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

Question about experience needed - MLS

Posted: Nov 16, 2012

I see all these job postings requiring 3, 5 or even more years experience. Do they pay any better or offer better benefits than the places that hire new grads or someone with 1 year experience? I am so discouraged. I'm coming up to 1 year in the field and was hoping I could find something better, but it seems from the postings on this website that all places are pretty much the same. I am ok with my salary as long as I make top tier incentive, but the PTO is not nearly enough and the holiday situation (having to work them all) and the out of work situations and having to make up time is just not working for me. Is there any hope after 1 year under my belt to find anything better?

have 17 years experience, there is no hope - sam I am

[ In Reply To ..]
I work all holidays, only had 1 holiday off in the past 17 years, get no incentives, and lately run out of work at least once a day. I feel for you, but it really is not any better for us with lots of experience.

I was afraid of that... - MLS

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for the honesty. I am so discouraged. Why in the world do you have to go to school for this career and then get treated so badly in the field. I don't understand why it's not like any other field. I am so discouraged for going down this path.

MT - Me

[ In Reply To ..]
I've been doing this for 25 years. Was told by a recruiter the other day that I have the perfect resume, then offered 3.0 CPL. Sigh.....

Yet the schools are still out there selling MT jobs. - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
The job is being beaten up completely. We are no different than the striking Walmart employees. We are making wages that qualify us for food stamps too and absolutely no benefits...and its a game that is being played...we are the pawns. Still they are scaming on the internet saying there are jobs...you click on it and fill out the form, then you get a phone call wanting to tell you about what university they can lead you to. Took a test on line...said I did not pass (I believe my answers were right) and then wanted me to sign up for school. There are NO jobs out here. Maybe if we move to India.

15 years in and the same situation - and

[ In Reply To ..]
I get paid the same line rate as somebody fresh out of school. The only difference I can see is that I get the more difficult reports because I "can" do them. I was even told this by two different supervisors at two different companies.

This used to be a great career but I'm afraid those days are behind us at least until one of these bigger companies stands up to AHDI and refuses to get on board with their "trends."

Can you explain what you mean? I don't see - how big companies standing

[ In Reply To ..]
up to ADHI would have to do with improving the situation. It seems like the companies have all the power anyway.

AHDI - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
The big companies are not going to stand up to AHDI, most of them are corporate members and many of them encourage their MTs to become certified.

and that's the problem, one of the biggest problems with this - so-called profession. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
.

AHDI used to be AAMT - - FOR the transcriptionists

[ In Reply To ..]
When the trend started to offshore, instead of them fighting for us to keep the jobs in America they "embraced" it. Same thing with speech recognition and EMR.

They changed their name, changed OUR names more than once, and then offered us classes that we could pay a lot of money for to keep up with the "trends" that they put in place.

Sadly, their mission is to protect document integrity but the very things they embraced have driven the quality of medical documents into the ground and taken our jobs/pay with it.

Their stance has been that "they" can't change it so they will embrace it. The truth is, they have the power to show practitioners and politicians that it's much more cost-effective, quicker, and safer for the patient to have a transcriptionist prepare the document instead of paying for SR and then paying someone to redo it or paying somebody to click on canned text which in turn creates a 7 page record for each visit that is impossible to follow and is most of the time inaccurate.

If companies would stand up to AHDI and not get on board with their "trends", our profession would still be thriving.

I do agree with the poster below that it'll never happen because most of the board members probably have a stake in the bigger companies and the companies that provide the SR.

I give the AHDI the same respect - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I would give the Mafia.

Same here after 30-some years, same exact story. - and agree wholeheartedly.NM

[ In Reply To ..]
z

36 years' experience here, same situation. EXCEPT, - now the problem is too MUCH experience!

[ In Reply To ..]
Ya just can't win in this godforsaken business.

In 2004-2005, I was paid by the hour, and making roughly $47,000/year. Now, in 2012, I work far longer hours and have even more experience, but VR-editing at 3 cents per line has lowered my yearly income to less than $15,000.

I'm sorry - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm sorry all of us old-timers are taking newbie jobs. We don't want to, but no one pays for experience anymore. These MTSOs know they can hire someone with tons of experience for the same pay as a newbie, and that is what they will continue to do until there are no more MTs in the business and ASR will take over. If you are young and were my daughter, I would tell you to find another career, b/c you will not make it through this profession for 40 more years. All is not lost though - with medical terminology exp. look at becoming a rad tech, hospital secretary, unit clerk, or anything else in the medical field. I also think paralegal work with medical terminology would be helpful in a firm who deals with malpractice. Good luck.

Not that easy when your career was an MT and you are 60. - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Not to mention that the hospitals who laid you off never offered you another position at the hospital and just wanted everyone gone, and the service that took over needs the work to give their people also. Some things sound good, but not always that way. Back to school...different road to life.

MT schools - MLS2

[ In Reply To ..]
These MT schools should be ashamed for posting that you can make a $60,000 salary. I guess they are also trying to stay in business at this point. This is more like a minimum wage or slightly higher paying job. You can make that at a job with no schooling or experience in anything. I am 50 years old, 28 years experience, and you better believe I will be chained to the desk in the basement on Thanksgiving and Xmas making my 12 bucks an hour, if I'm lucky enough.

wow....12 an hour??? - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I work for three different services, 2 part time and one is supposed to be full time, but has turned out to be more like prn with 6 files this week so far. I just sent in my invoices for the three companies I work for and between all three, my two week's worth of pay is about $500! Average that out to an 8 hour day and it is less than $5.00 an hour! I am pretty disgusted at this point. You woul think between three different companies one would have enough work to survive on! I just turned 63 on thursday and where can I go from here?? retirement? It would be early retirement, and getting less than $700 a month. My mortgage is more than that! I feel sick to my stomach! Reality bites! and nobody would even want a 63 year old hooker! (not that I would want to even, and just joking, but it is not funny at all).

To the OP. I am sorry that you spent time getting schooling in this profession, but if you are young enough, cut your losses and find something else. At least you still have the opportunity. Some of us surely do not. Good luck to you.

To anon63yo. sm - BabyBoomer

[ In Reply To ..]
You can file for early SS and continue working. You can earn up to 15K from your jobs without your SS payments being held. You probably looked into this already, if not you might want to look into. I posted above. It would get you some extra income each month and maybe you could cut down your hours a little bit. I will be 62 within the next couple of months. When you reach full retirement age (66?), Social Security will refigure your benefits and your monthly payment should increase because you kept working. I have to do it. Need that extra income. Best of luck to you.

p.s..Check out your state's Commission on the Aged or something similar. Each state should have one. You might be eligible for some help with food, utilities, and taxes on your home. In my state, you only have to be 60-years-old, though I didn't meet the income threshold for any help, I was able to get some free legal advice recently. Also, your city/town might have property tax credits for seniors. My state's property taxes are through the roof.

With the growing flood of out-of-work Boomers in this - country, there should be a resource - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
for FREE job-retraining, and/or free college or trade school tuition to learn something new, rather than just being swept under the rug, as our country is currently doing. We WANT to work, and the majority of us will never be able to retire fully, or at all. The country and the business world are wasting a valuable resource by assuming we're over-the-hill and worthless in the workplace.

What good would retraining do? Most places - 30 year MT

[ In Reply To ..]
(and I know there is always an exception)want young people. I never had a problem finding a job when I was young no matter where I applied and I have the same sparkling personality now that I had then. I had a job interview for a job at a local hospital in admitting which I did not get. I think the only reason I got the interview was by mistake as the interviewer said she could not read those new application forms. She was telling me about the people who had worked there, most hired out of high school. Two were now on maternity leave. I believe the interview went well but the rejection letter was sent out the next day. If they had hired me there would have been no worry about maternity leave. They don't think about those things though. I had applied to over 50 jobs on line,two only required that you know your ABCs and can count to 10 in filing at a local hospital. I can do both but one sent me a rejection thru email saying they had better qualified applicants. (better = young)

My bank has an older worker there, but she has been there since she was young. All the rest young. The doctor's office may have an older nurse, but she also has been there since she was young. All other employees are young.

I am taking my SS when I am 62. They can dangle that carrot that says you'll get more when 66 but that is 4 years of money they have to pay out early. I don't recall the calculations but you have to collect for several years after 66 before the difference. Anyway, you could die at any time and collect nothing. Now that would be a shame.

I could not have said it better myself. I have over 20 years too. - The pay just is not there.

[ In Reply To ..]
They all call for experienced MTs and then they don't pay for that experience. We are all lumped together. One of the largest companies still only offers 4 cpl VR across the board for all new hires.

Wonder about the years experience too. A come-on. - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Sometimes I wonder if they just say 3 to 5. Anyone over the 5 years knows the games...they don't want someone knowing the games and the lies either. They just want you to hop on, teach the VR and then be pushed out with whatever tactic they can legally get away with. Albeit, not getting your lines (no work) and not getting your QA (giving you QA and telling them to find anything because you are on their hit list) or if you post something on this board that they THINK is you!

experience gets you nowhere - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I have 10 years experience, and I think I'm pretty good at this job. I work hard to produce lines (when the work is there) and I mostly get 100% accuracy on QA reports. But in the MT field now, seems like good hard work only gets you put on more difficult accounts which kills your line count, or it makes the company want more, more, more for less, less, less. I'm currently back in school to get out of this biz. I'm tired of being in a field where my hard work and dedication will never get me a raise or advancement. I reached the point where I realized this is as good as it's going to get, and it is getting worse. All of the companies are about the same with low pay, out of work situations, working holidays, etc. Being an MT with 1 year experience will get you the same job as someone with 30 years of experience. I'm making 1 cpl more now that I did when I got my first MT job, no better benefits. Tired of spinning my wheels in this so-called career.

Similar Messages:

Feb 05, 2010

Can someone please help me in finding out how I gain experience in medical transcribing. I have completed a career diploma program from Brighton College. Received a 3.945 gpa. If it wasn't for the fact that I love learning I would think gaining an education is a waste of time. Thanks for any input. ...

Nov 11, 2009

I am a new graduate and need to find a job! I am also new to this site. I got the site info from a friend that has been doing transcription work for many years. She has given me some leads, but as of now, nothing! It appears that most of these companies wnat 2 or more years experience. Does anyone know how I can start and get some experience? I suppose in anything and not just medical. Experience in transcription is experience, right? ...

Dec 12, 2009

This patient is in for cold symptoms. First assessment listed is: Pregnancy via in vitro fertilization - doc goes on to dictate what s/l Patient is D G 2 P-0-0-1-0 Not familiar with the way this is done and not sure if I'm typing that correctly, can anyone help? Thanks! ...

Feb 09, 2011

I am typing a new doctor. He said FBS is 150. ACBA1C is 5.9. Blood sugars are about 150. I know the A1C part, but was it ACB. He does not take a break, but runs ACBA1C together. Any help appreciated. ...

Jun 29, 2013

...

Nov 18, 2009

I was informed that some companies will train you, or fund your education, and then you work for them. Is this true? What are the companies? I am really interested in becoming a MT. ...

Jan 15, 2010

I have been reading your posts for sometime now and I can’t imagine how much this field has changed for some of you who are veterans. I have been considering going to Career Step through a partnership program they have with Fayetville Technical Community College. I would like some insight from those who are MT’s. I do not expect to make the salary I am making now working in the legal field but what I am looking for (besides wanting to get away from lawyer ...

May 20, 2010

Hi any help would be so much appreciated! I am thinking of going into MT. I have done a lot of research, some (well more than some) is negative as far as gaining employment, but then there are the positive comments. This is something that I really want to do, so I am going for it.. Can anyone please tell me if it would benefit me at all to get an AAS in Medical Transcription or would I be wasting my time and money. It is costly. Thank you in advance to anyone who could help me out.. & ...

May 21, 2010

You know, we hear tales, hope they're not true, but now I believe that the evil Q is intentionally sabotaging our work! I've been on 100% QA for failing my audit. Yesterday I was being audited again, was aware of it and was working e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y carefully, very conscious and aware of everything I was doing. My production was down a bit, but my accuracy was spot on! As we all know, they audit 5 reports and average out the score. My accuracy was 9 ...

Jun 24, 2010

Dictated: A 69 year old man with history of hypertension, diabetes... type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia, admitted with sudden onset....admitted with subacute onset of ascites... of ascites and jaundice.....with subacute onset of progressive ascites and jaundice. Imaging..... no, say, Reason for consultation is a 69 year old man admitted with hypoglycemia in a setting of a .... 69 year old man witih history of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, admitted with persistent hypog ...

Sep 15, 2010

I came across a website this past summer from someone that posted on MTstars and cannot find it again. It stated that if you were a graduate from another school you could still take some courses or mentoring from them to beef up your resume. Please, if you know what I am talking about, let me know what it was. This is driving me nuts!!! ...

Nov 19, 2010

Sounds like LATROLOSE for a medication. The only PMH given is that the pt has a history of alcoholism. The only thing I can find that comes close is Lactulose and I'm pretty sure that isn't it. ...

Jan 14, 2011

Med, unsure what for, s/l Ves-o-nique 1 daily no dosage or anything given...just 1 daily ...

Jan 23, 2011

I am working on a discharge summary for obstetrics by a Chinese physician and it is very difficult to understand him. In the HPI, he dictates what sounds like, "on the morning o addmission, the patient had a vaginal exam of 3cm-hand-placental cebo," I have listened over and over and cannot come up with what he might be dictating. Would anyone have an idea? I appreciate your help. ...

Feb 23, 2011

I am an MT student of At-Home Professions with a course completion of 76%, and have landed a temporary job with my primary care physician. The job entails transcribing 2,000 patient files for her clients as she closes her practice. I have been told the files will be relatively simple. However, being less than a Newbie I feel I need support and have been told mentoring is a standard practice in the medical transcription profession. Are there any old timers out there who might give ...

Feb 28, 2011

Can anybody help me out on numbered lists when there are sublists? Can't really afford time on shift to try to find the training for that part and listen to the slow explanation. Thanks! ...

Apr 07, 2011

Patient with dyspnea and cough. Chest x-ray reveals s/l "light" or "La" technique. No definite infiltrates or abnormalities are noticed. ...

May 13, 2011

Patient had cardiac catheterization that showed single-vessel native coronary disease, status post percutaneous coronary intervention with s/l 4 out of 4 stents patent (or) 4 to 4 stents (4:4 stents patent). Can anyone help? Thanks! ...

Oct 05, 2011

Correct: The patient was anesthetized with rocuronium. ASR: The patient was anesthetized with a rock thrown at him. I guess you could do it that way. ...

Jul 05, 2012

Patient needs lateral ankle repair either through s/l tendodesing, or through a free tendon graft with a s/l briar osteotomy. Thanks! ...

Dec 05, 2013

I am an MT with nearly 30 year's experience. I currently IC for a medical management company. Current line rate is .10/line (which is good) but would like to ask for .12/line - even better. I have been working for them for over 3 years - the last 1-1/2 full-time. I am having a hard time finding the wording to address this subject. With everything else around me (rent, insurance, etc.) rising, I feel this is deserved but don't want to jeopardize or ris ...

Jun 05, 2014

Hi all First post on the forum. I need help with a word in a dictation. It's a German Orthopaedic Surgeon dictating in English on a patient that has had chest trauma. He mentions that she was prescribed anti-pain medication and a (word that sounds like) lucoluticam. Any help would be great appreciated! ...

Dec 23, 2014

Oh, my gracious, OT needed. All hands on deck! Wait! Caught up! No OT needed! JHC ...

Jan 09, 2015

I need some advice. I have been an MT for about six years now. I have worked for this specific company for about a year now. I will get feedback from QA (not the clients) that I know is incorrect, per BOS standards incorrect, nothing to do with account specifics. Examples, x5 changed to x 5 (CABG x5), patient named being changed in the body of report to the wrong spelling, abbreviations changed that end up making no sense, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus changed to non-insulin dependent ...

May 19, 2015

I'm new to PC Shorthand and wonder if there is a way to "turn it off" for all programs/applications except for MS Word. I don't want it working when I use AOL IM, when I'm in my browser, etc., only when I'm transcribing in MS Word. TIA for any help! ...

Jun 06, 2015

I might soon be working for a new company and wondering if I should ramp up on my reference books. What are your must haves? Do you use the BOS (helpful or no?) Anyone use the online BOS; if so, user friendly or not? Any help, opinions much appreciated! ...

Jan 26, 2010

Hello! Just wondering if anyone has heard of "Epic" a new EMR. I work for a doctor's office and was told no need anymore for transcription. Checking to see if anyone is in the same boat I am or heard of this new EMR. Thanks ...

Feb 09, 2010

The spleen is a thin fibrous capsule. Malpegian bodies are indistinct. Thanks. ...

Feb 16, 2010

I need a good audiology link. I am working on a letter and I have never done anything in this speciality. Any good links to recommend?? ...

Mar 27, 2010

jn ...