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Why can't I work in acute care? - anon

Posted: Oct 03, 2012

I want to work in acute care and have transcribed for almost 30 years. I know I can do it. Why can't I find someone who will hire me and give me a chance since there are so many acute care transcription jobs out there? I have good experience in orthopedics and a good work ethic. Just wondering.

Because Acute Care is not as easy as you think - takes a long time to be proficient

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And companies are not willing to train anymore.

Puleeze. I started on acute care. If you can research, you can - do any specialty. nm

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Disagree - Different from Clinic-nm

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Sure, different. Not impossible if you have research skills. - nm

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I can do it! - anon

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I can research and I have all the Stedman's books. I can do it. I need a job.

Well, I hope you find one. You might google sample op notes, just - to get a feel what they are about. nm

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Look at H&Ps also, and consultations. - nm

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and particular attention to instruments on OPs, labs on all other - reports. NM

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I'm sure you can do it - vf

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All my experience is in radiology and I lucked up in 2010 and was placed on a VA account doing acute care for multiple hospitals. I had no training and was just thrown to the wolves. What I did prior to going for it, though, was study various reports I found on line. I then added words, phrases, and drugs to my speed type dictionary long before ever hearing them spoken. So when I got the job, even hearing "extraocular movements intact" for the first time was no problem because I had already created the phrase in my speed type dictionary and only had to type xommit to insert that phrase based on the syllables I used to create it. It took several months to do this but it sure helped when I was able to insert unfamiliar phrases and drugs with a few keystrokes. Sure you will be slow in the beginning and will have to do research, but you can do it if someone would just give you a chance.

I went directly from 2 decades of clinic-only work - right into acute care. I found - sm

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it to not be actually HARDER, just some different words, exams, or formats. That wasn't any more researching and looking up than I did in a normal day typing at the clinic.

However, going from a fairly user-friendly transcription program at the clinic to the ridiculously complicated and bogged-down and user UNFRIENDLY software at an MTSO that hired me to do acute care was another story.

Anyway, don't let people try to scare you by saying acute care is "more difficult" than other transcription types. It's just slightly different, that's all. No more different than going from acute care to radiology (which I've done, also), or from clinic to acute care. The main difference in the latter is that some of the patients stay overnight.

What MTSO out there is willing to give me a chance? - anon

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Do you know of any MTSOs that might give me a test or a chance at acute care? I have had a lot of terminology and research experience over the years and know I can do this work if given a chance. Since there are a lot more acute care jobs available I would think some MTSOs would be willing to give me a chance at it. Granted it will be slow at first but I know I can catch on. In my last job, I did a lot of different specialties and it went very well. I agree the platforms can be a pain.

We have encouraged you, now it is on you. Apply, apply, apply. - The only way to find that MTSO. nm

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I was in the same boat. - CrankyOldBroadStillOnTheBeach

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Four years ago, I went from 36 years of clinical experience in several specialties to not even being allowed to test at some of the companies. Finally, a nice little company called TRS hired me with the offer to train me in acute care. Even after 36 years in clinical, the acute care learning curve was pretty steep, just because there were so many new terms that I had only encountered rarely, if ever. Six months later, TRS got gobbled up by Transcend, which I found supremely ironic because Transcend was one of the companies that wouldn't look at me before, and now they had me anyway. And now T has been gobbled up by Nuance, which is another story altogether....

So do what I did. Apply, apply, and apply.

I will apply - anon

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I'm going to apply, apply, apply and apply some more and maybe, just maybe, it will happen. Thanks for all your encouragement. WOW 36 years of MTing. You are an inspiration and I thank you for your service in our profession.

agreeapalooza - anon

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I started with acute care and it was at an VA hospital so it was the worst of the worse.

I agree. When I started out in MT I did acute care. - me

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I had not had one class or any prior experience. I had always had a love of medicine and easily absorbed the knowledge. I was even doing QA before I started transcribing.

That scenario wouldn't work these days, but if you have a foundation in clinic work then I don't think it is that hard to move into acute care. Ops would probably be harder because there are new terms every day, but if you can research it isn't that difficult.

I'm not trying to say if you can type and research you can do acute care, but if you have MT experience, in radiology, clinic, or whatever, than moving into acute care isn't that difficult.

Difference between one specialty and a multitude - me

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You probably could do it but most places do not have time to mentor you - they have turnaround times to meet....plus there are multiple surgical instruments, drugs, sound-alikes....I could go on and on. Medquist (before it became MModal) used to take on people to mentor - don't know if they still do. A good work ethic is great but you need more than that. Just my 2 cents. Most acute care is involved with extensive ELS doctors also - that is another factor to consider. Good luck.

Because they have 100s of applicants. Googling means - you could transfer much easier than in past. SM

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Make no mistake, though, although the extremely long learning curve is shorter, it would require a substantial investment in terms of lost income (we're talking probably several thousand) to make the change.

Good luck doing it, though. If you could limit yourself to 1 or 2 accounts to slice and dice that learning-period loss, I'd definitely recommend that.

Know what you mean - sm

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I haven't as many years under my belt as you, but I have done acute care. After finishing an MT course I got myselt stuck in the clinics rut. Lots of different specialites, but no one will consider me--probably for all the reasons given above. I will occasionaly get an op note, or maybe a procedure note, but not often.

What's really frustrating is so many companies hire new MTs to do it. Maybe the material is fresher for them--dunno.

Earning 0 right now. - anon

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I'm earning 0 right now so anything would be better than that. I welcome the challenge at this point and tired of being unemployed. Thanks for all the help everyone.

30 Years of Orthopedics - Versus Acute Care

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Acute care is a whole different ball of wax, HUGE. Even if you had, say, 30 years of clinic cardiology, clinic nephrology and clinic gastroenterology, and your clinic ortho, the hospital above specialties are a totally different animal. The dictators are harder in a hospital, the medications are different from anything you'll hear in a clinic, the diseases are out of this world, the lab tests are foreign from clinic labs, you have more background noise than you can imagine, etc., etc.

It really is like a different language. Those who take really, really good courses are invited to test for acute care and those who have acute care experience are invited to test for acute care.

Trust me, you don't want to get into a situation where you are in tears most of the time. I have 15 years acute care, and I still have my extreme challenges, though I don't cry anymore. ;)

Not trying to discourage you, I'm just wanting you to understand.

Just let me test for it!! - anon

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I'd like to test for it. I did once and the lady at the hospital that did the hiring was going to hire me but then decided they did not need another MT so I did not get hired but I passed the test. I'm not afraid of it in fact I welcome the challenge if someone wants to give me the chance. I just have a gut feeling, I can do it.

Then start taking tests for companies, after you test, send - a resume

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If you know you can do it, put your money where your mouth is and test.

Good Luck!

I'm ready to put my money where my mouth is. - anon

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All the ads say at least 3 to 5 years acute care experience and I don't know if they would let me test. I want to though, give me a test and I'll take it. I would really like to see what I can do with it. I've had a course at Oak Horizons for acute care and bought the surgery books and surgery instruments books and other books. I've spent lots of money on them and even a new laptop that I would like to use. Thanks for the words of encouragement, they are taken to heart.

Please, a good acute care MT is not better than a good MT of - any other specialty. nm

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Acute care, I am sure you could do it.. - anon

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You might have more luck if you start off at a surgery center account or smaller company, who usually pays more anyways. Also, accounts that still use Cphones are easier to get hired, as not many MTs these days still have one or want to purchase one, but they do hold their value and sound great.

BTY, why would you want to transcribe acute care when it really no longer pays more and is much more involved and expensive? Back in the day, acute care paid more, but from what I have read on this board, it no longer does. You also would need a complete reference library, including surgical equipment, each speciality, tests, etc. I started in acute care, and my first year it cost me $8000 to work despite working 6-7 days a week. When I got laid off, I went to clinic work and made significantly more money, although that went EMR and I am back in surgery centers with some clinic work.

I love operative reports the best, and when I started, it was a lot easier than preop HPs because of no medications, just anesthesia. You can save out surgeries per physician to use later, as they dictate pretty much the same thing; hence how you increase your line rate and for reference (just in case you have audio difficulties on some days).

Good luck!! Iknow you can do it. I did straight out of transcription school with no experience (and a significant hearing problem), so I am sure you can too.

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