Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Your exactly correct, schools are teaching (sm)

Posted By: MTing on 2007-08-17
In Reply to: But it isn't a "rule of thumb" anymore...Carla is right...sm - Dani

My 8th grader has to do 1 space after periods in all typed reports for school, that is what they teach for formatting typed documents now.

Also, I am in nursing school and we follow APA format, which also specifies 1 space after a period.

2 is definitely not the way things will be soon, so hold onto it if you can for now.

I still do 2 spaces for work because I get paid for spaces and those spaces do add up to $$.


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

It's both the schools and co.'s fault. Schools are trying to kick em' out as soon as they
"graduate" and companies are very willing to hire anyone who says "they went to this school or that." I know. I've been there as a former instructor.

I truly believe that not everyone has what it takes to become a good MT. And I mean good. You absolutely cannot guess on anything - and I would stress this over and over to my students at all times. You have to know how to spell, and you have to have basic, or beyond basic, grammar knowledge.

My classes would normally start out at 15 to 17. And by the end of the first week it would go down to about 10. And then after that I would graduate around 8 or so. I would tell them straightforward that this job entails - the skills you must have to do this work - and I probably did turn a few of them away. But when they had it, and I knew they could do this work (I could usually tell by the first 5 papers they turned in) then I would encourage them over and over. I would call them, meet with them, and tell them to stick it out, and that I thought they had found their "spot" in life....That's what my MT instructor did for me many years ago and I am so grateful for her.

I know these gals and guys want to be at home with their young ones - hey, I do too! But as an editor also, I believe that some are just not cut out for this.

Also, I find acute care a lot less challenging than actual clinic work! I have been editing clinic work here lately and boy have I found that to be challenging. It is very, very specific. If they can do clinic work no problem, then they should train on acute care too.

Just my humble opinion.

Oh, as for VR. No, newbies cannot do that right now. You need people with editing background who know thousands upon thousands of words to edit VR. I don't think schools care about training them for VR - just graduate them with the basic knowledge and get a job doing clinic work! Yeah, if it were that easy!
Thats why im getting into the teaching GIG
I FEEL YOUR PAIN.......
I am not currently teaching.

Perhaps I will teach again someday, but as I stated, I am now at home with my children and would like to do something at home.  The grass is always greener on the other side.  Teaching can be great, but it can also be horribly exhausting and emotionally draining.  Also, the schedule is inflexible to the extreme, and I am just not ready to jump back into that right now. 


I appreciate any advice about how to get back into transcription, as that is what I have decided to do. 


 


Do it correct always. It will learn. Everyone has to do it correct all the time. nm
x
RE: Teaching Hospital
I am the transcription supervisor at a teaching hospital and the residents are so long, especially family practice docs. They can go on and on and they are foreign, all of them. This makes it especially hard, but that is all we get. The Americans are going into specialty services such as Surgery, GYN, etc..
Teaching hospital

I'm on a teaching hospital account it is THE most interesting, challenging work I have ever had.  Maybe ask if you can be on a different account?  


I'd say stick with teaching.
This is not an industry I'd recommend anyone to enter anew for so many reasons:

1. Inconsistent pay and work available.

2. No respect from employers who lie to us and treat us like second class citizens. Slavery went out in the Lincoln administration, people.

3. No respect from people whom I tell what I do for a living.

4. No future in this job. Voice recognition and outsourcing are putting it in the same category of obsolete occupations as the blacksmith.

Be glad you have a career to fall back on in case the MT one doesn't pan out, but I sure wouldn't put any money into learning how to do something that's going to cease to exist in the next decade.
Former MTs Teaching English
I heard that too. its in the newpaper last week, they will be looking for teacher. Man, this board is really updated.
Is it possible that teaching can be outsourced?
the date is 2014, It a nice day. You drop off your kids to public school to for them to watch a huge plasma screen that has a teacher in it. And guess what... Its via Satellite, from India. Im getting goosebumps.... Arg. Its also outsourced. Oh im having a nightmare. I hope its its just a nightmare.
Just 1 in 12 yrs. 1 other was teaching hosp, I was
one department's Transcriptionist for 2 years.
Going into QA, getting a supervisor job or MT teaching job... SM

is easier said than done.  A lot of times, transcription supervisors at a hospital are required to be an RHIT, in the old days it was an ART.  Took me forever to break into QA.  A lot of companies hire you as an MT and tell you they promote from within.  And teaching jobs are even tougher to find, they are few and far between.


You best bet, if you choose to stay in the MT business, is to strike out on your own.  Start your own online school and charge MTs $1200 or more a pop.  Or start your own MT business, but it's hard to do that with the monster services out there buying up every little guy they can sink their claws into.


I've decided coding is the best avenue for me and that's what I've been studying on my own, but it's taking forever because their so much to absorb, not to mention up to date books are MUST in coding and the books are $100 (ICD-9-CM and CPT) and that doesn't include HCPCS book.  And if you don't buy the new books every year, you can't pass the test.  So I'm trying to do it on my own without paying another school for another education that might end up outsourced overseas anyway.


 


You said have experience in teaching
transcription and medical terms but have you actually done the transcription yourself, not just the teaching part?
IMO, BOS made as teaching aid for when they
x
Why work for a co who is teaching sm
people in Barbados how to do MT so they can compete with us too?  No thanks.
Whatever they're teaching them
So far as I know the term "basic four" didn't come along until the advent of MTSOs.  I think it is far more important that students learn how to actually DO history/physicals, ops, discharge summaries and consults than to know that they are sometimes called "basic four" or they might be labeled as "acute care" which is the same thing.  I have personally never been asked if I could do "basic four"  or "acute care" in an interview.  They have always asked me what experience I have.    My standard answer, "send it to me and I can do it," whereupon I expound as appropriate regarding my experience and answer questions as asked.  Again, I have never been asked anything about "basic four."
Teaching hospitals & residents...
I work for a very large university hospital account and hate how long-winded some of these residents can be! Argh! Especially 1st year - just a plain chest xray turns into a thesis! And the attendings aren't much better - they love to "teach" on my time! What is your preference - teaching hospitals (which admittedly are great teaching grounds for MT's) or regular, plain old boring regular hospitals? These residents make me want to........
RE: Teaching hospitals & residents...
Teaching hospitals.
How funny; I'm going from transcription to teaching soon!
I already have my teaching certificate, just need to get out there and teach.  Been doing MT for about 10 years now, so I can stay home with my kids.  It's been nice, but I really need the retirement and other bennies that teaching will provide. 
Teaching MT at an unethical school....sm

It was a private school that once students enrolled for any programs they would basically lie to them and never would fail anyone.  If a student failed a test the instructors were told to give them the same test again, after reviewing the test questions and answers prior to giving them the 2nd test.  Honest to goodness 1st graders have it harder than that!  The icing on the cake was when I told my students the reality of what to expect for pay scales after graduation.  The school had enrolled everyone with the "you'll be making $60-80k after graduation" crap.  I lasted exactly 2 weeks there before I quit over their unethical behavior. 


Depends on which grade you will be teaching, but
z
Another thing about teaching hospitals
is that you will see things there that you might not see at your 90-bed facilities.

These hospitals do everything and if I were you, I would just wait and see. I think you will find that the experience alone will be invaluable to you.

I know MTs who have been MTs forever that have never had the experience of a teaching hospital and are limited in the surgeries that they have transcribed.

Congratulations on your new job.
This has jumped from "mentoring" to teaching....sm
Starting a school would be the last thing I would want to do.  I have thought about simple "mentoring," not all the other hassels.  I think the original poster means that also but maybe as an employee.  I would want to do it on my own just for a few people at a time.  As I said before....not big bucks.....
I think teaching pre-teens how to do laundry

I think 10-12 year olds can help do some laundry - it helps them develop a work ethic and shows them that if they go out on their own, what they will have to do....well, the ones who don't continually bring their laundry back to their mothers.  *LOL*  AND they love eaning $$$ - it's a great way, instead of *tossing* allowances at them.....chores/laundry/etc. = few dollars in their little pockets *S*


It's all about deals and contracts w/kids I think....and I'm a pro...on the subject, as I have some....*lol*


I would advise you to continue teaching! nm
x
teaching dictators to dictate better
Exactly! But where is the motivation for them to do so? Yes, if you point out to them that they could be spending less time dictating and more efficiently whereby freeing them up to do patient care, maybe they'd listen. Certainly, if it hit them in the pocket there would be motivation to improve. For instance, if really, really, notoriously bad dictators were charged higher rates there would be big incentive to get/teach the providers how to use the equipment and how to dictate better. Money is a strong motivator!

I think about how there is going to be greater and greater emphasis on reducing costs of providing medical care. There's a huge opportunity for clinics/doctors/hospitals to improve and become much more efficient with transcribing. And who better to train them than us!!
I have one now where we CAP, bold and underline them (teaching hospital) -
and on one I used to only capa and bold. Everyone is different.
tsk, tsk, tsk..teaching your children to lie and cheat..nice..NOT


275-310 lph - one account-large teaching hospital
xx
Hmm. My account (huge teaching hospital) has it, and
I still think the healthcare game is in for a huge shakeup in the not-too-distant future. Quality and confidentiality of medical records will be part of the picture when it finally all gets examined under the new government's microscope. And I don't think they're going to like what they see one bit. If the general population finds out how shoddy their records (and affected health care) are, you better believe some U-no-wat is gonna hit the fan.
I guess teaching took away your sense of humor
That WAS advice. The MT industry STINKS right now.
I wonder if CS is ALSO teaching Coding to India & other countries?
I know they teach MT to India and other countries, the latest one being Jamaica.

Yet they still take money from US students, even though they are training overseas to help them take more jobs away.
If you are careful with putting the correct report in the correct report shell and patient, you will
not have any problems. I only take away this option when someone is careless. There can be NO room for error on this. One mistake can be very serious. Many do it well though, so just double check and you will be fine.

Philadelphia - $25 per hour at a large teaching hospital. nm
x
The MTSO should be compensating you if you're teaching people!
And if they won't, then I'd politely refer their questions to the MTSO. And the email request is perfectly reasonable, IMO.

It's been my experience as a lead MT and trainer over the years that some people just would rather have somebody give them fish rather than learn to do it themselves. When I got that "vibe" from somebody I promptly handed them their fishing pole and bait and refused to give them any more fish, if you know what I mean!
I was teaching, and Katrina hit, and I decided I needed a job that could move with me if need be.
I have a friend who was an MT (actually, she and 2 of her sisters are MTs). When I asked her what she did, it was like a light going off in my mind--it sounded really interesting, since I loved typing and grammar and had good ears (I thought). When Katrina hit, I took time during our enforced semester off to take an online course, loved it, and began working as an MT. I discovered quickly that having good musical ears is not the same thing as having good MT ears!

What I love about MT work is that it is so interesting. I get to learn every day without having to actually be there to see/smell/hear. I am fascinated by the human machine and enjoy learning about it in detail.

Eventually, I'd like to move into a mentoring/teaching position with young or new MTs, but I need more years of experience before that happens. I totally admire those of you who have been doing this for a long time-- you guys have amazing ears and I'm always impressed by the knowledge you have picked up by working! That's what I aspire to, as well.

I worked in a teaching/major trauma hospital
when I was doing radiology and we had scads of standards.
Depends upon size of hospital. If it's a large teaching
nm
They are teaching you to always put the period inside quotes now. I just took a college English
It still looks wrong to me that way, but that's how they're doing it.
Ditto :). Teaching hospitals are great experience if you can be patient. nm
nm
best schools
What are the best online schools that will guarantee a job? Are there any under $2000? Thanks.
top 3 schools
I know this has been posted, but doggone if I can find in the archives.  Friend looking into MT training.  What are the top 3 schools?  Thanks Karen
Top 3 MT schools
I just read about this and they are on the www.aamt.org web site--they are:
M-Tec, Andrews & CareerStep.
Some schools
I graduated from M-Tec. I am constantly getting e-mails for job opportunities from them even 2 years later. Andrews is also good and there is a third one that is mentioned here a lot that I always forget the name of. With any of these schools, you should be able to get an entry-level job with a national company. Whether your local doctors/hospitals feel the same way is questionable. My locals weren't impressed with my online education.

Rates: Avg for newbs is 6 to 7 cpl. Take that times 1200 lines for an average wage. Double it for an upper estimate. Even for experienced transcriptionists, it is really topping out at 8-9 cpl max. And this rate will probably continue to go down in the coming years, just as difficulty of the dictation goes up. (The easy stuff really is going to EMR/VR and overseas.

Remember you will probably be an IC so will have to pay all your own taxes and equipment. Just because you are considered an independent contractor, don't expect to be treated like one by a transcription service. Most want you to log in and log out during certain specified hours of the day, and they might not be the best hours for you. Most will expect you work at least 1 weekend day every week as well and probably even holidays (don't expect a higher rate either).
Top 3 schools
I agree with you.  I wished I had known about the top 3 schools.  My husband and I decided to go with a non-accredited school that promised a job.  Well, there were problems in the very beginning.  After 15 months, I quit.  Now, because I did not go to an accredited school, it is very hard to find a job. 
Schools
If you go to either of these schools you will be prepared and you will be able to get a job when you finish:

Andrews
M-Tec.

Otherwise, you're right; getting that first job is a bear.
Schools

I am looking for a school that provides refresher courses for medical transcriptionists who have not worked at this type work for long periods of time.  I do not feel that someone who has done this type work in the past for several years and is still working in a hospital doing administrative or clerical work should need to take a complete course.  Replies will be appreciated.


 


 


Schools
Andrews or M-TEC. I do QA (and graduated from Andrews). I just finished editing a newbie's work who took a different course. Had I done work like that when at Andrews, they never would have let me graduate, let alone have given a recommendation. The work was terrible. Obviously this newbie had not had much in the way of ear training, let alone any basic grammar. I could handle mistakes if it was a matter of simple style issues, i.e., learning specifics for an account, but mistaking "cranial" for "perineal" just did it for me. Sorry for the vent, but if you're going to spend big bucks, make sure you can do the job when you're done. JMHO.
schools
I need help deciding which MT school to use?  I am debating Career Step, Mtecinc and Andrews?  I want to be sure I make the right decision. 
Schools and such...sm
OTJ training seems to be very rare these days, as I found out when researching this field.  A school with an excellent reputation is a must for a newbie wanting to work right away--Andrews School and M-Tec are the top 2 that national employers recognize.  Look around here on the New MT/Student board for some of the questions about those schools.  All I can say is make sure she does her research extremely well before starting on this path; talk to the directors at the above schools; ask a lot of questions--it will save a lot of frustration and money in the end.  Good luck!
Top schools, etc...sm
The top 2 schools that potential national at-home employers will recognize are Andrews School and M-TEC. It was a difficult choice between the 2, but I went with M-TEC. I believe that both have payment plans, and I was able to get a Sallie Mae (SLM) loan for M-TEC. Talk to all the schools that make your short list. They can give you an idea about the job market, their placement rates after graduation, average length of coursework, and any other questions you can think of. Don't be afraid to pester them! :)
Best Schools
If you want solid training with companies standing in line to hire you after completion, then check out Andrews School and M-TEC. Both have a solid, well-rounded education and will open doors to companies that generally require 2 years of experience. There are many good companies and smaller MTSOs who will hire these new grads. You will take your chances going anywhere else. Do your research of all schools to find the right one for you, but in my opinion, you won't find any better than those 2 schools. An expensive school isn't so expensive if you can get a job right away and have the tools necessary to do the job.