Re: Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

[Guest guest]

Hope,

Thanks for sharing your perspective!

I think your email hit on what would be so hard for me. I'm such a perfectionist

when it comes to my work. I don't know that I could survive the first few weeks

of getting only 50% of it right :-)....seriously! Even though I know it would

get better with time, I'm afraid I'd find those first two weeks almost

unbearable of not doing so hot! :-).

You've pinpointed for me that maybe it's just a temperament/personality issue. I

need to feel very prepared before attempting something new. My friend obviously

did not! Nor did you!

Wish I were more like you two, but I'm not :-). So, for me I'm glad I got some

training to at least get me started.

Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my start.

I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were hell. I

had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct (at

that time only about 50% was correct).

It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why is it

so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has been

done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it is

something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator each

time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you can

create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the medical

account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing about

the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't trade

for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my opinion,

that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It can

happen and it has happened without formal training.

Hope Kremer

Administrative Assistance

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.secretarialsos.com

[Guest guest]

Hope,

Thanks for sharing your perspective!

I think your email hit on what would be so hard for me. I'm such a perfectionist

when it comes to my work. I don't know that I could survive the first few weeks

of getting only 50% of it right :-)....seriously! Even though I know it would

get better with time, I'm afraid I'd find those first two weeks almost

unbearable of not doing so hot! :-).

You've pinpointed for me that maybe it's just a temperament/personality issue. I

need to feel very prepared before attempting something new. My friend obviously

did not! Nor did you!

Wish I were more like you two, but I'm not :-). So, for me I'm glad I got some

training to at least get me started.

Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my start.

I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were hell. I

had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct (at

that time only about 50% was correct).

It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why is it

so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has been

done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it is

something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator each

time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you can

create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the medical

account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing about

the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't trade

for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my opinion,

that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It can

happen and it has happened without formal training.

Hope Kremer

Administrative Assistance

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.secretarialsos.com

[Guest guest]

Hope, no offense intended, and I hope you take none.

Being in the education business, my basic belief is that education is a

good thing. I also have a deep-seated belief that any occupation will gain

more respect if it is considered a profession than if it is considered as

" just a job " by both the people who sign the paychecks and the public at

large. If the people doing the job believe that no education is necessary

and no special training is necessary, anyone who is warm under the armpits

can do the job, then that occupation is going to have a hard time gaining

respect and commensurate pay.

By the way, I think 98 percent accuracy is excellent for someone with no

prior training who's been on the job for only a month. I would give a 98

percent accurate document a failing grade if it were turned in for a class

assignment, but then that's the difference between a classroom and real

life. I'm not sure I'd want to have a physician working on me who thought

98 percent accuracy in treating patients was sufficient, either. In fact,

that is a scary thought.

Nurses didn't start to get paid what they are worth until nursing became a

profession, complete with education and certification requirements. Dental

assistants didn't get the respect and pay they deserved until they became a

profession. Medical assistants didn't start to get paid what they are

worth until they became a profession. The physician's assistants had a

hard time getting their profession up and running, and now many offices

would be hard pressed to do without the PAs--and they have education and

certification requirements, and they get paid what they are worth. And so

on and so on.

I truly believe that medical transcription SHOULD be a profession, complete

with required training and entrance exams--I also believe that the current

situation with AAMT and their certification process is counterproductive,

not productive. You may disagree with me. Heck, I could be dead wrong. I

am gratified to see that we are all talking about it, though!

At 04:01 PM 1/24/2003 -0800, Hope Kremer wrote:

>Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

>find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

>training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my start.

>

>I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

>right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

>presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

>provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were hell. I

>had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct (at

>that time only about 50% was correct).

>

>It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why is it

>so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has been

>done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it is

>something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

>minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator each

>time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you can

>create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

>

>My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the medical

>account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing about

>the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

>transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't trade

>for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my opinion,

>that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

>transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It can

>happen and it has happened without formal training.

>

>Hope Kremer

>Administrative Assistance

>Phone:

>Fax:

><http://www.secretarialsos.com>http://www.secretarialsos.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hope, no offense intended, and I hope you take none.

Being in the education business, my basic belief is that education is a

good thing. I also have a deep-seated belief that any occupation will gain

more respect if it is considered a profession than if it is considered as

" just a job " by both the people who sign the paychecks and the public at

large. If the people doing the job believe that no education is necessary

and no special training is necessary, anyone who is warm under the armpits

can do the job, then that occupation is going to have a hard time gaining

respect and commensurate pay.

By the way, I think 98 percent accuracy is excellent for someone with no

prior training who's been on the job for only a month. I would give a 98

percent accurate document a failing grade if it were turned in for a class

assignment, but then that's the difference between a classroom and real

life. I'm not sure I'd want to have a physician working on me who thought

98 percent accuracy in treating patients was sufficient, either. In fact,

that is a scary thought.

Nurses didn't start to get paid what they are worth until nursing became a

profession, complete with education and certification requirements. Dental

assistants didn't get the respect and pay they deserved until they became a

profession. Medical assistants didn't start to get paid what they are

worth until they became a profession. The physician's assistants had a

hard time getting their profession up and running, and now many offices

would be hard pressed to do without the PAs--and they have education and

certification requirements, and they get paid what they are worth. And so

on and so on.

I truly believe that medical transcription SHOULD be a profession, complete

with required training and entrance exams--I also believe that the current

situation with AAMT and their certification process is counterproductive,

not productive. You may disagree with me. Heck, I could be dead wrong. I

am gratified to see that we are all talking about it, though!

At 04:01 PM 1/24/2003 -0800, Hope Kremer wrote:

>Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

>find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

>training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my start.

>

>I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

>right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

>presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

>provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were hell. I

>had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct (at

>that time only about 50% was correct).

>

>It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why is it

>so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has been

>done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it is

>something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

>minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator each

>time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you can

>create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

>

>My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the medical

>account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing about

>the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

>transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't trade

>for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my opinion,

>that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

>transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It can

>happen and it has happened without formal training.

>

>Hope Kremer

>Administrative Assistance

>Phone:

>Fax:

><http://www.secretarialsos.com>http://www.secretarialsos.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hope, no offense intended, and I hope you take none.

Being in the education business, my basic belief is that education is a

good thing. I also have a deep-seated belief that any occupation will gain

more respect if it is considered a profession than if it is considered as

" just a job " by both the people who sign the paychecks and the public at

large. If the people doing the job believe that no education is necessary

and no special training is necessary, anyone who is warm under the armpits

can do the job, then that occupation is going to have a hard time gaining

respect and commensurate pay.

By the way, I think 98 percent accuracy is excellent for someone with no

prior training who's been on the job for only a month. I would give a 98

percent accurate document a failing grade if it were turned in for a class

assignment, but then that's the difference between a classroom and real

life. I'm not sure I'd want to have a physician working on me who thought

98 percent accuracy in treating patients was sufficient, either. In fact,

that is a scary thought.

Nurses didn't start to get paid what they are worth until nursing became a

profession, complete with education and certification requirements. Dental

assistants didn't get the respect and pay they deserved until they became a

profession. Medical assistants didn't start to get paid what they are

worth until they became a profession. The physician's assistants had a

hard time getting their profession up and running, and now many offices

would be hard pressed to do without the PAs--and they have education and

certification requirements, and they get paid what they are worth. And so

on and so on.

I truly believe that medical transcription SHOULD be a profession, complete

with required training and entrance exams--I also believe that the current

situation with AAMT and their certification process is counterproductive,

not productive. You may disagree with me. Heck, I could be dead wrong. I

am gratified to see that we are all talking about it, though!

At 04:01 PM 1/24/2003 -0800, Hope Kremer wrote:

>Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

>find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

>training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my start.

>

>I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

>right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

>presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

>provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were hell. I

>had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct (at

>that time only about 50% was correct).

>

>It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why is it

>so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has been

>done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it is

>something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

>minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator each

>time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you can

>create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

>

>My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the medical

>account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing about

>the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

>transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't trade

>for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my opinion,

>that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

>transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It can

>happen and it has happened without formal training.

>

>Hope Kremer

>Administrative Assistance

>Phone:

>Fax:

><http://www.secretarialsos.com>http://www.secretarialsos.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I cut my teeth on a national, and when I left after about a year, I had

transcribed almost 400 dictators. Every kind of dictator, ESLs, speed talkers,

mush mouths, yawners, you name it. Oh, and I would get new dictators every

single day and a wide variety of specialties. It was rough, but it was good for

me.

Now I am working for a smaller company, doing fewer dictators and making more $.

It's not easy to get on with them because your quality has to be A1 (they have

no QA department), but I am so glad for that nasty year with the national. In

retrospect, I thank them.

Speaking of schools, I feel that my training with Career Step truly did prepare

me to begin this career. I think everything I learned was applicable to my

work. True, I still had a fairly steep learning curve coming out of school, but

there is no way I could have done it without my training.

Just my experience to throw in the pot there.

----- Original Message -----

>

>

> In a situation with one doctor in a family practice I would agree one could

> muster the curve much easier. However, most people who get into

> transcription will not find this type of opportunity. The majority of the

> people are probably going to have to work for a service of some type and

> just as likely doing critical care transcription for a hospital. Take that

> one doctor and multiply him x 100-150, and every specialty under the sun.

> There is huge difference between this type of transcription and family

> practice. Still it could be learned on the job as you did, but a service is

> most likely not going to pay you to learn. In this situation training and

> education are everything.

[Guest guest]

Been an MT who eventually owned my own business, to an MT editor, 9 years

total....took no formal training.

Val

Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my start.

I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were hell. I

had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct (at

that time only about 50% was correct).

It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why is it

so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has been

done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it is

something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator each

time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you can

create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the medical

account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing about

the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't trade

for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my opinion,

that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It can

happen and it has happened without formal training.

Hope Kremer

Administrative Assistance

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.secretarialsos.com

[Guest guest]

Been an MT who eventually owned my own business, to an MT editor, 9 years

total....took no formal training.

Val

Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my start.

I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were hell. I

had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct (at

that time only about 50% was correct).

It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why is it

so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has been

done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it is

something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator each

time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you can

create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the medical

account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing about

the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't trade

for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my opinion,

that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It can

happen and it has happened without formal training.

Hope Kremer

Administrative Assistance

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.secretarialsos.com

[Guest guest]

Been an MT who eventually owned my own business, to an MT editor, 9 years

total....took no formal training.

Val

Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my start.

I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were hell. I

had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct (at

that time only about 50% was correct).

It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why is it

so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has been

done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it is

something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator each

time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you can

create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the medical

account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing about

the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't trade

for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my opinion,

that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It can

happen and it has happened without formal training.

Hope Kremer

Administrative Assistance

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.secretarialsos.com

[Guest guest]

,

It would also be fun to see what their QA requirements are,

especially the required accuracy rate

I have some medical background but when I joined this list, I started

learning how much I DIDN'T know...AND how not knowing about something

could lead to wrong conclusions about words. Now that I'm actually

studying through a program, I STILL find out how much I don't know

especially AS IT RELATES to medical transcription. I know a bunch of

lab facts....but I don't know how the doctors actually dictate the

results. I NEED experience and tons of practice dictation to teach

me that. And to me, THAT'S where an online program that includes a

considerable amount of real practice dictation by real doctors is

absolutely invaluable for preparing for a real work environment.

I'm sure your friend is doing the absolute best she can...but I'm

also sure that there's something about this situation that we aren't

aware of that's making this possible.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>Pat,

>

>First of all, I love your signature line!

>

>Second, yes Radiology is quite easy (unless you get into the

>interventional radiology--which I do and love--in which case you

>have to know something about surgical procedures :-).) My favorites

>are MRIs and the interventional stuff because they provide some

>challenge. I can totally see a nonmedical person going into a Rad.

>Department that just does x-rays and picking it up easy.

>

>I think what has me stymied is that she has a number of specialties

>and some of them are quite difficult.

>

>I think Rennie has it right: It would be great to see some of her

>reports! LOL!

>

>

>vtmt@...

>www.mt-resources.com

>

>

> Re: Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie

>questions

>

>

>I just time to read this today and it reminded me of something I

>wanted to share with this group.

>

>I know a woman that got hired about 6 months ago a local hospital.

>She had NO training in MT work. She had NO background in any type of

>medical work or medical terminology.

>

>She is working for a department that does all the pathology,

>nephrology, infectious diseases, endocrinology, rheumatology, and

>dermatology.

>

>She went in with no training or background and in two weeks she was

>up and running on her own.

>

>I find this almost impossible to believe! I KNOW this woman and I

>know she isn't lying! What I wonder about, though, is whether or

>not she's doing a decent job????!! I wonder if there are lots of

>errors that she doesn't even know she's making? But her QA reports

>are good. She is not fast, but they are happy with her production.

>

>This made me feel like I'm stupid! LOL! I went through Career Step's

>program. I found it thorough and very good. I felt it prepared me

>well for my first job. But even so, my first few weeks on my new MT

>job were HARD! It was only after a few months that I started to

>really feel comfortable.

>

>I recently started to do MT work for a local chiropractor. Again, I

>had a steep learning curve those first few weeks!

>

>A few months ago I started to do clinical consultations. Yet another

>learning curve presented itself to me.

>

>So, I'm wondering if some people are just better suited to this

>work? I always thought I was a bright woman, but after hearing my

>friend's story I feel like an idiot in comparison! LOL!

>

>Well, any thoughts on how she did it? I just cannot imagine it, I

>really can't! Her job would intimidate me for the first few weeks.

>I'm sure of it! I've been an MT for over 2 years now, but I still

>think it would learning a lot of new stuff. So how the heck did she

>do it?!!!! I even asked her that question and she said she just

>didn't think it was all that difficult! WHAT??!!! LOL!

>

>I'm babbling, so I'll sign off now. :-)

>

>P.S. Please note my new email address. The old one is rapidly fading

>away.....

>

> S.

>vtmt@...

>www.mt-resources.com

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

It would also be fun to see what their QA requirements are,

especially the required accuracy rate

I have some medical background but when I joined this list, I started

learning how much I DIDN'T know...AND how not knowing about something

could lead to wrong conclusions about words. Now that I'm actually

studying through a program, I STILL find out how much I don't know

especially AS IT RELATES to medical transcription. I know a bunch of

lab facts....but I don't know how the doctors actually dictate the

results. I NEED experience and tons of practice dictation to teach

me that. And to me, THAT'S where an online program that includes a

considerable amount of real practice dictation by real doctors is

absolutely invaluable for preparing for a real work environment.

I'm sure your friend is doing the absolute best she can...but I'm

also sure that there's something about this situation that we aren't

aware of that's making this possible.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>Pat,

>

>First of all, I love your signature line!

>

>Second, yes Radiology is quite easy (unless you get into the

>interventional radiology--which I do and love--in which case you

>have to know something about surgical procedures :-).) My favorites

>are MRIs and the interventional stuff because they provide some

>challenge. I can totally see a nonmedical person going into a Rad.

>Department that just does x-rays and picking it up easy.

>

>I think what has me stymied is that she has a number of specialties

>and some of them are quite difficult.

>

>I think Rennie has it right: It would be great to see some of her

>reports! LOL!

>

>

>vtmt@...

>www.mt-resources.com

>

>

> Re: Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie

>questions

>

>

>I just time to read this today and it reminded me of something I

>wanted to share with this group.

>

>I know a woman that got hired about 6 months ago a local hospital.

>She had NO training in MT work. She had NO background in any type of

>medical work or medical terminology.

>

>She is working for a department that does all the pathology,

>nephrology, infectious diseases, endocrinology, rheumatology, and

>dermatology.

>

>She went in with no training or background and in two weeks she was

>up and running on her own.

>

>I find this almost impossible to believe! I KNOW this woman and I

>know she isn't lying! What I wonder about, though, is whether or

>not she's doing a decent job????!! I wonder if there are lots of

>errors that she doesn't even know she's making? But her QA reports

>are good. She is not fast, but they are happy with her production.

>

>This made me feel like I'm stupid! LOL! I went through Career Step's

>program. I found it thorough and very good. I felt it prepared me

>well for my first job. But even so, my first few weeks on my new MT

>job were HARD! It was only after a few months that I started to

>really feel comfortable.

>

>I recently started to do MT work for a local chiropractor. Again, I

>had a steep learning curve those first few weeks!

>

>A few months ago I started to do clinical consultations. Yet another

>learning curve presented itself to me.

>

>So, I'm wondering if some people are just better suited to this

>work? I always thought I was a bright woman, but after hearing my

>friend's story I feel like an idiot in comparison! LOL!

>

>Well, any thoughts on how she did it? I just cannot imagine it, I

>really can't! Her job would intimidate me for the first few weeks.

>I'm sure of it! I've been an MT for over 2 years now, but I still

>think it would learning a lot of new stuff. So how the heck did she

>do it?!!!! I even asked her that question and she said she just

>didn't think it was all that difficult! WHAT??!!! LOL!

>

>I'm babbling, so I'll sign off now. :-)

>

>P.S. Please note my new email address. The old one is rapidly fading

>away.....

>

> S.

>vtmt@...

>www.mt-resources.com

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

It would also be fun to see what their QA requirements are,

especially the required accuracy rate

I have some medical background but when I joined this list, I started

learning how much I DIDN'T know...AND how not knowing about something

could lead to wrong conclusions about words. Now that I'm actually

studying through a program, I STILL find out how much I don't know

especially AS IT RELATES to medical transcription. I know a bunch of

lab facts....but I don't know how the doctors actually dictate the

results. I NEED experience and tons of practice dictation to teach

me that. And to me, THAT'S where an online program that includes a

considerable amount of real practice dictation by real doctors is

absolutely invaluable for preparing for a real work environment.

I'm sure your friend is doing the absolute best she can...but I'm

also sure that there's something about this situation that we aren't

aware of that's making this possible.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>Pat,

>

>First of all, I love your signature line!

>

>Second, yes Radiology is quite easy (unless you get into the

>interventional radiology--which I do and love--in which case you

>have to know something about surgical procedures :-).) My favorites

>are MRIs and the interventional stuff because they provide some

>challenge. I can totally see a nonmedical person going into a Rad.

>Department that just does x-rays and picking it up easy.

>

>I think what has me stymied is that she has a number of specialties

>and some of them are quite difficult.

>

>I think Rennie has it right: It would be great to see some of her

>reports! LOL!

>

>

>vtmt@...

>www.mt-resources.com

>

>

> Re: Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie

>questions

>

>

>I just time to read this today and it reminded me of something I

>wanted to share with this group.

>

>I know a woman that got hired about 6 months ago a local hospital.

>She had NO training in MT work. She had NO background in any type of

>medical work or medical terminology.

>

>She is working for a department that does all the pathology,

>nephrology, infectious diseases, endocrinology, rheumatology, and

>dermatology.

>

>She went in with no training or background and in two weeks she was

>up and running on her own.

>

>I find this almost impossible to believe! I KNOW this woman and I

>know she isn't lying! What I wonder about, though, is whether or

>not she's doing a decent job????!! I wonder if there are lots of

>errors that she doesn't even know she's making? But her QA reports

>are good. She is not fast, but they are happy with her production.

>

>This made me feel like I'm stupid! LOL! I went through Career Step's

>program. I found it thorough and very good. I felt it prepared me

>well for my first job. But even so, my first few weeks on my new MT

>job were HARD! It was only after a few months that I started to

>really feel comfortable.

>

>I recently started to do MT work for a local chiropractor. Again, I

>had a steep learning curve those first few weeks!

>

>A few months ago I started to do clinical consultations. Yet another

>learning curve presented itself to me.

>

>So, I'm wondering if some people are just better suited to this

>work? I always thought I was a bright woman, but after hearing my

>friend's story I feel like an idiot in comparison! LOL!

>

>Well, any thoughts on how she did it? I just cannot imagine it, I

>really can't! Her job would intimidate me for the first few weeks.

>I'm sure of it! I've been an MT for over 2 years now, but I still

>think it would learning a lot of new stuff. So how the heck did she

>do it?!!!! I even asked her that question and she said she just

>didn't think it was all that difficult! WHAT??!!! LOL!

>

>I'm babbling, so I'll sign off now. :-)

>

>P.S. Please note my new email address. The old one is rapidly fading

>away.....

>

> S.

>vtmt@...

>www.mt-resources.com

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Margaret,

I can tell you that there are programs out there that definitely

concentrate on teaching you to reference as well as to understand. I

know because I'm currently at student at one of those programs.

They provide a multitude of activities both as a direct part of the

syllabus and extras on their website that simply CANNOT be completed

without extensive referencing. Their tests are also exercises in

referencing so if you can't reference, you won't pass. Our

instructors are ALWAYS available for any questions but instead of

giving a direct answer to anything that can be looked up, they will

point us in the right direction to look ourselves. I, for one,

appreciate that very much! I know I will be a better MT because of

it. I know that's not quite the same as being in the workplace

itself, but it's also not the same as being given a list of words and

meanings to memorize and spit back out on a test. I'm not saying

other schools do this but it does sound like what I hear about some

medical terminology classes. Ok, not gonna get myself in any deeper

on this one.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>Okay, it's my turn to jump in on this one. I have said many times

>to this group that I don't understand how all of you " youngsters " do

>this job without being in the work place and having someone help you

>get started, watching over your shoulder, helping you learn which

>books to look up what words in, show you the ropes, etc. I always

>hope those are the things you are learning in school, not just the

>words and how to understand them, but how to actually do the job. I

>learned this job almost 30 years ago, with totally on the job

>training. I am very impressed by anyone who can start out working

>totally alone and isolated from others by working at home. I spent

>many, many years working in offices and having the help of others

>real ears to help me with those pesky s/l. Things just seem so

>different now than they were when I learned. With that said, I

>really can't understand anyone who can go into an office now and sit

>down and do this job with absolutely no training and have any kind

>of accuracy at all. Maybe doing a specialty and having lots of

>help, but not without a lot of help and still being accurate.

>

>With all of that said, I would like to tell my story. In 1975 I

>needed to go to work and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. A friend

>worked at the local psychiatric hospital/clinic and told me that

>they had a job open for a transcriptionist. I didn't know what that

>was, but I knew that I wanted to do it, so I went down and applied.

>Needless to say, I didn't have what they wanted, but I was very

>persistent. They had three positions, two they had just filled and

>another woman who had been there for awhile. The woman who had been

>there for awhile went to part time for the summer, so they offered

>me her extra time. Because I knew I couldn't do the job but really

>wanted to, I worked extra hard to try to do it. They suddenly

>discovered that I was doing more in 15 hours a week than one of the

> " experienced " women they had hired was doing in 40 hours a week.

>So, I was suddenly hired full time and she became part time.

>

>I have never been sorry about getting into this profession, but it

>took a lot of hard work and a lot of help to get where I am. When I

>finally got into doing acute care (hospital) work, it was really

>difficult, but I had some really great and very particular mentors

>who made sure that I knew what I was doing. Accuracy at my hospital

>has always been something like 99.5% (or is it 99.95%, I can never

>remember). Anyway, 98% accuracy here would get you helped out the

>door.

>

>Sorry this has been such a long post. Will try to keep it shorter

>next time. Margaret

>

>>>> " Hope Kremer " 01/24/03 07:01PM >>>

>Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I

>don't

>find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical

>terminology

>training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got

>my start.

>

>I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in

>the

>right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I

>was

>presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician

>to

>provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were

>hell. I

>had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was

>correct (at

>that time only about 50% was correct).

>

>It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So

>why is it

>so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it

>has been

>done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if

>it is

>something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and

>open

>minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same

>dictator each

>time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which

>you can

>create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

>

>My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the

>medical

>account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing

>about

>the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

>transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't

>trade

>for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my

>opinion,

>that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

>transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way).

>It can

>happen and it has happened without formal training.

>

>Hope Kremer

>Administrative Assistance

>Phone:

>Fax:

>http://www.secretarialsos.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Margaret,

I can tell you that there are programs out there that definitely

concentrate on teaching you to reference as well as to understand. I

know because I'm currently at student at one of those programs.

They provide a multitude of activities both as a direct part of the

syllabus and extras on their website that simply CANNOT be completed

without extensive referencing. Their tests are also exercises in

referencing so if you can't reference, you won't pass. Our

instructors are ALWAYS available for any questions but instead of

giving a direct answer to anything that can be looked up, they will

point us in the right direction to look ourselves. I, for one,

appreciate that very much! I know I will be a better MT because of

it. I know that's not quite the same as being in the workplace

itself, but it's also not the same as being given a list of words and

meanings to memorize and spit back out on a test. I'm not saying

other schools do this but it does sound like what I hear about some

medical terminology classes. Ok, not gonna get myself in any deeper

on this one.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>Okay, it's my turn to jump in on this one. I have said many times

>to this group that I don't understand how all of you " youngsters " do

>this job without being in the work place and having someone help you

>get started, watching over your shoulder, helping you learn which

>books to look up what words in, show you the ropes, etc. I always

>hope those are the things you are learning in school, not just the

>words and how to understand them, but how to actually do the job. I

>learned this job almost 30 years ago, with totally on the job

>training. I am very impressed by anyone who can start out working

>totally alone and isolated from others by working at home. I spent

>many, many years working in offices and having the help of others

>real ears to help me with those pesky s/l. Things just seem so

>different now than they were when I learned. With that said, I

>really can't understand anyone who can go into an office now and sit

>down and do this job with absolutely no training and have any kind

>of accuracy at all. Maybe doing a specialty and having lots of

>help, but not without a lot of help and still being accurate.

>

>With all of that said, I would like to tell my story. In 1975 I

>needed to go to work and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. A friend

>worked at the local psychiatric hospital/clinic and told me that

>they had a job open for a transcriptionist. I didn't know what that

>was, but I knew that I wanted to do it, so I went down and applied.

>Needless to say, I didn't have what they wanted, but I was very

>persistent. They had three positions, two they had just filled and

>another woman who had been there for awhile. The woman who had been

>there for awhile went to part time for the summer, so they offered

>me her extra time. Because I knew I couldn't do the job but really

>wanted to, I worked extra hard to try to do it. They suddenly

>discovered that I was doing more in 15 hours a week than one of the

> " experienced " women they had hired was doing in 40 hours a week.

>So, I was suddenly hired full time and she became part time.

>

>I have never been sorry about getting into this profession, but it

>took a lot of hard work and a lot of help to get where I am. When I

>finally got into doing acute care (hospital) work, it was really

>difficult, but I had some really great and very particular mentors

>who made sure that I knew what I was doing. Accuracy at my hospital

>has always been something like 99.5% (or is it 99.95%, I can never

>remember). Anyway, 98% accuracy here would get you helped out the

>door.

>

>Sorry this has been such a long post. Will try to keep it shorter

>next time. Margaret

>

>>>> " Hope Kremer " 01/24/03 07:01PM >>>

>Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I

>don't

>find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical

>terminology

>training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got

>my start.

>

>I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in

>the

>right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I

>was

>presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician

>to

>provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were

>hell. I

>had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was

>correct (at

>that time only about 50% was correct).

>

>It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So

>why is it

>so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it

>has been

>done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if

>it is

>something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and

>open

>minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same

>dictator each

>time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which

>you can

>create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

>

>My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the

>medical

>account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing

>about

>the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

>transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't

>trade

>for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my

>opinion,

>that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

>transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way).

>It can

>happen and it has happened without formal training.

>

>Hope Kremer

>Administrative Assistance

>Phone:

>Fax:

>http://www.secretarialsos.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Margaret,

I can tell you that there are programs out there that definitely

concentrate on teaching you to reference as well as to understand. I

know because I'm currently at student at one of those programs.

They provide a multitude of activities both as a direct part of the

syllabus and extras on their website that simply CANNOT be completed

without extensive referencing. Their tests are also exercises in

referencing so if you can't reference, you won't pass. Our

instructors are ALWAYS available for any questions but instead of

giving a direct answer to anything that can be looked up, they will

point us in the right direction to look ourselves. I, for one,

appreciate that very much! I know I will be a better MT because of

it. I know that's not quite the same as being in the workplace

itself, but it's also not the same as being given a list of words and

meanings to memorize and spit back out on a test. I'm not saying

other schools do this but it does sound like what I hear about some

medical terminology classes. Ok, not gonna get myself in any deeper

on this one.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>Okay, it's my turn to jump in on this one. I have said many times

>to this group that I don't understand how all of you " youngsters " do

>this job without being in the work place and having someone help you

>get started, watching over your shoulder, helping you learn which

>books to look up what words in, show you the ropes, etc. I always

>hope those are the things you are learning in school, not just the

>words and how to understand them, but how to actually do the job. I

>learned this job almost 30 years ago, with totally on the job

>training. I am very impressed by anyone who can start out working

>totally alone and isolated from others by working at home. I spent

>many, many years working in offices and having the help of others

>real ears to help me with those pesky s/l. Things just seem so

>different now than they were when I learned. With that said, I

>really can't understand anyone who can go into an office now and sit

>down and do this job with absolutely no training and have any kind

>of accuracy at all. Maybe doing a specialty and having lots of

>help, but not without a lot of help and still being accurate.

>

>With all of that said, I would like to tell my story. In 1975 I

>needed to go to work and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. A friend

>worked at the local psychiatric hospital/clinic and told me that

>they had a job open for a transcriptionist. I didn't know what that

>was, but I knew that I wanted to do it, so I went down and applied.

>Needless to say, I didn't have what they wanted, but I was very

>persistent. They had three positions, two they had just filled and

>another woman who had been there for awhile. The woman who had been

>there for awhile went to part time for the summer, so they offered

>me her extra time. Because I knew I couldn't do the job but really

>wanted to, I worked extra hard to try to do it. They suddenly

>discovered that I was doing more in 15 hours a week than one of the

> " experienced " women they had hired was doing in 40 hours a week.

>So, I was suddenly hired full time and she became part time.

>

>I have never been sorry about getting into this profession, but it

>took a lot of hard work and a lot of help to get where I am. When I

>finally got into doing acute care (hospital) work, it was really

>difficult, but I had some really great and very particular mentors

>who made sure that I knew what I was doing. Accuracy at my hospital

>has always been something like 99.5% (or is it 99.95%, I can never

>remember). Anyway, 98% accuracy here would get you helped out the

>door.

>

>Sorry this has been such a long post. Will try to keep it shorter

>next time. Margaret

>

>>>> " Hope Kremer " 01/24/03 07:01PM >>>

>Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I

>don't

>find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical

>terminology

>training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got

>my start.

>

>I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in

>the

>right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I

>was

>presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician

>to

>provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were

>hell. I

>had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was

>correct (at

>that time only about 50% was correct).

>

>It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So

>why is it

>so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it

>has been

>done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if

>it is

>something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and

>open

>minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same

>dictator each

>time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which

>you can

>create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

>

>My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the

>medical

>account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing

>about

>the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

>transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't

>trade

>for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my

>opinion,

>that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

>transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way).

>It can

>happen and it has happened without formal training.

>

>Hope Kremer

>Administrative Assistance

>Phone:

>Fax:

>http://www.secretarialsos.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sylvia,

I went through Career Step and I was really impressed that they actually took a

fair amount of time to teach us MTs HOW to look things up! It's one thing that

I find many MTs are lacking......(the ones that work on the same accounts I do).

When I see their reports I'm amazed that they don't even know how to do basic

searching for a funky term :-).

S.

www.mt-resources.com

Re: Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Hi Margaret,

I can tell you that there are programs out there that definitely

concentrate on teaching you to reference as well as to understand. I

know because I'm currently at student at one of those programs.

They provide a multitude of activities both as a direct part of the

syllabus and extras on their website that simply CANNOT be completed

without extensive referencing. Their tests are also exercises in

referencing so if you can't reference, you won't pass. Our

instructors are ALWAYS available for any questions but instead of

giving a direct answer to anything that can be looked up, they will

point us in the right direction to look ourselves. I, for one,

appreciate that very much! I know I will be a better MT because of

it. I know that's not quite the same as being in the workplace

itself, but it's also not the same as being given a list of words and

meanings to memorize and spit back out on a test. I'm not saying

other schools do this but it does sound like what I hear about some

medical terminology classes. Ok, not gonna get myself in any deeper

on this one.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>Okay, it's my turn to jump in on this one. I have said many times

>to this group that I don't understand how all of you " youngsters " do

>this job without being in the work place and having someone help you

>get started, watching over your shoulder, helping you learn which

>books to look up what words in, show you the ropes, etc. I always

>hope those are the things you are learning in school, not just the

>words and how to understand them, but how to actually do the job. I

>learned this job almost 30 years ago, with totally on the job

>training. I am very impressed by anyone who can start out working

>totally alone and isolated from others by working at home. I spent

>many, many years working in offices and having the help of others

>real ears to help me with those pesky s/l. Things just seem so

>different now than they were when I learned. With that said, I

>really can't understand anyone who can go into an office now and sit

>down and do this job with absolutely no training and have any kind

>of accuracy at all. Maybe doing a specialty and having lots of

>help, but not without a lot of help and still being accurate.

>

>With all of that said, I would like to tell my story. In 1975 I

>needed to go to work and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. A friend

>worked at the local psychiatric hospital/clinic and told me that

>they had a job open for a transcriptionist. I didn't know what that

>was, but I knew that I wanted to do it, so I went down and applied.

>Needless to say, I didn't have what they wanted, but I was very

>persistent. They had three positions, two they had just filled and

>another woman who had been there for awhile. The woman who had been

>there for awhile went to part time for the summer, so they offered

>me her extra time. Because I knew I couldn't do the job but really

>wanted to, I worked extra hard to try to do it. They suddenly

>discovered that I was doing more in 15 hours a week than one of the

> " experienced " women they had hired was doing in 40 hours a week.

>So, I was suddenly hired full time and she became part time.

>

>I have never been sorry about getting into this profession, but it

>took a lot of hard work and a lot of help to get where I am. When I

>finally got into doing acute care (hospital) work, it was really

>difficult, but I had some really great and very particular mentors

>who made sure that I knew what I was doing. Accuracy at my hospital

>has always been something like 99.5% (or is it 99.95%, I can never

>remember). Anyway, 98% accuracy here would get you helped out the

>door.

>

>Sorry this has been such a long post. Will try to keep it shorter

>next time. Margaret

>

>>>> " Hope Kremer " 01/24/03 07:01PM >>>

>Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I

>don't

>find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical

>terminology

>training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got

>my start.

>

>I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in

>the

>right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I

>was

>presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician

>to

>provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were

>hell. I

>had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was

>correct (at

>that time only about 50% was correct).

>

>It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So

>why is it

>so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it

>has been

>done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if

>it is

>something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and

>open

>minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same

>dictator each

>time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which

>you can

>create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

>

>My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the

>medical

>account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing

>about

>the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

>transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't

>trade

>for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my

>opinion,

>that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

>transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way).

>It can

>happen and it has happened without formal training.

>

>Hope Kremer

>Administrative Assistance

>Phone:

>Fax:

>http://www.secretarialsos.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sylvia,

I went through Career Step and I was really impressed that they actually took a

fair amount of time to teach us MTs HOW to look things up! It's one thing that

I find many MTs are lacking......(the ones that work on the same accounts I do).

When I see their reports I'm amazed that they don't even know how to do basic

searching for a funky term :-).

S.

www.mt-resources.com

Re: Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Hi Margaret,

I can tell you that there are programs out there that definitely

concentrate on teaching you to reference as well as to understand. I

know because I'm currently at student at one of those programs.

They provide a multitude of activities both as a direct part of the

syllabus and extras on their website that simply CANNOT be completed

without extensive referencing. Their tests are also exercises in

referencing so if you can't reference, you won't pass. Our

instructors are ALWAYS available for any questions but instead of

giving a direct answer to anything that can be looked up, they will

point us in the right direction to look ourselves. I, for one,

appreciate that very much! I know I will be a better MT because of

it. I know that's not quite the same as being in the workplace

itself, but it's also not the same as being given a list of words and

meanings to memorize and spit back out on a test. I'm not saying

other schools do this but it does sound like what I hear about some

medical terminology classes. Ok, not gonna get myself in any deeper

on this one.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>Okay, it's my turn to jump in on this one. I have said many times

>to this group that I don't understand how all of you " youngsters " do

>this job without being in the work place and having someone help you

>get started, watching over your shoulder, helping you learn which

>books to look up what words in, show you the ropes, etc. I always

>hope those are the things you are learning in school, not just the

>words and how to understand them, but how to actually do the job. I

>learned this job almost 30 years ago, with totally on the job

>training. I am very impressed by anyone who can start out working

>totally alone and isolated from others by working at home. I spent

>many, many years working in offices and having the help of others

>real ears to help me with those pesky s/l. Things just seem so

>different now than they were when I learned. With that said, I

>really can't understand anyone who can go into an office now and sit

>down and do this job with absolutely no training and have any kind

>of accuracy at all. Maybe doing a specialty and having lots of

>help, but not without a lot of help and still being accurate.

>

>With all of that said, I would like to tell my story. In 1975 I

>needed to go to work and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. A friend

>worked at the local psychiatric hospital/clinic and told me that

>they had a job open for a transcriptionist. I didn't know what that

>was, but I knew that I wanted to do it, so I went down and applied.

>Needless to say, I didn't have what they wanted, but I was very

>persistent. They had three positions, two they had just filled and

>another woman who had been there for awhile. The woman who had been

>there for awhile went to part time for the summer, so they offered

>me her extra time. Because I knew I couldn't do the job but really

>wanted to, I worked extra hard to try to do it. They suddenly

>discovered that I was doing more in 15 hours a week than one of the

> " experienced " women they had hired was doing in 40 hours a week.

>So, I was suddenly hired full time and she became part time.

>

>I have never been sorry about getting into this profession, but it

>took a lot of hard work and a lot of help to get where I am. When I

>finally got into doing acute care (hospital) work, it was really

>difficult, but I had some really great and very particular mentors

>who made sure that I knew what I was doing. Accuracy at my hospital

>has always been something like 99.5% (or is it 99.95%, I can never

>remember). Anyway, 98% accuracy here would get you helped out the

>door.

>

>Sorry this has been such a long post. Will try to keep it shorter

>next time. Margaret

>

>>>> " Hope Kremer " 01/24/03 07:01PM >>>

>Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I

>don't

>find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical

>terminology

>training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got

>my start.

>

>I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in

>the

>right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I

>was

>presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician

>to

>provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were

>hell. I

>had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was

>correct (at

>that time only about 50% was correct).

>

>It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So

>why is it

>so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it

>has been

>done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if

>it is

>something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and

>open

>minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same

>dictator each

>time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which

>you can

>create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

>

>My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the

>medical

>account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing

>about

>the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

>transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't

>trade

>for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my

>opinion,

>that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

>transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way).

>It can

>happen and it has happened without formal training.

>

>Hope Kremer

>Administrative Assistance

>Phone:

>Fax:

>http://www.secretarialsos.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sylvia,

I went through Career Step and I was really impressed that they actually took a

fair amount of time to teach us MTs HOW to look things up! It's one thing that

I find many MTs are lacking......(the ones that work on the same accounts I do).

When I see their reports I'm amazed that they don't even know how to do basic

searching for a funky term :-).

S.

www.mt-resources.com

Re: Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Hi Margaret,

I can tell you that there are programs out there that definitely

concentrate on teaching you to reference as well as to understand. I

know because I'm currently at student at one of those programs.

They provide a multitude of activities both as a direct part of the

syllabus and extras on their website that simply CANNOT be completed

without extensive referencing. Their tests are also exercises in

referencing so if you can't reference, you won't pass. Our

instructors are ALWAYS available for any questions but instead of

giving a direct answer to anything that can be looked up, they will

point us in the right direction to look ourselves. I, for one,

appreciate that very much! I know I will be a better MT because of

it. I know that's not quite the same as being in the workplace

itself, but it's also not the same as being given a list of words and

meanings to memorize and spit back out on a test. I'm not saying

other schools do this but it does sound like what I hear about some

medical terminology classes. Ok, not gonna get myself in any deeper

on this one.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>Okay, it's my turn to jump in on this one. I have said many times

>to this group that I don't understand how all of you " youngsters " do

>this job without being in the work place and having someone help you

>get started, watching over your shoulder, helping you learn which

>books to look up what words in, show you the ropes, etc. I always

>hope those are the things you are learning in school, not just the

>words and how to understand them, but how to actually do the job. I

>learned this job almost 30 years ago, with totally on the job

>training. I am very impressed by anyone who can start out working

>totally alone and isolated from others by working at home. I spent

>many, many years working in offices and having the help of others

>real ears to help me with those pesky s/l. Things just seem so

>different now than they were when I learned. With that said, I

>really can't understand anyone who can go into an office now and sit

>down and do this job with absolutely no training and have any kind

>of accuracy at all. Maybe doing a specialty and having lots of

>help, but not without a lot of help and still being accurate.

>

>With all of that said, I would like to tell my story. In 1975 I

>needed to go to work and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. A friend

>worked at the local psychiatric hospital/clinic and told me that

>they had a job open for a transcriptionist. I didn't know what that

>was, but I knew that I wanted to do it, so I went down and applied.

>Needless to say, I didn't have what they wanted, but I was very

>persistent. They had three positions, two they had just filled and

>another woman who had been there for awhile. The woman who had been

>there for awhile went to part time for the summer, so they offered

>me her extra time. Because I knew I couldn't do the job but really

>wanted to, I worked extra hard to try to do it. They suddenly

>discovered that I was doing more in 15 hours a week than one of the

> " experienced " women they had hired was doing in 40 hours a week.

>So, I was suddenly hired full time and she became part time.

>

>I have never been sorry about getting into this profession, but it

>took a lot of hard work and a lot of help to get where I am. When I

>finally got into doing acute care (hospital) work, it was really

>difficult, but I had some really great and very particular mentors

>who made sure that I knew what I was doing. Accuracy at my hospital

>has always been something like 99.5% (or is it 99.95%, I can never

>remember). Anyway, 98% accuracy here would get you helped out the

>door.

>

>Sorry this has been such a long post. Will try to keep it shorter

>next time. Margaret

>

>>>> " Hope Kremer " 01/24/03 07:01PM >>>

>Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I

>don't

>find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical

>terminology

>training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got

>my start.

>

>I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in

>the

>right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I

>was

>presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician

>to

>provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were

>hell. I

>had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was

>correct (at

>that time only about 50% was correct).

>

>It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So

>why is it

>so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it

>has been

>done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if

>it is

>something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and

>open

>minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same

>dictator each

>time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which

>you can

>create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

>

>My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the

>medical

>account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing

>about

>the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

>transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't

>trade

>for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my

>opinion,

>that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

>transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way).

>It can

>happen and it has happened without formal training.

>

>Hope Kremer

>Administrative Assistance

>Phone:

>Fax:

>http://www.secretarialsos.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Valeria,

I think this whole thing is getting misunderstood. My point being that you

can do medical transcription without formal education if you find the right

person to allow you.

It seems to me that many of these replies are insisting that I stated that

formal education is not important. That was not my point at all. Formal

education is important for various professions, such as doctors, dentists,

etc. as you pointed out. As a matter of fact, I have an Associate's Degree

in Business Management and would not have considered even starting my own

business without the degree plus the experience I gained through my previous

" real " jobs. The experience and knowledge that I have gained was not from a

classroom or textbook but rather it was from real life situations such as

the clients I have obtained.

I'm a firm believer that it is not what is on paper that is important but

the experience you actually have in doing what needs to be done. Would it

matter to you have someone with a degree doing transcription for you or

would a person with no degree who knows what they are doing be just as

equal?

Anyway, no offense taken. I still feel as though this post was

misunderstood. I was merely pointing out that it can be done without

education NOT that education was NOT IMPORTANT.

Hope

Re: Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Hope, no offense intended, and I hope you take none.

Being in the education business, my basic belief is that education is a

good thing. I also have a deep-seated belief that any occupation will gain

more respect if it is considered a profession than if it is considered as

" just a job " by both the people who sign the paychecks and the public at

large. If the people doing the job believe that no education is necessary

and no special training is necessary, anyone who is warm under the armpits

can do the job, then that occupation is going to have a hard time gaining

respect and commensurate pay.

By the way, I think 98 percent accuracy is excellent for someone with no

prior training who's been on the job for only a month. I would give a 98

percent accurate document a failing grade if it were turned in for a class

assignment, but then that's the difference between a classroom and real

life. I'm not sure I'd want to have a physician working on me who thought

98 percent accuracy in treating patients was sufficient, either. In fact,

that is a scary thought.

Nurses didn't start to get paid what they are worth until nursing became a

profession, complete with education and certification requirements. Dental

assistants didn't get the respect and pay they deserved until they became a

profession. Medical assistants didn't start to get paid what they are worth

until they became a profession. The physician's assistants had a hard time

getting their profession up and running, and now many offices would be hard

pressed to do without the PAs--and they have education and certification

requirements, and they get paid what they are worth. And so on and so on.

I truly believe that medical transcription SHOULD be a profession,

complete with required training and entrance exams--I also believe that the

current situation with AAMT and their certification process is

counterproductive, not productive. You may disagree with me. Heck, I could

be dead wrong. I am gratified to see that we are all talking about it,

though!

At 04:01 PM 1/24/2003 -0800, Hope Kremer wrote:

Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my

start.

I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were

hell. I

had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct

(at

that time only about 50% was correct).

It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why

is it

so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has

been

done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it

is

something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator

each

time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you

can

create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the

medical

account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing

about

the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't

trade

for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my

opinion,

that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It

can

happen and it has happened without formal training.

Hope Kremer

Administrative Assistance

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.secretarialsos.com

[Guest guest]

Valeria,

I think this whole thing is getting misunderstood. My point being that you

can do medical transcription without formal education if you find the right

person to allow you.

It seems to me that many of these replies are insisting that I stated that

formal education is not important. That was not my point at all. Formal

education is important for various professions, such as doctors, dentists,

etc. as you pointed out. As a matter of fact, I have an Associate's Degree

in Business Management and would not have considered even starting my own

business without the degree plus the experience I gained through my previous

" real " jobs. The experience and knowledge that I have gained was not from a

classroom or textbook but rather it was from real life situations such as

the clients I have obtained.

I'm a firm believer that it is not what is on paper that is important but

the experience you actually have in doing what needs to be done. Would it

matter to you have someone with a degree doing transcription for you or

would a person with no degree who knows what they are doing be just as

equal?

Anyway, no offense taken. I still feel as though this post was

misunderstood. I was merely pointing out that it can be done without

education NOT that education was NOT IMPORTANT.

Hope

Re: Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Hope, no offense intended, and I hope you take none.

Being in the education business, my basic belief is that education is a

good thing. I also have a deep-seated belief that any occupation will gain

more respect if it is considered a profession than if it is considered as

" just a job " by both the people who sign the paychecks and the public at

large. If the people doing the job believe that no education is necessary

and no special training is necessary, anyone who is warm under the armpits

can do the job, then that occupation is going to have a hard time gaining

respect and commensurate pay.

By the way, I think 98 percent accuracy is excellent for someone with no

prior training who's been on the job for only a month. I would give a 98

percent accurate document a failing grade if it were turned in for a class

assignment, but then that's the difference between a classroom and real

life. I'm not sure I'd want to have a physician working on me who thought

98 percent accuracy in treating patients was sufficient, either. In fact,

that is a scary thought.

Nurses didn't start to get paid what they are worth until nursing became a

profession, complete with education and certification requirements. Dental

assistants didn't get the respect and pay they deserved until they became a

profession. Medical assistants didn't start to get paid what they are worth

until they became a profession. The physician's assistants had a hard time

getting their profession up and running, and now many offices would be hard

pressed to do without the PAs--and they have education and certification

requirements, and they get paid what they are worth. And so on and so on.

I truly believe that medical transcription SHOULD be a profession,

complete with required training and entrance exams--I also believe that the

current situation with AAMT and their certification process is

counterproductive, not productive. You may disagree with me. Heck, I could

be dead wrong. I am gratified to see that we are all talking about it,

though!

At 04:01 PM 1/24/2003 -0800, Hope Kremer wrote:

Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my

start.

I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were

hell. I

had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct

(at

that time only about 50% was correct).

It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why

is it

so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has

been

done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it

is

something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator

each

time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you

can

create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the

medical

account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing

about

the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't

trade

for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my

opinion,

that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It

can

happen and it has happened without formal training.

Hope Kremer

Administrative Assistance

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.secretarialsos.com

[Guest guest]

Me too! I have had my own business for many years and never had any formal

training, but I did have a great education way back when and a good eye for

editing. I got started doing counselors, who really needed me to fix their

run-on sentences. I have gotten each account after that by word of mouth and

have done many specialties.

-- Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my start.

I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were hell. I

had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct (at

that time only about 50% was correct).

It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why is it

so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has been

done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it is

something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator each

time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you can

create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the medical

account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing about

the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't trade

for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my opinion,

that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It can

happen and it has happened without formal training.

Hope Kremer

Administrative Assistance

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.secretarialsos.com

[Guest guest]

No Margaret, don't keep your posts short. I read what you said with

great interest and I know I'm not the only one.

Robyn

Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

> Okay, it's my turn to jump in on this one. I have said many times to this

group that I don't understand how all of you " youngsters " do this job

without being in the work place and having someone help you get started,

watching over your shoulder, helping you learn which books to look up what

words in, show you the ropes, etc. I always hope those are the things you

are learning in school, not just the words and how to understand them, but

how to actually do the job. I learned this job almost 30 years ago, with

totally on the job training. I am very impressed by anyone who can start

out working totally alone and isolated from others by working at home. I

spent many, many years working in offices and having the help of others real

ears to help me with those pesky s/l. Things just seem so different now

than they were when I learned. With that said, I really can't understand

anyone who can go into an office now and sit down and do this job with

absolutely no training and have any kind of accuracy at all. Maybe doing a

specialty and having lots of help, but not without a lot of help and still

being accurate.

>

> With all of that said, I would like to tell my story. In 1975 I needed to

go to work and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. A friend worked at the

local psychiatric hospital/clinic and told me that they had a job open for a

transcriptionist. I didn't know what that was, but I knew that I wanted to

do it, so I went down and applied. Needless to say, I didn't have what they

wanted, but I was very persistent. They had three positions, two they had

just filled and another woman who had been there for awhile. The woman who

had been there for awhile went to part time for the summer, so they offered

me her extra time. Because I knew I couldn't do the job but really wanted

to, I worked extra hard to try to do it. They suddenly discovered that I

was doing more in 15 hours a week than one of the " experienced " women they

had hired was doing in 40 hours a week. So, I was suddenly hired full time

and she became part time.

>

> I have never been sorry about getting into this profession, but it took a

lot of hard work and a lot of help to get where I am. When I finally got

into doing acute care (hospital) work, it was really difficult, but I had

some really great and very particular mentors who made sure that I knew what

I was doing. Accuracy at my hospital has always been something like 99.5%

(or is it 99.95%, I can never remember). Anyway, 98% accuracy here would

get you helped out the door.

>

> Sorry this has been such a long post. Will try to keep it shorter next

time. Margaret

[Guest guest]

Margaret,

Robyn is right! Keep throwing your thoughts and updates out here.

BTW, I haven't read all my mail today but just wondered if you saw my

response to this post of yours.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>No Margaret, don't keep your posts short. I read what you said

>with

>great interest and I know I'm not the only one.

>

>Robyn

>

>

> Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

>

>

>>Okay, it's my turn to jump in on this one. I have said many times

>>to this

>group that I don't understand how all of you " youngsters " do this

job

>without being in the work place and having someone help you get

>started,

>watching over your shoulder, helping you learn which books to look

>up what

>words in, show you the ropes, etc. I always hope those are the

>things you

>are learning in school, not just the words and how to understand

>them, but

>how to actually do the job. I learned this job almost 30 years ago,

>with

>totally on the job training. I am very impressed by anyone who can

>start

>out working totally alone and isolated from others by working at

>home. I

>spent many, many years working in offices and having the help of

>others real

>ears to help me with those pesky s/l. Things just seem so different

>now

>than they were when I learned. With that said, I really can't

>understand

>anyone who can go into an office now and sit down and do this job

>with

>absolutely no training and have any kind of accuracy at all. Maybe

>doing a

>specialty and having lots of help, but not without a lot of help and

>still

>being accurate.

>>

>>With all of that said, I would like to tell my story. In 1975 I

>>needed to

>go to work and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. A friend worked at

>the

>local psychiatric hospital/clinic and told me that they had a job

>open for a

>transcriptionist. I didn't know what that was, but I knew that I

>wanted to

>do it, so I went down and applied. Needless to say, I didn't have

>what they

>wanted, but I was very persistent. They had three positions, two

>they had

>just filled and another woman who had been there for awhile. The

>woman who

>had been there for awhile went to part time for the summer, so they

>offered

>me her extra time. Because I knew I couldn't do the job but really

>wanted

>to, I worked extra hard to try to do it. They suddenly discovered

>that I

>was doing more in 15 hours a week than one of the " experienced "

>women they

>had hired was doing in 40 hours a week. So, I was suddenly hired

>full time

>and she became part time.

>>

>>I have never been sorry about getting into this profession, but it

>>took a

>lot of hard work and a lot of help to get where I am. When I

>finally got

>into doing acute care (hospital) work, it was really difficult, but

>I had

>some really great and very particular mentors who made sure that I

>knew what

>I was doing. Accuracy at my hospital has always been something like

>99.5%

>(or is it 99.95%, I can never remember). Anyway, 98% accuracy here

>would

>get you helped out the door.

>>

>>Sorry this has been such a long post. Will try to keep it shorter

>>next

>time. Margaret

>

>

>TO UNSUBSCRIBE send a blank email to

NMTC-unsubscribe

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Margaret,

Robyn is right! Keep throwing your thoughts and updates out here.

BTW, I haven't read all my mail today but just wondered if you saw my

response to this post of yours.

Sylvia Roller

M-TEC Student - Session 2-3

gentlsong@...

AIM: Jntlsong

ICQ: 383585

>No Margaret, don't keep your posts short. I read what you said

>with

>great interest and I know I'm not the only one.

>

>Robyn

>

>

> Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

>

>

>>Okay, it's my turn to jump in on this one. I have said many times

>>to this

>group that I don't understand how all of you " youngsters " do this

job

>without being in the work place and having someone help you get

>started,

>watching over your shoulder, helping you learn which books to look

>up what

>words in, show you the ropes, etc. I always hope those are the

>things you

>are learning in school, not just the words and how to understand

>them, but

>how to actually do the job. I learned this job almost 30 years ago,

>with

>totally on the job training. I am very impressed by anyone who can

>start

>out working totally alone and isolated from others by working at

>home. I

>spent many, many years working in offices and having the help of

>others real

>ears to help me with those pesky s/l. Things just seem so different

>now

>than they were when I learned. With that said, I really can't

>understand

>anyone who can go into an office now and sit down and do this job

>with

>absolutely no training and have any kind of accuracy at all. Maybe

>doing a

>specialty and having lots of help, but not without a lot of help and

>still

>being accurate.

>>

>>With all of that said, I would like to tell my story. In 1975 I

>>needed to

>go to work and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. A friend worked at

>the

>local psychiatric hospital/clinic and told me that they had a job

>open for a

>transcriptionist. I didn't know what that was, but I knew that I

>wanted to

>do it, so I went down and applied. Needless to say, I didn't have

>what they

>wanted, but I was very persistent. They had three positions, two

>they had

>just filled and another woman who had been there for awhile. The

>woman who

>had been there for awhile went to part time for the summer, so they

>offered

>me her extra time. Because I knew I couldn't do the job but really

>wanted

>to, I worked extra hard to try to do it. They suddenly discovered

>that I

>was doing more in 15 hours a week than one of the " experienced "

>women they

>had hired was doing in 40 hours a week. So, I was suddenly hired

>full time

>and she became part time.

>>

>>I have never been sorry about getting into this profession, but it

>>took a

>lot of hard work and a lot of help to get where I am. When I

>finally got

>into doing acute care (hospital) work, it was really difficult, but

>I had

>some really great and very particular mentors who made sure that I

>knew what

>I was doing. Accuracy at my hospital has always been something like

>99.5%

>(or is it 99.95%, I can never remember). Anyway, 98% accuracy here

>would

>get you helped out the door.

>>

>>Sorry this has been such a long post. Will try to keep it shorter

>>next

>time. Margaret

>

>

>TO UNSUBSCRIBE send a blank email to

NMTC-unsubscribe

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree with you and add on that if someone does get their foot in the door

without the education and does nothing to increase their education once

they are in the door they won't last long. I keep looking for ways to

increase my skills but also my education by reading over the community

college and SBA classes. We all need to be increasing our knowledge.

The lead article in Advance this week mentions with the ongoing technologiy

it is not possible for us to succeed without educating ourselves on a daily

basis.

Aliceanne

At 09:30 AM 1/25/2003 -0800, Hope Kremer wrote:

>Valeria,

>

>I think this whole thing is getting misunderstood. My point being that you

>can do medical transcription without formal education if you find the right

>person to allow you.

>

>It seems to me that many of these replies are insisting that I stated that

>formal education is not important. That was not my point at all. Formal

>education is important for various professions, such as doctors, dentists,

>etc. as you pointed out. As a matter of fact, I have an Associate's Degree

>in Business Management and would not have considered even starting my own

>business without the degree plus the experience I gained through my previous

> " real " jobs. The experience and knowledge that I have gained was not from a

>classroom or textbook but rather it was from real life situations such as

>the clients I have obtained.

>

>I'm a firm believer that it is not what is on paper that is important but

>the experience you actually have in doing what needs to be done. Would it

>matter to you have someone with a degree doing transcription for you or

>would a person with no degree who knows what they are doing be just as

>equal?

>

>Anyway, no offense taken. I still feel as though this post was

>misunderstood. I was merely pointing out that it can be done without

>education NOT that education was NOT IMPORTANT.

>

>Hope

> Re: Re: Since the board is busy today..Newbie questions

>

>

> Hope, no offense intended, and I hope you take none.

>

> Being in the education business, my basic belief is that education is a

>good thing. I also have a deep-seated belief that any occupation will gain

>more respect if it is considered a profession than if it is considered as

> " just a job " by both the people who sign the paychecks and the public at

>large. If the people doing the job believe that no education is necessary

>and no special training is necessary, anyone who is warm under the armpits

>can do the job, then that occupation is going to have a hard time gaining

>respect and commensurate pay.

>

> By the way, I think 98 percent accuracy is excellent for someone with no

>prior training who's been on the job for only a month. I would give a 98

>percent accurate document a failing grade if it were turned in for a class

>assignment, but then that's the difference between a classroom and real

>life. I'm not sure I'd want to have a physician working on me who thought

>98 percent accuracy in treating patients was sufficient, either. In fact,

>that is a scary thought.

>

> Nurses didn't start to get paid what they are worth until nursing became a

>profession, complete with education and certification requirements. Dental

>assistants didn't get the respect and pay they deserved until they became a

>profession. Medical assistants didn't start to get paid what they are worth

>until they became a profession. The physician's assistants had a hard time

>getting their profession up and running, and now many offices would be hard

>pressed to do without the PAs--and they have education and certification

>requirements, and they get paid what they are worth. And so on and so on.

>

> I truly believe that medical transcription SHOULD be a profession,

>complete with required training and entrance exams--I also believe that the

>current situation with AAMT and their certification process is

>counterproductive, not productive. You may disagree with me. Heck, I could

>be dead wrong. I am gratified to see that we are all talking about it,

>though!

>

> At 04:01 PM 1/24/2003 -0800, Hope Kremer wrote:

>

> Since I'm finally caught up I figured I would jump in here also. I don't

> find it so hard to believe that someone who has no medical terminology

> training to be able to do medical transcription. This is how I got my

>start.

>

> I had/have no formal medical terminology training and having been in the

> right place and the right time (at my office when my phone rang) I was

> presented with the opportunity to meet with a local family physician to

> provide this service for him. I will admit, the first two weeks were

>hell. I

> had no clue as to what he was saying or if what I was typing was correct

>(at

> that time only about 50% was correct).

>

> It has now been a little over a month and I am at 98% accuracy. So why

>is it

> so hard to believe that this cannot be done? It can be done and it has

>been

> done, not just by me but by a lot of other people. I believe that if it

>is

> something you want to do then you can do it by being persistent and open

> minded to learn from your mistakes. Also if you have the same dictator

>each

> time, then there will be things that are redundant and routine which you

>can

> create the macros, short cuts, or whatever you want to call them.

>

> My first transcription client was gained the same way I gained the

>medical

> account. Being in the right place at the right time. I knew nothing

>about

> the psychology field when I met with the psychologist in need of

> transcription service, but now she is my biggest client and wouldn't

>trade

> for me the world (tooting my own horn, but it is true). So in my

>opinion,

> that little piece of paper that states you have completed a medical

> transcription course is not necessarily needed (in my case any way). It

>can

> happen and it has happened without formal training.

>

> Hope Kremer

> Administrative Assistance

> Phone:

> Fax:

> <http://www.secretarialsos.com>http://www.secretarialsos.com

>

>

>