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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Newbie Interview Questions

Posted By: kittykat on 2008-05-02
In Reply to:

Hello,


I am graduating soon and beginning to test and interview. For BTDT Transcriptionists, what kind of questions should a prospective employee/IC ask during an interview?


Thanks!


 




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? Interview questions (sm)
They could possibly ask the following questions:

What do your consider to be your weakness?

If the MT supervisor is asking this question, it could mean lack of exposure of certain specialties or ESL dictators. Be honest. If you lack exposure in any of the areas required for the position, tell he/she you like challenges and are very interested in increasing your ed/attending any continuing ed classes the corporation has to offer.

If the position has flexible scheduling, please share which shift you would be the most productive. (As for me, I am not a "morning person.")

What do you consider to be your strengths?

If you have extensive exposure with multiple specialities/ESL share that info, but just "do not exaggerate."

Where would you like to be in next 5 years with this corporation?

Think this over carefully.

If you not a "CMT" and if you wish to become one, share with them your future professional interests.

If they have shared their transcription platform and it is not user-friendly to
your expectations, share with them your interest in "future transcription technology research team" or "editor/quality performance." (Just don't tell them their system is not user-friendly -- if it is not and you know you will have difficulty reaching your production, you do not have to accept the position.)

If they do not have a "remote/home-based" program and you would like to be home-based, share with them your interest in assisting with piloting a home-based program.

They should share with you first how they compensate their transcriptions -- hourly, base rate plus incentive, or straight production.

If the job is pay per production, get all the info on "line count formula."

If you are offered the position and think their platform will limit your production, share your concerns up front.

I am not certain they can ask why you are leaving your present job, but, if so, share with them your interest in enhancing your healthcare career. And, if you are interest in the benefits they offer, share that also. Try not to tell them anything negative about your present position.

Wishing you much success with your interview!!!

Advise on important questions to ask on job interview
I have applied at a company and they are to contact me. I'm really not sure even what to ask. This is a new experience for me. Any help would be appreciated. Any warning signs to watch for?
Newbie questions...

Hi,


 


Are there any reputable schools ONLINE for medical transcription?


Also, are there any ONLINE schools that help you to get work after completing the courses so you can gain experience?


On average, how much does the average medical Transcriptionist make yearly?


Thank you very much!


Marie


Newbie to C-phone, have questions! help!

I have been offered a job which will require a C-phone.  I have dial-up and broadband, I understand it will use dial-up?  and ULD?


Will I have to be online (via phone) the entire time I am working?


or do the files download onto my computer?


and if so, can anybody give me an idea with dial-up how long it takes to get maybe 140 minutes downloaded?


I have used proprietary software to download via dial-up (before I was blessed with broadband) and it took forever for me to get my work downloaded, so I'm a bit concerned about that.


Any C-phone basics you care to share would be so appreciated!  The job sounds great but am trying to figure out how much it will cost me to go to this C-phone set up, time and money both....


16-yo son has job interview at K-Mart - interview attire help(sm)

My 16-year-old son has his first job interview at K-Mart.  He has basically applied for any position they will give him.  I'm insisting that he he wear a nice pair of Dickies and a polo shirt (which I will have to go buy but this is not a problem as I expect to do this).  However, My DH is insisting that it's ok for him to go in the nice pair of shorts (not Dickies but more along the lines of baggy shorts that the teenagers are wearing these days) and a t-shirt.  Am I in the wrong here?  I've seen the way these kids dress after they get the job (although I'm not sure if they wear t-shirts and shorts).  Am I being old fashioned in assuming that you dress decent for a job interview (although if he was applying for a welding position at the local shipyard I don't know if I'd make him dress up).  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  TIA


Meditech questions and Cerner questions. Any input is appreciated. SM

I just recently went back to work in the office at a local hospital. We type in both Meditech and Cerner, depending on what you are typing, i.e. Medical Records reports versus Radiology.  We are currently typing blindly in Meditech, meaning we do not have access to our line counts and must depend on management to give us our totals.  In Cerner, we are able to run a line count report and print out a hard copy of our line counts at the end of the day.

We are finding that 800 lines in Cerner equals about 500 lines in Meditech.  We are not paid per line nor do we have an incentive plan, but we have a new HIM Director who would like to institute an incentive plan and the administrator over our department has laid down the law and decreed that all transcriptionists not making minimum in the department will be written up.  Problem is according to Meditech line totals that we have been given, that would be about half the department.

The transcription supervisor has taken our concerns to the new director who told the MT Supervisor to hold off on writing people and has taken home all the line counts from the last month and she is going over them with a fine tooth comb this weekend.

I am not a very trusting soul by nature, so I am doing a little research on my own.  I've been in this business for about 15 years.  I started out in a hospital and have worked for a few services at home and am now back in the hospital setting.  So I know a few things about line count and I consider myself to be pretty well informed on trends and technology in the industry.   I would like to walk into our next department meeting armed with as much knowledge as possible.  So I have come up with some questions that I would like some fellow MTs to answer, give opinions, and maybe even direct me to websites or individuals who could give me a better understanding of Meditech and Cerner.  Here are my questions:

 


  1. Is it possible for an MT to have access to her line count in Meditech or is strictly a management function?  Any MTs that work in Meditech on this board, do you currently have access to your line counts and if so, how do you check them?  Is it an option on the main menu after you log into Meditech?

  2. How is a line defined in Meditech?  (i.e. 65 cpl, with spaces, without spaces)

  3. How is a line defined in Cerner?

  4. What abbreviation Expanders work with both Meditech and Cerner?

  5. Examples of incentive plans (if anyone would like to share that with me that would be great, if not I completely understand).

  6. Measuring productivity by minutes of dictation versus typed lines.


    1. What would be the minimum minutes required for an 8-hour day?

    2. How would one structure an incentive program based on minutes?

I was thinking of presenting the idea that we keep track of productivity using minutes instead of lines since there is such a discrepancy in Meditech.  I also worry that if an incentive plan is put into place and we are still typing blind into Meditech, what's to keep management from shaving off a few lines here and there?


Feel free to email me or post here any responses.  Either is fine.  I really appreciate any input, comments, or just plain old supportive posts would be nice too! 




Interview
The interview with Amphion is nothing to be worried about.  They basically just ask you your past experience as a Transcriptionist and what areas you feel are your strengths/weaknesses.  It was not a difficult interview at all.  They're very nice people.  Good luck on the interview! 
Interview
I would be more than happy to participate also.
interview?
I have an interview with a company and I just realized... I have no idea what to expect. I wasn't really interviewed when I got my last transcription job, I was basically thrown into it to see how I did and I happened to do well. Is there anything that makes an MT interview different from an interview with, say, a retail company?
interview
I only have one piece of advice for you. Over the last 25 years (until I got smart) I have worked in doctor's offices. I say, don't do it. You will automatically become their secretary, office assistant, receptionist, insurance clert, medical assistant... you get my drift. Go to another transcription company and ask for more than 8-9 cents per line. Trust me on this.
Interview With Prosecutor
The prosecutor from Aruba was interviewed last week and she said they can still go ahead with charging the boy with murder even without a body.  She said it would be harder to make the case but they have some evidence which, by law, they cannot disclose.
Here is the link to the interview...
Link to actual interview:

Strategies for Outsourcing MT Services
By Kate Jackson
For The Record
April 11, 2005
Vol. 18 No. 8 P. 18

http://www.fortherecordmag.com/archives/ftr_041105p18.shtml


Transcend Interview
I tested yesterday online with Transcend.  Got an e-mail today stating they would like an interview so I called and scheduled one.  Not sure yet about quitting MQ but am very nervous about their new plans as I am a SE.  Anyone been interviewed via phone by Transcend and what can I expect?  Heart is pounding so nervous.
Interview today sm

I also have an interview today with Transcend and wondering what to expect. Hopefully, I'll be leaving Medquist soon, too.


job interview tomorrow ... what do you think?

Hi all ... I'm going to a local hospital tomorrow for an interview.  The job is in the laboratory.  It's a f/t position where half the day you do pathology transcription and the other half secretarial work.  It's mon-fri, 9-5. 


This is in New York (the suburbs) actually, about 1/2 hour north of NYC.  I have 13  years of medical records transcription experience, and prior to that for 5+ years worked as a secretary to a medical director.


How much of a salary should I expect ?   Thanks! 


JoJo


At the end of the interview, the decision
was up to Mr. Trump, not Randall. In the business world, you protect your own position and interest, and he showed Mr. Trump that he was indeed tough enough to do that. This is not "Survivor," taking someone to the final two.

As far as Rebecca goes, she is indeed a very impressive 23-year-old. Her exposure from the show will take her far, perhaps farther than the Trump organization. However, she is still quite young. The right candidate was selected for this position.
what an MT test I took on an interview !

I went for a job interview at NYC's largest hospital yesterday.  The job was for an Admin Assist position, with a lot of transcription skills as well.  For the transcription part of the exam, "all the equipment is in use right now" they told me, and they decided to give me a LIVE test:


They got one of the anesthesiologists on staff to find a chart and pull up a chair next to me.  Face to face he dictated a report to me, as I typed it.  It was weirdddddd!  But I did very good on it actually ... it was an easy (for me) report. 


I don't want the job though ... they practically told me on the interview the job pays from 9-5, but the hours are WHATEVER IS NEEDED - and that they needed 'flexibility'.  You know what that means - the job better become my entire life.  And I'm not willing to do that. 


Thanks guys!  And have a happy holiday !


 


I had a phone interview...
with Amphion. No, they don't ask you any test questions or anything like that. It's simply an opportunity for them to see what you are looking for and what they have to offer, etc. Fairly quick and painless. The woman I spoke to was very nice!
Interview attire
I left the corporate world less than two years ago to be at home with my kids, but when I left pant suits were very much the norm, and I think that would be very appropriate for a job interview, even if there won't be a dress code. I think the days are gone where you have to wear a skirt to be professional. There are so many nice looking, professional pant suits now. Good luck to you!
I just saw an interview with Chris from AI
on our local Fox news.  Everyone was figuring he was going to win and he was supposed to fly home tonight and there were going to parties all over town tomorrow.  Anyway, he couldn't get out a complete sentence that didn't have "well you know" in it.  Articulate he isn't. 
Dressing for an Interview
When I was in a class at college that helped you to prepare for getting a job, women were to wear a suit, jacket and skirt with white blouse, and guys a suit and white shirt and tie.

I realize this is just an interview at K-mart but I have heard of others landing a job partially because they made a great impression by dressing up regardless of the position they were interviewing for. My brother was one of those people that did this for an auto parts delivery man position and they told him how impressed they were with his attire. So, I really do think it makes a big statement and difference a lot of times.

Wishing your son the best of luck! I say dress up the best he can, present himself professionally, and he will be more apt to land the job. :)
Interview Attire
I just finished with an in-house interview a month ago. I wore a nice black skirt, a white blouse, and a nice blazer over the blouse. To complete the outfit, I had on black pantyhose and black shoes.
when was it ever $80,000/year! Every interview I had with them
it was $25,000/year, even last year, it was still $25,000/year, no taxes. If it were $80,000, bombs or no bombs, I'd jump on it in a minute, and I would wear a burka ... it beats what some transcriptionists wear to work already LOL!



job interview - anxious
Ok, I am hoping to be interviewed for a MT job at a local hospital.  I have not been through an interview process in quite some time.  What can I expect in the way of interview questions? TIA
Thank You All For Your Interview Answers!!
There have been many great responses to my 'MT student' interview questions. I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to answer my questions. Your responses are all very helpful to me. I really can't wait to graduate and start my new career!! Thank you all once again!!!
Interview coming up...
I have an interview coming up for PT with an ortho clinic ON SITE.  I have 3 years experience in acute care and op notes and getting paid 7/cpl right now working at home.  What line rate or pay per hour do you think I should ask for now that I'd be buying clothes and gas?
Flub the interview?
What do you mean by flub the interview? That's what you need to address.

If you do ok on the test, then there is something else turning off the employer. I'm not sure that taking a course would help with that, unless by "flub the interview" you mean you can't answer technical or basic sciences questions.

dr. office interview

I have an interview Monday for an in office transcription position in Indiana.  I was wondering if anyone could comment on what a good per hour wage would be?


I have been in transcription for 6 years now and have been working at home the entire time.  I now need to make more $$ and would like to have an idea when I get in there.


thanks!


Am going for an interview for in-house RAD MT for association
in Austin, Texas. Can anyone give me an idea of the pay scale for this market--probably hourly? I've never worked in-house in a large city. I'd really appreciate any advice.
Interview with Transcend was easy
Hi!  I left MQ several months ago to joint Transcend.  I did not feel at all like their "interview" was that.  Instead it was a very cordial phone conversation.  Try not to be nervous (easier said than done) but the person I spoke with was very pleasant and easy to talk to.  The hiring process was smooth and I'm enjoying my job!  Good luck! 
Phone interview with Amphion.........??
Has anyone ever done this?  How does it go?  I've already taken the test but they called to schedule a phone interview.  I was hoping she would just talk to me when she called because I'm curious as to what they will or won't offer, and now I have to wait over the weekend.  I'm just curious if she is going to do a phone test now or just talk to me about what they have available, etc.  Any info on this company would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much. 
He's in management so the interview process sm
is pretty long> He has applied to a couple of places, just still in the midst of the interviews. Also, he's been very busy working long hours since I've known him so right now he's enjoying the opportunity to be with the kids for a little while. Meanwhile he's also still getting his regular salary so my income is being used to reduce our debt.
I read bits of how the interview went. It will be sad for sure.
t
I have peer interview tomorrow.

I am interview for an in-house position.  I had the interview and a week later I was called for the peer review.  Never been on a peer interview and don't know what to expect...any ideas?  I plan to just be myself just like in the interview.


Tough line requirements (1500 line/day) but I'm optimistic.  I hope to gain tips with short cuts to qualify for incentive programs, etc. if I am chosen for the job.


 


 


i always interview my prospective employer,
but not in the manner you stated. I let them tell me their spiel, then i ask a multitude of questions and discuss any concerns. Then i let them make the offer or not, but by then i already know whether i want the job or not. I do think your interviewee was too forward (for lack of a better word) here.
Interview with Rider and Assoc
I recently graduated from At Home Professions and I have a phone interview with Rider and Associates coming up. I was wondering if any one can give me any helpful information about this company or advice for the interview. Thanks.
Sorry - I meant to say a PEER interview.
.
anyone see the lame Jennifer Aniston interview
Come on, where were the tears, hysteria and complete breakdown?  I was on the edge of my seat, never watch Oprah anyways, and it was sooo disappointing.  Not one mention of Bradangelina, it was all about okay lets heal now.  Rip off.
Amphion interview, wondering what to expect?
I have a phone interview with Amphion coming up and was wondering if anyone out there could give me an idea what to expect.  These make me nervous!  Plus, I have a voice that comes across as either a 5-year-old or Mickey Mouse!  I never know how to answer such questions as "what can you offer the co.?" or "why do you want to work for us?"  I think I did well on the test or they would not want an interview??  Any advice?  Thanks!
Hosp perdiem interview tomorrow! SM

I'm hoping someone will be able to advise me about some good questions to ask of the HR person of a hospital in my hometown; it's really hard for me to be objective about this decision because I want so much to leave the city where I'm living right now.  I go back and forth trying to decide if I should even try this. First of all, this job was advertised as "per diem" -- forgive my ignorance, but would that be the same as a contract position?  I had trouble once before making a living doing at-home MTing as an IC and paying my own health and life insurance, as I'm 100% supporting myself.  It was certainly a shock after employee status--but I was so burned out at that inhouse job--transcription force cut in half, pay reduced, phasing out dictation in favor of computer templates! I took a chance even though I had an unrealistic belief in my own abilities, I'm afraid, and tried IC for a national company.  I'm not working at all right now and am currently living on my savings. 


I feel like something, anything would be better than nothing.  Some foot/ankle problems also, related to standing at the last clerical job I tried, so a lot of even part-time jobs are out of the question at the present.


I do have some family at home and this hospital has a very good reputation as a good place to work, good (happy) employees...but, of course, don't want to move and still risk getting in an impossible position again!  Please let me know of some good questions to ask during the "assessment" and interview Friday AM (tomorrow)!  Sorry; realize this is rambling--many thanks--


 


During my initial interview I told them I work on
Extext and she said that was what they used and didn't tell me any different when she said they wanted me to do this hospital so if it's not Extext I'm going to tell them I want something else. That is one of the main reasons I picked this company - the same program I'm already used to. I'll ask them about that. Thanks for the info.
Great interview from Mandisa on VH1 site.

www.vh1.com  I get the newsletter sent to my mailbox so you might have to search, but it was sent to me today.  It's terrific.  Love her!


Actually, Chris said in an interview he shaved his head because sm

he was going bald.  Her version of Walk the Line was actually taken from Live's version.   I loved it.  Live has always been one of my favorite bands.  Chris rocks, too!


my interview attire suggestions paid off (sm)
At least, I think they did.  Recap:  16-year-old son had interview with K-Mart.  DH was going to send him in shorts.  I said nice pants, nice shoes, and nice shirt.  DH caved (although didn't say that I was right - husbands are NEVER WRONG, you know!) and gave him one of his collared shirts, his Dickies, and went and bought him a nice pair of shoes.  Interview went well.  Interviewer told my son that he was the only one (of three others) who was dressed nicely and complimented him on his attire.  I'm assuming that he got the job because he has orientation tomorrow morning.  (Would they have one come to orientation if one hadn't been hired?)  Thank you for all your suggestions.
read a recent interview with the stars
I recently read an interview with the stars.. can u believe that one guy lied about his past to get a sympathy vote! check out the article..http://www.savvymiss.com/no-cache/living-entertaining-do-it-yourself/living-tips-home-entertaining/entertaining-archive/article/the-next-food-network-stars-share-what-every-kitchen-needs-most-2483.html
Here is a question I was asked about a month ago in an interview.....sm
if you and your life were to be printed on the front page of a newspaper, what would the headline say or read?

I was tongue-tied and really lost for words. I am not one who likes to be in the spot light all that much....needless to say, I was not prepared for that.

This was for a hospital MT position.

Apparently, they are interviewing like the corporate world and not the healthcare world as we used to know and be familiar with.

Good Luck!!!


Anyone on this board interview with Austin Radiological Associates
with them on Wednesday. Got a rejection letter today!! Doesn't say why.
Yay, yay, yay, hallelujah. I finally get to interview for an in-house job tomorrow.

Oh I so hope and pray that it is as good as I need it to be! 


Help -- Sample report for phone interview dictation such as insurance

Hi! I am testing for a job and I understand the dictation as I did medical transcription for 2 years but this is a telephone interview with a person (insurance type deal) I believe. I have no idea how to format. Can anyone out there point me in the direction of samples for this sort of thing? Do I just keep switching paragraphs for each person talking in the conversation? Rules and regulations for this please.


Thank you!


Lisa


To SAD NEWBIE

i glanced at the main responses to your post, not all of them.  But i disagree to an extent with what you've been told.  I have 30 yr experience, for however much weight you want to ascribe to that.


You've heard that practice makes perfect.  That is not really true.  Practicing things CORRECTLY "makes perfect".  You can do something over and over and over, but if it's done wrong, you are not improving your game.


Depending on how much the paycheck is an issue, you may wish to find another job before quitting this one.  But the longer you do things wrong, the more disservice you are doing to yourself.  It's also hard to break established habits.


This is all said assuming you are sure you are being steered in the wrong direction, ie, these directions go against good MT training and/or against the BOS in important ways. 


I have no doubt that some companies hire poor or inexperienced QA personnel, contrary to another posters comment. 


My suggestion is to look for another job.  It may take a little time and be a little frustrating, but what you gain by starting off with good QA and building a good foundation, cannot be found in the situation you describe.  Part of the good foundation is on-the-job experience.


Believe in yourself, make sure your premise is correct, and then do what is right for the long-term.   e/m me if you wish.


Sad newbie
I totally agree. I've been doing this for 20 years.

I once had a QA person reconstruct a sentence so that it read 'index' instead of indices.

At the hospital I started at, I worked nights. The day girls left all the ESL dictators for me. I sat there, by myself, and cried. I didn't realize it at the time, but they did me a huge favor.

Two years later, I was working at a different hospital, transcribing x-ray for a an ESL radiologist. He came in to tell me he was leaving and that he would call me in a couple hours in case I had any questions. When he left, a girl from medical records approached me and asked who he was and what language he was speaking!

FYI: Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of interacting with physicians one on one. Their biggest complaint is transcriptionists who don't give them what they say. Of course, I always chuckled to myself because they probably weren't aware that I changed their grammar or reconstructed their sentences to read better! Some of them want what they want and they don't care what the AAMT says.

Hang in there, love. Do look for another job and keep looking until you find a place that recognizes your potential and will help you. Best of luck to you!