I started by doing transcription
Posted By: Worth a shot on 2005-12-13
In Reply to: Newbie needs advice - Lisa
for veterinarians! You might try a local specialty veterinary hospital to see if they need any transcription help. You do need to know a little bit about dog and cat breeds, but the body parts are pretty much the same (except for the tail)!
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I just started yesterday with World Direct Transcription...
I also was a little nervous accepting this position, mainly because after posting a question on this forum regarding anyone's knowledge of this company, I received NO responses! I am very happy with everything so far, the account I am on is great and my supervisor is very helpful! Good luck Sonnett with your test! Have you heard anything yet? 
It has started already and I'm
A friend wanted me to try to get her a job where I start next week. I'll be doing MT for an hourly wage. I have an educational background and training in everything related to it except actual transcription, but I am being given a training period to get my ears up and running, and I hope that I can get fast enough. I am working through a medical transcription text at home (bought it a year ago used to get more information about MT) to brush up and get some more information before I start. I am also gathering some reference materials to shore up what I already have at home from my previous studies.
Anyway, she said something like "maybe you can get me a job there too". She thought that I could get her "up to speed" with MT skills and recommend she be hired. I told her the reason I was hired w/o transcription education was because of my medical studies background. I had to take a terminology test as part of the assessment. She said that she would definitely fail that. I told her then, first of all, she should take a med terms course, to which she said pretty vehemently that she did not have the money to do so. I kind of stuttered at that point and kind of repeated what I had already said about my background helping me land the job. I think she got annoyed with me . But this is a job where you cannot wing it at all, and you need to invest in your training. Why is it so hard to explain that to people without upsetting them?
Recently when she knew I was looking for a job, she let me know that the tax prep firm she works for offers their tax preparer cost at a deep discount in January, and that once I pass it, I could apply to do part time or prn tax prep for them at the office where she works. While that was kind of "insider" info that I did appreciate, I feel like maybe now I upset her by not agreeing to try to get her a job where I work.
What do you do when people want you to get them into MT like this? If she asks again I am considering finding a practice dictation to listen to. I just know I can't put a word in for her if she doesn't even want to take a med terms course.
I started with
15 to 180 range per 2 weeks last year and now am getting 650 to 700 per two weeks. It depends on the account that you get. If you are working for somebody right now with work coming in regularly, concentrate on it. When you get your speed and accuracy up and believe that you can tackle more reports, try looking for another account.
however, when I first started out, I DID....sm
I DID pay quarterly when I first started out....gave the IRS about $500 every 3 months....totaling $2000 for the year for the IC side of my business (I also work for a national who takes out taxes with each pay period...which is good, cuts down on what all I owe the IRS by April).
Started out at 9, now up to 12.
Just depends on where you work, how much they need you, etc. If you are happy with that then do not worry about it!!
I started at .065 cpl
... and I was thrilled to make that, as a High Honors grad.
I started at 8 cpl
Considering how slow newbies are and how much they have to learn, I think 8 is very reasonable.
I started at 8 cpl
about 7 months ago. It isn't all about typing, really. I type about 98 wpm now, but with research, entering identifiers, finding doctors or city names, etc...the typing isn't as important, even though it still matters. Plus, after typing all of the reports Career Step has, you'll be typing faster in the end. When I started school I was typing about 74 wpm roughly, just to give you an idea.
Plus, there's always Typer Shark . I bought it while in school to get some typing practice. It's helpful and fun.
When I first started I had no MT
experience and no MT schooling. This was in the day before we had expanders. I did just under 700 lines a day and that was a hard 8 hour day. It was gross lines, so maybe 600 lines based on 65 characters. I don't know how long it took me to get to 1000 lines/day, but it was probably 6 months. You just need to build up your Expander a little bit and work smarter. Don't get on-line, build up your reference materials so that you don't have to get on-line much, you can look it up in the book and not be tempted to check e-mail, etc. Set an egg timer and work until it goes off, don't think about the laundry that needs doing or what you are going to fix for supper. Every hour take a 15 minute break and do the laundry, or lay out something for supper, etc.
How to get started
I have my BA in something totally different but I want to start looking into medical transcription so I can have the opportunity to work at home when I have kids. I just don't know where to get started. The places around where I live require 2 years of experience and a number of classes. Are there any places that you can just take a few classes and start working? Any information will help!
getting started
Hello- I am actually a dentist- and have been for 18 years. I am currently staying home with my child and thought MT might be a good avenue to travel for awhile. What sort of training do you recommend for someone who has a medical/dental degree. I have all the medical terminology and pharmacology etc I think one might need. I do not know anything about the digital transcription or have any equipment. What do you guys recommend?
Getting Started
Hi Andrea:
I've been doing transcription for 25 years and I love it. I've been working at home for about 6 years and for Medquist for 3 years. One thing I would tell you right off the bat is a lot of graduates have problems getting that first job because everyone wants experience. I would talk to the schools about what they offer in terms of finding employment once you graduate. I know Medquist used to have a school called Career Step and would hire you directly upon completion, but I haven't checked into it lately. I think the website is careerstep.com.
Other than than, it is never too early to start building a medical library. I would start with Dorland's Medical Dictionary or Dorland's Medical Speller. They aren't cheap, but you will get your money's worth over the years. I love my noise-cancelling headphones that I found on Medword.
I hope this helps you get started. Good luck!
I started with going to
Monster.com and placing a resume there. MTDaily is another place you can put in resumes. Keep passing resumes out. Look for a company and check out its reputation here and other MT service blogs or boards. I came here first and discovered that some companies don't pay until they see their names lit up here. I went looking for transcription companies advertising for doctors to type for, and then found the back door to their recruiting department.
Getting started
Just finished school-looking to start slow as IC- not fast, but accurate and dependable- any suggestions?
Just Started working PT
I just graduated from Career Step and got a PT job within 2 weeks. Mind you it was the only company that was interested in doing the PT thing, plus I have dail-up, so I was really limited on my options. But, so you know, PT jobs are out there. Good luck.
Newbies I know started at 6 cpl
/
I started my education
at a community college and finished at PCDI, and the materials were identical, so I can't say either way is better, but the best help I got was once I started working, and the training on the job. I think PCDI teaches the basics, and if I were you, I'd shoot for an in-house position to start with to have some help. All of PCDI's tapes were incomparable to what you really get. If I had a doctor speaking like that, I'd be making millions :) Good luck!
Jill, have you started yet? nm
just an fyi...but i got a paycheck before dsp...maybe they just started doing that
nm
I relistened to everything when I first started sm
The question is, when you go back over it, do you find that you got everything? When you do, then you should feel confident enough to just move on. I still read through my stuff to check for errors, but I don't relisten and I have not had QA tell me I missed anything.
I started out doing radiology.
You may want to try the radiology portion since it is less intense and it's a good base, in my opinion. Others may not feel the same way, but I think you are better off starting with radiology as opposed to multispecialty. Best wishes...
I got my own accounts & started an MTSO.
nm
I started at 6.5 cpl for acute care.
I had 3 offers (2 of them before I even received my final exam scores): One for 6 cpl no spaces, one for 5.5 cpl for straight transcription and 2.5 cpl for VR editing, and 6.5 cpl for acute care. I took the 6.5 cpl since it was the highest cpl, but found that the account was awful. It was mostly ESLs (probably more than 90%). I could work a whole 8-hour shift without a single EFL (English as a first language) and most of the docs were new residents that had no idea how to dictate a report. It was awful. I had times where I could get 200-220 lph so I knew I could do the lines with decent doctors, but most days all I had were ESL residents and my average was more like 120 lph, so I didn't even make minimum wage. I worked there for 6 months just to get the acute care experience and then began hunting for a better job. I now work for a clinic that pays me 13.5 cpl and also for an MTSO that pays 7 cpl, but it took me several months of testing and turning down offers as I was not going to work for less than 7 cpl and did not want to work weekends.
This is similar to how I started out 19 years ago.
I was given the opportunity to transcribe for the radiology department and soon was asked to cross-train to other areas of the hospital to transcribe. Boy, did I learn a lot.
I remember one lady (I was only 18 when I started working at the hospital) after 3 years of vo-tech high school training. I used to get mad because she would make me look things up in the medical dictionary. She forced me to use my noggin. Once I got the hang of it, I thanked her again and again for being so hard on me. There was another lady who worked p.r.n., but she had her own clients. I learned a lot from her. I think of her often when I "can't go/have to work" even though I work from home. NOW, I know what she was talking about, but I have learned to manipulate my schedule to not miss out on anything. 
When I started working from home we only had one
I just made sure that my programs were closed out before my husband or kids got on. The only problem with letting others on is that they will surf the net and download things that bog the computer down. I would suggest if possible for you to have your own PC. Usually bare bones is okay as long as it's fairly new. Actually, Vista does not work with some companies, so you may want to look into a refurbished tower running XP and maybe Office 2003. I've also seen others post that they work from a laptop on the go, which I haven't done yet, but it seems to work well when MTs need to travel. Good luck in your endeavors, and welcome to the MT world. It is a satisfying job.
I started at minimum wage.
When I started working as an MT, I was only making minimum wage(was an employee and they had to pay at least minimum wage if I didn't make my line count). I could have started working at the local hospital for $15 an hour, but I chose to stay home with my son and not have to put him in daycare, even if it meant I would make a little less. I am glad I did. Now after 11 months, I make $17 an hour and do not have to pay daycare, commute costs, or spend a lot on clothing (love to working in my sweats). I knew the minimum wage was temporary and that if I focused on my speed, I would get to where I needed to be financially. So while you may start out making minimum wage, you don't have to stay there.
started school at 25 wpm, finished at 75 wpm
It takes a lot of practice but it is definately doable. I have been transcribing for 12 years and am well over 120 wpm. I haven't done a typing test in awhile to give you an exact number, but it is definately possible. I agree with the poster who said make sure you are in a credible school, it makes all the difference in the world!
Our nine year old son started asking about the birds and the bees (sm)
this year. We have answered exactly what was asked every time. Once he started asking questions, he didn't stop.
We have covered birth control, child support, the fact that if he gets a girl pregnant he will have no choice in the matter if she chooses to abort (which horrified him) and many other things. He also knows that he will always be able to come to his father and I for birth control. The way he is being raised (Christian home), we hope he will not have sex before he is ready, which we hope will be when he is an adult. (Ideally, on his wedding night. But we don't push that.) But if he makes the decision to have sex when he is a teen, we have let him know that we will help him protect himself.
We have also told him that if he believes a girl when she says, "I'm on the pill", we'll kill him.
And I feel very bad for you about your daughter. If I had a child who had a child and behaved that way, I don't know what I'd do. (Other than pay to get Norplant in her arm, that's for sure.)
Good luck at getting custody. It sounds like you'd be a much better choice for the GC.
I started MTing in 1979 and right not would not recommend it to anyone.
..
Whee! Have you started testing yet? Congrats! nm
s
I started at 7cpl 2 years ago and had other offers for
7 cpl also from other companies. One company, Spheris, only offered me 5.5 cpl and I turned them down. Again, I graduated 2 years ago when I was seeing more people offered at least 7 cpl. Now, everyone from CS seems happy to work for 5 cpl. Go figure.
I started working from home within 2 days of graduation.
I have been with my same company for coming up on 6 years now. I had some tough days in the beginning, but I dug in, learned as much as I could, and made it through the hardest part. In-house may be better for some starting out, but it worked for me being at home as long as I was willing to work hard. Good luck to you. :-)
I did a community college certificate and immediately started working as an IC
I always recommend the community college route because it is VERY inexpensive compared to the MT schools. You can always do an MT school after your community college work if you think you really need it.
I am NOT a certified medical Transcriptionist (CMT) because that can only be obtained through AAMT. I DO have a certificate of completion of the MT course through my community college though. I have found it to be more than adequate for me to work as an IC MT, and my teacher has been very willing to help me with problems and questions that I can't figure out myself through these wonderful MT boards!
Good luck!
I enjoy MT, but I see the writing on the wall. I have started another at-home business....(sm)
I love the tax benefits of working from home, so I have gone into another business. I am probably about six months away from having this business surpass my current income. Once that happens... I am out of MT. Sad, but true.
I don't want to be the last rat off of the sinking ship! (Not that I consider myself a rat, mind you. More like a cute, fuzzy mouse, perhaps...)
Ha ha!
I think you can expect to get 5 to 7 cents per 65-character line as a newbie. I started at 7 cpl as
nm
I started out in the file room of the urology office I used to work for.
They had a new peds uro coming in and wanted another typist. The only schooling I had was 2 semesters of medical terminology at our local community college. Granted that was in 1990, and I at least had a working knowledge of urology, but it can be done if you really want it bad enough.
Med. Transcription
I went to MT school through At-Home Professions. I am 20 years old but I guess I was really looking for something that would allow me to have a family when I am ready without having to change professions when that time comes. I started working six weeks after completing MT schooling. I work at home as well.
-Sabrina
CAI Transcription
I would not recommend CAI to anyone. My mother has been a Transcriptionist for 17 years and was absolutely blown away by the inaccuracy of their program. I did try to get into Carrer Step and never received a call back from them. I have heard a lot of good things about Andrews, but it is quite expensive. I just want anyone considering going into this field, before you spend the money, that it is not easy to find a job. When you do find a job, you do not make much for quite awhile. Best of luck in your search for the right school.
transcription
Wow, I had no idea that it would be so intense but this is what I want to do so I'm going to give it a try. Thank you very much for the information
Transcription
I read most of the postings. I am currently in a community college for medical transcription. Will I be able to find a job after graduation? I know I'll have to start at the bottom of the ladder, that's fine. Is my hard work and expectations in vain?
transcription
I had 2 transcription classes along with my other classes.
DIT Transcription
Does anyone know anything about DIT Transcription?
DIT TRANSCRIPTION
Just curious to see if any knows anything about or works for DIT Transcription out of South Carolina. Any information appreciated. Thanks.
DIT Transcription
I am the owner of DIT and can assure you that we are a legitimate company located in upstate South Carolina with transcriptionists from all over the US working from home. We are a Christian based company and operate as one, both with our transcriptionists and our clinics. If anyone has any specific questions about DIT, please feel free to contact me at ddana@dittranscription.com and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions.
To address the fact that the website has not been updated, due to the fact that we have grown to over 750 doctors and have used the money to get new clinics up and running and not updating the website.
Donna, Owner, DIT Transcription
Also maybe try USA Transcription
I hear they hire newbies and there were some ads on the boards recently. It also took me a few months to find my first job (on this site) three years ago and the pay was really low...6 cpl, but it was worth it because after training I went up to 7 cpl and after that I went up to 10 cpl....so hang in there!! Good luck!
(My first job was not with USA Transcription....just saw ads recently and thought it a possibility for you.)
Try DIT Transcription
I am currently in training with them, cpl rate is a liitle low but IC work is tough to find right now.
Are you looking for someone to do your transcription?
nm
DIT transcription
I've been thinking of applying to this company as I have heard a few good things about it. Does anyone know the platforms, pay rate, employee or IC status, if they direct deposit and pay every two weeks? Thanks in advance for any info.
I would not try PJ Transcription
The woman who runs this company is extraordinary unorganized and sometimes rather nasty in her emails, which she will bombard you with and perhaps fill up your email box. That is what she did to me. Also, and here is a big also, she does not pay until she gets paid (so she says). You will have no way of knowing whether or not she gets paid or when you will. Bad experience for me. I am just letting you know my experience. However, she was all too happy to hire newbies when I was one.
Not on the list is DIT Transcription. They are a nice group of people, try them too.
transcription
I do clinic work and always have plenty of work and make fairly decent money. I have no complaints.
United Transcription
I was wondering the same thing too. I can't seem to find a website for United Transcription, Inc. I'm beginning to think it's not legit. The whole "no experience needed" things sounds to good to be true and I've never seen any other transcription company say that you could make up to $75,000 per year. I'd be careful with that one. Don't give them any personal info. until you've done a lot of research on them.
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