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

all right what about the medical admin asst program - at CareerStep

Posted: Jun 10, 2013

yes, no, maybe? The price is certainly not bad, $1700, if you thought you could get a job when it was over.

I would not do it - A lot of money to be a glorified clerk

[ In Reply To ..]
My roommate went through the dental assistant program at Pima and I talkd to someone recently who went through the medical assistant program at Carrington. Neither of them are working in their field.

Medical assistant is a glorified clerk with just a hair more education than your average person and you MIGHT make $9 or $10 an hour. There's no way I'd pay for a program to do that.

well then what are we supposed to do? - see message

[ In Reply To ..]
what can we move into? I'm at a loss.

What do you like? - no message from God

[ In Reply To ..]
Maybe start thinking about what you would like to do, or where your talents are. Get some gumption and use your imagination. Whining about not knowing what you're "supposed to do" is a waste of time and energy.

well I thought I might like the job above - but it got shot down

[ In Reply To ..]
thanks for your support.

Shot down - no message from God

[ In Reply To ..]
Frankly, I don't understand why you would base your decision on one person's anonymous comment. Only you know what is best for you.

I think that's a very good question - (see msg)

[ In Reply To ..]
I've spent many hours poring over the Department of Labor database of occupations, my state unemployment department's equivalent, and the program and certificate offerings for colleges in my area and online ones in other areas.

The thing I have found the most shocking (and, frankly, terrifying) is that it appears there are a lot of people going to school for year-long programs to qualify for jobs that pay $10-$12/hour (and even at that, where job placement rates are disclosed, about the highest you find anywhere is in the 75% neighborhood). (I haven't really looked hard at those taking longer than a year, because a year of additional training is all I'll be able to afford.)

I honestly don't know what we're "supposed to do." I'm kind of reaching the conclusion that in the US in 2013, retraining is only the least useless of a whole lot of (at best) unpromising alternatives. Let alone for those of us who will also be swimming against the riptide of age discrimination as well.

Of the available alternatives, I keep coming back to coding. Although I'm profoundly worried about the odds of getting a first coding job when I'm near 60, I'm hoping that perhaps ICD-10 will shake things up enough in the coding world to open up some jobs for new coders with ICD-10 classes (and maybe ICD-10 certification insofar as that's possible). But it looks to me like a new coder can probably expect something like $16/hour (depending on a ton of variables, as always)... which seems to be almost as good as it's going to get out there anymore.

I just don't know about coding - see message

[ In Reply To ..]
I know it's supposed to be great and wonderful and profitable but I also see so many who can't find jobs after they go to school, and plus I just wonder if I am capable of doing it.

Thoughts on that - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Where are you seeing "so many who can't find jobs" in coding? 75% of new CPCs *do* find jobs. That isn't such a bad number.

It's a concern, yes, but I suggest you google to find out how many nursing graduates can't find jobs -- ever.

Frankly, as a coder, I think that coding is a very good job prospect.

About wondering if you "are capable of doing it" . . . I think that's the main problem. You are either lacking in confidence or you haven't done enough to find out about what coding is really like.

I think that few MTs would have much trouble with it. Can you read? That's 90% of the reason coding is too difficult for most people--they can hardly read plain English, much less medical language. You already know medical language.

Do you know what goes on in medical care? What an H&P is? A consult, DS, or a Op Report? How about path, lab, and radiology reports? Do you think you can understand what you read in an op note? Most people can't, but MTs can.

That's it . . . reading and looking up stuff. Don't you already do that?

Coding is not math. It isn't memorizing codes or code numbers.

It's a lot like MT, only instead of listening and writing, you read and find codes to match what you find in the reading.

Can you look at a report you've typed and find the diagnoses? Or what operation was performed? Well, then you can code. Coding is just taking those things and finding them in a book.

Also understand - no message from God

[ In Reply To ..]
You many only be seeing entry-level pay rates, and only an average of those as well. Very few new graduates make the big bucks in their field straight off the bat. For example, first year teachers in my area make around 28K. Pretty cruddy, right? BUT, by year 5, they're hitting the 70K mark.

Don't let others discourage you - Fuzz

[ In Reply To ..]
Honestly, it is hard to find a high-paying job these days. There is nothing wrong with going to school for medical assisting. I do see jobs for that. Do take all the phlebotomy training you can get and echocardiogram and vital signs. Take all of it seriously. If there are clinicals, make sure they do clinicals where you want to work.

Not a real job in any real - medical practice/facility

[ In Reply To ..]
Do they also have courses for File Clerk and Data Entry?

Do docs even have "Medical Secretaries" anymore? - All It Is

[ In Reply To ..]
That's what an Administrative Assistant is, in medical or any other office. A glorified Secretary/Go-fer.

maybe so - see message

[ In Reply To ..]
but right now I don't have the skills to be the glorified secretary/go-fer. I have to get the skills someplace or no one will even take me seriously at an interview.

but the courses cover insurance and billing - see message

[ In Reply To ..]
I know how to be a file clerk but I know nothing about insurance and billing. How am I supposed to learn it if I don't take a course? I'm pretty sure no one would hire me to train me on the job.

Get a book - Not God, either

[ In Reply To ..]
All that information -- basic records management & coding & billing & collecting -- is covered in one book/workbook combination. Green & Rowell. Or, Fordney.

If you take a course, they will tell you to read the book and do the exercises. Can't you do that on your own? This information is not so complicated that you need a teacher.

from amazon reviews - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
This is one of the WORST learning materials ever! By the end of the course, there were so many frustrated students (as well as the instructor) that I suggested a major bon fire (fueled by the books) at the end of the class! Thankfully, the teacher has decided to never use this course ever again.

There were so many mistakes in the book and on the two CDs; trying to get help from the authors/designers of the program was impossible! Those of us who did seek assistance (including me) were told to wait for a confirmation email (which never came) regarding the "help" we were to receive.

thank you! - thank you!

[ In Reply To ..]
I'll know not to get that book!

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