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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

7 years with national - 30 hours per week -

Posted By: sm on 2007-12-31
In Reply to: Low MT pay v. those who make $40k+ - SoonToBeMT

a little over 16 thousand - Good luck making 25 thousand plus - not easy at all to make especially if you type a lot of ESL.


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did it in 9 months of about 35 or so hours a week
Worked HARD those hours too! :-)
I work 38 hours a week, here is my schedule
I did reply to your post below as well and hope I didn't not offend you. Here is my schedule, it works great for me and for my family. I get Friday nights, all day and night Saturday off, and am still able to attend church with my family on Sunday morning before having to work.
Sun. noon-9pm.
Mon. 8pm-1am
Tues. 8pm-1am
Wed. 6pm-1am
Thur. 8pm-midnight
Fri. 10am-6pm
I have to be up at 6:30 in the morning getting the older kids ready and off to school, but my little ones pretty much sleep through the night and I often catch a little nap with them during the day if I need one. I feel like I have the best of both worlds........stay home mom with my kids, and working and bringing in income. My DH only works a half day on Fridays so he is home before I start my shift at 10. Maybe you could ask for a trial period of a work schedule and make changes where you seem fit with your supervisor. I used to work a split shift, early a.m. and then again later at night, but found that to be quite draining and it made the days seem very long, but that is just me. Good luck, you will find what works best for you. :)
You have not been transcribing 10 years. Your resume reflects about 4 years tops. I am going to put
very little MT experience and now you're pushing software that posters can get for free. There is a problem with that. You need to search YOUR heart ands ask yourself just how helpful you are really trying to be to new MTs or if your lining your own pocketbook because you don't know how to transcribe yourself.
National?
I am very new to all this- what is a national?
What are the top national companies
that have good reputations as employers? I'd like to contact them to see what schools they see as "top notch". TIA! -Anne :)
When I got my first IC job with a lesser known national - sm
I took and passed the test in Feb. 02, told I had a job....got the contracts a week or so later, but did not hear from them or actually start until 04/29/02. So don't give up just yet, sometimes it takes a while for them to do whatever it is they got to do. I never followed up with them since I found another job while I was waiting for them to get off their butts. So in the end I worked for both jobs. But you really should follow-up. Send an email to your contact and if you don't hear from then in a few days then call and inquire. It cannot hurt. Good Luck!
would not say success = job with national
xxx
National MTSO
I really have no experience with a national MTSO, but I think it depends on where the MTSO is based. So, if the MTSO is based in the US, you would be paid dollars, and if it is based in the UK, you might be paid in EURO, and so forth and so on. However, while checking around on the net, I found a company based in the Philippines. You might want to check them out, the web address is, www.peoplesupport.com. I don't know what their money would translte to US currency, but it may be easier for you.
New here and about to graduate next week
Hi..
I'm new here.
My name is Danielle, Dani for short. I'm an almost newly-graduated medical transcriptionist student. i will finish my one year course from GTCC in Jamestown, NC next week. I've already started looking for work.

I have one question though...as a newly graduated MT, where are the best places to look for work? the only major transcription experience i have is through the 10 week internship that was required of the program that I am enrolled in. Any suggestions or advice would be helpful. Dani from Greensboro, NC


going for interview next week...
that had asked for 2 years experience but not required. I was told that I meet the minimum requirements for their company and they want me to test with them.
Some jobs are only 20 hrs a week, but you will need
s
I'm a week away from completing

my MT course and would like to set up an email just for work. What service would you all recommend? Are there any requirements when it comes to emailing confidential documents?


Does everyone here work for national companies?

I work for my local hospital at home and find this website very useful when I need help with a word that I cannot find in my books.


It just seems like most people work from their homes for national companies.  Is that the case? 


RE: Does everyone here work for national companies?
I see you did not get an answer to your very innocent question, so here is only one response, I work full-time for a local hospital (40 hours weekly), and work part-time in my home for a national company (20 hours/week).
I work for a national but I have worked...sm
for MTSOs.  I am actually waiting to start work with a national for the first time.  I am not sure how different this is going to be compared to working for a MTSO.
PHNS - a lessor known national - sm
They were a good first company then. Things changed a lot with them though, its been over a year and a half since I last worked for them.
I work for a national. Never took any classes. Got
on-the-job training at local hospital.  It can be done.  It may not be the norm, but it CAN BE DONE. 
New hire within a week, put no experience
I graduated from Career Step and a week later I had a job lined up as an IC.  In every application I sent out, I made sure that the employers were aware that I was just starting out.  I DID NOT say that I had 2 years of experience.  Career Step does not say to use their education as experience when applying.  Many companies recognize CS as a decent school and these companies will give us a shot. 
I've got a week or so before I call...
...them back and accept, but if they're hiring more, I'll post it.  My advice is to just apply like crazy!  I applied even to places that said they wanted full-time MTs.  Why not?  You never know.  Maybe they'll have that little "extra" work and will keep you in mind, or you might just hit them at the right time and place.  Good luck to you!
I was typing 150lph my first week. sm

It certainly isn't impossible.  No, it isn't great pay for someone who has a skill that is needed and is good at it, but you do need to start somewhere.  I don't think companies are willing to start newbies out at 7-9cpl because they can and do hire experienced MTs at that rate.  Why should they take a chance on someone unproven when they can get someone who has been in the industry 5+ years at the same rate?  That doesn't happen in any profession that I know of.


I've been a working MT now for just under a year and can type 300 lph doing acute care and more if I am doing podiatry.  Even at 6-7 cpl I can make a decent amount of money.  I'd love to be getting more money, but that just isn't happening.  Look at the job boards, most companies are advertising for 3-5 years experience starting at 7-9cpl, any higher than that is not the norm.  Is it fair?  Probably not, but it is the reality of this industry.  Those who don't love their work, are not good at it, or are only in it for the money will be getting out and finding another profession.  That will leave less competition and eventually the wages will begin to go up again. 


I think there has just been a huge surge in new people entering MT in the last few years because of all the 'get rich quick' ads out there, but people are starting to realize this isn't an easy job. 


Who knows, maybe I'm just too optomistic.


i did their transcription test last week
and i had some blanks, but i heard back from them today.  they offered me a spot in the training program. 
FT is usually 5000 lines a week and - sm
PT is usually 2500 lines a week. I have never heard 2500 for FT and 1500 for PT a week. I hear the hiring rate is 5-7 cpl. The most you will probably get is .08 after a few years, unless it keeps going down which I hope does not happen.
IC or employee? There's no way you're working for a national
and making more than 8 cpl in your second year of MT. 6 is an OK rate for a newbie who's still wet behind the ears. You've never seen her resume or school transcripts. How can you tell her she's worth as much or nearly as much as experienced MTs? I won't nitpick, but newbies need serious feedback.
local hospital versus national
Hi,
I was with a national company and, like you, only did about 1200 lines per day at 7.5 cpl with 18 months in. I felt like I was never going to make the big bucks!

In May, I resigned from the national co. and went to work locally. After a short 1-month in-house training, I am working from home again. This hospital has some great normals to use and yesterday, I did 2200 lines!!!!!

Finding a good fit is the hardest part. Thankfully, I think I have found mine!!!!! Just keep in mind that there are other options out there. GOOD LUCK!!!!
Most of the larger national teaching hospitals...

with residents (on 6-week rotation), PAs and RNs and ESL docs are already using VR for at least the last 4 years.  Don't delude yourself.  About 80% of my work was VR for multiple national accts...The only straight transcription I got recently was the worst of the ESLs or mumble-mouth English speaking docs... I've done acute care, basic 4s (op notes, consults, H&Ps, ERs) procedure notes, multiple specialities, rare clinic notes for one company for 14 years. 


It would be nice to work for one small docs ofc with a coupla docs in it and do just clinic notes again...Those were the days!  Cat


I was lucky if I made $1 an hour my first week! sm
It was horrible! After a month, I am now up to $8 an hour.(I know that is still not much!) I would look up every single drug and doublecheck the dosages. Now, I am familar with many of them and it feels good not to have to look them all up. It is great that your company thinks you are doing good work!
Definitely sounds like a scam. You can't learn much in an 8-week course. NM
x
Med-Line School: Enrolling this week!
Why would anyone post such negative responses if you have no knowledge of this school or no experience with them? Actual transcriptionists are usually too busy to be on these chat rooms making up stories. Might be an M-Tec employee making the response. Did you know that M-Tec is a 20 million a year school? That is a lot of students that they are cranking out.......and they have jobs for all of these?

Med-Line provides a free orientation via webinar for anyone to attend that answers your questions. I have attended this webinar and I am enrolling after looking at ALL of the schools. It explains proper education to be successful and they actually place their students, not just give resume tips. And the internship is a real work experience with 100% QA support and feedback. No keys. Why don't you check it out for yourself and not listen to these people who have no experience with these schools.

Oh and by the way...it’s the 21 century and there are air cards. Internet is everywhere...

part time with a national will put you at the end of the line for work sm
and give you the crappiest accounts. Only way to work for a national is full time. Good luck!
i work for one national, one smaller, and have one private account.
i am always busy, but never without some type of work :). I make a great line count with MQ. I was statutory but effective January 1st, I am an employee. Not sure how that will work out. My secondary account is with a smaller company I have been with for over ten years, and I have a small private account that pays very well but low volume.
what company can I do about 1000 lines/week from home?

Hi, I just got an offer for a day job with benefits but I want to do about 1000 lines of MT a week from home.


Anyone have any recommendations about a company I can do that with?


I just graduated Everett Community College's program.


I only wanted to work for a local company, not a large national. So... (sm)

I went to Google Local.  Clicked on "find businesses".  I then put in medical transcription in the "what" box and my City, State in the "where" box.  I sent a resume and cover letter to every hit that looked good to me.  I also went through the yellow pages and sent a resume and cover letter to every listing.  I sent out more than 50 resumes. 


I had about fifteen calls back.  I had five offers.  I accepted one.  I have been getting calls ever since.  In fact, I left my first position about three months after I got it in order to go to another company that was offering me more per line plus incentive.  Yes, I accepted 7.5 cents from my first employer and she worked me to death and had some serious, shall we say, boundary issues.  But I got my feet wet and in the door and was on to better things within months.  I have been at my current position for about seven months, and it was a position I got based on yet another one of those resumes that had been received, kept on a desk somewhere, and acted upon months after I had sent them out. 


One thing that no fewer than five of the fifteen callbacks said was that they were very impressed by my resume and my cover letter.  One lady said that she was amazed by the number of people applying for jobs as medical language specialists who cannot even manage to put out a resume and cover letter that is free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes.  So, do a professional resume and cover letter and make sure it's PERFECT. 


I love my job and feel very blessed that I never experienced some of the awful newbie troubles I have read about here.  If you have any questions or anything, feel free to contact me off the list or reply here and I will get back to you ASAP. 


Elle


A woman told me this week her community college "certified" her as an MT.
I think the problem is the people who are teaching those courses don't know the difference. It isn't really a lie. They just don't know better. Of course they also shouldn't be teaching a subject they know little or nothing about, but that's for another thread, another time.
Maybe do a word count in some of your documents and get an average per day or week. Total for new
s
Hours for MTs
Working from home is really no different than working in an office or hospital as far as the hours are concerned. The only difference is that you are on your own and must be able to perform the same duties. Would you apply to a company or hospital and ask them if you can pick you own hours? Probably not. As a home MT, you can choose what shift you prefer, if available, but it is still a work environment, and you are expected to be there, in the chair, doing the work the same as if you were in a hospital or office setting. That is why you see shifts/hours advertised. Companies need to know that the work will be completed and returned to the client in a timely fashion to the client's satisfaction. It's still a JOB, even if you are at home.
Hours
Michelle, if you are an independent contractor, you can generally set your own hours/days/shift; however, if you are an employee, you must work the hours/days/shifts your employer wants you to work. Of course, as an employee you get benefits, too.

Also, IMHO, VLC is a better program than AHP.
Hours
I work at home and I decide what hours I work as long as my work is back within 24 hours. That doesn't mean I can goof off all day and not do my work, I have to discipline myself and have scheduled times to work. You do have freedom, and thats why I love it, but you do have to work also.
I don't look at the hours
I look at the line count because productivity in this kind of job is based on the line count. Also, as you gain experience your hours spent on an account will decrease, that is if you retain the same volume over time.

Based on other experienced MTs, they usually do not keep just one account, so if you have time in your hands, try to get another account to make up for the slow periods.
Also looking for PT 20 hours. Please sm

If you take that job and they still have open positions, could you please share with me the company?  I have been looking for PT IC work like you mentioned.  Thank you!


hours?
So how many hours of work do approximately get in per day? And how many hours of sleep do you get at night?
Do you really set your own hours?
I have heard that MT's (working from home) set their own hours to work... and then I have also heard that you have specific set hours that you work. Which one is right? Or do you have a deadline that you must get your work in by?

Thanks for clearing up the confusion!
Hours / MT training

Has anyone here done at home professions MT course? Is it legit?


Also why do the job posting have set  days and hours MT's have to work. I thought if you worked at home you could pick your own hours? Can someone clarify this for me


Thanks


MT schools & job hours
Does anyone know anything about an online school called Future MTs?  Also, when working at home is it possible to get jobs that allow you to work whatever hours you want or is it mainly shift work?
350 lines in 8 hours?
That really isn't much. You should be spending time when you aren't working studying *grammar* and such. I am a newbie, have been at this since January, and can get at least 150 lph. So far I am able to get about 9,000 lines per pay period...that's 10 days. Not trying to bash you or anything, but it sounds like you really need some practice. Websites like www.rxlist.com are great for drug names as well.
My work hours...
I have a 3 y/o and an 8 m/o, both girls. They go to a 5 hour, 4 day a week program. This allows me a 4 1/2 hour block to go to the clinic, pick up tapes, and go back home and type uninterrupted for awhile. I pick them up and I don't work again until they go to bed at approximately 8:00 pm, then I work until I'm done, usually around 11:00 or 11:30. I sleep until 5:00 am, when I get up and do it all again. My oldest gets up on her own about 6-6:30 am and the youngest gets up whenever her tummy wakes her.

I have only had this job for just over a month now, and I love it. My old job was a full on work in the office 8 hours a day, 5 days a week job. So I almost feel like I'm on vacation now with the flexibility that I so desired all along.

I hope you can work something out for you and your kids where you can all be rested and happy.

Take care.
What hours/days are you available. sm
Please email me with your the above info and where you received your education.
You need to break more often than every 2 hours

straight.  That won't be good for your body and you'll burn out easy.


Again, most places will allow you the time to get comfortable with your dictators.  Don't try to be too fast and make mistakes because that won't be worth it at all to either you or your new employer.  That shows sloppiness.  JMO.


Hours you worked

Starting as an IC, did that mean you were able to determine the hours you worked in a day?  For example, I would like to work early morning part-time and finish in later evening and night.  Is that something that was common to do as an IC, or do you have to give them a detail of the hours you are working?


anywhere from 3-4 hours for me (6 if it is horrible)- nm
xxx
Make your own hours?
absolutely not.. that's a myth..
I work off hours and have no daycare
I start my shift at 8 p.m. after I tuck my kids into bed to avoid feeling guilty having to work and watch them. I have a job where I have to have a set schedule though, but I have found that this works well for my family. We don't have any daycare and I get all day with my kids. I work 38 hours a week with my working 9 hours on Sunday to make up for shorter shifts during the week and Saturdays off. I have a friend with 2 little ones at home as well and she does great and is a high performer! I hope everything works out for you, keep the positive attitude!