You're doing fine-just hang in there (sm)
Posted By: Redpen on 2006-02-16
In Reply to: I'm new, but am I still too slow? - green green green
You're doing fine. In fact, you're doing quite well for 8 weeks!
Just keep on doing what you are doing. You'll eventually improve as everything comes together.
You can look for ways to improve your efficiency, but you should not try to "go faster." Trying to speed up usually results in increased errors and correction rates.
It's easier to focus on not making any errors, on listening far enough ahead that you never have to erase and make a correction, and on eliminating wasted time and effort.
Eating and drinking, smoking, listening to music and/or office chatter, a disorganized desk, interruptions from children, phones, and housework, EMAIL, and inefficient work habits will be THE main things that reduce your productivity.
If you look at your work activities, you will probably see more time spent doing "other things" than doing transcription. What you want to do is eliminate all the things that are NOT transcription, by which I mean keying in text and/or truly necessary job responsibilities.
The easiest way to improve your productivity is to simply start spending 99.9% of your work time actually working. If you observe yourself closely, you'll be able to see the not-work things you need to eliminate.
Over time, for many MTs, this occurs naturally, but you can help it along!
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
YOU should be FINE!
You can find a lot of work IC status were you get to stay home. My first job was an at-home IC job (still at home).
GOOD LUCK!
I think that it is fine
I work for some verbatim accounts. I correct grammar and word agreement, split things into paragraphs whether they ask for it or not as you just can't have a billion things running together. I don't always transcribe in the top to bottom order either. I put it where it would normally belong. Doctors are not perfect and sometimes will mention things later on that should have been put in HPI or PE. Also adding the drug dosage abbrev. is standard practice whether dictated or not (but double check those always)
That being said, for verbatim accounts, I do not make complete sentences if that is not what is dictated. Basically I do the best I can to balance the verbatim with what will make the most sense.
You could probably do fine in
a single-specialty doctor's office, paid hourly. Transcription might not be your only task in such a position. I say this because your background is similar to what mine was. I could not do acute care until I was hired by a service that had a mentor who was willing to work side by side. You just aren't ready for all the specialites and accents right now.
You should be fine.
You are doing a fine job! Don't compare
yourself to others. As long as you keep improving and by that I mean even a few more lines per hour each week, you are well on your way! It sounds like you have exactly what it takes to succeed!! Best of luck to you :-)
Your speed is probably fine according to your
email. You would be best to go and apply at some companies with your schooling that you have on hand. You will build speed as you do more work. Quality over quantity, but quantity equals money in this profession since it is production based.
My glasses are fine, thank you, you should check yours.
I never said the poster said those schools were approved, but when the poster makes a statement about the AAMT and then makes the following statement, "I also wouldn't recommend anyone to one particular "approved" school". That comment could be confusing for someone unfamiliar with the industry because the only approved schools are Andrews and M-Tec, which the poster than proceeds to recommend.
It's obviously somewhat confusing because it managed to confuse you.
I use Vista just fine with Bayscribe..nm
xx
Working for them and doing fine. I think you are reading into wrong. nm
xx
hang in there...
thanks so much MTStudent -- i wish you lots of luck in your second semester of AMT -- that tells me you have completed basic??. be grateful that it slower. hopefully, you have fully gained an understanding of the basics and if you're in advanced medical transcription, you're probably doing way better than you think you are.
hope that you hang in there and do well in your new career.
and -- thanks for the encouragement! :)
Hang in there
It seems like every new job I've taken has started out with software problems and down times. I've had fewer problems with low work volumes. One reason might be that I tended to work more of a second shift schedule. At my current job (I work in a radiology office), we have lots of computer problems, which makes it hard to keep caught up, but at least I'm on the clock and get paid for the aggravation. I'd just hang in there for a while, periodically letting the supervisor know there is less work coming to you than what you can do, and you might consider looking into working off-peak hours when fewer MTs are gobbling up the work.
HANG IN THERE!
I hear alot of people that have this problem. I got pretty lucky and got a job right away, but I also put in lots of applications everywhere. My suggestion would be to keep an eye on all of the postings on the job board, even the not so great ones and check your local hospitals. You might have to start out on the bottom end, but it gets your foot in the door and more experience on your application. Just hang it there, and it will pay off.
Thanks, Camry
Hang in there
Hi Hon,
I'm so sorry to hear that you're having such a difficult time. I'm not sure what course you took -- but I have seen that the AAMT has a BOS workbook. Perhaps that might help. Also, for AAMT members you can access their Student Alliance Forum that has a short graduate mentor program.
No matter what keep looking. I've heard that it is easier for new MTs to get local positions than national. Also, you might want to ask your school if they have a list of companies that recent graduates have been hired on at.
Good luck!
Hang in there!
I've been a Transcriptionist for the past 14 years, I was doing it full time then went to part-time then took a few months off. When I decided to quit my job and be home again it was SO hard to find a job, I applied to many companies, some I didn't event pass the test with and I got very discouraged. I then landed a job for about 2 days, I didn't feel the person I worked for was being very ethical and she went against my "training" and I called her on it. She was also so nit-picky on things that were not even correct that I called her on it and I never heard back from her again, never got paid for the work I did either.
I felt so discouraged. I felt like a complete "loser". Then I landed my current job and I couldn't be happier. My point is that we all make mistakes and even us "veterans" need time to learn a new account. It will get better and YOU will get better at catching your errors. Make a list of everything that comes back from QA so you have a reference point and you can learn from it and not make the same mistake again. Everday is a new day and we all grow and get better and learn something new.
Good luck!
Hang In There (sm)
Unfortunately, most companies will not hire new graduates unless they are from certain courses that they approve. It is hard if you do not know this ahead of time. I have had several relatives that think they can just take a medical terminology course and get a job and they have found out that they can't.
Try to check with local physicians in your area first. If you can get some experience, it would help a lot. That is how I got my start. I was just kind of thrown into it blindly (no experience whatsoever). Just keep looking and don't give up something should come your way.
If you want to go back and take another course (I know you probably don't, but I thought I would mention anyway), several companies will hire graduates from Career Step (I know Medquist does).
Good Luck and like I said, keep on looking.
Hang on a minute there,
First of all, in many cases, the answer to a question is the answer to a question. If you're given the definition "difficulty swallowing" on a test and you answer "dysphagia," you would be correct. What's the difference if a computer corrects you or a person does? The answer is dysphagia, period.
As for no support, NOT TRUE. You can get help ANY TIME you need it. There are MTs on staff, and there are also former MT recruiters on staff--that's right, the people who actually HIRE MTs in this business. All you have to do is send an email or call with a question, and you'll get your response--quickly.
Career Step is a GOOD course. Don't let anyone scare you or frighten you into thinking you've got to spend a lot more to get an education.
Hang in there Lisa!
Hang in there! Something will come your way that is the right fit. Our oldest son was killed in an accident and his two young babies came to live with us for a year. That is the same time I finished my MT education. I was hired before I finished school. I have worked from home from the beginning. I set my own hours, accept work or turn it down; however, I always meet my 24-hour TAT. There is the right "fit" for everyone out there. Don't get discouraged! 
Just hang in there....you'll get use to them
xx
Ugh, ophthalmology? I never did get the hang of that...
I have never liked ophthalmology or gynecology; too many strange/new words for me!
What platform are you on? I know EditScript and Dictaphone allow you to search through reports and that is very helpful. If you are on something that doesn't have that feature, just e-mail/call them and tell them you would like more samples if available. I'm sure they'll understand and not expect you to just KNOW it all right off, especially with a mumbler! My very first report with my company was a horrible PA who no one likes to get. I told my "trainer" who it was and I couldn't understand a lick of what he was saying and she apologized and gave me a different speaker and then sent me her normal/template for the awful PA.
Don't get discouraged!!
Hopefully you won't be crushed. It might be difficult, but hang in there. nm
X
You hang in there.....I know it feels overwhelming
xx
will not - not if you're competent. If you're incompetent they will fire you anyway
x
Need to finish...don't buy something like this until you're positive it's job you're goi
s
You're not a "new MT" if you have no training, you're not an MT at all. nm
x
You're new and you're already frustrated?
You better find a new profession because doctors have always been lousy dictators and they always will be. It comes with the job. Nobody will ever say anything to the doctors about lousy dictating. They bring in the money to the hospitals. They can do anything they want. Get used to it.
You're not alone!
I'm so with you! After my recent work shifts I am more convinced than ever of the need to find something less stressful than nursing. I love the medical field but I really can't continue to endure the nursing world. It's going to hell-in-a-handbasket and I'm sure you know what I mean. I hurt my back last nite responding to a seizure! The guy was in a pool of blood and cyanotic. Found out later he's Hep C+. Great...and now my back is tweaked. Keep me posted on your plans!
You're welcome, Dee
I'm glad I was of help to you. :-) Good luck with your endeavour!
but you're not getting it!...sm
Oh, just relax...Of course I want MT's with experience - and as long as there continues to be MT's with experience that want work at a certain rate, they will be hired in front of a newbie. In the work place it is all about what the market will bear. Nursing shortage? Nurse pay goes up. Until Filipino nurses flood the market. Then nurse pay goes down (just as an example). All I'm saying is as long as there are experienced MT's who are willing to work for 6-7 cpl (and I get plenty of them asking for work all the time at that rate), then a newbie can't be worth the same. It's all about what the market will bear. Therefore, you have to give the employer something to make hiring you more attractive than the next person....which is what? I'm always surprised that a newbie doesn't take an internship or something- whatever it takes- to get that experience. Without the experience, your chances of being hired go waaaaaay down.
My own suspicion is that it's the MT schools who keep telling newbies to go out and try to get jobs at 6 cpl - sometimes I even get resumes asking for 8 or 10! If the MT schools were honest about how difficult it was to break into the field - would people sign up and pay the money? No. But they take the money, train 'em and don't tell them that training isn't enough. Then the boards are full of postings from newbies complaining about how hard it is to break into the field. Well, for crying out loud - I would rather work for free for six months and then be marketable than to get 0 work at 6 cpl for years and years, holding out for that one chance in a thousand that someone would be willing to take me on 
You're probably right lol...
I guess I should have said "Someone who knows what the heck they are doing." Or I could use a name of a great MT, but she'd probably hurt me for putting her in this conversation.
So you're saying..
...that I can't go and apply to a GI Clinic to perform colonoscopies since I know them in and out (pun intended)? That's not very encouraging.
Geesh Kat. You're a big meanie, but boy that was easy to have someone else prove your point for you.
The above posters who can't find a job did it for me, as well as the smart one who said if she could do it over she would go to SCHOOL.
I guess our work here is done.
You're Welcome - nm
You're certainly welcome.
I have trained a few MTs in the past myself, and made friends with all of them and still keep in touch. Which is why it makes me really angry to see scam artists try and take advantages of "newbies."
You're right
And I recognize that. However, when my employer reviewed my first few batches of reports, he was quite impressed and surprised at the quality given that I was just getting started.
So, I ask again- what is it that makes AHP an inferior education to other schools like Andrews and M-Tec? Do they not provide enough anatomy/medical terminology instruction? Are they deficient in practice report experience?
The only thing I felt under-prepared for was how quickly the doctor's dictate in real life versus what I was used to in practicing. Other than that, doing real transcribing was actually easier than the practice tapes I was doing because AHP uses a good deal of difficult foreign accents on their practice tapes. The account that I work on now has no foreign doctors (which is probably unusual), but some of them are ridiculously fast and incoherent.
I'm really not trying to stir up anything here or argue that anyone is wrong. I truly am just curious to know why AHP is not a good school. I have many people ask me about what I do and where I got my training, and when I tell them that I've read online that the quality of an AHP education is questionable, I have no reason to give. Thanks!
You're not alone...
I graduated from Penn Foster with a 95% and have run into the same situation. I did find out I passed the test given by one national company, and now I'm on a waiting list for additional, unpaid training.
Hopefully this is just a slow time of year and things will work out for all of us! javascript:editor_insertHTML('text','');
You're not alone...
I graduated about a month ago and haven't been able to find a job yet either. The biggest hurdle has been trying to find a company willing to hire a "newbie". I've passed tests, then been turned down because I don't have two years of experience.
Let's just hope the economy improves soon and more jobs become available for new graduates.
If you're just learning...
Why are you giving advice?
You're just beginning training. Where have you had marketing experience?
Also #1 priority in transcription and "landing" a job, be able to spell.
You're kind!
appreciate the support ... this is harder than i ever imagined it would be (as a seasoned clerical for many, many years). i don't see how any of you make a living at this.
though i was told it was hard before i started, i didn't believe it could be that hard. famous last words!
surprisingly, most of my challenges come from the simpler things like hearing "a" instead of "the" (or where there isn't either).
how on earth did you get through this? my hat's off to all of you seasoned MTs.
you're doing it correctly *the pt* until they..sm
tell you differently. I have a surgeon who gave me lip about it, until I gave him specific copies of the HIPAA laws and showed him that not only was I protecting myself but I was also protecting him from any future lawsuit.
The thing is this....many medical records are used as examples in studies..., blind studies, and the like. In today's world, as long as no patient name is mentioned in the medical record, well that record could be used in a study. If the patient's name is mentioned in body of report, the people conducting the study(ies) CAN be sued down the road for exposing a patient name......being possibly sued by the patient whose name was exposed.
There usually is a method to most madness.....*lol*
You're absolutely right!
I think it really depends on the individual.
you're the one who is unrealistic...
you've got to be kidding. To see the technology changes and all the forces aligned and to think American MT field will survive? What do you do, sitting around watching American Idol all night? You are sadly out of touch with reality, though not my desire to inform you. I was simply sharing experience with newbies. You the one who judged me as negative, pessimistic and toxic. That's like telling the doctor who diagnosed you with cancer that he is negative, pessimistic and toxic. For Pete's sake, Heartland just completely 100% outsourced to India and Spheris has gone as VR as possible, except for the crappy ESL dictators...but no, outsourcing and computer technology aren't a serious threat to the field. Tell that to the folks on the company board, why doncha?
You're confused? (sm)
I didn't make sense? Someone is posting using the name I always use. But I'm not really sure how to write for the 2nd grade level, which is obviously what would make sense to you.
If I didn't make sense, perhaps you need to learn to read something other than board books.
Can I ask what state you're in? nm
nm
They're Junk
Look here in the Classifieds or somewhere like Transcription Gear.
Oops. How about you're or you are NOT your
Bad!!!!
If you're already in an MT program, then do get it and
s
I'm sorry you're having so much trouble
I know it is hard. It took me a while to find work after I graduated. The only thing that saved me is I had a great paying job as a legal secretary so I could afford to wait. Have you tried applying to Spheris. I know I've said this in numerous posts, but have you tried local MTSO or local doctors' offices. I started out with small local MTSO as an IC and now work for a local doctor's office regularly transcribing for 4 doctors and 1 NP. If you want to work for the big Nationals, this may help get experience.
If I understand what you're asking...
It is mostly editing VR, but there is some straight transcription as well.
You're too funny....
I do not work for any school, nor did I ever claim to. I am an MT and have been for a long time. You can say what you like about this school or that school, but the truth is there are many routes to success in this industry. Why don't you put up a survey on the Main Board and ask what school, if any, the MTs here graduated from. I think majority will tell you they did not complete a program through one of the "top 3."
And here is a little splash to cool you down since you become so hot over outside opinion: .
Obviously you're not going to believe anybody unless they say what you want to hear.
So just go ahead an spend your money, and then come back here like all the others and complaint that no one will hire you without 2 years' experience, because NOBODY will waive that experience requirement for graduates of Allied. MANY places will waive that requirement for Andrews and M-Tec grads, and let them take their employment test (which they will most likely pass). The companies know that grads of Allied can't pass the employment tests because they are not trained well enough. So if somebody comes on here and tells you Allied is a great school and they had no trouble getting a job afterwards, go for it. Maybe you'll be one of the RARE lucky ones. Just don't hold your breath.
Yes, and they're great.
Pay always on time. Great counts. Always good communication.
Training can be tough because QA's pretty tight, but if you make it through it...wonderful place to work for.
You're wrong
This is VOICE RECOGNITION work so you really should learn to read. (let me know if you don't know what voice recognition means.) I have been in the transcription business for a very long time and absolutely know your type which is why I declined to put our company's name. We are actually offering a fantastic internship which many people are required to do. Personally I absolutely love to help people get into the transcription business and love to train as I know how hard it can be to get your foot in the door. However, I absolutely detest people who have no idea what they are talking about make it seem like everyone is out to do something that is shady or unethical.
|
