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

New medical transcriptionist - Sorka

Posted: Jun 16, 2013

I am trying to find a good training program. I have looked into career step and then a local training program at a technical program here in Denver. The Denver program has an internship as part of the course but is not ahdi approved. It is a 17 month program and looks thorough but I don't know how big the ahdi approval is. I've heard that career step helps graduates get a job. Any advice for me on this? Thanks.

Can I ask - wondering

[ In Reply To ..]
Why this profession? It's really going down the drain.

Suggest you save yourself while you can - Wondering, too

[ In Reply To ..]
I wonder why you would go into this, as well, and who in Denver would still be teaching it! How on earth could they offer an internship and in WHAT?

There are jobs left for MTs, but I truly do not recommend going into it. I fear that you will be very, very sorry.

Here's something you need to pay close attention to: Helping graduates get jobs is not the same thing as teaching them enough to keep the job, and the jobs they may help you get aren't that great.

We're not supposed to comment on folks' grammar here, but you have 4 capitalization errors, a missing hyphen, and a missing comma. Whether you did or did not think anyone was going to be looking at that doesn't matter, but if you can't find them in your post, you are not even on the bottom rung of the MT ladder yet.

If you do want to take the Denver program, being AHDI-approved isn't as important as the materials they use. If they use the SUM program, it can't be that bad. However, national services will probably not hire you.

You would do loads better to find a coding program. Whether you think it's something you'd like or not, please locate one and investigate it. Coding is a more professional job and the pay is much better. I think it's actually easier to learn, and you'll never have to listen to some mumblemouth horking phlegm, snarfling sandwiches, and using the toilet.

Please, just save yourself now!

This "profession" is tanking...My advice is to look into something better! - MTJ

[ In Reply To ..]
Everything is going to voice recognition/editing (which pays poorly) or has been off shored or the doctors are using point-and-click systems. This career is going the way of switchboard operators, etc. It's really, really not a great field!

Reply - Alice

[ In Reply To ..]
As you know, many of the jobs in medical transcription and coding have been outsourced to other countries. I, for one, have been in positions where my job was outsourced without advanced notice. It was here one day and gone the next.

My "advice" is to find a career that has more of a future than anyting that can be outsourced. In other words, one where you have face-to-face contact with the customer/client/patient.

If working from home is your goal. Well, there are other positions for which you can telecommute. If it were me, and I was much younger, and my goal was to work from home, I'd study global/online commerce and find a really good product or product line to sell, with continuous updates, of course. My goal would be to learn as much as I could from others and move towards self-employment as the ultimate goal.

Advice - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
If you were foolish enough to pursue a career in MT in this day and time, you would be better off investing your money and time in a program that uses the SUM program and has live instructors. (Career Step does not.) Andrews is at this point the only program from which I would hire, if I were in a hiring position. However, are you are aware that there literally NO jobs for newbie MTs? I retired a year and a half ago after a 40-year run as both an MT and MTSO. I can tell you that when there was an opening on our team, there were 400-500 applications! And those were from seasoned, well-educated MTs who had skills and experience in every specialty. I really think you would be better off to invest your time and money in something more productive than in learning MT at this stage of the game. You are about 15 years too late. As to AHDI, I do not think anything they do is a "big deal." In my view, they are part of the problem, rather than the solution, to the plight of the MT in today's marketplace. You might want to read both the Nuance and the M*Modal boards to see how working MTs are faring these days--not very well, sadly. I wish you luck.

Transcription... - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
No, there is still money out there and a significant amount of work. Every MT I personally know has more work than they can imagine, and we are making good to great money. If you pursue this field, obtain the best training you can, and then some experience and obtain your own accounts.

Transcription....anon - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes! And George Clooney is taking me to the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday night.

More new clients.... no qualified MTs - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
No offense, but by your own account and postings, you have been retired. There is an entirely new playing field and more work out there than you can imagine EVER. Yet again, I will have to probably turn down more new clients who contacted me TODAY because of posts like these.

To the original poster, yes there is a significant amount of work out there that pays great money, well 10-14 cpl. Most work is "cannedd/templated" in my case, which means you have to know what you are doing. Also, grammar/punctuation skills as well as excellent word processing skills will always be in high demand. I just GAVE AWAY an account to somebody who claims to have all this experience who made so many SERIOUS ERRORS on a few reports she helped me with on other accounts, I had to redo everything. She did not even know basic word processing skills. I should have tested her instead of requesting work samples. She spelled "have" as "havea." among other things. She could not even transcribe correctly a simple, very simple, MRI finding. She wonders why her business has gone down the tubes...

You do not need the SUM program to be successful but a comprehensive program, and your education never ends. Sorry, but honestly (and I am quite limited from injuries), but I earn over $7500 per month. Before my injuries, I was making over $10,000 per month just on 1 facility of 2 dictators, later taking on 4 more. This is just my work, and I was at the doctors most of the time.

My classmates from school are even busier than I am and earning 14-18 cpl, although they pick up tapes, which I do not.

If you are serious, get the best education and training you can, which will determine your pay throughout your career.

This is from somebody in the field RIGHT NOW, not somebody who retired years ago or attended some 3-month program and wonders why they cannot earn good money.

anon - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been retired from full-time MTing for 18 months, during which time I have been mentoring other MTs, consulting with MTSOs (currently helping a rather large company with a go-live), and on occasion, filling in for people who are on vacation, etc. (Building up my travel bank account.) I am still in the field RIGHT NOW, have written numerous articles over the last 30 years which were published nationally about MT (and still continue to write), and still serve as a "go-to person" for input in various areas. I stand by my credentials and activity in the field any day. Although you have made some interesting assumptions about me they are just that-- assumptions. And they are, unfortunately, not accurate. You might want to fact-check before making such untrue and silly asumptions public.It would seem to me that if my experience in the MT world is current enough for three major teaching hospitals to pay me quite a handsome fee, I am not quite ready to sit in my rocking chair and read just quite yet.

To Old Pro - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Then why are you telling everybody this field is dead? Gosh, there is more work out there than you can imagine! Work that pays quite well. Your post says you are getting a handsome fee.

Anon - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, I am getting a handsome fee, but it is for consulting, not transcribing. You seem to want to turn this into a personal argument. Sorry, I don't want to play. You would do all of the MTs so much more good if you would post a contact so they could contact you to share the wealth. Over and out.

anon - Nick

[ In Reply To ..]
Old Pro retired from full-time transcription 18 months ago. She is still busy in the field, on her own terms, and doing consulting. To many in California, she is an icon in the field. When you say "retired years ago" you are way off the mark. Sorry, but I just have a hard time taking you seriously.

ATTN ADMIN: Imposter Spam - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
This "$10,000 a month on 2 dictators" and "friends making up to .18 CPL" is scamming newbies. Please take action.

anon - Doubter

[ In Reply To ..]
For someone who is "2bz2sleep," you sure seem to have a lot of time to post on these boards and toot your own horn. I'm still not buying it.

every MT you know are telling you they have more than they can handle - so you do not ask them to work for you. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
2bz4U - get it? not trying to insult, but communicate in a fashion you are famillar.

Sorka - Think about this

[ In Reply To ..]
Three years ago I had a wonderful position and was making $43,000 a year. (I am an experienced MT.) Where is my job now? It went to EPIC overnight, no warning. It is happening to many MTS, everywhere. Please don't set yourself up to get shot down.

One suspects that all - she will remember

[ In Reply To ..]
from your response is the $43,000 figure, not the fact that very few can make that now or that it is extremely difficult for newbies to find jobs at all.

She also needs to remember - polka dots

[ In Reply To ..]
That it took me 25 years of good, solid MTing to get to the point of $43K. Even if she has 25 years to waste, she will not be building her skills. If she wants to make lots of dough, she should become a stockbroker.

Career Step... - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
From my personal experience, Career Step only sends out emails to services.

If theDenver program is thorough and offers a comprehensive program, including anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, Business English, pathophysiology, etc., on top of the transcription courses and internship, I would chose this. I went through 2 programs, the first of which was a waste of time and my money despite a 4.0 GPA. Good luck!

Do not choose ANY program - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
that does not use the SUM program. Plain and simple as that.

Career Step - Keidamom

[ In Reply To ..]
So you took the Career Step training and all they did to help you become employed was send out some emails? Did you become employed as a result? Or did you have to find your own employment?

Schools finding employment - Old Educator

[ In Reply To ..]
The idea that schools help you find jobs is something of a myth. Sure, a lot of "career" schools crow that they do it, but they really don't. They just keep files of potential employers, or resumes, or something like that.

YOU are always going to be responsible for finding your own job. You are also going to be responsible for KEEPING that job.

Way before you get there, you will need to complete the course. That is the problem with a lot of these schools. They often have a very low completion rate, like 10 or 20%. They'll make sure they don't discourage or flunk you out until you are at a point where you have paid all your bills, though. They may, for instance, not have a real exam until the very end.

Some schools have agreements with employers to give grads jobs, but when only 10% graduate that isn't such a good thing. The employers are under no obligation to keep you, either. The success rate for that school's students On the job may be even lower.

Old Educator - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
Old Educator is right. All she says is spot-on. And as for me, I have always felt uneasy about a school that offered its students an answer key rather than access to a real, live instructor. Just my opinion. If I were hiring someone today, I would have no qualms about hiring any Andrews grad. Career Step, not so much.

right now, transcription is in a transition phase... - Des

[ In Reply To ..]
Things could change for the better or dive into the worst at any time. There are experienced MTs right now who are struggling to find work. Who really knows what MT is going to be like in "17 months." There might be jobs and there might not be.

For example, India is doing a fair amount of our work right now. EMR has also taken MT jobs. VR is making some MTs more productive, which reduces the number of MTs needed.

or...

India could fail and then all of the sudden there aren't enough MTs here in the US for the workload.

Regarding EMR, some MTs are being asked to input this data directly into the patient's chart, instead of the dictators doing it themselves. This has created some jobs.

Also, VR isn't working quite as well as was anticipated, which does open up jobs for skilled editors (at bargain basement pay, of course).

I'm not trying to keep you out of MT. There are lots of skilled, experienced MTs right now getting out of the field (and I'm one of them) and this could potentially create openings for newbies.

HOWEVER, there is uncertainty in MT and a very real possibility there will be even fewer jobs in the next year when you graduate.

Further note, when you graduate as a newbie, you'll be competing with the highly skilled, experienced MTs who are choosing to stay in the field. This is going to further limit your options.

Even with education, a newbie MT still requires months of training and supervision, and MTSOs and clients are no longer willing to spend the time and money to do this when they have so many experienced MTs just waiting for their call.

This reply turned out to be more negative than I expected. If you choose to go into MT, just remember that it's going to be a hard road with lots of disappointment, frustration, and very low pay. If you stay with it, though, you might have a chance.

Just one more thing... Recruiters at schools and MTSOs are known to embellish the truth about job opportunities and pay. They'll say things like "you'll make lots of money," and "we have MTs who are earning over $20/hour," and "our software will boost your productivity so you can continue to earn more and more," etc. YOU CANNOT EXPECT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS AS A NEWBIE. You might get lucky, or you might get stuck working for an MTSO who pays you poverty wages.

Des - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I do NOT think your comment is "negative." It is REALISTIC. Too many people equate the two, and that is not right. I think your advice and reasonining are right on. I know that if I were starting out in the field, I would welcome this kind of realistic advice. What you are saying is very valuable and I hope newbies/wannabies take it to heart. Too many of these schools are taking advantage of people's wanting to work at home. Sorry, folks, that train left the station about five years ago.

BLS Job Outlook for MT - Getting Out

[ In Reply To ..]

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics - Job Outlook for Medical Transcriptionists:

Employment of medical transcriptionists is expected to grow 6 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. The volume of healthcare services is expected to continue to increase, resulting in a growing number of medical tests and procedures, all of which will require transcription.

At the same time, technological advances in recent years have changed the way medical transcription is done. In the past, medical transcriptionists would listen to an entire dictation to produce a transcribed report. Today, many medical documents are prepared with the use of back-end speech recognition technology, in which specialized software automatically prepares an initial draft of a report. The transcriptionist then reviews the draft for accuracy, listening to the original recording as needed. Such technological advances are expected to continue, making the individual transcriptionist far more productive and limiting employment growth overall.

As healthcare providers seek to cut costs, some have hired transcription services in other countries. However, concerns about patient confidentiality and data security suggest a continued need for transcriptionists within the United States.

Percent Change in Employment, Projected 2010-2020

Other Healthcare Support Occupations: 25%

Total, All Occupations: 14%

Medical Transcriptionists: 6%

RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN FROM ANYTHING - justpassingthrough

[ In Reply To ..]
EVEN REMOTELY RELATED TO MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION. HURRY. RUN, RUN, RUN, AS FAST AS YOU CAN!

I liked - sandy

[ In Reply To ..]
Here is some honest, real world feedback.

I used Career Step. I really like the program. Real live instructors were available to assist you with questions, they had moderated chats and message boads. I graduated with honors in April and started working in June.

The did help me find a job. I would get emails from them with companies looking for new grads. They also maintain a database of all companies hiring transcriptionists including if they hire new grads, type of work, and other graduate feedback on severel factors of employment.

After graduating, they helped me with my resume and also were available to call and get help with what to say and how to do well in an interview. This is far more than what some of the people above have led you to believe.

Also, every person I spoke with during my initial job hunt, and several that I have spoken with in my recent job hunt for better pay now that I have a year under my belt, have spoken highly about Career Step graduates. Things like, "we have a lot of good luck with them" and "they seem to get through our QA process faster than graduates from other schools."

My first job had crappy pay, I will grant you that. But that is what happens in EVERY industry when you are starting out and have no work exerpience. You take a crap job to get the experience and then look for something better.

There are jobs out there. Don't take my word for it, go to mtjobs.com as one example and look at the postings. Look at the postings on this site. It will really help if you graduate honors or high honors, but there are people who get jobs without this.

The only reason it took me a month to find a job is I needed IC status as I cannot work a set schedule as an employee. Otherwise, I would have been employed immediately. I did graduate with honors.

Is the industry amazing? No. I work from home part time so that I can stay home with my kids instead of putting them in daycare. My husband is the bread winner. But as a newbie, I averaged $12-$16/hour. You do the math and decide if that is what you are looking for.

Assessment is NOT realistic at all. Pay is going down, not up. - VET

[ In Reply To ..]
Sure, a grad might find work, but the pickin's are slim right now. And, I've been at this for quite some time. The school I graduated from was one of the best and no longer offers medical transcription because they are ethical people! My benefits are gone now. And, my pay has never gone up in 10 years. If I leave my current position, odds are I will be offered less despite experience and proficiency. This is the reality and is not a unique or rare situation.

I suppose that in the past there were those who wanted to get into working as switchboard operators just as it was in its twilight years, too, and despite seeing the evidence all around them, they still chose the field, only to find out there were few jobs and the pay was declining.

Similar Messages:

May 19, 2011

Where can I get information about transitioning from a medical transcriptionist to a medical coordinator? ...

Jun 11, 2015

I researched on Indeed Jobs. At Parkland Hospital the requirement to work as a Medical Transcriptionist is to have a certificate in medical transcription or at least one year of medical typing experience. You must be able to type at least 40-59 words per minute with a minimum of three errors. You must be able to operate a dictaphone. You must have medical terminology knowledge and be able to pass a spelling test with a score of 80%. I would prefer to start my career in a hospital setting so that ...

Jun 27, 2015

I am currently studying to be a medical coder / biller. It is a long study time and tough too, but I love it. But just curious, how do we become a Medical Transcriptionist? Now that I know some medical terms and good at the computer. Maybe I can do this job as well. I have a friend who is medical transcriptionist but seem to be secretive about this career. How do we become one? I hope it does not need a long degree or diploma, or something like that. I appreicate any information. Thanks ...

Mar 14, 2010

Can someone please explain to me why Canada is considered OFFSHORE? We have the same extremely strict confidentiality and medical data security laws and, in fact, tougher standards in the definitions with Independent Contractor versus employee status. Why is Canada considered offshore? It's not nearly like sending something to India or Pakistan where you don't know who is working on the dictation or what the ulterior purpose is. Why can't the two countries just get along?� ...

Aug 30, 2010

I would really appreciate any help you are willing to give me. I have not been having much luck finding a job and am getting desperate. I am wondering if my Resume may be putting me at the bottom instead of at the top of the contact list. I have over 30 years of experience and my resume contains the names of 15 companies that I have worked for (I sometimes had 2 or 3 jobs at one time, but I include everyone because some were Acute Care and others were Clinic Specialties). I am ...

Nov 09, 2010

I am a 2008 graduate in medical transcriptionist. I have not been able to get a job. I would like to work from home. I am considering taking an exam to become a CMT or RMT. Can anyone direct me to where I can find my first job. I am really getting aggravated. ...

May 14, 2011

Just wondering if anyone from WMX is betting on a token gift for MT week. Last year we got the Pharmaceutical Word Book to install on our (their) computers. Did appreciate that. The year before we got nice BBQ aprons with their logo on it. This year we got yet another reduction in our ISR wages. Hoping that was not supposed to be our gift. I know they don't have to give us anything and expect we might get a general company-wide E-mail telling us how REMA ...

Jul 09, 2012

I'm looking for information about what to do if you get a part-time job where you are not an employee, but make over $600 for the year, but they do NOT provide a 1099. This is a case of a man who is looking for my help in providing his transportation to medical appointments. He seemed clueless when I asked him about these options. Then, I was thinking. Well, when a contractor came to my home and installed a fence, I paid over $600, but did not provide him with a 1099. Is there som ...

Aug 20, 2012

I was thinking of applying since I'm looking for a day shift, but I saw 10 dislikes. Any info? ...

Jan 15, 2013

I'm looking into doing online training to be a medical transcriptionist. I was wondering how much money you make once you get out of school, is it worth it? How much an hour? Also, is it easy to find a job? I really would like to work from home because I have a 5 month old daughter. Thanks! ...

Apr 29, 2013

Hello: I am 58 years old and have been doing medical transcription for 25+ years. The group I transcribe for online is transitioning over to total EMR, thus will be leaving me without a job in the not too distant future. I don't do Acute care, so there are next to no opportunities for other transcription jobs. There are no jobs to be had in my very, very small town (including the 25-bed hospital) so I'm considering going with online classes for training and cert ...

May 24, 2013

My how far the profession has fallen One can either hate or love technology. It brings both good and bad. Ron Reagan proclaims glorious MT Week in 1985 and makes it sound like a truly valued function in our society. Fast forward to the beginning of the millennium and share your story on how glorious the profession has become Does your company provide health insurance? Yes, no, maybe? If so, can you afford your share of the premium that is deducted from your paych ...

Nov 12, 2014

I am not trying to sound discouraging, but when do I get this supposed 34,020 salary that it says on BLS website MTs are suppose to make. I graduated from my training in 2009 and have worked for 2 companies, niether of which has offered me anything close to that, and where do they get the $16.34 per hour figure from anyway? ...

Oct 28, 2009

I was wondering for all of you MTs who work full-time from home, what health insurance does your company provide you and your family with and how much do you pay out of pocket? I work for a company (will not mention the name) and pay $62 per pay period (for just me) which I didn't think was so bad - BUT i just found out I have a $3500 calender year deducible and will have to pay 35% of hospital fees if admitted (which I will be in 2010). So besides paying the $62 monthly, I will be paying $ ...

Nov 16, 2009

I was wondering if anyone who is a transcriptionist also does medical coding/billing. I wonder if we are any safer with this field and what the pay is like. It looks to be about the same from what I have found on line. I have been doing transcription for 10 years and am getting tired of what is happening in the industry. It is tedious, hard work to sit on your butt all day and only get paid when your fingers are on the keys. I am thinking of working in an office or hospital for a chang ...

Jan 21, 2010

Hi! For a medical transcriptionist who wants to work from home, is the cost very expensive to have the company install their software in my Pc, and is the overhead expensive each month, such as telephone, internet, and electricity? ...

Mar 29, 2010

Yes, current graduate of Stratford Career Institute with a diploma in Medical Transcriptionist, having a hard time finding entry level work--any suggestions..?????I am a Certified Medical Technologist as well..I need part time work at home for now.. ...

Feb 21, 2011

National Medical Transcriptionist Week is May 16 - 22 What are you doing to celebrate it? I'm looking for some creative ways for our work group to celebrate. ...

Apr 11, 2011

I am updating my resume, and I am wondering if I should include Acute Care experience. I do multi-specialty clinic work and H&Ps, Discharge Summaries, Consults, etc. for various Veteran's Administration hospitals and clinics. I would like to say I do Acute Care on my resume to beef it up, but because it is for the Veteran's Administration, the Acute Care reports are usually for things typically related to older patients. No trauma-related stuff, only minor surgical procedures. ...

Mar 31, 2011

Does anyone knows the difference between, Medical Transcriptionist or Transcriptionist I, II, and III for job title? Also, Is it really only experieced can get a job? Thank you. ...

Oct 19, 2011

I've been an MT for 12 years. I started out with MedQuist as a subcontractor. Life was great! Then came employee status and being performance managed, VS, crappy software, overworked supervisors and nit picking about being literally 10 minutes late for work or getting heavy points taken off my quality score for typing "were" instead of "was." I went to Focus, which was then taken over by Nuance, and the same experience as above started happening. So I went ...

Jun 24, 2014

What are the advantages/disadvantages to having an EIN as an MT? I have been an MT for over 14 years and have been asked by a company to do some work for them, but they require I have an EIN, which I have never had to have. ...

Feb 19, 2015

As MTs, we have seen over the years how our jobs just keep bottoming out more or less. Companies are taking advantage of us while they "suck up all the money" that is paid out by healthcare facilities; we just "don't count." On top of that, companies are now trying to turn us into ICs supplying our own software programs AND equipment. In 25 years of doing this, I have not seen line count pay increase one iota quite frankly. The only thing I can think of is ...

Apr 08, 2015

Does anyone know off hand if MModal pays for jury duty for part-time employees? ...

May 21, 2015

It's time for the medical transcription community to come together to insist on better pay. As the fast-food industry employees have joined together in protest for better pay, it is now the medical transcriptionist time to do the same. It time for the medical transcriptionists in America to unite and stand together as one, just as other underpaid employees of other companies are doing, such as McDonald's and Wal Mart. If our services are so valuable, then we deserve better pay. ...

Feb 18, 2011

My husband is 6 years old than I am and retiring and starting Medicare in couple months. I have always been on his insurance. Anyone have any good leads to health insurance for us self-employed types. Thanks. ...

May 17, 2011

Dear Fellow Transcriptionists: I just want to vent and tell you what happened to me today. I lost my job today because I got a 97.9 on my quality review, which was done on my work in about 3 years. I was working as an independent contractor and I was told that I was being terminated and when I asked if I could be put on another account, they said they were not hiring employees just independent contractors, no employees. I am so upset. I have been a transcriptionist for 10 years this ...

Apr 23, 2012

I am a potential MT, and I was researching this field and came across an ebook called The Successful Medical Transcriptionist. It's by a lady named Shelley Wipper, she claims to have been an MT for 12 years and made a successful living doing it, and the book is supposed to give Step-by-Step insight in how to succeed in the industry. I just wanted to know if anyone the industry has in fact heard of her and her $50 ebook, or is her website thesuccessfulmedicaltranscriptionist.com just a scam. ...

Dec 15, 2010

Hi folks - Well, astonishingly enough, I just got hired as a brand new MT at a private facility, with a pretty good salary & full benefits. I was just certified last year, and all I had was a strong letter of recommendation from the Director of Medical Assisting at the JC I attended, my externship experience (online with ZyloMed) and the 4.0 GPA on my transcript. No paid work experience. You could've knocked me over with a feather! I really can't belie ...

Jan 06, 2012

I am interested in starting a small transcription company in my hometown. I will be advertising to the doctors in my town. I was told to check with my local City Hall. I have been transcribing for 12 years for a local hospital, but I am interested in venturing out on my own. Thanks in advance for the advice. Mel ...