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Venting - Hate my job - Posted By: mt3D

I hate my job I've been at this company for 3 weeks. I hate this account, hate the ExText system and I'm making half the money I did at my last job. There - feel better, but still hate this. Don't tell me how grateful I should be that I have a job - working in sweatshop conditions is nothing to be grateful for. I've been at this job a loooooooooong time and there is nothing lucky about it.

accounts/specialties - Posted By: Stefanie

I've been an MT for 2 years. My experience is mainly in orthopaedics. I'm looking to get on with a new company, but I'm worried about the difficulty factor of making that leap. Obviously I don't have the unrealistic expectation that the new company would assign me just an orthopaedics account, and I wouldn't want that because I want to learn something new. I would say give me cardiology, GI, GU, but don't give me cardiology, GI, GU, obstetrics, psychiatry, ophthalmology, neurology, oncology, and on and on. So I'd like to take on more than just orthopaedics but not too much either. Question for you all, how many accounts are you typically assigned to and how many specialties are you expected to know? Thanks.

Does anyone know of keyboard functions for Powerscribe for... - Posted By: jello

start and stop. Using my mouse, want to use keyboard. Thanks!

Another foot pedal question. - Posted By: sm

I purchased a foot pedal through an MT company but no longer with that company. I am now trying to use the foot pedal and can't seem to get it to work. I asked before I left the company if I needed software for the foot pedal and was told it was generic and should work with any software. It isn't working. I have express scribe downloaded and still can't seem to get it to work. Is there such a thing as a generic foot pedal that works with any transcription software?

Any suggestions?

TIA.

Line Rates - Posted By: OhioMT

I have only been working from home for 8 months now and my previous MT work was done while i was office manger and of course i was paid hourly but did more then just MT work.

I was wondering what is the going line rate other companies are offering??

Need to type 1200 lines on new - Posted By: job. sm

I just started new job about a week ago. I need to type 1200 lines/ day to reach my income goal. How long does it usually take to reach this amount of lines? I can't seem to find a comfortable routine. I want to work nights but no luck with that. I am straining too much to see the work because the eyes are just too tired by the end of the day and day time is full of interruptions. Thought about splitting it up with 4 hours in the day and 4 hours at night. Anyone heard of doing this? Any other suggestions? I have an Expander but I haven't put all of the shortcuts in yet.

thanks for input.

Rate per audio minute? - Posted By: Lisa

Ok, I've had to do flashdrives with patients on them that have already been typed, lose my nice account to India, re-visit E&O insurance, and now I have someone offering me a job that pays 0.67 cents per audio minute. I'm old, still do tapes, and could any of you new folks tell me, is this the trend these days? Thank you kindly.

What type of expander software do you use with eScription? - Posted By: MT in MT

Which ones work and don't work best with eScription software? Thanks!!! :-)

Exporting Escription Autocorrect - Posted By: Suze

Can anyone help? I'm working on Escription and I have to change computers. I don't want to have to start over on my Autocorrect entries from scratch. I know how to do it in regular word, but it doesnt work with the utility I have trying to save and export them in Escription. I know there's a way to do it.. some kind of utility..something about macro8.dot or something, but I have no clue how to do it. anyone know how who can help me? please!!! Thanks Suze

Anyone have a tattoo? - Posted By: thinkin' about it (sm)

Does anyone have a tattoo? My husband and I are thinking about getting one, but I'm not sure. I really want one, just something small--the Chinese symbol for *forever*, but I'm not sure where to have it put or if it's really, really painful. I'm not into pain, but could stand some, if it's not THAT bad. Any info would be very appreciated...

Oh and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Well, what I feared would happen to my job, has happened. SM - Posted By: MissouriMT

We've been terminated. Our entire department is being outsourced. So now I'm heading over to the company board to get some info. Just thought I would boo hoo here first.

I really need a new career.

A challenge to all MT's....sm - Posted By: dinosaur

I feel that we've said it all - the rest is just blah, blah, blah! Yeah, we need a place to vent but how about we challenge ourselves - each and every one of us try to find someone in the public eye to whom we should all individually write! If someone, say, at 20/20, 60 minutes, etc. were to get hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of well-written and well edited letters enunciating each and every point; from why all off-shore transcription should be illegal (it is against HIPAA), to how little we (the transcriptionist) is really getting paid, to how much each IC or at-home employee actually saves the physician or hospital or clinic, etc. than we will have some attention put on the industry. Another big point to investigate is just how much these national (and international) companies pay their chief operating officers, etc. What used to be a viable career has become nearly impossible to continue. If anyone thinks that a national effort to attact the necessary attention to our problem is a good idea, respond here and let's see if we can get a letter written that we can all forward to our state senators as well as to the media. A MEDIA BLITZ will either make us or brake us - we'll either get what we deserve or we'll all lose to off-shore transcriptionists (which we're doing anyway)! A one day work strike nationally would work well too and would get a lot of media attention! Particularly on a Wednesday (middle of the week) but all need to agree to lose one day's pay...but don't worry, the companies will be desperate and put us all to work on the weekend to catch up (at our regular rate, of course)! What do YOU think?

payment for VR - Posted By: Heather

So the account I work on has just purchased a voice recognition software. I see that a lot of the VR is paying about 4.5 to 5 ( and higher ) cents per line. Does this include the whole line or just the editing corrections you actually do for them? Please tell me that it is all the lines on the page. How could it be calculated any other way? I actually don't know yet if I will even be getting the installation as there are a lot of MTs working on this account & don't see how there could possibly be enough room for all of us. I might just have to work in another part-time job. Thanks.

Gotta brag: Just found out my son earned... (see message) - Posted By: Proud momma!

the Presidential Fitness Award for the third year in a row, and my daughter earned the National Award!

Fast Chart - Posted By: Chavera

Does anyone have any information about Fast Chart? I applied for a position there and am curious to know if it is a good company.

Time it takes to type... - Posted By: justmetypinme

Approximately how long does it take to type, say, 5 minutes of dictation? Or 10, or whatever? Just trying to get a feel for if I'm in the ballpark. Thanks!

VR editing versus MT editing pay - Posted By: Minicrisp

Greetings,

How does VR editing prod. pay compare to hourly pay ($15) regular QA and constantly being threatened to start being payed production. Are there any special tricks to know to make good money on a VR program? Any companies that have VR and are better than other ones would be appreciated as well. Any and all assistance much appreciated-have to make a change shortly, so looking for a great company that offers ins. benefits. Thanks for your time.

medical billing or coding newbie - Posted By: Marie

alliedschools.com

Has anyone tried either their medical billing or coding training courses??

Did you like it, would you recommend it?? I'm tired of working at a restaurant and would like to learn a career but I just want make sure that I am learning from a school that will actually lead me somewhere(specially that it cost 1600 dollars)

So please let me know what you think about them and if there is other schools that you will recomment over them!

Thanks

Client wants to start VR..Wants me to edit...sm - Posted By: Totally Confused

Ok, whew, I've researched until I'm blue on this one. Learning a lot here.

I have a question for you all. I have a potential client who wants to start recording his dictation with Dragon Naturally Speaking and then have me do the editing.

I'm just not getting this. Is there a MTSO that provides both VR and file transfer where I can edit? Is there an obvious answer to this, and I'm just so new to this field I'm not seenig it? How would I get both the word document and voice file to me so that I can edit it remotely?

Any numbers to call or pointers would be great!

In the past when I've needed extra work could get a response from co.'s within a week and be w - Posted By: Don't understand it

Now it's like zip, zero, nothing. No responses whatsoever from my emails to the companies here and on mtjobs.com.

At first I was looking for specifics regarding hospital work, clinic work, days, hours, etc., and choosing those but later got desperate and even with 16 years experience have been applying for 7-cent-a-line clinic jobs.... STILL no response from ANYONE! Well, actually, I get responses but they are automated emails stating I've passed the test(s) and will be contacted in X amount of days/weeks/months. Then I never hear back even with a followup email. In the past, I could get a new job within a week or two.

I don't know. I was thinking maybe they're thinking that with 16 years experience it would be easier to go with someone with less experience (for whatever reasons), so I'm considering just putting down 5 years or so as my experience instead of the truth. Could be they don't want to deal with this old dinosaur and want new blood, I don't know.

Brand new drug book required - Posted By: anony

I am applying for a new job, and before I can start, they say I need a new specialty book (which I can understand) and the latest drug book. I don't have the money to buy those books right now.

As an MT with years of experience, I am perfectly capable for doing my job without a brand new drug book for a few weeks until I get paid. I know how to research and verify drugs without a current drug book.

Do you think requiring a brand new drug book is reasonable?

IC - Posted By: keytapper

Needing information about IC and taxes. Does anyone know if there is a way to do the 1040ES online or do you have to print and send it in through the mail?

Amphion! - Posted By: Question

Does anyone think the way Amphion does things is time consuming - AKA demos/looking up doctors constantly etc.? There are many shortcuts they could use in my opinion. Just curious!

Full audio relisten before sending in work - Posted By: Elaine

The hospital recently hired a new supervisor for the transcription department. The MTs were just informed that there are quality issues. They have requested that the MTs perform a full audio relisten to ALL reports before sending them in. Not a read over or proofreading on the fly, but a 100% relisten! I don't mind doing this on shorter reports but some reports are 10 minutes plus. This is going to be incredibly time consuming. I feel like speaking my mind, but I like the company I work with and Christmas is coming and this is not the time for me to be out of a job. Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this situation? Thanks!

CH 13 bankruptcy & tax refund? anyone know? sm - Posted By: help!!

Do you get back ANY of your tax refund? Who asks how much you got? and then what?

Employees Using Laptops - Posted By: Suzanne

If you are working from home as an employee, do any of you have employers who allow you to use laptops? If so, does the company provide those, or are you required to buy your own?

teach pronunciation in med school? - Posted By: nm

how in the heck does one become a doctor and pronounce things like:

ex-zeffer (that is, Effexor)

cla-mit-tra-zol (rather clotrimazole)

tur-bun-ins (how about turbinates!!)

makes me crazy...er.

Date format 01/03/2007 or 01/03/07 or - Posted By: Elderberry

1/3/07 or 1/3/2007? If it's in the AAMT BOS, I can't find it. I looked under dates, months, years. I work on various accounts with varied preferences but curious if there is a recognized standard as to the preceding zeroes in above examples or shortening a year, e.g., /07 from /2007.

how many of you work - Posted By: more than one job? nm

Computer crashed, cannot work for two days. - Posted By: No income!

How do you prepare for something like this??? I wonder if the big "S" has compensation for this type of thing. Hard drive needed replaced. Egads. And I cannot work off my schedule as I would be, you know, cheating. This is a major financial hit.

Virtual vacation, anyone? - Posted By: Misha

DH just took me to my favorite beach for a quick vacation. It is Shell Island in NC (basically Wrightsville Beach, but the end at Mason Inlet)

We arrived at Shell Island resort and discovered our room was on the 9th (top) floor. PERFECT! The dogs were staying with the in-laws in nearby Wilmington, so no worries there.

The temperature on Thursday was 82 degrees. The water was 81 degrees. People were few. We walked down to the inlet, where the surf is all disorganized with no crashing waves. The water stays shallow for a long way out, only knee deep to waist deep. I floated out there, often walking along on my hands, with the swirling water gently pushing me this way and that. Seagulls called to us. Pelicans did their gliding flight just inches above the water.

After our ocean swim we got in the pool. Then we laid out on the chaise lounge chairs to dry. The ocean breeze gently buffeted us in a lazy fashion until we were nearly dry and went in.

We went back to the room and I sorted my shells out on a table on the deck. Seagulls came by to try to entice me to throw food. Now and then, pelicans in V formation would glide right by me, so close I could have reached out and touched the feathers of the nearest member.

We went out to The Oceanic restaurant. I had the Oceanic Platter with broiled fish, fabulous scallops, shrimp, and a crab cake that rivaled those in Baltimore. It was all fabulous.

I had a fabulous time. Vacations are good.

The standard line the office gives me -grrr - Posted By: IC MT

Whenever I run out of work, I call the office. It's a waste of time. They have a standard answer which is "umm, umm, let me check, um, can you check back later in an hour?" Which later became "um, um, let me check, um can you check back in two hours?" If there is no work, can they not just say it's slow or there will likely not be much work today? I find this insulting. I never know how to respond since I can't really say to them "Liar, liar...." Lol. What would a better response be? I have stopped calling now. It's frustrating!

change usb pedal to 9-pin? sm - Posted By: Struggling MT

I need to change a USB pedal into a 9-pin. I've seen adapters to change a 9-pin to a USB but not the opposite. Any suggestions? I need it work with EditScript.

thanks!

Need some clarification on C-phone dictation and some websites for urology sm - Posted By: DermMT

I will be covering the transcription for a urology clinic. I was briefly told that the doctors dictate to a C-phone that goes directly to a base office. Then the file is e-mailed to their office where they can access the dictation. Does this sound right or are they accessing the file from the base office through FTP and then downloading it. Also, doesl AOL work OK to access files or do you need another FTP provider. Not sure how they are doing the work, but any help would be appreciated. Need some good website for urology, Just want to be prepared. Always ask the experts! Thanks.

QA question: Just started new job. Was told to type numerals for everything. Received a - Posted By: Meezer

correction from "three-port catheter system" to "3-port catheter system." So typed it with the numeral next time. Received it back again from another QA person and told to type it three-port. So which is correct? I have also always typed figure-of-eight, so now that would be figure-of-8 by the 1st person's standards. Looks funny to me.

Input please.......

Thanks!!

KVM switches...sm - Posted By: HardAtWork

I have a Linksys KVM switch but for some reason it isn't working. The monitor will work with both and only if the mouse/keyboard are plugged in. If they are plugged in, it doesn't matter because they don't work. It's such a hassle!

Does anyone have recommendations for a better KVM switch to use for two jobs?

Do any of you have AT&T? - Posted By: Ticked with internet service

I have had cell, land and internet with them- was told I had to have land phone in order to have my internet (this was some years back but told that). I called today because was charged for long distance - I asked them years ago to take off long distance as did not want. The charge was $4 something today- they told me that came with my package - if I took that off would delete a $5 savings on my cell phone plus $5 on my land- told them really did not need land but had to have- they say no- now I can have what they call stand alone service- I get a reduced rate on my land phone but GET THIS, NO SERVICE. You pay for something but cannot use. What kind of malarky is this? I hope that internet service via satellites is on the horizon.

Not able to see 2006 posts - Posted By: Fairly new user

How do I get to see posts from 2006? The archives seem to show me 2004 and 2005. Sorry if this is an obvious answer, but I am not seeing it.

Favorite Resources? - Posted By: MIchelle

What are your favorite web resources? A few of mine are MTStars, Acronym Finder, Dictionary.com, RXList, and http://health.ucsd.edu/labref/labref.html.

Do we work M-F, Sun-Thurs, Tues-Sat, or every day? nm - Posted By: still wandering

s

Can someone answer this question? - Posted By: JustWondering

I've long wondered why it is doctors are so emphatic on getting their dictation back by the deadline, and if they don't get it by the deadline, they or their OM have a fit, yet it seems to be okay/no problem if they don't get it on time when the medical records processor is on vacation and can't process the work, they forget to download their voices files for several days, or they'll dictate on a patient who was seen a week earlier or the like. Anyone have any idea why that is?

keyboard suggestions - Posted By: frances

Currently use MS ergonomic think it's called the natural elite. Looking for something in between the conventional keyboard and split ergonomic. And also quieter than what I have now. Thank you for any suggestions. I have small hands/short fingers - would that make a difference in my choice of keyboard? Thanks.

biggest complaint - Posted By: gotcoffee

would anyone else say that the biggest complaint as a Transcriptionist would be leg cramps and back pain? and what suggestions would you give to help?

Went to an oral surgeon for a consult for - Posted By: Is this normal - insurance ?

my son to have his wisdom teeth removed. Charged us $75.00 for the consult. I didn't like the oral surgeon and his office staff were very standoffish can I did not make an appointment with him for surgery, but with another oral surgeon. I had to pay the $75.00 up front - no problem, but they filed the insurance with the money coming to them. It has been 5 weeks now since they received payment and I have called twice asking for a refund. They told me the insurance company had 90 days to come back and ask for the money, but I PAID upfront so what difference does that make, they aren't out anything and they have $52.00 of MY money on top of the $75.00. They said they would issue a check next week, but is what they told me 2 weeks ago. It isn't a lot of money, it is the principle of the thing.

Went to another oral surgeon and they didn't charge me anything for the consult and the amount I have to pay upfront is $300.00 less than what the other office quoted me.

I am looking for some recent information on... - Posted By: Transcend Services and United Transcription, Inc.

Everything that I find in the archives is old. I have already been offered a position with 1 and waiting on an interview with the other. I have chosen IC status for both because I just cannot comply with the strict schedules that these companies have now. I have tried being an employee but after 10 years of being an IC and working when I want, schedules are tough. Does anyone have any advice please?

C-Phone Question - Posted By: Jan_W

I've been offered a job that requires that I purchase a C-phone. Any recommendations on the least expensive but effective options? I've seen models ranging from $300 to over $1,000. TIA

on-line surveys - Posted By: an mt

Are any MTs doing surveys on line? Seems like a good way to make a little extra something and kill time when work is low, but of course now I am suspicious of everything!

Universities with the best free online courses - Posted By: Snow Bunny

http://education-portal.com/articles/Universities_with_the_Best_Free_Online_Courses.html

Has anyone seen The Wedding Crashers. If so what do you think? - Posted By: Good, bad or indifferent.

Need to go to the movies and looking for something good.

Need suggestions on a desktop calendar software for my PC. SM - Posted By: MissouriMT

I'm looking for something that works similar to the calendar feature in Outlook. I want to input appointments and reminders and have a little pop box come up to remind the day before.

Any suggestions for a good program?