Yes, I believe there is a future for MTs who do quality work

• Training - jsanders
  • Just depends on who you talk to - jellyfish
  • The problem is bad pay because there are tons of new MTs...sm - NewMT
    • not new MTs but competition for the same jobs from offshore, EMR and VR - sm
  • Yes, I believe there is a future for MTs who do quality work - CMT
    • If quality mattered, there would be NO MT work from India - who are YOU kidding?!?!
    • So all 150 Heartland MT's were incompetent? - quality doesn't matter, the almight dollar does
  • not likely. - sm
  • It is worth it! - MTMOM
    • MTMOM, you need to know that,,, - displaced MT
      • I have worked VR - jeannal
      • Remember a couple of years ago - Don't believe all of the publicity
        • some day comes quicker than you think - been around this block before and seen it coming

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Do you have all the required word books for the specialty that you type? I mainly type OP notes and have the current Stedman's books, Google links, etc.  My advice is to type the report and put in a blank for the words that you don't know or question.  Then, go back, relisten, and look the words up after you have finished the report.  Be sure listen for the little words that are often missed.  Also, after your reports have been through QA, go back and review the report.  Some MTs can go back and relisten, which is a great option.  I would also save my copy and then compare it to the QA copy.  Maybe someone here would offer to mentor you and offer suggestions?  My method is somewhat time consuming but this has helped me.  I hope that helps you a little.  Good luck! 

I am a new MT as well.  However, I have learned that quality is better than quantity.  In the begining you may want to do thousands of lines per day.  However, make sure that this is quality work.  You don't want to make mistakes because you want to get high production to get money and then they may fire you because your accuracy rate is terrible.

So, take your time and always deliver the best report to your ability.  Do not be afraid to leave a blank if necessary.  It is always better than guessing.

What is your line pay rate?  Is it an editing or transcription platform?  Are you an employee or an independent contractor? 

Is there something that I could buy that could help improve my quality?  I have been taking tests here and there and everyone keeps saying that their QAs don't have the extra time that is needed to spend with my work.  I know I don't have the 98% accuracy that is needed.  Whenever I do a test I look whatever I don't know up and then relisten to the file.  I do all my transcribing when everyone is asleep so I don't have the distractions.  Thank in advance for the help.

Can anyone give me an idea on how much QA/editors make?  Do they charge per 65 character line with spaces, without spaces, per word, etc.?  I have always been curious about this.

I worked in the medical field 20 years ago and often had to hire medical transcriptionists.  I remember back then that there was a lot of talk about MT being a "dying field."  There have been a lot of changes, but there is still lots of work for MTs.  I finished MT school last April and had heard  talk about MT jobs being hard to get, especially for new MTs.  I was offered a job with a large national about 2 weeks before completing my MT program.  I can honestly say it was the easiest job I've ever gotten.  Yes, there will be changes in the field but I believe that well-trained MTs will be in demand for quite a while to come.  There's a lot of negativity on this board but not everyone's experience is negative.

EMR/VR is described in previous post.  If you do VR you are an MT and an Editor with a pay of 3 to 4 cpl.  Not my cup of tea but some people may prefer it.  You will see the large outsourcing companies send work out alot more often now to increase their profit margin - ALOT.  Therefore you are going to be limited as to how much you can make with them.  If you earned $2500 a month full time, there is someone sitting in India or the Philippines just waiting to do your job for an average of $239 a month.  Bottom line is that saving $$ will almost always be the deciding factor.  To avoid that situation, I have gone to a company that hires U.S. MTs only.  That is proudly posted on their web sites and companies who post on MT Stars.  You get paid more, there is steady work, and it will not be outsourced.  That is not to say that the client will not end up outsourcing as a cost saving measure.  Try to support U.S. companies and help them to grow.  They are the ones trying their best to protect U.S. jobs, not the AHDI.  If it is up to them, in the future the MT positions will probably be cut in half or more by 2015. 

As far as satisfying work.  If you have an account that you get good on, maximize your potential, and earn up to $20 or more than hour - that is satisfying!!  And by the way, there is no way your husband could ever guess what it is like to be an MT.  Stressful, yes.  Boring, no.  The knowledge and technology training you receive are invaluable, as long as you can make money doing it.  Not so easy these days, but possible if you don't mind changing companies/clients until you find the right fit.

It appears that everyone can agree on M-Tec or Andrews School--by the way is that Linda Andrews and not Andrews/Holbrook?

I want to get started with training soon and I'm having difficulty deciding.  I've taken both their tests and they both seem like good choices.  Decisions, decisions...

can this be done or am I getting in over my head. FT in-house, not MT and PT MT at home.

Anyone else doing this?

Hi,

 I would suggest NOT going to companies.....try docs you know personally or that have their own practice.  That is how i started, just walked in, gave them a business card and flyer and made a deal, that if they gave me a chance, i would reduce the cost for the first 30 days.  i got my first doc that way five years ago and he has referred me to many and i am still with him in addition to two others he referred to me!  It is wonderful.....set your own hours, no rush on anything.  good luck!

Cindi

I have been working for about 1-1/2 years now in med trans, almost a year for this one company. Still pretty new at the lingo and how the business side of things run.  But lately, there has not been enough work with the company and I am sitting around for hours getting only a few dictations downloading.  Your are assigned an account and also a backup but I was just wondering if this slow time thing is normal? This has been going on now for 3 weeks, also kind of has been occurring every now and then since this summer.   I am just wondering how long what the usual is and how long should I wait until starting to look for another job?

Thanks

Hello,

Im a new MT graduate looking for work. Please if anyone knows of any companies that will hire new MT graduates, please let me know. Or if you are company willing to give a chance let me know.

Thanks,

Sonnett

Here it is Tuesday morning 10:00 and no work yet.  Yesterday it was about 2:00 before anything arrived.  Does every company have this problem?

Hi!

I am a 53 year old nurse with over 25 years nursing experience.  In 2005 I moved to a Caribbean island with my husband who was itching to retire. 

I have done some writing since moving here, but I miss my medical career.  Unfortunately, the island I live on does not want to give me a nursing license, so I am looking for replacement career!  I am not ready for retirement.

Although I could certainly do the course work,  I wonder if being located "off shore"  would decrease my employment possibilities.  I do, however, maintain a U.S. address for business purposes. I would like the imput from MT's out there.

I heard from a company called TRS Institute who says they hire off shore workers after completing their course.  Anyone know about them?

Thanks,

Jen

Hi Karen,

If you would like some work until the other comes in, please let me know.  If you have WP and a wave player, I would be willing to discuss overflow work for you.

Thank you,

Debbie, WRU Transcription in Illinois

I have used the search function on this site to try to find out what really is the problem with working at Medquist.  Basically, all I get is that they restructured which affected people's accounts and line counts at the time, got rid of bonuses and 401K matching and don't answer emails.  As far as QA feedback goes, on one hand I read that you never hear from them and on the other that they pester you all the time.

Surely, a lot of people do actually work for them.  I was thinking of applying.  I don't really find the above all that horrible.  Am I missing something?

Enlightenment would be appreciated.  Thanks.