Any Medical Transcriptionists out there??

[armywife]

Can you tell me what it is really like?

I am thinking of going to a school for MT and wanted some answers from someone who is actually working in the field, not the "sales" answers I'm getting from the school. I have always thought I would enjoy it, and now have an opportunity to go to a school that only teaches transcription & coding. I was a medical billing supervisor for 5 years, but am thinking of something I can do if/when we have children & move out of state.

Is it somewhat flexible?
Are you working from home or at a business?
If you are working from home - do you get "cabin fever"?
Do you get benefits?
Is the pay worth it?
What are your hours like?
How much time do you have to complete assignments?

I've heard someone say it was the best money they've made in their pajamas! Just want some real life opinions

 

[Karista]

I used to do transcription for two surgeons - I absolutely loved it. I worked in their office and it was probably one of the best jobs I ever had. After awhile, since so much of their dictation was repetitive, the one surgeon would just say "blah blah blah"...meaning that I knew what to add in there!

I don't know much about working from home, but I just have one word of caution. I tried working at the local hospital and it was too difficult for me - way too many accents, dialects, pronunciations, etc. I was too used to my two surgeons and their voices, so once I went into a multiple group setting, I had a really hard time deciphering a lot of the words.

When I worked in the office, if I had a question the doctor was right down the hall to ask. In the hospital, I had to wait until I could find someone to help me out. I imagine that working at home would be like that as well.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide!!!

 

[LtlTee]

I've done medical transcription for close to 12 years now. Over the years I've worked in an office, a hospital, and also worked from home. I currently work from home for a practice of 5 physicians, but I mainly just do two of them and fill in for the others if one of the other transcriptionists are on vacation. I am an hourly employee and receive all the same benefits that anyone working in the office receives. The only downside is that if the office closes due to snow or bad weather, I still have to work that day since I'm already at work! That doesn't happen often, though.

Karista is right - working at a hospital is very different from working at a practice. The physicians rotate and sometimes residents are the worst with transcription. I have come across some very strong accents.

It is very mundane at times, and sometimes I really miss the interaction and socialization with co-workers. However, working from home allows me the flexibility to be home if one of my kids are sick without taking time off, I never miss a Halloween parade at school, and yes, working in my pjs is a definite plus. I could make more money if I went back out to work at the hospital (around here they pay the best), but the trade-off isn't worth it to me. I am home every day when my kids get home.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[princessariel]

My sister has been a transcriber for 27 years now. She works for a hospital. Over the years this hospital has downsized the staff and she now has manditory overtime each week. About 7 years ago the equipment was put in her home and she works from there. Still on overtime. Alot of foreign doctors that are hard to understand. She has had those earphones in her ears so long now that it is affecting her hearing. She has ringing in her ears constantly and is worried about her future. She is not old enough to retire yet, but feels too old to get a job else where. She just told me she had to have a meeting with personel about her cassette count going down. She hopes they will get her hearing aids so she can continue to work.

 

[pjlla]

My sister has been a transcriber for 27 years now.

Not to be picky, but a "transcriber" is a machine.... a person is called a Transcriptionist. Sorry to sound sensitive! Can you tell that I worked in the field??

I worked at home after DD was born. I had an account from the orthopedic office I worked at before I left to have DD, and an account from a single MD (general practitioner) office. Both were relatively "easy" because I was used to them.

You need good training. Don't try to just "jump" into this work without training... you will flounder.

There is a need out there for good, trained transcriptionists, but it is hard to get work (especially to work at home) without experience. After your training you could start by working for a service. It would be great experience, as you would hear LOTS of different voices and cover lots of different specialties.

FYI...Just like so many other things, this work is starting to be shipped overseas. Many services find it much cheaper this way.

Regarding turn-around time. It certainly varies, depending on the practice and/or hospital and exactly WHAT you are processing (office notes can be processed much slower than things like Operative Reports and Discharge Summaries). The biggest problem I encountered when I worked at home was that the office wanted 24 hour turn around. Not a big problem except it was a 30 minute drive each way for me. And this was before the days of downloading the voice online..... nothing but good old cassette tapes for me!! I finally decided it was just too much for me to be driving back and forth EVERY DAY (M-F) with the baby. I did find work working for a mental health clinic. They were willing to send the work Priority Mail and I had about 3 days to finish it and send it back. That worked well.

Pay really varies, and it depends on if you are working as an independent contractor (self-employed) or as an hourly employee or if you are being paid by the line. If you need/expect benefits, the best thing is to be an hourly employee. But if you can live without those and you have fast fingers, you may find that you make more $$ being paid by the line. Especially once you get used to the work and have doctors you are familiar with. It was not unusual for me to make $35+/hr when I was being paid by the line. Of course, this pace wasn't for 8 hrs a day.... more like 3 - 4.

Good luck........................P

 

[Tinkim]

I have been an MT now for six years. I work at home for a transcription company. No benefits, vacation time, sick time, med insurance, etc. and I get paid by the line. My DH has med insurance so I am basically making "extra" money. It does get very monotonous at times and I find myself here when I should be typing like right now and sometimes I miss being in an office and interacting with other people. But it works for me and my family because I never miss the kids events and I can go on field trips and all that good stuff. My dogs would miss having someone home if I had a job somewhere else too. I think it is a matter of figuring out what works for you. There are people who assume because I am home I don't have a "real" job and there are days when I am sure if I have to decipher one more ESL doc's jibberish babble that I am going to go out and get a "real" job but for the most part it works for me. It's not perfect but then no job really is. Just make sure if you decide to do it you get a good education because you will not get a job working from home without the benefit of a good school. PM me if you have any questions. I'll be happy to try and answer them for you.

 

[live4christp1]

Certified MT here who is currently not working in that field. Went through the MT program at a local community college who partnered with Medquest for our internship and if we were able to pass their test at the end of the internship we got to go to work for them from our home. (most companies want a few years in an office before doing this)

Worked for home for several years being paid per line, no benefits, etc. Our company hours were pretty flexible, as long as you made your line count. Found my self increasingly putting off the work until the last minute and having to work like crazy to get it done. Decided I wasn't a good work at home employee.

There is a small firm here but to get medical insurance with them would cost me more than 4 times what I'm paying at this job. DH changed jobs after I came back to work here in order to go to Bible college and his new job didn't offer medical benefits.

Any how, if I was transcribing, I would have never found the DIS