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

A little shame at being an MT? - Leaving MT

Posted: Aug 03, 2012

Does anyone feel this way about being an MT nowadays? I am in a cycling club with a doctor and a nurse, and I was very reluctant to let them know what I do for a living, mainly because of knowing how poor the quality of transcription has gotten with offshoring, etc. As a matter of fact, I would have kept quiet about it altogether, but my husband mentioned it at some point during a ride one day. I was mortified. It is terrible to not be proud of one's profession. I will be so glad to be out of this business. I am proud of the work I do, but I am not proud to be an MT. Does that make sense?

I hear ya... - Greenfairie

[ In Reply To ..]
I know what you mean but I found that the docs and nurses I've talked to don't look at it like that. They understand what is going on because the outsourcing affects them so adversely. When I say I'm an MT they immediately say they hate their transcription being outsourced and long for the days when they had an American company or, even better, inhouse transcription. The decision to outsource is usually made by the bean counters in management and they know that.

I agree with Greenfarie - CB

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The physicians themselves RESPECT and APPRECIATE what a great transcriptionist can do. I've never had a physician say anything less than positive things when they ask this question while doing physicals. They know the difference between someone who makes their job easier, and someone who doesn't. Unfortunately, it's the corporate MTSOs who make a valued MT feel like this, NOT the dictators (thankfully, I've worked for two good companies in 20+ years, but I read these boards and know how bad it is).

When I worked in-house, I can't tell you how many times the physicians/NPs/PAs would look up from their notes as I answered what I do for a living and sincerely respond with "oh no, I hope I'm one of the good dictators" : ) Truth.

shame about being an MT - MT

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Yes, I felt ashamed to tell my doctor (his secretary) that I was a medical transcriptionist. but I don't quite know why, isn't that strange. My first concern was (I don't make any good money) and some docs type their own stuff cause I am afraid they don't trust MT's. But I'm not exactly sure.

The only thing that - shames me is

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How little they are willing to pay people anymore and I speak of the companies when I say that.

Before being outsourced my wages were compatible with some RNs and all I had to do was sit on my butt and type. Yes, I have to have knowledge and good grammar skills but the fact that I could work for the same hospital as a registered nurse and not have to worry about all the things that most do when it comes office politics and still have my checks comparable to an RN - I felt I had it pretty darn good! So shame I was not. I should also clarify we were paid a hefty incentive just for making rate on top of our hourly wage so thats where the mega money came in.

Now that I have been outsourced...well I see a different side to transcription that I did not see in my perfect little world back at the hospital. I still get to sit at home and type and I manage to average at least $120 a day (sometimes more on a good day). But thats because I have really good accounts with high work flow and I am blessed to not make the ridiculous 4cpl; my VR rate is more than half of my transcription rate.

I have it a little bit better than others in that none of my accounts are allowed to leave the country so there is only US MTs on my account.

I just make the best of it now, but Im not ashamed. Like the lady above said, the docs and nurses all know that a lot of the work out there leaves the country and that you dont get the same quality of work as what you would if you had your own in-house MTs. It's what a lot of these companies are paying thats sad.

Yes, but - I just tell people now

[ In Reply To ..]
that I am a medical editor and somehow that doesn't sound so bad, plus it's really closer to the truth; probably less than 10% of my job is transcribing.

I have no shame with being an MT. sm - .

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Always talk to my doctors about it, about VR and how we are being sold out to India and minimum wages.

The only shame is the terrible pay cuts we endure.

MT missionaries - Greenfairie

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I think it's important to talk to everybody we can, including nonmedical professionals, about what is going on with our profession and how it affects them. People have no idea that their personal information is going overseas. With the recent news about people in India stealing loan and credit card information maybe someday the outsourcing might go the other way. Then the Americans like us who are losing our jobs and being hit with enormous pay cuts might have new opportunities. Probably not, but it doesn't hurt to try.

Absolutely not. No shame at all in working for a living. - Hayseed

[ In Reply To ..]
I used to shovel poop and I wasn't ashamed of that either. I can't imagine of ever being ashamed of working for a living. I would most definitely feel a sense of shame if I didn't work, albeit a trust fund baby or generational welfare recipient. A hard day's/night's work where you put forth all your effort is food for the soul as well as the table.
:)

I am only ashamed for the fact - that I feel like I was

[ In Reply To ..]
someone with a lot of potential who threw my life away working in basically a dead end job that has actually gone backward in reward for the experience I bring to it. I guess that is probably more regret though than actual shame.

on the soapbox - greyhound30

[ In Reply To ..]
Does anyone on here feel shame at being an MT because people who find out think it "must be fun to work at home?" Like we're leisurely pecking away at the computer while we eat cookies and it's easy work? People not in this profession don't realize we burn our wrists out for 10 plus hours a day typing like crazy and hope it was enough production to stay afloat.

I remember when I got into this field in 2003. It was considered a safe and promising career choice. Now I think I'll have to find another career. At the age of 36, I don't see this field going the distance.

shame of MT - greyhound30

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree that docs and nurses understand outsourcing is producing poor quality. My aunt is an oncology nurse, and I asked her if she really relies on transcription in patient care or if my job is busy work that doesn't make a real difference in a medical record. She said she does rely on it for med lists and test results, but outsourcing produces crap. Her facility is down to only 6 MTs because they are using some kind of automatic formatting or something that the docs have to specifically use or else they are charged a monthly "transcription fee." She said those produce crap too.

As a side note, I am embarrassed that when people find out I'm an MT, they ask if I make 90,000 a year like the commercials say, working from home. Those scam ads make us look like hacks. Not to mention company websites that advertise a hard working MT can make 70,000 a year with their company. I couldn't make that if I worked 24 hours a day. What are they smoking?

Not exactly shame - but not

[ In Reply To ..]
the pride I used to feel. Also not proud that as hard as I work I don't make a wage that would enable me to live independently.

Shame - me

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Well said. I used to make 60K and now I make 25K or less actually because this year sucks the big one. Meditech is made for data entry not Transcription, the pay rate is pretty typical, 1.00 per report, but one 9 minute report can take an hour to type if its complicated and the doctor mumbles through it. My friend yells at me all the time to go find another job and that they "saw you coming" and are "taking advantage of all of you dummies". That angers me but I don't know anything else and I'm too old and arthritic to find another job.

"Shame"?! - Why in the world?

[ In Reply To ..]
Shame at being capable of doing a demanding job? Shame at being able to produce technically challenging documents in spite of substandard dictation---and with accuracy rates exceeding 98%?! It's certainly not the MTs who should feel shame---It's the corrupt MTSOs who rip off their work force just because they "can".

But shouldn't we feel ashamed - if we allow ourselves

[ In Reply To ..]
to be exploited? Most of us are way too smart to be settling for minimum wage, which so many seem to be doing now.

I agree with you, but.... - (see message)

[ In Reply To ..]
...."other people" (the ones who aren't MTs) generally have no idea how demanding it is to produce technically challenging documents in spite of substandard dictation, or that we have to do it while maintaining an accuracy rate above 98%. All the non-MT usually knows is the finished product that they see on the chart; and if it's "crap," they have no idea that we're not the one who produced it.

Yes! For quality reasons and other reasons - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
A doctor I saw two years ago to have fibroids removed asked what I did for a living. I said medical transcription. She said, "you mean the ones who make all the mistakes on the medical records." I felt insulted because i'm proud of my work too.

Another reason is because my family has looked down on it. Out of college I was very shy and just wanted a job with a paycheck, so I can take care of myself. They know this about me and deep down thought I had more potential. My mom was ashamed of me being an MT too because she thought it made her look like a failure for raising me to be shy/socially anxious.

same boat as sm - greyhound30

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Similar situation as you. Went into this field because I wanted a paycheck to support just myself and was more comfortable working at home for social reasons. Both my parents have college degrees and had good careers they retired comfortably from. I know they thought I would excel in college and have a comfy career. Now I think they look at my iffy future in this field and grieve at the choice I made.

But... - typedinamerica

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My family and friends were the same way when I graduated from college 20 years ago. I worked as a secretary instead of being an administrator or professional and then as an MT and I got a lot of questions about why I did that when I had a degree. But you know what, I still have a job and a skill when many of these excutive types are out of work. It is definitely not the best paid but it is better than frying burgers.

is anyone happy? - greyhound30

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree it is a skill set and I'm grateful to still be employed at this point. I have friends with education and experience that looks much better on paper than what I have, and job hunting for them has been brutal.

With all the gloom and doom on these message boards, is there anyone on here who is, or knows of someone, still reasonably satisfied being in this industry? Anyone staying full time, making any bonuses, happy with their company?

No need to name your employer, but is anyone doing reasonably well (working at home)?

I guess I am... - Poohbear

[ In Reply To ..]
I have to admit that I am happy with my current company. They just put me on 2 more new accounts and, if I am not lazy or let myself get distracted which I tend to do, I can bring a very nice check comparable to what I would clear working inhouse. Also, I save on transportation costs and clothes (I can work in jammies if I want). So even though I bitch about QA and occasional dry periods, I am much more fortunate than others. And I have to say that I did not have to take one of those ludicrous tests many companies have. I work for a small company and they saw my resume, trusted in its veracity and knew I had lots of experience and offered me a job I started immediately. Saved them and me a lot of time.

Interesting discussion - Leaving MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I hope I did not come across as insulting to anyone. I personally admire MTs and think that as a group MTs are very smart and undervalued. I definitely have conflicting feelings about being an MT that I don't think I would feel if it was not a work-at-home job or a job done offshore.

A big problem with the reputation of MTs.... - (see message)

[ In Reply To ..]
....is when we're all painted with the same broad brush.

I'm very surprised at a doctor who would say, "Oh, you mean the ones who make all the mistakes in the reports?" (or whatever the quote was--sorry, might not be saying that exactly right). That seems like a very odd thing for a doctor, or ANYONE, to say to a person when told what their occupation is. There are some home repair people who are fly-by-night crooks, but I can't imagine someone telling me they're, say, a roofer, and replying to them: "Oh, you mean those people who don't finish the job and take off with a homeowner's money?"

I became "less proud" of being an MT than I used to be after my hospital outsourced our work. I knew from what I saw on my MTSO's repository as well as anecdotally from people who still worked at the hospital that many, many more errors were going on the reports. All the end-users know is that they're seeing more and more silly mistakes, and there's no way for them to know if I'm the one who does the few GOOD reports or one who makes all those silly mistakes. I have to admit that it makes me feel a little defensive!

You nailed it - Leaving MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I think it is extremely unprofessional for that doctor to have said anything at all to a patient about mistakes in reports. We hear so many errors dictated by doctors, not to mention all the other bad habits, and I never in a million years would ever say anything to a doctor I was seeing about horrible dictation. But it does point to the deteriorating quality of transcription with outsourcing and offshoring.

That is interesting about how you feel since your hospital outsourced. I have only worked for an MTSO, and I suspect that our quality in general is not as good as the in-house staff's (we do overflow) even though we are a small company and have only US MTs. It is probably better than a lot of outsourced work, though, and we have actually gotten compliments by our clients on the quality of our work, which is probably unheard of these days. We have great QA here. I would actually be relatively happy as an MT if the work flow were better and the line rate were better. Because of slow periods (most of the winter) and topping out at 8 cpl, I make less than $24K a year. I am too spooked by some of the horror stories here, though, to take on another MT job, so I have decided to transition out.

re: rude doctor - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I was hurt when she said it, but it was in a joking way I believe. It was as if she didn't take my profession seriously, and that it was common knowledge that mistakes are always made on the reports. I honestly think she thought my reply would be "yes! i'm one of those ladies!" But I didn't, I said who ever is doing your reports, its not me. I have always done my best. Or something to that effect, it was two years ago. My pride got the best of me a little bit.

She was of Indian descent and was rude in other ways as well. I have my eyebrows tattooed and she asked me "why did I do that." And also I was a little heavier back then, my mom had just died, I was on Paxil and had gained 35 pounds, and when she was doing an exam, she looked at my thighs and said "you are working out right?" In a stern voice.

I think the culture of Indians is much more different than ours, and maybe they do not see themselves as rude. So in that context, it is not as bad.

But still, we have a reputation of shoddy work, for sure.

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