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

No Future in this industry? - TIREDPRO

Posted: Jun 29, 2012

I don't know why I'm posting, just a last bit of hope left in me. I have devoted my entire adult life to this industry, what I used to consider a career. Over the decades, I became a top-notch professional MT, basically 100% accuracy, never needed QA help, and was a huge producer. Fast forward 20 years, and I climbed up the ladder in our industry, joining QA, being a team lead, then up into management levels, and.... rather than have my salary 'commensurate with my experience,' I now have to face the music that I can no longer survive based on the paltry pay. Ten years ago, I made $28 an hour and worked my butt off for it... Now? I make half, pay cuts due to "staff cuts", offshoring, etc, etc. I have a lifetime of knowledge and experience and am absolutely awesome at whatever position I take in our industry, and for what? A salary that simply cannot support me any longer. I am just so discouraged. Yes, I can still transcribe and damn fast and long, but, for what? Just to work like a horse in the fields from dawn to dusk, for a handful of moldy hay. I am just so numb, shocked, beyond depressed.... I love this work, I love my career, but its bankrupting me now. Is there no use for us lifers? Those who have been in the business since its inception, and helped make these huge MTSOs what they are today. Is there no use for my talents and skills, dedication and loyalty? I am thinking no... and its time to throw in the towel and, yes, go work at Wal-Mart, ShopRite, anywhere. Just so disheartening...

not Wal-Mart please - Drone

[ In Reply To ..]
But I've been looking at maybe Unit Clerk? I know some say they are thriving in MT but I think they are in the minority.

Unit Clerk is a good idea. I've applied at a dozen or so - TIREDPRO

[ In Reply To ..]
hospitals in our state, and have not had one bite yet. Very discouraging. If I'm going to basically make minimum wage, I'd rather go back in-house and start over. At least it would feel like a logical progression of things? Otherwise, in this industry, we just go backwards in pay, and its so demoralizing, not to mention impossible to survive on. Yes, I heard of the MTs who claim to be thriving, but I tend to think these are ones who are used to this pay trend, and to them, its good money? I'm not sure, but I personally know hundreds of MTs and not one is thriving anymore.

Feel the same way! - TiredAlso

[ In Reply To ..]
I feel the same way, however I started 5-1/2 years ago and got on-the-job training. My clinic got bought out by a hospital and they were going to transition to EMR, therefore I found a new job onsite. That didn't work either as I homeschool my boys and working 2nd was wearing me out! I went from making $25+/hour down to $10-15/hour. I absolutely hate the pay rate for editing. It takes us just as long to fix all the crap in the report as it does to straight type it. I can assure you that these companies still charging a high rate to the client and therefore we are getting ripped off while they're making a fortune. More and more small clinics and hospitals are going to these big companies for outsourcing needs instead of hiring within and giving us decent benefits, etc... I'm tired of working my rear off and feeling like I'm getting nowhere, but at this time I have no other choice. It's almost like we're stuck and these companies know it. What would they do if we all just quit?

Is it negativity, or is it - Telling It Like It Is

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't believe in dwelling in negativity, but at the same time, I don't believe in dwelling in Fantasy Land either. I am relatively new at this job, and until I found this board, I thought I was a complete loser at it. Now I see that, although there are of course many who are faster and better at it, there are also a lot of folks who are experienced who are having similar experiences to mine. This is helping me to quit getting down on myself so much and start looking at my job realistically. This really helps me--it takes the self disrespect (and resultant depressive feelings) out of the picture.

MT industry - rt

[ In Reply To ..]
I, too, have given my adult life to accomplishing the level where I am today-meticulous in my work, ability to use knowledge with context to answer questions, go beyond what is required, etc.... The EMR and its lack of narrative material is taking us out, and at the same time eliminating the quality of important documentation. Doctors do not want to click here, click there; they are not secretaries. In a time, I believe, it will progress to an acceptable level, but someone will have to monitor for accuracy as this is not a priority to nurses and doctors. However, intelligence, grammar, and quality are nearly extinct in any industry. There has to be a place for quality, experienced MTs within this EMR - e.g., QA, CQI, etc....

MT industry - On site MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I work on site and don't do VR and haven't taken a pay cut yet, but I do feel a certain amount of frustration. There is a tremendous amount of pressure to produce more and more work without regard for quality and the burnout rate is pretty high. Within our EMR system, there is no more need for QA as they don't see the need anymore, the doctors are supposed to catch the mistakes themeselves. Good luck with the unit clerk jobs. That's is also a high pressure situation for not much pay and also no opportunity for advancement. Wal-Mart would be my very last choice, but people do what they think is right for them. Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts and concerns.

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