MT student seeking advice

I am currently enrolled in a Community College MT certificate program and will finish in December of this year.  The MT program is fairly new at this college and they don't yet have any internship or trainee arrangements with MT companies.  I am completing Medical Terminology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Medical Transcription courses next week (summer session) with A's.  This fall, I will be finishing with my last 2 required courses, Pharmacology and Medical Transcription II.

I am ready to work and would like to start gaining experience as soon as possible (part-time or full-time).  I am a 42-year-old professional with 20+ years of business experience, including corporate management, and I also hold a BS degree.  I would like some advice on finding companies that will employ me now -- before I have completely finished the college certificate program.  I am extremely committed to producing quality work and I am ready to start proving myself.  I welcome any suggestions,  Thank you.

• MT student seeking advice - Kathy
  • Try to get a job in a hospital. Don't try to work at home for a few years of doing this full-tim - CL
    • getting a raise - nn

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 Hi everyone,

 I recently started the CareerStep program and I need advice on any good websites that have additonal study info? or reference books? or memberships? What is the average starting pay? etc.

I just recently enrolled in a MT course through at home professions.  I am currently working as Registered Nurse at the hospital. I am planning to have a family in the next year or so. I thought being an MT would be perfect for me to stay home with the kids. I have been looking at all the job openings, I am worried that is going to be difficult to find a home based job without experience.  Is that the case or am I just paranoid?   Thanks

Hello,

  I am in the process of completing my education, 4 more chapters to go, in medical transcription and would like to know if anyone knows of a company that is willing to hire student transcriptionists. I desperately need to find employment and can not wait until I finish my course. I have already completed my education in medical terminology and received my certificate.

  I have asked the school, Allied Business Schools, and they told me that they could assist me but I should wait until I complete my education and receive my certificate. I do not think I can wait any longer for employment of some sort... bill collectors are starting to hound me.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciate.

Glenn

Hi,

I am a fairly new MT student and I attend Mtec.  For any of you who believe that getting an MT job is like pulling teeth then I would like to suggest that you go to the Mtec boards and read the posts there.  So many of the graduates from Mtec seem to find jobs and plenty of them upon graduating.  Of course, you get what you give too.  Meaning you have to put your time and effort into learning this stuff and NO IT"S NOT EASY!  It is an 18 month course or less if you can do it in less time and they prepare their graduates.  These short-cut courses or colleges who tell you that after 3-6 months you will be working as an MT are full of bull.  I am sure you have all even read that you have to work 2 years in the field to be able to work from home.  Not true for Mtec students, they are working from home right after graduating.  Anyway.... just thought you might like to check them out for those who are seriously interested.

Cindy

Hi,

I just started a MT program this week.  I will be graduating (in 2007)from Gateway Community College in Phoenix Arizona.  Just wondering if any on this board has attended Gateway and what your experience finding work was after graduation.

It seems like an excellent  program and I'm excited to be starting something new!

Also, in the future I'd like to go on to Radiology or Ultrasound (not as an MT) ; has/does anyone here transcribe and work in another health field?  I'm asking this because both the Radiology and Ultrasound programs are two year programs - that require you to attend full time; not something I can do working outside of the home.

Thanks in advance for any responses.  I'm happy I found this board, it's going to be of great help to me during my schooling.

Hi, I've never posted here before but sometimes come here looking for unadulterated opinions on being an MT. It seems like the perfect job for me. I've always done very well in English class. I have a very easy time remembering things, and I think the medical field is very interesting. I'm currently taking an online course (CS) and am wondering if I should simultaneously enroll in local classes. I'm really nervous about becoming an MT because it seems there are so many horror stories posted here. My training is going very well and I'm enjoying it, but it is all pointless if I don't find gainful employment. The most money I have ever made in one year is $16,000 so I'm hoping to do quite a bit better than that. I am not a stay-at-home mom looking for a second household income; I need to support myself and get out of debt. There are so many negative posts here though that I can't help but worry. Is it just that this is a gathering place for people who want to complain while there are many happily employed MTs that just aren't interested in visiting this forum?

1.  When a job post indicates that a resume is to be pasted directly in the body of the message, why would you attach it? Do you have a specific reason for doing that?

I, personally, wouldn't attach if requested not to do so (as has happened in other responses from me to non-MT companies).  However, I can see the OCCASIONAL error of doing so, but not as a 'norm.'

2.  If the job post states that you must have your own equipment specific to the job (i.e. foot pedal for *wav files, C-phone) or provide your own high-speed ISP), why would you apply for the position if you cannot afford to buy the equipment?

The only possible explanation for this is ...... frankly, I can't think of an explanation.  Personally speaking, I wouldn't apply for an IC position if I didn't have the correct equipment (or I might ask if I'm considered can I have 'x' time to acquire that equipment, if not, its the MTSO's prerogative to say no).

3.  Is there a reason you submit an application with spelling errors, poor punctuation, etc.?

Hmmmm, I check mine, unless we have a conversation going (i.e., exchanging letters, IM's, etc) and I'm not horribly serious about the job (at least in the beginning of the conversation, that might change dependant on the information I've received).

And, now, a statement/question from me ...

4.  ... Do you feel that I have the right to ask you, the newbie, to re-listen to the original dictation and read the “new report” with all the blanks filled in, but not pay you for this time? Would you be willing to do that?

I think this is a perfectly reasonable request, and any newbie (like me) who wouldn't choose this option is short-changing her/himself in learning and expanding their knowledge base and allowing him/herself to grow and become more valuable to the current MTSO (or a future one).

Robyn,

I'm a current MTEC student hopefully getting ready to graduate in 2 months and I would 100% recommend the school.  You made a great choice.  It is intense, but by the end you will be a wonderful transcriptionist.  They do train well.  Good luck in your studies.

I'm looking into ergonomic keyboards, chairs, etc. Are they worth it? Are there any items out there that you think are trash, worth the money, or "must haves"? Any other advice to a new student of M-Tec is welcome!

Thanks in advance!

I want to hear from recent students completing the MT programs - how did your MT program work?  Was it all just work at your own pace?  Did you have any classroom time or any time that you had to join an online class?  Did you have good communication with your instructor(s)?  Did they answer you timely?  nything you would have like to have seen done differently in the program you chose?  How long did it take you to complete it?  Did they help you find a job?

I know I need the education to fill in the big holes on the little experience I have.  I will be getting info from schools like Career Step and Andrews and MTEC but I would like to hear from anyone in or graduating from those programs, too.

Please feel free to e-mail me.

Thanks,

Roz 

program set up. If you can, visit the AHDISA website. Just post that you are interseted in the postgraduate mentor program, and they will give you more info.

Website is ahdisa.org

Good luck!

I am a MT student and almost done with training.  I am also a registered nurse with my BSN AND I was a Navy journalist (so I can type and copyedit like mad).  I am willing to take some work from someone if they can walk me through the set-up (equipment-wise, all I have used is a foot pedal) and everything I need, etc.  Maybe a little instruction on templates..

Not so picky about the pay as I would like some experience first..I will NOT post my resume on a public forum such as this, but I will be more than happy to send it to you if requested.  Please email me ******.  Thanks!

****Edited by Moderator:  Please do not post email addresses. *****

Greetings;

I am a new MT attempting to start my own service as an independent contractor.  My issue is this, my husband deployed for Iraq yesterday, he will be gone for 8 months. I will be returning to my home town for this time period.  Can/Should I start my own service in that area, or should I try to obtain work with a service until I return to my current home?  How does one handle a situation like this when moving is enevitable.  What do you think?  What would you do?

Greetings;

I am a new MT attempting to start my own service as an independent contractor.  My issue is this, my husband deployed for Iraq yesterday, he will be gone for 8 months. I will be returning to my home town for this time period.  Can/Should I start my own service in that area, or should I try to obtain work with a service until I return to my current home?  How does one handle a situation like this when moving is enevitable.  What do you think?  What would you do?

I need some advice. I have a 5 yr old and a 3 month old. I going through a mentoring program right now and I am also close to completing school and get my certificate in med transcription. My situation is that I take care of the kids during the day (5 yr old pretty much entertains herself but of course the baby doesn't) and I'm exhausted to the point that if I try to stay up until midnight or beyond transcribing I'm grouchy in the morning from lack of sleep.  My boyfriend isn't much help.  Please, I'm not looking for advice dealing with him but advice on how to juggle the kids, mentoring, and schooling. I appreciate it.

The school I am going through provided cassette tapes to transcribe the homework reports from.  I do not have a transcriber and don't feel like purchasing one since I will more than likely never use it again and I only have 7 chapters left to do.  Does anyone know how I can record them onto my computer? My sound recorder only records 60 sec at a time unless I want to pay for more and I'd rather not if I don't have to.  I figure if they are on my computer than I can use express scribe to type them up.

Okay, the doctor I will be working for has a new patient sheet and office visit form that she made herself. She just goes through and checks off the ones that apply to that particular patient. She doesn't like to dictate into microcassette but she has mentioned voice recognition. It seems really simple. Almost  too simple. I have all the necessary research material. I just didn't know if there was a special software I needed to buy or equipment. Thanks in advance for your advice.

In what ways is this job demanding or hard? Would someone hire me without working in an office? Would they hire me part time?

I am on disablilty, but able to be at the computer for several hours a day. I can only work up to $800 per month of I lose my social security. I need supplemental income and it seems you need specialized education to get a legit job online. I cant work an office job, I need to be able to take breaks, so being at home is crucial for me.

So, anyone know if someone would hire me for that little amount of money per month? Sounds like the school you go to is critical, but they are pricey. How to afford tuition when Im already low income?

This is a great board. Would appreciate any feedback. Dont know if going into such debt will be a mistake or not.