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Spend some time reading through posts on this board

Posted By: me on 2008-09-17
In Reply to: Schools - Louise Espinoza

and you'll find your info about the preferred schools and the ones to avoid.  I don't know of any MT company that is setup to work with MAC. 


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If you have spent any time reading this board you
would know M-Tec would be the better option. 
If you spent any time at all reading this board you'll
see what a struggle it is for newbies to get jobs at home.  If you go to one of the better schools your chances are better, but still no guarantee.   I think anyone looking to get into this field now is crazy.  Lots of work being offshored and lots of working going to ASR, which leaves fewer jobs for available.  j
If all you get from reading the MQ posts
is about ASR, you're not paying attention.
I love reading your posts Patti!
nm
I'll sign that one...I quit reading her posts about a month ago
because they are so negative and condescending.  If she was nearly as smart as she thought she was, she would be kinder. I haven't read one of her posts in at least a month.  If I see her name as the poster, I simply skip that particular message. She is a nasty individual, in my opinion anyway.
Read ALL the posts on this board & the Company board and you'll
s
MANY people? I saw one! What board are you reading?
nm
Gotta go thru all the posts here and on the Company board to see if you
s
Read Company board and do a search. Many posts about them. nm
s
It's all a gamble. Read through posts on the Company board
s
next time, check the word board, and the critical MT's
will not lecture you. The MT's on the word board are fabulous.

I really can't think of what the medication you are sounding out is. Sorry.

Good luck!
Before you spend your money -

Do tons more research before you spend your money, please!  I went to MTEC, graduated in 9 months, and have been working from home for more than 8 years now doing acute care.  I had recruiters banging down my door to test and was offered positions after every test I took.  The little medical backround you already have is nowhere near enough to be an MT, so get a SOLID education so you will not come back here at the end begging for someone to hire you for 2 cents a line.  Best of luck! 


My suggest would be to spend some
the Medquist board on this site and forming your own opinion. Frankly, I don't know anyone who works there who is happy anymore.
Everyone has their preference. I wouldn't spend
much for your first pair.   USB earphones are better than the others usually. 
You were "lucky enough" - your words. Who wants to spend that much money & rely on luck? NM
x
If you enjoy reading . . . (sm)
If you enjoy reading, then MT may be a good choice for you.

If you enjoy reading dictionaries and encyclopedias, then MT may be a good choice for you, because you'll be doing both those things big-time.

If you enjoy reading about medicine and you like the "idea" of medicine, but you don't like actual patient contact, then MT may be a good choice for you (there is no patient contact).

If you like the idea of medicine, but you're afraid of hurting someone or making some horrible, life-threatening mistake, then MT may be for you, because there is little chance of that in MT.

If you are able to decide to do something and stick with it in spite of some parts of it being not quite what you enjoy, then MT may be for you. There are boring parts of MT, just like there are boring parts of any job.

If you prefer to function in self-directed mode rather than in closely supervised mode, and if you are actually successful functioning in self-directed mode, then MT may be for you.

If your concept of "accuracy" is what most people consider to be obsessive and nit-picky, then MT may be for you. If your concept of accuracy is "yeah, whatever," then MT is definitely not for you.






after reading some of your questions,

I wouldn't say you got the best MT education to be had.  I also don't see where you have interest in doing for yourself (that Stedman's Work At Home issue).  While you are looking at your insular little world, you haven't been around the past, well, even 10 years, to see the changes that have brought down this industry.  Ten years is not even considered one generation.  There will be need for GOOD MTs still for many years to come, but those positions will be held by the very best MTs to be had and who are still willing to work for the pay that goes down over time.  Many other positions that are now MTs will transition into something different, something still with a living to be offered but different just the same.


Just this year, my employer restructured its pay scale so that in order to make the same cpl, I had to produce an additional 4000 lines per month.  If I didn't, I suffered a pay cut of 1 cpl.  Obviously this has not happened to you.  I've been at it much longer than I suspect you've been an adult.  I do not plan to leave the industry although my alternate education is already in place.  I'm lucky because my skill set is very much in demand.  I am a high, accurate producer with flexibility and if I'm making money, my employer makes much more.


But I didn't get there by patting myself on the back and asking questions that some research would help with and save myself the embarrasment of my peers for not having done the research.


As to what school to go to, read the writing on the wall and take one of the top 3.  This industry has changed just in a few short years and if you don't know everything that everyone is doing, someone without education from the top 3 will have a more difficult time getting placement after schooling.


JMHO, which is free, and you're welcome to do with it what you will.


Been Reading awhile
I just wanted to say, that I have been lurking here quite a bit. My husband and I are both wanting to get into medical transcription. We plan on starting with Career Step next month. I don't have any questions as of yet, but I just wanted to say hi, and thank you all for giving the good, bad, and the ugly of it all.
I don't expect to make $80,000 a year, I don't need to.. I would just be happy if we(my husband and I) can make $30,000 a year between us once we have finished school and gained experience.
Again thanks

Just Venting!! Thanks for reading

How come we spend our time and our money to go to school for this for something that is such a high demand for and we cant get a job doing it??


This is messed up.


 


Working for them and doing fine. I think you are reading into wrong. nm
xx
You are good at "grammer". I suggest reading
your post again.    I can't type but about 45 wpm if I'm typing from a piece of paper, but doing transcription I can type about 100 wpm.   Some companies request you type so many wpm, but I don't know how they measure that or what difference you make.  Many companies do require a minimum lph though.  Of course accuracy is more important than speed, but if you are getting paid on production you want to be able to type fast as well as accurate. 
Reading between the lines, the work is coming
from India and no experienced MT would be willing to work for peanuts to basically have to redo the report. 
I wasn't being nasty - quit reading between the lines
x - but do not think that you are just going to walk back into this like it's a walk in the park. It's not. Things have changed and it's not what it used to be and it is not where the money used to be.
My deepest apologies because in reading my response and that icon, it came out much more sinister

of a remark, which was not intended as so sarcastic. 


 


Here are some great links and I hope they help!


Grammar errors:  http://esl.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsu.edu%3A8080%2F%7Ebrians%2Ferrors%2Ferrors.html


Miriam Webster Online:  http://www.m-w.com


OneLook Dictionary:  http://www.onelook.com


Grammar Slammers:  http://englishplus.com/grammar/mistcont.htm


Guide to Grammar and Writing:  http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar


 


 


This is what I have talked about time and time
and time again and somehow the MTs get completely out of joint by just my saying it. I could not believe this "newbie" said she could not leave her home, she had to work from home. I did not get to start working from my home until 1993, hello!! This has not always been a stay at home job and then we did NOT ASK to go home, we were sent home because the hospital needed our space. We never demanded a job at home. Apparently you sound like really don’t want a job at all. If I were employing someone, I would certain run very fast away from you. The first little nosebleed from a child, you would stay off from work for 2 or 3 weeks. This again, folks, is why our profession looks really bad. These posts and yet people are highly inflamed when I call it to their attention. Same story, again and again on these posts. I cant work, junior is bothering me, gotta do the housework. Wake up, everyone! Do not ever expect to gain any respect for the job you do when you have someone like this tearing it down as just a reason to stay at home, oh yeh and I guess I might throw in a little work on the side. Enough said!!!!
of these posts before I enrolled in an MT course. Thanks

Please read through the posts below (sm)
and be forewarned that there are so-called "companies" and "MTSOs" out there who say they hire newbies but then ask for money upfront in order to work for them. Bottom line: do not pay to work, except for purchasing your own software and equipment. Reputable companies and MTSOs will not ask you for money and will not need you to buy a footpedal from them. Take care and good luck!
It's been only a little over a month since the last posts about this (sm)
Tsk, tsk. This woman needs to go away and stop ripping people off.
Maybe it would help if posts had times on them
so we could see when each was posted. Sometimes it's two people posting at once, and one person got interrupted in the middle and took a while to finish and send.
I agree with both posts above...

I have over 30 years experience and started in a hospital.


Good luck!


All of your posts are helpful, but

I'm an almost Newbie who has become very confused reading all the posts about good schools, bad schools, good companies, bad companies -whew - my head is turning.  This is something I have wanted for a long time.  I've gotten taken by 2 bad schools and I'm just about to finish my third attempt and this time I'm determined to work.  My problem is I can't afford to quit my current job in insurance and maybe not make enough money as an MT.  I also don't know where to start to find a reputable company to even try to get MT work.  I got into the Trans-Scam deal about 4 years ago and that had just completely discouraged me.  I thought I would never be able to be an MT.  I just didn't have what it takes.  This time I'm determined and would certainly appreciate all the feedback you all have.  I read some posts from MT's making pretty good money - but does anyone ever reveal what those good companies are?


 


Posted by DJ...about 8 posts down. nm

There are several recent posts....

from their graduates who have found jobs.  You may want to do a quick search.


What about all the "I can't get an MT job, nobody will hire me" posts?
Are all those people who are begging for work lying?

Just because some people get lucky and get jobs regardless of their training (or lack thereof) certainly doesn't mean everyone will get lucky.
Toni, I have been seeing your posts SM

and I have to say that you are really misinformed about the MT world.  To any newbie reading, her opinions on where a person should get training - she is putting out information that is simply incorrect.


The capper for me today is reading the post above this, where she is giving out her opinion on who is who in the MT world and who owns what.  It's just wrong. 


Read through previous posts here...SM
This topic comes up frequently, actually. Your school SHOULD be offering you placement assistance - ask who hires their grads. Try local hospital/doc offices, and keep applying. I wouldn't buy equipment because you never know what you'll need for a job. Purchasing some references would be a good idea, though.
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.
What you don't see are the negative posts that were removed (sm)
The moderator deleted the negative posts because they were related to grammar errors and were getting out of hand.
Don't let negative posts discourage you.
I read the posts replying to yours and I just felt like they were very negative. Do not let them get you down. There is always such negativity on this board. It is true that the first year will be harder and you will not make tons of money. But I feel like with any new job, it is going to take a while to get good at it. If you are going to be the breadwinner, then you might have a problem but if you are married and your husband makes pretty good, you'll be fine. After a while, you will get faster and faster and make more and more money. I think most importantly, you being happy at what you are doing is what matters. I am still a newbie and make a little bit more with each day that passes by. So don't worry about it. It seems a lot of these seasoned MTs are jaded and just want to bring you down. Do what you enjoy.
I guess I should have clarified this since posts have been
what I meant was why anybody would go to the trouble of starting out now to be an MT..the intense training it takes. I certainly can understand those of us who have been in the biz for a while... but now I see the post above is about "being a part time MT" Do newbies not understand the amount of training it takes? That is my point...it takes years to be proficient to cover all acute care...and only to make a small wage...that was my point.. And I stand by it. It is a profession that absolutely does not pay off for new hires.
I agree 100%. I also had posts removed because of mentioning

the school I graduated from that was not one of the "Big 3".  I didn't use bad language and I wasn't rude in the least, so there could be no other reason that my posts were pulled except that I mentioned my school.  And this happened 3 or 4 times, not just once.


I see now that my school actually has it's own board, which is good.


She is incoming new MT and I hope that she can get some help here. Previous posts

that I had to remove were made by experienced MTs and were very ugly in nature.  Nichole came here and asked for help and when she was ridiculed only then did she retaliate.  I posted a Sticky above about helping incoming new MTs and not treating them like they are trash.  I would ask all experienced MTs to please follow that advice or don't post at all.


Thank you,


Administrator


It's good to read positive posts...
I can't really say I'm discouraged because I haven't put my self out there yet. Once I start applying then I can determine whether it was worth the money and time or not. I am going to apply to every company I can find and I'm going to send resumes and letters to all the Drs in my area and see if anyone will "bite" and help me get my foot in the door! Thanks LISA
Posts from March said the pay was very low & there wasn't enough work to go around. Ask about
s
Go thru ALL the posts on these many pages and you'll find most of
s
Past posts say have to PAY for software to work for
fg
If you read through the past posts here you'll
see that M-Tec and Andrews were the best.  They help with placement and most grads have a job by the time they finish up.  Career Step is the next choice. 
Search thru the posts here. Depending on the branch, their newbie pay is only 3-4 cpl. nm
s
Past posts say lousy VR & MT pay, and running out of work. nm
s
Now why am I attacked because your posts are confusing? Sheesh. Watch out everybody.

there's a snake loose on the boards.


I have the right person and you are too quick to reply to posts. A professional
You don't see the big guns worrying about anything posted on this board. Sheesh.