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

possibly medical transcriptionist - aea8412

Posted: Jan 15, 2013

I'm looking into doing online training to be a medical transcriptionist. I was wondering how much money you make once you get out of school, is it worth it? How much an hour? Also, is it easy to find a job? I really would like to work from home because I have a 5 month old daughter. Thanks!

new mt - have you read

[ In Reply To ..]
Have you read any of the posts on the new MT forum?

I am an MT with 37 years and I am lucky to make $10 an hour. No work as it is being sent offshore to other countries, the doctors have EPIC in which they do their own, there is electronic medical records where they do not need many MTs, and unless you have at least 2 years of experience (and where do you get that as a new MT), it will be hard to get a job. Hard to start working at home right out of school IF you can get a job, as you need someone to be able to turn to and have them listen if you are having problems understanding and until you get used to doctors with heavy accents etc, it can be difficult. I haVe problems with some heavy accents still.

Money wise, my 91-year-old mother, paralyzed one side, living in a nursing home made more money than I did for 2 year (My dad's pension, social security and a one time rental payment on land she rents to someone for farming).

So maybe or maybe not they will make you think twice about doing this. Don't believe the fact that you can make $40,000 to $60,000 a year as advertised. You are not paid by the hour anymore, you are paid but what you do, and if there is no work, there are no lines, and there is no pay. You do the math.

If you still insist on doing the online stuff, have you researched as far as schools? Read in this forum to see which are the best, no necessarily the cheapest, but the best, and do they guarantee placement or internship when you are through paying all that money for the school? Lots of cons, not many pros for doing this job.

I have never made more than $24,000 a year - and I have been doing this

[ In Reply To ..]
for 17 years. I have never done editing ever, only straight typing. I average $16.00 to $24.00 an hour. I am just a regular MT (independent contractor) typing for 8 cpl. I have really good autocorrects where I can type just about as fast as they dictate. I supplement my husband's income who is the breadwinner. I have raised 4 kids at home and even homeschooled working as a transcriptionist. It has worked for me. Not everyone has had this experience. Do what you want and what will work for your life. I did this in the first place because I wanted to stay home with my kids and it worked. I say go with what you want and stay determined. When I first started though, I only made about $12,000 a year. So just depends on how much money you need, do you have any help, etc. Best of luck to you! Watch out for the naysayers....there are tons and tons on this board. Just weed through them, take it with a grain a salt. Everyone is different and there are many successful MTs and it still works for a lot of us.

thanks - aea8412

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you.....I've been seeing a lot of negativity so now I'm torn. My boyfriend works full time so it would just be extra income for us. I really would love to stay at home with my daughter rather than put her in daycare it would be much easier. I just hope I don't spend all that money on school for nothing.

Transcription has changed so much since I - first started. I think now

[ In Reply To ..]
it is really hard to get in anywhere. I first started working under a lady who had her own business in my town and kind of learned the ropes that way. I picked up tapes, drove to her house, dropped off at the doctor's office. It may be a risk for you to try to get in now, but there are a lot of scams out there to work at home that are not legit and this is a legit profession. You definitely have a lot to think about and ask yourself if the money and schooling are worth it, as it may not turn out in your favor these days....sorry but true.

Medical transcription - me

[ In Reply To ..]
If you are going to school, set out from the start with the mindset of obtaining your own accounts as soon as possible, i.e., after you obtained some experience working for others. That is the only way you can ensure work, good sound quality, and decent pay.

The first 1-1/2 years, it cost me $8,000 to work full-time 18 hours per day... I started on operative reports at a surgicenter and hospital, which was great learning. I am one of the lucky ones that did make a lot of money, but this was due to how the accounts were set up (lots of templates, canned reports, etc.). OP notes/procedures can be very lucrative.

You will need a sitter while you first start. It takes a great deal of concentration.

Good luck!

aea8412 - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
It's not negativity--it's REALITY. Big difference. Don't count on MT to support your family.

aea8412 - Nick

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What school? If it is anything other than Andrews, you likely are spending it for nothing.

I wouldn't - watch

[ In Reply To ..]
out for the naysayers. I would take them to heart also. They are not making that stuff up. I do agree that the only way to make money is to get accounts on your own, though, depending on where you live, that may not be as easy as you think. I have 15 years experience and have been trying to get accounts on my own and have not succeeded. I have had them in the past, but in my area now, the doctors are doing their own or they are owned by corporations that use the big transcription companies. I used to pick up tapes, but now everything is electronic (mostly) and it is very expensive to get going. Personally, I am trying to get out of this business, as many are. You might get lucky and you might not. Do a lot of research in your area before you make a final decision. You also must be willing to not make any money for quite awhile. Also, if you don't have luck getting your own accounts and get stuck working for one of the big nationals, you can count on sitting with no work and very low pay, as most of the work is now going offshore. Personally, I believe at some point, this will bite them all in the butt, but until then, they have destroyed our profession. They are buying all the small companies that take care of their employees and then you will not like it. Please do read the posts by the naysayers also. Good luck with whatever you decide.

i'm so torn..... - aea8412

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you all for answering my question. I really will research a lot. I'm in New York so I'll have to look to see what the rate is here and how much work I could actually get. It's definitely something I will think long and hard about though!

I beg to differ, severe shortage in MTs-too much work - me

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, you will be spending money at first before even making it, but the investment can pay off. Education, networking, and quality work.... and a dictation system.

I was making over $10,000 per month before my last several surgeries and still make over $7000 per month, just my work by myself with my own clients. You have to really work at it though and have great training.

being an MT - Effie

[ In Reply To ..]
I have three daughters, all with children, all would have made great transcriptionists... I didn't allow any of them to go into the field. Its not what it use to be.. ten years ago I was earning $60,000 a year. Now its more like $35,000. Do not go into a field that can be outsourced to India... learning plumbing or bricklaying and nursing, garbage collecting...

Beg to differ - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
And I have a date with George Clooney Saturday night! Lucky people, we!

you must stop telling people this - really please

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm not saying you're not being truthful, but you must know you are the exception and not the rule. Please do not get people's hopes up by dangling this kind of carrot before them.

newmt--have you heard? - mtdespair

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree with aea8412. Offshoring is killing us, new MTs and even with 1-2 years experience and even the 30-year + experience. I want to go to the local college and warn people who plan on studying this field to NOT do it, especially the single moms, -- they have a high chance of becoming homeless once they graduate and start facing the hard truth. I had a 9 month acute care and then temp med transcription jobs and 1 even dealt with the mgr, who was physically in INDIA, but I guess the U.S.A. doctor demanded a U.S. transcriptionist, which was me, but ended in first of year -- doctors are realizing that the offshoring is out of control and some do not want to deal with it, they rather do EMR and no transcription. And the work goes to other places too like the philippines, check out medikin, they boast about selling their software to Philippines!!!!

Also, the industry has changed...no longer flexible.. - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
It's much more stressful now and, though it makes no sense, many companies now make you clock in and out. You also have to REALLY concentrate as QA will penalize you if you miss and "a" or a "the". It's crazy. Trying to work at home with a 5-month-old baby is going to be distracting with the rules offshoring MTSOs are demanding. Also, you will most likely be offered second or third shift, if you can find a place that will take a new graduate. It's sad what this business has become.

well I will definitely..... - aea8412

[ In Reply To ..]
be looking in to this deeper. I'm not planning on starting now anyway I'm going to wait till u have the money and till my daughter is older.

Someone on another post mentioned - Maggie May

[ In Reply To ..]
that you might want to Google and find websites that hire MTs (other than this one). See how many of them are willing to hire new graduates of ANY school without experience. You definitely should consider that when trying to make a decision. Most places want at least 2 years of experience, and many want 5 years if you go into acute care. You would be competing with all the experienced MTs who have lost their jobs recently and are now scrambling to get another one.

Transcription jobs - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Keep in mind that your education and skills can surpass any requirement. I was transcribing acute care before I even graduated and landed a great-paying job transcribing at a hospital 6 months after graduation, this despite the 5 years' experience requirement and testing against several hundred applicants.

When you finish your course, you are not finished with your education but just beginning your real training. You would significantly benefit from any workshops available or even completing workbooks and transcription modules on your own. Your best bet would also be to try find a job with a small MTSO who could mentor you (paid training, of course) or network at your local AHDI chapter if available. Many members who attend have their own accounts or companies and are willing to do this.

I have never, ever had problems landing a job or clients. I have had problems having TOO MUCH WORK. Same with most of my classmates, who 12 years later I still keep in touch with. I pay attention to the smallest of details, grammar, punctuation, word processing, etc. Your bosses, clients, etc., will notice that, and you will never be low on work, trust me. There is a severe shortage of qualified transcriptionists.

With regard to AHDI - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
The best thing you can do is avoid them.

Amen to that! Avoid AHDI like the Plague that they are! - AHDI + MT time/money = NOTHING.

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Amen to your amen! - One-time Cali girl

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I watched this crew from the time they were the sorority sisters. Glad I got/stayed away!

you need to read the posts at these links - Des

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http://forum.mtstars.com/442087.html

http://forum.mtstars.com/442094.html

http://forum.mtstars.com/434221.html

possibly medical transcriptionist - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
The kindest advice I can give you is to find something else. This field is changing radically. There are people with 25 years of experience who are out of work. And--not a criticism, just an observation--"wanting to work at home" is NOT a good reason to become an MT. I hope you can find something that meets your needs, but I am betting that MT will not be it.

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