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

Old fashioned transcriptionist in a digital age. - Ccat53

Posted: Apr 06, 2011

Greetings to all. I would love some insight and advice from all you younger MTs who have been working online from home. A little history - I attended Medical Transcription school 32 years ago, before we even had computers. Worked off and on since then, my last job as an IC with a family practice clinic client consisting of four providers. They were my client for 12 years. I actually picked up and dropped off tapes and transcription every day. They have now switched to digital records using a template on a laptop where they just check boxes or something. At the time my job ended I was making .20 cpl and was reimbursed for gas. Now on to the present. It is very discouraging reading all the comments about the online transcription companies. The low pay, the sweat shop atmosphere. Should I just give up transcription? I have sent out 35 resumes and have not heard back yet. I have no hospital or acute care experience , or online transcription experience, and that seems to be what is mostly advertised in the jobs postings. Any advice? Sorry this is so long.

Another old timer - oaf

[ In Reply To ..]
Where to begin. May be apply for companies that specialize in clinic work. It's really hard to break into acute care, but once you do it for a while you get used to it. And the biggest shock is going to be in the pay wow .20 and gas reimbursed! Things are really tight out there and the sad thing is you can't get the experience until someone lets you in the door. Just keep trying. You might consider taking an online course to get experience in other specialties too. Good Luck...

Thanks for your input. - Ccat53

[ In Reply To ..]
I haven't quite given up yet, but I'm close. Around the time my job ended we also lost our house and relocated to another state. Can't afford to take any classes at the moment but it is something I have thought about. I am just feeling too old and feeling sorry for myself. But I will snap out of it sooner or later.

Have you tried this company? sm - tiny

[ In Reply To ..]
I just saw an ad for employment that states they only do clinic work.

Here is a link to their site:

http://www.zylomed.com/

Good luck, let me know how you make out.

Then meets now - mymt

[ In Reply To ..]
Sorry to hear about your job ending. It's tough out there.

I can tell you one thing, you will NOT get anywhere NEAR 20 cpl working for a service. In most cases, 10-11 would be tops and that's for acute care. Clinic would be 7-9.

Now you can still go out and market yourself to clients directly and you could probably charge 12-15 cpl.

Don't let the "digital" world scare you off. Since you're not working, spend time researching what's available to a service owner (which you would be if you deal directly with the client). There are some pretty easy things available w/o a large cost that could bring you into the "now" with little pain.

Good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement. - Ccat53

[ In Reply To ..]
Hopefully I will figure something out soon.

If you know how to do something else, I would advise it - Old and Tired MT

[ In Reply To ..]
If I knew how to do something else, I would be doing it. I am working two jobs trying to survive and will never be able to afford to retire. I would advise you not to go into MT in this day and age, as I am making 4 cents a line doing editing and 8 1/2 cents if and when there ever is any actual transcription. My pay has gone down so much over the years that I would not advise anybody to go into this field any more. Good luck to you.

I'm considering doing something else. - Ccat53

[ In Reply To ..]
Although I don't know what. Transcription is all I have ever done for 33 years. Other than raise kids. It is kind of depressing.

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