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

just getting started - bev

Posted: Aug 24, 2010

hello-i am considering a change in jobs due to being terminated in may. i am interested in becomng an MT, but now you guys got me thinking twice about my decision. I know there are two sides to everyones story. I'm not looking into making big bucks, at least what i was making at my last job, $25K. Any suggestions on the best school? I understand schools are going to say that the MT field is growing, but those of you that have been out there awhile, is it reallly? And does it depend on where you live? I would think that the bigger cities with the big name hospitals would be a good market. Any advice? It would be much appreciated.

Advice - no1joe

[ In Reply To ..]
Hi there! I am so happy to see that someone actually posted something BEFORE they enrolled in school. There is a post down below on this board titled "Training-----------Best?" started by someone called "dreammove" dealing with the same exact question, and you might find it helpful if you don't get many responses to your question.

My advice for you would be not to choose medical transcription as a new career. If you are having trouble making a decision as to which career you should pursue, check with the Department of Labor. They will be able to provide you with information regarding what jobs are in demand, and they may even have training programs available to you if you are currently on unemployment.

I wish you the best of luck!

I LOVE MAKING THE CHOICE TO BECOME AN MT - tbur

[ In Reply To ..]
My coworker went through M-Tec of Ohio and really like it. I went through MTS of Texas. They now offer an online program and an internship following which was wonderful as I had done another program previously and was unable to get a job. The intership offered great on the job training. If you do well, they will offer a permanent position. Just understand that it is slow getting the money flowing in the beginning. It will take two years to make the $25K but you also have to potential to make more. The key to that is getting your speed up. If you make that a priority in the beginning so that it is just second nature to use your text expander, etc., then you will move up to that more quickly. Two books that are a must is "Saving Keystrokes" by Diana Rolland and ,"Microsoft Word for Healthcare Documentation" by Laura Bryan. I SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE KEY. It is just slow in the beginning but the freedom comes when you have mastered it. You can email me and I will give you some more info and all the support I can if you make that decision.

Sorry for the typos...posted that very quickly..nm - tbur

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

To the original poster... - no1joe

[ In Reply To ..]
I would be very careful about responding to people through e-mail looking to give you more info on schools, books, programs, etc. Be sure you don't give out any personal information. Smells fishy. Just sayin'.

That's what I was thinking. Smells VERY fishy. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Schools - justme

[ In Reply To ..]
Check out Andrews School of Medical Transcription: www.andrewsschool.com

I don't work there--former student who got a job straight out of school 5 years ago---and working as a Team Leader for a small MTSO. Good training, good school reputation. Expensive but well worth it. I worked as an administrative assistant for a publishing co. before MT world, and I have definitely replaced my income (similar to what you mentioned in your post), but I worked hard to get there my first 2 years. Can email me if you'd like more info---always willing to help out a newbie (or wanna-be newbie). :)

Just me - re: Andrews - Nick

[ In Reply To ..]
Although I did not go there and have never worked there, I think it is the best school there is. I do not think any school is expensive if it produces the results Andrews does. Think about it, one of the matchbooks may be way cheaper in dollars, but who is doing to hire someone who goes there? Andrews is "expensive" in the way that Harvard and Yale are "expensive." And I have never met an Andrews grad who could not perform well. Good luck to the newbie/wannabe! I hope he or she finds the right place.

To just getting started - see message - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
Nothing against Andrews, but I would suggest investigating Career Step, M-Tech and any other school you might be curious about instead of taking advice from a stranger who "did not go there, never worked there," but thinks Andrews is the best school there is.

Similar Messages:

Oct 27, 2009

I have been looking for a MT job since April when I finished my course training with MTatHome out of Texas. I apply for spots that areposted as open but then get email back saying that they have no openings. I have been in the Medical profession for 6 years as a CNA and I am getting ready for nursing school in the Fall of 2010. I am just wanting to know what it will take to get my foot in the door in the MT field and get a job. If anyone has any suggestion or can help me ...

Nov 07, 2009

I just finished my FIRST shift and when I checked my line count I was shocked. Twice as much as I can do with MQ. There is something seriously wrong at MQ. At my new job, my CPL is a little less than MQ but not much. ...

Mar 30, 2011

Hello everyone! I just found this forum. I currently work part-time as a legal virtual assistant. My background is in personal injury law and would like to get my feet wet and start medical and legal transcribing. Would anyone be so kind as to advise how I start. I already hold a B.A. in political science and do not think I need to go through a AA program. Bottom line, I am confused and don't know where to begin. Please help! Thank you! ...

Jun 06, 2012

I am looking to get started as a transcriptionist. What do I need to know? I have an associates degree (Liberal Arts). I can type pretty fast, and am pretty good at spelling. I am looking for advice on where I should start, or how to start being a transcriptionst. Thank you in advance for your information and advice. Dawn ...

Dec 22, 2014

I am a stay at home mom and I would like to get into MT. I am having a hard time sorting through the abundance of information out there. I have found programs that range from$400 to $5000. Can anyone give me advise about how to properly get schooling and procure a career? Thanks! ...

Mar 14, 2010

Hello all! It has been some time since I have posted here but used to visit quite often. My daughter-in-law is just about to finish my transcription course materials (she has finished the book work and is working on transcribing the voice files). She has already started applying to companies, however she is running up against the same issue we have all run up against as newbies "experience required." I am willing to sign a confidentiality agreement, have her work beside ...

May 12, 2010

doc states "A saline s/l well was started. The pt was given 1 liter of bolus I.V. normal saline... Saline well?? ...

Jun 08, 2010

Hey everybody, I just needed to vent a little bit. I started my first day on my first job, and it went absolutely horrible. I was using the Emdat InScribe platform, which seems easy enough, but they have sooo many templates that the doctor should be using and isn't. My first few reports were okay, but then everything went downhill. I'm supposed to use the templates, but half the time, I had to erase 3/4 of them because it wasn't what he was saying. The wrong templates would load, ...

Jun 17, 2011

Hello All! I have recently decided to begin a career in MT, and am trying to weigh my education options. I have a bachelor's degree in Hearing, Speech & Language Sciences, so I'm great with interpreting speech/language and am also pretty good at deciphering English as a second language. I've also worked for a hospital scheduling outpatient testing for the past three years, so I have a bit of a background in medical terminology (still so much to learn!) and the inner workings ...

Jan 25, 2011

I am looking for a job as a medical transcriptionist. I like to work through my home. I am attended college at Kaplan University, so I have not got my degree yet, but I believe I could do the work. I am wanting to know how would I get started. ...

Jun 29, 2011

I never have work! Second shift is not that busy like I was told it would be. I am so bummed because I really like(d) the people there. Now I have to look for work as an IC to make up for having small paychecks at TT. Please tell me it gets better and this is just the summer slowness as we were told? ...

Sep 08, 2011

I am retired from the accouting/budget field and am interested in obtaining a job working from home in the medical transcription/coding/billing field. How do I get started with training, etc.? Thanks for your assistance! ...

Mar 14, 2012

The account specs say cc should be mL...However, it says to use the docs template which has cc in there...Go by his template or make it right? ...

Jun 20, 2012

:( ...

Sep 29, 2012

I just wanted to post that I completed my first week of college. The first day was scary, but by the second day I felt much more at ease. My first class happened to algebra, so wish me luck. I know that I am making the right decision, so I am hoping that I can start counting the days to when I can just give my notice. It is going to be tough, but it definitely is going to be worth it. ...

Jan 21, 2013

STILL out there. And I only sent out about 4 resumes. I am averaging 25.00 an hour TRAINING. I am NOT kidding. Don't give up just yet. Keep looking. There are jobs out there. You just need to find them. I would give you the name of this awesome place, but unfortunately, I'm not going to do that just yet. I know I took the last spot they were hiring for. BUT, I'm also having A LOT of family issues going on right now, so if I decide not to go past my training period wit ...

Apr 05, 2013

I just started going to school (Kaplan University Online) for my Associates in Medical Transcription. From what I am hearing I should change my degree immediately. I have been thinking about changing my degree to Medical Office Management instead. Any thoughts? ...

Jan 21, 2014

I am totally worn out. I have never in my life worked so hard for so little money. They nit-pick everything to death and there are so many pages of instructions that you just can't remember everything. I don't know how these companies expect us to manage a gazillion accounts, each with different directions, etc., but they do. McDonald's is looking better all the time. ...

Apr 10, 2014

Gathering information, for the life of me my mind has blocked out that trainwreck.. ...

Nov 10, 2009

Well folks, email today regarding yet another MQ program- Account Trustee- those of us with good quality scores have the HONOR of sending reports directly through to the client with 2 blanks or less, thus bypassing QA. Instead of addressing the issue WHY QA is so backlogged (could it be because so many QA were underpaid and have left) this is the new decision. ...

Feb 13, 2010

If we do not check our screen where patient name, info, attending, date of birth, blah blah blah is not correct or we did not check to make sure the dictator name is correct or attending name in the screen, of did not fill in attending or dictator for, this will have to be notified to HIPAA. If company does not notify HIPAA that an MT made a mistake and did not correct patient name, dictator name, attending, etc., my company will be fined big time and possibly the MT too. Honestly, ...

Feb 22, 2010

I finally graduated from MT training and wonder if anyone is willing to give a new graduate a beginning chance. I have filled out many applications but the bottom line is that they want 3-5 years of experience. How does one get a foot in the door. Thanks celloman ...

May 17, 2010

You know who you are. You even asked questions on this board about setting up an MT company. You have even stopped answering/reading e-mails, even though I have not harrassed you or have even been nasty. I would, however, like to get paid. Your excuses that you are waiting for lines counts from the client and that you will keep me updated is wearing thin. Surely you must have line counts by now since the work was done in February. Or is it because you have spe ...

Jun 27, 2010

She was sending out lots of emails full of useful information, but has now pretty much turned into the old CCM with no communication and NEVER answers her emails. Anybody else with this problem? ...

Jun 22, 2010

Its so easy. I don't see alot of posts about the company i work for, so i won't post that, but their back end is fabulous! And it was so easy today to do 190 lph, and I'm still training! To those who have just decided they are "just not gonna do ASR", you better reconsider. It is the wave of the future. It works. I am so glad I finally learned how to do it. I really don't think we should shun it, we should embrace it. Get your ...

Sep 26, 2010

I have recently started on ChartNet. I read reviews, which are mostly positive, and my question is why? I find it cumbersome with all the headings you have to make with the control/shift keys and entering, starting new headers, etc. Not very fluid at all (for me anyway). Does anyone have advice/tips on how to make this more user-friendly? Plus I lose reports and have no idea where they go or how to get them back, so I am losing line count as well. I was happy to read all those positive ...

Oct 05, 2010

I have received zero info about the new account the new hires are for. Anyone else? Is lack of communication a problem? ...

Jun 21, 2011

I noticed things starting to change at WMX when they bought that transcription company..what was it about 1 year or 2 ago. As changes were constantly being made, even our managers werent as nice as they used to be. I started there more than 7 years ago and it was great back then, but then after about 5 years, things started happening and none of the changes benefitted the MTs. ...

Dec 08, 2010

it the next day? Will they save your test overnight? I started late today and ran into a problem (personal) and was wondering if I could finish the test tomorrow. Appreciate any info. ...

Aug 30, 2011

a job that requires the use of a C-phone. So consequently I forward my vonage phone calls to my cell while I'm working. However, not every phone call gets forwarded! Has anyone else noticed this problem? It's driving me nuts. Plus I've noticed after a certain period of time, my line will just automatically disconnect causing me to have to dial back into the system. I wonder if there is something up with Vonage where they regulate time spent on t ...