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

An opportunity I was presented with - Transitions

Posted: Jun 15, 2015

Hi all,

I need some advice. I am currently a medical transcriptionist and I applied for a job at a local billing company as an administrative support for the coding department. The pay was 13.00 an hour and it was about 33 miles from where I live, so I declined on that offer. The HR lady had told me during the phone conversation the day I declined that because of my background in transcription she asked if I would be interested in coding if a spot opened up, which she said probably wouldn't be for a year. I told her I had some training in coding a few years ago but didn't sit for my exams. She called me today and told me there were 4 facility coding positions opening up (which was unexpected) and she asked me if I would be interested. It starts at 14.00 an hour, I would train for a year and then potentially move to an at-home position. She did tell they pay by production which concerned me. I forgot to ask what their production standards were and how much it pays, but I can always call and ask. However, she told me that they have coders there who are making 17 to 20 an hour by working production. Last year I made 28,600 transcribing and this would be almost 2 thousand less than what I am making now.

Coders, I'd love to have your input on this and if you think this is something I should decline or accept. Thank you in advance!

My thoughts and advice - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
First, I would be interested in seeing your calculations for annual income, because I can't come up with 14, or 17-20, being 2K less than what you are making now. Using the federal pay tables, converting from the hourly to the annual table, I get the same to slightly more with 14 and way more with 17-20 (31.5-41.5).

I would also bet that you are underestimating the hours you spend working now.

So, here are my thoughts. You took a course, which sounds like Andrews if there were "exams" afterward. Whatever, you spent a lot of money on this course, but for whatever reason never followed through. Sounds like a long time, so you might not have had ICD-10.

You have been continuing on in an MT job that pays less than you could make coding (the avg income is 45K+) with the rug nigh onto being ripped out from under you by that industry.

Now, you find yourself even worse off with respect to certification exams because you have been out of school so long.

So, you applied for clerical job and declined it because of the pay and distance. OK, I can see the issue with the distance. (But, why did you bother applying if you are doing so well in MT?)

However, they have now offered you a training position in coding. You are worried because of the pay and production requirements.

So, this is what I see.

1. You are ineligible for any other coding job because you never took even the CPC.

2. You are stuck in a dying MT job.

3. The longer you stay where you are, the less value your coding training will have.

4. You have been offered a job that pays the same as your current job, which is an absolute miracle.

5. You have concerns that the pay will be 2K less (which I do not think is accurate). That, in spite of the fact that most career changers accept a drastic cut to start.

6. Admittedly, the drive is frightful, but you can go home after a year. Maybe less if you learn faster.

7. You can use this as a stepping stone to a closer, better job. This is a FACILITY coding job, so it will provide marketable skills.

8. Because you never took the exams, this job is the only way you will ever get a foot in the door.

I think you have two choices here. You can do nothing and stay in your MT job making what you are making now, wondering when the axe will fall, losing more of you coding knowledge and what you paid for it with each passing month, until you have to retrain in something else or work at Wal-Mart.

Or, you can take this job, be thrilled that you got it, suck up the drive, deal with the pay, and exert yourself on the productivity, until you either learn enough to go home or to get another job.

And take those darned exams ASAP.

First of all, do you want to code? - If

[ In Reply To ..]
that is what you want to do, then there is no question, grab it! It is very rare, or has been, that someone would get offered a coding job to train in coding with no experience and no credentials! This is your chance to get in if that is what you want. You don't have to stay forever, you can move on with experience under your belt and hopefully you will get credentialed as you are learning there.

Thank you! I have decided to take the job! - Studying for credentials

[ In Reply To ..]
I told her I was studying for my credential exams and she told me, "If it's costing you anything, don't bother with it. We are going to train you." She liked it even further that I have gone through a coding course a while back. So, this is such a wonderful opportunity. I am so tired of transcription! I think the drive will be worth it.

Wow, congratulations! - On your way

[ In Reply To ..]
to a new career! Good luck to you. Remember, you don't have to stay there if it is not working out for any reason, but try to stick it out for at least a year and just think of it as being paid to learn. Once you get some experience and your certifications, you can go anywhere. Experience is golden. On the other hand, it also might be wonderful place to work and you will want to stay on. Great opportunity. Let us know how it goes.

Congratulations to you. - Sounds like

[ In Reply To ..]
a wonderful opportunity. You are so lucky! I'm trying to make the jump from transcription to coding, also. Good luck!

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