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

Wondering about something, with so many of us - wanting to get out and go to school SM

Posted: May 28, 2013

I wonder that most of us seem to be in the mid-40s and even later 50s or 60s that are sick of the MT garbage and want to get out by going back to school. Has anyone considered the fact of how old you/we will be when we graduate a program? Even a 1-year program likely will take 2 years to go through if somone has to work full-time to support themselves, even with loans to pay for school. What about the age discrimination I hear so much of and definitely see it in the real world? Does anyone else worry about this and wonder what the world we can do to help ourselves? I'm not too old to go to school and learn, but I fear taking on a 2-year loan to get a degree at a local tech college, then get out of school and cant get hired because I'm "Too Old." Nobody will say that's the reason, but chances are pretty good that's it. It's a risk I guess we all have to weigh when making a decision about going back to school.

School - sm

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I will be 49 this year and I have been back in school for about 9 months while still working as an MT (as much as I dislike it these days, I need to pay for school) and I should be done within the next 3 months. I figure MT is only going to get worse, so I really had to do something to get myself out of this mess.

What are you studying?? - MTSlave

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Just curious: )

Trying to make up my mind on what to do. I've been flip flopping between coding, LVN, respiratory therapist and a few others.

Ideas and things I've come across as I grapple... - MTJ

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My local technical college (regionally accredited and well respected) has 100% placement of graduates from their dental assisting program, and it's relatively a shorter program than many. That's encouraging to me!

Also, I didn't know this until doing a lot of investigating, but several pharmacies (Walgreens, Rite-Aid, etc.) are certified to provide on-the-job training for pharmacy technicians. I know of a person (my brother-in-law's sister) who actually did this and worked for years as a technician.

Another no-cost program that is offered in some places is CNA training. I'm probably going into this myself as two nieces completed the program, became licensed, and they both love their jobs. (One is also now studying to become an RN.) I do not know if this is possible in all parts of the country, but some of the senior centers and a hospital here offer the training and pay for the licensing exam and then often offer employment (space available). This seems like a great plan for getting out into the world again, and I love the idea of directly helping people. Even if this isn't an option in your area, the technical college here also offers it for a very low cost as compared to most programs, and the program only takes a matter of hours instead of a year or two or more.

For me, I'm weighing my age (in my 50s) against student loan cost and also the time commitment. I want to make a move sooner rather than later. I'm actually enrolled at the college right now for fall, but I may train at a senior center as a CNA in their next class opening. Still undecided but I'm scoping everything out and trying to make a careful decision. If I was in my 40s, I would probably choose differently, but I'm not that far off from retirement, so racking up too much student loan debt worries me.

Hoping this helps others trying to figure out which pathway to take...

My challenge is finding something to - anneonymous

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train in that will also pay well. I'm 56 years old now. I've been fortunate -I'll bring in $7-8k/month but my job has been renewed on a month-to-month basis while the hospital goes begrudgingly to VR. They've been successful at working out a lot of glitches recently so if I make it to September, I'll be lucky. The suggestions above, in my part of the country, with the exception of dental assisting, pay $12/hr on avg. My husband is disabled but didn't qualify for disability (sequelae from a viral infection) so I'm the breadwinner. Frankly, I'm terrified these days, even kind of frozen in fear. Not sure what to do and I've never felt this way before.

Coding would seem to be the next logical step but it really doesn't appeal to me. I've been looking at job sites and hospital career sites and there does not appear to be a lot of entry level coding-related jobs. Sigh.

Oh boy, you're in a tight fix in a sense... - MTJ

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I'm lucky to have a spouse who has a strong career, so there's less pressure on me financially.

Good luck, though, and I hope your current job holds out much longer than anticipated (like until you retire)!!

Thank you. Keeping my fingers crossed too. - annenonymous

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.

You make what? (sm) - Bermuda Bahamas

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You make $7000 to $8000 a month as a medical transcriptionist? Surely a typo.

No - I'm very fortunate - annenonymous

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My hospital hired me back at over $3/report since the service wasn't keeping up. I do mammograms, many of which are normal - only seconds long for which there are templates with bi-rads included. They've always read the normal mammos on 2 days out of the week. I can do over 150 of these on each day, most of them before lunch. I also work weekends and get the ER radiology reports - bones, chest x-rays, so many of which are normal as well. We transcribe venous studies, too, and those are read in one sitting - 60-80 each time. When they come in in bulk, it's the same doctor and there are templates and macros for everything. All the long CT and MRI reports went to VR so I don't get those. The doctors are all clear dictators, only 2 ESL and they're not bad. I log on 7 days a week - 4 nine-hr days, 3 2-4 hr days depending on volume.

Believe me, in the four yrs since the dept went with an MTSO, which I was an IC with, at the rate I'm earning now, I'm just starting to catch up with my finances. I'm coming up on a full year at this rate but before this, it was about 1/4 of that and dropping, plus long reports, but it likely won't last beyond September.

MTJ - Old Pro

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I actually know a pharmacy technician. He LOVES his job, is making good money, and works in a prestigious private pharmacy. If I were going to do another career, I would seriously consider this.

Going back to school... - sm

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I'm going to be taking online classes at my community college to go into coding (meeting w/ an advisor on Thursday to iron out the details). Coding jobs are plentiful in my neck of the woods. I will be 43 this September, so will most likely be 44 when I complete the program. Personally, I'm not too worried about age discrimination since I have a lot going for me (have to pump myself up, see) as far as my solid work history, education, and motivation to succeed in the work place (that would sound good in an interview, right?). It's all true, plus my kids are older now, so no daycare issues, and they sure don't have to worry about me going on maternity leave!! LOL! So in my opinion all of these things should prove I'm a desirable employee. :)

Going back to school for coding - Been there

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My advice for what it's worth: Don't pursue coding simply because someone told you "jobs are plentiful" unless it's something you really want to do. What kind of jobs? Are they advanced level positions? Do not take lightly the experiences of others who have had a tough time landing jobs as new coders - it is not because they are of a certain age or because there is something "wrong" with them, it's tough to get hired w/o experience. Expect to start at something entry level to get a foot in the door, there is quite a learning curve involved. If potential employers are asking you questions about your daycare and family planning issues, it's illegal; please do not volunteer that information in an interview thinking that it will help you land a job.

Duly noted. Thank you for your input. I appreciate it. - nm

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x

Yes, I worry - sm

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I actually went back to school to get out of MTing three years ago. I finished a year ago and got my AA degree in health information technology. I then became a RHIT and wanted to get a coding job, but I have been unable to land a coding job even with my background and certification due to lack of experience. I live in Boston, so healthcare jobs here are huge, even coding jobs, but only if you're experienced. I truly recommend doing something that is hands-on patient care, if you're looking to stay in the medical field. Really, really research what you want to do, what the job market is where you live, etc. If you go into a career that is in demand, age shouldn't matter. My aunt just became a PA and she is 59 and got a job right after she graduated and is making 90k a year!!!

Oh, yeah. As much as we want to think there is no - age discrimination out there, there is. (S/M)

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I don't think all of it is completely intentional, but more ignorant. I think there are lots of people, especially in the higher echelons of companies that would be involved in lots of the hiring, that just don't quite get that any senior or soon-to-be senior still working nowadays is more unlikely than ever to NOT be able to retire at 65, like they think we're going to do. They're worried they'll hire one of us, only to have us retire 2 years later.

I had to be realistic in my thinking when I went back to school. There are careers that interest me, but because of skipping a lot of the nuts-and-bolts classes in high school and a 2-year college because of being involved in the arts, I'd have a lot of remedial work to do before I ever even got accepted into courses of study for things such as an ultrasonographer, a vet tech, or a radiology tech. I could plod through (one class at a time, while trying to work full-time to support myself), and finally take and pass all those courses, but realistically I don't think the chances are that good at getting hired on as a newbie at much of anything, if I'm finally getting out of school somewhere between age 64 and 66.

So, I'm looking into getting into something else at a lower level - as a clerk, general office worker, secretary or receptionist, and I'm currently in school to learn the skills needed to apply for even those jobs, since MT has left me pretty far below the curve for required knowledge for even those fields. But at least I'd be bringing home a paycheck again, instead of the joke that my bi-monthly pay has become.

First I think it's important to get something else - ANYTHING else - other than MT, and from there I'll have more time, more money, and maybe a better idea of what to do next.

It's also likely that even if we can find jobs, we may not be able to find full-time jobs. If that's the case, the best lots of of may be able to hope for will be some kind of low-level part-time job to supplement whatever we get from social security.

Back to school - diayag

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I think you read my mind, and this is from today! Just last week I was recalling that in my 20s I looked into becoming a PT or OT but couldn't afford to quit my day job to go to school even for 12-18 months (had a BA) Now I'm 65, probably have another 20 years left but don't think this job has another 20 years, and maybe I couldn't take another 20 anyway. Maybe I could survive on SS, but less worried about age discrimination. On the opposite side, it's sometimes more attractive to hire someone who won't be devastated if you close or have to let them go. And if you are in a field dealing with older people (and there are more of "us" than "them") it can be a plus. My concern is about the cost of retraining. Most of us are single, self-supporters.

health field job - what I do

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My mom has been in a nursing home for about 3 years and I have been there a lot visit, especially during coffee hour, and would end up bring the other residents coffee or a snack. One day I was approached about an opening and actually a new position for feeding assistant/activities. I had an 8 hour class at the local hospital on how to feed the elderly, especially those with choking risks, etc.

So I help with feeding during meals and then carry out activities with the residents afterward.

You may want to check with a local hospital for such a possibility. They may not even have a job like that where you are, but could suggest one. That takes time for the CNA to do that, when they could be taking care of other residents that are confined to their room.

Also the residents are always in need of something to keep them occupied and that would be another job the CNA would have to do, again, taking them away from resident care.

I do not have to do any resident care (bathroom, bedtime, transfers). Check it out. Most nursing homes probably do not even consider this type of position.

Right now I only work 4-9 pm because I work as an MT 5a to 2p, but the nursing home position could do full time. And I don't think the residents will care how old you are, and not going to discriminate because you are over 60 (like me).

Service coordinator for assisted living - Anna

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I have a friend who made a great living as a service coordinator for an assisted living. A service coordinator is NOT a social worker and does not require the credentials a SW has to have. You have to have a lot of patience, but there is money to be made. V., my friend, is a very compassionate and patient person and she loved the job, only left it because her hubby got transferred. You might contact local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. I live in an independent living apartment house for seniors and we even have a service coordinator, even though we are not assisted living. Just thought this might work for someone.

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