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

Old school transcription - kb

Posted: Oct 05, 2011

I belong to the now dying breed of transcriptionists that still get paid by the hour and work for a great group of docs from home, as an employee. Now, voice recognition is threatening everything I know. I have worked in transcription for 32 years, started in pathology right out of high school!

I wanted to let everyone know that I really, really appreciate all the input and conversation you have on this forum. It is a God send to a dinosaur like me. I was offered a job with MedQuist just yesterday...before I realized this forum. I was waiting for my final call (she called 30 minutes later than scheduled…hmmm). I found this forum during my wait. After reading the forums, OMG was I terrified to get that call! I did not accept the position. I need to do more research obviously. Do I have any regrets, not really. I actually feel like the gazelle that got its behind swiped with lion claw marks but still managed to escape. :)

I have total job uncertainty now. Management cannot say how long I will have a job and whether I will be one of the chosen to stay. I have never worked for a company where a transcriptionist gets paid by lines or characters, this is all new to me. I have so much to learn now. I wished there was a way I could get out of this chosen career field. Like so many of us, this is all we have done for so long, it is all we know. I have to admit most transcriptionists actually enjoy their career choice, and we all know most of us do it very well. I feel for every single one of my transcriptionist kin in the predicaments we are placed in with the changing times/technology. This used to be such a hold-your-head-up-high career, but it is changing with off shoring and poor company practices. What a reality kick in my gazelle behind! Please continue to help all transcriptionists, we are one big family of a dying breed and it is nice to know we can group together and help each other.

Let the sisterhood continue (sorry guys if you're out there). I will continue to look through the forum to get the good, bad and ugly and hopefully educate myself, with your help, to make informed decisions as best as possible. Thank you

Old school transcription - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I worked for MQ for quite a while (after they ate the good company I worked for) and lemme tell ya, it was hell. I am nearly 70 years old, have primo experience, 99+% QA even on most difficult ESL accounts, and I was never treated so badly as I was at MQ. Thank whatever God you believe in that you did not take that job! Good luck to you.

Old school - kb

[ In Reply To ..]
Wow, that's not good at all. I guess for some companies it is easy come, easy go. There is always another to step in. As for being 70, well I think that is one the best things about transcription because it allows people to work from home no matter where they live and no matter what the age. But, we all need to make a descent living as well and be respected for your knowledge. We refer to ourselves at my company as the "nucleus" :)

oh no.. - kb

[ In Reply To ..]
oh no, I made a typo in that previous message. I am sure you gals will catch it, please when you rake me over the coals, do it quickly and efficiently so I feel less pain. I am more nervous typing in this forum with all these "editors" carefully watching than my actual job! Sorry about that people. I strive to do better.

Old school - kb - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
Relax. This is a place where we come to vent and support each other. Nobody is supposed to be a grammar cop. That is not what this forum is for. [[[[Hugs}}}}

I'm in the same boat - Old and Tired MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I am in the very same boat that you are in. I have done MT for 35+ years and that's the only thing I know how to do. I used to be very proud to be an MT-- now it has turned into a sweatshop and the pay has dropped so dramatically that you can't survive on it. I would love to find a part-time job that pays by the hour (good luck there) as I really enjoy the work, but I know I'm not going to find anything like that. I have worked for several MTSOs and found them all to be pretty much the same-- emphasis on production, production, production, and everything is for them and nothing for you. They nitpick you to death over a stupid comma and pay slave wages, and I don't want to work for them any more. It's sad, but unfortunately that's the way things are. Just remember, there are a lot of us "old-timers" who can still do excellent work-- it's just that the companies don't care about that any more.

Same situation here - old and frustrated

[ In Reply To ..]
35+ years, send out resume after resume, no calls. Company I work for has less and less work. 3-1/2 years to Social Security. Can't even collect unemployment. I too was once a proud transcriptionist - white lab coat et al back in the beginning. I guess the business has gone the way I usually sit here, no bra, hair a mess, tired and babysitting the computer for a job. Of course I'd probably make at least minimum wage babysitting! Just venting - there are a lot of us out there in this situation....

Ah, buck up, KB. It's not the end of the work, or world, or the end - of your working at a job. If you

[ In Reply To ..]
try something else, I predict you'll come back to it. Even though you still have ahead of you the trauma of being paid for the production your fingers put out and not a single penny more or less. Accepting that stern but promising reality's what you need to apply your brain and your fortitude to. Are you VERY fast, even on stuff you've never seen before? Hopefully yes. If not, you need to become so as soon as possible, and I recommend you start now. Very possible for someone with all your experience as long as the attitude's there too. It's still a decent job for many--who've typically worked intensively to be fast enough to make it so. Good luck. Be brave. :)

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