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

Companies have no concern for MT - just fed up

Posted: Mar 27, 2012

I have been trying to get a MT job since September. I have thirty years of experience. A company called me last week because they were looking for a seasoned radiology transcriptionist. They saw my resume on a board from 2010. Anyway I interviewed and was ready to take the test tomorrow and I just got an email saying one of their MTs want to increase their hours so I won't be needed anymore. They did not know this in advance.

Sorry that happened to you. - I wonder. sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Why is it that someone with 30 years experience has been looking for a job for 7 months? What is the problem? During this time many, many jobs have been posted on job boards for MTs. Is it that you have refused a certain pay? Have you refused the schedules? Are you refusing VR? What is it that you are looking for that you have not been able to work in 7 months?

I am the OP - xx

[ In Reply To ..]
I have sent my resume to every company I can think of without even a request for a test. I only have radiology experience. I am sure these companies get an abundance of resumes for one position. The last company I worked for six years (not going to mention name) and it was great until they merged with someone else. So if you would like to add what I must be doing wrong please do. I am sure I am not the only one that is in my position. I have sent my resume to positions in local hospitals for unit secretaries but I get responses that they want someone who has scheduling experience or MA experience.

There with ya OP - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
I am there with you too OP. I have put resume after resume after resume in. I take tests when I can too if they offer them to anyone. It's good to test anytime you can just for that experience but I still don't get any offers. I got one but I had to pay $600 to buy their software. I'm a starving MT and cannot afford such a luxary. I mean who do they think I am? I don't drive a Porsche or live in a mansion by the ocean. LOL!!! For heaven sakes, I just want a part-time MT job, what's the problem? Is that asking too much?

I was not saying you were doing anything wrong, but you did - answer my question. see message

[ In Reply To ..]
I see what the problem is. You specialize in radiology. I specialize in neurology. Neither one of us will ever see an abundance of job offers for these specialties, but if you are lucky enough to find one, it is very good money to work that way.

Have you tried just going to all different company sites (not through job ads), and applying cold. A couple of years ago I found that several allowed you to test through their web sites and apply even though they were not advertising. Perhaps someone would see the number of years you have in radiology and will hold onto your resume or pass it along.

I wish you well in your search. Your expertise should be very valuable to someone.

My opinion - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
First, to the OP, I am sorry, I know how disappointing that is. It happens on-site too. I've interviewed for some on-site non-MT jobs, interviewed and made it to the top 2 or 3 candidates only to have them choose someone from within their department. In regard to the other response, I also have 30+ years MT experience but in acute care, radiology and multispecialty. I've had my pick of jobs but frankly could not afford the insurance, which I need because I'm a single person. I'm not sure when we gave up the right to choose a job that fits our needs, but that is what was implied here. To "take any job" simply because it's there, only to find that you've made a mistake a couple of months later, wastes your time as well as your employer's. Perhaps this one did not happen for a reason, but don't give up.

Mine is ortho - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
My speciality is ortho but I have a gut feeling since I have done this for 28 years, I can do anything given a chance. Good idea to go to the websites. Testing when you can is always a good idea. Good Luck!!!

Don't even bother to respond to I Wonder's comments. - Theyre obviously intentially inflammatory. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
XxX

No nm, I am the I wonder poster. - see my message to you

[ In Reply To ..]
I am also the poster of "I did not say you are doing anything wrong." I asked a question and she answered it, plain and simple. I did not insult her or attack her. My curiosity was geniune, I gave advice for what it was worth, and wished her well.

Your statement that my post was "obviously intentionally inflammatory," really......? Says you, and you "obviously" should think before you voice your assumptions. Your inflammatory posts have become easy to spot.

Probably the same reason THIS 30+ year veteran - has been looking for 3 YEARS. (s/M)

[ In Reply To ..]
The ads *say* they want experience, but in reality, they don't want that much experience, because they don't to pay for it. Also those of us with a lot of experience are frequently perceived to be *too old* or *too close to retirement* to be worth their while.

Of course, that's all a bunch of poo-poo. But it doesn't seem to stop them from blatant discrimination.

And while I'm talking about DISCRIMINATION, your statement that insinuates there must be something *wrong* with someone who has been looking for 7 months is a current hiring (or lack-of-hiring!) practice that is likely to become ILLEGAL in the near future.

Anyone who would make that kind of a statement is either management, or just plain DUMB. (And as we all know, those two words - "management" and "dumb" - are synonymous in the medical transcription world.

Probably the same - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm there with you and agree. When I lost the job I had with a practice after 24 years there, I took a job with a company and hated it everyday. I was laid off from the 24-year job and things were bad in that office. I hated the company for three years and finally quit because it was causing some health problems. I got another one with a practice for .12 cpl and that only lasted a little more than a month since I was only backup and I hoped when I took it, it would turn into something more permanent, well it did not and things are very slow here where I live even at the hospital. I think it truly has something to do with the economy.

No concern whatsoever - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
All I can say is me too. I have been pretty much unemployed since last September and I too have 30 years of experience. I know in my gut I can do any of these MT jobs they have so-called openings in but only get a rare call to do them. I just did one for 5 days and didn't feel I had enough time to get the format down and did not get the help I needed to accomplish this. Go figure. I'm there with you.

The formatting is the main problem with most of - these wonky companies. s/M

[ In Reply To ..]
Rather than simplify things (which might make managements' jobs a little bit harder, at least initially), they pass the buck and give the MTs these piece-of-junk platforms to try to work with, and a few hundred pages of job specifications, and then get all verklempt when we can't make head nor tail of them.

As in Forrest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does." (And I'm not talking about the MTs.)

Account specifics - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
That was my main problem with my most recent job. I was even hired and went through signing all the paperwork and worked for 5 days and I was abruptly terminated and no reason was given but I think it was because I still had a few issues with the format. These things I did tell the lady training me and nothing was done. I think given a few more days, I could have done it. But greed always seems to get in the way. We do not have the luxary of being trained for jobs like we used to. I have a strong desire to do acute care but since I don't have the experience, they will not give me a chance.

I am OP - just venting

[ In Reply To ..]

I want to thank everyone for their support. By telling me your stories I don't feel alone and I was starting to feel it was just me. If I do get hired by a company it is still scary because I have heard from others that the same thing happened to them that happened to the person who was let go after five days. I remember the days the trainer would say we understand it will take time. I also remember the days when I had a job and companies would call me up begging for me to work for them. I am not a job hopper so I always declined. I think the older MTs can relate to the fact that when you got trained on site with no MT education (30 years ago hospitals were willing to train y ou) that the different specialites were divided all over the hospital. For example I worked in the Radiology Department for twenty years. Others worked in the Pathology Department, others worked in the Ortho Department and medical records was a whole different department. I am trying to say there was no way to cross over to another speciality. If I wanted to do ortho I would have to leave radiology so that is why we only specialize in one field. This is the firs time in 30 years that I have been jobless. Thanks again for your support. You are the best. We need to stick together.

OP - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm with you. I remember when we were trained and I stayed in a practice for 24 years. It was a real shock to have to work for a company and the pay was less than half what I made in the practice. The practice lost a doctor and the work load went away because the office manager did not like me and sent the work to another MT. I never liked the company and thought there was something wrong with me. I never found MTstars until last year after I finally quit that one after three years. I felt so much better knowing I wasn't alone. There is something wrong with these companies. Now I am unemployed and the one who worked five days and was terminated. I plan on if I get another chance to make a check off list of the account specs so I don't forget anything. Then I will probably be too slow because I proof everything before I send it. That's just the way I am. I want it as perfect as I can make it and I was trying to do that for that company that fired me. I think the dollar is the bottom line with the companies and they just don't want to give you the time you need to learn and remember everything. Good Luck and stay in touch.

OP - I so agree -- sorry long and a vent - nn

[ In Reply To ..]
I lost my job in February. Got "hired" by two companies -- first one doing 2 reports and then them saying, "I wasn't a good fit." Platform issues and again as you stated account specs. Second company, I actually worked for 2 days and did a WHOPPING eight reports. They would tell us to log off (service had overflow accounts). BOTH of these companies paid a whopping 7 cents a line. Excuse me, but I have to put gas in my car, which is now close to $4 a gallon. I put $35 in yesterday and it gave me a little over a half a tank. I have to drive 140 miles tomorrow for a job interview Friday, which would be working from home for the local hospital, but again, substantial weight gain, (clothes) working from home (clothes), gas, tolls, etc. The "suits" do not realize or care that we are being reduced to living on the streets, which it is turning out to be with the wages that are being paid now. I started working from home in 1997 for a local service and at that time, it was casette tapes for 0.5 cpl. I progressed and was making GREAT money; however, with the schools promoting MT, many people got into this profession because they saw it as a "gravy train;" i.e., I can stay at home, school my kids, hubby has a good job, so I will work when I feel like it. Sorry, weekends are out for me, because I need the "family time." THIS is a BIG reason that companies "sell" or lose accounts -- the coverage is not there when required. I worked for a company that was WONDERFUL. Weekly pay, great account, straight typing and a year ago, things started getting VERY slow. No work!! Well, bottom line was that the hospital was not happy with TAT (no one seemed to want to work weekends) -- and this was IC status. We lost the account and I had to start the job search all over. One company who now has its own board here was ridiculous in their "line count requirements." Two of the companies that I have since worked for, have "sold out" to the other big national, whom I refuse to work for.

I recently applied for an MT job, which REQUIRED CMT certification. I went into the website and find out that I have to take the CQO exam (both RMT and CMT, since I learned MT on site). Total cost about $350 for the exam and a web cam (which I probably would never use after taking the test). The last MTSO I worked for, would send IMs with the hospital calling them and wanting a STAT discharge summary "they need it in 30 minutes." Hello? when we have to look up demographics, doctors, etc.? They got it about 35-40 minutes later -- the TAT has become insane. I am 57 and SERIOUSLY looking into disability -- one of the questions that MANY attorneys will ask is "can you sit at a desk for eight hours a day?" NO one can and in most outside clerical jobs, you get breaks and lunch break -- not in this profession! You are expected to be "on the clock and falsify time keeping records in order to keep a job. I am not a "speed demon," but I make sure that the record is as accurate as possible.

Apparently, with what I was told with the hospital job, even though I would be working from home, I can contact the doctor if I have any questions or concerns. This is the way it USED to be until the mega MTSOs came into play.

Thanks JW/nm - MB/OP

[ In Reply To ..]
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