I am Interviewed At Medical Transcriptionist Dot Org

By Raj | Jul 23, 2009

I am interviewed at medicaltranscriptionist.org. Thanks to Jennifer Walsh, editor, medicaltranscriptionist.org, for interviewing me and publishing it on the site, it’s a first interview of such sort so far in my career as a medical transcriptionist.

The questions included: How I got into the medical transcription industry, my advice for someone aspiring to step into the medical transcription profession today, productivity insights, and my views about the US healthcare system and the future of MT industry in the era of EMR. Interesting? Read my mind and see what happened here: Interview with Rajasekharan N.

Update 1: Feel free to share your thoughts about the interview through the comment form here instead of reaching me through the contact form. Opinions always differ and a discussion on the differed opinions may churn out further fruitful information. I always give ear to my critics and absorb pat and critique alike; in fact, criticism helps make one much more perfect.

Update 2: Susan Dyson, a transcriptionist from Spain, has reviewed the interview on her blog, Cagora Medical Transcription Community. Thanks Sue for the review of my interview.

Tags: medical transcription industry, medical transcription profession, medical transcriptionist

7 Responses to “I am Interviewed At Medical Transcriptionist Dot Org”

Serena on July 24th, 2009, at 11:25 pm said:

Interesting interview. However, I would disagree with your statement that you can get started in this field without experience. In the US today it is very difficult for MTs to obtain employment without at least two years of experience on acute care accounts. This applies even to graduates of quality training programs.

Raj on July 25th, 2009, at 1:20 am said:

I don’t remember saying anywhere in the interview except that one don’t need any basic educational qualification/credential to step into medical transcription career. Experience matters in offshore destinations too and is a deciding factor on where you can get employed, like choosing a company with good track record and morale, and how much you would get paid.

However, having you mentioned that two years of experience is needed to be employed, just for a debate I’m putting you across this question:

Anybody stepping into medical transcription career would have been a fresher one day, say after she/he has finished a training program. How can a fresher who has just done a six month/one year training program get employed? What would you advice them to gain experience before getting employed?

Serena on July 26th, 2009, at 12:29 am said:

My apologies, I should have stated my opinion a little more clearly. I was referring to the statement you mentioned above. To be more succint, it is mostly impossible to obtain a job, and therefore experience, without being educated in this field. So, I believe you do need educational qualifications. If I am still misunderstanding your statement, I stand corrected.

To answer your questions:

Some companies will hire newbies, i.e. less than two years experience. However, they are few and far between these days. If one graduates from a school that partners with the MTSOs, it becomes much easier. There are still no guarantees. The transcriptionist in question will usually be offered substantially less.

My advice is to look for smaller companies that are willing to mentor newbies, or to network for accounts for local phycisians. Clinic notes are much easier for the inexperienced and reduce the need for the QA backup that MTSOs offer. There is also the alternative of working for a time in an office or hospital setting to gain the experience that is required by some firms.

The last option is disappointing to someone who is counting on working from home. However, it may be the only option to gain the needed experience. Mostly, it is hanging in there and applying to every company you can, keeping your skills sharp, and following up regularly so these companies see you are eager to work.

I know of no way to gain experience before you are employed other than continuing to utilize practice tapes to transcribe or perhaps to work at general transcription. There are general transcription companies that hire graduates, although the pay is generally low. I do know some students who take general transcription jobs while studying for extra income and that can help a little on a resume.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify my remarks and for the questions. These questions are not asked or answered enough for people who are interested in pursuing a career in medical transcription.

Dobbyn on July 28th, 2009, at 6:04 pm said:

Refering to Serena’s statement, it helped me because I went to school for certified medical asst in 93 and didn’t have two to three years’ experience either. So I got no jobs. The school had external jobs after the class but I told them I had a dr to do with, which I shouldn’t have lied, regardless I found no work and did home health care. So you see, it is hard to find employment. So now I am going to school on line for medical transcription and to hear they might help me get employment doesn’t make me much happier. Maybe we need to know how we can build up our experience to become better paid at what we do in a quicker time.

Thanks,
Dobbyn.

Raj on July 29th, 2009, at 1:49 am said:

“There is also the alternative of working for a time in an office or hospital setting to gain the experience that is required by some firms.”

“Mostly, it is hanging in there and applying to every company you can, keeping your skills sharp, and following up regularly so these companies see you are eager to work.”

Partially I intended to say about this lateral entry. To squeeze into a hospital or a clinic through your social networking and contacts. For that, all that you need is solid contacts with the doctor or hospital administrator there, who generally might be aware of your capabilities to outsee your educational qualifications.

Partially what I meant was your education can be in any discipline, no need that it should have included anything related to medicine.

I personally know couple of medical transcriptionists onshore who got into the field through the mode described above.

Elaborating these would have elongated the interview further, hence made that part short and sweet. Thanks Serena for this debate giving me an opportunity to speak further clear.

Bob on July 30th, 2009, at 12:57 am said:

I have trying to get a job as a ( MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION ) for over (2) years , but I don’t have (2) years ex-pe-ri-ence!!
If know one will give me a change, could you let me know smething?

Thank You

Bob

Raj on July 30th, 2009, at 1:42 am said:

If you’re so keen about being a medical transcriptionist, try to squeeze in anywhere even without a pay for some time, improve your skills, gain experience, and then jump from there to a respectful paying job. Where there is a will, there is a way! Instead of having wasted two years with no use, you could have at least worked somewhere for minimal pay/no pay and gained some experience.

It’s a tough economic time for the past two years. Same as the case with nursing jobs, even people who fled their career in medical transcription industry too are trying their best to return back to earn and be supportive to their partners. Hence the competition has become so intense where only the fittest survives!