A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

IS ANYONE ELSE SKEPTICAL OF ANDREWS SCHOOL? - Olivia

Posted: May 14, 2015

I am an MT. I really want to do the Andrews School, but probably from being an MT, I just feel beaten down and depressed and I am afraid to be taken advantage of. On this site, there are so many people who went to Andrews and got such wonderful jobs and it gets such great reviews. This makes me think, could this really be true???? Or are all these just Andrews School employees? I am so worried to spend the money on it, I am not even sure I can come up with it, and just be a fool in the end. Does anyone else feel this way? I just feel like crap, crying every day, feel dehumanized in this job, hopeless. I can't believe this job that I used to love has changed so much, has changed me so much, and I am so afraid of throwing money away on something that sounds too good to be true, and maybe it is. I tried to do some research, I found complaints about the Andrews Transcription program just because of the MT situation now, no complaints on the BBB web site. I just don't know what to do.

Is Andrews your only option? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Is this the only school you've considered? Check out ahima.org and cahiim.org to find other accredited programs to research.
http://www.ahima.org/careers/codingprograms

http://cahiim.org/directoryofaccredpgms/programdirectory.aspx

Check the web sites to make sure they meet the CCS requirements - Most schools do not

[ In Reply To ..]
If you look at the web sites of schools on those lists, they tend to teach to the CCA level. You don't want that. That's just setting yourself up for failure. If you have to find a school other than Andrews, find one that qualifies you for and prepares you for the CCS. Otherwise you will most likely have wasted your time and money. There are a few exceptions probably, but certainly not many.

I feel the same way. Feels almost too good to be true. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
There is a local program through a university for the same price and aimed to the same credentials, CCS, that I was thinking of taking. It's also linked with the university medical center, which made be a good link job wise. Hard to know what to trust or believe but something so monopolized I find hard to trust.

Write to the school and ask for contact info from Andrews graduates - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
A legitimate school which is not too good to be true can furnish you with references from graduates and even current students.

Do that for your local school as well. If either school can't do that, eliminate them, because if they can provide references from successful students and graduates, they will.

My experience - Not affiliated or a student

[ In Reply To ..]
Here are a couple of reasons why I will choose Andrews when I am ready to get into coding:

1. No school in my area prepares for the CCS. We have a community college that seems to prepare well for CPC (I have met grads with credentials). We have lots of hospitals and large clinics so I want both credentials.

2. I used to help in the hiring process of an MT company many years ago. Almost every new graduate from Andrews passed our MT test and was hired. I was blown away by how job ready they were and could start working at home straight out of a course.

It is my belief from the research I have done that they teach coding the same way.

One thing I will say, though, as an observation. I think a person is going to be best served only if they REALLY want to become a coder and are willing to study seriously and listen carefully to the instructors. I think it looks like a difficult course, which would make sense if at the end of it a person could actually code.

no I think it really is true - and I didnt even go there

[ In Reply To ..]
It is the only online program that will prepare you for the CCS. The people who post here really did go there and they really do recommend it. No I am not skeptical and I think it really is that good.

I am a successful grad...I only wish we got money for referrals LOL - another MT 2 coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Honestly, we can't prove it to you, but talking to Linda will not hurt, and she does not do ANY pressure, you won't get on a mailing list/call list, etc. She asked me if I would talk to someone who was in a similar situation as mine, but didn't push, and we connected (she was already a student) via e-mail. Good luck with whatever option you choose!

Re: Andrews - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, Andrews is as good as it seems. I have been in the biz for 40 years (retired 3 years ago), and although I do not know Linda Andrews personally, I know of her through networking with other MTSOs and I know her reputation is stellar. She is known to be honest, forthright, and intelligent. MTSOs have no fear about hiring an Andrews grad. I say--go ahead and enroll. And, no, I do not now, nor have I ever worked for the Andrews School, nor have I ever met its owner. I know her by reputation only, and those who know her have only good to say about her, her school and her ethics. I hope this helps put your mind at ease.

Andrews student - SadMT

[ In Reply To ..]
When I decided to go to MT school, I wanted to go to the best because I wanted to know how to do a great job. I am kind of a perfectionist when it comes to work and I want to be the best. I chose Andrews because of the SUM tapes they had for training all throughout the course, not just at the end like most schools. I have never had a problem getting a job as an MT. Unfortunately, MT as a career seems to be going away. When I looked at coding schools, I was a little put off by the price of Andrews and I debated for a little while about it. My prior experience with Andrews finally helped me choose Andrews school. I feel that with the first module, they teach you right away how to code and then they use the other modules to make sure you know it inside and out. I am almost done with the first module and already use what I have learned in my billing jobs to understand the codes we are billing for. Whatever option is good for you, then do it. I didn't really have a local college option, they all cost more than Andrews school and were going to take longer.

Simple solution - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
There is a very simple solution to resolve your concerns. Andrews is licensed by the State of Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. Please see the link below for the name and email address of the current director, whom you can email to ask about the school's status.

I am not an employee of the school, nor do they pay me or provide any kind of benefits for referrals, recommendations, or anything else.

I am a graduate, and I can assure you that they ARE that good.

Coding training requires your full attention, effort, and confidence. You cannot expect to do well in it -- or even complete it -- if you are not fully invested in it and motivated to succeed. It requires your full commitment.

If you are depressed and crying all the time, it might not be a good time for you to attempt something that requires so much effort and attention. While you undoubtedly do need a better job, you also need to restore your self-esteem and get on an even keel.

I would suggest seeking professional help from your physician. You might also try attending a few local AAPC chapter meetings to meet local coders and get a better understanding of the jobs and job market in your area. If that helps you improve your mood, motivation, and understanding of the requirements of coding sufficiently, you could then attempt Andrews. Otherwise, you might do better with something like a local in-person AAPC coding course that would give you some positive social contact along with the training.

Detailed feedback from instructors, payments without interest, no driving - Not at all too good to be true

[ In Reply To ..]
If you appreciate being prepared for both CPC and CCS exams, using real books instead of cheap books a school just haphazardly put together to save money, having a flexible schedule, studying from the comfort of your own home--not having to drive somewhere, find parking, walk to class, etc., make payments without being charged any interest, and get detailed instructor feedback, then it's not too good to be true.

Thanks!!! Going for it! - Olivia

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you so much everybody!!!! I decided I am going to do it. I know it will be hard work, but I feel happy knowing this could be the beginning of the end of being an MT. Before I posted originally, my gut told me it was the right thing to do, but I was doubting everything. I can't wait to get started. I am going to wait a month, it's probably not a good idea to start it with my daughter's wedding only 3 weeks away. I feel so relieved. Thank you to everyone who answered!!!!

I hope the wedding is beautful and a blessing in your family - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Why it is so successful. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Hard work and lots of it. I think they are so successful because of the amount of hard work their students do.

The amount of work required to complete most courses is trivial compared to Andrews.

From my experience, it is a good program. sm - FWIW

[ In Reply To ..]
At least it was a couple years back. I am a long-time MT and decided to start the Andrews coding course. After a short time, realized it was not the career for me, so I contacted the school and was refunded a part of my payment (the enrollment form spelled out the refund terms), plus Linda Andrews personally contacted me to see if there was anything wrong with the course (there wasn't) and offered to buy back my books. I was involved for a short time, but everyone seemed supportive, from the instructors to the student forums.

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