If I Ever Need A Reminder ...

 

... of why I'm going to school at my age, this is it ... 

$5 to $12 day for an experienced medical transcriptionist?!? 

Sign me up!

*sarcasm*

That's adding insult to injury, a slap in  the face.

Dang, I could literally go mow somebody's lawn and make more.

Okay, now look - I get that most everyone went to outsourcing, check-the-box EHRs, and now AI - but medical transcription is an actual skill.

In fact, it's a slap in the face even to basic data entry people!

And they pay you peanuts like that, with no benefits, and then still scream at you in capital letters or in chat or over the phone for any mistakes! 

I'm talking screamed at and our jobs threatened in mass emails over stupid stuff like leaving an extra space before a period, stuff that doesn't affect patient care or billing and I doubt anyone else even notices, and for damn sure is NOT the reason for outsourcing or AI - they're going to AI because it's cheaper - period. 

In fact, I didn't used to be a perfectionist (ask my family) - I've been conditioned to be one (which is also why I come back here and edit stuff 1,000 times later, when I have more time).  

Who in their right mind would sign up for that?

I'll tell you who - people like me -  who stayed in this field for entirely too long because she didn't think she deserved any better, that's who - people who feel so broken and lucky to even have a job.

And the transcription company owners and supervisors know that, too, that's what they want, they're sweatshops. 

NOT ALL - my current contract boss I've been with for 6 years is the best boss I've ever had, it's just there's no work anymore.

And any jobs that are left in the field, you'll most likely work with at least one real winner, too -  OCD mean girls who like to feel superior to everyone else and/or people who have worked at home even before COVID because they know for dang sure their sh*t wouldn't fly anywhere else.

Like I said, not all - but I have never seen the like of genuinely unhealthy people in this field - and I was in show business years ago!

Honest to God, tho, that never really happened in the workplace until the latter years of transcription, never in any other job (except a little bit in the last recession in another field when jobs were scarce).

Because it didn't used to be like this in transcription, actually, until the late 2000s when outsourcing started and EHRs and jobs became scarce. 

I think that's when all the normal people, who already knew they could do more, started leaving, leaving mostly truly unhealthy people in charge as the only ones left,  and then people like me, who felt like they couldn't do anything else, beneath them.

But my God, now that I'm in school and doing so well, I could kick myself for not having done this sooner!

In fact, I wish I could shake myself about 15 years ago and go "You DO deserve better, go back to school, you can do it!" - but back then, I felt I was lucky to have anything, I was so broken. 

Now that I'm in school, making kind friends who aren't competitive and don't play games and we talk about everything from funny to serious (we've even talked about doing a podcast) - doing well, and  I'm having (mostly) a ball in general, I can't even believe I did that for so long.

Why?

Like I said, I believed couldn't do better and deserved it, but that actually comes from somewhere first - a home life led by unhealthy, even bullying people who catastrophized everything others did to make themselves feel superior - it was familiar to me from personal experiences, it felt "normal" and what I deserved.

I knew there were better jobs and people out there, I just thought I didn't deserve them?

I know, people will tell you it's everywhere nowadays, toxic workplaces in recent years, so that was another reason, I didn't want to be picky and ungrateful.

I did finally start speaking up about it, first for other people, then myself, about 10 years ago, and that got me nowhere but  becoming the new target of bullying myself.

And still, at the end of the day, I always blamed myself, until one day last year, actually, I said "Enough. I know I'm the common denominator here, but this really is BS and there's a reason why people started leaving in droves years ago. I'm going to find out if I can do better."

I am so surprised with the kind, encouraging, genuine, noncompetitive NORMAL people, both classmates and professors, I could cry - in a good way. 

I remember this from years ago, before transcription, this is NORMAL.

Is every day perfect and everyone perfect?

No, but neither am I. 

Are there some kinks that still need to be worked out with the program, mostly due to the online-only communication - like the instructions could be a bit clearer sometimes and grading is a little arbitrary?

Yes. 

BUT - I realized today to quit my bitching - compared to where I've been, this is nothing.

In fact, I know that even though I've likely driven my professors slowly insane with my conditioned perfectionism due to my previous line of work, then cowering waiting for a rundown of how much I sucked overall if I asked a question or made a mistake - NONE of that came my way!

Nothing but asking how they can help.

Thank you, both UC and friends I've made over the past few months, I truly appreciate you 🫶