Not true. I score tests for new and experienced MTs.
Posted By: Scorer on 2006-08-01
In Reply to: There is a reason employers are scrambling to get these grads! - max
I'm shocked at what should be basics that newbies do not have. Shocked.
There are a few good newbies but most have not a clue what they are typing. Applying knowledge to actual transcription is FAR different than just spouting off what a term or value means.
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Need help from experienced MTs
Hi everyone,
I do not wish to intrude here as I am not an MT or even a student at this point, and I hope you will not hold it against me. However I need advice and after reading over the posts on this forum I felt this would be the best place to get it.
I was recently diagnosed with some health problems that are going to force me to make some serious lifestyle changes and I will have to quit my current job. My doctor suggested doing some kind of desk work and mentioned medical transcription. I have tried to find some information on medical transcription work but when looking on the Internet I am and unable to determine if the information I am finding is credible. For instance when I type in 'medical transcription information' in a search engine I am directed to MT schools and home courses and I am not certain if these are reliable sources.
I would like to ask the experienced folks on this board for information. What kind of training do I need? What are the best and most reputable sources of this training? What is the probability that I will be able to find work upon completion of my training? Also would it be possible for me to work from my home as my illness progresses?
I am so sorry to ask so many questions but I really do not know where else to turn. I want to approach this very carefully and not make any rash decisions. I appreciate everyone's patience with me as I know that newbies can be annoying. All advice will be carefully considered.
Kind regards to all,
Doug
Thanks experienced MTs
Thanks a lot guys. I am old fashioned and believe in coming up through the ranks, I just want to be paid what I am worth. I just do not know what I am worth. Thanks for all yalls help. (Yes I am from Texas!) I am sure that I will have tons more questions for all you old hands! Tks again- Kit
experienced MTs for 7 cpl? cheapcheapcheap! nm
.
I am an experienced MT and I had the same conclusion...
with the Dragon system, it just isn't set up to do the kind of production an MT needs. It's fine for the lawyer doing some letters or even the doc doing his own dictation but for an MT to use it all day long doing 6-7 hours worth of transcription, the editing and correcting-- well, it's just as fast to type it right in the first place. So unless you're really slow or handicapped, I wouldn't recommend it.
Experienced MTs- Rescue me pls!
Hello All,
I am a new MT. I was certified with Career Step in Apr. I began working for Spheris in May. My line count is 100 lines per hour. I get paid 5 cents per line. Is this pay good for new MTs? Is Spheris a good company? 
Employment dilemma!!! Experienced MTs,
Hello everyone. I am a newbie. Not long ago I posted about having three job opportunities and how happy and fortunate I felt. I turned one down because the pay was excrutiatingly low--even for a newbie! The other was occasional part-time work for a day or two every month or so. I accepted that. Then I accepted a part-time IC position, which is what I really wanted.
Everything seemed fine--I was so happy. I took three different tests with this company (which I passed with high marks), an online interview, and a telephone interview. I went through two training sessions on the company software. And I signed all my contracts. Now....I have heard NOTHING from them. No letter. No introduction to my editor. No acknowledgement whatsoever. I've emailed them assuring my eagerness to work with them. But I've gotten silence. It has only been a few days, but still, doesn't it seem strange? In any other job I've had (all non-MT related), when I was hired, it was definite.
What should I do? Should I email them again? Should I send a letter via snail mail? Should I call? I hesitate to do that because it's a fairly large company and I don't even know if the receptionist will know who I am, since I never actually started working for the company!
I can't tell you how excited I was about this. I felt like I really "hit it off" with the company, if you know what I mean. I've begun testing for other companies again, just in case. I feel badly about it. If I get another offer before I hear from them (IF I hear from them), I'll most likely take it.
From reading this board, I've heard about "overhiring." Do you think I'm a victim of that? Folks, what would you do in my position? Thanks ever so much for any help anyone can give me!
I think Axlotl does but they hire more experienced MTs
I think Axlotl does but they hire more experienced MTs only (something to shoot for in 3 years).
Most of those experienced MTs got their jobs YEARS ago
without any training. With offshoring and voice recognition, only grads from the best schools can be sure of getting an MT job nowadays.
it's interesting to me that newbies want to make the same as experienced...sm
what I did was beg my way into a job for next to nothing ($5 an hour - this was 20 years ago and it was an 80 mile round trip hike). But then I got experience and moved on from there. It never fails to boggle my mind when I post a job opening and get 700 responses, including newbies who believe their MT teachers who told them that is what they should ask. Remember you are competing against 699 other people who want that job, including people who have years under their belt. So what makes newbies think they are worth that? Bottom line is, they aren't, and proof is: What does the market bear? If newbies were worth 6 cents a line, they would be hired at 6 cents a line. You cannot believe all the work that I have to do to take on a newbie. The last one I hired offered to do it for 3. She was smart. Rather than get 0 lines at 6 cents she is getting 2000 lines at 3 cents - and "buying" her 2 years experience. In two years, she will be in the job market while the other newbies are sitting at home, pouting that they can't get their 6 cents a line job. JMHO. I know there are some who will flame me for this but like I said, bottom line is newbies can't get hired for 6 cents - therefore proves not worth it. It's sure not worth it to me.
6 or 7 cents a line for EXPERIENCED transcriptionists? SM
I don't think any self-respecting experienced MT will work for you for that kind of money. I know for sure I wouldn't. Do you think we're all that hard up for work? It's an insult to our intelligence, knowledge, job skills, etc. You are a joke.
&that rate is experienced MT. Figure you making
x
Is your internship paid? Can you stay with it and get experienced and apply for an at-home job
s
SOAP Transcription takes on experienced newbies for ER and rehab medicine. They use
s
This is not true
Obviously, you have not taken the time to look at careerbuilder.com. There are several hospitals and legitimate transcription companies. If you are going to make a blanket statement like you have, please be sure that you know what you are talking about. My roommate does work from home for a Florida hospital. She found that job on careerbuilder.com. Some of us here are really trying to help the newbies. People like you just make my blood crawl!
That is true
I don't know if they are the only one to go through the process. I just know that they are the only one there that is approved. You may be correct about what you said, but that does not mean I was not being honest either.
true...true
I've only been in this business for a short time and competition does keep the rates low. I don't mind working for 7 cpl as long as I can work around my own schedule. Now, if somebdy offers me more than that I wouldn't complain.
is it true?
Good day to all,
I am a Physical Therapy gradute here in Philippines and currently working as a medical Transcriptionist for a year. I am looking for a homebased medical transcription job, though Im having a hard time.
I hope there would anyone would like to help me.. just mail me at dlorf07@yahoo.com
Thank you for taking time reading it.... God Bless..
That is not true at all.
and choose to type from home. You just need to set boundaries. You will have to use areas where your children are safe. You will have to come up with a plan, and then try to go with it. Life is full of ups and downs, but this job can be done while taking care of children. I am living proof of that. My children are well-adjusted, are very smart, and boy am I glad I could be at home to teach them and enjoy all their new wonders in life. Maybe not for everyone, but it can be done.
That's Not True
EvCC students receive the same benefits. They also get access to the CS forums.
Why are you always pushing CS? They are still getting credit when someone goes through a community college that uses the CS program.
Not true
I didn't use one the so called "big three" and had an at home offer with MQ the week I graduated. I am still with them.
No, it's not true.
Some of Career Step grads are hired, if they pass the application process and testing. Other school grads do, too.
OP is telling untruths! lol
True.
True, but I don't know where else to look. I've tried many search engines and lists of companies. I must have applied to over 100 places. Any ideas?
Sadly true
Many employers will hire new MTs from certain training programs, but won't even test grads of other programs because of bad experiences with applicants from those programs in the past. It's a shame that certain schools put so much into advertising to get people to hand over their money, then don't prepare them properly for employment. Maybe you can find a position with an individual doctor's office helping with overflow or vacations. That way, you could get some experience and have a chance to see where you might need to supplement your training. Have you contacted your school to see if they can give you the names of any MT companies that are willing to hire their grads?
Your statements are not true. (SM)
Posts are not deleted because they discuss certain schools, period.
Posts are deleted if they are inappropriate and against posting guidelines.
Not True Information
Not sure where you had heard this info, but we never would hire anyone and allow them to work for free. We pay competitive rates for every single new hire. Our training program that we used to have was a FREE program offered to new grads.
Exactly true--they DO suck
They do favor the military but even worse, they constantly lose good teachers, don't tell the students and then say they made "changes" and nobody is there to help you or answer emails or anything. The staff is rude, too. I wasted my money there.
Not true, FAQ says 2 yrs required.nm
TAKE THE TESTS!
Most places will let you take there tests, then they can determine if they feel like you have the experience to work for them. The worst they can do is turn you down. As for entry level johs, search the boards. There are usually a few on there all the time. You might start out with a low pay rate, but it will give you the experience that you can use for the better paying jobs in time.
Thanks!
tests
No I do not need help on the tests. I was stuck on a word in a transcription assignment. I had researched it but came up empty. I just needed to know where else to look or anything.
I do not need help with tests.
That's true, but you can get a Sallie Mae loan & pay only $30/mth
.
guess it's true what they say about newbies...sm
a bunch of eager-beaver pants-wetters who know everything from their 20 hours of transcribing "real" tapes, plus entitlement attitudes
That is simply not true. CareerStep's course is NOT
through the entire course. And you get everything you need to become an excellent MT. I know because I took the course and am now working in a good job. But don't take my word for it. Call some MT employers. Ask them about CareerStep. Ask them which course they recommend. You will see how many employers LOVE CareerStep! Don't listen to any naysayer with an axe to grind.
This is not true at all -- completely false.
You don't know what you're talking about!
You know what they say, if it sounds too good to be true ...
It says you can be reimbursed for 100% of the cost of the 16 "Advanced Practice Packages" which cost $59 each. This would be a total of $944, which is not the cost of the entire program.
While the textbook they use is a good one, it is also the only one that they say they use. Andrews & M-Tec use a lot more books. Although lots of practice is good, I believe the training you get before all that practice is the most important. What good are all those reports if you haven't learned what you need to know to transcribe them?
In five years I have heard nothing but raves about Andrews School and M-TEC. I have heard next to nothing about eSmartMed. That alone would be enough to steer me away from it.
typing tests
Don't understand the reason either.....I just take the test...
Taking Tests
I am considering MT as an at-home career also and I wanted to know what is the procedure to sending in resumes, taking the tests, etc.? Also, are you hired on an hourly basis or by the amount of lines you can produce in a certain time? Any help and advice you can send my way is very much appreciated.
Employment tests
Most services want to see 98%, or at the least 97%, on an employment test. Anything less than that is "failing" in their eyes.
Think about it from their perspective. If their clients expect 98% accuracy, you need to be able to produce 98% accuracy. If you can't do that while being tested, which they assume is your best effort, you're not likely to do it on the job later.
Not saying this is a great thing or not, just that it's what they may think.
online tests
I also took the Medquist exam after they sent me an email requesting that I take it. I felt very confident that I did well but was told I did not pass. They said to take it again in three months, which is now.... and now I have no confidence at all to do it.
Passing tests but . . .
Is anyone else having this problem? I am passing tests and being told that though I passed, I don't have the experience required for the position I applied for. They then tell me that they will keep my application on file until some thing opens up that I do qualify for. How often do we see a position listed that doesn't require experience? I know I did well, so I don't think that they are lying to me, but it is frustrating. The only skill I lack is speed, but that will only come with experience. I guess I'm just writing this to vent. Why won't anyone give me a chance?! Ok, now I'm off to take another test.
If you can't pass the tests. . .
If you can't pass the tests, that is an indication that your knowledge and/or ability isn't what it needs to be to do the job.
If you're getting a chance to test, they ARE giving you a chance. THE TEST is the chance.
You can improve your chances by learning more. Get some materials that Allied didn't use and study with them. Get the BOS and learn it by heart and be able to apply it. Get some HPI training materials and transcribe them. Then try testing again.
The one thing that won't help is begging for "a chance." Employers can't afford to spend money on that chance--they have a job that needs doing at 98% accuracy. If you can't show them you can do that, they're not going to give you a job.
Typing tests
I've never seen a typing test, timed or untimed, as part of any medical transcription application process. Transcription tests, yes, but not TYPING tests.
If I had ever been asked to take one, I'm afraid I would have gotten up and walked out. I would have assumed that the employer didn't understand the nature of the work they were calling "medical transcription." If they didn't understand that, they wouldn't be likely to understand much else about it, either, and that would be unfortunate for everyone.
If you're applying to legitimate MT employers, I don't think they will ask you to take a typing test. I do not believe our students have reported having to take a typing test, either.
You might want to check what MT services actually require.
That being said, you should . . . of course . . . improve your keyboard speed. That isn't achieved by going faster, but by keying slowly enough that you don't make any typos, but just keep going on and on. Eventually, you'll speed up. Try keying medical reports and books. There are lots of them on the internet.
In order for you to work comfortably as an MT, you'll need to be able to keyboard a whole shift, or about 7 hours with a 10 minute break every hour and a half-hour to an hour break in the middle.
You can do this if you start now and work at it gradually and without causing yourself stress. :)
Typing Tests
I have applied to several online companies and I haven't found any that don't require a typing test. Do you know of any? Also, as a newbie with no working experience, it's extremely to get my foot in the door anywhere. Thanks.
That's not true at all. Statistics prove that Americans
work more hours than workers in other countries. We are not lazy. We are also faster and more accurate at MT than anybody else. That's why every single offshored report has to be checked over by an American employee. However, we won't work for peanuts like EVERY offshore worker out there. THAT is the bottom line. CEOs want their six figure salaries and bonuses. They can't get mucho deniro unless they screwo the employees. They don't give a darn about anybody but themselves. You can say what you want to stroke your own ego, but it's completely untrue. The only thing offshored workers are to anybody is CHEAP labor.
Thank you so much for you honesty. The things you said are very true. I only wish I had read some
Not true, I made a 95 once. But grammar and spelling
are key issues as stated below.
The timed tests are a test of how well you know
your stuff. Some of comes from education, most comes from experience. If you are unable complete the test without it timing out then you know you still have lots to learn. No 2 tests are the same so you can't take it enough times to get all the answers, but it gives you an idea on what kinds of things they are looking for and shows you your areas of weakness, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I have nearly 20 years of experience and I have some across questions on testing that I had to look up. Not all tests are timed, but I did take one test that was timed and it timed out on me too; more probably because I was rereading everything and didn't realize it was a timed test, but I was still offered a position. You just might get started on clinic notes rather than acute care and your pay rate will most definitely be lower than if you had scored better.
I flunk many tests at first, but I learned from each one - sm
that is what you must do. I used to joke that I learned more from the tests than I did from my course. Not quite the case but I did learn a lot from the tests too, they were certainly eye-opening some of them. All you can do is keep trying, what is the saying you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince, well finding a MT job is sort of the same thing, in both finding a job and finding one you like. Try again at Transolutions when they say you can try again (usually 6 months) and in the meantime apply anywhere and everywhere that you can. Good Luck.
Are you not passing the hiring tests or isn't
s
You can leave blanks and some tests even have
instructions on how to notate a blank. I have 20 years of experience and I have only had one test in my career that I have had to leave a blank, but there are usually different levels of reports. One report may be very clearly dictated, clinic type work where there really isn't a lot of medical terminology. Another may be an acute care report, possibly an Op, and then one may be a report there the sound quality is bad, an ESL dictator, or a fast talking US dictator.
The company is trying to get an idea of your skill level. If you do very well on the first report but not so well on the second and horrible on the third, then they will probably offer you a clinic account and start you off at the bottom of the pay scale.
Leaving a blank wouldn't count against you as much as guessing at something and getting it wrong. I don't think leaving a blank will stop you from being offered a position, but excessive blanks would probably would.
trouble with online tests?
Anyone else applied to Medquist or FocusInfomatics and have trouble passing the test?? I cannot figure out why I did not pass the transcription test and they can't tell me...just hoping I'm not alone...thanks
Sorry, meant pre-employment MT tests.
nm
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