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

So depressing, I have been reading the thread below (sm) - HappyMTer

Posted: Mar 12, 2011

regarding line counts, pay, etc. I have been a medical transcriptionist for over 23 years, have experience in multiple specialties although orthopedics, neurology and cardiology are my favorite, and I barely bring home $600.00 every 2 weeks. That is with me working 10-12 hours a day, 5 and 6 days a week. I have been searching high and low for a new company, hating to jump ship, but desperately needing to earn more. My statement to those earning more than 600-800 a WEEK ..... great for you! My income went from $50,000 a year to under $20,000 a year. I can transcribe 200-250 lph. I am now working for a company who pays 7.5 cpl for straight typing but does not pay for headers or norms, which in my opinion is not fair. Even if we change the normal template, which we have to do often, we do not get paid for it so I am doing a lot of typing for free. I came from working for a local clinic and hospital for over 18 years, having my job outsourced and literally being thrown into the online transcription work. I love being an MT but I am to the point that I just do not know what to do. I am sending out resumes by the truckloads because I keep reading that there are companies out there that pay 9-10 cpl but I am beginning to think that these companies are somones imagination. I am at my wits end at this point financially and emotionally.

To those of you who are actually earning what you say you are, kudos to you and my advice to you is that you better stay where you are because it is horrible out here.

And to clarify, I was never informed that I would not be paid for headers and normal templates and being "new" to the online transcription world, I did not realize that I needed to ask.

Good for me, yes, although at any time my current - job could disappear, or the incentive

[ In Reply To ..]
pay scale that makes my @$30/hr gross possible, leaving me scrambling to pay our bills and for another decent job among so many exploiters like your company, a prospect that scares me. Good luck in your job search. My fingers are crossed for both of us.

The whole country is just holding on with our fingernails waiting for - another kick in the employment gut

[ In Reply To ..]
There is just no job security anymore at all, anywhere. I probably spend 80% of my time thinking about that. Good job fields? There are none. Sure, there are some that sound good, engineering, computer technology, etc., but guess what, those are headed overseas.

We live in interesting (un)employment times, that's for sure. We'd better all hope that the unemployment doesn't run out. Oh wait! It already has.

Well-put - the majority of workers in this country - ARE hanging by their fingernails. sm

[ In Reply To ..]
That's certainly where I'm at right now!

And I am SOOOOOOOOOOO tired of worrying about money every single frickin day! From the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep, I worry not only about how I'm going to get by on what I'm making as an MT, but what will happen when that job, crummy as it is, is pulled out from under me, as well. Somehow, the idea of having to go back and move in with mommy rent-free at age 65 just puts my gut in a twist.

You're going to have lots of company - What a world we live in!

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

dodging the bullet - ICManiac

[ In Reply To ..]
I understand how this happened to you, and I am so sorry that it did. It's been happeneing all through the industry. I am really concerned that MT will become a business where it is difficult to earn a liveable wage because of the scenarior you describe. As you said, you didn't know what was going on in the MT world and got stuck with a company who is taking advantage of you. The new MTs and new to online MTing are the most vulnerable to getting into situations where it is hard to make a living.

It has almost happened to me at least twice. With the first company, I was working onsite as I needed benefits, but quit to work from home as an IC. The company closed a few months later. Their problem was they couldn't even market themselves to client willing to pay more than 7 cpl. The second company, well, there was a huge reduction in available work. A few hours after I sent in my resignation, a company email was released stating all my accounts were going to voice recognition and pay would be reduced to 3-1/2 cpl. About 6 months after that, they merged with another comany.

I guess I'm saying there but by the grace of God go I.

Please don't give up on yourself, but do be realistic about how long you can stay where you are and continue being HappyMTer. There are a few companies, usually small ones, where you could get 8-10 cpl including H/F and templates. Every year at contract renewal time I worry about whether or not my situation will change. I live expecting that I could lose what I have at any minute.

Best of luck to you. I hope you are able to find something that works better for you.

I changed my situation. You can too. - You can do it.

[ In Reply To ..]
There are jobs out there that will pay you more. Make looking for a job a full time job. Don't be afraid of change. Some people fear change more than anything else. Fear is your worst enemy. I'm sure you are comfortable where you are now and leaving that security is hard. You have 23 years experience. You can do it. Things will never get better unless you look for a better job.Get the job that 23 years of expedience deserves.

changing positions - xMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree to a point. The problem I find is that there are so many qualified MTs looking for work that the companies feel they can offer miniscule pay for tons of work (i.e. 3.8c/line for 2400 lines per shift editing) and get the cream of the cream because of the desperation factor. I also don't think these companies really want the oldsters - I have over 40 years in the business and can't really get past the unbelievably low compensation being offered these days. Yes, I have current experience - was laid off after 20 years with a very large company in a mass layoff recently. Even getting a call back after testing is proving to be a challenge. I have been told my scores are in the 99-100 range but that doesn't seem to matter. Maybe the "recruiters" are not familiar with the medical transcription industry...lol. Oh well. And I'm running into an unusual bait and switch type of recruiting. Ad for supervisor or QA, respond, test, pass, then offered a position as an MT/ME because the advertised position is on "hold". Anyone else run into this? This has happened 3 times now.

Changing positions - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, I agree with all of it and I have experienced just about everything you mention, I've been an MT of 35 years, hanging on but anticipating a layoff in a few months. I didn't think I'd have trouble landing another gig but I have. I never used to think that age discrimination existed and I always thought that a lot of experience was a good thing but it seems that I was wrong. I'm generally an optimistic person but becoming depressed. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Usually optimistic, too but no longer - Getting out of MT

[ In Reply To ..]
BTW, the demographic group that experiences the longest period of unemployment, despite experience, knowledge, and social qualifications is women 45-50s in age.

yeah, the advertised position is "on hold" for a - younger worker.

[ In Reply To ..]
May all MTSOs that pull the bait-&-switch with older workers choke on their lying words.

I'm seeing MTs leaving due to retirement and because - see message

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't think the problem is because there are too many MTs looking for work. I'm not seeing that. I'm seeing too many that 1) are not prepared to do the work; 2) not willing to make changes required because of technology; and 3) personal life not appropriate for a production-oriented work-at-home job.

If your skills are updated and you are able to produce (this is a production-oriented career), there are still MT jobs that are pretty good. You may have to adapt to doing things a different way than you have for 20-30 years, but you can do that if you are motivated to do it and don't have any better option in any other field, which most of us don't.

Many of the MTs out there are at retirement age. I had read years ago that this was the time huge numbers of MTs were due to retire, and I believe that's happening.

EXACTLY the same for me, too! 35 years' experience, - 10-12 hour days, 6 days a week, - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
and it's all I can do to clear $600 per pay period. At my company we have to type headers, but are not paid for them. It takes time to look up, paste, and fill in the normals but we're not paid for those, either. My frustration with this job situation has grown to immeasurable proportions.

Something is wrong if you are working 6 days/week and making that little - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
The first thing I would do is get another job. I don't believe MT jobs experience much age discrimination. I'm seeing too much evidence otherwise. I am, however, seeing evidence that MTs, like everyone else, get burned out with their job after 15 or more years doing it. There goes the motivation and down goes the production. Out goes even the idea of adapting to the new world of MT. You truly can take control of some of those factors if you need/want to, but if you don't, why wait? Spend your time looking for a different kind of work that will energize you. Most jobs don't last a lifetime. People just get tired of doing the same thing after 15 or 20 years.

Agree. The severity of your situation cannot simply be - attributed to the state of the industry. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
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