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M Tec or Andrews? - Cookie

Posted: Jun 03, 2010

I am an LPN looking into the field of MT. I am tired of standing on my feet for 2-3 hour med passes and lifting and turning patients. I am ready to work hard from home. I understand that both M Tec and Andrews are great schools. Is one better then the other? How do experienced MT's feel about the two?

Thanks!!

They are both great - Typin_away

[ In Reply To ..]
Not an experience MT but did exhaustive research before I signed up for a school. I would look at the particulars of each program and decide which fits you better.

For example Andrews you have a new teacher for each segment, with MTEC you have the same one throughout.

MTEC has some tech classes. I don't believe Andrews does.

Good luck!

Thank you! - Cookie

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree...they both seem like great schools. Thanks for your input!

schools - check the board

[ In Reply To ..]
Check the boards to see what is happening with this profession before you invest a lot of money and time. Lots of MTs losing jobs because of offshoring and electronic medical records, and the pay stinks

And some are doing really well, but nobody knows why some do and some don't - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

I am worried about that - Cookie

[ In Reply To ..]
I am wondering if this is something i want to get into. I hear different things. Some people say it's a dying field but it seems to me that the need for MT's is still strong. ?

Where do you get that information? - LK

[ In Reply To ..]
Just curious where you are getting your information that the need for MTs is still strong. As an employed MT keeping my eye on the field and what many of my fellow MTs are going through, that doesn't seem to be the case at all. It seems that the need for MTs is shrinking very quickly.

What you are reading that many MTs are going through isn't what all MTs are experiencing - I think it is a culling out in some areas

[ In Reply To ..]
There are some areas that are really doing well, with some MTSOs having more new accounts and more work than ever, and others are going downhill fast. I know one company that has trouble and I know some of the MTs who work there. They are always complaining and even though they say they do great work, I've seen some of it. They don't. Those companies that hire anyone who says they are an experienced MT are having to deal with so many 'people' problems that it's no wonder they aren't doing well. I know MTs that are so rigid and unbending that they cost more money than they are worth. The MTSOs that are doing really well are those that hire the MTs who are staying up with changes and are willing to make changes when necessary and stop giving work to the ones that can't or won't do the work the way the accounts want it done without howling every minute that QA is after them.

I hope you're right. - MT3

[ In Reply To ..]
But I do think the job market for MTs has tightened considerably due to offshoring, the EMR, and the recession. The company I work for is a really great small to mid-sized company that has been in business for decades, and they recently laid off a number of MTs for the first time in their history, mainly due to the EMR. I've heard of quite a few other companies laying off, as well. I agree that the problem MTs will be hit the hardest in this kind of situation, but it also affects the ability of newbies to get jobs.

True, but why are some of the companies adding still more accounts and hiring more people? - Confused

[ In Reply To ..]
I know of a couple of companies that are adding more accounts and hiring more MTs just at the same time that others are losing accounts and laying off MTs. I don't understand what's happening. Things are obviously changing and there are winners and losers, both in companies and in MTs.

It's obvious that to be a winning MTSO, you have to provide good work at an acceptable Turnaround Time.

It's also obvious that to be one of the winning MTs, you have to be willing to work with the new tools, VR editing, expanders, etc.

Is that all, or are there more reasons why some of the companies are falling apart and others are really doing well? Does it have anything to do with the caliber of MTs they have working for them and/or their attitudes and/or work ethics, or is it just luck?

If I owned an MTSO - Here is what I would do

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm not an MTSO, but for a moment I'm going to look at it as if I were.

If I owned an MTSO, I would stay up with the changes in our industry as much as my budget would allow.

I would keep the MTs informed about changes that I would be making and how it would affect them, giving them a chance to look elsewhere for work if they didn't want to make the change. Then I would replace those who left with people who were excited about the future and motivated to learn the new system, whether they were (hopefully) expert, wise, productive MTs with years of experience or newly out of school with updated skills and a fresh outlook. Then if anyone developed a bad attitude that made problems for me, I would urge them to find a job they could enjoy, elsewhere, or find a way to adapt to the new system. After maybe 3 months, if they were still complaining, I would give their accounts to the people who were eager and able to do them, and let the unhappy ill-adjusted people go to another service where things are still done the old ways, or find another career altogether, but that wouldn't be my problem. My own responsibility as that (imaginary) MTSO would be to the success of my company and those who help it to succeed. The others need to move on elsewhere. That's a good business decision and the right thing to do for those who are with me and not against me. That's my very simple understanding of how it works.

I have never been an MTSO and never in the world would ever want to be responsible for going out and drumming up accounts and maintaining them, but if I were, that's the way I would see it.

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