The VLC talks with working grads
VLC graduate Julie Boettger of Oklahoma
VLC: Where do you work as a medical transcriptionist and how long have you been there?
Julie: I work from home as an independent contractor and have for the past 5 months. Before this, I worked in a multi-specialty clinic in a small town from where I live for 1-1/2 years. They took a chance on me when I was not even finished with school. I live and work in Blanchard, Oklahoma.
VLC: Do you work at home or in an office?
Julie: I work for a lady who owns her own transcription company. She has 33 girls working for her and has over 100 doctors as clients from all over the state. As I said, I work from home. Some days I may work about 6 hours, and some days I work up to 12 hours. It all depends on when the doctors finish their dictation. Some send regularly on a daily basis and some wait and send 2 to 3 days worth at a time (meaning that could mean 40-60 patient dictations). How I plan my day is up to me. I am really not pressed to any turnaround, as long as I don't take more than 3 days to return my work. I'm lucky that way.
VLC: What did you do before becoming an MT?
Julie: I was in an administrative position for a collection agency based out of New York.
VLC: Why did you decide to become an MT?
Julie: To be honest, I wanted to be able to work out of the home. Sometimes I do miss the camaraderie of working in an office with other people, but overall I love being able to get up and work in my shorts and not have to put on any makeup. To top that, just think of the gas money I am saving.
VLC: How long did it take you to complete your course?
Julie: Over 3 years, but I did not work on it constantly.
VLC: What did you enjoy most about it?
Julie: Reading the forum and knowing that I was not the only person having the same frustrations with some of the practice dictation.
VLC: Do you find the practice dictation is helping you in a real-work situation?
Julie: Yes, and vice-versa. Working with so many different doctors in the clinic, I feel like it gave me a better ear for learning the different voices that were in the practice dictation.
VLC: How did you go about applying for jobs?
Julie: I found the clinic job by accident. One of the doctors lived in my neighborhood and I asked her if she would take my resume to the clinic, and the rest is history.
VLC: How long did it take you to find a job?
Julie: As I said, I started working for the clinic while I was still in school.
VLC: Are you paid by the line or by the hour?
Julie: By the line. Depending on the complexity of the doctor and his dictation, my line count runs from 7 cents to 10 cents.
VLC: Do you have any advice for anyone thinking of training to be an MT?
Julie: Keep at it. There is still a lot to learn even for me. Remember that what you learn in school may not be the way they want it at your job. I have had to adjust some of the rules according to what my employer wants instead of what I have learned.
VLC: Do you have any advice on beneficial resources for new MTs?
Julie: I find most of my resources online just by Google (ing). At home, I have invested in The Medical & Health Sciences Word Book, The Surgical Word Book, Stedman's Oncology Words (as I transcribe for two oncologists), Pharmaceutical Work Book, and the Merriam-Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary that I received with my school package.
