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• Just starting.. and scared.. - christinak
  • You will hear responses from both ends of the spectrum and everything in between on these boards. (s - Happy MT
    • Where are all the jobs - Not So Happy MT
      • Try Sten-Tel - ladekoNewbieMT
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        • THANKS A BUNCH - NOT SO HAPPY BUT HOPEFUL
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First off, to mighty, you didn't offend me because I didn't participate in the similar-earlier thread.  I had just read through that thread and it left me curious about specific schedules MT moms were finding worked for them, why and how!

My schedule, as is, seems to work pretty well.  Although it is crazy and hard for other people and family  members to keep up with.  Like I said, my son actually does very well entertaining himself and letting me get some work done, but when you're home alone with your child there will always be things you'll have to jump up for.  I'm sure that has an impact on my productivity and was mainly just wondering if anyone had some BIG secret that would shed light on a way to do it all with the least distractions and the most productivity.  As is, I don't see how I could ever become a HUGE producer of work.  I do plenty with the current set up and am realizing that the only way to improve (much) would be to work during a time when there would be fewer distractions.  Than again, that may not help either because I tend to get fidgety and need to get up and walk away from "it" frequently, at least I consider it frequently.

I'm not sure what I was hoping for, a miracle perhaps? 

My schedule works pretty good though.  Thanks for all the responses.  I do think that I'll probably change up my schedule a little once my son starts school in the fall, I'll at least have that block of time for steady, kid-free work!

Thanks again! 

Now, let's have a good weekend!

do not post openings for whatever reason, but they will hire from the resumes posted.  It isn't a guarantee, but gives you more exposure and the chance to perhaps get a job.  I agree with the other poster to try for an in-house position.  When I first started out 20 years ago I never heard of an at-home MT, we pretty much all worked in an office or in a facility.   Many times medical offices hire someone to work in medical records and there may be several facets to their job, one of which is transcribing and might be something you want to consider. 

If any company offers you a position but want you to buy equipment/software up front be very cautious.   Come here to see if anyone has heard of the company, as there are companies preying on newbie MTs.  If a company offers you a position at a radiculously low rate also proceed with caution and come here and ask about them. 

don't advertise, but they will hire from resumes.  You have to be careful though as there are some companies who will try to take advantage of newbies.

Your MIL will have a much harder time finding a position than someone who took a course through a company that is known to have a good program.   Programs like the one she took are pretty much a waste of money and many end up paying more $$ to get into a better program or going through a mentoring program. 

The boards are closed to people who didn't go to that school. I didn't go and love the school I went to, but that board was great because it had a lot of job leads and information on companies, especially smaller MTSOs. I would love to be able to access it again.

I'm new too and typing clinic notes only for an ortho clinic.  I have about 2 wks under my belt and what I found to be very helpful was that the QA person would point out to me some of the common phrases used by the different docs. He even made a list of terms the podiatry doc uses often.  There are a few new MTs on this account - perhaps that is why he made the list. Not everyone will have this resource, but you can slowly create one yourself.  I keep a notebook next to me and write down the phrases that I have gotten stuck on. 

I have found that going back and listening to the unclear parts after finishing the report helps, and sometimes I hold the ones with blanks in them until I am done the batch for that particular dictator. I then go back and by that time, my ears and brain have adjusted to that person's style and I can hear things I did not hear.  I am lucky that out of the 6 or 7 dictators, only one is ESL and I have gotten used to the regional accent of the other one that was hard at first to figure out. 

Good luck. I don't know what is expected of newbies, and I would bet that it differs from place to place.  It can be overwhelming at first getting up to speed.  My first few days were simply awful. I am sure if you work hard and get good QA feedback, you will find that you get used to the account and your blanks will go down quite a bit. 

The lack of new MTs to fill the shoes of those who leave will cause companies to continue to look for oversea's MT's. This will probably continue to make the wages drop for those still trying to thrive on a MTs pay. As for me, My degree was obtained through the University system, why would I pay 4,000 more for one online. It makes no sense. Good luck to you all ...I hope things work out well for you ..as they evetually will for me.

I actually researched this profession for a few months before actually taking the plunge into extra school.  I have an extensive medical background.  But I started by calling different hospitals, transcription companies, etc, around the state that I live in.  They all told me the same thing, experience, experience, experience.  So I asked them what would make me hire-able without experience.  A few of them gave me names of medical transcription schools that they would waive the requirement for.  I followed up and am now extremely happy with my choice. Being a lurker here, I know that many people who are extremely bright and smart cannot get hired because of lack of a certain certificate from only certain schools, which I think is crazy to limit the hiring process based on that only.  BUT what matters at the end of the day is who signs your paycheck.  So instead of standing on my soapbox and shouting all that is wrong, I bit the bullet and enrolled.  I am only a few weeks away from graduation and every graduate from my school has been able to find a quality job in a matter of days or a couple of weeks. 

As in any profession, you will come across people that feel they are greater than thou.  You've made the right choice.  Now, take that education and go with it!  What I have found is that it is not so much being corrected by QA, it is the manner in which it is done.  I always felt I'll take all of the advice I can get, but only use what I need, and let the worthless advice come in one ear and out of the other!  TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS!  When it is all said and done, you are helping people even if it is behind the scenes.  Proper documentation to a caregiver means the world and do not ever forget that! 

can offer an MT certificate. You have to take the test through AAMT.

Also, what offices and hospitals want? A person who can sit down and do their work without a lot of discussion or BS. Just get the work out, make it correct. I was in a hiring position for several years at the largest hospital in my state. I didn't care about certification. I cared about test performance.

Of course a CMT behind your name means A LOT. That test is very difficult and, for the most part, if you have passed that test, no more discussion is necessary.