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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

A Newbie with Questions

Posted By: Stephanie on 2008-01-29
In Reply to:

I am very interested in working at home for an MT company but have a few questions regarding doing so and would appreciate any help and advice anyone can give.


If hired to work part time, say four hours a day, do they have to be consecutive hours or any time, so long as four hours are worked during the day? What about full time hours? What is a good production amount for both? Also, if hired to work four hours a day and you finish the work in three hours, can you "sign off" early?


I realize that some companies provide equipment; what equipment would that be and does that include the word processing software? Which is preferred: WordPerfect or MS Word? What would you recommend as the absolute "must haves" for starting out as an MT? Does the company provide report templates to base your work on?


Which company would be the best to start out with? I've only noticed Spheris takes MT's with only one year experience; are there others that are better? Are there companies that hire brand-new MT's; what are they?


I realize that some of the questions seem rather silly, but I am trying to convince my husband that, with a little bit of help with the kids, I can have a lucrative career with benefits and the added bonus of staying at home. Any advice is greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance.




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Questions from a Newbie

I'm just finishing school with At-Home Professions (doing my final now) and have 2-3 job possiblities. One is working for 2 physical therapists and I will find out more about it today or this week. The other is the one I am leaning towards and would like your input on; It is working in Neurology Surgery (very specialized) and at first it is working for a very good friend at a lower pay scale just until I get the confidence to do it on my own. What do you think of this option? There is a chance I can get a job with my friends boss, however I thought it might be good starting off to just work for her, that way I can have someone editing my work etc. After I have the confidence and a little experience I can work for the my friends boss.


By the way, all the newbies looking for work-all of these job possiblities have just been from friends and asking my husbands cardiologist about who he uses.


Questions from a newbie

I am a recent MT graduate. I am needing advice on which USB foot pedal would be the best one to purchase. And I have noticed that a lot of the classified on this website say that you need a medical spell checker and some even suggest getting a word Expander program. Which ones would be the best one to purchase?


And another question. Do the online companies furnish you with the transcription program for you to use or do you need to purchase one for yourself? While I was attending school, I just used MS Word to type all of my reports into.


I am just needing some advice or suggestions about the above questions.


Thanks,


Melissa


a newbie here with a couple questions please....

Hi, thank you for taking my question(s).  I have Windows Vista on my PC, came with it. and I am about to begin MT School online, I have asked the school, but alittle confused.  The software I will need, will it be compatible, with Vista, or is there conversions I might can buy, or download for free.


The school is in La.  and the program is Career Steps.   ANY info will be greatly appreciated.  ~Leslie in NWF


Newbie MTs, do not post test questions on any of the MTStars boards. To do so will result in your
posting privileges being revoked.  Take your tests honestly.
Those are not unnecessary questions. VERY real questions.
If you are indeed a "big girl" then get some credible information and make a mature, informed decision for yourself.

My goodness. Where does the personal accountability come into play?

Questions....
What course did you finish? How did you do? Do you have a kick-a$$ resume? Where are you "training"? Are you being paid for it? Where have you applied? What is your strategy? A little more information, please!
Help !! - Questions!!!
im signing up for the online transcription course through CareerStep and im really looking forward to it. these next few questions are aimed to those who are already a transcripitionist or anyone who knows the answers.

1. how hard or easy is it to find a job once you are graduated?

2. how much do you make starting out? and how much could you potentionally make?

3. is it hard to find a job that allows you to stay at home and do your job? especially when starting out?

4. what are your hours like? both at home or in a clinic?

5. is careerstep (if known) really helpful in finding you a job after graduation?


i have 2 kids and want to make sure this is going to be worth it if i have to work in a clinic and pay a babysitter.
thank so much in advance for your answers. even if you cant answer them all, any answer is very appreciated.
Same questions?
These exact same questions were posted a few months ago by someone saying that they were doing an MT class assignment. What is up with that?
new MT questions
Hello all you fabulous MTs!

I am seriously considering training to become an MT; however, I have some questions for you. I have noticed many of you discussing MT companies who are hiring overseas as well as many of you who are having trouble finding work. I understand the difference the prestige of your school makes and am wondering if there are any of you who have graduated from Andrews or M-Tec who have had problems finding work. I'm also wondering, from those of you who have been in the business for many years, what you see for the future of the MT profession. It looks like VR and EMR have been on the horizon for a long time and could jeopardize the industry but how many of you think this is rumor and how many of you feel it is a legitimate concern? I would hate to spend at least a year of my time and approximately $4,000 training for a career that will be obsolete soon. Oh, and one more question: Are there any of you out there who have successfully found work that pays well but you find the work unsatisfying? I'm trying to convince my husband that this job won't be too boring! Any advice you could give would be much appreciated.
question on questions
If you were a new MT when you started out with this doctor, what did you do for 'QA' and where did you go if you had questions, etc.? I am thinking of doing this and would really be interested to know how you handled that? Thanks!
interviews: questions to ask?

hi, all.  didn't want to hijack "not sure's" thread...


i know what to ask when interviewing for a nursing position; the from-home MT thing is going to be a new one for me.  i've searched before asking this (maybe didn't use the right key-words).  any suggestions for what to ask a company? 


here's what i've jotted down:


1.  CPL;


2.  percentage of ESLs (not terribly huge, as i've worked with lots of foreign docs, both as a nurse and as MT);


3.  soft-/hardware used;


4.  TAT (if not stated in the offer/job-description);


5.  not sure how to phrase this...what the company considers "a line" (as in "how many characters);


6.  whether the rate includes spaces.


any other ideas?


BTW:  you guys are terrific.  thank you!


Questions regarding IC status

I just received a position as an IC. I have never been one before so how do I figure taxes and such? Also, I have been told that I would be able to deduct a lot of things since I do this out of my home.  What are some things that I can deduct? I was guess internet service but couldn't figure out anything else.


Thanks for the help.


 


after reading some of your questions,

I wouldn't say you got the best MT education to be had.  I also don't see where you have interest in doing for yourself (that Stedman's Work At Home issue).  While you are looking at your insular little world, you haven't been around the past, well, even 10 years, to see the changes that have brought down this industry.  Ten years is not even considered one generation.  There will be need for GOOD MTs still for many years to come, but those positions will be held by the very best MTs to be had and who are still willing to work for the pay that goes down over time.  Many other positions that are now MTs will transition into something different, something still with a living to be offered but different just the same.


Just this year, my employer restructured its pay scale so that in order to make the same cpl, I had to produce an additional 4000 lines per month.  If I didn't, I suffered a pay cut of 1 cpl.  Obviously this has not happened to you.  I've been at it much longer than I suspect you've been an adult.  I do not plan to leave the industry although my alternate education is already in place.  I'm lucky because my skill set is very much in demand.  I am a high, accurate producer with flexibility and if I'm making money, my employer makes much more.


But I didn't get there by patting myself on the back and asking questions that some research would help with and save myself the embarrasment of my peers for not having done the research.


As to what school to go to, read the writing on the wall and take one of the top 3.  This industry has changed just in a few short years and if you don't know everything that everyone is doing, someone without education from the top 3 will have a more difficult time getting placement after schooling.


JMHO, which is free, and you're welcome to do with it what you will.


Pricing questions for new mt

I just got an account with a local doctor doing clinic notes part time.  Will I be considered an MTSO since there is no middleman?  Is .11 cents a line reasonable for 24 hour turn around?  How long do you stay at that rate?  The only transcribing experience I have is from Career Step where I graduated two years ago.  I am in the southern Illiniois area.  Is it recommended to charge more for consult notes?  I have seen examples of $2 per page and .6 cents per line. 


Also, is anyone aware of the HIPPA requirements for emaling transcription files back to the doctor?  He sends them in WAV files and I send them back password protected.


Any help would be appreciated!


 


Thanks


I guess I have two questions?

1.  Why is it such a shock to newbies that the field is so hard to break into?


2. Why aren't the people who sell these MT training programs telling newbies that it is so?


To answer your questions
I'm an IC and was given the IC Manual which does not refer at all to any reviews, raises, etc.  I do cardiology and can produce about 175 lines an hour, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the doctor.  Since I'm an at-home IC, I have no one else to compare my work to, that's kind of why I started looking around to see what I could find out.  Since my one year anniversary is right around the corner, I figured that would be the time to approach the subject but I wanted to have an idea of what I should be looking for!
Almost graduated and have questions
Hi everyone! I am new on this board and will soon receive my certification. I have one more semester to go with an internship and everything. I have a few questions though.

1. Is it wise to start posting your resume before you graduate , and if so, how much time before you graduate do you recommend starting this?

2. For a new MT, what is a reasonable rate of pay either per line or per hour?

3. Do the grades you make in school really make a difference? I have a 4.0, but some people tell me that they don't even look at how well you did in your classes.

4. How do you know a real online transcription company from a scam? I'm sorry, but I didn't even know that transcription scams existed before seeing some threads about it here.

5. (last one I promise) I am doing an internship for someone local this last semester, does this really count as experience or do you always have to do internships with the company you get a job with before actually becoming an employee?

Thanks to anyone who responds in advance!
Good questions!
Here's my opinion:

1. I wouldn't post a resume until I have finished my course and graduated.

2. You will start at the bottom of the totem pole because you are new and inexperienced. It varies from company to company. I wouldn't work for free. With some companies it will depend on how well you test for them.

3. Yes, it does and each company defines their own standards for hiring newbies (if they even hire them).

4. Do thorough research. You should not have to pay to work. I would ask the company to provide a couple of employees to speak to. I would be very, very careful of accepting at face value any posts on any boards. They are anonymous, no registration required, and you literally have no clue who you are taking the advice of.

5. You should list an internship as just that.
full of questions....
Hello! I am 21 years old looking to do the training to get certified as a MT. Of course I have LOTS of questions. First of all, how hard was it for you to find an "at home" job? And also, is anyone willing to tell me how much it pays? I've seen all kinds of figures and have tried to figure out just how those figures are, well, figured. I just have a hard time believing you can make that much just for typing reports. Any help at all on this would be GREAT! Thank you!
seriously considering the MT field, but I have a few questions!

Hello Everyone! first of all, I want to say thank you for all of the great information I have found so far from these boards.  I am very seriously considering being an MT.  I currently work full-time as a Transcriptionist in a Psychologist's office and I really enjoy it.  However, I believe I would enjoy the medical field more.  I have a few questions that I would really appreciate you guys answering...


Can you make a decent living as an MT working for an online company? (i.e. Spheris, Focus or accuscribe?) Currently, I would need to make at least 25k a year to suppliment my husbands income for our family, and I do not mind working full-time. 


I believe I am going to being training with CareerStep... will companies like that consider hiring me if I test and score high enough, even without prior MT experience?


Thank you so much for your help!


Formatting Questions?

I am looking into becoming a MT, can anyone tell if there are any other references or templates available for formatting a medical transcription document or is formatting info only outlined in the AAMT Book of Style? Also, are there different formats for different reports?


Spheris questions




I watched the recent discussion on Spheris and searched.  I do still have a few questions if anyone has the time.  I had posted this on the company board, but I did not get any response there.  I'm seriously thinking about applying to this company.  I am still new enough that I don't have a lot of options (that I am aware of anyway).  So, the below questions are important to me in trying to decided if Spheris would be a viable choice or not.



1.  What is their required line count and how do they count it?  Is it a daily line count or a certain amount by the end of the week or pay period?  How long do they give you to reach the required line count or certain speed?



2.  How often do they run out of work and what do they expect you to do while waiting for jobs to come in?  Are there times when it is absolutely impossible to get in you lines?  Do they do what it seems MQ seems to do and open the floodgates and give you new specs with each new report when your assigned accounts are out?



3.  I see this company both recommended to work for and not to work for.  I guess it must be a personal preference.  So, what's it like on a day to day basis?  How is QA, are they resaonable and fair or do they make up their own rules as they go?  ASR or VR or primarily standard transcription.


4.  Is there any chance that anyone could tell me their starting rates?



From the board discussions, I hear they are better than at least two major MT companies sometimes discussed here. 



Thanks to anyone who answers this.  You may feel free to PM if you like.



Thanks! couple questions
Thanks for the reply, I have a couple of questions for you:
Do you have to pay income taxes quarterly? Do your taxes seem much higher self-employed than as a regular employee in other jobs?
MT may "learn best by asking questions rather than
x
Software Questions

What types of special software would I need to work at home as an IC? This is for a school project.


Thanks!


Firewall, Security Suite, Medical Spell Check, Line Count, etc. Anything eles anyone can add to this list?


 


Questions on a company

I am a new MT and very proud of my achievemnt. I have just been approved to enter an apprenticeship program with Focus Infomatics. Is there anyone here that has had some experience (good or bad) with this company?


Thanks for any input!


I have been looking into this as well, can you answer some of my questions?
When you say a secure internet access, is that any different than being in a hotel that offers free high speed internet? What precautions or questions should I ask before I plug my system into something like that.

The majority of the time I will be using it is when my kids would like to play outside and I can be able to work from the deck of porch. However, we would like to take vacations where I could have access to typing if I needed to, such as a STAT file.

Thank you for any answers you give.
Please help with my information questions

Hi,


I want to go back to school to be a MT.  Could any one answer a few questions


for me?


 


1. What company do you work for?


2. How long have you worked in the field?


3. What are the duties and responsibilities of your position?


4. Did you receive on the job training in your position?


5. Are there opportunities for advancement in your position?


6. What do you enjoy the most about your job?


7. What do you enjoy least about your job?


8. If you were starting again, what would you do differently?


9. How is your job different from how you expected it to be?


10. What is the current starting wage?


11. What are the working conditions of your position?


12. Can you refer me to anyone else I should talk to?


If you would like you can add any other info.


Thank you,


Debra


Canada


a couple questions
Hi all. I have been reading this message board for a few weeks and have found many of my questions answered. I will be starting MTEC this week, as soon as my books arrive. I will also be purchasing a laptop tomorrow to use solely for school. I am looking at a Lenovo R61i, but I read on MTEC's website something about students having trouble with a 64 bit processor. How do I tell if the processor in the Lenovo is a 64 bit?

Also, I am just looking for some sincere advice about learning about the Medical Transcription program. I am so intrigued and excited to learn more and start school so that I may eventually work from home. Any advice will be appreciated.

TIA,
Linz
Questions about Equipment

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.


You're asking the right questions.
You're asking the right questions.

Some schools start a lot of students, but have a high drop-out rate or they have a lot of students who can't pass the final. The observation about job-hopping in the first 2 years is on-target, too. Some schools graduates get jobs, but can't make it 90 days. One estimate was that 90% of one schools enrollees never graduate and of those who do, only one in ten will keep a job more than 90 days.

You might ask your question over on www.mtchat.com. A lot of Andrews grads hang out there.

The reason you don't hear much about their grads may be that there isn't a lot of job-finding upset among them. In other words, they don't post about how much trouble they have finding jobs because they aren't having trouble. You can only post "I got a job!" once, after all. Any more than that and it sounds like gloating.

They typically get acute-care jobs, often with several offers, at good rates of pay and get up to speed quickly, staying in the same job long-term. The M-Tec experience seems similar.
Couple of questions for New MTs
I have a very short survey (two questions) that I am asking for any new MTs to complete.  Thank you!
These questions seem like things

your instructor could answer better than anyone here could.  In general, when to edit for grammar, what format to use, and how to decode mumblers are all things that you will get better at with more and more practice, so don't get too discouraged.    For those hard to understand dictations, try playing at different speeds (even faster) and going back to the difficult parts after you have transcribed the entire report.  As you do more and more reports, you can look back through them to figure out what a dictator might be most likely to say at that point, which may give you a clue.  Another trick is to put key phrases around the part you can't understand in Google and see if you come up with something.  You can put an asterisk for the part you can't understand and put the key phrase in quotes and sometimes that will help, for example "* prostatic hypertrophy." 


Interview today - questions

I posted below about the ad I saw in our paper and whether it seemed legit. I discovered that it was placed by a small MTSO in our town and he is calling me today to discuss the position. He has seen my resume and responded positively to it.  I don't have specific MT training (just nursing and allied health education background) but he is wanting to train the new employees and as I am trying to figure out if I want to go to a good MT school and make a career out of this, this would be a good testing ground for me, since he seems willing to work with complete newbies. 


I am not ready to work 40 hrs/wk as an MT for many reasons (most important of which is I am not trained to be one and 40 hours would kill me I would bet!). I am hoping there is the possibility of working PT 10-15 hrs per week either as an employee or contractor.  As a matter of fact, I have decided the only way I would take the job if offered is if I could work nights and weekends from home (when kids are asleep) so I don't have to worry yet about daycare costs or the hassle of school breaks cutting in on when I am supposed to be working.


I have my list of standard questions ready but am not sure what is usually expected of an IC, and what I need to consider. I know my FICA/Medicare tax will double (from about 9% to about 18%) - are there other tax considerations to take into account when figuring out pay and what is acceptable?  Do ICs usually write up their own contract or does the employer make it out?  Do ICs usually provide their own equipment?  I am hoping since he is new, he is digital and I would just have to get a wav pedal and not have to run tapes and reports back and forth across town every day.


Any ideas?


Thanks


Independent Contracting questions
I am currently subcontracting with a company and I enjoy the work, but as a new transcriptionist, there isn't much of it. I was wondering if anyone had any experiences to share with how they found an independent contracting job.

I'm actually searching for something to supplement the job I have. I would like to work with one doctor if possible, but I don't know if that is possible. I'm hoping that someone had started out working with one doctor and then added on doctors when they felt their work with the first doctor was consistently good.

I am really just looking for some information and advice to figure out how to do what I have mentioned above.

Thank you,
Dara
When I asked them questions about volume,
they told me to forget it. Seriously, if I remember correctly the exact words were "don't quit your current job." I find it very rude that they would act this way all for asking about the workload (this was just before interviewing with them). They were offering 3 cpl and I asked them if the workload was enough to compensate.
Productivity and compensation questions
Stephanie, the software platforms for each company greatly affect your productivity (lines per day) which also should affect the compensation per line you receive (amount you charge), so both are pretty nebulous questions and I usually give a pretty nebulous answer! ;)

I can give a ballpark estimate on the amount I can produce, because I've been doing this since time began. Being a new hire, I'd note on the application that you haven't transcribed in a production environment, so you have no way of knowing your potential output.

As far as what I charge, I usually put something like "varies with account," because it's really moot - they're going to test you and figure out where they can fit you into the scheme of things, then offer you a rate that keeps their profit margin intact skewed just a tad to to the high or the low end depending on the amount and type of experience you have.

Hopefully, the recruiter who receives your application will have enough knowledge of the field to realize both of these questions can have a wide range of answers, because of the variables involved. I hope this helps!

I sent them an e-mail yesterday with questions....sm
and all I got was an auto-reply stating that due to the high volume of people wanting information they were delayed in answering. I didn't hear anything else from them - that in itself should be an indicator of troubles ahead for her!
sent you an e-mail with the answered questions
Hope it was helpful.
Questions, Clarification Needed, Thx!

Hello to the board! Glad I found it. There's a wealth of information here and on the Main Board.


I have a few questions about what I've been researching about MT. Any replies would be appreciated.


1. Is the general feeling among MTs that if a person doesn't do a program thru one of the "Big 3" MT schools, they cannot get hired at all?


2. Or is the feeling among MTs that if the Big 3 schools aren't used, the person can't get hired at a good place?


3. If a student doesn't go thru one of the Big 3, then they can't get hired ANYWHERE and thus can't get that magic "two years' experience?"


I was really burned thru a sonography school. If you don't go thru an accredited program, you simply cannot be hired. Anywhere legit at all. No matter how great your skills are. GOT to have the certification that can only be gained thru an accredited school (can't sit for the test w/o this). I was told the accreditation of the school would be retroactive and cover us (the first students to attend the new program) but that was WRONG. And this was thru a community college!!!


I don't want to go thru a program and then find out that only Andrews, M-Tec, and CS are considered valid for any employment chance.


Many thanks for any help in clearing up the ability to get hired w/o one of the 3 programs mentioned. I find it odd because AHDI "approves" other places as well, not just those 3. 


One last question: DOES A STUDENT HAVE TO COMPLETE AN EXTERNSHIP to get hired? Because I live in Podunkville USA so to speak and there is nothing here for 300 miles in any direction...


THANKS!!!


 


 


 


 


for Angela: Right above the questions on this boards
you find a box. Enter into this box: 'Penn Foster' and click search.
You'll get opinions of MTs about this school
Questions I have for Medical Transcriptionists
Hello everybody. I'm currently in the process of enrolling in the MT Program at the Thompson Career College and I have some questions for medical transcriptionists. If it's at all possible I would very much like to get answers to these questions from two different transcriptionists, so I have a bit wider understanding of what the job is really about. This will help very much in ensuring that this is the right career path for me.

I'll go ahead and post the questions I have here, and they should only take about 5 or 10 minutes of your time. Any help that a certified medical Transcriptionist could offer me would be very much appreciated!

- What's your name? (First name will be fine)
- Who are you employed by?
1. How long have you worked in this career?
2. Can you tell me what you do in a typical workday?
3. What medical areas do you transcribe for?
4. What do you enjoy most about the job?
5. What do you enjoy least about the job?
6. What skills and personal characteristics does a successful transcriptionist need to have?
7. What qualifications and training did you need to get your current job?
8. What is the typical starting income, and is there opportunity for growth in this income?

Thank you very much in advance, I really hope I'm able to get all the answers I need here. You can reply with your answers in this thread or shoot me an email at jvv.kel@gmail.com, any tips and notes you would like to add would be very much appreciated as well.

- Jackson
Having instructers answer questions quickly is a BIG plus.

Reply to Microsoft Word Questions

How much info goes on second page depends on the document itself. It is highly unprofessional to have only two lines only or two lines and then a signature. If that's the case, change your margins and put it on one page or push more of it over to the second page. Only two lines in a paragraph or on a page is considered orphan or widow lines; there is not enough information to know for sure that the information on the other page really does go with those two lines--it leaves room for the possibility of confusion or switching of documents--which is way bad.


Left justify should be on your toolbar across the top of Word and looks like several lines which are even at the left side and uneven along the right side. The center key will be the next one and the left justify will be next, then--if it is on your toolbar with be left and right justify. This key looks like several lines, which are perfectly even along the right and left sides (like the newspaper).


Hope this helps.


You could save others the same grief by responding to questions asking about the course you took so
X
Questions about schools and internet connections...
Hi,
I am new to this website and to the MT world and have a few questions, mostly pertaining to my future school choice.
First off, I have heard that M-Tec, Andrews and Career Step are the 'top 3' online MT schools.
I have been very interested in M-Tec and have heard a lot of good about them, but I would like to know if anyone (who has gone to them) thinks they are overrated or too pricey. I have also heard from someone who is a CMT that Career Step is the way to go, but I've heard a lot of negatives about them and the course is much shorter. Do you really need the 1000+ hours that M-Tec offers or is the 600+ hours sufficient? This is all very new to me and I don't want to make a bad choice picking a school and waste time and money and end up not being able to get hired.
I also wondered if there is any hope of working as an MT if you can only get dial up internet. The area we are possibly moving to, is in the country and DSL and cable are not offered there at this time.
Last question, I have heard that the people graduating from these 'top 3' and getting work right out of school, are the students graduating with high honors. How hard is it to graduate with high honors and what are the chances of doing so? And, is there even a chance at getting work for those that don't get honors? I'm sorry I've asked so much, I'm just afraid of making a mistake! Thank you all in advance!
Post these types of questions on the Word Board. Thanks. nm
s
You still skirted the issue. Please answer the questions so you may have more newbies. Otherwise,
??
...You'll get questions & answers right away, make contacts. See things done as
s
Don't worry anon, this is the same person on the Word Board asking test questions!!

Please make sure to ask word questions on the Word Help board. There are
people who specifically answer questions there.