I'd tell you my opinion on the whole MT field, but

• Rachel Enos - Where's the money?
  • I also feel the money is slowly slipping away - - oldMT
  • You need to go back - Experienced MT
    • Money - Melissa
  • I'd tell you my opinion on the whole MT field, but - the money's at the CEO
  • I think 50K might be a bit unrealistic, but SM - Endiqua
    • looking... - Karla
      • check with local hospitals - Daylight
        • thanks - Karla
    • Being in the right place with the right skills at the right time helps too - Also NM

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also see the changes coming down the pike. Also feel it is not fair to withhold or misrepresent that part of the equation to someone who is considering entering MT or just starting out. Knowledge is power. It would take years for a new MT to have the kind of insight into this field that a 20+ year experience lends. Believe me, I would be only too happy to keep running my MTSO, making $75,000+ year while working 20 hours a week, paying my MT's well, but it's not going to happen. Try reading "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman if you want a perspective of what's going to happen to not only MT work but a lot of great white collar jobs. India and the rest of the world are breathing down our necks and in the next decade will be serious competitors for American jobs. There will be no "american" jobs - we will be competing against the rest of the world for jobs.

Friedman states: "The convergence of 'flatteners' has created a whole new platform. It is a global, Web-enabled platform for multiple forms of collaboration. This platform enables individuals, groups, companies and universities anywhere in the world to collaborate...this platform operates without regard to geography, distance, time, and, in the near future, even language. Going forward, this platform is going to be at the center of everything...wealth and power will flow to those who get these basic things right...the infrastructure to connect with the platform and the education to get more of their people working on the platform.

Please wake up and look beyond our box.

Hey Porr - Welcome!  First of all, you have come one of the most negative MT sites on the internet.  If you are easily discouraged or depressed, I would advise you NOT to come to this site.  I have been an MT for over 30 years and every time I come to this board, I leave so dejected, I wonder if I have wasted my life doing MT.  I have finally realized that this board drags me down, so I don't come here very often.  The people who do come on here legitimately, come to relieve their frustrations, get advice, vent about work situations, etc.... we are not all this stressed out all the time   But there are a lot of really good people on here, too, and you can get a lot of valuable knowledge, you just have to learn who the "trolls" are and ignore them (easier said than done at times!)  The MT world is undergoing a lot of changes these days.  A lot of work is being sent offshore and now they have the voice recognition platform that they are working on.  The nationals make you feel very unappreciated, but I have worked for doctors, hospitals, clinics and had my own service for a while, and there are a lot of people out there who will appreciate your skills, just not the large nationals.  Stay away from them until you are more seasoned, then, if you feel like tackling one of them, I say go for it.  They have their negatives, but you will gain valuable knowledge and you will be able to get a job just about anywhere with one of the nationals on your resume. 

This is a great field, just keep your nose to the grindstone and stay away from negative websites ().  Do not let the comments you read here sway you one way or the other.  I find this to be a personally rewarding field to work in.  I hope that you do, too!  Hang in there and don't give up! 

Does this line of work have a future?  Is it a good field to go into?  I welcome your opinions.

Hello Everyone! first of all, I want to say thank you for all of the great information I have found so far from these boards.  I am very seriously considering being an MT.  I currently work full-time as a Transcriptionist in a Psychologist's office and I really enjoy it.  However, I believe I would enjoy the medical field more.  I have a few questions that I would really appreciate you guys answering...

Can you make a decent living as an MT working for an online company? (i.e. Spheris, Focus or accuscribe?) Currently, I would need to make at least 25k a year to suppliment my husbands income for our family, and I do not mind working full-time. 

I believe I am going to being training with CareerStep... will companies like that consider hiring me if I test and score high enough, even without prior MT experience?

Thank you so much for your help!

but I wouldn't go into transcription today.

I learned transcription the old fashioned way - my boss said "come here and let me show you how to transcribe." It turns out I had a knack for it and did very well. For several years I had no problem finding a job. I was often hired on the spot in many places. All hospitals had transcription departments in house, paid well and offered great benefits.

Gradually though more and more work was outsourced. Then one by one, hospitals closed their transcription departments. Now hospital jobs are extremely rare, yet most companies want you to have hospital experience. The jobs that exist now are mostly with agencies that pay you by the line rather than by the hour. No matter how fast you type you can't overcome the little things that interfere with your line count - foreign accents, mumblers, people talking and laughing in the background drowning out the dictation, line noise, phone lines going down, computer problems, servers going down, being switched to new accounts constantly so you can't adjust, etc.  When those things happen you don't get paid.

It's very sad because I loved being a transcriptionist. Nowadays it's a completey different job than it was one a I started and one I would not recommend. You don't get compensated enough for what is expected of you.

I would recommend finding something that will pay you by the hour and guarantee you have a job. Best wishes to you and your new baby.

and start making a decent living. There are huge differences in companies. You might get paid the same cpl but make much better money with one company over the other. If you keep your eyes open, sometimes you find a really good one. Also be sure you have a good Expander program and keep finding ways to speed up your own typing.

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!

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

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")

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.

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.

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!