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

MT just is not for me anymore, vent - me

Posted: Jun 17, 2011

Low pay, poor benefits, expected to work your fingers to the bone every day for pennies while the supervisors take several days off a month, inconsistent QA. Plus, the fact that I am a very shy, introverted person and need to be around other people at a job outside the house.

I will never be able to support myself on an MT salary. I am getting out of this business. It's sucking the life out of me.

Me too! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I am a shy person to begin with, but now that I have been an MT working from home for 10 years, wow. I feel socially delayed and awkward now. Sad really. I have not had health insurance for 6 months because I cannot meet my line count (mostly due to lack of work) and I really need to go to the doc for a pain in my stomach but cannot afford it. I probably have an ulcer from this job. Why am I doing this to myself? It's almost like self-inflicted pain staying in this career.

I know what you mean - me

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At my last job, I didn't qualify for helath insurance, which I so desperately need. Voice recognition is a joke. I had low work for 5 or 6 months. The work finally started coming in and I typed my BUTT off for a 2-week period and still didn't make anywhere near my line count for health insurance. I knew then that I can't continue doing MT.

I deserve a "normal" job where there is always work, and you don't have to worry about making a line count for health insurance, or not having enough work to buy groceries or pay your mortgage.

I want to be financially comfortable, and that will never happen in MT. Even if I did find a job that always had work and had good benefits, I need social interaction. And MT is too taxing on the body for too little pay.

This would be a good time to sign up for - classes for next quarter. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
x

I'm in the same boat but not sure what to do. sm - hard-working MT

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I, too, work a lot. It's so easy to be a slave to this job because you need the money and will work whatever it takes to barely get by. I don't think MT will ever be a career that anyone can support their family on (or even a single person for that matter).

For so long I've felt that this job dictates my life. I don't like feeling that it controls me. I work when the work is there or someone else will get it.

Just applied to local hospital... - anon4

[ In Reply To ..]
...for the first time, no work at start of my shift, a first for me on second shift, and it's the beginning of the pay period. Now I know what the day-shifters are going through. I was told to flex, meaning I have to possibly make up the time on a night off, Monday night (there probably won't be any work tomorrow night). Clever of them, and I believe they know exactly what they're doing. Have us all sit at our PCs 24/7 just to make up a paycheck and/or use up our PTO if we have it. Been at this company two years, started off with mandatory OT (really hated that)and now it's down to this. Always thought working second shift would guarantee me plenty enough work. So here I sit on a Saturday night wanting to work and can't. We get no sensible explanations for this weird shift of tons of work/no work.

Anyway, I figured it wouldn't hurt to apply to a few jobs I saw on line for some second shift positions at the local hospital and can hope for an interview. It's maybe a positive beginning step out, anyway. I love transcribing, been at it 35 years (home for the last 15). I'm spoiled and hate leaving my cozy house at night but would love an hourly paycheck again.

This line of work can't support me anymore, either! - Time to GO

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I have been an MT for 20 years, home for that entire time. For about 5 years now, it's been a struggle for sure. I hate the work, the hours (7 days a week, 15 hours most days) - like it was said by someone here- you get the work when you can or someone else will.

I want out, but where do you go at 50 when this is all you have done? Why we do suffer, hurt our backs, gain weight, stress, etc, for the MTSO - and get paid less and less? Seems to me that 99% of them lie about work that is there, too. I want a NORMAL 9-5 JOB. Knowing what my check will be every 2 weeks.. no feast/famine with work.. this is unhealthy and, at my age, not worth it anymore - i gotta jump ship and soon!!! this line of work is NOT worth it!!!!
Good luck everyone....

feeling lucky - was jumping ship

[ In Reply To ..]
Have been ready to try something new because working 3 jobs is and earning half of my former paycheck is not cutting it. Then a former employer finally came through with some part time IC work that is just overflow and vacation coverage right now although there is plenty of it, but probably will work into full time sooner than later since the current in house MTs are 65 and 85. So there are good jobs out there, but they are sporadic, glad I didn't jump ship too soon this time.

Same Boat, some advice - Old Hand At This

[ In Reply To ..]
Looking at this thread, it seems to me that it might be a good idea for all of us, as we decide to leave the field because we can no longer earn a decent living, to send out resumes to ALL of the local hospitals and clinics within our travel zones. As an Ex-Traveler, who MT'd all over the country for several years, I can tell you that the reason that a lot of hospitals are contracting the work out (and extremely disatisfied with what they get back) is because of the problems they are facing in finding qualified seasoned MTs. Of course, you may get no response, and should continue forward with alternatives but on the other hand, you might be pleasantly surprised! All it is going to cost you really is the time to write a thoughtful cover letter, a resume if you don't already have one, and some postage stamps.

Doctor, Doctor - Tell Me The News

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I receive E-mails daily, notifying me what hospitals in the U.S. are seeking transcriptionists. One hospital's high-end hourly wage was over $18 an hour. True...not all hospitals "want" to eliminate their transcription departments; sometimes departments are closed out of necessity. What promotes accuracy of transcription and productivity is the MT transcribing the same account/doctors daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. I think a flaw with some MTSOs is the "all that matters is getting the work done" mentality minus the thoughtfulness of distributing/managing the workflow in a manner that promotes accuracy and productivity.

Does anyone know how much, how little - you have to make

[ In Reply To ..]
to qualify for food stamps?

I found a website that might be helpful. - see link inside

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Hope this helps.

food stamps - st

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Maybe you can find out online through your state welfare office.

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