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

Is it worth working for Medquist? - dotsy

Posted: Jan 05, 2010

i recently tested for a position at this company but see nothing but complaints on this site... i wonder if its worth taking a job here???

Is it worth it? - TedEBear

[ In Reply To ..]
It depends on what service area you get. The SE region is heavily off-shored and all we get is the left-overs that the ILPs can't do. However, I have freinds who work in other regions and they are happy and have work.

dotsy - freeatlast

[ In Reply To ..]
No, it is not. I have been in this industry for a long time and I don't believe there are any companies in this field that are "worth" working for.

It is such a cutthroat industry now with off-shoring, ELS, ASR, VR, very, very low rates that the average MT has a very difficult time making a decent living. Many of them are working two jobs, 5+ days a week, 12+ hours a day.

It used to be very lucrative, but now the reality is that it is not. Even out in the private sector it is difficult to make a living. There ARE a few MT's holding on to their positions, but it's my personal contention that they are a dying breed. (also that they are very fortunate). They are the rare ones, probabaly working for clinics and/or docs that don't have to worry about off setting costs everywhere and pluging into VR systems.

As long as it takes to get a certification in this industry, you can have an associates degree in business or a paramedical field. I would not recommend MT anymore. Think DETROIT AUTO INDUSTRY. That's where this field is headed.

mq worth working for? - radityper

[ In Reply To ..]
Try 54,000+ in 2009. I think its worth it.

radityper - want it all

[ In Reply To ..]
The above poster did indicate that rarely an MT working in this industry is still doing well. I believe you'd be an exception rather than a rule. Also, count your blessings and lucky stars. Change is a'coming to us all.

I agree it is not a worth while industry and an average MT cannot make 54 K a year anymore.

We're doing "well" if we reach the 20 K mark.

I'd wonder how many jobs radityper has and how many hours they put in. I have two jobs, 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. 19.8 K last year. 90/10 ASR/MT, about 99.8% ESL... I'd say I'm more a rule than exception.

Honesty is the best policy. I'm with you. - poodlepassion

[ In Reply To ..]
I made $24,000 in 2009 with MQ (90% ASR, 10% straight typing, 90% ESL), $55,000 in 1992 (with another company). There's been a steady decline when plotting my salaries on a graph. When I hear anyone making more than $25,000, I simply take it with a grain of salt. It's just too impossible to believe. It's almost as unbelievable as the ad "Make millions stuffing envelopes!" Maybe someone out there can do the impossible, but not the average schmoe like me.

What I make - BUNION

[ In Reply To ..]
Thats all you make? I made $68,000 last year, just got W2. When your good, your good!

Love Bun

Bunion - SunBunny

[ In Reply To ..]
Not asking for proof, but I seriously DOUBT this is true. You could not convince me.

I am a very, very experienced MT, I am not good, I am better than good. I have to work 2 1/2 jobs to reach an annual salary of 26 K though. I am not sitting down twiddling my thumbs either! I work my asz off. I MT, ME and edit medical journals as well!

I am good. I know I am good. There are plenty of us on this board who are better than good also, but I guarantee we are not exceeding 30K anymore.

I agree with the poster above also, you are a dying breed. Count your lucky stars, you are going the way of the dinosaur. Save that cash while your making it.

Bragging... not pretty.

I think she was being sarcastic with - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
her reply to the poster above by quoting an equally difficult to believe figure.

For sure, we are annomous here, we can say whatever we want, and "THEY" do. - Bunion

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes,I am a sarcatstic one, and just know what I know. I used to make pretty good money, not any more. But also at the same time it would only take me 4-1/2 to 5 hours to make line count, so I would swim, or play in garden, and not appreciate it and work, as I like my down time more. Then on weekends we would get time and a half, with awsome bonuses, and approximately 6 years ago I seriously could, and this time I am not kidding, make on a Saturday in the vicinity of $65 per hour. I would not work all day, but had many $500+ Saturdays. The good ole days. I came from YOG, and also used to every 6 weeks get a bonus check, plus good pay, plus all this paid time off, plus Xmas bonues, plus, plus, plus. Now we are thankful for jobs. Well I guess. We should appreciate things when we have them, blah, blah, blah. Am I to appreciate this crap this year, and last year, NOOO I can just hope for it to get a little better, but I am not holding breath.

Love,
Bun

And just remember, we are annonomous, which I am probably spelling wrong and do not care.

Editing Medical Journals - Donna

[ In Reply To ..]
I am currently working on a BA in Communications or English and my hope is to use my 20+ years of skills as an MT to edit journals! Can you share with me how you got involved in this or which companies to contact? Thanks!

You're an exception. This is also why I miss radiology. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
It's so much easier & the lines add up fast since it's so repetitive. The only reason I don't get back into radiology is because I believe they'll be giving that to the Indians since it is so easy. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Radityper - Radtoo

[ In Reply To ..]
Wow Radityper, you must have some great accounts...ours are getting too long with MRI's being 500-600 secs long and getting paid $1.XX per report.
Do you get paid per report or line? Plus we are always out of work anymore...

No. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

worth it? - radityper

[ In Reply To ..]
All MQ. Very few hours overtime, its simply not there much anymore. Of course included is incentive bonus. I got tired and I got tired of my attitude and simply put I changed my outlook, I gave it my all and they gave back. Many years with the Q and many bad years with the Q and I suspect more of both to come. You get what you pay for afterall.

Do not believe a thing from this board - hallux abductovalgus

[ In Reply To ..]
People can say whatever they want. They can make up whatever they want. I would say average salary or pay is $20K if lucky.

Our newspaper just had an ad posted for an MT - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
with experience and certified and they were paying $9.50 an hour.

Hey Bun, it should be you're good - not your good :)

I think it's worth it - loveworking

[ In Reply To ..]
I make $45,000 a year with Medquist even with ASR and am a tier I. I still use Smartype and cut and paste...have been doing it for years. When I get an ASR job, I usually just delete the whole damn thing and redo it!

loveworking - Kai

[ In Reply To ..]
You mean you F11 it? Or just delete from the screen? In our service area if we F11, we have to account for it. We cannot just indiscriminantly delete ASR work, because the "computer will never learn" (yeah, like it's learning anyway right...)

Is Smartype type your own expansion program?

I do the skip and redundant speech at the - loveworking

[ In Reply To ..]
beginning and end and get highlight and delete the whole damn thing. Its obvious the computer isn't learning a thing. I just retype it. Smartype is my only expansion program. It's the best thing ever.

question - typer227

[ In Reply To ..]
I just switched over to medical records from radiology after making over $50,000 last year and am seriously nervous, I am not flying through lines like I thought I would. Will it get any better or are there any tips for ASR? If you retype it, do you feel like you can do it faster? Thanks in advance.

I think its worth it - TJBJ

[ In Reply To ..]
You will do well. It takes time to learn anything new to you. You have to allow yourself time to learn your account, learn the dictators, and learn the system. ASR is very very very easy. There are basically 3 things you have to do and that is it. You can go as fast you want and/or as slow as you need too ... and still make really good money. Hang in there. It is a good place to be learning. You will be able to work in many areas being in acute care. Good luck.

question - typer 227 - loveworking

[ In Reply To ..]
I can only do it faster with my speed program. I can type on that as fast as they talk.

what it is a ..... - typer 227

[ In Reply To ..]
this may sound of kind of dumb, but what do you mean by speed program. Is it something that you can buy that helps you out?

Worth it - TJBJ

[ In Reply To ..]
YES it is very worth it. They don't hassle you. Make good money even with SR. It is worth it.

Is it worth it? - Just me

[ In Reply To ..]
EMPHATICALLY NO. I left MQ after 10 years after the line-counting debacle and the lawsuit. Not worth it. Waaaay not worth it.

MQ position - TJBJ

[ In Reply To ..]
YES. It is a good company. Don't read what they are saying out there. Trust in yourself. Everyone views things in their own light.

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