great start...

Possible start... [2008-11-28]
I took the classes, graduated high in my group, etc. And I was facing the same problem; nobody wants a newbie that they have to babysit. I actually got my foot in the door through a temporary staffing agency, working in the medical clinic at the county jail. After that, I was on a role -- 1 more in-house position and now I'm an independent contractor. There are companies out there that will take a chance with a newbie (the lady that picked me up on contractor status, for example) and be very patient with them until they learn the ropes. Don't ever give up (I've been fighting for this for 12 years now, and am finally able to say that I have 2 years under my belt)!

Great post [2008-11-20]
I, too, am tired of hearing that there are only 2 schools to go to to get MT training. I hadn't even HEARD of either of them when I decided to be an MT and I've been working at home since I graduated over 4 years ago.

Great post... [2008-11-01]
Definitely agree that any new MT needs anatomy and physiology and word parts and systems to have a solid base. Formating will definitely depend on who you work for and all the rest will come with experience. Sounds like the OP is off to a good start!

It turns out these work great... [2008-09-23]
To adjust them, you just bend the arms slightly. The sound is surprisingly good for the $$. Shipped pretty fast, too. New listing #320302924558

Found a great deal on ebay for those interested [2008-09-13]
Stethoscope style headphones with pc style plug in for $8.99 shipped. Item number: 320296944311 I'll be purchasing myself a few as well. 50 available.

what a great suggestion [2008-08-27]
I never thought about expanding medications, but what a great idea. Many of them, especially in the ER, are almost always given in the same dosages.

bright start [2008-07-22]
I've been racking my brain trying to find a good MT program. I looked at Bright Start and it sounds good. They have the BBB logo on their page but I've yet to find them listed with them. That makes me a little leary. I did see though that you can take for an extra fee 2 levels of advanced specialty training.

Great post. I totally agree! nm [2008-07-14]
X

Yes, and they're great. [2008-07-11]
Pay always on time. Great counts. Always good communication. Training can be tough because QA's pretty tight, but if you make it through it...wonderful place to work for.

I personally think this is a great opportunity [2008-07-04]
Don't let the post below deter you. When I started, a facility graciously took me on with no experience and pretty much trained me in this business. When I first started 12 years ago, I received a wage of only $7.69/hour with some incentives, but I was thankful for the opportunity to get my foot in the door and did gradually work my way up from 6.5 cpl at my first remote job from home to currently 9 cpl. This is the norm for a new MT with no experience. We've all been there and started at the bottom! Three years ago my sister started out at 6.5 cpl and now makes 8.5 cpl.

Can we start an EvaEv banishment petition? [2008-06-24]
Signature Number One: XanaX why can't we all just get along?

great info! [2008-05-27]
I just wanted to let everyone know that I am a newbie, and just completed an MT course at a local community college. I have yet to find employment, but would like to let you all know that youare givinggreat advice and wonderful words of encouragement. I get discouraged from time to time but all of you give me hope that if i continue to work at this, something good will come of it. For that, I thank you.

i totally agree with Patty. In a docs ofc. is where it can all start. [2008-05-20]
.

great start... [2008-05-16]
I agree---the program gave me a great start... have posted many times on Focus. If you search the forum you will see many posts. Good Luck---Sue

great [2008-05-04]
I will definately check out that website. I'm assuming it isadhi.com? And yes spell check is not a bad idea. Is there anything bad about putting medical terms that I commonly have trouble with into my user word list? My school said thatspell check is a no-no but it has saved my butt a time or 2.

This is a great school. sm [2008-04-28]
I didn't graduate from there but am very familiar with the school and their teaching methods and would hire anyone from there in a minute. From what I understand they have 100% job placement rate and will work with you personally until you get a job; however, many students get job offers even before they graduate because the demand is there for good MTs.

Slycount is a great program (sm) [2008-03-30]
for counting lines. They have a free trial version available. Also, if in the future you are able to, I would recommend purchasing Stedman's Word books. They are great! They can also be used in conjunction with the Internet, such as OneLook.

Focus is great [2008-03-25]
I started with them as a newbie and they have a great mentoring program. I now work for them part-time and another company and I will always be grateful to Focus for giving me a chance.

Thanks DJ! That is a great list! nm [2008-03-22]

That's great news! [2008-02-18]
Wishing you and your husband the best. I hope the news continues to be good for both of you.

What a great gift [2008-02-14]
I hope he continues to improve and get stronger.

1/2 cpw for 2-3 letter work okay but not so great for [2008-02-06]
x

Great News! Congratulations - NM [2008-02-06]
NM

I know it's not great, but... [2008-02-06]
it's a start. I don't expect to become a millionaire overnight, but I didn't expect that when I took the course. I didn't say that the MTSO was sainted, and done nothing wrong. I also won't be dissappointed if my check only adverages about 400.00 a week. I don't have to pay for gas, I get to stay home with my kids, and most of all, I get the experience that I need to find a better job. And to be totally honest, since my husband is dying and can't work, and I have two small children to take care of, right now, anything is better than nothing. I know that all of you are just trying to let me know that I probably will not make as much starting out, and not to get my hopes up. I really appreciate that, but you have to understand my situation to be able to understand why I'm so excited. I have 0 experience. This is the first company that gave me a chance. I also have an associates degree in business. As soon as I learn the ropes, and get a little experience, I plan on opening my own company. With a little hard work, I can make this job work for a while, and I am willing to do that. No one starts out at the top. I just have to be excited because right now, it's all I've got to keep from giving up all together. Please let me enjoy my happiness for a moment at least. I don't get much of it. Everyday, I watch my husband die a little, I watch my children grow up without a father, and until now, the four of us lived off of 700.00 a month. Now, maybe I can afford to by them a bag of m&m's if they ask for it.

The best advice is to start with the job leads your school gives you. [2008-01-11]
They will know who is willing to hire and train their graduates.

My CS experience [2008-11-25]
I also graduated CS 2 yrs ago. I have been more than prepared for this career and I am doing quite well. I also am getting ready to sit for the CMT and feel very comfortable with it. I have no complaints on them. I think the bad rap on them comes from the fact that it is self-paced and you are responsible for yourself. When there are people out there who do not apply themselves to it, skim by and then try to enter the workforce and fail...it looks bad on CS. I do think they should have pretesting like the other two and it would helpe the credibility some. Anyway, no problems here as a grad. I started with large MTSO and now work for my local hospital from home. Good pay and great benefits! If you are prepared to work for it then go for it!

CareerStep [2008-11-24]
I found CareerStep through the AHDI website, and I was very impressed. I have not found anything bad about them, the only problem is the price. Right now I would be approved 100% for the Pell Grant, which would be like $4,800, but from reading over their website they don't take the PG. And the only thing I've been able to find is my local community college who of course takes PG. But then again the problem with that is I have to wait til' classes start, and then go by their roster and only go so fast... and eh. I'm the type of person that would MUCH rather prefer CareerSteps type that you can go as fast or as slow as you want. So I was wondering if anyone could share their thoughts on CareerStep, preferrably someone who has actually gone to school through them, as I'm not big fan of my friend.... stories. I don't care if you have negative or positive thoughts, as long as it was you personally who experienced it.

My experience ... [2008-11-24]
Stephanie, Hi! I graduated from Career Step online which is only about $1600 to $1800. They do have some community colleges that they partner with to accept the Pell Grant like Everett Community College. Right, the online course is more self paced and you can start anytime you like. I have been working for almost 3 years now and love my career. It has been fun, easy, and rewarding because I was prepared. I even tested for my CMT right at 2 years and passed! Hope this helps!

Thumbs up [2008-11-19]
I have come up with a great idea. I too am a new graduate who was a Transcriptionist for over 10 years, but that was 10 years ago and does not count. I did not go to A or M. The person that wrote about the organization looking to line their pockets with dues instead of protecting us is correct. I received an email a few days ago that offered to sell me a list of over 100 MT companies for the sale price of 49.99, 50% off the regular 99.99. I have a list provided to me by my school along with one I have made myself going on sites like this. If I cannot find a job soon, I am going to sell list. LOL. I would not be so cruel. Unfortunately, there are some very naive people out there who are willing to buy these list, because I checked out the name on the company and they have a real nice web site and are apparently making money. Now back to the scum who are sending our jobs overseas, I know many of you are living from paycheck to paycheck, but when I become totally flustered, I begin to mindlessly wander and I think, what if we (as if I had a job)all refused to work for any company that outsourced overseas? I have compiled a list of all companies that I know outsource overseas and I have sent it with a nice letter to every US senator and congressperson, even the new President-elect and I have demanded they investigate these companies. They are not regulated by the same privacy policies we are. One MT in India who was doing overflow work for a US MT who was doing work for UCSF Med. Ctr. threatened to post the patient's medical records on line if not paid a ransom. I am writing editorials to all newspapers and advising the US public not only are American citizens being put out of work, but their medical records are not private and that little privacy statement they are given is not worth the paper it is printed on. A few lawsuits against a few hospitals and they might spend that extra 3 pennies a line to have the work done in the US> I am getting angry just talking about it. I know many of you are busy and do not have time, I have also worried if I was too vocal I would not get hired. Well, I have not been hired and as long as overseas outsourcing is allowed I probably will not geta job. Therefore, I will probably do what I do best and become an advocate for the down trodden of this profession. I am 53 and I had forgotten what it felt like to have a just cause to fight for until now. Patti

What's time format rules in BOS 3? [2008-11-17]
Can anyone tell me what the specific rules are for time format in the new BOS on pages 337-339. A brief description would be great or u can scan and email it to me too, whichever is easier. I do intend to buy my own soon but I have to wait till payday and I'm starting a new company right now that uses that book :( TIA !

Training [2008-11-16]
Hi, You might want to try Career Step. They have a great program, and it is more affordable than most. (Plus it is approved by AHDI).

bah humbug [2008-11-16]
AHDI-approved indeed. Great intro into the war-is-peace world of AHDI, big fat facilitators of offshoring & traffickers of the CMT credential. They want you to believe that you need their organization (which you don't), so that they can continue to fatten their bottom line along with their tool of the crime, Prometric. There are plenty of good schools, & in the end it depends more on the initiative of the student both during and after MT school.

I got a job but......sm [2008-11-15]
I used a different school that sounds similar to Allied. I feel likea dork for falling for their hype.I did find a job but it was a couple of months after finishing. Most companies require at least 2 years experience.(which the school does not tell you). The other thing is, I don't know about Allied but, my school did not teach me in the way the real world works. I learned on standard cassette tapes and knew nothing about how it's really done now a days.Nothing.Basically, I was trained as if I were going totranscribe for a bunch of local doctors, go to the offices and pick up the tape, transcribe them (in my own time and schedule, just have them back to the doc by the due date)and take them back. Send them a bill and get paid. Thats sooo way off. There are hardly any docs who don't use an MTSO now a days. So my advice to you is...don't give up. I applied to tons of companies before I got hired and was ready to apply to tons more. Just know that there are hundreds and hundreds of companies out there. There a few who will hire newbies.If you really want this job, don't give up. One will come along. Go to some other MT boards to find out whose hiring. Go to the company websites. Sign up on mtjobs.com. They send you lists of companies that are hiring.There's a lot you can do if you take the time. In the meantime, while you're waiting for replies, use the internet to further educate yourself. I can't tell you how much there is to learn. Not just about medicine but also about things about the job. Expanders, platforms, reference materials, productivity,ASR, there's just sooo much. Just from reading posts on this board and others you'll find out what you need to learn. About the job itself, you'll find a lot of different opinions. Some people hate it, some people love it. A lot of our jobs are being sent overseas. For some people the pay is crap, some people make good money.Some companies have flexible hours, some don't. From research, I think most companies adhere to pretty regular schedules. Do research and make up your own mind. I've been doingresearch on other MTSO's so I can leave this one soon. I'm going to start applying when I get to my 1 year point.I started a list of the good/bad/maybe companies and the ones to do more research on and I'll apply to all of the ones on my good list.You can find a lot of info on this board about companies. Good luck to you. I wish you the best.

How I did it and have been doing for over 10 years.... [2008-11-14]
Okay, it is time to let the cat out of the bag on how you are going to be successful as a Transcriptionist out of school. The first thing I am seeing is that these schools promise that you will be working from home making in upwards of $40,000 a year. Forget about that. You are new to this. If you come out of school working on a production basis you may very well fall flat on your face and make $3 an hour by the end of the day. I was a transcriptionist for almost 5 years working for a hospital and I decided I could make more working on a production basis.......I failed miserably my first year. First off, get experience under your belt and make an hourly rate in the meantime. How did I do this? Well, I started out getting a job in a hospital, any job I could get. I started out in billing, even though I wanted transcription. I watched and waited for openings, when finally someone in the psychiatric unit called me (I made friends with everyone, the key to getting calls like this one)and said they were losing their transcriptionist and I should apply. I applied and got my first transcription job, making an hourly rate. Had I not gotten pregnant with twins I would probably still be there. After babies were born, went back part time in the evenings. This time since I had experience and another local hospital was willing to hire me in the radiology department. Again, hourly. I watched and waited once again (I hated radiology transcription). I got to know who was in charge in the transcription department. I sent her a fax asking her if she needed any part time help (back then there was no work related email). She said, yes, I could work part time (I now had experience). The part time went to full time with benefits. However, I got bored and decided to work for, of all companies, Medquist. I thought with my speed I would be making at least $20 an hour.....hahahahahahahahaha, what a joke. I was lucky to make $8 an hour with them. After about a year of struggling I finally got my foot back in the door of a hospital in another state. I had to commute to the hospital every day during training, it was awful, however, now I again work from home, have the ability to make about $20 or more per hour, I own my own home, own a half decent car, I am divorced and don't take any child support from my ex, instead we share in the custody 50/50. The moral of my story........ Get your foot in the door. Look for jobs that are front desk, secretarial, whatever. Once you are in there and they realize how great you are you can go wherever you want. My first transcription job in the psychiatric unit also involved secretarial duties, so not just straight transcription. I highly recommend getting into a hospital. The bennies are the best and lots of hospital transcriptionists are working from home with full hospital benefits. If you can't get into a hospital, get into anywhere where you can do some sort of typing/transcription, that way you have your first reference/experience when you apply to a company that is strictly work from home. Everyone wants experience, they just don't want to be the ones to give itto you. I am so tired of seeing these schools and companies swindle people. If you are looking into training, I highly recommend your local community college. You will probably take some credit college courses that will be able to be used should you decide to do something else. My local community college has a course for under $3000 and there are college credit courses that are able to be used towards another degree. I did my training as a medical assistant, transcription was only part of the course. However, now I am so bored with transcription that I am going back to school to be a nurse. I hope this helps someone out there. Good luck to you all!

they make it sound so good [2008-11-13]
They make it sound so good when you call and talk to them about the course. You know the $50,0000 or more a year for a course that takes less than a year to get through and the false promise of job placement. I have decided to go back to my old job ( at least for now) as good as it sounds being able to work from home and still be a great parent, sitting here waiting for work isn't going to buy my kids christmas. So I am going to go back to work and get my paycheck every two weeks and learn from my mistake. I will be looking into more course from a better school so that I can do this job someday. I can't just keep putting out resumes and keep being turned down and not passing tests and try to keep my chin up. I am starting to feel really stupid and getting seriously depressed. No career is worth that. So good luck to all of you out there.

Career Step [2008-11-12]
I wonder how much Career Step is? I've heard that it's not outrageously expensive. I guess after I complete this course and I find that people won't hire me, I may just start working somewhere else and look into taking the Career Step course. At least I would go into that knowing more having already taken one course. Just weighing my options. I'm not going to give up.

Career Step [2008-11-12]
Career Step is about $1200. I'm in the middle of it and I think it's a great class. And they let you make 4 payments.

I too made a mistake [2008-11-11]
I received my certificate from them in May, The guy that I talked to at the school said this field paid 10cents per character at 65 in a line making it $6.50 a line. haha and we paid the extra $1000 for job placement for life. with the promise that as soon as I got certified they would send me a doctor to work for and if I didn't like that one they would send me a different one. Only to find out that they do not send you doctors, they send you assessment tests and you have to do the background check on the company yourself. I was sent to a company that has been scamming people for over eight years by not paying them, so I got my first and only job in June and worked for no pay until September and it is now November and I have no job and no money and very little help from the school on finding one, and I am seriously considering going back to unloading semi trucks for a living. Oh yeah and most of the places they have send me suggest I go to a Career Step training course. So I am very sorry about the decision I had made to go through that school. I hope you have better luck than I did. I would not recommend anyone to go to that school. I feel like I have been lied to from the very start. Good luck.

I was always [2008-11-09]
Taught to tell the truth. I do only have 6 months of experience. I wanted to know which companies might give me a chance. I have found that several of them will not. I will eventually find someone that will realize that I can be a great asset to their team. When I do, I will be happy to work for them. Until then, I will continue on in my journey as I have been doing to try to get a job working for a good company. As far as my name, I did not realize that it was showing my full name until you pointed that out to me. Thank you for that help. As always any information that a seasoned individual can give to a newish MT is greatly appreciated. Thank you to all who have tried to help me along the way.

Most common or major? [2008-11-07]
The nationals include Medquist and Spheris. Other larger companies that you might consider: Webmedx and Accuscribe. Personally, I would just look on the job board here and start applying all the way down the line.

I found this info... don't know if it could help [2008-11-03]
What companies hire new MTs? Very few, best start is with local contacts. MedWare, Emergency Room Transcription, Karen Dual, Director of Human Resources, 1-800-881-3131. Don Flannery, MedWare@internetMCI.com Medi-Scribe, http://www.medi-scribe.net P.O. Box 31651, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, 925-689-2617, carolrowan@medi-scribe.net, Carol Rowan TransQuick (Rodeer), Atlanta and Phoenix areas, local. 4848 Riverdale Rd, Atlanta, GA 30337, 770 991 2220 Rapid Transcript, 800-592-4602 or 213-964-0400 (ask for Ora or Cris), Fax 213-964-0412. 4311 Wilshire Blvd. #209, Los Angeles, CA 90010-3716, Attn: Resource Management. ojemi@aol.com or eauh73a.prodigy.com InHealth Transcription Service, http://www.inhealthtranscriptions.com; Atlanta, GA, Samuel Edelman, 1-800-477-7374 Fax: 770-394-2183. New MTs are only hired locally in Atlanta.

Great post... [2008-11-01]
Definitely agree that any new MT needs anatomy and physiology and word parts and systems to have a solid base. Formating will definitely depend on who you work for and all the rest will come with experience. Sounds like the OP is off to a good start!

Getting started [2008-10-27]
Just finished school-looking to start slow as IC- not fast, but accurate and dependable- any suggestions?

Getting back in the field [2008-10-24]
I have a certificate in medical transcription with four years experience working from home; however, I have not worked in five years since quitting to be a full-time mom. Can anyone recommend a great way to back into the field or a refresher course from a reputable company? I would love to do transcription again but don't want to spend a lot of money to do it since I alreadycompleted a course a few years back.Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Working for a "national" [2008-10-21]
I've only worked for a local hospital, but from all the negative comments I've seen about MTSOs, you'd be better off applying for one of those work-at-home jobs stuffing envelopes. The biggest complaint seems to be overhiring, with people waiting around for work to trickle in. It makes for excellent turnaround time, no doubt, but what MTSOs are doing should be against the law. National MTSOs should be outlawed altogether in my view, at least in the hospital setting. Any hospital that can't afford to do its own healthcare documentation isn't fit to serve the public. Another complaint with national MTSOs is way too many accounts, e.g., you rarely get the same doctor more than once and each account has its own profile/format that you have to familiarize yourself with on your own time. Add to that clocking in (for which you don't get paid) and unrealistic production requirements (taking everything above into consideration), and what you have is basically a minimum wage job. Good luck if you want to start your own business, but you will be competing with those nationals that can produce desired turnaround times (again, for the reasons stated above) and are offering lower and lower rates to compete with other nationals. I have nothing against local MTSOs, who do a good job for private practices and clinics, but national MTSOs are the root of all evil in this business. Greed does not begin or end on Wall Street.

Questions about Equipment [2008-10-20]
Hi everyone - I graduated from US Career Institute earlier this year. Since that time I have moved out of state and am new to my area. I have put together a marketing packet including a letter of introduction, a flyer describing my service, a business card, a reference letter from my school and a coupon for one free report to try my services. I have a list of 65 doctors that I will methodically start marketing but what if someone actually gives me an opportunity?? AAK! I was told to get a Start/Stop pedal as it is the best, but I see that the Infinity USB-1 is much cheaper. Also should I get a microcasette transcriber too? Anything else I should have? Any positive feedback is appreciated.

If you are just out of school you don't have the [2008-10-20]
experience to get your own accounts. This is nothing against you personally. I would suggest you trying to get a job with a national or work in-house in your local area for a while. U.S. Career Institute isn't one of the better schools and once you actually start working you'll realize how much you don't know.

Employment tests [2008-10-17]
Most services want to see 98%, or at the least 97%, on an employment test. Anything less than that is failing in their eyes. Think about it from their perspective. If their clients expect 98% accuracy, you need to be able to produce 98% accuracy. If you can't do that while being tested, which they assume is your best effort, you're not likely to do it on the job later. Not saying this is a great thing or not, just that it's what they may think.

WORK [2008-10-13]
Great suggestion, thanks!

AIM program [2008-10-07]
That was what I was afraid of! I have already paid my $99. and she said that it would be about a month before I could get started because she had a new client starting and she was going to start my internship with that client. Did you do any interning with her at all? Why did your friend go 5 months?? Thanks for your info I really appreciate it!