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

Certification or not? - type4u

Posted: Aug 19, 2010

With all the news about AHDI MT certifications and such, is anyone not certified taking steps to get certified? I find this very frustrating. I have been in the business 15 years and have leared on the job. Not sure what to do?

No way. CMT is a waste of time and money, and I - refuse to support AHDI in any way. nm

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I'm trying to decide if I should re-cert - melmt

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I received CMT about nine years ago and have managed to do CECs to renew it twice. Trying to decide whether to jump through all the hoops to renew again or just let it go. Being CMT hasn't meant squat where I've worked all these years!

I saw a thing about AHDI on YouTube recently, where - they were all excited because they -

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had successfully lobbied their state Senator in person about mandatory "credentialling", etc.

The Senator was obviously clueless about the industry, but I'm sure if a big, wealthy company with lots of extra cash from screwing its members right and left slips enough of it under the table, they might just succeed in gaining the monopoly they're trying so hard to create for themselves.

If AHDI is lobbying the government, then individual MTs should seriously consider unifying on that issue, and lobbying for return of our livelihoods from India. After all, we shouldn't have to have mandatory CMTs rammed down our throats if there is little or no MT work to be had for those of us here in America.

They shouldn't be able to have it both ways: Mandatory CMT for US MTs, AND being allowed to ship more and more of our work offshore.

There should be something in it for US, if we're going to be expected to shell out money from our own empty pockets to pay for this useless credential. It should mean better pay, better treatment, better benefits, and plenty of work. If all the work is going to go to India and China, then let them "credential" THOSE people, not us.

Personally, I would most like to see US have it THREE ways: NO mandatory bogus "credential", NO offshoring of medical transcription allowed whatsoever, and NO more MTSOs. I'd like to see it REQUIRED that ALL transcription be done by hospital and clinic employees ONLY, either on-site or at home, with no more "middlemen".

Go ahead, wonderful Employer of Mine, get it over with and fire me, so I can start writing, lobbying, advertising, and educating everywhere I can.

Go ahead, Employer. Make my day!

Preach on, sister! I agree with everything you said ... - melmt

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I am no fan of AHDI! But there's still that nagging worry that since I already have the cert I should do whatever it takes to keep it in case it does become mandatory. Then I think - am I just being a sucker and falling for their trap - are they using all their talk of mandatory cert to scare MTs to join and cert or re-cert i.e. lots more $$ for them...

Maybe if you had proof you once had it, and had - let it go for financial reasons, etc., (sm)

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then, if a CMT ever became mandatory (which I really rather doubt), they might be forced to allow you to renew it for little or nothing. At least that would be the ETHICAL thing to do, right?

Of course, then there is their less-than-ethical mode of doing business with those of us they so very much want to *credential*. Talk about a CONFLICT OF INTERESTS!

Won't count on AHDI doing the ethical thing! But I probably will let it go. - melmt

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It hasn't been worth the time or money to keep it. :{

CMT - Working MT

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I just applied for an on-site job that required you to be credentialed or CMT eligible. It's been so many years and I no longer have proof, that I may end up having to re-take the exam if I get a job offer. That might be a reason to think about maintaining your certification, if it is current and you plan on changing jobs, that is if you want the job bad enough!

Very good point - something to consider. Thanks! - melmt

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xx

Don't count on it - travelinMT

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I was certified for 20+ years. The last time my CEC's were due in, my mother had just passed away and dealing with all the business stuff I totally forgot to mail everything in (even though it was all done and verified with dates, etc). When I realized, I immediately sent them notification in the mail of my situation and they replied with "so sad, too bad" pay to take the test all over again.

It never did me any good to have it for all those years, never got any more pay or recognition from anywhere I worked so I told them "thanks, but no thanks".

Well, that right there tells us all the kind of organization - AHDI really is. Who needs that?

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And thanks for sharing your story. I can hardly believe they treated you so badly. Oh wait.... yes I CAN.

Shows their true colors! Thanks for sharing that. nm - melmt

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xx

Not necessarily. Organizations are governed by regulating bodies and have to follow rules - See message

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It isn't always possible for organizations to make exceptions. I rarely step in to 'take up for' AHDI, but in this case I don't think they had the option to break their own rules. The governing organization would probably tear them apart if they found out about it when they do their evaluations. Companies and organizations are not free to make and break rules as they choose.

Joint Commission Requirement? - Aspiring coder

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Just a thought, but I was wondering if we are now seeing the requirement for CMT in advertisements for on site jobs because of a JCAH requirement for facilities to have a certain number of credentialed people on their staff; tumor registrars and coders are expected to be certified, maybe it is the same for MTs now. I don't know if this is a rule but we were discussing it at work today so I thought I would mention it.

Never needed a CMT before. Sure dont intend to - fall for their scam now. (n/m)

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NOT !! - - nm...

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.

CMT - Viva

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Hmmmm...I just came across a job posting for an MT position in CA, and they said a CMT is desirable.

FWIW.

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