Medical Transcription

[Conway733]

Does anyone do this for a living? Currently, I am a social worker in PA, and I think I need a career change. I am tired of depending upon the state to pass a budget in order to help people. Anyway, I've always been interested in the medical field, but don't think I could be a nurse. A local community college has a certificate program for medical transcription, so I am thinking about it. Anyone know the in's and out's of this? Thanks!

 

[live4christp1]

I did the course at our local community college and it was great! They partner with an existing company and offer internships.....I think ours was 8 weeks. But upon completeing the 8 weeks to par they would put you to work at home, something that can sometimes be hard to get into.

Worked from home doing MT for a couple of years. If you are dedicated and can make yourself do the work you can make good money.....it's production based so the more you type the more you make.

Unfortunately I was not a good "work at home" employee.....had a small child and would procrastinate and put off typing until two days before our quota needed to be in (we had a 15 day period) and then I'd have to type like mad to get it all done.

If you like to type and have an interest in the medical field it's a good job. Much of my work was typing ER reports for various hospitals and I liked doing those.......just your basic exam stuff....not so much.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me. Still have all my equipment, books, etc.

 

[Cool-Beans]

You could be a nurse. You could totally do it. The schooling isn't that hard and whatever fear you might have you could get over.

I don't know anything about Transcription and don't pretend to. If that's your goal, I wish you the best.

But that "I don't think I could be a nurse" thing is hogwash. You might not WANT to (and if not, that's cool), but if you want to and don't think you can, you're wrong. You could do it.

So many people who ought to nurse don't do it because they think they're too dumb or they're afraid of rotting limbs or whatever. It's not that hard and you get over the rest of it.

Best of luck, whatever you do.

 

[Mellie2162]

Im with Cool-Beans, pick nursing. Im a MT right now and I can tell you that the pay is not that good anymore due to the loss of our jobs being outsourced to India. We are being forced to accept lower pay rates and most of the time it's difficult to find enough work unless you can get a job in a hospital or working directly for a doctor. I am trying to get our finances in order here so I can afford to go back to school and do something else that will help support us like nursing.

 

[tnmt]

I am also an MT. Pay is going way down and you have to type a LOT just to make a decent living, not to mention the foreign docs who barely speak English and fly through the report. Voice recognition and EMR is also taking our jobs too. Work is going to India in leaps and bounds too. It is a profession that will eventually fade out, in my honest opinion. Not all it is cracked up to be and please don't believe the commercials or advertisements where you make 50,000 a year. I made about 12,000 last year but I only work 24 hours a week but still even if I worked full time then I would be nowhere near 50,000. I have been doing this for 8 years now and it gets harder and harder to make any money.

Oh yeah, most companies want at least 2 years experience before they will even consider hiring you. It was very hard for me to find my first job.

 

[Conway733]

Thanks for all the advice. Regarding the nursing...I'm not sure how to swing that. My DH was recently laid off and is currently unemployed. I have to work FT and am not sure how I would have time, or be able to afford nursing school. There are several schools around here, all being quite competitive with admissions and none are offered in the evening.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I used to have a few clients who were MTs but eventually they did not need anyone with my knowledge (and rates) to work on their taxes.

I would also suggest going to www.irs.gov and order the following publications which will probably help a lot.

334 - Tax Guide for Small Business (For Individuals Who Use Schedule C or C-EZ)
463 - Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses
535 - Business Expenses
551 - Basis of Assets
552 - Recordkeeping for Individuals
560 - Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE and Qualified Plans)
583 - Starting a Business and Keeping Records
587 - Business Use of Your Home
946 - How to Depreciate Property

And also, if the time can be spared and at and minimal cost take a first semester Principles of Accounting course at a local Community College. Not necessarily to keep the books, but to get an understanding of what the business is doing.

Note that most small business fail within the first few years not because the owner did not know his subject but because they did not understand the accounting.

Mike (CPA Retired)