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

If not transcription/editing then what other careers? - Ave

Posted: Jun 24, 2012

Hi all

It seems alot of people on here are discouraging people from getting into the field. But, I've been wondering, what then would be some good alternative fields to get into?

I can type 90wpm and am good at organizing things. I haven't worked in like 2 years (due to agorophobia) and I need to get my life back on track. I need to go to school for something, but I'm just not sure what to get into if not medical editing.

Hi, Ave - - (see message)

[ In Reply To ..]
I just posted on the Main Board with a question about working as a medical scribe. You might keep an eye on that post and see if there are any replies. If you haven't already been an MT or had MT training, you might not have enough of the medical terminology background to ease into that type of work, though.

With those strengths you mention, medical billing or some other medical office work might be good...like a patient registrar or receptionist. Reception for a busy medical office can be pretty hectic if you have stress issues, from what I've seen around my city, but not always. Family practice offices are probably more hectic than some specialties.

Good luck!

Ave - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
If you mean that you will not leave your home and therefore need a job that is exclusively at-home, there is little else and you will only get an initial job if you have attended a school that MTSOs will accept in lieu of experience. Some MTs still do quite well, but you should not assume that you will land in that group, especially if you decide on a school other than Andrews or M-TEC.

Medical coding offers better opportunities and pay is considerably better as well as more stable, but it is very difficult to get a job which allows working from home if you do not have experience. More and more employers will let you work remotely, but only after a period in the office. You may also need to work in the office periodically or go in to attend training or meetings. You will also need to be certified by the AAPC and AHIMA, which will require taking hours-long exams outside your home. They may make accommodations for you to some extent. Having credentials from both organizations will improve your chances considerably.

no that's .... - Ave

[ In Reply To ..]
...not that I meant. I am fine with going out for jobs. I was referring to which possible careers I could look into that would utilize my typing and organization skills. Thanks for the info nonetheless

Then consider coding. - no msg

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

or scoping nm - deenibeeni

[ In Reply To ..]
x

If not transcription/editing then what other careers? - Suz

[ In Reply To ..]
Hi Ave, I am new to MT, so I am not able to suggest other options. I relate well to your reason for wanting to work from home. Perhaps we can help one another. I am about to take a course in non-medical transcripton to add to my MT education. I am not sure it is a good direction-but hopeful.

Let me know if you would like to stay in touch.

Thanks,

Well... - tmt

[ In Reply To ..]
If you've been clinically diagnosed as agoraphobic, you may be able to (if not already) get disability benefits. Working in MT with a supplemental disability income, you might just make a decent living.

Consider hospital medical records departments, clinic offices as file clerks, alphanumeric data entry at labs and banks.

You might take some 10-key courses to get better at numeric data entry. You won't need any special schooling, just practice, practice, practice. Employers will test you to see how proficient you are.

Medical records clerks are usually trained on-the-job.

Medical office file clerks are usually trained on-the-job.

Receptionist/front office positions often require experience working with the public, but they're still worth applying to.

If you're just wanting to get out of the house, I'd consider a job at a big office supply or electronics store, like Staples or Best Buy. They'll train on-the-job and you can work your way up to floor sales, which pays a heck of a lot more than MT these days.

I don't know how pronounced your agoraphobia is, but if you're getting better and your doc is suggesting an out-of-the-house job, you could also consider cashiering at a grocery store or floor clerk at a grocery store or department store.

I know these don't sound like career positions, but they would be good first-step jobs to get you back into the workforce, and some of them pay more than what MTs with 20 years of experience are making.

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