couldn't agree more - grammar is critical yet not taught in the MT schools sm
Posted By: JoV on 2005-12-06
In Reply to: my opinion...take it for what it's worth - lilworried
I find it makes or breaks any MT I take on. I wish they would focus more on it. Most people can't figure out plural possessive or whether to use affect or effect.
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Well said. Couldn't agree more.
I work at home as well, but I also had to supplement my CS education to make up for what that program lacks.
I agree. Contrary to what the MT schools
advertise, many MTs get started by working inhouse for a while to gain experience before switching to working from home. I personally think that's the easiest route to go anyway.
I do agree that these online schools are misleading...
newbies into thinking they will be working from home from day 1.
Some people claim it can be done/they are doing it, but then I see posts on the Word Help board where an obvious newb is stumped by the most simple/basic things, such as "systolic ejection murmur." I cringe inside when I see this and I really feel bad for the gal, drifting all alone out there. I know I personally never could have worked at home solo straight out of the shoot, nor could any of the really good long-timers I work with.
I don't know what the solution is in your situation, but I just wanted to let people know about searching the hospital jobs boards. The 3 hospitals in my area all have in-house transcription and post only on those boards (no advertising in the paper or online), and it was a similar situation when I lived in another city as well. Maybe this will help someone who is reading this.
Another suggestion might be taking a job at a local MT service doing clerical-type work and answering phones, etc. Get your foot in the door, show the owner that you are smart, have excellent grammar skills, and are dead serious about this. While you are there, study every transcribed report that comes across your desk to see how an experienced MT writes the blood gasses and see that a lot of people have a 2/6 systolic ejection murmur listed in the heart portion of the physical exam. I actually took a job as a tumor registrar (ugh) in medical records when I was trying to get started, and all I did all day long was read/study transcribed reports.
I do wish the best for you. I know things are particularly tough in Michigan.
next time, check the word board, and the critical MT's
will not lecture you. The MT's on the word board are fabulous.
I really can't think of what the medication you are sounding out is. Sorry.
Good luck!
Best way to be taught
Just wondering how the top schools teach. The course I took I thought focused too much on terms and body systems and not enough on nitty gritty about actual dictation, formatting, labs, and other report-based information.
Anyone out there get top-notch education? What are your thoughts on it all?
There is plenty of work, I agree. Grads from good schools
I did it. Believe it or not, in nursing school, we also were taught
legally correct medical terminology as well as the slang that a lot of medical personnel use. Believe me, more of the use of slang terms came with my working experience as a nurse. 
grammar, honey, grammar...
Not at all intending to say I was better than you. Merely pointed out that grammar is an integral part of MT and one area in which you are handicapped. I felt my post was respectful, informative and fair. However, feel free to sink your two grand into MT schooling and then try to find a job. I've been at this for over twenty years and I'm telling you right now-- you won't find one...
Couldn't you have
warned her of the importance of going to a good school so she could step right into a good job?
I took the course. I couldn't get a job, so I enrolled in m-tec to get a job
nm
I'm sorry you couldn't make it
Business actually is growing at a record pace. I'm truly sorry that you weren't able to meet the standards (one error per page...50 pages, 50 errors). It is not unusual for disgruntled students to forgive their inadequacies and blame it on the Company.
However, once enrolled in our program you can always come back and display your "talents". If you have been inactive for 6 months, you can pay a $50 reinstatement fee, submit a new application, and resume.
If you are that talented, making all that money, what do you have to lose? Another client, hospital, clinic?
I really don't think I'll hear back from you, $50.00 reinstatement isn't "petty cash," right?
Lin
Even if you could take it, you probably couldn't pass it.
Anymore than I as an MT could take a nursing exam and pass it. MT is a lot more than just medical terminology, and nurses are not qualified to work as MTs -- just ask anyone who hires MTs.
buy...couldn't resist! :) LOL...great book though. NM
d
20$ an hour?!!! I couldn't make this as a nurse where I live! You are VERY blessed! nm
s
grammar
I don't mean to be so critical, but it seems that quite a few people on this forum have poor grammar and very bad spelling. These are two VERY important skills in this profession. I think it would be wise for some people to reconsider their choice in professions. If you never liked Engish in school or did not do well in in this subject, this will not be a good job for you. You will spend too much time correcting yourself. Please think about this.
GrammAR
"What is your very good in all the other parts of MT and only average in the grammer."
You are poor in both grammAr AND spelling. How do you expect to be good with medical terms if you don't even understand basic English?
Grammar
"... mispelling of English terms such as there/their and your/you're. Some MTs tend to think the way a poster spells on an MT board says something about their mastery of the English language."
It does. Either you know correct English grammar, or you do not. If you use the wrong form of a word, it's because you obviously do not know the difference, not just because you happen to be typing someplace besides "at work." Get real.
grammar
Are you the grammar police? I believe that was a simple mistake and I do know the English language, but I am also a happy person you on the other hand do not seem to be. Thank you though for the wonderful uplifting message you left me.
Grammar
grammar
Thanks! sounds like a great idea.
Grammar gals
Hey just wondering if everyone in this business was a top notch grammar gal in high school? 
Since grammar and punctuation are
very important in MT & you say you're having some trouble in that area, you could pick up a copy of a college grammar text book such as 'Little Brown Handbook' and brush up on it. I found it very helpful.
verbatim/grammar
I used to get hung up on the same thing. Do what you feel most comfortable with. When you get a job, they will tell you what they want you to do. Just realize that it very difficult to type exactly what they are comparing you to. Look at it and see if it really an error or just preference of formating.
Forget "approved" schools. AAMT set the criteria, then approved schools that didn't meet i
Stick with Andrews or M-Tec (both of which happen to be "approved") but forget about any others, they are not worth it.
PCDI teaches some grammar...
Believe it or not, PCDI actually does have a good section of their lessons put aside for grammar. I have still not mastered grammar (I'm not even close), but the lessons that PCDI gave me for grammar sure helped refresh some lost and forgotten rules!
and lots of grammar errors.
It is always good to have dreams.....
Without good grammar you would not even pass - sm
the test(s) you take in order to get a job. They ask a zillion grammar questions, which word to use (affect/effect; their/there; advise/advice), spelling, etc. Also all MTs, no matter how many years experience, be it 1 month or 15 years, must be able to take criticism (and learn from it). That is the first lesson you must learn. No matter how good a MT course is reputed to be, you will still have plenty to learn at the end of it. Many have the attitude that they all the all-knowing diva of MT and everyone else is full of it. So the OP needs to get rid of the chip on their shoulder, I know people here can be quite harsh and some of those here could be a bit more tactful, but bottom line is that they are right.
Grammar Text Book
Hey sm, just looked for that book on Amazon and there are quite a few different Little Brown Handbooks, could you tell me the ISBN#, author and edition? Thanks.
However, I might suggest you work on your grammar skills!
Most services are looking more for proper spelling, grammar, and
sentence structure than they are layout. I don't give a hoot what the layout looks like because I have my own way of doing things that I train the MT on how to do upon hire.
Not true, I made a 95 once. But grammar and spelling
are key issues as stated below.
There is no need to correct grammar or spelling mistakes on this board. (NM)
Goldbird
Nice advice, however, learning good grammar usually falls somewhere
between grades 1-8 and, even more so, 9-12, if you are lucky enough to be exposed to good schools. If they have not been the afforded the opportunity to attend a solid grade school, as well as a high school, with teachers who emphasize and demand the importance of correct grammar, they are going to be left behind when it comes to MTing, or have to take some English classes to catch up on what they missed during the early days of learning.
The egregious grammar errors are much worse than misspelling one word.
Congratulations is not a word used frequently in MT, it was just an example. I'm being honest (and trying to be helpful) suggesting she brush up on grammar. Definitely meant no offense.
Search the boards and send out resumes, and review your grammar and punctuation
s
aren't we lucky this site has you to correct our spelling/grammar usage.
maybe you should consider editing.
Wrong. As I said, her English vocab & grammar were great, but PCDI didn't teach her enough medic
With an adequate school she would have been great. She had been a secretary for years and had transcribed business dictation previously. She just couldn't learn enough terms in 3 months or whatever.
I agree
I am also a newbie and have found it very difficult to find jobs. I would also like to know if anyone has any suggestions.
I agree with ksc
You're not going to find much positive feedback on this forum. I recently graduated from our community college and have been looking for work for some time now. Everyone on this forum told me that if I didn't first work as a MT in an office, there was no way I was going to find a job at home. Well, I was just hired for an at-home position a few days ago. I believe that if you are determined to do this and you keep applying, you will find what you're looking for. Good luck in your search!!
I agree with you...
ALL are scams on Monster and CareerBuilder, ALWAYS.
thanks SH. I agree that it all comes down
to just doing the work, and doing it quickly and accurately! Thanks for your input. :)
I agree
I have heard of many people who started doing MT years ago, without schooling. I think times have changed though and most employers now expect their employees to have gone through training. But I agree completely that some people are cut out for this and some people are not. I am hoping to start out at a local hospital when I finish my schooling. One of the hospitals I called actually train you on site. I look forward to working with seasoned MT's who can give me the support I will need when just starting out. I eventually do want to work from home, but I also realize that I need the experience in house first to build my skills and confidence before I go on my own.
I agree
I agree. I hired someone out of Andrews and they did a wonderful job for me!
I agree
I can see her frustration. If they can't even follow simple instructions, they will never make it as an MT. It's ok for us to vent but God fobid an MTSO tries to vent. Let's step back and look at both sides of the coin. It would be a benefit for all to heed her advice.
agree with everyone else, take it
/
I don't agree with you!
I think it is utterly wrong to put all the fish in the same bowl and purely assume that everybody is the same. I personally think we should be given EQUAL opportunity. I don't expect to make $60K, $50K or even $20K right of the bet, it takes time to get better at anything in life -- I'm sorry but I found your message offensive. Have you gotten to where you're at OVERNIGHT????? So here is my answer!!!
And something else -- we don't look for a job and then simply ignore it, and feel like we don't have to prove anything!
What don't you agree with -
What don't you agree with - that an MTSO should notice an applicant's lack of skill and move on to the next applicant? Medical terminology is only one part of a transcriptionist's skill set. She must also have English vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and punctuation that is better than a doctor's. Fortunately, these things are hard to fake!
If one applicant doesn't have the skills, she'll find somebody who does. It's her (or his) reputation on the line.
I believe the better schools test people before they accept them so those who don't have the background skills won't waste time and money on a career they won't succeed in.
i agree...c msg
even with schooling, i had to humble myself and be a transcription clerk for 9 months so i could get in the door. learned the ropes of the mts, even did corrections on reports sent back by the doctor, which was the clerk's job.
i dont believe that anyone can master medical transcription or anything in the medical field as it is always changing. i believe that in time, you get more comfortable as years (not days, weeks, or months) go by.
I agree with you
Not everyone's situation is the same. People do not send their children to daycare just because they "cannot take care of them", or don't want to take care of them. Sometimes it is the only choice there is. And when you are a Work-at-home mom it can be difficult too. My primary reason for getting into MT was not so I could work from home, it was to work in the medical field and make some great money. Being home is an added benefit. It drives me nuts when people want to classify everyone the same. Everyone is different and deals with their lives differently.
I agree
Even though you are new to the business, $8.00 an hour is not much. I would want at least $10. Others may not agree, but receptionists and secretaries get paid more than $8.00 an hour these days.
I agree....
It is a good place to start, but my personal experience is it gets boring quickly. Acute care for me anyways is where I have been the happiest. Get a good reference book and give radiology a try, you will be glad you did!
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