Why did you choose this post to voice your opinion?
Posted By: mtjb on 2008-07-10
In Reply to: I really do wish you the best of luck. SM - hilda
It appears as if the OP was so happy about passing the test and receiving that phone call that she rushed to the computer to share her good news with the world. Would it have been so awful to just wish her luck and share her joy? I have been an MT for a year, and I still feel proud and happy each time I pass a test. It is hard for a newbie or someone with less than 2-3 years of experience to get a company to even let you test. When you then pass the test and get a phone call, that is veryexciting and makes you feel good. You could have wished her luck publicly and then sent her an email making her aware of her mistakes along with some tips. This New MTs forum is the last place on this board to post a message like yours.
Why can't some people just let others feel good about themselves?
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Why did you choose that course?
Did you do any research on transcription schools? I took on a graduate of AHP, and she didn't know 1/3 of what she needed to know just to do radiology, which is an easy specialty.
why did i choose this course
This is a complete career change for me. I was a mortgage broker for ten years, had three years of typesetting experience for a newspaper when I was young and decided it would be a good idea. Why this course - just because you had one bad experience doesn't mean the course isn't a decent course. Maybe the person was one that skimmed by on the seat of thier pants? Who knows? I've found a couple of people already that took the same course and have jobs. So I believe a lot of it has to do with your resume, wherr you post it, and what you did before school. I managed a mortgage brokerage firm and worked my way from the bottom to the top. I think I am capable of doing this. - if i can't find a job I'll just kill myself - NOT. But I can tell you this I have more constructive things to do with my life then to go around bashing other people and their choices.
Voice Recognition
Hi everyone, I have a general question about voice recognition. Is it worth the investment to buy a voice recognition program for a medical Transcriptionist working from home? I ask because I have only been doing this for about 2 months, recently graduated from a MT program at Kennesaw State in Georgia, and I feel as if even after I get the experience and even being a fast typer like I am, I am never going to be able to earn enough doing this where I can move out on my own. I live with my mom right now. So I had the idea of a voice recognition program in combination with my own typing. I realize that voice recognition is not perfect so I would edit as I typed. I know there are a few hospitals going this route now so I figured why not me. I would love opinions on this. Thanks.
Voice Recognition
No! No! No! Voice recognition is nowhere where it needs to be right now. Very few dictators enunciate clearly enough for the system. It is very expensive and we just got it in our hospital and are very very disappointed with the results. Out of over 1000 doctors, only about 10 of them speak clearly enough to produce good results. In about another 5 years, hopefully things will improve. By the way, we have Dolbey Voice.
i would choose another fied.
you won't have a career in this one. it is phasing out fast.
i seriously doubt in 5 years you will have much of a job, let alone a career.
go to school for something else.
many schools to choose from
from reading other messages.. PCDI is a 'no' Penn Foster.. is inexpensive.. but.. is it good???
I can't afford to go, nor is my credit score high enough for SLM.
rochelle
Trying to choose a school
Hi,
I have been trying to decide on an MT school, and I am so unsure as to what I should do. What things should I be looking for in a school? Has anyone ever heard about the online programs at Brighton College, or Blackstone College? Are they any good? I want a school that will provide lots of practice dictations, what is a reasonable number of practice hours to expect? Any other input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
~Bea
VOICE RECOGNITION
I am new entrant in the MT field and find typing long hours real punishing. I want to share the experience of anyone who has tried voice recognition technology and its practical use in reducing typing work load and speeding up work. I have tried it myself and find the process of correcting the output to be as time-consuming as doing it manually.
Which school should I choose? Is this right for me?
Hi all! I've been researching this profession and would really appreciate some input from 'those in the know'!
I need to be at home with my family (long story), but my children (all 3 of 'em) are getting older and I'm in need of some 'mental stimulation'! I would like to find something that will hold my interest, keep my thinking, and requires constant learning (I like that!). I saw an article in our local paper a few months back about med trans, and it really sparked my interest! I had no idea about this profession before, but it seems like it could be my cup-o-tea.
I'm an accounting clerk by profession (if that makes any difference), so that would probably come in handy if I become an IC. Also, I've had a great deal of training with voice recognition (Dragon Speak), which I think could be of an advantage to me as I have an idea of how these program behave (and misbehave!). Also, since I was a child, my preferred reading has been medical books (....weird kid!).
I'd probably prefer something part time, and I'm not in it for 'the big bucks'! My husband has a great job and that has allowed me to stay home, but I would find it fulfilling to make some kind of financial contribution to my family.
To make a long story long.....I'm looking at a Canadian online school called CanScribe (I'm Canadian, by the way!). They seem to be very legit, with a good reputation and are recognized by the AAMT. They are kind of expensive, but it seems to me that the good ones are! I'll be receiving a 'settlement' soon, and I think investing in my education is always a good bet! However, I don't want to be foolish with my investment, and would like some input, like I said, from 'those in the know'!
Good day to you all, and thanks so much!! Margaret 
ASR, VR or other voice recognition
programs. Does anybody have any advice on how to zip through these reports like we are apparently supposed to be doing? I find editing often takes much longer than it would have taken me to type it straight out. It's not so bad when dictators are really good, but most do present daily challenges. It is so frustrating. I am open to whatever advice you have to improve my editing skills.
God bless and thank you in advance.
VR = Voice Recognition
Also referred to by other similar names. Basically, what it means is that dictated reports are run through software systems that are supposed to recognize the speaker and speaker's words and transfer them to a transcribed report. Then that report is supposed to be lightly and quickly edited for correct wording, punctuation, etc. What none of these VR systems can do is ignore background noise and extraneous sounds or even understand the dictator who is talking while chewing gum, eating or for Heaven's sake anything else. VR cannot determine the difference between the identified MD and the PA, NP or whomever is actually dictating the report for that MD. VR will not necessarily get the correct word when it does understand the correct word (ex: 2, to, too, two or fair/fare, or by/buy, etc.) VR cannot think or reason. It cannot go back and change anything the dictator requests to be changed or added. It never knows what to do with "um, next, a, and stuttering."
All VR software will add and leave out words. I've never worked on any VR report that did not require just about as much work as standard transcription. They all need something. In fact, some are so bad that it is just easier to delete everything the system puts in and retype the whole thing from scratch. And companies want to pay rather poorly for us to edit these reports. VR is a mess everywhere.
She is right - choose another profession
I too have been an MT for almost 20 years. These MTs schools will train you to become an excellent MT and they will be glad to take your money too. Then you are a highly trained and skilled MT. If there are no jobs, what do you do with it? It's useless.
Because of EMR and all the outsourcing that has increased since January 1 - you have old MTs with 10, 15, 20 years of experience out job searching again because they have so many years in and they do not want to change professions before retirement. It is so competitive that MTs with 2, 3, 5 years experience will not be able to move in their jobs. A brand new MT is not going to stand a chance. Don't waste your time and money.
Choose the best school... sm
You have experience in general transcription, but that's not the same as experience in MEDICAL transcription... Unless, of course, you typed a lot of brain surgeries and cardiac caths for the police department. *winks*
Right now for a newbie, competition is absolutely fierce for landing that first job. Don't cut corners on your education. Your 'experience' in general transcription will NOT open any doors for you, but completing an MT course from Andrews or MTEC will.
Choose either CareerStep, M-TEC, or Andrews...all 3
I know. I accept grads from Career Step!
Choose a good school!
M-TEC or Andrews. Then follow their program to the letter!!! Best of luck!
US real MTs or US voice recognition?
x
You open your voice files with sm
whatever software you're using for voice, i.e. Wavpedal, etc. You don't open them in Word.
Voice Recognition/ Dying Breed????
Hello!
I have been scriping and saving to afford going to MT school. Now two ladies that I know, wives of doctors, have warned me not to spend my time and money on MT school because MTs are a dying breed and voice recognition technology is taking over the MTs work, all that is needed now are people to do data entry which pays very little. Is this true??? Something to worry about in the future or are they just uninformed about what it is that MTs do? Any imput would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks in advace,
~Kate
If you choose your school solely because it is cheap
you will get a cheap education and pay for it over and over and over again in lost income. Many people who have chosen the crappy schools end up having to be retrained by one of the good schools before anyone will hire them. Just something to think about. It has ever been true that you get what you pay for. And don't let anyone snow you with that old lie "You get out of it what you put into it. Just work really hard and you'll get a good education." Not true with education. You can only get out of your training what is there to be gotten. If it is deficient, it doesn't matter how hard you work, your training will still be deficient. Get a part-time job to save money for one of the good schools, hold a yard sale, wait a few months while you save money, whatever, just don't waste your money and time on an inferior education.
Editing, Voice Recognition, Mentors
I need some information please. Can someone fill me in on Editing, Voice Recognition (I know what it is but don't know how about it in terms of a transcriptionist's duties), and also, can you find someone to mentor you to become a Transcriptionist and how would you find such a person?
i need sample voice files to practice
I need help. I am a recent graduate and I would like to know what websites offer free sample voice files where I can practice. Thanks
Line requirements in Voice Recognition
For those of you that do VR, I was wondering what your hourly or daily line requirments are, if you work part-time or full-time, and how many hours you work per day. Newbie in the field and I was just wondering what the "norm" out there was. 
newbie trying to choose a reputable school
Hello all,
I am trying to decide between the MT schools approved by AHDI. Does anyone have any experience with M-Tec, ExactMed, and Andrews? Any suggestions..thanks for the advice!
A wav file is not short for waveform. It is a voice
file that you would receive over the internet, not via C-phone. You need software/foot pedal to be able to play the wav files. Wav is pretty much the generic term, but there are many different formats, like mp3, DSS, etc. that the files could be in.
I'm confused ... you should be opening the voice files (sm)
in express scribe or some program like that. Word 2007 is used only for typing the actual files you're listening too, it has nothing to do with opening .wav files or anything other than text files.
Only if you'll get into voice recognition and editorship. Look at how many hits a job on the job
s
4 cents per line for speech editor/voice recognition
Is this a decent pay?
If you choose Andrews or M-TEC, you won't need a fast track or extra training.
You also will receive, with your course, many of the books that CS students purchase on their own - the Book of Style, the Language of Medicine, better grammar books.
I graduated from CS also. And if I had it to do again, I'd choose Andrews or M-TEC.
Whichever you choose, you might find one on www.half.com. Great spot for books! nm
s
This all sounds nice, but newbies have to choose MTSOs wisely and this one is not a wise choice.
me, I will explain.
Here's my opinion
Tuition is $588 and up. They also offer courses in mystery shopping, basket weaving, and digital photography, all of which can be found on the Internet for free. Offering other nonMT courses is usually a good sign that the "school" is only in it to sucker people out of money. Their "faculty" members don't have any teaching credentials or certification. Being an MT, CMT, RN or HRT doesn't necessarily make you a good teacher. The school is not nationally accredited either. Do a Google search for them. I haven't found anything positive by anyone who has ever "graduated" from their course and obtained a job.
This is only my opinion and......sm
He gives as TX options:
Treatment options: Chiropractic care. {Insert whatever names he gives there with an initial cap} and chiropractic adjustment.
Hope that helps! 
my opinion
I think you are looking into MT for the wrong reason (you want to work from home and not work in an office).
While 80 wpm is a good speed, you'll need to be more about 100 to 120 wpm to really get good production. Accuracy of your typing skills won't matter as much as your ability to properly interpret what you are listening to in the dictation, recognize medical terminology in actual use, etc.
Yes, offshoring and voice recognition are taking a big toll now and will continue to.
Look into coding.
My opinion
Hi. Medical transcription is the best!! I have been in the business for 15 years and I still think it is great. When I first started people kept telling me that it would be phased out because of VR, and that was 15 years ago. I think if you really work hard the first several months and really learn it well, then I think you will not be disappointed. The people I know who don't stick with it are the ones who didn't put in the initial "blood, sweat and tears" to really become good at it.
Medical Transcription has been such a blessing to me and to my family. We have been able to send our children to private school and that would have been impossible without my working all these years. I have been able to have a great income and still be flexible enough to take care of my family. In my humble inion, the great jobs are the ones that allow flexibility within a schedule and they are the only ones I would go for.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
P.S. Learn your macros WELL
My opinion is ....
that some companies choose to be kind and some choose not to. I have worked for some of the nicest people around, and I have also worked for a company that was rude beyong belief. I would definitely give it a shot although I do not know them personally. Trust me, when you have been sitting at your computer for a while the last thing you need to do is be getting nasty e-mails from someone.
Good luck!
Just My Opinion
I saw below where they state the beginning wage for mRecord is somewhere along the lines of 5.25 cpl. IMHO, that is just way to low to start, even if you are a new graduate. There are many other companies out there that will start you out at a higher rate.
Since you mentioned the Spheris traning, I'm assuming you went to Career Step. They are so many better paying opportunities for you if you are willing to look for them.
(and, as a gentle reminder, it's "accept" and not "except")
My opinion...
I know MQ is one of the easiest companies for a noob to get into, but I would take their refusal as a good omen. MQ is a sinking ship and you would do well to find a better company to work for.
Thanks for your opinion! more....
Thanks for giving your opinion Jenn! I hadn't looked at it that way. I just kind of freaked when the Dr. said "dead in the water for clinics."
VR has never really worried me much, but doctors not dictating at all (in clinics) was quite the shocker for me!
I see how and why this wouldn't work in the hospital setttings.
This career path seems so shaky, yet I'm so ready to start training for something I'll love to do.
Thanks again,
Christy
In my opinion, no (see msg)
IT is the most advanced, "smart" Expander out there. I've been using it for 2 years and refuse to work without it, which I told my bosses. It's not for everyone, of course, but starting out with IT instead of discovering it after trying several others is great; the learning curve is not as steep. Plus, it works with SO many platforms (not just Word-based platforms) so you don't have to worry about changing jobs and having to stop using it or losing all your glossaries/expansions because your new company doesn't use Word and your expander works only with Word and Word-based platforms.
opinion
That 'person' who seems angry at 'the post above this' I have a feeling is talking about me. I only posted what I found on the company website. These posts about the big 3 and this particular staffing school seems to be getting people a little 'testy'. Maybe we should move on to a more pleasant topic. Opinions are like noses, everybody has one. Some people get 'ill' when their opinion is differed with. That's what's 'wrong'. To each their own. That's why we're human beings and not robots. We're differnt and have different opinions based on different experiences.
I'd tell you my opinion on the whole MT field, but
I'd be accused of being negative and bitter. LOL Yeah, people get buffaloed into thinking that there is good money to be made doing MT. Evidently, some people do make good money at it. I haven't met any real life person who actually does, though. I've never seen it myself either.
Not sure about the school you went to but in my opinion.....
the best way to go is find someone to mentor you, or get your own accounts with local doctor offices. Make up a fliar that offers cassette tape dictation/transcription.
Unfortunately most of the hospitals outsource now and that is where most old timers got their experience way back when.
Somewhere I read that Meditech was offering a mentoring program????? No idea if it is worth anything, but if they will QA your work, I would start there.
Hang in there. Don't stop trying to land something. It will happen.
my opinion...take it for what it's worth
but when I read your post your grammer was good and you seemed very bright. These are things you cannot learn in medical transcription school. When you finish your schooling and if you have any trouble landing a job, I suggest you revisit this site and as eloquently as your post above, ask for someone to mentor you. I do not think you will have a problem at all. Good luck.
it's not YOUR website and not YOUR opinion only on here
so we are allowed ours and you have absolutely NO RIGHT to chastise the other poster for her advice
grow up a little bit, mommy
Just my humble opinion here...
You may be wasting your talent settling into the MT field. I have no doubt you could succeed based on what you have posted thus far, but I get the impression you are very outgoing, upbeat, friendly, and enjoy interacting with people. I think you may find yourself cut off and bored after a short time and restless. I agree with this poster - what about real estate or sales? You seem such a natural for those fields. Good luck to you in whatever you decide. :-)
Here is my honest opinion. sm
I started MT in my mid 20s (over 20 years ago) Started working for family doctor in high school, went on to college for two years in health care administration (worked part time for college professors), married and had children right away. My first independence with my own doctor clients occurred when I had two toddlers at home. There was no possible way I could have been successful unless I hired child care during that period of time. I was spending a minimum of 8 hours per day typing. There were days when I would put in an additional 3 hours late at night when my children went to bed. My husband worked long hours, so depending on him to take over was not always possible. It is only my opinion that the dedication, concentration and ultimate success in this profession is not possible unless you get the help with your children. Unless part time supplemental income is your goal, full time pay and the intense experience needed to peform well long-term in this profession, reality is not always seen by those entering this profession as a means to stay home with your children.
I Respect Your Opinion. However...
I'm not an advocate for Career Step and I don't know what is on their page. That IS misleading, but researching the MT field on the Internet would bring you here (MTStars) as well as taking you to Career Step. I don't think CS deserves all the blame.
TRS Institute Opinion
Ok, I know that a lot of people have posted questions and opinions about different schools. I've been researching these myself via AHDI, the school website, requesting them to send info, and reading the various posts here. I was really leaning towards CareerStep because I can function without someone standing over my shoulder and I liked the idea of being able to finish the course quicker if I put more time into it. I've working in various areas of healthcare for years. The last position I held I dealt with outpatient billing for a hospital, departments included ENT, Audiology, and Psych. I did some CPT and ICD-9 coding for Psych in addition to the billing. Thus I have experience with medical terminology, diagnosis codes, and medical abreviations. No one would hire me even with this background. So I determined school was the best bet. After the mixed reviews for CareerStep that I've read on here I'm now down to either M-TEC, The Andrews School, or TRS Institue. I've seen what all the various opinions on M-Tec and Andrews but has anyone had experience with TRS Institue. I was also looking at Allied Medical School's program for transcription but hesitate because they're not AHDI approved and cost the same as M-TEC. Allied offers a free laptop but I've already got two :) Plus they offer lifetime career placement (same as M-TEC) but they're NOT approved which makes me very nervous.
Also, does anyone know how much it takes to take the RMT test? TRS Institute will pay the fee but I'm just wondering if anyone knows how much that is considering their tuition is $3995.
Any thoughts on this would be helpful. Thanks for reading!
You are entitled to your opinion....
But that is all it is, Amanda, your opinion. It seems every time a new MT posts here about their school, you are one of the first people to have something negative to say. Yes, there are many MTs who come here and complain about their schools, but there are also an equal number who have had success and are satisfied with their experience. It depends on the individual and their attitude.
You are entitled to your opinion...
I disagree. I have been an MT for years and I find myself making spelling mistakes and typos on this site. It happens... This is also a New MT/Student board, so majority of the people who post here will improve their grammar skills as time goes on. It is best to make excuses for people and assume that they will improve. No one is perfect, including you.
My opinion, for what it's worth..
I haven't read the other replies, but a few things struck me from your message. First, if you had researched MT as much as you say, then why did you choose At Home Professions? Secondly, finding "MTStars" isn't the Holy Grail of MT information, LOL. Actually, MTStars is great because if a newbie does find this message board, they'll run like the wind from medical transcription and leave more work for the rest of us. Either way, this message board is more or less and "venting" site. Most of the folks that have nothing to complain about are busy doing their jobs, and there are plenty of them. I've been reading MTStars for years, don't really post much, but at least I get a laugh or two every day.
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