MTHomeTraining

[Maryanne]

Hi, here's my story:

I started the program in November or December of 2006, thinking it would take me 6 months or less of diligent work (& ignoring housework) to finish. Ha! Life interfered - holidays, then warm weather, then I found we were moving & had to do 5 years' worth of improvements on our house in 3 months. Needless to say, I didn't finish until just before Christmas of 2007, well off my schedule.

After reading Leland's advice, I started sending off applications & resumes right away (just before Christmas - good timing). I must have sent out 20 or so all together, using the MTJobs site Sonja gave us. Again, with Leland's advice, I ignored the "experience required" part. I took as many online tests as I could. Two companies sent me their tests. Most did not respond, a couple turned me down as a newbie. I failed one test, passed one but didn't have enough experience, passed one & was offered an internship (unpaid), passed another & was offered a job at $0.08/line - more than I expected. I took that one! I also, against Sonja's level-headed advice, signed up for the internship, as they mentioned the possibility of editing jobs being available after completion. Yes, biting off a lot - a strong suit of mine.

It took about a week to get everything set up with software & security devices, but since they (New England Medical Transcription) had just taken over a new account, they were desperate for help & I started typing right away, using Word & e-mailing the files to be entered into the system by the editors. I was on 100% oversight (they checked everything, blanks or no blanks) for 3 or 4 days, then went to independent status. I send in only those that have blanks or questions. The editors have been helpful, friendly, supportive, while maintaining their focus on quality output. I had read some complaints on one of the boards about no responses, overwhelming workload, no payment, etc. - not a problem for me. I am doing a lot of op reports, along with H&Ps & discharge summaries.

Luckily, my internship did not start until I was about 3 weeks into the first job. I decided to do it because I was still getting some humbling feedback from my editors, & thought any additional training I could get would be all to the good. It was through Focus Infomatics. My class was about 18 people, with quite a range of experience. Some had never used a word expander, some had been working 10 years. We had 2 conference calls last week to learn about the system & get some good computer shortcuts, & some of us were able to start typing the 30 reports we need to complete training that week (some software issues, & the trainer was ill). Another conference call this week (each about 3 hours long) on expanders, & now we're on autopilot. I did about 4 reports on 100% oversight & was given independent status this week (only sending in blanks/questions, otherwise I just submit reports to the system). Again, everyone has been friendly & helpful.

I am enjoying the work & feel I have an important part in patient care - someone needs to make these dictations look good!

Some things I've learned:
>Take the complainers on the boards (like MTStars) with a grain of salt. I looked up all the companies I applied to, & most had someone grousing. Maybe be cautious of the ones that have a lot of emphatic unhappiness posted? It took me 2 or 3 weeks to get the job at NEMT, & by that time I was ready to take anything! I figured, start getting paid, & keep looking if you're unhappy.

>Ignore the stuff about "tons of ESLs" (foreign docs with heavy accents - English as a Second Language). You are going to find them everywhere, & you might as well get used to it. Some born-&-bred Americans do pretty well at the high-speed talking, slurring, & mumbling, too.

>Account specifics matter! I got used to Sonja's formats (of course no blame to Sonja here) & tried to impose them a little too much on NEMT's accounts. They all have little differences, & when you get checked on accuracy, you'll lose points if you don't treat that account's requirements like gospel.

>Spellcheck everything! Easy to make silly mistakes that 30 seconds of spellchecking can fix.

>Get your fellow MTs on your instant messenger, or at least keep their e-mail addresses handy. Once I was working on a long stat H&P - like 30 minutes, really long - & I had to leave in the middle of it. I had already been working on it for about 2 hours & did not want to make it even later by sending it back to the work pool & having someone else start from scratch. So I sent an e-mail out & asked if anyone wanted to take over, & luckily someone caught it & finished it up for me. (I e-mailed what I had done to her.) I did not get credit for all the lines I had done (I was about 23 minutes into it), but kept the turnaround time reasonable. Plus, maybe she'll do the same for me one day. You can also ask around for help with a doc's certain phrases: "What does Smith usually say after he finds a polyp - 'polyp snared & ____'?" Might help. Of course, your editors can do it for you, too. If you don't think your coworker is right, certainly send it to the editor.

>It seems to me most accounts are "verbatim" - you type what you hear. Don't get too caught up in making everything standardized - same headings, etc. Docs usually like to see what they actually said, & plus you'll lose out on accuracy checks. Even if it's a little awkward, like "patient was found to be having a chest pain" - a little wordy for my taste - just type it. My Focus instructor said, "The client is always right!" No public (online or e-mail) negative remarks, either!

>I did not find many part-time jobs open, which is what I initially wanted; jumping into full-time seemed a bit much, since I was moving & I homeschool my 3 kids. But I took what I could get, 2 full-timish jobs. I do what I can. The NEMT job is independent contractor status, so I only get paid for what I type, whenever I type it. I try to do my part in keeping up with the workload, but I rarely do 8 hours straight. The Focus job will be as an employee (because I'm now in NH), & I will have to be a little more trackable to them. Still flexible, though.

My Focus instructor also said it takes about 3 months to start seeing good money. I am still getting my expander tailored & trying to keep the account specifics straight. As I get more experience with the docs I keep hearing, it gets easier.

Whew, that was longer than I expected! Hope it helps.

Maryanne

[sonja]

Thanks for taking the time to relate your story Maryanne!!

I hope that students here who are still working at it note that it took you 2-3 weeks to find a job. That is about average for finding a job in the "regular" workplace - WITH experience!!

The wonderful thing (imo) about this industry is, as Maryanne said, if you dont like your job, you can keep looking for another while you are still working. Since your interviews are done online and on the phone, it's not as if you have to take a day off to go hunting, etc.

The first time you look for a job should be the longest time you are out of work! After that, you _should_ be able to stay continually employed. I went 8 years without being involuntarily out of work ever.
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Sonja Philip