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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I'd stay away as they charge you to test, a big

Posted By: what I know on 2006-12-27
In Reply to: Internship Program at this site - Stephen B.

red flag that they are probably not legit. 


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What to charge?

I am newly out of school.  I intend on sending out letters of introduction to community doctors this week to express my desire to work for them.  I was wondering if anybody can give me a ballpark idea of what I should charge if they ask or what I should take if they offer?  Oh, and I live in Washington state if it matters.  Thanks.


Jenn


What to charge...

No, I don't plan to put what I charge in the letter.  I just want to know so that if the Dr. calls me back and is interested in my services.  Either they'll ask what I charge or they'll offer me a rate and I want to be sure either way that its reasonable.  I live in Napavine, about 40 min. south of Olympia. 


what to charge

In that case I would say about .6 cpl to start. Then after you are up to speed reevaluate. But I also encourage you to call around to local clinics, offices and hospitals.  I live up in Sedro Woolley way up north. Good luck to you!


What to charge?
I recently made a new friend who is starting her own mental health practice and will need a transcriptionist.

She asked what I charge.

I'm not sure! I've never done IC work. Is there somewhere I can research to see an average that MTs charge, or does anyone have any advice?

Thanks! :D
WHAT? Only a few rip-off places charge a fee.
x
Newbie Q: Do we charge sales tax in CA?
The subject pretty much covers it. I just graduated and I'm thinking of working independently. I want to incorporate, and if I do, does that mean I must charge sales tax on the bi-weekly invoices?

I'm new to the board and I must say this is the start of my real MT education :-)!

Thanks!
What to charge depends on what services

you need to provide.  Are you going to have to pick up tapes and deliver completed work back to them, do you do envelopes with the letters, do you print on sticky paper and if so do they provide it, if you have to return work, do you have to return it printed or can you just put on a disk and they print so you need to figure in cost of printing supplies.   If they are digital what equipment do they use and do you have equipment that is compatible so you can download work or will you have to buy some equipment/software, how much dictation will they have, etc.    If they only have 1 or 2 docs who might only dictate 2 or 3 times a week that is good for you because it gives you plenty of TAT but do they have enough dictation to make it worth your while (especially if you're having to pick-up tapes, provide paper, etc.)


6 cpl is way TOO LOW, I don't care what part of the country you live in.    If you are working for a service that is probably would you could expect to be paid, but that isn't near enough to charge if you have your own accounts. 


 


Charge per word? Macros?

Hi, I'm a new grad with an opportunity to work from home. The current MT in a local office is not working out and I need some advice. They are billing by the word vs. line count/hour/audio time. Has anyone heard of this? Also, do you have any idea what a good charge per word would be? I've only seen the line count. It doesn't seem like the pay is great, but it is a way to get my foot in the door. I just want to make sure I'm not shooting myself in the foot before I even get started!


I was also wondering if anyone could suggest a good way to learn macros/word expanders? Are there any tutorials out there or good programs?


Thanks!


Nevermind...not paid. In fact, website says they charge
a $99 enrollment fee. That means this company is getting paid for work that is done for free by newbie MTs. Yikes!

If school is AHDI-approved, there are paid apprenticeship programs available.

Proficient Transcription is supposedly a company but they charge you to work there (sm)
You should never have to pay to work.
Stay away!
I graduated from their program in October of 2008.  The program was ok, but with limited availablity of instrutors.  They rarely answered e-mails, and they take too long to score your quizes.  Some of their rules were inconsistent as well.  They also do not cover any modern transcription equipment, programs or techniques.  I wouldn't go as far as to say that the eduction I received was insufficient, but it is nerely impossible to find a job after their program.  I passed test after test, only to be told that my educational experience wasn't enough.  I know that many people would tell you it is because the employers know that you can't do the job, but I feel it's because they are not familiar with the program. I finally got a job in the end of February, but that was after months of full-time searching.  Honestly, this job was a miracle, and I love it.  I won't go into it, but I didn't get this job by normal means.  The truth is that unless you plan on working in an office for several years to get your foot in the door, USCI is a HUGE waste of your time and money.  I ended up with an at-home job, but this is NOT the norm for their graduates.
Stay away from Accutran
If you are looking for a job, stay far away from Accutran.  They do not pay on time EVER!!!!
How long to stay with first MT job?

I have a question that I have not really been able to get some sound advice on and was hoping the posters of this board could give me their opions.  I would appreciate any views.


The question is how long would you stay with your first (low paying) MT job?  I am starting to make some fair money now, but am spending 12+ hours per day to do it, which actually comes out pretty low per hour.   While I do appreciate the opportunity to be working right after training, I also feel limited by not having two year's worth of experience yet to try to move on.  Most places seem to prefer MTs with at least the two years experience.  On the other hand, I am getting very good work experience where I am and do not run out of work.  I can't keep up this particular pace forever for what I am earning overall.  Would you wait out two years for the experience?


Stay away from wireless...
...they're more trouble than they're worth. The ones I've tried have all had a slight delay before the sound reaches the headphones, which you can imagine is quite frustrating in this line of work.

Get one with a longer cord instead and you won't feel as tethered (though be careful not to roll over it with your chair!)

I recommend finding something with lots of cushioning around the ears for more comfort and better noise cancellation. A good one will cost a lot, but it's well worth it IMO.
stay away from Toth
Stay away from Toth transcription, this husband and wife team don't pay, Read the other posts. Good luck
stay away from Toth
Read all the posts about this company. Stay away from them, they are a scam, you work and work and will never be paid.
Looking and trying to stay hopeful??
Okay,..... so I am within a week of graduating from my Allied Medical Transcription course.. and have already started sending out a couple of resumes to a few different places.. but I'm finding it very discouraging that almost ALL the jobs require 'experience' .... anyone have a couple places that do paid internships? or will possibly give a NEWBIE a chance?? I live in Oklahoma... and to my dismay there are only like two transcription companies in the state.. that email addresses are valid.. I was considering going to the local hospital.. but not only does it pay honestly like 6.00 hr... I would have to pay for childcare... Yikes!? Any help out there?
Looking and trying to stay hopeful??
I am in the same boat. I graduated Dec 2007, no one will hire me due to lack of experience. How am I supposed to get the experience I need if no one will give me a chance. I am close to giving up now.
From some of the posts I've seen on here I'd stay away....
apparently the pay sucks....and you don't even get paid for at least the first month that you work there. It can be hard finding a job as a newbie, but it can be done. You just have to apply/submit your resume everywhere, even if they say they want experience and if they will let you test for them, take the test. That's how I got my job and I'm making 8 cpl. And I got hired by a national before I was even finised with school by a company that said they wanted two years of experience. Don't sell yourself short by just taking anything that comes along.
stay away from focus infomatics (sm)
there are many many posts about focus infomatics on this board. it is not a positive experience.
You don't renew your agreement. You just stay with them until
s
Total scam, stay away - sm
unless you have money to burn. Lots and lots of people have been taken by them unfortunately. I hope you have not paid them any money because if so you will never see it again.
That would be a clue to stay away if you can't find anything publically on them. nm
s
If you are hired as an IC, is it harder to stay with that company?
Do you have to worry about renewing your contract every so often?
Indian company with base here in USA..stay away..I worked for them once.
I would rather work a lemonade stand before I would work for them again. When you first get the job, you might possibly speak to an American voice. After that you will be dealing with Indian Team Leaders, Indian QA..Indian everything. Not to mention the fact that the Indian QA will tell you that you are wrong on something when you are right. Also, once I had a team leader (Indian, of course)who questioned me on whether or not I knew what headings when into a physical examination...I was transcribing surgery notes. Nonsense like this happened all the time because I would point out the error that QA would make (usually Stedman's to back me).

There are great companies out there who are strictly USA workers, and they are posting on here all the time on the job seeker's board..you just have to keep looking.

Hope that helps! Have a wonderful day!
Is your internship paid? Can you stay with it and get experienced and apply for an at-home job
s
Just test, test, test anywhere you can...

Trust me, I know it's discouraging. Don't give up though.  I am still going to school but I got lucky enough to find some MTSOs to do overflow work for.  Granted I am lucky if I get to work three days a week but it is giving me a little experience and keeping my skills fresh.  I am now working for a national that ran an ad wanting 3 yrs experience.  I took a chance and now I am working with only a couple of months under my belt.


Good luck.


Test everywhere!
If you look at the posts here, everyone says to test everywhere, and it's true! Anyplace that will let you test, test! Some are harder than others, but don't give up. I graduated from my school last November and didn't find a job until March of this year, and I actually found it through a friend of a friend and I consider myself lucky. The important thing is to NOT GIVE UP. I know you studied hard so now work at your job search just as diligently. It is frustrating, but it can be done. Do a search on the internet for medical transcription agencies and test with each one that lets you. Try Spheris, Medivoxx, and Cobb Medical Transcription for starters. Good luck!
Sure you can test 100's.
you set up a worklist off of email responses, send out the grammar screening, when it comes back, run it through a macro to cross check and give scores, then you have an objective measurement of who has potential. Found it weeds out much more successfully than "I completed a medical transcription course and scored a 94%" drivel.
Test everywhere....
By testing with different companies you will soon learn where your strength and weakness are.  Regardless if they require experience, if allowed, take the test.  It will not hurt and it will help to build your confidence.  Most of all, keep trying.  Good luck!
Test, Test, Test

Test with absolutely every company you can.  I tested with at least 50 companies before I found a good company.  Did you get feedback regarding why you failed from these mentoring companies? 


Something will happen, you can't give up.  I wanted to give up several times, and I am so glad I didn't!  Just keep trying - test with every company that allows you.  You'll gain that experience while you're trying to find someone who will give you a shot.  Good luck to you.


Test
Can anyone tell me how many test they took to get a job because i have taken like 5 so far and be very confident researched everything and they still turn me down. I am getting very depressed because in school I did excellent on all of my reports and they graded hard. I am starting to think that I will never get a job. What is it? Please can any one explain and help me. I am very sad
test
I took a test for MQ last week. When do you think they will get back to me?
98 on Test

Hi,


Is that true you have to make 98 on test to get a job?


Thanks for your imput.


test
test
written test help
I am testing for a new job. Anyone have any info on where to find practice quizes or something. Any help would be great!
They test them and if they do well, they get hired like anyone else.
nm
It's likely that most companies won't test you without
I'm a small MTSO and won't even consider testing someone if they haven't been trained, preferably at one of the better schools (M-TEC, Andrews, etc.)
Help with taking test
Hi there....I'm hoping somebody can help me.  I have to take a test using Windows Media Player (no foot pedal yet), and I can't figure out how to type in Word and still be able to use the keyboard keys.  Any tips would be much appreciated.
Some companies won't even let you test unless
.
You'd have to test for companies. How would you do?
What would happen when the truth came out? There is no faking it when it comes to doing hospital work. Did you see the ads for general/religious transcription? If your English skills are top-notch, jump on those. One of the companies says they also have or will be getting some MT work, I believe.

Good luck.
so are you saying your test scores are too low?
you may want to consider buying a book and brushing up on grammar, etc. With all due respect, I noticed you misspelled "receive" in your post (it's I before E except after C or when sounded as A as in Neighbor and Weigh). Now that may just be a typo posting, which is fine, but if you actually don't know grammar and phonics rules, it's the kiss of death in this field.
Test scores
No I am not saying my test scores are too low. I usually denied because of lack of experience. As for misspelling receive that was a typo in my post. I asked for suggestions on how for find a job. I thank you for the tip about the grammar brush up but that isn't the problem. I have never worked for a hospital and I think that the school I went to is holding me back. Unfortunately I had no idea that At-home professions or Us career institute as they call themselves now was considered such a bad school. Again thanks for the tip but I believe that my problem is more a lack of experience problem than a grammar problem. When I did this about 10 years ago the field was so much easier to get into. Any other tips would be appreciated.
Test everywhere you can, you learn a lot that way - sm
also make cold calls. This is how I landed my first job. I had tested with a company and passed and was hired, but was waiting to actually start (took 2 months for that to actually happen). In the meantime I started calling local companies, I got hired over the phone by one willing to take a chance on me. I was on probation for 3 months, doing about $200 a month (she only had little bit of extra work), after I a month or so I knew I was "hired" for good and eventually got a little more work as the MTSO wanted to do less herself. I applied at another place (while working the 2 jobs) and picked up a 3rd. All were PT but different types of work, etc. so I packed in a lot of experience that way. Just keep plugging away, took me 2 months to land the 1st then 2 weeks later got #2, and 3 months later got #3. Just takes a little time, patience, and lots of persistence.
I took their online test on 8/21 and just
heard back from them yesterday. The lady I talked to there told me that she is really behind on contacting people. When did you apply with them?
typing test?
I am testing for jobs, and they want a typing test sent to them.  My comment... why?  I type what I hear not what I read.  The brain is trained in a different way.  I can only type 60 wpm without my shortcuts and stedmans smart type.  They want 80 wpm.  I dont know if I should test or not?
No companies have let me test yet
I haven't received any replies yet from companies to let me test.  Is there any way to test other than sending out resumes?
Test answers
I wondered that myself! But then again I am a pretty naive critter
MEDQUIST MT test
I replied to your message once, but never saw the reply here...so if this shows up twice, please forgive me!  I took the Medquist test a few days ago, also, and today I got the same letter...FAILED...with no explanation.  Like you, I thought I had done pretty well as a newbie.  Now I am trying to take the Focus Informatics test.  However, the very first test...I cannot understand her at all, and it is supposed to be a test for newbies.  Is there someone who can give me some insight into Focus Informatics and their MT tests for newbies?  I really want to get started working and thought I had a chance with Focus, but if I can't even transcribe the first couple of lines of the first report, I'm doomed.  HELP, PLEASE!
Is this a test question?
x
First Test Experience
Newbie took test at local hospital last night.  I had to just post my experience.  I was in a small, messy room with no windows.   The MT who gave me the test sat me a a workstation, brought up dictation file and said 'now you just type'. The head phones they gave me didn't work.  They gave me another set and that set kept cutting out on one side.  I wasn't at all nervous, but my experience was less than enjoyable.  I was given 11 dicationas to complete that were actual doctors at that hospital.  I would say half were ESL.  I had to chuckle or I would have cried.  There was no terminology test or anything - just dictation.  I didn't do very well.  Even the English speaking doctors were mostly just mubbles.  Had I been able to even understand a little of the terminology they were speaking I could have done better; however, they were horrible.  Slowing down the dictation didn't help - in fact - I don't think that was even working.  I spoke a little with the MT and she said the courses don't prepare you for what you will really experience.  Is this really what I'm in for?  I've never run across any dictations, even the ESL, in me courses that were this bad.  Although the MT told me it's better to work at a hospital as a newbie, I think I disagree.  I think I would feel more comfortable working from home.  I guess you get used to the doctors eventually.  On the lighter side, I did watch the MT doing dictation and noted her Expander usage and ya know what --- I think I can do this and will not give up!