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

Here's a question, serious answers, NO fighting allowed... - Jessi

Posted: Dec 24, 2011

Since I made my lines hours ago lol, and I'm messing around trying to let someone else make their lines, I've been roaming around, reading back posts. And I swear to you all I'm not trying to cause trouble, start drama or pick fights, I just have a very serious question.

For the MTs who are "struggling" or not making it, etc and to all the MTs who are sure it's a "dying field" or it's "already dead". What keeps you in the MT field? I know jobs are really hard to find and all but what keeps you hanging in there? Is that the only reason? Just lack of anything else to do? More for the struggling MTs, is it hope for a brighter future? And more for the "dying fielders" so to speak, is it just kind of biding your time while you learn a new art?

I'm not doing anything at all with this information, just starting a dialogue because 1 - I'm bored and rather than take work away from other people who probably could use it, I'm messing around and 2 - I'm genuinely curious.

LOL, I'm doing the same thing ... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
... although I don't have my lines in yet, but there's not a whole lot coming in, I'm just covering my shift.

I was one who commented in another thread that I believe the MT profession is all but dead. I'm still in it because I'm just trying to get to retirement. I still have a job doing straight transcription for a hospital, and until the rug gets pulled out from under us (which could happen at any time) I want to get as far down the road as possible. I'm researching alternatives that don't require the outlay of serious cash for training and/or more than a year to get it done (again, the retirement factor) and it's a scary prospect to think about putting myself back in the (dismal) job market at my age. But I know I need to figure out Plan B, and soon. For the time being, I'll stay put, but I know darn well the ship is sinking.

Merry Christmas and thanks for the diversion while I wait for work on Christmas Eve. :)

Our hospital - Jessi

[ In Reply To ..]
was supposed to go with front end VR but our docs just up and refused. Flat out and said no way. LOL it was awesome. So now they're going with back end because the docs won't know.

Still our hospital is kind of a mess. Half of us work in the hospital, half of us work at home. Half are paid by the line, half by the hour. We all have a different line count we have to hit. We have four different systems we type on depending on what we do. But on the really awesome side, at least in my opinion, the youngest person here is 54 so I know what you're saying about making it to retirement! Here's to gluing that rug to the floor!

On an unrelated side note, this is the longest Christmas Eve ever LOL

I want out desperately but I love what I do! - Love being an MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I have always been able to get a job in this field when I need to, but the pay has gotten to the point it is just down right depressing. I do live in a two-income household, so it's not a requirement that I make what I used to; however, that's not the point!! I hate where this profession is going. After 20+ years, I still absolutely love what I do!

Now on the other side of things, this job has taken its toll on my body. Believe it or not, sitting sedentary in a chair all day, with your neck in one position and pressure on your low back, your spine will degenerate faster than someone who is mobile. Then there are your upper extremities. I have recently found out that I have damaged nerves that affects my hands and fingers. Now I face the real certainty that I could suffer lifelong damage to the point my hands will never work the same and my career as an MT will definitely be over.

It really is bittersweet! I've cried every day since I found out. XIt has made me also realize something else. Typing is only a fraction of being an MT. There are other skills that are just as, if not more than important. I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge in the last 20+ about the medical field. Think about all we have to know about medications and their dosages,,, laboratories, insurance knowledge, HIPPA, i could go on and on with all of the specifics. My ability to type is just a minor formality compared to the knowledge inside my head!!!

This is what MTSOs need to realize. They arent just paying is for our ability to punch keys!!! They should be paying us for the knowledge indigenous head.

I will do fine without this field. I'm already having hits off my resume for other jobs in the medical field for my knowledge and not my typing skills!!

PT confirms this re: our backs (sm) - CMTx2

[ In Reply To ..]
My physical therapist told me that sitting in a chair all day is most detrimental to our bodies. He said this messes up backs more than anything, really. My x-ray was already showing degeneration in the low lumbar area before I was even 40 (MT x13 years at that point). Yikes.

I'm biding my time until my daughter graduates - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm not a big fan of latchkey kids at all. I tried going back to office work when she started high school but decided that was the age they need more supervision, not less.

My house tends to be where they "gather" since I'm home. Otherwise they all just roam the neighborhood.

I weighed the pros and cons, and decided it was worth the financial struggle to ensure my child was not getting into trouble (and hopefully keeping her friends from it too).

I'm still here because I'm retiring in 2 yrs - L&L

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm not struggling or unhappy, but I do believe MT is going the way of the dinosaurs.

If I were in my 20s,30s,40s, or 50s, I would certainly being getting out of the field.

You can't just lump us all in one category. We have different responsibilities...I to only myself with minimal expenses. I'm certainly not going to jump into retraining to work at a small salary for a year or two. I'm not going to worry about when the trade is gone.

I'm here because...let me think a minute... - AnaPhylaxis

[ In Reply To ..]
Oh, yeah, that's right! Well, I'm still here because (knock wood!) I'm not struggling at the moment. A couple of years ago, I was one of the struggling MTs who mercifully had a very understanding landlord, a very cooperative utility company happy to take small monthly payments to play catch-up, and a cheap 6-month internet plan so I could keep working. We were living on chicken quarters, baked potatoes and grilled zucchini (cheap but filling and tasty...although REALLY monotonous after a couple of weeks of it, much less a few MONTHS of it).

I had lost my primary account through my MTSO and was left with MDI-MD. Everyone knows how that entire debacle went down, so no point beating that dead horse again.

I was able to secure another pretty reliable IC position to replace MDI-MD, and that paid the bills for a few months until another great full-time offer from a little MTSO whose website I had fallen in love with and sent in a resume (even though they weren't recruiting at that time) called me one Sunday totally unexpectedly with an opening. Imagine my surprise...an MTSO that not only keep resumes on file, but called the prospective employee when an opening was imminent, LOL!

Now, between that little dream MTSO gig and my decent wages through the IC position, we are, at the moment at least, no longer struggling, so I *do* maintain hope that the field will never entirely die; some facilities will go with the progression of technology, but I believe others will stick with the traditional method of transcription.

In the meantime, because I'm a realist at heart, I am seriously contemplating signing up for Andrews or CareerStep for their coding course. I think making oneself as relevant and versatile as possible in this field is indeed a necessity, and I like to think that if the transcription dried up at one of my MTSOs, I could easily be shifted to their coding departments.

As we see 2011 come to a close, which has been disastrous for many MTs, it is my hope that 2012 will perhaps see things begin to turn around a bit and more work be brought back onto American soil so that we all may prosper a bit more.

Is being an MT or a coder going to make me wealthy? Absolutely not, not under the best of circusmtances.

Do I enjoy it and is it currently providing for not only all my daily essentials but also a few of the more enjoyable perks of life? Absolutely.

I'm here to stay, either in transcription or coding, until the fat lady sings, so to speak.

What keeps me here (so far) is that I haven't - found anything else yet. (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
A few in-house hospital jobs have popped up here and there, but so far I've only gotten 1 interview in 3 years, and someone who lived closer than I did got the job. I guess they figured the long commute was going to make me less reliable than a nearer person.

Everything else in-house in MT seems to be in other states, and I like where I am and don't want to move.

I've applied at a few regular secretarial jobs, but no one has ever even responded to those applications.

I think I'm past the age where going back to school for more than 1 semester would be worth doing. I'm leery of borrowing a ton of money to learn a new career, only to find no one would hire a 64-year-old newbie. I also don't think at this point I want a job where I'm on my feet all day.

Meanwhile, all I can do at this point is keep on keepin' on - I don't know what else to do. I get by with help from my family for things like doctor bills and such. I faithfully check the job lists online every week, but with each year, they're drying up.

If things get so bad that I can't afford this studio apt. anymore, or I lose my job and can't get a new one, then plan-B is to move back in with my 85-year-old mom. Not only would that be a huge blow to my independence, but it would also make me feel like a total failure. So I'm putting that move off for as long as I can, and am just holding on by my fingernails.

What keeps you here - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
Does your city have section 8 or HUD housing? There are quite a few buildings all throughout California. I have a friend who lives in one and she only has to pay 1/3 of her income. She only pays $125.00 for an apartment that would rent for $2500/month market rate! (California is much more expensive than nearly anywhere else except for NYC and Honolulu.) Anyway, she applied through someone who helped her at her church, linked her to a social worker, and she has a nice one-bedroom in a good neighborhood. She also took early Social Security at age 62. Would that be an option for you? I am not sure of your age (none of my business). Please do not feel like a failure. IT IS NOT YOU. It's the economy and world events waaaaay beyond your control. Please do not blame yourself. I will be praying for you.

Here's my honest answer ... - JustTryingToGetBy

[ In Reply To ..]
Here's my answer. I had a very good "County Job" for many years, but I hated it. Oh, sure, the pay was great, the benefits were phenomenal, but I hated it. Eventually, I got married and had a son. During the period, I also took an online MT course thru one of the big three. I got divorced, which left me with most of the responsibility for a son who wasn't acting "quite right" at the young age of 4.

Fast forwarding, he's now 11 and has Asberger's, bipolar, and a mood disorder that often manifests in school phobia. Needless to say, the school phobia alone cost me that cushy County job - DYFS (or whatever they call themselves this week) doesn't look kindly on leaving a 5, 6, 7, etc. year old home alone while you go to work, especially if he's scared of his shadow.

The ex has since decided that he can't handle a son with problems and has been non-existent, monetarily and physically, for going on two years now. I thank God every day for my transribing jobs because I'd be screwed with a capital screwed without them.

Yep, I work longer hours. Yep, I make a WHOLE lot less. But I'm here when the teacher or the case manager or the truant officer (ugh) calls. I'm here to help with make up work from missing the last three days during the current bout of school phobia. I'm here to put out the fires when he doesn't recognize the social cues instinctive to us from the neighborhood kids and he insults them and their moms come calling. Bottom line, I'm here.

So, yeah, I hear it's a dying business and I know full well I have other marketable skills where I can make decent money, but what good do they do me if I can't maintain a job outside of the home? Again, I thank God for transcription, and I will hang on to it 'til I absolutely have to let go!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Honest answer - LeeLee

[ In Reply To ..]
God bless you. Also have a health situation (mom) for which I need some flexibility. Will hang on to the end. Hang in there girl!

Good for you for sticking up for "Family"! - FlaMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I've also put my family ahead of any sort of "career". Most employers are pretty cold about their employees' family values. I used to work in physical therapy but quit to become a work-at-home mom to make sure I was ALWAYS available for my kids anytime. Plus, it definitely helped that my hubby makes a decent enough living to support us. I even dropped down to PT work for a year so I could homeschool my oldest son, who was struggling academically and having a hard time adjusting to middle school curriculum with all the "social" distractions. I chose to do this because he had already repeated 3rd grade (for what I feel were circumstances that made him one of those kids that "just slipped through the cracks" and he paid for them) and I didn't want him to feel like a failure again, plus we spent that year getting back up to par and then some, so he started the next year above grade level, excelled that year, which did even more for his self-confidence. I have many thoughts (mostly horrible) on the public school system so I'll try to reign those in right now for conversation sake, LOL.

Anyhow....my reasons are mostly FAMILY COMES FIRST and we've been able to find ways to deal financially.

As they say...Where there's a will, there's a way!

To FlaMT - LeeLee

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you for such kind thoughts. I have always put my family first and, yes, there are times it was very difficult to manage. I do feel the benefits far exceeded the price. It surprises me that on a site that you would think would promote family, there have been many that have attacked me personally (complete strangers to me, just did not like my post) for stating it is important to take care of your own...keep govt out! No one knows your family or needs better than you, and you can find much more acceptable solutions to work within your family dynamics. Glad to hear I am not a dying breed and personal responsibility means exactly that....LOL Have a great New Year.

Seriously - Tammie

[ In Reply To ..]
I keep at it because I like it. I didn't realize it until just recently, I've been at it for 18 years!! Most of it has been as a subcontractor but for awhile I had my own accounts - one of which I lost to outsourcing to India. (Although found out the docs HATED it and wanted me back in two weeks. Unfortunately, they were a part of a larger heme/onc group that mandated the change. 3 out of 5 docs have left the practice.) Right now, I work part-time having account of my own (p.r.n.) and subcontract from a second. Three years ago my daughter had a baby and I didn't want him to have to go to daycare.(I hated when my girls had to go to daycare -always seemed to be sick.) I cut back to part-time and have thoroughly enjoyed the last 3 years. I somewhat dread him going to headstart soon but when he does, may pursue another account of my own or more sub work. Fortunately, my hubby is the primary income. I figure I will just hang in until I absolutely have to leave the profession. Then who knows? Maybe I'll become a professional dog walker! Until then, will just try to enjoy what I have and go with the flow.

Local pay terrible and for family life - FlaMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I guess you could say I'm in the "dying fielders" category. Been doing this for about 15 yrs and hating it for the last 5. The only reason I'm still doing this is because:
1. Local pay is horrible, usually $7.50-$9 for ANY job, both medical and non. Take into account cost of gas, work clothing, possibly childcare (depending on schedule), I'd be taking home less than min wage.
2. This is just about the only job that lets me work around my family life, chaperoning school trips, Drs appts, school breaks/holidays, family vacations, etc.

I actually had an interview a few months ago with my local hospital recruiter for an admin position and was told that they wouldn't be able to pay me more than $9, even though I was more than qualified for the job and she wanted to have me start ASAP. She seemed earnest and quite frustrated that she couldn't offer me more. She later told me, off the record of course, that the hospital was actually DECREASING pay in all departments, including techs, RNs, etc. and some starting positions at min wage.
I also get an email from my local employment office showing job openings. The local cardiology and respiratory specialist (big clinic with about 10 MDs) had an opening for a medical assistant with experience...starting pay $7.50 hr. HAHAHAHA! A few years ago I interviewed for an office manager position at my local ophthalmology clinic (3 MDs) and they offered $25K yr.

So, as you can see, it's not worth it for me to step foot outside my house for work.

Interesting. You've done a good job checking your options though - My Opinion

[ In Reply To ..]
I think most people, no matter what they do for a living, burn out after a certain number of years. I did burn out with MT for a couple of years before going back. I had to take a breather.

Your message is interesting though about the hospital lowering the pay for all departments, including RNs, etc. Thanks for posting that information. It's good to know.

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