I thought CS was a good fit for me...
Posted By: OPnotes on 2008-01-11
In Reply to: Want to start MT course this month - becca from mi
and I was hired as an MT before I finished the course. I do have medical background from previous college work though so I new my stuff, but their program was a good fit for me. Good luck!
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Just thought I would give some food for thought. nm.
I thought that was what I was doing???
Actually, I have been in this profession for a few years, and when I refer to seasoned MT's, I put myself in that category as well.
THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT!
/
Thought I was...
until I started my course at M-TEC. I feel like I have to learn it all over again! Commas and hyphens are my big problems, but they are getting better as as I go along! :)
I thought it had to be a joke too. nm
Just thought I offer (sm)
this link to HPI's website. They have helpful books and other resources. I don't work for them, but I like their Radiology Imaging Words and Phrases book and some others.
I thought I was learning a new
regional phrase and I was gonna ask where you are from!
I can't answer your question because I'm not new. But hang in there. 
After school I thought about doing the same...
different......From what I looked up and what I am working with right now are completely different. I don't think that it helped me out much besides making me more confused!
Good luck
Food for Thought...
While reading a lot of the posts on this board, I see that grammar usage in posts is brought up A LOT. While I understand that many of us come here to relax and kick back, this is my idea...
Say you were a newbie that posted on here about wanting to find a mentor or job. If your post is littered with incorrect grammar and spelling, the chances of someone replying to you is thin. However, if you were to take the time to write correctly, maybe someone will see your post and email you back!
I was one of those lucky ones who made a few really good contacts and even better friends on this site, and I am now working in my first job. It isn't the worst job, isn't the best job, but I'm learning a ton and I know it is a stepping stone to where I want to be one day. I seriously doubt that any of those would have started to talk to me or email me back with helpful insights had I used slang and poor grammar and/or spelling.
I'm not trying to start a war, I just thought it was something to put out there! Good luck, and congratulations to all of you who just graduated or are about too! I know I'm happy to be out!!!
Have you thought about just going to work inhouse
It's best to do that.
If your focus is to work at home, you probably will not fare well with this career -- one really has to want to do MT work to be successful at it and productive.
Do what's best for your career -- go work inhouse for at least 2 years in a hospital setting, learning every dictator, every worktype, until you are competent on it.
Then you will easily find work and be a equipped to focus on your production.
i thought this was for the new MT, not the MT who knows everything in the entire world..
oh brother.
Just glanced here for a second, and thought I'd share ...
When I first started, I thought I knew a lot from what I learned in school. They never tell you that it'll be 1000 times harder than your courses. It's tough to jump into the "real" and find out how different it really is.
I used to QA, and I can't speak for anyone but myself, but anything I EVER corrected was NOT a personal slight. And while I knew it was rough for the newbies to get constant feedback, I hoped they understood that I wasn't doing it to make them feel bad - I was doing it to uphold quality that I was responsible for.
I know it's tough, but try to look at all of the "nitpicking" as an opportunity to be a better transcriptionist. The harder they are on you now, the faster you'll become a solid, fantastic transcriptionist. The more you can be thankful for the feedback, rather than let it get you down, the less feedback you'll need to receive in the future.
Good luck! I know you'll get there. This is the hardest part, and you're already partway through it.
I thought she was talking about the E school
Right, that couldn't have been M-Tec. Wonder if the person attended that school with the name that looks like M-Tec?
Couldn't have been Andrews, either. They provide quality references as part of the course, so you don't pay extra. They're the ones some nationals require you to have. They use SUM and now include the ESL set. Their instructors teach different modules, so you learn to deal with a variety of QA approaches and styles, but they all use the same guidelines. They also help you see what can vary, so there's no surprise later. They doesn't require attendance at online classes, but they provide technical support even for grads, even years later. Support for jobs begins at enrollment with focus on employer needs and how to fit with that and you get access to employer recommendations well before graduation. Andrews simply has a list of employers who will hire their grads even if they otherwise require years of experience. I don't think they've ever had a grad who had trouble getting a job and most seem to get the job of their choice. They also remove problem employers from their list as soon as they hear about undesirable practices so that their grads don't get burned. So, whatever school that woman went to, it wasn't Andrews, either.
I thought the thread was for everyone...not just newbies BTW are you a newbie? nm
x
Thought I would point out that you misspelled accurately
since you seem to be so keen on everyone being accurate around here.
thought it soundy pretty scammy...
thanks for the heads up...thought it sounded pretty fishy/scammy. I just need to find something ASAP and am really getting aggravated with the whole job search drama. Any input or help would be greatly appreciated.
On sedond thought, when I do a word count on
MS word with a 65 cpl the lines are more than what I get paid for actual lines. So it seems like I am getting ripped off.
That is what I don't understand
Darn the Luck! Thought I nailed test!
I'm fairly new, fairly old. Ha! Old should count as a little more experience! Ha!
I took a test with Medquist and could have sworn that I nailed it! I crossed my "t's", dotted my "i's". BUT they said I didn't pass the test. They didn't have the details of the test. Does anyone know if they count time? I spent a lot of time BECAUSE everytime I lifted my foot, the dictation went back to the beginning! I couldn't get the file onto Express Scribe, just onto the MP3 player.
Soooo... I have looked on eBay, Amazon and HPI websites and have ordered textbooks, new and used, to continue study. These should also give me a head start if and when I get a chance to study with one of the BIG schools! Also picked up ideas from some of the posts here.
Some books are H&P A Nonphysician's Guide to the Medical History, The Language of Medicine by Chaboer, and an anatomy & physiology book - Memmier's The Structure & Function of the Human Body, 8th ed. So newbies, don't stop studying!
Good. The lab book was a good choice.
Be sure you look through each book when you get it. Put tabs on sections you will want to refer to quickly. I know my lab book (not Stedman's) has all kinds of extra sections. I think my next purchase would be the cardiac book. Then neuro or OB-GYN after that, depending on which you are getting more of in your work.
that's good to know
At least there's a little hope for me
Good for you!! - nm
.
Good for you!
.
I know a good MT when I see one - regardless of
credentials, school or references. One run through the grammar screening knocks most of 'em right out of the ballpark...
good for you, 10/cpl is good
/
That is good
That is great to hear that someone else was exactly where I am now. Where did you land your first job, not the MTSO, the other one?
I do not think I am TOO GOOD.
companies that pay these low wages are taking advantage of new MTs that don't know their value yet. The MTs that received this offer had all spent thousands of dollars and a lot of time learning to become an MT. I just don't know why anyone would sell themselves short for 5 cpl ($10 an hour is generous by the way as most new MTs won't get to 200 lph). As I said, there are companies out there that pay better. If you are trying to help, steer the newbies to these companies, not the companies that have a reputation for not respecting their MTs. If you take the time, do your research, and graduate from a good school, you should have no problem finding a good job. I had 4 offers before I even got my final score. My first company paid 7 cpl and after 6 months, I took on my own client making just about double that.
good to know!! Thank you!
good to know!! Thank you!
Good For You!
My late Mother did the same thing. We didn't do homeschooling, but she did it all and did it exceptionally well. She was brilliant but never acted like it. She was a taxi to more than the 6 kids in our family. She taught piano, voice, directed the church choir, wrote plays (we were in them), was busy in RNC fund-raising, and on and on.
We just called her "Mother."
So good luck to you. It really warms my heart to hear stories like yours. As for the MT thing, it sounds like you could teach yourself. That's what I did.
Good luck!
Appy anywhere and everywhere. There are a lot of companies who say they require at least 2 years experience, but you would be surprised at how many will give someone who has just graduated a chance. If you pass their test they will hire you, 2 years or not. I know from experience. I graduated last year and I applied to every ad that had a 2 year minimum, before I graduated. I got hired 1 week before I graduated, and I have been working ever since. Good Luck!
Nothing is good for a newbie.
Ya, I think I won't take the job because it may be a little difficult. That's real smart.
I have not heard anything good about it.
If you are looking for a quality MT education, the gold standard training comes from Andrews and M-Tec. Some graduates of Career Step have had good luck in finding and keeping employment also. The top schools turn out job-ready MTs. Employers are eager to hire them. The cheaper schools do not turn out graduates that employers are eager to hire.
What do you consider a good living?
I'm thinking of work from my house instead of the office, changing careers.
a good living
Sounds like you are quite successful. Please share with me what is involved in actually earning this level of income. Have you been at it for a long time? How many hours/week do you work? Thanks. I'm strongly considering MT but I hear such variables on the pay.
good point
Knowing that pay=production can be a great motivator, especially if you are working for a company that provides consistent work flow and good HR relations.
Thanks for your input.
Good point!
Peggy, what excellent advice! I had not heard it put that way, and after thinking about it, I know you're right! thanks for opening my eyes to think "bigger".... better to be excellent, and more "employable", than to be somewhat limiting. I do plan to study in such a way as to be excellent! That's just the way I'm "built"! :) thanks again for your post.... -Anne (amh) :)
This is a good start for you (sm)
In light of the fact that you are new, this is an excellent rate of pay with a reasonable (generous, really) production requirement, even though you may not be able to meet it at first.
Add 20-25% to it for the benefits and you'll be making more on the lines of $13.08. As an on-site employee you will not have to pay self-employment tax or overhead.
When people scoff at this rate of pay, remember that everyone starting out in a new career field starts at the bottom. You have to work your way up. As an MT, your value lies in your ability to produce quantity work while maintaining high quality. Newbies aren't able to produce much while maintaining quality.
The incentive pay makes this better, and if it has good benefits, then you're doing well.
The most important thing about this job is that it will give you experience. You NEED that experience. If you can get it while being paid hourly, so much the better.
Unless someone scoffing at this can produce a job for you which pays better, do not listen to them.
If you do not have a job and you need a job, you are in no position to be turning one down because it doesn't pay top dollar. Take this job and do your best with it.
Yes, this is still a good field!
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!
Good luck!
You can't give up hope if this is the field you want to work in. I had been doing my job for 17 years and needed something new. I did a lot of research and liked the opportunites that being an MT provided. I'm sure it would not be for everybody, but I love what I do and have great docs to transcribe for. Plus, perhaps more important, it is an ongoing learning process. I like to stay challenged and this job certainly does that. Good luck to you!!
Good point..lol
nm
another good response!!!
nm
Good schools??
How do you determine what is a good reputable school and which one is a waste of money & time?
Thank you!
The Good Schools
Andrews and M-Tec. Career Step is also considered to be a good school. Andrews and M-Tec are the gold standard, the Harvard and Yale, of MT training. Their graduates have no difficulty finding work because employers know those schools turn out job-ready MTs.
It has good advice.
Good luck!
Is this a good field to go into?
Does this line of work have a future? Is it a good field to go into? I welcome your opinions.
Good News
Finally, some good news for a change!!
That is pretty good.
That is a lot better than what I am making. I am making only 3.0 cents per line independent contractor status, which is ridiculous. This should be a crime to pay an MT this low of a rate. I am currently in the process of looking for a new job.
Is this a good start
I've heard Sten-Tel is a good starting company, is that true? I need to gain experience. I recently finished up an internship, but need 1-2 yr experience to be able to work in clinics or hospitals in my area. So I thought if I could work online at home PT or FT(I need to make around $400/mo to pay all my bills) for a year, then I could start applying again at the hospitals... anyone have any good leads?
Good advice. LOL!!!!! nm
.
I agree! Good for you!
with a mother's day out program for a few hours a week if you feel your child needs social interaction. That is someting I would do for your child if you felt they really needed it, but not for you though. I agree, and I have worked daycare years ago. You really are not the one raising your child if they are there all day. You feed them, bathe them, and put them to bed. The struggles in life and how you handle them are what make you, you... and your child is watching every move you make and will one day likely repeat them. Us moms only have one chance, we have to make it count! I am glad you made this decison and you sure won't regret it!
good question..
i was told it takes at least 2-3 years to really feel comfortable. its been about 5 now for me, and although i feel pretty comfortable (except for ops), i still consider myself a newbie, plus i am the baby of my company as far as experience, and i still have a lot more to learn.
on the good side (for me), there are 2 others whom i work with, who have 19 and 18 years, but, because they chose to cherry pick, they didnt qualify to work at home because they were not comfortable doing a lot of things they should have been comfortable with by now.
you may consider yourself a newbie, but motivation, initiation, and all that other good stuff can put you ahead of others.
good luck
GOOD POINT
I'm glad that this was brought up. I have often wondered myself. What encourages me is that there is always something new to learn. Even the MTs who have been in this for years admits it themselves.
I am still a newbie but being an IC helps a lot in learning different areas in this field. I am thankful that my contact "feeds" me work from a new field gradually when she thinks that I am already catching on with the one she gave me prior. I say "catching on" because I can get comfortable with surgery and here comes a new case with totally different words that I need to research on.
Just like a former professor of mine said - "the more you know, the more you realize that there is still much to learn."
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