Here is my honest opinion. sm
Posted By: cookie on 2007-01-19
In Reply to: Disappointed Newbie - Lisa
I started MT in my mid 20s (over 20 years ago) Started working for family doctor in high school, went on to college for two years in health care administration (worked part time for college professors), married and had children right away. My first independence with my own doctor clients occurred when I had two toddlers at home. There was no possible way I could have been successful unless I hired child care during that period of time. I was spending a minimum of 8 hours per day typing. There were days when I would put in an additional 3 hours late at night when my children went to bed. My husband worked long hours, so depending on him to take over was not always possible. It is only my opinion that the dedication, concentration and ultimate success in this profession is not possible unless you get the help with your children. Unless part time supplemental income is your goal, full time pay and the intense experience needed to peform well long-term in this profession, reality is not always seen by those entering this profession as a means to stay home with your children.
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Honest question
Why is it that when an answer is already given to a post, someone else comes along and posts the exact same answer?
M-TEC not honest? Are you for real??
I have personally met Susan and Kathy several times, both in and out of school, as a student and a working grad. They never glossed over the reality of being a working MT, what is required to find and keep a job, the kind of money one can make. Ask them real questions and you will get real answers.
While they prepare you for the real working MT world, you DO have to do the work yourself and secure your own job testing, which I found was not a problem one bit because I applied myself in school and absorbed as much as I could. I was offered to test for too many places to list when I graduated and landed a job within days of graduation, which I have successfully kept and flourished in for more than 5 years. I have also made really good money and been very satisfied with my career choice.
I believe, as in most things, good communication is key. If someone has issues they really do need to take them up with the source and allow them to be addressed in an honest and open fashion.
honest question reply......
 Maybe they don't read all the posts b/c some of them can get pretty long. They are just trying to help, thats all. They don't mean any harm as far as I can tell. I don't think its anything to get anxious about though.
If you're going to be honest about it, you'd check nothing.
With just an education under your belt, whether it's At-Home or M-TEC, you have no working experience.
Looking for honest answers about the future of MT...
I am considering MT (again). I already do some transcription but have never trained for medical.
Many of the posts I've read on different forums are pretty discouraging about the future of this profession.
I am a relatively fast typist (80 wpm, 99% accuracy)and have a pretty good command of spelling and grammar. (I'm sure I could use some improvement.)
I would really like some flexible work from home. I have a child with special needs and don't want to go out to work in an office for ten hours a day.
What is the average pay? Is off shore and voice recognition going to make the profession obsolete in a few years? I hate to invest in training and have it be for nothing down the road. Though, I guess I could look into coding in the future! Maybe there will be more at home jobs in that field down the road.
Many thanks,
Mariah
Well-stated, completely honest (nm)
//
Yes, and these were people trying to make an HONEST living
nm
Be honest. Which of those "matchbook" schools do YOU work for?
Or are you afraid of competition from well-trained MTs? Just contact MT companies and ask, and you will see how many of them DON'T hire grads from schools other than the "top 3" because they are not educated enough and most of them cannot pass employment tests, that's why so many companies won't even let them test and just give them the "you need 2 years' experience" line.
Unfortunately I don't think ANY of the schools, including the Big 3, are honest about MT outlook.
The amount of work going overseas, the fact that you CANNOT work twice as fast with most voice recognition as you can with straight transcription (despite the fact that the companies insist you can and therefore only pay you half as much). There are a lot of MTs with a lot of experience who are getting out of the business.
Also, it's even harder to find a part-time MT job when you are a newbie, because there is a big learning curve regardless of what course you take, and companies don't want to spend that much time on someone who only wants to work part time, because it will take them a lot longer to get up to speed.
Here's my opinion
Tuition is $588 and up. They also offer courses in mystery shopping, basket weaving, and digital photography, all of which can be found on the Internet for free. Offering other nonMT courses is usually a good sign that the "school" is only in it to sucker people out of money. Their "faculty" members don't have any teaching credentials or certification. Being an MT, CMT, RN or HRT doesn't necessarily make you a good teacher. The school is not nationally accredited either. Do a Google search for them. I haven't found anything positive by anyone who has ever "graduated" from their course and obtained a job.
This is only my opinion and......sm
He gives as TX options:
Treatment options: Chiropractic care. {Insert whatever names he gives there with an initial cap} and chiropractic adjustment.
Hope that helps! 
my opinion
I think you are looking into MT for the wrong reason (you want to work from home and not work in an office).
While 80 wpm is a good speed, you'll need to be more about 100 to 120 wpm to really get good production. Accuracy of your typing skills won't matter as much as your ability to properly interpret what you are listening to in the dictation, recognize medical terminology in actual use, etc.
Yes, offshoring and voice recognition are taking a big toll now and will continue to.
Look into coding.
My opinion
Hi. Medical transcription is the best!! I have been in the business for 15 years and I still think it is great. When I first started people kept telling me that it would be phased out because of VR, and that was 15 years ago. I think if you really work hard the first several months and really learn it well, then I think you will not be disappointed. The people I know who don't stick with it are the ones who didn't put in the initial "blood, sweat and tears" to really become good at it.
Medical Transcription has been such a blessing to me and to my family. We have been able to send our children to private school and that would have been impossible without my working all these years. I have been able to have a great income and still be flexible enough to take care of my family. In my humble inion, the great jobs are the ones that allow flexibility within a schedule and they are the only ones I would go for.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
P.S. Learn your macros WELL
My opinion is ....
that some companies choose to be kind and some choose not to. I have worked for some of the nicest people around, and I have also worked for a company that was rude beyong belief. I would definitely give it a shot although I do not know them personally. Trust me, when you have been sitting at your computer for a while the last thing you need to do is be getting nasty e-mails from someone.
Good luck!
Just My Opinion
I saw below where they state the beginning wage for mRecord is somewhere along the lines of 5.25 cpl. IMHO, that is just way to low to start, even if you are a new graduate. There are many other companies out there that will start you out at a higher rate.
Since you mentioned the Spheris traning, I'm assuming you went to Career Step. They are so many better paying opportunities for you if you are willing to look for them.
(and, as a gentle reminder, it's "accept" and not "except")
My opinion...
I know MQ is one of the easiest companies for a noob to get into, but I would take their refusal as a good omen. MQ is a sinking ship and you would do well to find a better company to work for.
Thanks for your opinion! more....
Thanks for giving your opinion Jenn! I hadn't looked at it that way. I just kind of freaked when the Dr. said "dead in the water for clinics."
VR has never really worried me much, but doctors not dictating at all (in clinics) was quite the shocker for me!
I see how and why this wouldn't work in the hospital setttings.
This career path seems so shaky, yet I'm so ready to start training for something I'll love to do.
Thanks again,
Christy
In my opinion, no (see msg)
IT is the most advanced, "smart" Expander out there. I've been using it for 2 years and refuse to work without it, which I told my bosses. It's not for everyone, of course, but starting out with IT instead of discovering it after trying several others is great; the learning curve is not as steep. Plus, it works with SO many platforms (not just Word-based platforms) so you don't have to worry about changing jobs and having to stop using it or losing all your glossaries/expansions because your new company doesn't use Word and your expander works only with Word and Word-based platforms.
opinion
That 'person' who seems angry at 'the post above this' I have a feeling is talking about me. I only posted what I found on the company website. These posts about the big 3 and this particular staffing school seems to be getting people a little 'testy'. Maybe we should move on to a more pleasant topic. Opinions are like noses, everybody has one. Some people get 'ill' when their opinion is differed with. That's what's 'wrong'. To each their own. That's why we're human beings and not robots. We're differnt and have different opinions based on different experiences.
I'd tell you my opinion on the whole MT field, but
I'd be accused of being negative and bitter. LOL Yeah, people get buffaloed into thinking that there is good money to be made doing MT. Evidently, some people do make good money at it. I haven't met any real life person who actually does, though. I've never seen it myself either.
Not sure about the school you went to but in my opinion.....
the best way to go is find someone to mentor you, or get your own accounts with local doctor offices. Make up a fliar that offers cassette tape dictation/transcription.
Unfortunately most of the hospitals outsource now and that is where most old timers got their experience way back when.
Somewhere I read that Meditech was offering a mentoring program????? No idea if it is worth anything, but if they will QA your work, I would start there.
Hang in there. Don't stop trying to land something. It will happen.
my opinion...take it for what it's worth
but when I read your post your grammer was good and you seemed very bright. These are things you cannot learn in medical transcription school. When you finish your schooling and if you have any trouble landing a job, I suggest you revisit this site and as eloquently as your post above, ask for someone to mentor you. I do not think you will have a problem at all. Good luck.
it's not YOUR website and not YOUR opinion only on here
so we are allowed ours and you have absolutely NO RIGHT to chastise the other poster for her advice
grow up a little bit, mommy
Just my humble opinion here...
You may be wasting your talent settling into the MT field. I have no doubt you could succeed based on what you have posted thus far, but I get the impression you are very outgoing, upbeat, friendly, and enjoy interacting with people. I think you may find yourself cut off and bored after a short time and restless. I agree with this poster - what about real estate or sales? You seem such a natural for those fields. Good luck to you in whatever you decide. :-)
I Respect Your Opinion. However...
I'm not an advocate for Career Step and I don't know what is on their page. That IS misleading, but researching the MT field on the Internet would bring you here (MTStars) as well as taking you to Career Step. I don't think CS deserves all the blame.
TRS Institute Opinion
Ok, I know that a lot of people have posted questions and opinions about different schools. I've been researching these myself via AHDI, the school website, requesting them to send info, and reading the various posts here. I was really leaning towards CareerStep because I can function without someone standing over my shoulder and I liked the idea of being able to finish the course quicker if I put more time into it. I've working in various areas of healthcare for years. The last position I held I dealt with outpatient billing for a hospital, departments included ENT, Audiology, and Psych. I did some CPT and ICD-9 coding for Psych in addition to the billing. Thus I have experience with medical terminology, diagnosis codes, and medical abreviations. No one would hire me even with this background. So I determined school was the best bet. After the mixed reviews for CareerStep that I've read on here I'm now down to either M-TEC, The Andrews School, or TRS Institue. I've seen what all the various opinions on M-Tec and Andrews but has anyone had experience with TRS Institue. I was also looking at Allied Medical School's program for transcription but hesitate because they're not AHDI approved and cost the same as M-TEC. Allied offers a free laptop but I've already got two :) Plus they offer lifetime career placement (same as M-TEC) but they're NOT approved which makes me very nervous.
Also, does anyone know how much it takes to take the RMT test? TRS Institute will pay the fee but I'm just wondering if anyone knows how much that is considering their tuition is $3995.
Any thoughts on this would be helpful. Thanks for reading!
You are entitled to your opinion....
But that is all it is, Amanda, your opinion. It seems every time a new MT posts here about their school, you are one of the first people to have something negative to say. Yes, there are many MTs who come here and complain about their schools, but there are also an equal number who have had success and are satisfied with their experience. It depends on the individual and their attitude.
You are entitled to your opinion...
I disagree. I have been an MT for years and I find myself making spelling mistakes and typos on this site. It happens... This is also a New MT/Student board, so majority of the people who post here will improve their grammar skills as time goes on. It is best to make excuses for people and assume that they will improve. No one is perfect, including you.
My opinion, for what it's worth..
I haven't read the other replies, but a few things struck me from your message. First, if you had researched MT as much as you say, then why did you choose At Home Professions? Secondly, finding "MTStars" isn't the Holy Grail of MT information, LOL. Actually, MTStars is great because if a newbie does find this message board, they'll run like the wind from medical transcription and leave more work for the rest of us. Either way, this message board is more or less and "venting" site. Most of the folks that have nothing to complain about are busy doing their jobs, and there are plenty of them. I've been reading MTStars for years, don't really post much, but at least I get a laugh or two every day.
In my opinion, not anymore. Been in this 25 years.
It is all going to voice recognition, meaning that the only real transcribing there will be left to do are the horrible dictators (ESLs and NON-ESLs) who cannot be processed by speech recognition.
Between that and overseas workers, not much in the way of a future in my opinion. Glad I'm nearing the end of my career in it.
It is a matter of personal opinion. Some like
Shorthand, some like Instant Text.
No, the school stinks in my opinion - sm
I worked with a lady once who "went" there. Oh boy, was she lousy. Needless to say she did not hold onto the job long, the mistakes were numerous and atrocious. She had previous experience of transcribing written doctors notes and putting them on the computer which she thought constituted MT experience (uh...it was all written down in front of her, slightly different); obviously that experience was useless. I hope for her sake she took the QA I did to heart and did not get too upset by it by taking it personally, but she needed a lot of work.
You're welcome to your opinion. She asked for advice
and I gave her mine.
Get over it.
That's a matter of each persons opinion. I happen to like
MT, I have my own accounts and do the work myself. I get up, take little breaks in between and don't beat myself up. I also have a separate private life outside of work, so for me I am not isolated.
Why did you choose this post to voice your opinion?
It appears as if the OP was so happy about passing the test and receiving that phone call that she rushed to the computer to share her good news with the world. Would it have been so awful to just wish her luck and share her joy? I have been an MT for a year, and I still feel proud and happy each time I pass a test. It is hard for a newbie or someone with less than 2-3 years of experience to get a company to even let you test. When you then pass the test and get a phone call, that is veryexciting and makes you feel good. You could have wished her luck publicly and then sent her an email making her aware of her mistakes along with some tips. This New MTs forum is the last place on this board to post a message like yours.
Why can't some people just let others feel good about themselves?
Hmmm. I think this MTSO's opinion would "carry weight"...
If the poster was NOT a graduate of one of those two schools.
You're only posting your opinion & website b/c CS pays you for you referrals
nm
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