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The best place to get experience is in a hospital. I think it is near impossible

Posted By: NotSoNewAnymore on 2006-02-12
In Reply to: employers - kristen

to work from home without the valuable experience of working onsite with others around to listen and train.

The schools all hype everyone up on working at home, but it is not that easy!


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Bad place, my experience
So many negatives in my experience at SS, I could write a book. It took 6 weeks between setup and training date, because I'm guessing someone dropped the ball. Trainer warned I might get lots of error messages on the platform, but just keep clicking through them until it works. I had so many error messages I couldn't get much work done = no income. No response to emails. I quit after 2 weeks, and you should see the completely unprofessional email I received from HR director after my resignation. Their software platform was very user friendly, but I had so many error messages, stuck voice files, MS Word errors, bad audio files, reports (& line counts) lost after QA reviewed them - and no response to my emails asking for help. Does this company employ irresponsible support staff, or is there no response to emails because they have no solutions to the problems? I don't know.
I disagree. The best place to work is a hospital that has their MTs at home.
x
Did you start with hospital experience?

instead of investing in equipment, or start with a small system or a used system if you want your own call in equipment.  Bytescribe seems to have the best deals on dictation call-in systems.  But if you are just starting out, you may decide to go with a TASP instead so that you don't have to invest in equipment.


The hospital experience is crucial.  That way you have a sound base.  You have the knowledge and the experience.  And you have contacts and references from a hospital, which is going to get your foot in the door.  That's why I say that is my #1 recommendation.  Start with getting experience working IN a hospital and be the best MT they have.  Work hard and prove yourself to them.  Go the extra mile and impress them.  Don't be a whiner.  That's the best advice I can give you.  When you send out flyers and you can give local hospital MT supervisors/HIM managers as references, it opens doors for you.


Absolutely, hospital experience...
I think it must be rare to be able to take advantage of these days. I would not trade those years for anything.
I had a similar experience, had a cow when I got the bill from the hospital - sm
I did not know I needed PERMISSION to go the ER (any ER).....I had taken a bad fall while skiing (back in 1995) and had my friends drop me off at the ER when we got home as my leg was killing me and I had hit my head too. Got a bill for $1500 or so saying it had been denied. I promptly called up the insurance company found out my "error", explaining that I did not know I needed to get "authorized" before a trip to the ER, etc. I had to go through a little red tape but was able to get them to resubmit it and have insurance pay for it. --So it may take a couple phone calls and maybe a letter, but it is worth the effort!
in-house hospital is the best learning experience. sm
and is accepted with anyone. at least a year or more. there nothing like having someone right there at hand first time out.

good luck, you'll do fine.
The easy answer is to go to a local hospital and get experience.
The other answer is to ask anyone and everyone out there to give you a test, prove yourself, put your best foot forward.

Be very careful tough, because in your post you even used a wrong word "there" for "their" and I just wanted to bring this to your attention not to give you a kick but to caution you that you really need to "know your stuff" to get into this business. What you put out there tells about you, so make sure it's your best.
I have 13 years experience and just started a hospital job working from home making $16 an hour

and with a really good incentive plan.  I live in the Kansas City area.  $10 seems like a low starting point even with only two years experience which is the usual benchmark for hospital MT jobs. 


It's been my experience that the low end of the pay scale for hospital employed MTs was around $12 an hour.  Also, it's been my experience that the pay offered is usually based on years of experience and how well you perform on the transcription test.


I would say if their pay is that low, they should at least be making it up with incentive and it doesn't sound like they are.


JMO


Depends on what kind of hospital? Large urban hospital or small community hospital? SM

Also, is it a large teaching hospital? If so you have to consider there will be A LOT of different residents dictating, usually a lot of ESLs at teaching hospitals, and the residents rotate out and new ones rotate in every summer. So you can't expect to get the same dictators and build up your macros because the dictators change all the time.


I would say 9 cpl would be a pretty good offer for a small to medium community hospital where you will be doing the same dictators on a daily basis.  But for bigger, urban or teaching hospitals I would want at least 12 to 15 cpl. 


It's the only place I have ever lived.. Great place to retire or raise a family. Low crime rate e
living is pretty easy here. Low stress..
It's nearly impossible to get by even on
This biz stinks more every single day.
Not impossible more improbable.
I didn't say it was impossible. Just not the norm and harder to prove. As in this case.
they are already impossible to reach
18,000 lines and your rate increases by half cent, whoopee.  MQ is a complete joke, a bunch of greedy, phony liars.  This whole business is in the toilet and i'm just sorry I didn't start school for a dif career sooner to be out of it NOW.  I'm gradually having to cut down on spending because my rate of pay is not up with the times, severe hand pain day after day, condescending technicians and supervisors.  I feel trapped.   
hahahaha - yup, it's impossible!!!!
x
Appreciate your thoughts, but all of this is impossible.

For so many reasons.  As one poster stated, these boards only reach about 10% of the MTs (very small number).  I, among others, have written numerous letters.  Heck, I even wrote to Obama, my congressman, major news papers, news programs, news magazines, etc.  It does not do any good.  I filed a complaint with the Employment Comission and Labor Board on the working requirements and procedures (that got me laid off).


Another very important thing to consider here is that not all MTs are unhappy.  I was for a very long time, but I am quite happy with my working conditions and pay at this time (even though I do not expect it to last due to the industry evolvement).  There are also more MTs than not who can not afford to do what you say is a good idea (strike or whatever).  Some will lose their jobs as I did and even if they did not, they simply cannot afford to go without pay for any length of time.  How effective would all of this be if only a couple of people from different companies did this?  We all work for different companies, and again, they are not ALL bad, even though there are not many of those left.  There is also the consquence of them replacing us with near-newbies at even lower wages, increasing the company profits, and further damaging the industry.


Our only hope was the AHDI and they stabbed us in the back.  More offshoring is being done to cover the tax/cost implications currently in motion, again further damaging the industry.  I just have to believe that it will evolve to its worst, and then swing back our way.  Wishful thinking, I know but that's all I've got.


1000 lines a day, impossible? sm
this is not unrealistic.  On a good day, I can easily do 16-1700 lines! A mere 1000 lines per day is NOT an unachievable goal, even for a newbie or semi-newbie. My company requires 1200 lines a day, which I believe is about average!
I too felt like it was an impossible career
Now 8 years later, I'm glad I stuck with it.  Before working at home, I worked for two years at a local hospital and that really helped me build my work experience and really helped when I went out on my own.  By working at the hospital, I became familiar with the local docs and eventually got my own accounts with them.  I had to let those accounts go because I moved, and now I am working for a small MTSO for the timebeing.  I had no problem getting this job.  I had applied to many different places and was overwhelmed with job offers.  If you stick with it, it gets easier.  You've invested time and money into this, have patience and see it through.
I have an idea. Let the MTSO do impossible
his business.  Instead of expecting me to do him for 1/2 of what he is paying, let her do him. 
Then it's impossible to comment on the QA's note. sm
There are, of course, situations where it's pretty obvious that an individual guessed at a term rather than either looking it up or leaving a blank.

For instance, when the MT uses a term that has no logical relationship to the subject being discussed, that's a pretty good clue that she did not look up the definition of the word.

I'm not saying that's what happened in your case; I don't know enough to say. What I would suggest is that you decide on one of two courses of action:

a. Let it ride. It's doubtful that the QA intended to insult you, although "please check the definition of terms that you're not sure of" might have been more diplomatic (or would you have liked that any better?).

b. Talk it over with the QA calmly. Let her know that you thought her comment was offensive and presumed something that wasn't true.

Either way, I'm sure you're already aware that it's always better to leave a blank than to use the wrong term - whether by "mistake" or by "guessing". I know that all of us take great pride in completing our work accurately and it just kills us to have to leave blanks (a wonderful attitude, by the way!), but sometimes its just unavoidable - and if you've done your reasonable best to resolve a blank without success you've done your job. Leave the blank and get a second set of ears on it. After all, the doc might have used a term that doesn't even belong there in the first place.

I hope you're able to resolve this conflict with your QA or get past it. I know how these things take approximately 63.795% out of the joy of your work! :D
LOL! Know just how you feel. They are near impossible to grow in SoFla.
aa
Yes its true. They seem to be setting impossible limits for everyone lately and you have to wonder

if they just want people to quit.


had a dictator who would give me an impossible long-
unpronounceable name, like Thyvongngang Tamboyvonangouwengay - and then say "common spelling" like it was John Smith. Cracked us both up every time.
Impossible to give answer as it all depends
on voice recognition program, dictator, etc.    I am working in such a lousy program lucky to get in 800 lines a day - it's the software - I spend so much time deleting what is there it is not even funny.  I could type from scratch much faster. 
One thing I've learned in life is it's impossible to
stand up for themselves. Maybe only 1 in 100 will even try. Sad to say, but we've brought a lot of this onto ourselves.
Thank you for response. :( I figured it was nearly impossible for transcribed lines.
I think my co. wants me to quit...
The position varies from place to place..
Sometimes you end up doing VR, which can be really easy or a real pain. Sometimes you end up simply editing files and all is good. Other times, you end up with more job responsibilities and hours than you ever wanted. All in all better than typing LOL.
I find infectious disease to be IMPOSSIBLE, with all the bacterias AND the meds.
x
I wanted to learn it, but I fear the learning curve would be impossible. sm

since I can't take any time off from the qwerty keyboard.  How did you make the conversion? 


At 53 working 2 jobs 80 hours a week is impossible. I tried it, it does not work!! (sm)
I have been at this business 30+ years and at one point worked 3 jobs and 2 were for hospital contracts with taxes taken out and the other IC. It gives you no life. My suggestion, if you need the extra $$ work your 40 during the week, then 1 or 2 nights 2 hours and then Sat/Sun 16 hours which would give you 20 hours. That is more than enough and will give you a chance to see if you want to make a job change. Have tried the 2 FT 80 hours and almost had a seizure over it. Remember if your not physically well you cannot do it all!
You must live in Calif - finding a good old doctor is nearly impossible here.
It amazes me. But, it is true. The stories I have heard are heartbreaking.

I blame it on the cap they placed on malpractice suits. Doctors here are complacent. In my town, we go to Stanford or UCLA for serious illnesses. It is well worth the drive.
Explain you took on 2 acct at same time but find it impossible to do adequate job for 2 accts.
:P
Experience on top, current experience first. Education second. Leave out ALL fluff.
Recruiters don't need your life story. They need to know if you can do the job. If you want, put your current employer, then state "I have 20 years in the profession doing....." Keep it simple; keep it clean. If you want to go into more detail, do it during the interview. A HUGE red flag is to see that you've worked for 10 different companies, for months at a time. I know that someone who has worked for the same company for 2 years or more is going to have some degree of loyalty and will work through issues rather than cut and run.
Hospital. I wish I'd never left my hospital job.
They'll only take me back if I start off working nights and weekends again at the bottom of the totem pole.
If you work for a hospital - how come no one from the hospital
called you?? Were they in the dark, as well?? How sad, that no one in your hospital communicates with the at home staff.
How is one going to get experience, when no one will hire without experience????
I constantly see all these job openings asking for experience.  How can I get experience, when no one will hire me without experience???
Do you need to have 2 years full time experience or just 2 years' experience? nm
..
You, well you have obviously put ME in my place
with that little lecture. Since youd didn't say anything meaningful to respond to in all that bandwidth, I won't respond to any of the content of what you said.

But just for your information, your little tyrade had no affect on the reality of what is going to happen, so get over it and get used to it.
I saw that place on TV (sm)
a lot of celebrities own there!
It is most definitely not OUR place to be
making phone calls or turning people in.  The doctors and nurses are trained to do it as part of their job.  If they suspect abuse, drug seeking, whatever, it is up to THEM, not us.
know your place sm
Student Rule #1: Keep your thoughts to yourself when ti comes to CEOs and your opinions. "I read a post by the CEO and felt the need to comment."
I see this is not the place to be
People are right when I have been told - not many nice people in this field. My first week coming on here to look for help and talk to other was this past week and you know what, you can have it. I will look for other places to figure out my problems with work and I suggest you look for help with your personality problems as my work problems do not require nearly the attention your personality does. Good bye and thanks for nothing.
I am not sure if you tried this place..
Did you happen to go into your closet and look for a reference book only to find the administrator of this forum smelling her finger?
I have never been to a place that does that and
would not shop at one.
Not every place is like that at all.
Not very believable.
Why is the cat outside in the first place?
x
I think 2nd place gets..........nm
.
then that's what you should have said in the first place.
x
And this place does?
This place makes no sense to me.  People are mean here.  I love cafemt.  Makes the job fun.
33 yrs, 9-10 at same place.
x
If you get $ from this place, they sm
will not touch you with a 10-foot pole.  I've been in this situation and you will be a no-rehire.
I think I used to be an IC for the same place.
I liked working there, but no time off allowed. One day an MT co-worker of mine got a headache and got in trouble for calling out that day even though she gave plenty of notice early in the morning and they had all day to distribute the work. This is when often-times there was no work at all. I left because after hearing that, I realized I would not be a true IC. Why, as an IC you are supposed to make your own schedule aren't you? And if something comes up isn't it true that you are allowed flexibility? They say it is a small company and everyone is expected to be there for them when the hospital decides to send in the overflow, yet with no notice to the IC. It was too confusing, in may ways worse than employee when at least you know when you are expected to work. Not an IC job at all. Sorry for your experience, but I and many others I know have had the same experience.