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I have been an MT for 9 years typing all kinds of transcription.  Unfortunately, I have dial up internet which is all that is offered where I live.  Are there any companies hiring MTs with dial up internet out there? 

Thanks

Karen

Did you fill out paperwork before you rented the computer?  Did they immediately start deducting the cost from your pay for rental?

I've never filled out any paperwork for my computer, it was just mailed to me.  Haven't seen rental deductions either.  Did I do something wrong? 

I'm told it would give me a tax break. I'm currently working as an IC.   Is this expensive to do?  Do you need a business name to do this?  Can this be done online? 

Any info would be greatly appreciated. 

If a boss were in the office should they put the BOS on the desk? (BOS = Bible of MTing).  I am really being silly here, but there is another conversation elsewhere about the pros and cons of putting a Bible on a desk in the school.  The BOS is getting about as controversial these days.  I don't think it is to the point where it is used to intimidate totally, but there are certainly some mixed feelings about this thing.  Do clients come before BOS... is the BOS the final word, or does JACHO have the final word.  Do we put the JACHO guidelines on the boss' desk.  Or what about the company manifesto (the MTSO we work for) which clearly does not state how they count our lines exactly and how benefits can be lost if not enough lines are accomplished. Now that is one book that would have to be banned from the boss' desktop.

Of course this is all moot.  Most of us are remote. There is, however, the boss' desk in OUR MIND which is there in our subconscious day after day.  We often wonder how that book changes, and if it is used for good or to intimidate.  Just IMHO. As anything else power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, whether it be the BOS "bible," the JACHO quiz on site at the hospital about to pop any time on the employees, or the boss' ability to take away health or other benefits. Stinks in my opinion, but the way of the world. 

Thanks for listening to my rambling. Just a little ditty from an armchair philosopher! 

A few days ago I posted here in response to another MQ person nervous about leaving.  I was a little to forthcoming about my failure on a test and got mostly encouraging replies and a few holier than thou responses.

But anyway!  Good news!  A job offer late this afternoon at 8.5 a line!  I had tested on Monday - my favorite kind of test - basic grammar and terminology and then on to the dictation.  Three dictations (DS, Consult, and SOAP).  No mention on how I did on the test but guess it was good enough.  This is a big raise from what I was making at MQ - 6.5 cents!  Only problem is the time - they need eves - but feel I will take it just because the money is worth my while. 

Just wanted to let everyone know.  I felt so bad the other day, very ready to throw in the towel.  I still think that ours is a dying profession due to voice recognition and jobs outsourced but I am going to hang on for just a while longer.  Thanks for the encouraging words the other day.  I really needed it then.  And to Nervous MT 1, hope you are reading this and that you will keep us posted on how it goes with you.  There is life after MQ. 

It is so easy to convince yourself you cannot make as much money at a different company  or on a different account, or never find anything better, so you stay where you are, taking all the abuse in the world.  In management, this is called the Golden Handcuff, and they rely on it to keep the same employees, never give a raise, never give respect, and just continue to walk all over you.

In this profession you are very mobile if you can transcribe at all.  It may take a month to get used to a new system, a new account, or whatever, but your self respect is worth it in the end.  There are a lot of companies out there that actually do appreciate employees, and it certainly does not seem to be any of the companies who are mentioned frequently on these boards.

I changed jobs about a month ago, thought I would never learn, but in a week I was making far more with a small MTSO than I ever did with a large company.  Treat yourself to a new beginning and a new year. 

Hi people :)

When MT gets very boring (which is most days for me), I have a few things I'll do to keep producing. Will you please share any games you play with yourself to crank out some extra lines (something more than "I need to meet the bills, and that keeps me in the chair").

Here's mine. I hope these will help. Please share yours!

• Try to get the % keystrokes saved in Shorthand higher than the last time I worked.


• Keep a timer with me - transcribe 20 minutes, clean home for 10, transcribe 20, clean for 10. Not a very productive way, but I use this when I am truly climbing the walls and nothing else works. Sometimes if I'm on a roll and the 20 minutes are up, I'll just hit the timer again and go for another 20 before the cleaning break. The break gets my house in order (amazing what can be done in 10 minutes - folded laundry and dishes running and so on), gives my wrists a break, gets the blood flowing.


• I find the times I have the worst trouble sitting there and working are the times when it's been a while since I've been out of the house. Getting out regularly helps working go much easier.


• Sometimes set a goal of a specific amount 300 lines or whatever is a slight stretch but can possibly be reached in an hour, and aim for that.


• A walk to the mailbox or other light exercise can help.


• I haven't tried a regular exercise break in the middle of the day (say a 1-hour break to reenergize and really get a good workout in), but if that helps you I hope you'll share.


• Try to get to half of my line count by noon.


• Get done for the day in time to watch Dr. Phil as a reward. :)

Hi, Can anyone give me an estimate of how long two hours worth of dictation might take to type?  This will be a meeting type format.  I typically only type reports so this is something new to me and not sure of what to expect.  Can anyone offer insight into my question?  Thank you

I can't find the post that tackled this subject a month ago.  I'm looking to get one of my clients set up on digital dictation.  I have on my end express scribe, the headphones and the foot pedal.

I'm either going to set up an upload function on my webspace or have the client email me the voice files.

Can someone recommend an inexpensive recorder that I can purchase for him (I can't afford the $200-$300 recorders) that can have the files uploaded to his PC so they can be sent to me and I can transcribe them on express scribe?

Thanks in advance!!

Hi!  Has anyone heard of this company and have an opinion?  I am looking for a position at home (preferrably Radiology but I can do acute care "kinda") and I am nervous about all the national companies.  I don't know who to trust. I don't know what equipment I must purchase or even  how to set it up!  I worked from home for a local hospital for many years and also 3 years for a service who provided all equipment.  Any advice would be appreciated!

I can hardly stand getting up every day and looking for a job in this industry.  Now GM wants to make its cars in China and then sell them back here.  HELLO?! What in heavens name is going on?

I think if our grandparents and their grandparents were faced with what we are now, they never would have immigrated here.  We are going backwards. 

I am tired, getting older by the minute.  Somebody wake me when it's over. 

Using the old backup disks from my crashed computer? 

I need to get this new laptop able to function so I can get a PT job and all seem to want XP...

I have company issued computer with IT.  I would like to know if I could move IT to a CD or disk so that I can put it on my personal computer.  I have greatly expanded the glossary to cover my area of expertise over the last one year and do not want to lose this.  In fact, I think I would break down and cry if I did.  Plus, am thinking of taking on a PT job and would like to utilize this IT on my other computer.

Thank you.