I disagree. Allied has a pretty decent program.
Posted By: Lois NM on 2007-11-10
In Reply to: Allied is no better than At Home Professions or Penn Foster. Not a good school. NM - deb
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
I respectfully disagree--Allied has a GUARANTEED...
...lifetime job placement program. Any of the MT schools iare what you make of it and how you work it. I have already been offered a position and I haven't even finished the Allied course yet. Just sayin'.
Unfortunately Allied has a poor training program, and the companies know it. nm
x
OSI pretty quick, MediVoxx pretty strange
I've applied to both. For OSI, I scored a few points too low to start, but was invited to retest in six months. For MediVoxx, it took about a week for them to get back with me and let me know I tested well. That led to several other things (confidentiality agreement, their company info, a personal telephone interview with an offer to test for QA after I downloaded software from their site). There was a seven digit code to actually activate that software to enable me to test for QA, which would be the final step in the pre-employment process. But, they never gave me that code and did not respond to any emails about it. It was if - POOF - they were gone!
I don't know what that was all about, maybe a recruiter problem and not a company problem. MediVoxx seems like a really nice and well put together company otherwise.
No one I've ever tested with otherwise took near as long to respond, though.
Good luck to you. You will find something. Don't give up.
Go to a decent school to begin with - sm
I graduated from MTEC more than 8 years ago and had recruiters beating my door down to test me when I graduated. I tested with several of them and had offers from every one of them to begin working immediately. I have been working at home ever since. I have also heard Andrews is good. You never see people from these schools on these boards begging for someone to give them a chance. The education alone opens doors. Best of luck to you!
Making decent money here.
I was one of those stay-at-home moms that wanted to make my own hours and earn a good living and I am doing just that. I have been an MT for 2 years now. I work at home while caring for my 3-year-old son. Yes, it is not easy, stressful even, but I make more money at home (close to $20 an hour) than I would make at a B&M job and I don't have to pay $1000 a month for daycare anymore. I have a completely flexible schedule and I work early in the morning while my son sleeps and during his nap times. If I have to, I work again in the evening to finish up work.
This profession is difficult and takes a lot of work, but what career that pays a decent salary doesn't. It is possible to make more than $4-8 an hour. It does not take years and years. I was up to $12 an hour after 6 months, comparable to what I made in my previous position, where I had been employed for 3 years.
Just because you can't make it in this industry is no reason to discourage others from trying.
Is MT a decent job based on pay #s I see here? And how is outsourcing affecting pay?
I am brand new to the MT world. I'm considering taking training and an internship at a local company (my cost = $2,000) and then working as a contractor for them. From reading different questions and responses here, I'm concerned that the pay is pretty low and has not increased much in the past few years. My other concern is that more companies are outsourcing their work overseas because it's cheaper. How much of that is happening and how much is that hurting pay here?
I'd appreciate any information and opinions. I have to decide by Monday, January 8. Now I'm thinking that I should just find another career path and take classes at a community college. I worked in another career and made excellent money, but the stress and long hours were just too much. I was looking for something less stressful and the chance to work at home. THANKS!!!
Or not so much stress or long hours, decent pay
I totally understand what you're saying, but being an MT varies so much based on what you bring to the job, where you work, and what kind of account you have that it's pretty tough to predict how any particular person will do. I'm very happy with my job. I find it to be the least stressful job I've ever had, love the predictable hours, and made 34K this last year working strictly a 40-hour week. This is after 1-1/2 years as an MT. I found the first 6 to 9 months terribly stressful because of the high learning curve, but once I settled into my account the stress level dropped considerably. I'm still working the same hospital account I started on, but also work other accounts as necessary. I work for a company that many people on this board say they can't make any money working for; it must have a lot to do with the stability I've had on my account that I am able to make reasonably decent money.
You didn't post here to get decent answers
You posted hoping that everyone would agree with you. When they didn't, you flipped out. That is exactly why the company you are working for is not going to cater to you...because they don't like your attitude! 
I hope you're being paid a decent wage and not being
taken advantage of, which happens a lot.
Difficulty finding work despite decent grades from Andrews
Angela,
I am a recent grad of Andrews--one of the top two schools recommended--and I graduated with a grade average of 97.9.
Contrary to popular opinion, Andrews' grads do not have several job offerings available to them as soon as they finish up school. The graduate is basically on her/his own as far as scrounging up a job. Having Andrews on my resume only allows me to test for a few MTSOs that would not have even given me an e-mail response. It is not an automatic door-opener at all.
I am having a difficult time finding employment because there are only so many entry-level positions available for new grads. There appears to be a glut of newbies. The economic decline is not helping either.
I have passed every single acute care transcription test where I was allowed to test, and I am on many "waiting" lists for future openings. I am really lucky that I am disabled and at least have some money coming in that pays the mortgage. I can wait for an opening, and I don't have to sign on with those MTSO that preys on newbies who can't find jobs.
If folks from the top schools are having difficulty finding employment, just imagine how much more difficult it is for someone that has only completed a low-quality matchbook-type MT education.
I wouldn't waste any money on the Penn folks.
Kathleen
I never hear of those who attended decent schools unable to find work
You can pay now or later. I had job offers with every company I tested with when I graduated from M-TEC, which was more than 8 years ago. I have worked from home since day 1 doing both clinics and mostly acute care. I do not know of anyone who graduated with me who has ever had problems finding a job. Employers are catching on as to which schools offer enough training so that the grads actually have some experience under their belt or are worth bringing up to speed. I also did not have to start out at 6 cents a line. That is absolutely insane.
I'm pretty sure it does
:)
That is pretty good.
That is a lot better than what I am making. I am making only 3.0 cents per line independent contractor status, which is ridiculous. This should be a crime to pay an MT this low of a rate. I am currently in the process of looking for a new job.
Getting pretty bummed
hey everyone. i've been searching and searching for a job but it just doens't seem to happen. lol. i finished college in dec. and haven't come close to finding anything. i'm pretty bummed. i took this course so i could continue to stay home and raise my autistic son, but i'm not so sure it was the smartest idea. i've never wanted a job so bad in my life! haha. anyways, just wondering if anybody else was feeling discouraged.
pretty bummed
I understand how you feel. When I first got out of school, it took me about three months to get a job. I would try Focus, I worked for them for a little over a year. Although there are issues with an Indian based company, they do hire new grads and as far as I was concerned, I would take what I could get. I also know that New England Medical Transcription will waive the experience requirement if you do good on their test. I don't know much about them but take anything to gain experience then look for something better in the future. Hang in there, something will come along. Just keep sending resumes and testing with whoever will let you.
Don't know the course, but it's pretty in depth to do
x
Usually and they are pretty strict
I'm pretty sure it isn't recognized, as the other person
said, it is just a basic course and in way prepares you for being an MT.
Pretty good money
You can make pretty good money as an MT, but it takes time. You might be ready posts from people who have only been in the field a couple of years. I read an article recently that gave a pretty accurate account of what can be expected for pay. It was called "How much money can you make as an MT" It was on the articles page of this website www.help4mts.com and there were other articles too if you have not gotten started. There are many factors involved in MT paid, i.e. inhouse, SE, contract, benefits, etc. Good luck.
The CMT is pretty worthless and all it means
is you passed the test, doesn't mean you are a good CMT. Some people get stuck on the initials and use then every possible opportunity as if it were MD instead of CMT. I've been told many times that my work is better than lots of CMTs and I've always been paid the higher line rate, same as CMT. Very, very few MTs have any respect left for AAMT - whatever they are called now. If it makes you feel better to have it, got for it, but you don't really better yourself by having it. You have to have 2 years of experience first. If you really want to better yourself you'll find another line of work. This one is going down the tubes so fast that I wouldn't waste any more of my time with it.
thought it soundy pretty scammy...
thanks for the heads up...thought it sounded pretty fishy/scammy. I just need to find something ASAP and am really getting aggravated with the whole job search drama. Any input or help would be greatly appreciated.
For a newbie, that's pretty good pay. Works out to about 10.5 a line, nm
:
being able to make 40,000 year without a college degree is pretty good. I'm happy.
I disagree 100%
I went to a crappy school (didn't know any better until after I paid for and started the training). I studied hard, found as many sample dictations I could on the web (in addition to the ones included in my course), did everything in my power to learn what I could. Interned for 3 months (2 months during training and 1 month after - was offered the internship because I did so good on the homework). I sent out probably 30 resumes, passed tests at 98% or better...no one would hire me without experience...until the day I sent out a resume to a company who was hiring with "a minimum of 3 years experience." I included a cover letter begging for a chance, explaining what a fast learner I am. They hired me at 8 cents a line with incentives on top of it. After 3 weeks I got the okay to submit directly to the client, I was (and still am) praised repeatedly for the quality of my work. My second pay period I was the 2nd highest producer of 16 MTs on the account and the 3rd pay period I was the highest producer on the account. After 3 months I got a 1 cent raise. In short, got my certificate in March, got hired in April... and here I am at 9 cents a line and they tell me I am one of the top 4 MTs in the group. The lesson here...if you KNOW you can do it then you can! I say apply...ESPECIALLY if you went to one of the top schools. They can only say no. Good luck to you!
Sorry - I disagree
I disagree since I have seen both sides. The younger ones, below 30, might be okay with this but those over 35 do not like this. Another thing there is too much standardization and the insurance companies are cutting down on payment, etc. when a note is so standardized that it does not show the 45 minutes spent with the patient they will pay at the rate for a 20 minute visit which makes a big diffence in payment. Anytime Medicare or an insurance company can cut down the payment they will which then costs in rebilling cost. I work right where the billing is also done when I work on the EMR's, typing directly into them, and I hear what is going on. Also legal wise, the docs are finding out it is not good. Like I said the 5 docs in this clinic would rather pay me $18 an hour to type into the charts than take the 2 to 3 hours it takes them to do them along with the procrastination. Most of them dictate while driving home -- they have good machines, easy to understand and this is not a problem for me, and by the time they get home, their chart notes are done and they bring me the tape the next day, I do them and chart notes are done within 48 hours. Anyway it works for them. Trouble is now they want me 40 hours per week but cannot give up my other accounts. Started out doing just 10 to 15 hours per week -- 2-3 docs, to get out of the house, then 20 to 25 wtih four and now they want me full-time for the five. But I make too much off of my own personal accounts and cannot do it so they are looking for someone else.
Also, I have been approached by two other clinics to help out with their EMR's as they are having the same problems. Patients are speaking up and telling the doctor, hey I am paying for your service, look at me when I talk with you and don't be typing into that darn computer. But then this is just my side of it. Patti
I disagree.... sm
I went through CAI and got hired with MQ after I graduated. They are acredited with the New Jersey Deptment of Education as well. I don't see why everyone is so quick to disregard this program.
(Read this quick, because my posts about being a CAI grad get deleted rather quickly, no matter how much that fact is denied!  )
I disagree.
.
I disagree with you
I totally disagree! I am not new; I have 22 years of experience as a medical transcriptionist. I think of "newbie" as a somewhat affectionate term. It is used in many other fields as well. I don't find it at all demeaning. When I am posting, I do not want to have to write out "new transcriptionists" all the time. Let's hear from those new to the field, though - do they mind?
I disagree
M-TEC and Andrews are the best schools out there. If you have a decent GPA upon graduation, you are pretty much guaranteed a job. Quality MTs are desperately needed, and these 2 schools produce quality MTs.
Actually, I disagree
"Spelling correctly should be second nature for an mt, whether it is an email or a quick response to a post."
If I'm sending an email to my boss, you better believe I spell check it. Taking a test for a job? Obviously that too. Posting on a forum? Not on your life.
I do glance at my posts 90% of the time to see if I catch obvious errors, but I could care less if my spelling skills impress strangers on a gab forum. Not to mention, in our profession of using typing shortcuts all day, I'm lucky if I remember HOW to spell these days.
I disagree...for me anyway :)
Working two hours before getting up is not at all burdensome on my body. I guess it depends on who you are. I've been doing this 11 years and have had no problems. Two hours FLIES by for me still to this day. If you're somebody with back problems, etc., then yes, I would say every hour get up and move your body. I do ankle circles and stretch my leg out while sitting in between reports to keep the circulation going in my legs. :)
Sorry got to disagree
No disrespect but I do not think that is fair or all the way true. I feel it is more frustration than complaining. To spend thousands of dollars on school to constantly be told 'No' or 'You need experience' can be frustrating to anyone. I mean we are human and not fortunate to have had a job as a MT for 25 + years as yourself (congrats btw) so please be a little more open minded and understanding what us newbies are going through. No need for you to complain due to your resume, but us newbies are trying to get there. Just a lil bit more positive feed back would be helpful.
I totally disagree with you
I took Allied's course and I have two jobs. I applied with over 100 companies, and all of them allowed me to test. It was my decision on whether to take their offers or not. Some of the tests I did not pass, I cannot lie about that. But I totally DO NOT blame it on Allied.
For people to post on these boards saying that they HAVE to take the M-Tec or Andrews course is just insane. I do agree that there are some schools that do not prepare you. All of the jobs saw that I took the Allied course and still let me test.
I do not know why people are so quick to judge or try to bring new MTs down.
I disagree that 6 cpl is tops
I am also a recent CS grad. I was offered several positions and only 1 paid less than 6 cpl and that was for an extern position. The rest of the offers were 6.5-7.5 cpl. I hate to see grads who take jobs for less than 6 because they think that is all they are worth. There are better jobs out there.
I do think the main problem is your line count though. Even at 7 or 8 cpl, you won't make much money if you are only transcribing 100 lph. I would look into ways to increase productivity. Are you using your Expander to its fullest potential? Are you staying focused your whole shift? Are you finding you spend a lot of time researching? What is it that is keeping you from making more than 100 lph? I have been working for 6 months doing acute care work and average 150 lph, but can hit 200-220 on a good day.
I disagree 100% with your advice.
Every hour take a 15 min break? OMG! It will take them all day to get their work done!
A 5-min break after working solidly for 2 to 3 hours is more effective.
Books go out of date every year. However, having a handful of great reference websites keeps you in the know at all times. Do stay away from chat boards while you are working.
If it takes more than 4 letters, make an expansion for it but only do a handful each week. Write them down and put up so you can see them. Don't do anymore new ones until you've actually memorized and easily incorporate the current ones in your work. Using Expanders must be as natural as typing the words themselves.
Totally disagree
Congratulations should NEVER be spelled incorrectly by an MT. We are grammar and spelling specialists, are we not? In my opinion, if you are not able to put together an e-mail with correct spelling and grammar, you are in the wrong business (and I don't mean a little typo). From what I've seen, there are plenty of people in this business who should not be because they can't use the English language properly. That's the basis of all other MT learning and skills. It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
I disagree. I've been in a
position of hiring and training MTs and I've worked with several Career Step grads. Some were very good and some not so good. I really think the bottom line is the actual MT. They will get out of any program what they they put into it regardless of the money they spend. I've worked with Career Step graduates who had absolutely no grammar skill whatsoever and were still communicating like a teenager on IM, but they heard that Career Step gets them the job. It may get them in the door, but staying afloat in this business is a whole different story.
Not that I disagree with you totally, but (see inside)
there just aren't many hospitals in many areas any more where people can work. Many of them hire services.
Graduates of Andrews School and M-Tec seem to have no problem getting hired or keeping their jobs at home right out of school. "Grads" of the "matchbook" schools are the ones who need all the extra in-house assistance.
I disagree. Newbies deserve respect too.
You get what you give in this world! I don't care who you are or what you do, and I especially don't care what your position is and how much money you make, everyone deserves to be treated with respect, even newbies!
disagree with scam part about equipment above...sm
keep in mind that if you are applying to a company who is hiring independent contractors, that the IRS definition of employee vs. contractors hinges on three main areas, one of which is how much control the "employer" has over the worker. If the employer is providing equipment to get the job done, the IRS tends to look upon this as more of an employer-employee relationship. So if you are applying for a job that is independent contractor status, remember you are self employed and have to provide your own equipment.
Employee vs. Independent Contractor Status is a hot area of IRS Audits.The IRS, state taxing agencies, as well as the Departments of Labor (which are responsible for Unemployment tax collections) have been stepping-up their audit activities. The purpose of the audit is to misclassify a subcontractor as an employee. The taxing agency can then collect the taxes which "should have been withheld" as well as large fines, penalties and interest. So if you want to be an IC, expect to provide your own equipment.
Disagree. MT is dying. Get out and don't loook back.
x
I have to disagree. I think it's a great field and I make
Disagree. We have a gravy account that we, as IC's, provide our own equipment and pay for
a token to get into the software. Big deal. You pay $150 for a C-phone and $150 for the token but then you make scads of money! So would weigh the ROI (return on investment). Not a hard and fast rule to never buy equipment you can't use on another account.
Allied
I am halfway through my courses with Allied and feel like I'm learning a lot. I hope you find a job fast. :)
Rhonda
Allied
I am halfway through my classes with Allied and have been happy with them so far. Before signing up, I called many times with questions and everyone was very helpful. Once I paid, I had all my materials within a week and they even called to make sure I got them and everything was there. They have called a few times since to see if I had any questions and how I was liking the class. They called a couple of weeks ago to congratulate me on passing my terminology class and wished me luck on the transcription course. If you want to email me privately, I can give you the name of the person that I deal with. He's been very helpful to me.
Allied
Thank you so much for the response. I am just so frustrated and can't wait to get a job. It is great to hear someone else went through Allied and did find employment. Thank again.
Allied
I am currently enrolled with Allied Schools in California. I know that there is more than 1 location for Allied. Will employers hire you even though you haven't completed the course work?
Allied
I graduated last March from Allied (Laguna Hills, CA) and paid the 900.00 for their "career assistance". I am STILL unemployed and quite frustrated. They are great at keeping me posted and send plenty of links for assessment tests, but all of the links they send me clearly state that you need 2 years of experience to even be considered for employment. I was recently told that they had a partnership with a transcription company that had agreed to hire new graduates. I was so excited and faxed all of the necessary paperwork only to be told that the response was "overwhelming" and now the company has decided to put together a recruiting team to design assessment tests that the graduates will have to pass. I have asked repeatedly for a position as an intern and will work for little to no pay as long as there is a job waiting for me at the end of my internship. I still am waiting for word on an intern program although I was assured 4 months ago that such programs would be available to me if I was interested. My advice is hold onto your 900.00. As for the training, you're right, it's too late. I wish I had paid a little more money to a school that had mentoring or intern programs available to their graduates. Hindsight is always better! Good Luck and please let me know if you find anything.
How do you know about Allied? Did you go there?
How do you know about Allied? Did you go there?
Allied
Sorry if this is a repeat post--I am actually almost done with Allied's MT program. the only complaint I have about them is the VERY LONG turnaround time in the grading of the transcription assignments. I am already a RN, so it isn't so difficult for me; I am already familiar with the terminology. They are very attentive, they check on me often, and they produced a fantastic resume for me. I also have a lifetime of job placement services if needed. So for me, it's worth it. It is just taking longer than I had originally anticipated.
I went to Allied
I graduated from them over two years ago and had a job within a month. My MTSO has told me many times that he is so glad that he took a chance on hiring a newbie because I am one of his best transcriptionists, and he just hired another newbie. You get out of any course what you put into it. Allied is fine, you just have to put the time into it.
|
