Too bad......

I took a course in Medical Transcription, and the woman in the town where I live who was running the course made it seem like we (students) would all be able to get jobs once done with the course. Not one of the students ever got a transcription job and the woman pulled out before the training was through,...taking real tapes out of the course and the students could only practice with made up tapes. This woman cannot be reached whatsoever....anywhere. To me, she must be hiding out. At first when the course ended, I was nice about it...but all the time and money spent and realizing I will never be an MT and knowing that she is "hiding out" makes me think that she is a lot worse than I thought she was and never had any intention of really helping anyone become an MT. She let the woman who owned the school conflict with her at the sacrifice of her students. I am not a nasty person, but was just wondering whatever happened to this MT teacher who ran this course. Probably no one out there can help me?

Just wanted to add, I think it is too bad that this woman cannot (unless she has personal problems ..health, family, etc) acknowledge any student that she ever had and own up to the fact that she promised we could practice from real tapes and just took them out of the class because she had a conflict with the owner of the school who used to (I guess) be her friend. I took an interest in becoming an MT, but a lot of the students said that this woman really didn't want anymore "MTs" out there because of competition, and now I realize that they were correct. I am not trying to make this woman feel guilty, but she doesn't have to "hide out" like a criminal. I doubt that any, any of her former students from years ago would ever do her any kind of harm - but she acts like she did something really wrong. She should have thought about the way she is before she even took on the responsibility of teaching students MT.

I'm so sorry, Lisa.

I'm always telling prospective MTs to pick one of the AHDI-approved schools so this kind of thing doesn't happen to them. There are a lot of little scammy MT schools around, and people pick them because they're less expensive than a real MT school.

Anyway, if you're still interested in MT, go to the ADHI website, linked below, and look through the MT schools listed there. The two best MT schools are Andrews and M-Tec. They're both offer very comprehensive training and are well-known to MT companies, and the companies overlook their 2-year work experience requirement for graduates of those schools.

Here's the link: www.ahdionline.org/scriptcontent/mtapproved.cfm

Thank you MTathome. I appreciate your telling me about Andrews (which is a good MT school, and M-Tec.) I used to be really interested, but this initial school (in my hometown, which is small) kind of made me distrustful about what to do. So...I do keep other schools in mind, but really don't have anymore money to spend on a new career. It happens, but this school and woman I checked out and it really seemed legitimate. The woman doesn't have to "hide out" like she is a really bad person though. I think she is making it worse for herself by doing so. People (students) are still discussing how they never got a job out of that school...but I know that not one student would ever really personally "bother" her. I think in the end, she had some medical problems,....but still she should have taken that into account as to the way she was acting towards the very course that she made thousands and thousands of dollars off of. She showed no loyalty or dedication to her students or to the principles of teaching and she acted in the end of the course very, very unprofessional. It is just strange though, that it is like over the past 5 years, she has disappeared from the face of the earth...(last time I heard she was living in Conn.) and she was a well-known CMT.
But thank you again for answering me in the forum...it does make me feel somewhat better to know that there are other schools and courses out there that are a scam. I live and learn...sometimes the hard way.
Lisa

I went to PCDI for medical transcription and never obtained a job.

I never heard of PCDI (?), but that is too bad. I know - all the hard work and money and absolutely nothing to show for it. I really took an interest in medical transcription. Even if it was phased out, I would still be interested in editing reports. But no one gives anyone a break in the business, unless your a friend of a friend. You have to have 2 years experience in the acute care field and how is one going to obtain that if no one hires you from the start out of a school. I know people who were a unit secretary and a housecleaner in a hospital and put in for transcription, the hospital staff trained them and they are now successful transcriptionists working who (at the time I know of) were working at the hospital as transcriptionists and also the former housecleaner was working from home at one point plus the hospital.
Its discouraging,disappointing, and degrading for a person trying to start out in the field.
Lisa

Lisa, I have to agree with you. After several years in a particular field, I decided I wanted to change careers, so I took an MT course through US Career Institute. This is something that I had thought about doing for years, and since kids are grown, finally had the time to focus on the course. It's been over a year now, and I still haven't landed a position. I am willing to work any hours, any days. I admit, I would like to work from home, but at this point I would take just about anything- in office would be fine. I really enjoyed the course, and although it was not easy, I thought I could make a career of it. Like you, I am disillusioned because as you mention, everyone wants at least one year (and most want 2 years) of experience. It's the old Catch-22- how can I gain experience if I cannot get hired?
I have been on this forum on another post, because now I am having a problem being hired, even in my former career area! Jobs are so hard to come by. So I had pretty much let go of the idea of MT for now. I have to have a job, ANY job at this point!
Anyway, read over the other older posts on the forum, and there is a very long post where others are discussing this very same situation. There are some helpful tips and websites listed there. I still have a bit of hope left for all of us! Good Luck to you and all the other "newbies" out there.

Thank you for the info. I am sorry to hear that you are out of work. I have been there also, but something came along. I really enjoyed MT....possibly to the point where people saw that (I worked in a local hospital part-time for 6 months 'til I was let go because they didn't have anyone to "train me." They said I didn't have a good line count, but at first for like 3 months...my work was always praised. Then a friend of a friend was hired so they thought of a reason to dismiss me. But if it was because of my line count, no one was there to train me. I had to wing it on my own or have my coworkers (who were busy with their own work) help me. By now, if they had given me a chance...I would be a good transcriptionist. I really took an interest in it, but now have realized that there is no sense in pursuing it. But I do really feel like I was robbed. I can understand scams out there...but this was a real crime not only to me, but to many students. Also for you...the experience you can't get if no one hires you. It is like a "joke" for the people on the other end.
Anyway I am going to go to the older posts and just look at websites there. I know I have given up...but still I am curious. Everyone told me "oh, don't give up." Well, after over 7 years...I realized nothing was going to come about ever. I would tell you not to "give up" but you know what is best for you. I know the job market isn't good at times...but one never knows. Something may turn up. I pray for you.
Lisa

Have you ever heard of At-HomeProfessions.org?
What can you tell me about them?

I never heard of them. But it might be a good thing to look into. Of course, being at home working has its good points and drawbacks. Especially if you are in business for yourself, although there is no boss but you....I have heard it can be very difficult.
Lisa

Marty in Mount Airy, North Carolina said: Have you ever heard of At-HomeProfessions.org?
What can you tell me about them?

They are in the same class as PCDI, Penn Foster, etc. They are referred to as "matchbook" schools (they frequently print their ads on matchbooks). They do NOT offer sufficient training for you to get a job afterwards. If you do not take a course from either Andrews School, M-TEC, or Career Step, it will be very very difficult to obtain work. Everyone will tell you they require 2 years' experience, what they don't tell you is they will waive that requirement if you graduated from one of the good schools that trains you well.

Don't waste your money on any school other than Andrews, M-TEC, or Career Step. If you don't believe me, just keep checking around online and see the HUNDREDS of posts from "grads" of those other schools who cannot get a job.

Has anyone heard of courses offered at med Trans Inc IL?