Posted: May 25th, 2006

The VLC talks with working grads

VLC: Where do you work as a medical transcriptionist and how long have you been there?
Karan: I work for Zylomed Medical Transcription in Miami, Fla. I have worked for them since August, 2003 doing primarily radiology reports. I live in a small town outside of Atlanta, Ga and all my work is done strictly online.

VLC: What did you do before becoming an MT?
Karan: Before becoming an MT I worked as a Radiologic Technologist and as an Ultrasonographer.

VLC: Why did you decide to become an MT?
Karan: When my third child was born in 2000, my husband and I decided that it would be best for me to stay home with our children. After a couple of years of reduced income and budgeting, I decided to start weighing my options as far as the job market. I have some friends that do medical transcription and I began asking some questions. I felt that with my previous experience in the medical field that this was the perfect opportunity for me to have the best of both worlds: the flexibility and freedom to be home with my children and still work in a field that I really enjoy.

VLC: How long did it take you to complete the course?
Karan: It took me about 9 months.

VLC: What impressed you the most about your instructor?
Karan: She was very prompt on getting back to me with corrections and test grades.

VLC: What impressed you most about the course?
Karan: I was most impressed with the support system created by the instructors and the other students. There was always someone on the board for help or, most of all, encouragement. I was also very impressed with the reference material provided. I have not had to purchase any additional reference materials.

VLC: What did you enjoy most about the course?
Karan: Again, I most enjoyed the support that I received from the instructors and the other students.

VLC: Do you find the practice tapes are helping you in a real-work situation?
Karan: Any help you can get listening to the doctors with different accents and different pronunciations of words has to be a help. Most dictators in a certain specialty use the same key words. The more you hear these words being used, the better off you are.

VLC: Do you have any suggestions for improving the course?
Karan: Personally, I do not have any suggestions there. The course was perfect for me and what I needed.

VLC: How did you go about applying for jobs?
Karan: I went online and took tests and put out resumes to as many companies as I could. I found that if I could test first and do well, I was much more likely to hear back from companies, no matter what experience they were looking for. Also, it did help me that I had previous experience in the medical field even if it was not transcription.

VLC: How long did it take you to find a job?
Karan: About 2-3 weeks.

VLC: Are you paid by the line or by the hour?
Karan: I am paid by the line. Personally, I like that because I type much faster now than when I started out and I believe that all in all I am making more by the line than I would by the hour. Also, I work as an IC (independent contractor) and I do not have a set line count per pay period that I have to complete. This is what works best for me and my family. When all of the children get into school, I have the option of going full time, part time or just continuing to be an IC and add more accounts with Zylomed, or adding another company that I IC for. Having this option makes me feel in control and that I am really "self employed".

VLC: Do you have any advice for anyone thinking of training to be an MT?
Karan: I recommend it to anyone, and have recommended to several people wanting more flexibility with their jobs. I really enjoy my job and can see me doing it for many years to come.