This would be a little late but, just wanted to introduce myself and say hi to you all!

I sorta came in here with an "emergency" question last night, but wanted to "meet" you all.

How is everyone doing?

Kimi

Hi Kimi

Nice to meet you and welcome!

Thanks very much!

Hi Kimi

I just wanted to wish you a belated, but sincere, welcome to the board too. I hope we see you here often and hope you are enjoying your weekend too.


Bridget

Thanks Bridget! That was really nice!!! I hope you are enjoying your weekend too!!!

How old is everyone here? Just curious. I am 24.

Have a great day!!!

Kimi

Kimi~Hi! Welcome! It's always nice to see a new "face" here - we've had many of them lately! I'll bite and answer your question - I'm 34 and have been working as an MT for two years now - I left my previous career as a teacher to stay home with my kids - I was lucky enough to fall into this and haven't looked back. The current principal at my old school recently told me she'd give me two more years and then when my youngest begins kindergarten, I'll have a job if I want it. That helps knowing I'll be able to go back eventually, but it hadn't dawned on me to WANT to go back to teaching at this point, if that makes any sense. I'm so happy doing what I'm doing that I'll have to ponder teaching again - the freedom I have had staying home and transcribing has been liberating for me!

Hope you're all having a terrific weekend!

~Amy~

Hi there Amy! I can sure understand why you would have to think about going back or not. I am just beginning but already love it!!!!! My thing is, I love the medical field, but I would rather "watch" than do MOST of the procedures. Right after high school I took a medical assisting class and half way through I realized it wasn't for me, but still finished.

I am from MI and I have an aunt in Alabama who does this, and she was the one who told me all about it.

I have a 3.5 year old son, Tyler, who is the love of my life I am going through a divorce right now, and it should be final real soon now. (Tyler isn't from my husband, he is from a man I was with for 7 years)

Also, I had been sick for about a year, and started this during that time, and when I finally got diagnosed with UC, I had already been in this for a couple months, so I was really glad I had chose to take this course. It would be VERY hard for me to keep a regular job. It is a big relief knowing I will still be able to support my child

Ok enough about me...I hope I haven't said too much to scare anyone away!!! lol

Have a good night!!!

Kimi

Yes, it is nice to see new faces!

I'm 35 and have been an MT just under a year. I'm fairly new, but I know I found what I was "meant" to do in life.

Happy typing

Hi everyone ~

I'm a healthy, vigorous, hardworking, 62-year-old mother of 5, grandmother of 11. I've been transcribing since I graduated from high school in 1959, started out in Surgical Pathology, then went to Pathology where we had to type an original with 4 onion skin copies and had to erase a mistake on all 5 copies (I LOVE WORD PROCESSING!!!!). Then I started in Medical Records where I eventually became supervisor of the department and did QA. In 1979, I began doing work at home, then in 1980 quit my full-time job to start my own business, not realizing at that time that I was pregnant (my four teenaged children were SO embarassed) :rolleyes:

In the last 3 years or so, we've been down-sizing. It's getting harder and harder for me to sit for hours on end in front of the computer. Although I think 44 years is quite long enough, I just can't seem to turn my back on this career I've chosen. It's been educational and very fulfilling.

Ah, yet my garden beckons me more and more every spring. My photos are crying out to be put into scrapbooks. My genealogical research has been sorely neglected. We won't even talk about the unfinished quilt and my latest cross stitch project!

Just wanted to introduce myself and let all of you know what a pleasure it is to "talk" to y'all.

Have a great week!
Toni

Hi, Kimi, and welcome!

All these terrific bios! Well, I'll let my grays hang out, too...I'm 46 and have been doing this for about 5 years (just 1 at home, though). I have a long, long, looooong background in typing, copy-editing, writing, etc., and about 10 years in court reporting transcription. I LOVE THIS WORK!

Two kids, 18 and 21 (both college students majoring in biology/chemistry secondary education). Separated 10 years ago after 18 years of marriage; divorced 4 years later.
Now I'm happily single!

I live in a beautiful part of America--western Wisconsin along the Mississippi River.

This board is one of my very favorite places to visit every day. I always find an encouraging word and a virtual smile (and sometimes a sweet goodie to virtually share!!).

Good luck to you, and glad to have you on board.

Gracie

Hi Gracie and thanks Wowowow divorced after 18 years of marriage? Sorry to hear that!! But very glad you are happily single now!!! I don't have much background in this, except for right after high school taking a medical assisting class. But I love to type and as I said before, I love the medical field but wouldn't enjoy hands on AS MUCH as I do this. I like this board. I used to go to another one, but for a long time now, I have had problems signing in. So while I read the messages all the time, which was helpful, but if I had a question, I wouldn't be able to post. Then I ran across my question and I was thinking that there has GOT to be another BB for medical transcription on here!!!

My aunt who owns her own co. in Alabama, (I'm in Michigan) has seen my work and has said that it is really good. So she told me that I should try and find some work now, even though I'm not done with my course yet. I called a co. and the lady I spoke to said that she wouldn't know if they were hiring for a week but to send my resume and to call back in a week. I sent it, and I called back a week later (which was Monday), and she mentioned me not completing my course. Then she asked if I would be willing to take a test...I kind of stumbled my answer (Yes) because I got nervous already lol...So she said she doesn't have work now, but she may have some in 15 days and that she would call me back. So I am HOPING that this works out good

Ok, well it was nice meeting you. I have got to get my son to bed now.

Take care and hope you have a great night!!!

Kimi

Hi Kimi, it's nice to meet another newbie! I just finished my MT course at school and I'm trying to start my business from home. I'm 35 and just changing careers, I think I've found what I was meant to do, because I really love it! Have a great day!
Aylin

Hi all,

I am 37 years old and have been an MT for 6 years now, working from home for 1 year. It is a wonderful career for a mom. I used to work evenings and only saw my kids 3 days out of the week. I LOVE my job and the opportunites it offers!

I just wanted to add thatI have found this board to be very welcoming to new members, which is refreshing, as some of the others tend to be a bit cold to newcomers. It is great to see so many new posts here lately. I hope it continues to grow as the atmosphere here is GREAT!

Hi there Aylin and bobbi!!

Aylin, how long ago did you finish? How is it going trying to start your business from home? I will be trying the same thing soon!!!

bobbi, I think this board is great too!! The other one I used to visit, even when I COULD post something, I rarely did because it seemed people were not very nice with newbies and in fact, I will tell you that I got scared that I wouldn't make it many times from things they said,and if it weren't for my aunt telling me different, I would have quit. They just made newbies feel that they were either in it for the wrong reasons or that they just wouldn't make it. It seemed like it was more of a "fight" than an actual board to help others and talk about medical transcription. And I have to admit, when I first posted here, I was kind of wondering what kind of responses I was going to get, and everyday I keep reading more and more friendly responses

Hope you guys all have a good night. I have finished my lesson and am going to transcribe the old tapes I have because I have nothing else to do Take care all!!

Kimi

Hi Kimi,
I just finished my class in March, so far I'm in the "printing fliers and business cards" phase and I'm also searching for addresses to send everything to. I'm not sure if the doctor's offices or hospitals are hiring contractors around my area so I'm sending some to the U.S. too. I also just bought a T2020 Olympus Pearlcorder, I hope that it will be the right kind of equipment. I also bought a really good book called "The Independent Medical Transcriptionist" It's very helpful!
I also like this board a lot better than the other one I joined. I hope to keep in touch with all of you!
Aylin

Hi Kimi and welcome....

Like everyone has already told you, this is a very friendly board. I wish that when I started transcription 12+ years ago it would have been around, but I am glad that I found it last year. I log in every morning to check out what is new, and see what everyone has to say, and since everyone is in a different time zone, I sometimes check in at night too! I have gotten a lot of help from other members, in every aspect of the business, and I really enjoy reading everyone's comments. I guess since I have been working at home all this time, logging in to this board every morning is like walking into an office and saying good morning to everyone. I also love my job, my ability to have independence, work my own hours and be able to go to my kids activities. I guess I have the best of both worlds, I am able to help out financially, but enjoy being an at-home mom. Good luck to you and all the new MT's.

LVG

Hi aylin and LVG!!

aylin: Keep in touch with how everything is going with your business!!!! That book is really good huh? I will probably buy it then, thanks!! I hope to keep in touch with everyone here too... Like LVG said...It IS like our "office" and that's a pretty neat way of looking at it!! And very true!!!!

LVG: I really like to read everyone's comments too...That's about all I have been doing on the other site, since I have been having trouble logging in. I am really happy I found this site! It is wonderful to have support!!!!

Hope you all have a good night!!!

Kimi

Hi Kimi!
Yes, I really like the book, there's lots of useful information there! I'm also checking the messages every day! It's like the MT office!

Have a good night!

Aylin

Hi everyone,

I found this board by accident over the weekend. I must say, I was impressed by the messages I did browse through. I had been a member of another MT message board for years and never looked for another. Then they went to a paid registration, so I quit networking with MTs on line.

At about the same time the board required a fee, I became disappointed with the MT world. I have always been proud of my skill and ability, but (in my area, at least) the MT is not someone highly regarded. Many doctors didn't seem to know the difference between an IC and an employee. The doctors are out to get the person who charges the least and will be a "yes man." And I've seen the work produced by these MTs. Not quality at all, many errors in grammar, spelling and medical context. I used to challenge one doctor on occasion when he would use an incorrect term or when he wouldn't have the work ready for me to pick up.

I began court reporting school and searched for CR message boards. I had an eye opening. Those boards were friendly, helpful, encouraging, respectful, professional, etc. Nothing like what I had been used to on the MT board. That seemed to be another encouraging sign to change careers.

However, becoming a court reporter is a long way off. And, I still AM a working MT and still proud of what I do. So just recently I started looking for another MT board. I wanted to ask a question about a specific word usage from other working MTs. My search of references did not verify the use as the doctor dictated. Some of those message boards were much like the original one I had been on. Many rude people, posts that were just nonsense or (in my opinion) poor taste.

Then I found this board over the weekend. The few messages I read were quite impressive! So, I joined (obviously) and had to introduce myself too! I commend all of you!

Welcome to the board Angela.

What a lovely introduction. I'm sure you'll find this board to be a very pleasant experience.

A lot of geniunely nice people, good information, and you'll even find a good recipe or two!

That's great that you're in CR school. I sent you an e-mail, so please check.

Have a fantastic day and welcome again! By the way, where in CA are you?

Welcome Angela!

You will find this board to be very resourceful and just great overall.

Hi Kimi!

I'm a newbie on the "Newbie side", but thought I would read a few posts on this side. I happened onto the site by accident the other day and have been engrossed by reading all the past posts. Boy, have I learned a lot!!! I have been welcomed and have enjoyed reading about these wonderful people from all over. By the way, I am 45 years old and am recent graduate of PCDI (April 9th), so I am just starting this new career after raising 2 kids and taking care of the household. I am looking forward to my new adventure with both excitement and a little apprehension (nerves that is) so keep your fingers crossed for me.
Hope read more from you and everyone else here in the future.

Kathy

Hi there!! I just wanted to say that I am a student of PCDI right now!! I am on lesson 15 now! Did you enjoy the course? How are things going with finding a job?

Kimi

Morning Kimi!

In answer to your questions, I loved the course. I really have enjoyed learning all the medical "stuff". The "transcribing part" can be a little demanding but I got through it and finished with a 96%. As for the job search, I have just started and am really trying to decide whether to do in-house or outsourcing and am still not sure which I really want to do. I know the advantages of in-house, but I have 15-year-old still at home and I really want to be here for her. So I am very torn. I have been doing a lot of research on the pros and cons of both. With a lot of help from the fine folks on this board I am getting closer to making a choice on the matter.

Keep going with your studies and don't give up.

Kathy

Hi there! I just have a question. You said you are deciding between in-house or outsourcing? What do these mean?

Oh there is no way I am giving up now! lol..Although sometimes I worry that I will make too many mistakes. When I check my work I get mad at myself sometimes for the mistakes I make. But I am hoping with time, like mostly everything, I will get better at this. Right now I am getting a 98% in the class. So I am hoping it doesn't fall too much below that or maybe even better, it goes up a lil more lol. I know what you mean though, I have a 3.5 year old son and I am not able to work in a hospital or clinic or doctors office. Take care!

Kimi

Afternoon!

The in-house means working for a company or hospital, doctor's office outside the home. Outsorcing means working at home either for yourself (self-employeed) or for a company. I just learned these terms in last few months myself. I have learned an awful lot on this board in the last couple of days just doing a lot of reading of past posts. With a 3.5-year-old finding the time to do any reading would be a miracle, but I have found some sound advice with these people and am so very glad that I ran across it. I check it several times a day, since I have been spending so much time on the internet lately. Not that I'm all that knowledgable but if you have any more questions I will try to answer or we can try to find someone else who can. With over 2000 members I'm sure that there is someone who can answer our questions.

I know how you feel about checking your work and getting mad at yourself. I use to over correct mine. I would get them typed fairly fast, then spend several hours a day and sometimes several days proofreading and then would end up over correcting my own mistakes and end up making more in the long run. I pretty much did that all the way through the transcribing part. Toward the end I tried to only go over them 3 or 4 times instead of 9 or 10. I had to stop myself, sometimes I'm my own worst enemy. But I ended up with a 96% so I guess I didn't do too bad. I really would have liked to get a higher final grade but I really can't complain about getting an "A". With being on lesson 15, you only have 6 more to go, so keep up the good work.

By the way, if you have any questions about the course, you can e-mail anytime.

Have a wonderful day!!!

Kathy

Hey Kimi -
I'm a CMT in Central Alabama. Where is your aunt from? I just might know her!!

Are you working yet at home? When do you finish your MT course?

Hi Kimi, what is UC? I am happy to work from home, even though I don't have my gig yet, due to personal needs that I might be challenged about if I worked at a hospital or office.
Jill

God, I hate you , you're so young! I am 58.
sparkle

hey can I jump in here and just give everybody a big group hug? Sounds like there's enough love here to go around. I'm warm and fuzzy. I'm Horse. Or that is my handle - i have a real name and it is Bernd. I'm an old guy (54) with gray hair, used to be a pharmacist, but I wanted to go where the big pennies are - MT! I have been helped here on this board before and I thank everyone for being helpful and friendly. 'Nother hug...come here....

Hey Kimi and everyone else,
I'm also new to this group. I have 3 terms left at Kaplan University, and am absolutely loving medical transcription. I have seen a lot of praise for the book "The Independent Medical Transcriptionist". I will definately have to buy that one. "The Book of Style" has been a great help to me, as well.
A little about myself, I am a 39-year-old single mother of two. I already have my AAS in Radiology and was licensed to CT scans, but due to physical disabilities I was no longer able to do the physical demands of those jobs, so here I am retraining.
I am really looking forward to meeting all of you and becoming part of this group.I have found many answers already.

Sheri Lynn

I recently joined this group too. I have been looking at the site for help on my schooling for several months and just decided to join. It seems like there is a very nice group of people on here.
I am a 27-year-old married mother of a 2-year-old.
I am enjoying my transcription class and I hope to finish in about a month and find a job doing this!

Hi all - just registered the other day and wanted to introduce myself. I've been transcribing since 1999 as an IC but just recently took a job with a company. I think I've done all specialties over the years except autopsies. I work from home and love it. I'm 51 years old, live in Marietta, GA, and have a 25-year-old son.

Glad to be here!
Anne
GA_MT

Welcome killingjoke and GA_MT!

Hello everyone.
My name is Nate and I just stummbled across this forum a few days ago. I am a 24-year-old from Tulsa, OK. Having been a Registered Medical Assistant/Tech for over two years, I decided that MT was the direction I wanted to go with my career path. Basically, on a whim I enrolled in an online course a few weeks ago. Now here I stand.

Hi and thanks - nice to meet everyone.

Hi everyone, I'm 53 and currently in school to change careers to become an MT. I had wanted to do this years ago, but now that the kids are grown up and the hubby was able to get a job after being laid off 4 years ago, I decided to jump in feet first. I have been in my current postition for nearly 20 years and have been tired of it for the last 5. I am enjoying my studies and hope I haven't waited too long in life to make a move. If anyone has any suggestions or knowledge to pass along to me, it would be greatly appreciated. Love this website!

Hello everyone,
My name is Heather and I am hoping to become a full time MT very soon. I'm currently in the "waiting room" with Career Step. I will get the results back on my final exam on the 31st of this month!
I was reading some of the posts and this seemed like a great place to join. Alot of the other MT sites and blogs I have visited have been very negative with this line of work and it was refreshing to come here and see people seem to be having a good time, or at least not "loathing" their jobs.
I'm intrested in any 2 cents you would care to give to a newbie. Thanks in advance and nice meeting everyone! -Heather

Hey everyone, I am new to the MT world and new to this site. I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself..so... hi!! (waving)

Eeyore

Hi all - Just taking a minute to introduce myself so everyone knows I'm not just a creeper.

I've been doing MT'ing since 1987, pretty much the entire gamut from acute care to psych to multispecialty clinic to radiology/nuclear medicine. I've frequented the MTStars board for a couple of years but am just now making the time to find other chat boards out in cyberland.

Hope everyone has a great evening!

Hi Ruby--welcome!! Glad to have you aboard. We look forward to learning from your 23 years of experience!

Thank you, KKB, and thanks for your advice in the other thread. In looking forward to reading more threads as time permits.

Have a wonderful day!

Hello Everyone! I have just joined here and hope that I can help some of you with your questions and you can mine.

Hi, I just registered here. I am on Ch9 Medical Transcription through Allied. Got a few questions about the name of an incision. Anybody out there?

I just finished chapter 9...

Hello everyone! I just joined and I am wondering if anyone is taking the MT course with At-Home professions. I am on quiz 19 and I am having some problems with a few areas. Can someone help me out?

Contact me at

marbar@mediacombb.net

I will try to help you through the rough spots. I am currently on quiz 30

annie

HI MTs
Just wanted to introduce myself and wanted to see if I could get some help with Course 5 Quiz 30.

Presently I am a MT for a Neurologist and I am trying to finish this course. I had to take a break for the past 5 months while I learned the terminology for Neurology. I am back in the saddle and need some help.

Hi Kimi,

Hi ....

Hi, just thought I'd drop by and introduce myself. I came to Canada 31 years ago, originally from the UK, where I worked as a nurse on a female medical unit. I've been out of the medical field for some time now, and really wanted to get back in some form or other. MT seemed just right, so here I am, 56 and going back to school. Looking forward to reading more of the posts. I find this site, very informative.

Jacki

Hello everyone! I am about half-way through my course with At-Home Professions. I am so thankful I stumbled across this forum. I am excited to start my new career - even after reading the struggles and such - I am even more determined to succeed. Can't wait to get acquainted with everyone!

Hey Toni, I am 62 as well. I am a retired English teacher. I am currently in course 5 of At-Home Professions Medical Trans. training. You sound so much like me...with the outside beckoning you, etc. I love growing plants. Anyway, back to the transcribing. I haven't introduced myself yet, so I guess I had better do that. I just found this the other day and have been able to get help from some of the correspondence. Nice to meet you. Oh, by the way, I have two children and four grandchildren.

Hello everyone,
I am new to this. I am struggling with Allied's Medical Transcription course. I'm 55, used to live in UK, but have now moved to USA where I was a nurse. This seemed a perfect choice, but I am having such problems with the course, i'm wondering if I made the wrong decision! :-(
I am looking forward to getting to know you all and think this is a fantastic place to vent - and get information and support.

I am also going to Allied for Medical Transcription what chapter are you working on maybe we can help each other if you would rather e-mail me at mrg_lws@yahoo.com that's ok. Just let me know in your heading that you are an Allied student so I do not trash your e-mail without looking.

Hi everyone!

I'm also new to all of this, joining a week ago. Wish I'd found this site a lot sooner.

I'm working on Quiz 38 right now and really need some help. If anyone can supply it, I would greatly appreciate it.

My questions are:
1. Patient #050715: I cannot understand one of the words in this sentence: “The superficial femoral artery was then dissected free, with the dissection proceeding more proximally, exposing the profunda and the common femoral artery with ___________, and using sharp dissection to completely exposure it so that an umbilical tape could be passed around the SFA.” The word sounds like “dissecting", but this doesn’t seem to make sense to me?? Also, I’m not even sure if I’ve punctuated correctly??

2. On the same report the doctor dictates “posterior tib” (I think). Should I type “posterior tibial artery”, or just “posterior tibial” or is the word something completely different?

3. Patient #050740: The doctor dictates “mitral wall prolapse” and also “tricuspid wall prolapse”. Should I change the words “wall” to “valve” or just type as dictated?

Thank you!!

Thank you, I will take you up on that. All help is really appreciated! Thanks for letting me e-mail you.

I am new to this too emebee, but I would type the whole word of posterior tibial atery. As for the wall prolapse, I'd type what he says. This is no fun is it? I hope someone with more experience helps you out! Good luck!

Hi Everybody,
I'm Toni (tveye)from Redding, CA. I'm going to take Kimi's lead and introduce newbie myself.
I am told Networking is the best way to get oneself out there and so that's what I'm gonna start doing!
I am very close to finishing the At-Home Professions MT course and will be entering the market, hopefully by the end of the summer.
I am a 55 year old mother of one fine 29-year-old son who is currently in the PhD program at UC Davis, CA. Obviously I am very proud of him. I am also really excited to be entering the medical transcription field and am also a little worried that my lack of experience will prohibit me from gaining employment.
However, that will not stop me from "beating the bushes"! In that same vein, I am told I should find a mentor, so if anyone is interested please let me know. Thank you! HAPPY 4th of JULY

Welcome tyeve!! Thanks for giving us some background information!

Thanks kkb!

Hey,

Just to introduce ourselves as well - we are Star Transcription you can find us at http://www.startranscription.com.

We're taking on some clients in the US so it will be interesting to chat to you guys.

Hi everyone!
I am a new graduate in this field and visited here often as a non-member during my studies. I learned a lot from just reading so many post's and it was awesome!

My name is Shelly and I have 3 children....ages are 10, 13 and 17. I have always wanted to transcribe (and actually did transcribing at a Vet Clinic I worked at years ago). I copy typed and was on site so it was easy to get answers on their sloppy handwriting! LOL!!

Anyway, I just wanted to say 'HI' and it is so nice to be a part of this as an actual member now.

Take care!

Shelly

Hi Shelly and Welcome!

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself.

My name is Teresa Lee, 48 years old, married with two children, 22 and 29, and live in rural Virginia near a little town called Scottsville.

I'm currently a Web Developer, but my job will soon be moving to another state and I'm not mobile. Before becoming a Web Developer, I worked as a transcriptionist for 12 years for this same company, so I do have transcription experience. My work was company correspondence for a major insurance company, used some medical terminology, but not a great deal. I'm now falling back on this experience, hoping to start a new career. I signed up with AHP in October 2010 to learn the medical terminology and am just getting ready to start Book 5. It's been slow getting through the course, working fulltime.

I was excited to find this forum and to learn that so many of you have the same questions and apprehensions that I do.

Looking forward to chatting with everyone!

Hi everyone,
I am Theresa Saylor, 39 years old, married and a mother of a 13 year old son. I live on the border of Wisconsin/Upper Michigan. I started the AHP program in October of 2010 and I am just finishing up with autopsy reports on Quiz 29. For the past 11 years, I have been employed as a graphic designer, designing advertisements for magazines and newspapers, and wanted something different.

Reading everyones posts have been extremely helpful and like most have said I wish I would have found this site earlier. I found it by searching for autopsy report samples.

Thank you in advance to anyone who will be able to help with my questions.

Hi Theresa,
I just finished up Quiz 29 also and I too started the course in October 2010! Seems we're on the same page.

Welcome and best of luck to you!

Hi my name is Denise. Just wanted to say hi. I came across this site by accident while trying to figure out a spelling for the course. Trying to figure out how to write a question about Lesson 32

Hi, all. I also stumbled onto this forum by accident & am very thankful I did, have learned allot and found many answers to my problems. I am 66 years old, retired, live in the country in SE MN, small town, Lewiston. I have three grown sons, 46, 44 and 39 and six lovely grandchildren, two girls & four boys. I want to be able to work part time from home. Thought this would be the ticket, has not been bad until this awful quiz 30. I am really struggling with it and am terrified to submit it for grading. Have been maintaining an "A" average & would love to stay there. BUT from what I have read here on other posts, I am certain that will not happen. Just do not want to fail & want to graduate with a descent grade so I can get a job. Sharon

Hi Sharon,
Welcome I just started working on Quiz 30 and the posts have been very helpful. Good Luck.
Theresa

Theresa,
Yes, I agree, these posts help allot. I found answers to allot of my frustrations here. Am thankful there are so many "helpful" people out there, as I need all the help I can get. Good luck to you too.
Sharon

Hello, My name is Melanie and I am currently taking online courses with Allied Schools. I came across this website cause I was googling "help" and well I am so glad that I came across this site. I am sure it will help me now and in the future of my MT career. I am a military wife & mother to a 14 month old. Our daughter is our miracle baby after trying for 10 years and losing one in 2008 that I just can't go back to work because I want to be able to cherish our miracle! So with that said I want to have a stay at home job. I would love any advice from you all and hope this site will encourage me to keep on.

Thanks!

Hi - My name is Becky, I am from S.Dayton N.Y,
I stumbled across this forum while looking a word up back in Oct last year. I am on lesson 42 Quiz 34.. I've enjoyed this course, ready to get the schooling done and start a job using my knowledge in this field, good luck to everybody who is studying in this field. Thank you to MT-Gab on starting this web site. It has been very helpful....

Hi, I am from Michigan and have just completed and passed the final exam through Allied Schools. I don't want to discourage you but all I can say is good luck. I didn't have any problem with the medical term part of the course but when I started the transcription part is where my problems began. I questioned some of their ways of grading, and chalenged 3 items. I won 2 out of the 3. At that point I lost my respect for the course. (But that was just me). My suggestion is to call their student services as much as you can. Before you submit a quiz with any and questions you might have. If you can't make out a word or phrase, call. They will help you. I did not do that, I worked in the afternoon and could not call when they were available. (4 hr time difference)I had questions with the final and was able to contact Student services they were a great help. You can also contact me if you would like. My home e-mail is sulli7@hughes.net I will help you any way I can. I am also the mother of 2 children in the military. My daughter is a Captain in the National Guard, Mich., and my son & daughter-in-law are SGT. in the Army, GA.
Best of Luck

Hello and welcome.

I'm new to this forum as well. Seems like a really nice place to meet fellow MTs.

Terri

Hello

I'm Christy and I am new to this forum. I just happened to stumble upon it yesterday. I am wife and a mommy to two little girls and I am on section 3 of my mt studies with at home professions. It seems there is a lot of info and helpful people here, and I look forward to chatting.

Hi - I've been doing this for over 40 years! Can't believe it. Am in QA now with moonlighting on the side. Found this site quite by accident when researching something for one of the MTs. Looks very cool and I will lurk and ease my way in. thanks!

Hi all - I am also new at this and I am glad that there is a forum where we can discuss issues or seek help. I am a grandma of 4 - (3 boys and 1 girl). I have just been told that I will be laid off as of Dec. 20th and I am devastated. I am determined to get my certification in MT so that I can work and keep myself busy.

Welcome 1234, happy to meet you!

Cory

Hi!
I am Brenda Baker.
I am married 3 boys and have about 11 grandchildren.
I was a nurse for 20+ years. I wanted to do something different, but right now I am wondering why?! I am on quiz 30 and going bald. That would be from pulling my hair out.LOL

Welcome, Brenda,
Know what you are saying, I have three grown boys & six grandchildren. I retired and decided I needed to do something part time. I sent in my final exam on December 22, 2011, am waiting to see my posted grade. There have been many times I wondered what I was doing this for too, only I really enjoy the challenge & I have learned allot and it is a very interesting field, I think. Now I am playing the waiting game for my grade. If I can make it through this course, anyone can. I have found allot of good help on this site. When I get help, I always listen to the dictation again to make sure I "hear" what I am supposed to be hearing and I research every answer, not that I do not believe the wonderful help I get, but because it helps me remember & helps me learn how to research for the future. My biggest downfall is the "comma" issues I have. Not good with them!! Hang in there, you will make it. Good luck and like I said, you can get good help on this site.

Hello, my name is Tina and I too stumbled across this site while doing some research through google, and found it to be a great help. I only wish I would have found it sooner. I am currently working through my last course through AHP and was hoping to complete my final this week as I am on vacation from my full time job. The dear Lord is always throwing challenges at and constantly testing me, another wrench was thrown in my way. I submitted my request for the CharScript and I called to check on it yesterday, and today the email I thought I had been waiting on was only to inform me that there is a "bug" and they cannot access student information and will not be corrected until the 3rd...UGH! Any how, I started this to earn supplement income on the side to help pay for my daughters growing dance expenses and make $$ flow a little easier. But the more I got into this I would like for this to be my full time job and stop my 7 hour a week commuting up and down the highway and having to ask for time off for various things. I would love to work my own hours, so if I need off early to go on a field trip or go to my daughters dance class and not have to make arrangements for someone else to do the dropping off and pick up would be grand.

Happy New Year! T

Hello all; I'm glad to have found this site. I've found a lot of help with questions I've had. I've been studying since April 2011 and my goal is to produce more income for my family. I work full time in the office at a Christian elementary school so the schedule is perfect for a mom (I have two teenagers). The work is very fulfilling, however the salary is not paying the bills! My husband was downsized from his job in August and is still looking for something. So, I'm putting my studies back into gear so hopefully I can earn more income. Thank you for all who post encouragement.

Welcome aboard. This is a very good site to get help and allot of encouragement. Good luck with your studies.

HI,
Iam new here an dneed to know how do I post new tread?
I have a dicharge summury to correct somebody.
Thnaks

I will post here if somebody give your minutes to proof read my transcription and if posible fill in the blanks.

DISCHARG SUMMURY
PROBLEM LIST

1. Ascites
2. Diverticular disease
3. Peptic ulcer disease
4.Type 2 diabetes
5. _____Stroke

BRIEF HISTORY
A 91-year old white male was admitted to the hospital due to weakness, fatigue, anorexia and distended abdomen. The patient had a history of non peptic ulcer disease. He had been admitted in November with diverticulitis.

For several weeks the patients had been experiencing anorexia and mild nausea. For several days his abdomen appeared to be becoming increasingly more distended. Recent history he was brought to emergency room.

CT scan in the emergency room revealed a large amount of ascites. There was a left renal cyst. There was felt to be changes in the mesentery ("orbensitional") peritoneal carcinomatosis. There were multiple hypodensities in both kidneys felt to represent cysts. The peritoneal carcinomatosis was manifest as tiny nodules through-out the mesenteric fat. There was no evidence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient was admitted for further management.

PAST MEDICAL HISTORY
Patient was status post for tubal basilar stroke which left him with gait unsteadiness. He had a known history of peptic ulcer disease and diverticular disease.

MEDICATIONS
1. Protonix 40 mg daily
2. Avandia 4 mg daily

ALLERGIES
None known

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Physical exam revealed a frail appearing elderly man. Vital signs: Pulse 70 regular, blood pressure 140/82, temperature 96.7. Skin: No pallor. HEENT: No scleral icterus. Neck: With out goiter. No carotid bruits. Lungs clear. Heart: Systolic ejection murmur. Abdomen: Distended, positive fluid wave, no masses. Rectal was negative.


LABORATORY
Hemoglobin 13, hematocrit 39.2, WBC 8.1, platelets 330,000, Chemistry 7132, potassium 4.6, Chloride 98, CO2 30, Glucose 102, BUN 22, Creatine 1.1, albumin 2.5, cell count WAS 677,protein was 4.1, CEO was 2.5, TSH 2.77, alpha fetoprotein 2.3, acidic fluid was negative, CA 919 was 58.

Etilogy of ___________ felt that patient was too debilitated to be a candidate for chemotherapy. The patient did undergone MICT which did not show evidence of a definite pancreatic mass.

The patient did undergo proper ultrasound that has padding veins which showed no evidence of _____vein thrombosis .

The patient did receive thyroid replacement, and he started also on (magus). The family will preparation to patient to taken home from hospice home care and definitive diagnosis have not been made though the CAT scan has been highly suspicious of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

PLAN
The patient was discharge from the hospice home care and folowing medical regimen synthroid 25 mcg daily , protonix 40 ml daily ____30 cc b.id, Zoloft 25 ml daily. He was to see hospice home care services and supporting measures.


___________________

Puppypink --

You will probably get an answer more quickly if you post things like this in the "MT courses and examinations" forum. I cannot help you with proofing this because I am not a student and don`t know what course or lesson it is from, but I can tell you that it should be DISCHARGE SUMMARY, not summury.

good luck with your studies
carol

Hey everybody, my name is Sam, and I am new to the site as far as posting. I have been on the site several times. I registered because I need a little help with quiz 37 Karen DuBose formatting. I am registered at USCI. I have looked back and went over all of my tests and practice tests, and have been unable to find the format on this test. Can someone help me with this? I can help anyone up to this point. I am doing pretty good I have a 92 so far. This test I think is testing me. Any help would be very helpful and I am so greatful. Thanks inadvance.

Hello Everyone,

I am new here. I just joined today actually. I just started doing MT work in November of last year. I don't mind it so far but I do find it difficult with a little one at home. My other three are all in school full time thankfully. I am currently considering going back to school to get my Health Office Administration Diploma. I need something that pays more than my job is currently.

Hey everyone my name is Angela, i am so glad that i have found this site because it has already helped me so much in my studies. I am looking for a job that i can do from home. I have a 15 month old son and day care is just too expensive and witht the schedule my husband works, finding a sitter can be tough at times. I saw an ad for a MT and that you could work from home and thought it would be perfect. It can be challenging but that is good for the brain..lol. I am hoping to really improve on my MT skills witht the schooling i am participating in and with the help that i receive from everyone on this website!

Hi everyone! I'm Lori and I'm new here. I'm currently taking the Beginning MT course at Allied and I'm having my share of highs and lows. I was a dental assistant for 20 years and decided it was time for a change. I'm hoping to network with Allied students so we can help and encourage one another.

Lori, I have been doing the Allied course for a year now and almost done... my email is debbie-johnson@hotmailcom. I'd love to have someone to chat with out this course!

Hi Everyone!. I, too, am new here. I am almost fisnished with this program with two lessons or so to go. Right now I am beside myself in what to do. With everything that I have been hearing about how the MTs pay has been cut in half after working for XX amount of years makes me think twice about if I have wasted my time and money. I went to an MTs website's forum of where they are saying that being an MT is not what it use to be. Some of the thngs that I had read: Cut in pay, the pay is a joke, MT use to be awesome, do something else if you can. One lady said that she would not recommend this field to her own worst enemy. Are the new MTs, (that we will be soon) be hired, (with the little experience that we have) and be able to work from home??? I am trying to think optimist about all of this and keep a positive outlook on getting a job in this field. Even after my own aunt, (28+ years experience) makes it sound like this field is slowly dying due to the SRT computer technology that is coming into reality. I need a job and I guess that when an MT job does comes my way, I will take it. I do have a couple of questions...and if anyone can answer them I would appreciate it...
1.Is working from home (working flexable hours) is there such a thing?
2. Would clients rather have us work from home or be there?

3. I have seen where they want people to work "nightshifts" versus "dayshifts"? I do not understand...can anyone clarify?

3.I thought you can request a certain amount of hours to work?

4.Because of being "a newbie" would it be better for me to not work from home? (for the experience)?

I just feel like I was painted pretty a picture of how MTs love their job (and a lot still do) and how the job market for MTs will be increasing due to the healthcare future. Will there be an increase in the number of jobs due to this healthcare? Or will there be a decrease since SRT is coming?
Everything is about being "cost related." SRT and pay cuts are where that happens.
I am trying to keep positive and just finish this course and trust with GOD's help that I do find that job with my name on it!! I do believe that we all have that job out there with our name on it just waiting for us to come and get it!!

Hi all just wanted to say I am glad I found this site.
Thanks to all that are helping.
I am almost finished and I hope it is all worth it.

Hi 2manyhours,

Welcome! I will try to answer some of your questions. I was an MT for 19 years until my department was outsourced to a national company in October of 2010--just some background info about me.

That being said, I'll try to answer your questions.

1.Is working from home (working flexible hours)--is there such a thing?

Not if you work for a medical transcription service. They need people on at specific times to turn around the work at the rate that their contract indicates. For example, you might have some flexibility as far as maybe you can start between 7 and 9 and work your 8 hours, but most of them are pretty rigid.

If you work for yourself and get your own clients, you have more flexibility as far as when you can work, but you have to turn it around in a timely fashion and work until it is done.

2. Would clients rather have us work from home or be there?

The majority of transcription is done off site. Hospitals don't have office space for transcriptionists. I worked at home for a hospital before my job was outsourced.


3. I have seen where they want people to work "night shifts" versus "day shifts"? I do not understand...can anyone clarify?

Most companies are looking for 2nd shift (approximately 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.) and 3rd shift (approximately 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) because the majority of people want to work days, so the people with the most seniority have first dibs at what schedule they want to work. Also, the hospitals want their work turned around in 12-24 hours so working at night accomplishes this.

Many companies outsource their transcription overseas where their days are our nights so the overseas MTs overwhelmingly work during their day. When I worked at the hospital I worked 3-11 which I liked, but if I had not wanted to work that shift I would not have been able to work day shift because about 75% of the MTs worked that shift and the others were short-handed. Those people had been there for a long time and had waited their turn to get that shift.

3.I thought you can request a certain amount of hours to work?

Most places don't give you a choice. Some don't even hire anything less than full time. There are some part-time positions available, but they are few and far between.

Also, it's hard to get speed up as a newbie working part time.

4.Because of being "a newbie" would it be better for me to not work from home? (for the experience)?

It would be as far as having someone to listen when you can't get something, but as I said, the majority of employers would have you working at home. At least you have internet access and you can leave the blanks for your employer to listen to. I started out in a hospital in 1992 and can't imagine not having someone there to listen when I got stuck. But, of course, as I said, there was no internet available at that time and no forums like this where you could ask questions.

I believe a lot of these transcription courses do paint a rosy picture (like the big money that can be made, the flexibility of the hours, etc.) when that is not what is not the reality of the profession, but their job is to sell their product so you can't blame them for putting a good spin on it. I've found that the really good programs don't have to do seminars--their reputation precedes them and word of mouth gets them plenty of students. Some of them even require an entrance exam to make sure you have the foundation of grammar, etc., required to succeed in this profession--in other words, it's not all about the money for them.

MTs are evolving into medical editors--I believe the statistic now is that only 20% of transcription is straight transcription--the rest is voice or speech recognition editing. I went to a presentation at a national convention 3 years ago and the speaker was from the transcription department at Vanderbilt Medical Center. At that time she said only 5% of their transcription was straight transcription--the rest was automated speech recognition (ASR [VR or SR). That is the way the profession is going, without a doubt. The software has gotten a lot better in the past 15 years so it is more cost-effective to go that route.

When hospitals want to cut costs, the first place they go is to transcription--it is not seen as a money-making department and is just a necessary evil. Some of them don't appear to even care about the quality of the transcription, as long as they can get it done as cheaply as possible.

One way MT companies cut their expenses is by increasing the required number of lines transcribed per hour. That way, if they offer an incentive if someone transcribes/edits over X amount, more people will be unable to meet the requirement to get the incentive. Production appears to be paramount in this business now, and quality is often sacrificed in the process.

The good news is that you newbies don't have any memory of days where one could actually make a decent wage doing MT, so perhaps you won't miss it. For those of us who do remember, it is discouraging that we are paid so little for what we are required to know to do this job. Example: I was offered 8 cents a line by the company that took over the MT department at the hospital where I worked. In 1996 I was making 7 cents a line. Think about how necessities like food and gas have gone up exponentially since then and you will see how the seasoned MTs see the field these days.

Hope this helped--not meaning to be a downer, just a realist. There ARE jobs out there for newbies, as you can see by reading some of the other posts. It takes a lot of perseverance and time to get one, but part of that is a result of the soft economy these days.