A growing number of companies in the US are recognizing the link between certified professionals and quality documentation outcomes. Many are now seeking, reimbursing, and compensating the credential in the marketplace. If you know of, work for, or are an employer who recognizes the credential in a measurable way, please let us know so that we can acknowledge your company in our publications and as well as on this page. Send your information to kwall@ahdionline.org.

AccuScribe Transcription Services, LLC, in Moncks Corner, SC, fully supports certification as an important step in the advancement of the highly skilled profession of Medical Transcription by reimbursing the cost of the CMT or RMT exam for all employees and independent contractors upon passing the exam. Once the RMT or CMT credential is achieved, an immediate pay rate increase is given. The AccuScribe Credentialing Cup participants are provided with a state-of-the-art intranet training website where over 50 participants prepare for credentialing.

ALL TYPE of North Brunswick, New Jersey, has been reimbursing for successful completion of the CMT exam, paying higher base rate and differential to CMTs, and paying for CMT CECs since 1995.

Altru Health System in Grand Forks, ND, provides a $200 bonus and an "Organizational Excellence Award" in recognition of their efforts (this includes a $50 check and pin) to staff who successfully pass the CMT exam. Flowers are sent to the CMT, and an article is provided for Altru’s employee newsletter and an article/photo for the city newspaper. "Treats" are shared with the CMT and staff after recognition reimbursement of the testing fee, paid by Altru’s Education Department. Altru has also purchased The AAMT Book of Style and study guide materials for staff wanting to test, as well as providing up to eight hours of company time to study for the test.

Amphion Medical Solutions headquartered in Madison, WI, has always recognized the link between certified professionals and quality documentation. In fact, Amphion is proud to announce its totally peer-led CMT/RMT study groups. Amphion provides CMT/RMT Review Guides to the attendees of the study groups and reimburses up to $300 of the credentialing exam fees for team members who successfully pass their certification exams. In addition, full-time Amphion CMTs earn $300 annually to use toward their continuing education credits. Amphion also presents free quarterly continuing education sessions (eligible for AHDI credits) to all of its medical language specialists.

Anne Arundel Medical Center of Annapolis, MD. offers a higher per-line reimbursement for those who pursue and successfully pass the CMTexam.

Austin Medical Center in Austin, MN, compensates the cost for MTs when they successfully complete the CMT exam. Along with that, there is a slight increase in their salary. AMC tells us that they feel it is important to have certified MTs and to have professionals as part of their workforce.

Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota, reimburses for half of CMT exam costs, provided the employee passes. As well, they provide a significant raise in hourly pay with the status. New CMTs are recognized in the interoffice newsletter.

Digital Records Corporation (DRC) is an MTSO in Santa Clara, CA. DRC has a CMT tuition reimbursement program for employees who want to become a CMT and who want to maintain their CMT status. Our policy is limited to the support of AHDIs CMT program only. It is limited to 50% of the employees documented expenses. It supports only initial certification fees, recertification fees, and tuition and registration fees for AHDI-approved workshops, symposia, and conferences. In summary, DRC’s policy is to reimburse 50% of tuition-related expenses toward successfully earning and maintaining the CMT credential.

Digital Transcription Systems, Inc., of Oklahoma City, OK, offers the following CMT package:

• An additional incentive is paid per line
• DTS pays for the exam if passed
• DTS opens its office after hours for study sessions
• DTS pays for one state meeting per year for the CMT
• DTS pays the dues for their CMTs

In addition, DTS supports both of the chapters in the state of Oklahoma.

Elkhart General Healthcare System in Elkhart, IN, recognizes transcriptionists who become CMTs by reimbursing the total cost for sitting and passing the CMT exam. We also pay our CMTs a higher pay wage.

Encompass Medical Transcription, based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, recognizes the value of a credentialed workforce and continuing education. The company reimburses the cost of the CMT or RMT exam for employees working at least 30 hours per week. Those who achieve and maintain their CMT credential are eligible to participate in the CMT Days recognition program, through which CMTs earn additional paid time off, up to 5 days per year. Encompass also offers educational reimbursement of up to $200 annually.

Expert Medical Transcription, Inc., of Florida reimburses the total exam cost for employees who sit for and pass the CMT exam. The company also waives the cost of software and equipment rental for all CMTs (an expense of approximately $350 per year).

Kaiser Permanente In Clackamas, Oregon, has a tuition reimbursement fund that reimburses the costs of the CMT exam (if you pass). Their union fund reimburses registration fees for such events as symposia to obtain CECs. Member, Tina M. Foster, CMT, stated, "What a thrill to be able to attend the convention in Hawaii last year on their dime."

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, reimburses for successful completion of the CMT or RMT exam. Office Support Services at Mayo Rochester recognizes those who pass by placing their name on recognition plaques and on the internal website. Office Support Services also provides continuing education workshops free of charge to help those certified or registered maintain their credentials.

MedScribe Information Systems, Inc., in Jacksonville, FL, provides a CMT line rate premium for independent contractors. For employees who are a CMT, they pay a CMT premium on the line rate, plus annual AAMT dues.

At MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland in Midland, Michigan, transcriptionists are paid education time for taking the CMT exam. When they successfully pass the exam and obtain their credential, they receive a $500 certification bonus. In addition, to help them maintain their credential, they are eligible for paid time off to attend continuing education programs, up to 10 credit hours per year.

Northeast Transcription pays a differential for all lines typed by CMTs. In addition, we will reimburse for the full cost of the CMT Exam upon successful completion. NTI also will support financially and with approved time off continued professional development toward maintaining the CMT credential.

Opti-Script, Inc., in State College, PA, encourages and rewards certification by providing CMT prep training, reimbursement for exam expenses, and increased incentive pay for CMTs. OSi also provides professional growth opportunities for CMTs in QA and Lead MT positions.

For all of 25 years, Silent Type has offered certified MTs an extra week of vacation each year that they maintain their certification. It has been a real plus in the benefit circle.

South Jersey Healthcare recognizes the CMT certification by a $0.50-per-hour certification pay and by reinbursing for attending educational seminars, symposia, conferences, etc., to maintain the certification. They reimburse up to $3000 for full-time, to include mileage if you drive, airfare and meals, and $1500 for regular part-time (20 hours). There are three campuses: The Regional Medical Center in Vineland, The Bridgeton Health Center in Bridgeton, and South Jersey Healthcare in Elmer.

Spectrum Health Hospitals in Grand Rapids, Michigan, encourages and recognizes certification, AHDI membership, and continuing education for all transcription staff with various levels of support.

CMT staff are offered:

• Reimbursement of the exam fee, when passed
• Reimbursement of AHDI annual membership dues
• Reimbursement of one local chapter symposium or educational meeting annually
• Reimbursement of one state conference registration annually
• Reimbursement of the AHDI National Convention registration annually

RMT staff are offered:

• Reimbursement of the exam fee, when passed
• Reimbursement of AHDI annual membership dues
• Reimbursement of a local chapter symposium or educational meeting annually
• Reimbursement of one state conference registration annually

Spheris headquarters, located in Franklin, TN, offers free classes through our online "Centra" training program on varied specialties that qualify as CEUs for continued certification (approx 10 classes).

At Sten-Tel in Springfield, MA, they value quality MT's and encourage their MT's who are not certified to take the test. They offer partial reimbursement for MT's who successfully pass the AHDI CMT exam. They also provide a premium line rate for CMT's (IC status). All applicants must provide proof of licensure.

Texas Health Resources offers a higher base rate to transcriptionists with credentials. Texas Health Resources is the parent company for all Harris Methodist and Presbyterian Hospitals in North Central Texas, as well as Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington.

Transcend Services in Atlanta, GA, pays $0.0025 more per line to their certified MTs. Transcend recognizes their CMTs annually, which seems to motivate other MLS’s to take the exam. Transcend is also a corporate member of AHDI.

Transcription Relief Services, LLC, of Greensboro, NC, provides, free of charge, a CMT-prep course for all employees. They currently have 35 enrolled! So far, every MT who has taken this course and then taken the exam, passed! That has been encouraging! In addition, they will reimburse the total cost of the exam for anyone who successfully completes it. CMTs also receive a pay differential at TRS.

Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, informs us that they are deeply involved in the welfare of their employees and feel that certification is an important part of that. Their transcriptionists are paid production, and in the past 2 years, they have instituted a CMT recognition pay scale. The hospital encourages the MTs to become certified and also repays employees for the successful completion of the certification examination.

Washington Hospital in Fremont, CA, pays a $1 hourly differential to CMTs.

Webmedx, located in Atlanta, GA, had 132 team members finish a 15-week RMT/CMT study group course last week! They have five teams participating in the AHDI Credentialing Cup. Webmedx provided CMT/RMT Review Guides to the attendees of the study group, and they will reimburse half of the credentialing exam fees for team members who successfully pass the exam. Team members who pass the CMT are given an incentive pay. In January 2008, AHDI officially recognized Webmedx Chapter-AHDI as a local chapter. The chapter provides continuing education credits to all team members on a monthly basis. One more step toward remarkable results!

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, NH, is an organization that is truly dedicated to continuing education, whether it is in the way of formal education reimbursement (up to $2000. per year) or continuing education specific to individual technologies. The hospital encourages certification in every aspect of patient care, whether it is in transcription, sleep lab, endoscopy unit, etc. If your job description requires certification, then salary ranges are commensurate. If your job description does not require certification, then with valid certification you earn $1.00 an hour over and above the salary range. WDH encourages continuing education by budgeting monies to send every employee in the transcription department to at least 1 symposium a year and 2 local chapter meetings. This not only includes reimbursement for tuition and travel expense, but we are also compensated for our time. WDH pays for sitting for the CMT exam as long as the employee passes it. Currently one third of their MT staff is certified, and they have an independent study group of 5 more transcriptionists who are eager to take the certification exam.

WordZXpressed Transcription Services of Atlanta, Georgia, pays half the exam fee for AHDI certification exam. They also increase the line rate for CMT’s and provide their MTs with a $50 annual library reimbursement to be used for books, spell check, anti virus or anything else they need to support their effort.