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

MT jobs skills transferable to new career? - Need a Change

Posted: Oct 17, 2011

I am currently an MT but will probably try a career switch in in the next few years. I'm just brainstorming right now. What are some good career choices for someone with the skill set for MT?

Some thoughts - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Sales of medical equipment or pharmaceuticals. Working with electronic medical record management/hospital troubleshooting/training. Telephone sales. Medical office/school medical technician (hearing & vision testing, immunization, physical records). Medical billing. Research facilities/environmental services.

most pharm jobs require a BS and experience - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
.

career transition - Sue

[ In Reply To ..]
I am currently taking an online EHR/electronic health records course at Camden County College in NJ. You need a good medical terminology background and IT experience really helps, but this field is very hot, especially since EHR is going to be mandated across facilities. My course is a full scholarship since there is a shortage in this field---so here are some jobs being created as we speak. It is a 6 month course and very intense. I am not an IT person, but I am a health information technician and this course will help me in working with electronic records if I decide to go for a position in a medical records department. I am ready to get out of the house now, so I am going for it!

How did you find the scholarship? - Hope

[ In Reply To ..]
I've been searching for grant money, etc but haven't found a thing - there is always some exception. Still awaiting FAFSA. Thanks in advance.

Transferrable job skills - bj

[ In Reply To ..]
Not sure but I am checking into Medical Billing and Coding. I hope it will pay better and give me Holidays off! With ICD-10 coming soon I am sure Coders/Billers will be valuable.

The pay for coders might be a little better BUT - ERMT

[ In Reply To ..]
The hours are the same with having to work weekends/holidays at my hospital. The coders are required to work a lot of overtime at month end. I think medical billers make less than MTs.

"Billing" is more along the lines of customer services; coding is HIT - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Just about anyone can find a billing job. It takes them about 20-30 minutes to train you on their system, which is different from everybody else's system.

Coders need specific training in coding and they need to be certified coders.

Billers work with insurance company and sending out bills to patients. Coders work in the Health Information Management area. They are two totally different jobs.

Yes, VERY important to understand the difference: - something like + minimum $20-40K/yr. Also,

[ In Reply To ..]
the higher-pay coder, versus billing clerk, requires both a lot more training and the ability to read complex text and analyze and think all day long.

The 2 jobs don't normally even use the same set of codes, so billers have to start out effectively from scratch to move to the other field.

I've been looking, and other than the obvious, - computer keyboarding and spelling, - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
there always seems to be a catch, even when in all aspects of a job ad, I would be good at that job. Usually the catch is, they want "XX years' experience in that field, or in a dental office setting, legal office setting, veterinarian's offie setting," etc. etc. And that's for the lowest-paid entry level jobs!

Too many secretarial jobs are now wanting a BA degree. I once even came across an ad that wanted a secretary to have a Masters! That was so ridiculous, I was tempted to apply, just to tell them off in my cover letter.

I think a lot of that is from the current unemployment statistics. It's an employer's market right now, and they want the moon and the stars, along with a BA or a Master's, and oh yes... it only pays $10 an hour.

Just more corporate B.S., if you ask me.

Degrees - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I heard that a job that I quit about 6 years ago had a new person in my old position. She has a Master's. Ha! the place was really fixated on degrees. The "higher-ups" really had an attitude about the office staff. I wonder how the person with a Master's is dealing with them!

I think it's just another form of discrimination. - Also, even if I had a Masters degree, - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
and all of the qualifications, once I applied for the job, and they figured out I'm over 60, I would still get passed over.

Similar Messages:

Jan 29, 2010

Makes sense to me; I'd opt to be an electrician (if I can't get on disability). Automotive technicians and mechanics repair and maintain automobiles and light trucks. Motorists need these services near their homes and businesses, meaning this hands-on work would be pretty hard for someone in another country to do. So rest easy. This job is staying close to home. Training is a 6-month or 1-year automotive repair certificate program or a 2-year associate degree program.& ...

Dec 18, 2009

ancillary tests: The parents bring in s/l Conner reading skills. ...

Mar 29, 2010

I have to get out of MT. Been doing this over 20 years and am so burnt out. What are some other industries where these skills would be transferrable? I'm feeling like MT is all I know how to do and its depressing. Thinking about taking a Medical Assistant course or something. ...

Aug 08, 2010

Anyone noticed these tests are asking some of the same questoins? My little answers keep popping up when I start typing in the answer. The transcription portions are way too long though. Some are super easy and others are the scum at the bottom of the barrel. I'm beginning to think we're doing somebody's work for them! Now I'm thinking about all the money I could have made by transcribing these stupid test reports. I think one company test ...

Oct 08, 2011

when the doc says something like the: Skin is pink, warm and dry and intact. Is that how you would type it? Not sure about the proper comma usage. Nothing looks correct to me anymore!!! ...

Oct 29, 2011

I only wish the rate of MT pay matched the MT skills, but why am I complaining? Still have a job .... Many years ago, I can remember that my niece would always ask me about my MT work and how I was able to stay at home and do this sort of work on a full-time basis. Back then, I would try to explain to my young 9-year-old niece that it is all about my preference to stay at home and work full-time, instead of working in Corporate America which I did for many years, and having to commute to work ...

Mar 04, 2015

descriptive narrative for the MTs who have or will be leaving this company, to go along with the ones we recieve when the VP and such leave. I mean really..we need to be ackowledged for our committment, dedication, accomplishments, etc. Sarcasim is encouraged! ...

Jun 29, 2010

I've been an acute care transcriptionist for 15 years... can anyone tell me if I qualify for Pathology transcription or is this an acquired skill that needs more schooling? Thanks! ...

Jul 15, 2011

This is part of the physical exam. It is mentioned after cranial nerves (although I'm not sure if it goes along with that or not) and sounds like either burr skills or murr skills. Any suggestions? Thanks! ...

Mar 26, 2012

I am looking for work as an Mt and not having any luck. Today, I searched the job service board and found a cool job. It is an IC position with flexible hours and very good pay. It is collecting data for the county/township and entering it into a lap top. They want you to be ableto enter 7000 or more strokes per hour. I meet all the qualifications except this which, of course, is "key" to the job. I know nothing of data entry but I hate to pass on the opportun ...

Sep 08, 2014

I took some skills tests, non-MT related, and I'm not sure how to interpret something. I received a 90% (that part I get) which put me in the 56th percentile, and average of 67%. I THINK I know that the 67% means the average people got, who took that test. Is that correct? I don't understand at all the percentile part (the 56.) What does that mean exactly? Thanks! ...

Jul 13, 2010

Hello fellow MT's! I am almost finished with my MT course, and I would like some counsel from everyone on their experiences with continuing education after graduation. First I am going to go for my RMT as recommended by the ADHI. What tools and resources did you use that helped? Which ones do you recommend? Has anyone gotten a degree to enhance their knowledge, and if so, what degree? I have recently been discharged after 8 yrs in the Army and I have been studying in my ...

Dec 02, 2012

I graduated from M-Tec in Jan. 2011 while working a full-time job. My plan was to keep working, get a part-time MT job until I gained experienced, and then quit my other job and do MT full time. I sent out tons of resumes but received no replies except for one that expressed fear I would get burned out working 2 jobs. After that I got discouraged and stopped looking for MT work for over a year. Now I'm newly motivated (hate my current job) and want to start looking ...

Mar 05, 2012

Anyone have problems passing Career Step MT testing. ...

Aug 18, 2010

It is insulting to all of us with the way that MT pay has gone down the drain, it is frustrating and aggravating to look for a "decent" job these days, trying to work out which companies will treat you fairly, which ones lie about their platforms, work, etc., and not only do these companies not want to pay us what we are worth but now I see that MANY companies are requiring the MT to have or "be willing" to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of equipment. If an employer can PROMISE IN ...

Dec 09, 2013

Kind of wondering if this last job posting on the jobs board might be associated with one of those "you pay us to find you a job" type of organization. I googled Medical Jobs Online and found nothing stating that are a legitimate MTSO :( ...

Nov 01, 2010

I have been at home working full time for about a year. I have been an MT longer, but I always had kept a job outside of the home also because I like interaction with other. I have found that I am starting to lose my people skills. Do others have this same problem? It is like I have forgotten how to really be able to hold a conversation with others. This is something that really bothers me as I have always loved customer service and working with people and main ...

Nov 26, 2012

I tried entering my ID plus dep on the Fluency for Transcription page and it said my account was inactive. Okay, so I tried twice with Remedy to get it reactivated. Both times I got emails telling me it was working. Tried again and no luck. Am I on the right page, the one with the hideous orange splash, the same one we use to find our stats? Any help appreciated, I really don't want to have to call tech support if I don't have to. Do I even need to d ...

Jul 21, 2010

Just doing a little survey here: Do you think the medical transcriptionist is becoming more and more obsolete? I have been in the field for a long time and have already lost a couple of jobs due to technology or work being contracted out. It seems to be the one job I was always able to find as there was also a need, especially if you're experienced. Nowadays, we're talking VR, editors, etc. etc. and the pay is not getting any better. Personally, I have alw ...

Jun 30, 2011

I am just a little fish in a big pond, very rarely posted here, but loved to read the posts! I felt though I had to post tonight as I am very sad. For the last 15 years, I was an MT, but tonight was my last shift and typed my last report - a discharge summary. Same thing I started on all those years ago. My account is going VR on July 1, and I was told my wage would go from 9 cents a line to 4 cents. No matter how they crouch it in rah-rah terms (increased produc ...

Jul 13, 2012

I am a 47-year-old woman with a BS degree in management who has always wanted to work in the medical field. I began a training program for transcription but have since learned that field isn't promising at this point. I am analytical and have worked in accounting-type positions for many years, and I think I would enjoy coding. From the perspective of someone with experience in the coding field, would you recommend coding as a career or would you suggest possibly RHIA? I would appreciate ...

Oct 08, 2012

I am about 90% done with my preemployment process at a county position in a neighboring town. It will not be too soon for me start as we got word today that we lost one of the biggest contracts they had and they wont be getting a new one until February. So let me tell you just how thankful I am that I am not going to have to deal with these issues of MT anymore. I will be moving on to an employer where I am fully vested at 8 years! I am 40, so essentially I could retire then! & ...

Oct 12, 2012

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I am a military wife, so I'm hoping to start a career where I can work from home. For now I would only want to work part-time since I have a young child at home, but it would be nice to have the option to work full-time someday. I've been thinking about becoming a MT for a while now, but lately I've been discouraged because it looks like the job growth has slowed considerably in recent years. I'm looking into the Car ...

Apr 02, 2013

How many of you are pursuing a new career. I can't live on the money I make from MT, and I don't know if I can do this until I retire. I have been studying gemology, trying to get into estate jewelry. ...

Apr 08, 2013

Well, I wish I would have looked at this forum before going to MT school. I tried working for two different MT companies. First one I hated the platform/pay and the second one I really liked the account and platform but my work wasn't "clean enough" and they let me go after two weeks. I think I got canned because I questioned some QA redlines and was told I was wrong (no, no comma. Yes, you put a comma. That's hypenated. No, not hypenated.) I even ha ...

Aug 03, 2013

Here is a link to a very cool career map on AHIMA website. You click on one career in entry, mid, advanced or master level and it will connect you to all the paths you can go. It also shows emerging areas. Just what we have all been talking about mapped out! http://www.hicareers.com/CareerMap/ ï»¿ ...

Nov 06, 2013

I was just wondering if anyone had found another work-from-home career to go to after leaving the MT "world?" The way this industry is going, I'm just tired of it all and would like to find something else I can do from home and make good $$ at itI I have started on something of a new career but it will take some time to get up, get going and start making $$ at it. I am designing cat "trees" or furniture that is more attractive and way more easy to clean than what is on the market out ...

Apr 15, 2010

put all of this wonderful medical terminology to good use? Don't want to be a nurse. I hate needles and blood. I am a very empathetic and compassionate person. I really don't want to deal with the public/customers. ...

May 09, 2010

Hmmmm...Interesting, was reading about Andrews School and M-Tech. I looked them up online and they DO seem to be THE schools to go to. Seems as though Career Step is in 3rd or so? How would anyone place U.S. Career Institute? I'm sure this another matchbox school, but do you think it's one that employers run from? Just curious, thanks if you can help. And Happy Mother's Day to all those great mom's out there, hope you had a great day! :) ...

May 12, 2010

wonder if anyone here, or if anyone knows of anyone who utilized Career Step for either their MT program or their coding program ...