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

Friend wants to know...Where to begin? - Rachel

Posted: Jun 25, 2013

I have a friend who is a nurse who wants to get into medical transcripting. Since she has a lot of background, she doesn’t think it would take her long.

I had a bad experience with the company that trained me, so I was wondering what you guys would recommend for her? Do you know of any companies that train then give live work or know of a low-cost school?

I let her know that most companies require 3 years experience, so do you know of anyone who hires fresh MTs?

Thanks in advance!

On-The-Spot Transcription hires newbies, but the pay is - sm

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very low (for anyone regardless of experience) at 4 cpl:(

on-the-spot - ep

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HOw do you find them?

Nurses don't have anymore experience than someone who is a regular Joe... - nm

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I love how they think they do just because they're in the medical. They also think they're at physician level. She needs take medical terminology for correct spelling and capitalization like everyone else. I have found that nurses are not very good transcriptionists. They think they kind of know it all coming into the profession. Not saying all, but 75 percent of the ones I have had to QA.

What exactly is the point of this snarky reply? It does not pertain to her question at all. - nm

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nm

it totally pertained - did not sound snarky to me

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She asked for advice on companies that hire new MTs not whether her friend would "cut it" - nm

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NM

So, she got a - bonus

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.

I heard the same thing about - nurses

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Not being snarky at all, but I've heard other people say the same thing. They basically start from square 1 like any new MT because of how differently things are done.

Also had a relative ask me how to get started with this because her brother's wife wanted to stay home with their new baby. She didn't think it would be hard for her because she had all kinds of LEGAL STUFF in college....? Like they're interchangeable?

You obviously don't QA my work. nm - justpassingthrough

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nm

You are part of the 25 percent then ;) - nm

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;)

what a gross generalization i hope nobody takes - mtr

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this to heart
every person is different gee wiz!!!

I think it is disturbing how unsupportive and rude people are to each other on this board. :( - nm

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nm

Most Nurses Quit. (sm) - Rose

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Having been in the business over 25 years I personally know nurses who have tried to do MT and they are brought to tears trying to understand what the doctors are saying. The recorded dictation is NOT what they hear in person from the doctors. They do have a lot of medical training but not all that is required to do this job. Plus they would be taking a pay cut to minimum wage or below. They would start out at less than a dollar an hour. Unless some disability requires they take a sedentary position, AND they have another form of support, i.e. disability, spousal income, etc. they will not be able to survive on the current wages which are one third to one fourth what they were in the 1980s.

Your friend might want to look into working for insurance companies interpreting medical reports. I'm not sure what the current situation is with that type of work, but it may be something she can do now without having to retrain.

" They would start out at less than a dollar an hour." How do - justpassingthrough

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you figure that? Even at 4 cpl, they would have to do less than 25 lph to make less than a dollar than hour.

As you learn how to do all the associated unpaid labor (sm) - Rose

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that we are required to perform, i.e.
Research demographics, research for first name, spelling and title of "copy to Henderson," search drug sites to see if the mispronunciation is just that or a new drug, check previous reports to try to decipher a slurred ROS or PE, check account specs to see who needs a second signature, check schedule to see who signs that day, refer to specs that are opposite of the BOS, etc., etc.,

Rachel - Nick

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Please, what is medical "transcripting?"

she should just apply with MModal - try to take the test

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either she passes or she doesn't.

Why does she want to go from nursing - to MT?

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My best friend is an RN -- not even one of those with a bachelor's degree. She just retired early (59) but was making $110K-$120K at the point she retired.

I, on the other hand, am an MT... and while I'm one of the very few MTs still making a good living, I'm going to be laid off before the end of the year -- at which point I plan to go back to school and learn something else, because I can't live on minimum wage, which is what I'd be looking at with another MT job.

Why on earth would your friend want to go from a field where she can make a good living to one where she's looking at minimum wage?! I know health care providers are squeezing all of their employees to breaking point and beyond -- nurses included -- but she needs to realize that going into MT is no way to get away from that. Yeah, she'll be getting the pressure, impossible expectations, and disrespect in email instead of face to face, which I'll admit IS easier to deal with... but she'll be dealing with it for minimum wage!

If she's willing to spend some money and time training, suggest to her that she go into a more viable field! Maybe something where her nursing background would be useful, like polysom tech, or...?

Anyway, she has MUCH better options than MT!!!

they need nurses for quality review and compliance - a much better choice

[ In Reply To ..]
a choice I might add that many of us would kill for, would have to take coding classes for and even then would probably not get the job, whereas a nurse will get the job no questions asked. This poster is right. Any nurse who goes into MT thinking it's oh so wonderful to work at home, or believing recruiters who talk about the big demand and the great pay, would be making a huge mistake.

I'm a nurse turned MT - MT

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I am an LPN and worked at a multispecialty clinic for 13 years. I worked in internal medicine, gastroenterology, physiatry (PM&R), neurology, urology, pedi, ortho, surgery, and neph.

I have now been an MT for almost 7 years. I thought it would be an easy transition. I had a lot to learn (grins) :)

I did have a lot of the terminology and medication names, but that's about it. There are still so many new terms I learn every day and diseases I have never heard of. Also, there are so many new meds all the time and dosages.

I've learned so much by transcribing. I gained respect for transcriptionists immediately when I realized I had no idea what I was doing :) I've learned a lot these last 7 years, but one thing I really learned was to never underestimate someone else's job. I'm not saying she is, but the transition will be harder than she realizes.

Also, companies will not hire you just because you are a nurse. She needs to training before ever applying.

I'm glad I made the decision to switch careers. I have a more flexible schedule for what I need to do for my daughter and with a lot less stress. I got tired of office politics and dealing with coworkers.

The way MT is going is concerning though and I'm not sure how things will be in a few years. I will always have my nursing license to fall back on just in case.

what hours do you work? - Rachel

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If you don't mind me asking what are your hours. Mine are a set shift. Do you just have a turnaround time for all your files?

First shift - MT

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My hours right now are 6:00 am to 2:00 pm. I love it that I can pick my daughter up from school and I'm here at home when she's out of school. At the clinic I worked at I could hardly even get off work to take her to the dentist or doctor without problems. It's not much better anywhere else in this town for nurses. Most places work with a skeleton crew. Gotta save that money you know ;)

When my daughter is older I may consider another job change. I want out of the medical field altogether. For now, this schedule works great for me. I just hope this job holds out

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