Helping a friend
Posted By: Friendly Soul on 2007-09-23
In Reply to:
Hello,
I'm trying to help a friend who started a P/T medical transcribing job from home. She's been getting rather frustrated of late because she can't seem to get her quality scored up. She has been isolated from anyone within her company with the exception of her QA people that she turns the reports into. She says she spends a massive amount of time proofreading her reports and correcting any mistakes she makes. The issue is that the QA people always seem to find new mistakes to ding her for.
Does anyone have any useful advice they could give her? Is this sort of growing pains period standard for the industry? Part of the problem is they only gave her a limited reference guide to use for proofreading. Is there any way to get more comprehensive guides? Lastly, what is the best way to find out a company's reputation? I would prefer to find out that sort of information without potentially getting her in trouble.
Thank you for any assistance. It is greatly appreciated.
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Helping new MTs
I really want to help the new MTs. I have been thinking about this for months. I have some more questions:
1. What equipment would a new grads have? I assume it varies by school. Would a new grad be in a position to purchase equipment?
2. Would a new grad be willing to do a 2-week trial at no pay to see if we work well together? If there is no "chemistry" the process would be torture for both of us.
3. Would a new grad be willing to work on a graduated pay scale, starting at a low rate and working up to .08? Experienced MTs should be paid more than new grads, IMHO.
4. Would a new grad be willing to enter a 2-year contract, protecting the MTSO and providing the new grad with the necessary experience to get a "real" job?
5. How much work would a new grad expect to produce in a day's time?
These are the things that have been swirling in my brain. I think there is a real possibility of working through these issues. Please post your comments. I haven't forgotten about the people I have been in contact with; I just want to work out as many bugs as possible before starting on such a big project.
helping new MT's
Has anyone heard of the medical transcription apprenticeship program? It is through AHDI and I know everyone knows who AHDI is. The program is currently having some bugs worked out but if newbies contact AHDI they will put you in contact with the right person who will give you all of the details as to how to participate and the necessary qualifications. You can contact me if you wish also. I will be completing my course soon, taking the RMT soon and completing a application to participate in the program.
Helping new MTs
I agree with Andrea. I live in a rural area and there is not a lot to choose from locally. I am looking for someone who can help me get the experience I need.
Your school should be helping you!
with job placement. All the best MT schools do. The first place you should go for help finding your first job is the place that trained you. They should know what employers are eager to hire their graduates. They should also have tailored their course to the needs of local employers. Otherwise, why would they think anyone would choose a local course instead of one of the other MT training options? Check with the placement office at your school. Be persistent. They trained you. They should have some idea where the skills they taught you will get you a job. Your instructors should also be able to provide guidance in job seeking. They know what was covered by the course and how you performed. They should also know where the skills they taught you are in demand. Best of luck to you.
Helping new MTs.....I admire your kahonas - sm
1. What equipment would a new grads have? I assume it varies by school. Would a new grad be in a position to purchase equipment?
------------Depends on the newbie of course, right out of school (2002)I bought my footpedal (9-pin), Stedman's Spellchecker, Gearplayer (which bites, get Bytescribe, or go free with Express Scribe), Shorthand, I think that is it. I also bought a few Stedman's books (3). I was doing acute care but started on PT work there, and did some clinic work (GI) as well. I had headphones, tape player/footpedal, MS Word, a FTP program and my computer of course but that was about it.
2. Would a new grad be willing to do a 2-week trial at no pay to see if we work well together? If there is no "chemistry" the process would be torture for both of us.
---------I would have at that time, but I was lucky to find a job in six weeks at .06 cpl, but you coud manipulate that by holding your work and sending it all in at once and if it was over their "hourly" requirments you could bounce that up to .085 which I did once I caught on to it, of course I was not the only one doing that, after a year they figured it out and changed the pay scale knocking me down to .07 in that move. But I really think a newbie should be paid something, kind of discouraging working for nothing. I'd say start at .04 at the lowest.
3. Would a new grad be willing to work on a graduated pay scale, starting at a low rate and working up to .08? Experienced MTs should be paid more than new grads, IMHO.
------see above.
4. Would a new grad be willing to enter a 2-year contract, protecting the MTSO and providing the new grad with the necessary experience to get a "real" job?
Two years of agreeing to work for you, hmmm, in theory that is what all MTs would want their magical 2 years experience that opens more doors. I think that is a big demand to make, it would have to have an easy out though that does not penalized the MT like by holding their last pay if they don't work for you for two years. As long as they give you the required notice be it 2 or 4 weeks they shoudl be allowed to quit when they want, same with you with firing/letting them go.
5. How much work would a new grad expect to produce in a day's time?
---my first IC job required 500 lines a day. I think they gave your one or two pay periods to get up to that. I was doing pretty easy work though (physical therapy) which helped me get their pretty quickly. I did anywhere from 500-1000 lines a day there for a while and eventually moved onto other specialities and still kept up that pace. It is a lot hard to do 500 lines a day in acute care when you have never done it before save practice work/schooling, and have all ESL. I would think that would take at least three months. --probably start them out at 200 lines a day and move them up to 500 lines a day in the course of 2 to 4 weeks.
--------Good luck!
friend
I would post the company's name here. Alot of us MT have been around and can let you know about the company. There is no need to give her name or yours for that matter just say "hey anyone know anything about this company."
Mentor/MT friend
Hi, that is a good idea about a Mentor. I have been transcribing for about a year and have been where you are. I can help, I think. No, I am not a 20-year-vet, but I work very hard on the quality of my work. I would love to talk to you. You can e-mail me privately if you want. I am at home all the time, because I stay at home with my babies and only work in the evening and weekends. I have a wonderful mentor and feel everyone deserves someone to help them out a little bit. Good luck and hope to hear from you. 
Mentor/MT friend
I wanted to add something, Sometimes it helps to have someone to call if you just cannot figure something out. I have someone and you should too. I feel very strongly about having someone to talk to about this job. It can be very isolating, working at home and I was getting upset that I had no one to call or bounce stuff off of. Since I had a mentor/friend, my production has gone from 50 lines an hour to consistently 150-200 lines an hour. She tought me how to use my ShortHand efficiently and helped me with my resume and how to use my books and online tools quickly and efficiently. I was not the best student, but went to a very good school. Later.
Friend interested in MT
I have a friend interested in getting into MT. Does anyone have any info on a good school, good advice, etc. She is in the Ohio area. I have been with MQ for 10 years, so I'm not up to date on the training aspect. Any info would be helpful. Thanks!
Thanks! will definitely pass these ideas along to my friend -- nm.
nm
Well, it's the only software my friend was asked to buy!
Do you have an answer for that?
I have a friend who did Career Step (sm)
She is a very motivated, studious person - even teaching herself to speak fluent Spanish. Even so, Career Step was a challenge because there isn't a lot of feedback.
I have met MTs who took MTEC and Andrews and had a lot of interaction with the course instructors and support. They also have come out of the courses with a pretty good understanding of the MT working world which is always going to have surprises compared to schooling.
Perhaps this helps in deciding which school might be best for you.
PS. I learned through training on site at a clinic. I am a big fan of getting lots of support from skilled MTs. I'm not sure I would have stuck it out with a course like Career Step.
Have a friend who is a recent graduate for MT, does anyone know of a company who hires with less
than one year's experience or has a mentoring program? TIA!
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