You should research the industry to get an overall idea how it operates as a whole. It's tough!! After one year, I called it quits because it paid so little for the amount of time I put in. I basically worked to pay off what it cost to take this class.
They use Word and it requires a TON of busy work entering in patient data. Most companies use specialized software that makes it easier and faster to do. They need to step up their technology.
The course work was pretty useless. They could do a much better job at preparing students for internship with a better curriculum. They give you absolutely ZERO assistance in setting up your computer and zero assistance on how to transcribe your first set of files. If you ask a lot of questions, you will be ignored. The computer is relatively easy to set up. They give you good instructions.
The internship was brutal! They do a very poor job at preparing you for transcribing on their accounts, which frustrates the intern crew leaders. My intern crew leader was very nasty and took it personal when I made mistakes. She would make condescending comments on my work, not constructive criticism. BIG DIFFERENCE!!! You will also spend 6-12 hours a day transcribing files no matter where you go to school.
After speaking to many MTs through blogs and forums, the INDUSTRY is notorious for ignoring questions... even just one or two (they want you to be completely self-sufficient). And your first crew leaders are usually pretty nasty. They're not teachers. They are MTs who want to make more money as a proofer or crew leader, so cross your fingers you get a nice one.
I did get hired on immediately after internship and my crew leader was so kind and easy to work with. She was a complete opposite of the internship experience.
YOU NEED TO BE FAST TYPIST!!
I spent 8-12 hours a day on the voice files for over eight months. It was almost impossible to get really fast and finish it in real part-time hours. BUT, it can be done!! And they do not care. They expect you to transcribe 5000+ lines in a two-week period after three months. (With that said, most places make you do that from day one, if you can get a job).
The things they do not freely tell you:
- You could be on 1-3 month wait list to start your internship... even after you paid in full.
- Industry standard pay is 7 cents per line. This company starts you at 5 cents per line for the first 3 months, and at the ONE-YEAR mark you can make 6 cents per line part time or 7 cents per line full time.
- You WILL BE CHARGED FOR YOUR MISTAKES that your proofer does not catch. For example, if you type a dictation that is 100 lines and you misspell a name (technically one line or less than 1 line), they charge you AND your proofer .01 cent a line for the ENTIRE document, so that mistake will cost $1.00. After you get on your own, they charge you 2 cents per line for that mistake. (None of the MTs I have interacted with have ever heard of being charged for mistakes or getting paid so low).
- They tell you that you will be responsible for transcribing 80 minutes per day, but that is 80 minutes accumulative over five days. So, you can get overloaded with minutes one day, have none the next day, but you are still required to finish the work in one day, even if you're not fast enough. The industry standard is to complete a set amount of lines, not minutes - 500 lines for part time and 1000 lines for full time. And most companies will let you do more if you want, but you have to meet the minimum. So, do the math - 5000 lines over two weeks X .05 per line is what you will make. You will actually do between 5000 - 5400 lines.
- It is okay to submit late work (but you will be charged for it if the client charges them). You have no control over the amount of work they assign you.
- You have to wait until noon every day to see if you are going to be assigned any work. Everything is due by 3:30 am the following day. You also have to wait for appointments sheets to be finalized and that could take most of the day, so, you have to work around them. Most companies have software that uploads the dictations as soon as they are done, so you can go in a upload your work at any time and work late nights/early mornings, and you do not have to deal with appointment sheets.
- You get time off, unpaid of course. You have to request time off and summers/holidays are always booked. It is not a flexible schedule at all.
- It seems like they have a high turnover, which makes sense by the way things are set up.
- Direct deposit is $1.50 per check
PROS:
Guaranteed job after internship. Can't beat that!
Nice crew leader.
CONS:
Poor interpersonal communication style.
Outdated technology.
You will be charged for mistakes.
Work is assigned and is done on their timeline.
No flexibility in time off.
Low pay.
They don't seem to care about their MTs as a whole.
This is a cheap way to start a new career. Go to MT Stars and read as many blogs and reviews as you can. read more