others down to make yourself feel superior go to the site where the seasoned MT's are.<<<
Putting others down to make yourself feel superior is what kids do. And why are you using the term “seasoned MTs" when you speak of people with a lot of experience. You make us sound like a steak going on the grill.
>>>This site is for newer MT's that need advice and a place to talk to other new MT's. Seems inappropriate for the experienced MT's to jump on this site to talk about what makes them mad about the newer MT's.<<<
What MTO did is give you serious advice, and you need to seriously consider WHAT was said rather than HOW it was said. And if you want to speak of what’s inappropriate, I feel it is very inappropriate for someone trying to break into the industry to post messages on the Main Board asking for help with their test.
>>>Has it been that long that we cannot remember what it was like, or was it like this.
Every day of my life. And I was grandfathered for this job. I never went to school for it. If you had a good ear and good spelling skills, you received on-the-job training. I vividly remember my first day on the job ... I think I transcribe 250 lines in 8 hours. And the work was filled with blanks and errors. Now, I'm asked to do some dictators that more experienced MTs say they can’t do.
>>>I did not have to apply for a job with my computer. I actually got to speak face to face with someone hiring. Maybe if my lack of experience did not charm them, I could. I think it is harder to apply on paper than it was for us in person.
I agree with this. I do very well with face-to-face interviews. With respect to applying for a job over the Internet, it’s become “dog eat dog” so to speak. With so much being outsourced to foreign countries, there are thousands of MTs in this country who are fighting for the same jobs with the same companies. You’re no longer a person; now, you’re a white piece of paper with black ink on it. And that’s all you have to sell yourself beyond the competition.
<<<Let's lighten up a little bit ladies and play nice.<<<
Kill joy! 
I've put in what he says both ways
I would start again from the original and unless he was saying EXACTLY what he said before, which usually isn't the case, I start the paragraph afresh with the new stuff and mark for QA. I leave it up to the doctor to decide which version he wants.
Any good news about MT Work?
I am a current student. I did MT work for a small hospital years ago. Switched to coding--not a good "fit". I really want to get back into MT work. I loved it! I hear so much negativity on the forums. Anyone have anything encouraging or positive? I would love any feedback from you veterans out there!javascript:editor_insertHTML('text','');
You should use them. You'd be using them in your work day, wouldn't ya? Good luck. nm
s
US Transcription, good or bad company to work for?
Anyone got any information about working for US Transcription? Good or bad information would be great.
Thanks.
Not a good idea to lie about work experience -
Chances are there is a reason they do not want someone with less. More than likely it will be obvious to who hires you that something is amiss. Never a good idea to lie about these things because you more than likely will be found out! Good luck to you. :-)
There are way too many inferior MTs - good ones will always be able to find work!
nm
How about Medquist? is it a good company to work for?
I recently received a reply from an application I filled out for Medquist and was wondering exactly how they operated and what to expect if it turned out to be promising. Do any of the companies provide all of the equipment? My MT instructor said that there were companies that did provide everything from computers to software and the hardware, too. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...I'm willing to do just about anything to get my foot in the door somewhere.
Any good internet based companys to work for at all?
hello everyone,
I am a newbie...after reading these boards, I am left with the question... are there any good internet based trascription companies to work for?
and, if not, who is the lesser of the evils? i know each company has good and bad aspects, but does anyone work for or know of a company that they are happy with?
...or do i need to look for MT jobs in house?
There is plenty of work, I agree. Grads from good schools
A number of good compaies do 100% QA and feedback on a noob's work
But they also tend to hire new grads from good programs that can get up to speed in a reasonable amount of time and that know when to ask questions.
Unless you can work in-house somewhere, I feel the at-home MT who can make good money is a
s
Work for a small local and do PT for the nationals when I find a good one to stick with...sigh...nm
s
With an M-Tec education,
you will have no trouble getting a job and KEEPING the job once you get it. With AHP, you will struggle to find anyone willing even to let you test for a job, and it is unlikely that you will be able to pass even an employment test let along succeed at any MT job. Get your money back from AHP and spend it on M-Tec. Choosing a school just because it is cheap is a poor decision. Choose a school that provides a QUALITY education that will get you a job. M-Tec will do that. A cheap "education" is a waste of your money. You will quickly make up any difference in the cost between AHP and M-Tec by being able to get a job right away. All the months and months and months you will search for a job with an AHP education is money you would have been making with an M-Tec education. Go for cheap and you will pay for it for a long time.
MT education
I've had four people approach me in the past few months wanting to get into MT to work at home. One went so far as to take an employment test and couldn't understand why she didn't pass. When I told them it was really necessary to get some schooling, i.e. Andrews, etc., not one of them pursued it. There are a lot of people out there that think this job is a piece of cake.
You really need some education in
and punctuation. General English rules. The terminology is one thing, but you also have to know how to accurately transcribe the document. You also should have HIPPA training, pharmacology and other things. This is just my opinion. You may be able to get hired somewhere with what experience you have, but I think you would be very frustrated. Especially if you have never actually listened and tried to transcribe dictated reports. Doctors can be very hard to understand and a good school will have live dictation for you to practice with to get some experience before getting out there and trying to do it for real.
Education
Does anyone have any information whether good or bad on Gatlin Education Programs. I am thinking of registering for their online MT courses and want to make sure it is a good decision. I appreciate any information.
Thanks
Education
I am a recent graduate of a 2 year college. I received my Associate Degree in Medical Transcription (Health Science) and did an externship within my schooling. I am so fearful of not finding a career now that I am out here sending resumes. I keep seeing the "need 2+ experience" listed for qualifications. I just spent over $30,000 and a huge amount of time in being sure that I was getting the top grades. The idea of going back to school really breaks me. I am so eager, passionate, and willing to work hard.
While I understand that as a newbie I will not be paid as high of a rate as the seasoned MTs, I would not work for this low of a wage. My education and knowledge stands for something. I know in dollar amount, it is costing me way more than 3 cents a line.
If anyone has any suggestions, other than go back to school, I am more than willing to listen. It is not that I oppose more education, because that is actually the quite opposite. Medicine will continue to evolve and we will all need to stay current through education.
Continuing Education?
I have been working as an MT for a few months now and received my education through a local technical school that only provided the basics. I work on very easy accounts with no ESLs. I am concerned about not having the proper knowledge and skills should I have to change companies in the future. I have been looking into further education through M-Tec and Career Step. I am noticing a significant price difference in the tuition for both schools. Is one better than the other? Or is graduating from Career Step just as good as M-tec. Another question I have from anybody who has graduated from these schools is how many hours approximately do you need to put in to graduate within the allotted time? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
continuing education
I have a question and need some advice: I took one of those cheesy 5-month courses for little money and was basically blessed to get a job with a local company. I have been working for 6 months now and LOVE my job. Although, I do not feel as though I have enough education to be the best MT I can possibly be. I also feel limited in my work as I was put into one particular field and I am fearful that if I ever should switch companies I would not be able to pass their tests. I am considering going to Career Step or Andrews School. I want to do this while working full time. Are these schools self-paced or do you have to put in a certain amount of time during each week? Any information from graduates of these schools or tips would be greatly appreciated!
Do you have any education MT-wise? . . .
It you have some MT schooling, you have a better chance. However, if you simply think you can work as an MT because you type well, that's a different story. There is so much more to medical transcription than just typing (transcribing). You need to know medical terminology, formating and more.
I started my education
at a community college and finished at PCDI, and the materials were identical, so I can't say either way is better, but the best help I got was once I started working, and the training on the job. I think PCDI teaches the basics, and if I were you, I'd shoot for an in-house position to start with to have some help. All of PCDI's tapes were incomparable to what you really get. If I had a doctor speaking like that, I'd be making millions :) Good luck!
The difference in education might
Have you compared how many hours of transcription training you had in college/school with Andrews and M-TEC? Were your instructors CMTs with many years of experience? Did your curriculum include anatomy, diseases, pharmacology? I assume it included medical terminology. Maybe if people were to compare the curriculums (or if you prefer, curricula) they would understand why M-Tec and Andrews have such a good reputation. When you graduate from those top two schools, you are very well prepared to work, and that is what many companies have come to realize.
Right now is a difficult time to find employment because many companies are running low on work due to the holidays. Have you inquired about internships locally? Doesn't your college/school offer any help with finding a job?
Was your goal always to be an MT? If so, why obtain an associate degree? If you have come to realize that you want to be an MT, then maybe you would be better off investing into Andrews or M-TEC.
Have you passed any tests/all tests? Many companies have a direct link on their websites for the testing. I would assume if you aced a test they would be willing to talk to you. How many resumes have you sent out? I believe it will be harder for you to get your foot in the door somewhere, but if you really want this, you will find a way.
Good luck!
You got a job, but still have less of an education than if at M-TEC or Andrews.
I know because I also graduated from CS. I have seen the materials that M-Tec and Andrews use for teaching, a lot different (and better) than the homemade books written by Andrea Anaya from CS. No "automatic grader/comparter" either
Wrong, you CAN get a job with education.
You CAN get a job with just an MT education, if the education prepared you well enough. I know slews of MTs who did this. Certification in MT isn't necessary, either.
You CAN get a job with just coding education, but certifications help. I did it. I know someone who just a few months ago got a really nice inpatient coding job with no experience at all. She completed school, got 2 certifications, and was hired after testing successfully with a hospital.
In fact, I work with about 15 coders who got their jobs straight out of school with no experience.
If you are well-prepared and are able to present yourself appropriately, you CAN get a job straight out of school.
MT Education and Training
I am in the process of attending Allied Business Schools and have found that their programs are challenging, but yet easy enough that somebody who has no clue about medicine can do them.
http://www.alliedschools.com
BTW---I earn nothing from this, just giving what I have experienced.
Anne
No, not really. Experience in the field - but not just more education.
x
I think PIE stands for Partner in Education SM
Medquist used to have a program with several MT training programs listed as their Partners in Education (PIE). They would hire people who graduated from the MT programs on their list without requiring work experience (they still had to pass the test). I'm not sure if they still have this program or not.
They're not recommended for MT education. Go elsewhere. nm
n
Your situation may allow you to test without further education
Contact the employers and see if they will let you test. It can't hurt to try. You have some good experience. I doubt that you need a complete course.
Ten thousand dollars? On an MT education?
What in the world? What company?
What type of education did you get? What did you study?
??
Gatlin Education Services
Has anyone taken the MT course from Gatlin Education Services? I don't see much about it on this board and was just curious about everyone's opinion.
It has to do with the education you received and what your skills are.
If you paid for a crappy course and didn't learn half of what you need to know, why should a company let you prove what little you did learn? They know which schools provide GOOD training and which do not. You also need grammar help, it's "should have" not "should of," if you don't know simple English grammar why should anyone trust your medical terminology skills?
Also, coding education/certification will not get SM
you a transcription job at all.
You can't beat Andrews or MTEC for an education. NM
x
So you got excellent "secretarial" but not transcription education
There's a big difference. If you want to do transcription, you don't want a secretarial or technical course. You want an expert instructor teaching you to transcribe the way employers want it done.
Unfortunately, many people have to go to local schools because they are "accredited" for financial assistance. That's great, but if they don't teach you want you need to know, I don't think it's worth the time and effort you put into it, regardless of how cheap it is.
Get a solid education and doors will open
Many companies waive the 2-year experience requirement for testing if you attend M-Tec or Andrews. Their schools consistently produce grads who are ready to hit the ground running. I hire those grads every chance I get. I have found those with "local community college" education sorely lacking in even the basics to be a success.
Continuing education is required to do this job, you must know terms as well as the providers do.
Either one will prepare you equally well (& give you the best education of any MT school).
Call each school and speak with Linda (Andrews) and Susan or Kathy (M-TEC), and then go with your gut as to which one you feel most comfortable. You can't go wrong with either of them.
I don't know about the footpedal issue, but M-Tec does teach expanders.
Yes! Let's encourage lack of education and bumbling into jobs
That should be our goal. Talk people out of education. Years ago most people did exactly what the poster described. In fact, there were few schools and the ones that did exist were pretty much useless. They still exist, but they have bad reputations. Why you would think that one person's success story is a slam against schools that give a solid education? That's a rhetorical question. I don't think I want to know. I think I already have a good idea. As someone said, it's jealousy.
Education and Internship at a Medical Transcription Company
I live in Austin, TX. A local medical transcription company has their own in-house training and internship. They started their own training because they couldn't find qualified people for their workload. The cost of the education and internship is $2,000. They then hire you as a contractor, if you get a 'B' in the class. Although they cannot guarantee work, they say they are very busy handling work from 5 area hospitals. Someone my sister knows works for them full-time and is happy.
I've also looked at the job requirements for the company Medquist. One suggestion they have is learning at a school based in Utah, Career Step. The education is online and through cassettes and books, not at the school itself. Their education costs around $1,500. Although you're not guaranteed a job at Medquist, you most likely will be considered because you trained at CareerStep.
I'd like your opinion about this. It seems you need to take a training or education course to learn medical transcription and at least 1 year of experience to get a job. I didn't see any problem with paying for training. Do you?
Thanks, amelia
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