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View Full Version : MT Student Doing Job Research
kdj
02-09-2011, 09:04 PM
I am hoping to start my medical transcription course soon but need to do some job research as one of the pre-requisites. I was hoping to get some info from working MT's or perhaps even employers...
Questions for Medical Transcriptionists:
How long have you worked at this job?
What is involved in your job? Can you tell me what you do in a typical work day?
What medical areas do you transcribe for? (ie: specialties, acute, clinical...)
What do you enjoy most about the job?
What do you enjoy least about the job?
What skills and personal characteristics does a successful transcriptionist need to have?
What qualifications & training did you need to get your current job?
What is the typical starting income & is there opportunity for growth in this income.
Employer Questions
What specific skills and qualifications are needed to be hired as a transcriptionist in this organization?
Do you hire graduates from the Thompson Career College/Career Step Program?
What personal characteristics does a successful transcriptionist need to have?
What is the typical starting income & is there opportunity for growth in this income?
Are there jobs available at this time? Full or part time? Flexible hours or scheduled shifts?
Do you hire people as employees or independent contractors? If you hire employees, what benefits do you provide in addition to the salary?
Are there going to be jobs for medical transcriptionists in the future?
Thank you so much for helping me in my research to begin my program.
Questions for Medical Transcriptionists:
How long have you worked at this job?
What is involved in your job? Can you tell me what you do in a typical work day?
What medical areas do you transcribe for? (ie: specialties, acute, clinical...)
What do you enjoy most about the job?
What do you enjoy least about the job?
What skills and personal characteristics does a successful transcriptionist need to have?
What qualifications & training did you need to get your current job?
What is the typical starting income & is there opportunity for growth in this income.
Employer Questions
What specific skills and qualifications are needed to be hired as a transcriptionist in this organization?
Do you hire graduates from the Thompson Career College/Career Step Program?
What personal characteristics does a successful transcriptionist need to have?
What is the typical starting income & is there opportunity for growth in this income?
Are there jobs available at this time? Full or part time? Flexible hours or scheduled shifts?
Do you hire people as employees or independent contractors? If you hire employees, what benefits do you provide in addition to the salary?
Are there going to be jobs for medical transcriptionists in the future?
Thank you so much for helping me in my research to begin my program.
MTHome
02-10-2011, 11:03 AM
How long have you worked at this job?
15 years or so.
What is involved in your job? Can you tell me what you do in a typical work day?
I log in, download a voice file, transcribe or edit it, proofread it and upload it to the facility. Repeat. If doing QA, I download a report, make corrections, upload it to the facility and provide feedback to the MT. Repeat.
What medical areas do you transcribe for? (ie: specialties, acute, clinical...)
Acute care, all specialties except radiology.
What do you enjoy most about the job?
I enjoy everything about it, but I'm not normal. :) I like the stories behind the reports, hearing what people go through every day. I like the medical language. I like working on the computer at home.
What do you enjoy least about the job?
Poor audio.
What skills and personal characteristics does a successful transcriptionist need to have?
Good language skills, good computer skills and the ability to work independently. An interest in medicine helps a great deal. Being a perfectionist is good. When you first start, you have to have a thick skin to get through QA. The ability to focus is very important.
What qualifications & training did you need to get your current job?
You have to be able to pass employer tests. Some schools don't prepare you well enough to do that, so the choice of school is very important. These days some employers (not all) want new graduates to be RMTs and some want experienced applicants to be CMTs.
What is the typical starting income & is there opportunity for growth in this income.
Income can be very low to start as it's paid by production and you'll be slow at first. Being paid on production, your income is up to you. You really have to be aggressive about your production to make good money. You also have to place yourself in a position where you are able to make good money; some companies or circumstances can hold you back.
If someone has no real interest in medicine, they might want to go into general transcription instead of medical transcription...MT is quite a commitment.
15 years or so.
What is involved in your job? Can you tell me what you do in a typical work day?
I log in, download a voice file, transcribe or edit it, proofread it and upload it to the facility. Repeat. If doing QA, I download a report, make corrections, upload it to the facility and provide feedback to the MT. Repeat.
What medical areas do you transcribe for? (ie: specialties, acute, clinical...)
Acute care, all specialties except radiology.
What do you enjoy most about the job?
I enjoy everything about it, but I'm not normal. :) I like the stories behind the reports, hearing what people go through every day. I like the medical language. I like working on the computer at home.
What do you enjoy least about the job?
Poor audio.
What skills and personal characteristics does a successful transcriptionist need to have?
Good language skills, good computer skills and the ability to work independently. An interest in medicine helps a great deal. Being a perfectionist is good. When you first start, you have to have a thick skin to get through QA. The ability to focus is very important.
What qualifications & training did you need to get your current job?
You have to be able to pass employer tests. Some schools don't prepare you well enough to do that, so the choice of school is very important. These days some employers (not all) want new graduates to be RMTs and some want experienced applicants to be CMTs.
What is the typical starting income & is there opportunity for growth in this income.
Income can be very low to start as it's paid by production and you'll be slow at first. Being paid on production, your income is up to you. You really have to be aggressive about your production to make good money. You also have to place yourself in a position where you are able to make good money; some companies or circumstances can hold you back.
If someone has no real interest in medicine, they might want to go into general transcription instead of medical transcription...MT is quite a commitment.
kdj
02-10-2011, 07:54 PM
Thank you for your time answering my questions. I have some medical experience, I worked in the lab in my local hospital & have been taking medical terminology courses online for a while. I love learning & I love the medical field. All of my courses have distance courses so I know I can focus & manage my time well. I am really excited to start this course.
MTHome
02-10-2011, 08:26 PM
Good luck with it! :)
Sadie1Lady1
02-13-2011, 05:47 PM
Just an FYI, KDJ. You can start learning or doing transcription without going to school, if you want to.
Have you checked yourself on the following:
How fast do you type? You should type pretty fast and accurately if you want to make good money.
Have you tried your hand at transcription yet, to see if it's even for you or if you like it? You can check out About stenospeed.com (http://www.stenospeed.com) or Listen and Write - Dictation (http://www.listen-and-write.com) to see.
Are you good with English and grammar? You should have an excellent command of the English language.
If MT or even transcription in general is something you are interested in doing and have the aptitude to do, you should try getting your feet wet first (just my opinion, however). I know that ANP has a medical side and will hire you as long as you can pass their test. That might be something you can check into and start making money right away, while you decide if and where you want to go to school.
I started in general transcription and do some light legal as well as light medical but have also branched into proofing. I love what I do and make good money.
Hope that helps.
Have you checked yourself on the following:
How fast do you type? You should type pretty fast and accurately if you want to make good money.
Have you tried your hand at transcription yet, to see if it's even for you or if you like it? You can check out About stenospeed.com (http://www.stenospeed.com) or Listen and Write - Dictation (http://www.listen-and-write.com) to see.
Are you good with English and grammar? You should have an excellent command of the English language.
If MT or even transcription in general is something you are interested in doing and have the aptitude to do, you should try getting your feet wet first (just my opinion, however). I know that ANP has a medical side and will hire you as long as you can pass their test. That might be something you can check into and start making money right away, while you decide if and where you want to go to school.
I started in general transcription and do some light legal as well as light medical but have also branched into proofing. I love what I do and make good money.
Hope that helps.
kdj
02-14-2011, 08:32 PM
Thank you for the info Sadie!
janny108
02-17-2011, 07:55 AM
what is the typing speed desired?
