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

Working as an MT acute care... - lorlyn

Posted: Feb 22, 2010

I completed my education with Everett Community College in their Career Step program for MT training in Dec. 2006. I have been working ever since in a rehab/therapy clinic. I am the only one who does the transcription for 7 therapists and it is a rather busy office. I have wanted to find work doing hospital transcription and certainly not from lack of trying to locate work on my part. What frustrates me is that I was told by my instructors that I should be able to find such work after I get done with my schooling, but it has never happened for me. I have passed tests with national companies and worked as an IC for a year in multi-specialty, but nothing I have tried or attempted to do has landed me in such a position. The reason I am given for not gaining employment with national companies was because I have no experience in hospital transcription (Basic 4). I ask how is one to get any experience if someone does not give one an opportunity to get any? I have applied at local hospitals around my area a number of times and they are not hiring. I am very disappointed I took out school loans that I am now paying back to better myself and find myself still stuck at entry level! I am frankly disillusioned with this field and feel that no matter where I have turned I get a door slammed in my face, so to speak.

I don't know what to ask because I am certain someone will tell me to keep trying, but after 3.5 years of doing that I am pretty tired of the rejection. When I started working at a local hospital in 1982 no one had to have an education in this field, I could have applied for a medical transcriptionist position a number of times, but at the time I was not interested in that area - now I wish I had because I would have the experience by now, but now we are told we have to have an education and yet that has gotten me no further to the place I want to be. What is a person to do? Maybe I made a huge mistake in choosing this path, but I love the medical field and would like to remain in this area. I have even thought of typing for police departments or such, but no one around where I live needs that kind of help. I feel like my education I received was a waste!

What would you do?

lorlyn

working - what I would do

[ In Reply To ..]
If I was young enough, I would return to school for some other profession. I would stay working where you are, as you are probably in better shape than some of us who have been doing this for 35 years. I struggle to get work every day.

Did you do a lot of research in this area before you went to school? Back when you went to school there probably was more work, but that is not the case anymore. All the schools want to do is take your money and give you promises that they definitely have no intention of keeping.

I guess keep your job, keep going over your class assignments and keep up with learning, learning, and keep taking tests from some of the national companies and keep looking on this forum for further jobs for "newbies." It is not easy these days, so definitely do not leave your job you have. Maybe the school you took classes with have some tapes to study, or get a SUM program somewhere that you can practice on the Acute 4. Things really are rough, and I would definitely return to school.

Working as an MT acute care... - lorlyn

[ In Reply To ..]
I did research that information and when I was searching it was sounding good. I had visited some MT forums and asked people what they thought and basically everyone stated it was a good field to get into and I should have no problems finding work. How wrong they all were - course the financial problems this country faces were not really known when I was asking and maybe that has something to do with it.
I would like to return to school for something else, but I have no idea what that would be, as I have worked in the medical field all my life. I have always wanted to write, but don't know if one can even make money at that. Where I live career choices are limited in this rural area and I have no desire to move.
I have been told by a number of national companies that the little bit of hospital dictation I completed in my training was not enough to obtain a job in the job market today with national companies, so obtaining or purchasing practice tapes seems a waste of my time and money if that is how they look at that.

I personally think schools should not give false hope to someone seeking to better themselves. Most people I know are not working in the fields they went to college or vocational training for - what does that say.

I would work as an IC for a company who has clinic transcription, but that does not provide me with the benefits I need as a single person trying to make it on my own. Insurance as an IC is far too expensive for what one makes as an MT from what I have learned, especially if you have things an insurance company would consider pre-existing conditions.

Thanks for your reply - I have a feeling I made a grave error in my choice for further education.

lorlyn

Writing... - Typin_away

[ In Reply To ..]
You can make pretty good money writing and working at home. I do not enjoy writing or I would do it myself. Here are some websites to give you some job leads. You could start out writing and keeping your transcription job and then phase it out when you make better money at it.

http://www.workplacelikehome.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=126

http://www.wahm.com/forum/wahms-who-write-46/

Don't Expect To Give Up Your Day Job Doing Writing - Lots of people try but few could survive on writin

[ In Reply To ..]
I know a few people who have tried a career 'writing' and it just isn't happening for them. In fact, they are now working as medical transcriptionists, some doing better than others.

It never hurts to attempt to dream... - Me

[ In Reply To ..]
What a positive attitude to have. Wow it amazes me sometimes the lack of support on this board. I say if it's your dream to write to do it...not saying to quit your day job either but it never hurts to try and see what happens. You never know if you don't try. Good luck!

you can do it! - at

[ In Reply To ..]
If you want to write, become an editor. My sister got an English degree and got a job as an editor for a major Christian online publication (Crosswalk.com). She is in charge of at least 5 major channels, she interacts with freelance writers, authors, and publishers, and she writes her own articles as a senior editor. She has only been working for 6 years, and she has edited books and written many articles, as well as managing content. This is straight out of college. She makes a good living and has established a base to write from home as well. You CAN be a successful writer, especially if you can start with editing and establish relationships with other writers and publishers. So, it may be a winding road, but as an MT, you likely have good editing skills already. My sister will even ask my advice sometimes!

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