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

"Time to Hang Up the Keyboard..." - see article

Posted: Aug 19, 2013

http://www.mtexchange.com/medical-transcription-exchange/time-for-medical-transcriptionists-to-hang-up-their-keyboards/

my cold dead feet - SM

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They will have to pry my slippers from. More like time to hang up your pjs and put on your Micky D uniform.

So where do we go - sm

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He said, "My advice is to look at where the healthcare industry is going and where the demand for jobs is going to be in the next few years, and begin working in that direction." Where would that direction be????? What are these jobs and where are they???

coding - typist

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I have had folks tell me to do coding. nm

Coding makes me nervous. - Getting out altogether

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I really don't see a switch to coding as being that much safer than transcribing. Do I really want to be in the same boat in 5 years? I have 30 years of working left--no thanks. I'm starting over completely.

No thanks. My neighbor just lost her coding job - sm

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at the hospital where she worked for 13 years. Hospital decided to outsource coding jobs to a service. I see a pattern with coding an MT. My neighbor was offered a coding job with the service, but it was production pay, no benefits.

That is sad but NOT the norm for coding. - MT is NOT the same as coding.

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and is not as easy to offshore as MT. It does happen occasionally, but there will still be a need for many coders in the U.S. I guess I should be glad that so many MTs feel this way though, more jobs for those of us who work and prosper in coding.
~ MT/now Coder

Can you please explain why coding is safer - from off-shoring?

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I'm sincere--I don't know enough about coding to make a guess. I'm interested to know why someone in India cannot do coding the way they do MT.

Even if it's not possible now, are you sure it won't be possible in 10 years?

Coding - Anonymous

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People in India code now, but just as with MT, someone in the US has to check the work and fix the mistakes. There's a lot more at stake in regard to audits and compliance than there is with MT, huge fines if a facility gets audited and cited. Facilities do outsource coding to outside services but generally only temporarily to cover backlogs, vacations, etc. The real concern with coding, at least for me, was getting a job as a newbie. I'm credentialed but keep running into an experience requirement (2 years or more). Some places now require an RHIT or RHIA, which is another 2-year program. I'm working in Health Information but not as a coder, I've actually given up on that. I've read that coders are in demand but to me it seems very competitive. No one knows what will happen in 10 years but anything is possible. I read an article this morning that there are 8,000 coding jobs posted on Indeed.com. Facilities will go looking elsewhere for workers if they can't find people here to do the work. I'm sure we can all remember when there was an MT shortage, that did not end well.

Question for you - looking at options

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I'm just curious, did you apply for those jobs with the 2-year requirement anyway? I do want to take coding, but I am also concerned about landing a job as a newbie.

People get jobs without experience - I did

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Every employer wants experienced coders, but usually cannot get them. What they really want are certified coders who can pass their employment tests.

I got a job without experience. Every coder at my facility got their first job without experience. They might have had to really work at it but they did it.

And can you think of ANY field in which employers clamor for people who have NO experience?? I can't. You are going to run into the experience problem no matter what you choose to do.

Right, I agree with you - looking at options

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Any person new to a field starts without experience in it. If no one got that first job without experience, no one would ever have a career, frankly.

What I've noticed though, is a pattern of thought where people don't apply for jobs because the job posting says 1 or 2 years experience needed.

That's why I asked really... I was curious to know if the poster even bothered applying for those jobs or just wrote them off.

Agreeing - Anonymous

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I really hate when people talk about me as if I am not present. You are wrong to make assumptions about me not trying or "not bothering to apply." I never write anything off, so don't even go there. Anyone who chooses coding as a career path will learn the facts anyway when they start looking for a job, there is no point in trying to tell anyone here anything. Anytime someone voices a concern about the future of coding, someone generally says that nothing bad can ever happen. I was an MT forever and I can remember when my colleagues and I were just that arrogant. Fast forward to 2012 and outsourcing/offshoring of my MT department. I made a bad choice (for me) by investing in a coding program but ended up doing quite well regardless. Everyone needs to do what is right for them, just trust your instincts. Good luck to all new coders and coding students, I hope you land your dream job.

To "Looking at Options" - Anonymous

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In the beginning when I was newly certified I applied for everything and had several interviews. I became very discouraged after a while so opted for a different role in HIM/medical records. I live in a smaller town where coding openings do not come up often and it would probably be easier if I lived in a big city or were able to relocate but I'm in my late 50s and starting over somewhere else does not appeal to me. Some people start out with entry level billing jobs and work their way up into coding so I am not saying it is impossible. I've read some posts in this forum from people who greatly lowered their salary expectations to get a foot in the door. If you want to learn coding, by all means do so because everyone's experience is different.

One more question for you, - if you would

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What certifications do you have?

CPC - Anonymous

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...And I am not planning to obtain anything else, for me that ship has sailed. Please stop trying in insinuate that it is my fault because I did not try hard enough or obtain the "right" certification.

Wow - I was just asking

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I'm just trying to make correlations. Don't know why that bothers you. Hope you leave that attitude at the door when you interview.

Reply - Anonymous

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Here we go again, assuming that I have an "attitude problem." I got defensive because several times on this board, other coders have said that it was my fault because I couldn't get a job. Sorry to be rude, but you will find out for yourself when you hit the job market trying to get your first coding job. I am doing something else and quite happy, being paid more than I would have been as an entry level coder. I'm 59 now and just don't have the energy to continue to look. There is no reason that I should have to explain myself to any of you, just let it go and move on, thanks.

If you are in an HIM job making more - than entry-level coders

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You do appear to have an attitude problem and you are NOT "doing something else." You are working in HIM, which is the whole point of getting ANY HIM education, incuding coding.

If you are in an HIM job making more than entry-level coders, why are you continuing to complain and bash coding? Why do you come here over and over bemoaning your wasted time learning coding and inability to find a job doing it?

"Coding" is not just an isolated job in HIM. It is A SKILL and KNOWLEDGE AREA that is a COMPONENT of the overall HIM arena. Many HIM jobs require it, even if the job title is not "coder." Many HIM jobs require knowledge of medical documentation, too.

There is an extensive network of jobs in HIM, nearly all of which require knowledge of documentation and coding -- that is why HIM programs teach those subjects. People move laterally and upward through those jobs. They are not locked into remaining in "coding" forever. For many of us, coding was just the easiest way to get started in HIM.

You were an MT who learned coding. Because you live in a rural area, there were no jobs in coding. Some HIM administrator, however, recognized that you had knowledge of documentation and coding, and offered you a position in which you could use it. Without the coding, maybe they would not have selected you. They saw a person who had gained more education and a certification, and that inspired them to put you in one of those related jobs in HIM.

You may deny that this is the case, but I think it is. Every facility I know of does this. We do this at my facility. Almost everybody comes up through coding or with coding knowledge.

You did benefit from your coding. You are working in HIM and making more than entry-level coders. I fail to see what your gripe is about that.

Instead of grousing that you wasted your time in coding school, and instead of telling everyone that you never could get a job, you should be saying that you are glad you did it because it helped you get a related job in HIM and because of it you are now climbing the HIM tree.

I was an MT who studied coding. I took a first job that wasn't in coding, then moved to coding. I was a coder only a few years before moving into another HIM job. Since then, I have done several HIM jobs that are not "coding," but which require the knowledge of it. I am now moving into another.

I did not "waste my time" learning coding!. I do not say that I spent a year learning coding and $$$ getting certifications only to be a coder for a few years. Rather, I realize that without the coding education, I would never have been able toget an HIM job at all and would not be where I am today.

You are extremely lucky to have that job. I think you have it at least partly because you learned coding. Why you have to be so negative about it is beyond me.

Knowledge is NEVER a bad thing.

Doing something else - Anonymous

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I am not coding so I am doing something else and I am not griping about that. I know I am very fortunate. I never told anyone not to pursue coding, I said that I chose not to. What makes me negative about it is that somehow you and others think that I have an "attitude problem" or didn't try when I said that getting hired without experience was difficult. If anything, I am doing others a service by sharing my experience. Telling the truth is different than complaining, you seem to have confused the two.

oh this is just a - misunderstanding

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There is that one person on the coding board who always says that it's the coder's fault if they can't find a job. Anonymous, you are griping at the wrong person here. This poster is just seeking information, not criticizing you.

Probably the reason MTSOs are getting into it. - They can send the work to - SM

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India or wherever, and hire former US coders to edit it. Probably for pennies on the dollar, too. If it pays more than MT, I'm sure hospitals with on-site coders can't wait to eliminate those departments, too.

It does not matter!!! We keep telling you that - but you will not listen.

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It does not matter. We have explained this repeatedly, but you all are not hearing it.

All jobs change. It is unreasonable to expect to do the same unchanging job in the same unchanging manner for 30 years. It is that expectation that got you into the pickle you are in now.

Coding is an area within health information administration. You can . . . and many DO . . . move from straight coding to other areas in HIA. HIA is a field which is expanding due to computer technology. EXPANDING with no risk of offshoring.

And just so you know, outsourced coding and HIA jobs pay really, really well. Working for a consulting company is not a bad deal at all.

Keep telling "me," and "I" don't listen? - No one has told me anything

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Please don't talk to me like we've had this conversation a million times. I've never had this discussion. Why do you think I asked that question? Because I don't know the answer. I made that very clear in my post.

I'm well aware that all jobs change. I have 40 years of work left--I'm not some old bitty who doesn't get technology. I am talking about jobs leaving the country and pay being diddly squat...I'm not afraid of change, as long as it comes with a job that pays reasonably.

It was a really simple question--could coding move off-shore like MT did. It didn't warrant a big proclamation of what you think you've explained to me a million times.

Don't worry--I've lost interest in coding altogether now. Thanks.

Any job that is hands on and can't be sent offshore. - MTRR

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I'm studying to become a CNA, which is a prereq for nursing. It's the shortest program to get into the medical field. I'm in my mid 50s, so if I like being a CNA, I'll remain one until retirement. Meanwhile, it will give me a close-up look at nursing, so I might decide to go for it. Also, the CNA opens the door to other positions (you can add a phlebotomy credential to it and so on), plus the pay is starting to come up.

There are lots of possibilities, though, just check out your community college/technical college.

There's also ultrasound tech, EKG tech, respiratory tech, surgical tech, dental assistant/hygienist, medical assistant, sterile processing tech, health unit coordinator (program required by many hospitals now in order to become a HUC), etc.

Some of the programs take about three quarters.

For those who hate blood and other bodily fluids - pharmacy tech is a short program

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Community college 9 month program. Pay starts out in the $30K range, not great but better than MT currently is and a quick training program.

Blood and needles make me dizzy, so I am out of the running for hands on patient jobs. I can handle working in a pharmacy.

Some of the large chain pharmacies - aliceinchains

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offer pharmacy tech training. I looked into this type of employment last year but the pay was well below $30k in the NYC metro area. It also seemed to have a very large retail component, i.e., not a lot of back room tech but an awful lot of cashiering and retail customer service.

Hundreds of MT slots in Philippines (see link) - Ugh

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What is most insulting, is how they seem to think - being an MT takes no special skill

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I have trained a lot of MTs over the years and let me tell you, almost half of AMERICAN MT wannabees washed out.

In my opinion editing requires even more skill than straight typing. Medical records are going to be a bunch of gibberish. I understand times change and jobs are eliminated, but as a consumer and patient, as we all are at some point, I am terrified of the medical errors that are just around the corner.

I read that and actually had tears... - Ugh

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I feel demoralized.

ever heard - SM

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of structured data? It's primarily abbreviations and not necessarily ones that you'd find if you went to an abbreviation site and entered them.

For every MT who cringes when she sees a text "R u gng 2b home," there is someone who reads it, gets it, moves on.
IMHO, technology will eventually do away with offshore labor too.

I think we do ourselves a disservice to assume an educated person who knows how to keyboard cannot be taught the art of transcribing (the actual listen/hear/record part of the job).

I've trained a lot of transcriptionists too and yes, about 50% left or just never made it. I imagine there's a fairly significant turn-over in India too, but I wouldn't dismiss them as having no special skills. Education is a key asset and a lot of them have it in spades.

Really? Clearly you have never done QA - for offshore workers. Or you are offshore.

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They have no cultural concept and docs like to throw cultural references around like confetti. The unbelievably stupid mistakes I see daily blow my mind. Yes, US MTs make mistakes too but not to the degree or level of ridiculousness of off-shore.

Whatever is all I have to say to you.

Our medical records are already a mess and will only get worse. Your commentary is pure rubish.

I see what you did there. - ann

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.

QA of offshore workers - Anonymous

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I agree with you. I QA offshore workers and the mistakes are amazing but not in a good way. I can also attest to high turnaround, we seem to have someone new on our account at least once a week who has to be trained. I envision hundreds of MTs in one big room working around the clock. Whatever is right but what goes around comes around.

I went from MT to pharm tech, and here's my 2 cents... - (see message)

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Today's pharm techs are expected to perform much of the work that the pharmacist used to do "back in the day." I was a tech many years ago, and there wasn't nearly as much responsibility on the tech's shoulders.

Now, the tech starts the filling process...reads and interprets the written Rx, enters the doctor's instructions into the computer, has to do some mathematical calculations (i.e., to convert the dosage from teaspoons or drops into mL and figure the total quantity needed for the duration of the Rx), locate the proper medication on the shelf and check the NDC # to match, count out the pills, label the bottles, know the generic names for the top selling name brands, reconstitute the powdered antibiotics with a precise measurement of filtered water, and analyze and interpret the customer's insurance card info and match it to the thousands of insurance programs out there (which can be tougher than it sounds, depending on your store's computer program).

And all the time you're handling the walk-up customer, you might have one or more phone lines ringing, the pharmacist throwing a new Rx at you, several customers standing in line glaring at you, receiving and processing faxed and electronically submitted Rx's (new ones from the dr's offices as well as automated refills), ordering the stock for the next day's delivery, and checking in and putting up the current day's delivery of stock.

The good part is that they often will train you on the job, and an MTs terminology knowledge and drug-name knowledge are helpful.

The bad part is that it's a lot more stressful than it might seem on the surface. My location was so busy. We had 10-hour schedules (on your feet the whole time) with only 1/2 hour lunch break. We could slip out for a potty break or take a regular break when things were slow or when you absolutely needed a break, but in my store, being slow almost never seemed to happen! I always felt like I needed 4 more hands and 3 more brains so I could keep everything going at the same time.

The tasks that I performed were ones that previously (years ago) were ONLY performed by the pharmacist. Now, the emphasis is on the pharmacist being available to spend more time in counseling the guests and is the one who has to receive new Rx's over the phone. I felt like it was an awful lot of responsibility for the tech, even though the pharmacist reviews your work and has the final responsibility for the Rx. When they're stretched thin, too, there feels like an awful lot of room for error.

I did love the customer contact, and the pharmacists I worked with were smart, interesting, and very, very nice. One of the long-time techs was not very friendly and seemed grumpy most of the time, and after working there a few months, I could understand why!

This is just my personal input on the pharm tech option. It might be the perfect job for you, but I would be very sure about it before I spent a lot of money on a formal program. Do your research and read some on-line forums for pharm techs before you jump into it. There are definitely retail pharmacies that hire techs without having gone through a formal program, and I don't think that a smart, former MT would really NEED the formal training as much as some people.

Absolutely agree with you!!! - Former Editor

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It isn't just the terminology, that is something an intelligent educated offshore MT can learn -- although in my opinion it takes several years before you are really a skilled MT -- and I do have a very high opinion of some of the schools that train MTs; fact is, it still just takes time before you really have a good grasp of what you are doing, there is so much to learn. But, be that as it may, (which one Filipino MT transcribed as "It was the month of May" because he did not understand the expression,) the offshore MT simply does not understand American slang, idioms, colloquialisms, etc., and I saw some pretty strange interpretations, some (such as the above reference to month of May) really changed the meaning of the report. I seldom saw a report from overseas that did not require major editing on my part.

They probably believe we're all still going to hang - around to edit that garbage. Hah!

[ In Reply To ..]
NM

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