work from home-medical transcriptionists please read!

[AdoreMyDogs]

bump for any other MT's out there who care to chat about the training/job.

[K9soul]

I'm an MT, I work two transcription jobs. But I'm not sure how well I could answer the questions you have as I got into it in a more unconventional way than is typical. I had done some transcription for two years (mostly psychiatric) outside my home. I did an online course but it wasn't a big name place and it really ended up not being of any value. The company I got on with was new itself and eager for transcriptionists, even very basic entry level, and with a reference from Vela I was able to get on there.

One big caution I would give is that you aren't going to start out making the types of wages you may hear about at seminars and so on. The MT business is one of learning, and it took me years to work up to the proficiency I am at now. At first I made close to what I made at my job out of the home, which wasn't hugely impressive. Typing speed means little in figuring out how many lines an hour you can get in. A typist who does 50 wpm but has much more knowledge and experience in listening and understanding what they are hearing is going to make more than someone who can type 80 wpm and has minimal knowledge on the medical "language." Other skills such as learning the knack of how to research most efficiently, learning how medication and procedure names are commonly spelled, knowing enough of the "language" that when a foreign doctor dictates a word you don't understand, you recognize the context enough to figure out that word.

Not to be daunting, but it is not the cut and dry easy thing that some of those seminars make it out to be. It is hard work and takes a lot of learning. You have to work longer and harder to get your lines in until you become more used to it and more knowledgeable. I agree the Medquist site is a good one to start. They are one of the companies I work for.

Also, check out http://www.mtjobs.com/ . You can browse through job listings and get some ideas. Often the bigger companies like Medquist and Spheris are the way to go, but they also sometimes have higher standards than smaller companies.

Hope this helps some.

[AdoreMyDogs]

Thank you Vela and K9soul. Once I get the info pamplet from Career Step I am going to sign up for the program I think. I appreciate the help. If you don't mind, I'll keep in touch with you two for any further questions I might have.

[Vela]

Sure no problem.

Yes Marigold hospitals do have SOME staff on hand to do their immediate work and some of it but there is a LTO of overflow and that is where companies like Jessica and I work for come in. There is a lot of work for at home medical trans if you get the right school and get your foot in the door.