Test everywhere you can, you learn a lot that way - sm
Posted By: XXX on 2006-08-15
In Reply to: PLEASE HELP - FRUSTRATED
also make cold calls. This is how I landed my first job. I had tested with a company and passed and was hired, but was waiting to actually start (took 2 months for that to actually happen). In the meantime I started calling local companies, I got hired over the phone by one willing to take a chance on me. I was on probation for 3 months, doing about $200 a month (she only had little bit of extra work), after I a month or so I knew I was "hired" for good and eventually got a little more work as the MTSO wanted to do less herself. I applied at another place (while working the 2 jobs) and picked up a 3rd. All were PT but different types of work, etc. so I packed in a lot of experience that way. Just keep plugging away, took me 2 months to land the 1st then 2 weeks later got #2, and 3 months later got #3. Just takes a little time, patience, and lots of persistence.
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- PLEASE HELP - FRUSTRATED
- Test everywhere you can, you learn a lot that way - sm - XXX
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let's have a little fun, and learn something
I've always enjoyed word jumble. I think you all know that one ... the letters of a word are all jumbled and you have to figure out the word. Like this: ehrat = heart
I'll pick a word and then mix the letters up. In the subject line, I'll give the specialty (i.e. Cardiology) and you have to figure out the correct word. As soon as the correct word is posted, nobody else can respond. That round has ended.
I'll post one new word every day.
This game is ONLY open to people still in school or those with less than six months of work experience. So, all of you MTSOs with itchy fingers ... go transcribe an ESL who is dictating in the middle of traffic with the convertible roof down.
I'll take a show of hands ... would anyone else like to join in? 
If you could learn it all on the job, why do you need them?
I don't think that school is very serious about providing an education. It would be one of the ones that just is in it for the money. "Charity begins at home" is probably their motto.
You won't learn 1/8 of what you need to
know from that course. Don't waste your time and money. I saw work from a graduate of that program. She wasn't even prepared to do radiology, let alone acute care, poor thing.
You can learn a lot
by going to the websites of the 2 best schools out there. Both are on line. They are in the neighborhood of $4000, which is comparable to the cost of a community college degree, but these 2 schools will give you an education very specific to learning MT without all the stuff you wouldn't actually need. But of course you need to be sure that's what you really want to do. If you read everything these sites have to offer you should have a pretty good idea.
http://www.andrewsschool.com/
http://www.mtecinc.com/
**sigh** when will they learn?
nm
That is excellent! I am sure you will learn a lot from her
:-)
I don't think that is helpful. She needs to learn
to do it "right." Being a newbie is tough, but a strict QA is more beneficial at this point in her career. It does't do her any good to have "slack" QA and then she moves to another job later and they are tough and she has to struggle then.
I've been doing this for years and I still make mistakes. I've spelled calculus for gallbladder stones for years and no one corrected me until recently, so all these years I've been spelling it incorrectly. Learn to do it "right" the first time and it will serve you well in the future.
People Just Don't Learn
Why is CS still getting praise??? Affordable or not, you may be an experienced *unemployed* MT because many companies are discovering that CS just doesn't give the education needed regardless of the few praisers who got lucky.
M-TEC or Andrews has a "refresher" course for MTs who have done 1 specialty or haven't worked for a while.
want to learn MT course for free?
you can use this blog site if you want to learn medical transcription for free
http://learn-free-medical-transcription.blogspot.com/
thank you
learn the basic tricks. sm
learn how to set up templates with field codes (F11 to jump). Learn how to set up your expander. If you don't have a clue look into the ABCZ system. Use Google to search for information on this. If you are stuck using autocorrect instead of a better Expander learn how to enter words quickly w/o a mouse (alt t a to open it. then tab then enter). These will save you a LOT of time entering or editing your entries.
Also was a nurse, still am. You NEED an MT program to learn about this job, not
s
Did you not have anything left to learn when you finished
school and actually started working in the real world? It is a learning process, day in and day out, just as nursing is. You can go to the best school in the world, have the most highly trained instructors, finish with flying colors, take the RMT, CMT or whatever, and still not be a good transcriptionist. Same thing goes with nursing. You can go to school and then pass state boards and still be a lousy nurse. A lot of what we all do is in the practical application day to day. I don't recall ever saying she shouldn't go to school. I just said it was possible to go from nursing to MT without formal training. 
/
I'd like to learn/do Veterinary Transcription
I tested for a local vet recently. No call back yet, but he was an @$$ (I can see why he went into Veterinary medicine rather than human). Expected the MT to transcribe while being the front desk in a hard-floored, echoing foyer area with dogs and cats and people and birds around, and be the receptionist too.
But, I think it would be very interesting and a good resume skill to add.
Anyone know of a company that will hire an MT to do VT? Or is there a VT module I could do to add to my training?
No matter what you learn in school, each
company has their own way of doing things. Some go by BOSS, some the account dictates how to do things and you do whatever they want, even if it is against what BOSS or JCAHO say. Even a different account within the same company will do things differently than the previous one. You have to adapt. With the rare exception QA is very helpful and don't nitpick.
Newbies, ya gotta learn one thing here...sm
you must be accurate in all typed correspondence. I had a newbie that asked about doing an internship I offered. Here is her actual response:
Yes I am definetly interested.
Thanks you.
Now how am I supposed to hire somebody like that? 
NOW versus KNOW - Learn the difference as you will need to KNOW it at some point.
Trust me, you don't scare us. As experienced professionals, we know what happens to MTs with delusions of grandeur; they are in for a very rude awakening, to say the very least.
you overcome it by doing it..you'll never learn if you quit.
bn
ShortHand is very good and not complicated to learn. nm
s
Allied doesn't care if you learn anything OR if you get a job. They just want their $$. nm
x
Definitely sounds like a scam. You can't learn much in an 8-week course. NM
x
Don't worry - you'll learn all that basic stuff
in school. They used to teach it in secretarial classes, of course, but if you know you want to be an MT, go to one of the top schools (M-Tec and Andrews), and you will be ready when it's time to test.
Career Step only give you a year, so at M-TEC you have 18 months and will learn a LOT more.
Your post made it sound like you would rather take more time to do the course, but there's a reason M-Tec requires it done in 18 months.
You can't really learn if you drag it out longer than 18 months. You have to keep doing it, working at it, familiarizing yourself with it, in order to learn it. That is why they push you to not drag your feet, either do it or don't do it!
Good luck to you.
Just test, test, test anywhere you can...
Trust me, I know it's discouraging. Don't give up though. I am still going to school but I got lucky enough to find some MTSOs to do overflow work for. Granted I am lucky if I get to work three days a week but it is giving me a little experience and keeping my skills fresh. I am now working for a national that ran an ad wanting 3 yrs experience. I took a chance and now I am working with only a couple of months under my belt.
Good luck.
Test everywhere!
If you look at the posts here, everyone says to test everywhere, and it's true! Anyplace that will let you test, test! Some are harder than others, but don't give up. I graduated from my school last November and didn't find a job until March of this year, and I actually found it through a friend of a friend and I consider myself lucky. The important thing is to NOT GIVE UP. I know you studied hard so now work at your job search just as diligently. It is frustrating, but it can be done. Do a search on the internet for medical transcription agencies and test with each one that lets you. Try Spheris, Medivoxx, and Cobb Medical Transcription for starters. Good luck!
Sure you can test 100's.
you set up a worklist off of email responses, send out the grammar screening, when it comes back, run it through a macro to cross check and give scores, then you have an objective measurement of who has potential. Found it weeds out much more successfully than "I completed a medical transcription course and scored a 94%" drivel.
Test everywhere....
By testing with different companies you will soon learn where your strength and weakness are. Regardless if they require experience, if allowed, take the test. It will not hurt and it will help to build your confidence. Most of all, keep trying. Good luck!
Test, Test, Test
Test with absolutely every company you can. I tested with at least 50 companies before I found a good company. Did you get feedback regarding why you failed from these mentoring companies?
Something will happen, you can't give up. I wanted to give up several times, and I am so glad I didn't! Just keep trying - test with every company that allows you. You'll gain that experience while you're trying to find someone who will give you a shot. Good luck to you.
Test
Can anyone tell me how many test they took to get a job because i have taken like 5 so far and be very confident researched everything and they still turn me down. I am getting very depressed because in school I did excellent on all of my reports and they graded hard. I am starting to think that I will never get a job. What is it? Please can any one explain and help me. I am very sad
test
I took a test for MQ last week. When do you think they will get back to me?
98 on Test
Hi,
Is that true you have to make 98 on test to get a job?
Thanks for your imput.
test
test
written test help
I am testing for a new job. Anyone have any info on where to find practice quizes or something. Any help would be great!
They test them and if they do well, they get hired like anyone else.
nm
It's likely that most companies won't test you without
I'm a small MTSO and won't even consider testing someone if they haven't been trained, preferably at one of the better schools (M-TEC, Andrews, etc.)
Help with taking test
Hi there....I'm hoping somebody can help me. I have to take a test using Windows Media Player (no foot pedal yet), and I can't figure out how to type in Word and still be able to use the keyboard keys. Any tips would be much appreciated.
Some companies won't even let you test unless
.
You'd have to test for companies. How would you do?
What would happen when the truth came out? There is no faking it when it comes to doing hospital work. Did you see the ads for general/religious transcription? If your English skills are top-notch, jump on those. One of the companies says they also have or will be getting some MT work, I believe.
Good luck.
so are you saying your test scores are too low?
you may want to consider buying a book and brushing up on grammar, etc. With all due respect, I noticed you misspelled "receive" in your post (it's I before E except after C or when sounded as A as in Neighbor and Weigh). Now that may just be a typo posting, which is fine, but if you actually don't know grammar and phonics rules, it's the kiss of death in this field.
Test scores
No I am not saying my test scores are too low. I usually denied because of lack of experience. As for misspelling receive that was a typo in my post. I asked for suggestions on how for find a job. I thank you for the tip about the grammar brush up but that isn't the problem. I have never worked for a hospital and I think that the school I went to is holding me back. Unfortunately I had no idea that At-home professions or Us career institute as they call themselves now was considered such a bad school. Again thanks for the tip but I believe that my problem is more a lack of experience problem than a grammar problem. When I did this about 10 years ago the field was so much easier to get into. Any other tips would be appreciated.
I took their online test on 8/21 and just
heard back from them yesterday. The lady I talked to there told me that she is really behind on contacting people. When did you apply with them?
typing test?
I am testing for jobs, and they want a typing test sent to them. My comment... why? I type what I hear not what I read. The brain is trained in a different way. I can only type 60 wpm without my shortcuts and stedmans smart type. They want 80 wpm. I dont know if I should test or not?
No companies have let me test yet
I haven't received any replies yet from companies to let me test. Is there any way to test other than sending out resumes?
Test answers
I wondered that myself! But then again I am a pretty naive critter
MEDQUIST MT test
I replied to your message once, but never saw the reply here...so if this shows up twice, please forgive me! I took the Medquist test a few days ago, also, and today I got the same letter...FAILED...with no explanation. Like you, I thought I had done pretty well as a newbie. Now I am trying to take the Focus Informatics test. However, the very first test...I cannot understand her at all, and it is supposed to be a test for newbies. Is there someone who can give me some insight into Focus Informatics and their MT tests for newbies? I really want to get started working and thought I had a chance with Focus, but if I can't even transcribe the first couple of lines of the first report, I'm doomed. HELP, PLEASE!
Is this a test question?
x
First Test Experience
Newbie took test at local hospital last night. I had to just post my experience. I was in a small, messy room with no windows. The MT who gave me the test sat me a a workstation, brought up dictation file and said 'now you just type'. The head phones they gave me didn't work. They gave me another set and that set kept cutting out on one side. I wasn't at all nervous, but my experience was less than enjoyable. I was given 11 dicationas to complete that were actual doctors at that hospital. I would say half were ESL. I had to chuckle or I would have cried. There was no terminology test or anything - just dictation. I didn't do very well. Even the English speaking doctors were mostly just mubbles. Had I been able to even understand a little of the terminology they were speaking I could have done better; however, they were horrible. Slowing down the dictation didn't help - in fact - I don't think that was even working. I spoke a little with the MT and she said the courses don't prepare you for what you will really experience. Is this really what I'm in for? I've never run across any dictations, even the ESL, in me courses that were this bad. Although the MT told me it's better to work at a hospital as a newbie, I think I disagree. I think I would feel more comfortable working from home. I guess you get used to the doctors eventually. On the lighter side, I did watch the MT doing dictation and noted her Expander usage and ya know what --- I think I can do this and will not give up!
Medquist Test
I recently took the Medquist test and failed for a second time. I looked everything up before submitting it, and still failed. I have been in the medical field for for almost 20 years, and this really surprised me. Does anyone know how many questions you are allowed to miss?
Medquist test
I don't know how many Qs you can miss. I have taken that test, passed the objective part, then flunked the actual transcription test. Maybe they would go over your test results with you a bit if you called them? In my case, I know I need more transcription practice. You might just be missing something easy to correct like one of their punctuation questions or something. I would ask them.
Passed Test!!!
I frequent this forum alot and see lots of helpful information that is being shared among MTs. It is great!!! I spent the later part of last night trying to finish one transcription test for a company and finally finished this afternoon. About 30 to 45 minutes later the company calls and says I did a great job!!! I am quite nervous because there are alot of companies who sucker you around and I am a newbie so I consider that a double wammy for me!! It also made me nervous that they called me back so quickly!! I am having butterflies now. I have not even returned there call yet. Well wish me luck. This company has been mentioned alot on this forum but I am going to give them a try anyway. After all I am a newbie!! Thanks to everyone for the advice and guidence on the forum.
online test
Don't feel bad - I've done transcription for over 25 years, had a CMT for 15 of those years... took an online test with MRC (Medical Records Corporation). I did the test, waited for two whole weeks... they never got back to me until I asked them what the hel_ was going on and they told me I failed the test - would someone explain that to me? My audit score for the company that I am currently working for, is 97-98........ 
FocusInfomatics test...
I, too, just took the FocusInfomatics test for QA/Editor position and I was told I "failed". I think I did well on the first half, just the transcription part I had difficulty with. I just could not understand one of the docs. I have QA'ed for Medquist before and passed their test. Very discouraging.
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