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After being an MT for 2 years, how much should I be making? sm - Posted By: JG

I feel like I can't get out of this rut of making enough money to just pay my bills and nothing left over. What would you say the average annual salary should be after 2 years of acute care work?

Thanks

chlorrphen - Posted By: nnm

Has anyone heard of "chlorophen"? It is a medication. Thank you.

Just moved out of a rental. This just burns me up.. - Posted By: SM

We just bought a house and moved out of a renal townhome that is owned by a huge property management company. I always always go the extra mile to make sure I leave a place clean, way more than a lot of people. I spent hours cleaning and we didn't leave a single speck of anything in that house. The carpets were immaculate because we had plastic runns in the high traffic areas, etc. I scrubbed baseboards, window sills, floors, painted over all the scratches and nail holes (same paint), everything. Got our refund yesterday on the deposit and they charged us for ELEVEN HOURS of cleaning. In the description they said that this that and the other thing was VERY dirty, counter tops being one thing. I swear I scoured the counters with cleanser not long before I finished the job. I find it very offensive to have all these things listed as VERY dirty. They're full of you know what. Do you think it's just a racket to ding you for more money? They also charged us 160 dollars to shampoo those perfectly clean carpets. It seems like cleaning that is not beyond the usual amount should be THEIR responsibility as part of the business of renting out their units. They just want to pass on everything including routine maintenence onto their tenants. Just had to vent.

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

Anyone else in Northeast have internet woes? - Posted By: Hayseed

All weekend the connectivity has been absolutely awful. I have Time-Warner Cable (formerly Adelphia). Anyone else having problems or is it just because I had a mental meltdown Friday and this is a sick form of retribution from the gods?

IC Workers Comp Ins. Required? - Posted By: shannon long

thought i posted this earlier, cant find it, sorry if its redundant. Im an IC, have been for 8+ years with the same company in MASS. I live in WV. I was contacted last week and was told that the company had been audited and all IC's were required to have Workers Comp insurance. the policy costs $655 a year. anyone have this same requirement? I have other insurance, Aetna major medical, additional accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability through my husband's employer, AEP. So, is it necessary for me to carry comp ins?

EMR physician - Posted By: Sue

I need quick advise. I worked for 4 physicians, one used EMR (partially) the others still use tapes. The EMR physician does not like to read his dictation and the three mouse clicks to sign his documents is too much. The physician has a high school graduate opening up the notes, reading them, editing them at her discretion and then SIGNING them. I informed them that to the best of my knowledge this was 100% illegal but they are still doing it. I have been doing this for some time, but did not think the rules had changed.

General MT questions - Posted By: MTgirl

Recently, I was asked the following questions by a friend who is helping to revamp a medical transcription course. These questions are also asked by individuals who might be interested in medical transcription and are posed at seminars.

I would appreciate your input if you would be so kind. Also, what is the industry-wide expectation on required number of lines per day and number of minutes per day (8-hour day).

1. On average, how long does it take a medical Transcriptionist to produce 1 hour of dictation?

2. Besides Word, is it essential for transcriptionists to purchase any of the transcription software that�s available?

3. Is it common for doctors to transcribe into templates, which eliminates the need for medical transcriptionists?

4. How many lines an hour should an average MT be typing?

Thanks I appreciate any and all input.

Chart Notes - Posted By: Jackie

Was wondering if anyone could help me out. I need to see some example of different ways to set up chart notes. If anyone knows of a place on the net i can view these of would send me some blanked out that would be great!!!!!

Thanks,

Jackie

IC Question - Posted By: employee dinosaur

What is the equivalent IC rate to equal about 9 cents per line as an employee in regard to SS and federal tax match by employer? State taxes and benefits do not need to be considered. Just a range is what I'm looking for. I'm thinking about 11-12 cents? But I'd like an 'expert' opinion :-)

Do ICs generally need an accountant to figure withholding taxes/schedule, etc., or can it be done by a somewhat intelligent life form with a little research. OR is it strongly advisable to have an accountant?

I did try a search, but wasn't able to find this info readily.

I sincerely appreciate your time! :-)

Is my post about different types of glossaries - Posted By: deleted?? nm

nm

ASR funny - Posted By: what my mind saw

He has bilateral hearing AIDES in place. (should be aids)

I imagined a guy with two people standing next to him yelling into bilateral ear horns.

Hi! - Posted By: It is ZERO degrees here!

Hello MTs! It's freezing cold outside, but I am warm inside typing away :) How is everyone doing today?

How's that for service? - Posted By: MTtoo

A strange thing happened today. My husband, who is a hospital-employed MT who works at home, got a phone call from a doc at the hospital. It seems the dictation system was down, but he needed to dictate. He proceeded to dictate over the telephone while hubby transcribed. He dictated both an H&P and an OP note.

It was strange, but kinda cool.

Express Scribe - Posted By: blondie

Has anyone ever worked for a company who didn't use a platform but just word and Express Scribe or wavpedal. This company asked me to test for them for a part time position a couple of days a week and this is what they use. I really hate Express Scribe and I don't even have Wavpedal on my computer and hate to go buy it just for a test. Actually I won't go buy it just for a test. I don't know what to do here because I really hate Express Scribe. The way it doesn't automatically rewind a little when you stop pressing the foot pedal. I really can't get used to that.

Mass affect on brain or mass effect on brain? - Posted By: which is it? (NM)

dd

Posted on the Gab Board about name suggestions for my cookie business if anyone would like to help - Posted By: pls see msg

I'm not sure how busy the Gab Board is compared to this board, so I thought I'd post here as an fyi. Thanks for any help :)

Long reports, dead air time - Posted By: Xuxa

Does anyone have any good tricks for dealing with the long reports with huge segments of "nothing"? On top of that, the people I am dealing with are ESLs so that's slowing me down enough already.

At this point, all I do is speed up and fast forward but am wondering if there are other ways to compensate for this issue.

Seems like someone would teach them how to pause when they stop dictating!

Do you listen to every report twice, to review it, - Posted By: or just once to transcribe? NM

x

Tired all the time and sleepy during the day even after an eight hour nights rest. Does anyone else - Posted By: Susan

have this problem? Is it a vitamin deficiency in age 40 and over?

Bayscribe - Posted By: ima

I imported my MSW AutoCorrect file into Bayscribe but a lot of it will not work. For instance, in MSW I use YO as the expansion for -year-old, but this now will not work after a number nor will YO work after a number followed by a hyphen either. Seems it only will work after a space. Any idea how to design an expansion that will work after a number or hyphen without a space in between?

Also, all the capitalizations I built in for headers get reversed to lower case when I follow them with a colon and I have resigned myself to having to re-enter all of those. Any Bayscribe experts who can shed some light?

RE: my post below looking for Andre in Biloxi - Posted By: Mainer

Thanks to all that stopped and read my post. Andre is alive and doing okay, although homeless and unemployed. He lost his house, his cars and his possessions, but is glad to be alive.

Apparently Mississippi is just as bad as New Orleans, on a smaller scale, but doesn't get the media coverage that New Orleans gets. At one point they were under martial law. Not allowed out and not allowed go back to their homesite to pick through the ruins of their homes. The body count keeps rising.

What a horrible thing for everyone. So sad.

Head's up! AAMT Task Force has posted about their name change - Posted By: suggestions and their reasoning. sm

I know some posters here are members who may be interested for various reasons. :-)

Anyone with info. on Diskriter?? - Posted By: Texas-overwhelmed-MT

Hello! This is my first time to post here on MTstars. I have accepted a position with Diskriter and should be receiving my equipment next week. I just found out about MTstars and I wish I would have found it before. I am currently employed elsewhere right now and need to make more money. I feel like I am typing my fingers to the bone for 8 hours or longer and at the end of my shift only end up with 750 lines, when I need at least 1500 lines per shift or more. I have been transcribing for about 3 years and the first job I had, I could hit 1500 lines, no problem, during my shift. The problem with my current job is that we run out of work (but get paid for standby). I love my insurance and need to keep it. I plan on working both jobs and have absolutley no idea if I will be able to keep up with my family and their activities. I am strongwilled and determined to make money in this business. Not to ramble on......

Thanks for your input. Your opinions are greatly appreciated!

Overwhelmed MT from Texas

Apartment questions - Posted By: Jodi

Hey, I'm back on the apartment scene, but this time with three little ones. I was told when I moved in that there was a pregnant girl living alone upstairs from me. Okay, fine. Well, in fact, it's her, a 2 yo, and a man. Manager and staff must not be aware of all of them and that seems dangerous to me as we were warned to tell of anyone who would be staying chronically. I assumed in case of fire or other emergency.

Anyway, she is a stomper. I realize that she is pregnant and/or may just be a heavy walker, but she is up at 6 am and doesn't go to bed until midnight. She does not work. I am trying my darndest to get my typing done while my kids are napping and in bed for the night. The stomping has a tendency to be a distraction while I'm working. It's also keeping my kids from relaxing. No sleep = no work. I think she takes the baby to daycare because he isn't there all day, just her and she moves around constantly from room to room. I am doing a very good job of keeping our noise level way down for other tenants. Oh and, Ugh, I haven't even gotten to the worst part. My 4 yo daughter and I share a room and my son and other daughter also share a room. My bedroom is directly below the neighbor's. You guessed it, wild s-e-x anywhere from 11 pm to midnight when she retires. Loud moaning and groaning with wall banging, etc. It continues to wake us all. Thankfully, my children haven't asked about it. They just stir and go back to sleep. She is very entitled to her private life, but it seems to be more of a performance to me. She may not know I and other can hear her, but common sense would seem to dictate that if she can hear others, they can hear her. What would you all do? I have seen her face to face and she commented on my having 3 kids. I don't want to tell on her to the manager here. That's bad form, plus she could get nuts on me and I don't want that. I figure we'll get used to the stomping. Ugh, again, I'm going in circles. Should I just get over it? My church friends say I should bang on the ceiling during her nightly romps. That's seems in bad taste also. I just don't know. Geez, this is my only beef right now. That's huge for me. Thanks.

1st night on 3rd shift and still - Posted By: awake

but i started at 11 p.m., and notice that my line count for first hour was credited to yesterdays work. so -- is this just a fact of life for 3rd shifters?

Urology. Thoughts? - Posted By: Dano

Posterior right renal mass, exophytic, and measuring up to 3.1 cm in maximum dimension. This has Hounsfield attenuation numbers between 50 and 60 which is too high for benign simple cyst although this may be a proteinaceous or bled into cyst.

A 2.7 cm exophytic cystic mass involving the posterior mid-pole of the left kidney, somewhat hyperdense, possibly representing partially mildly hemorrhagic cyst.

Degree of malrotation involving the right kidney.

Within the right lung base peripherally, there is a nonspecific 3 mm nodule. Six-month follow up is recommended.

This has the holy living hell scared out of me. Mets?

Appreciate any thoughts; urologist appt. Sept. 27.

Every day, after typing for a couple or hours or more, my right leg swells. sm - Posted By: Anyone else experience this?

I try to remember to get up every couple of hours and walk around, but still, by the end of the day, the leg is swollen from the knee down, and I sit on the sofa with the leg propped up on pillows. I have tried switching the feet I use for my foot pedal, tried propping the foot up on a stool, but nothing seems to help. Any ideas?

Thanks!

How often do you update your spellchecker? nm - Posted By: SS

-

Does anyone have liability insurance? What can you tell me about it? Wondering if I (am IC) need i - Posted By: keep on learning

Why I hate speech editing. - Posted By: sm

Just finished my 3rd week of speech editing. Of course I was told that I could double my line rate, hence the half-rate pay. Not that it matters. To me, a line is a line is a line, and I've had to apply my brain to each line, even if I don't make any changes. And when do you not make a change to a line, or even completely re-type a line?

We've hashed this out many times on this board, and we know it's not fair. I did increase my line rate a bit, but certainly not double, and I doubt I'd get much faster. I'm doing a mix of traditional and speech, and this pay period I worked 8 hours longer, 88 hours total, and made $80.00 less. And that includes bonus pay.

I can't do this anymore. It's completely demoralizing. Traditional lines are drying up as my accounts are switching over to speech. I might be able to hang on for a bit more, but not much longer. If I end up doing 100% speech I'll never double my line count, and even if I did, I'd be working twice as hard for the same money.

It's time to start looking around for a new career. So much for my 21 years of experience. I made more money back when I was listening to cassette tapes and using an IBM Selectric!

Slow with this doc - Posted By: sm

I have had this doc for a while now, but I am so slow with him. I noticed that I have to stop the dictation at least once every sentence, sometimes more, and it just took me ten minutes to do a 2:50 dictation.

He talkes very fast and quiet but other than that he is great. Although he talks fast, he is pretty clear and I rarely have to look things up with him, other than to CC at the end of the dictation which is almost every report.

I do not have this problem with any of my other docs, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions? I have his favorite sayings in my expander, but just cannot seem to get faster at his reports. Thanks!

What is paid by page per sliding scale? - Posted By: tia

New one on the job board. Never heard of such. Just wondering.

Satellite - Posted By: Debbie Williams

Anyone working from home on satellite? Our in-house transcription departments are getting the boot. Need a job.
Debbie

what shift are you guys more productive - Posted By: sm

I'm thinking of switching to split, so I can get my brain and hands away to rest, but I dont know if i'll just dread working the rest of my shift all day. I've been doing straight first shift for over 10 years and its taken a toll on my mind and body, I figure I could get stuff done during the day, and come back to it. But again, the dread of working still scares me. Anyone find they are more productive on a certain shift and why? First, Second, third or split?

Wish me luck. I just sent my query letter to my favorite women's magazine! I've been a sm - Posted By: Lyn

self-proclamed freelance writer for a while low. I have quite a few topics I am working on, Christian-based, geared towards women. I had to write a letter stating my credentials (I have a few, believe it or not), future topics, experience, etc. I feel very positive about my letter. It took all day to write.

I just pray this pans out. I eventually want to write a book. That's been a life-long dream. I love to write. I've avidly kept a journal for over 25 years, keep an on-line blog, read every day, and writing just comes naturally for me. Also, I outlined my editing experience, so hopefully that will help!

I will let you know what they say! Keep your fingers crossed....I want to get out of the MT business so bad...It's been a blessing, but I would LOVE to get paid by doing what I love doing.....Sharing my shallow thoughts and life's secrets to other women through the use of story telling and faith-based philosophy!

charging per character - Posted By: sunnyMT

What is the average charge per char?? A dr called me and told me he is currently paying .002 per char. If I calculated right, that would be .13 cpl. Is it standard to charge char w/spaces or not? Thanks for any info, I always have charged by the line

MQMT's view from her throne (sm) - Posted By: MQoldtimer

It must be nice way up there in the clouds where you sit. I don't check out these boards often, but in reading today's posts and your comments, I felt compelled to make a few statements.

Your replies to several posts 7/12 and 7/13/05 made me cringe. There was a cartoon strip a few years back, Charlie Brown and friends, with a little dog named Snoopy who would sit up in a tree like a vulture and peer down on the rest of the pee-ons down below him. You come across as Holier-than-thou as my late grandmother.

Do you enjoy calling people lazy (or worse)? I bet there would be several who would like to take your inventory.

I've transcribed for MQ since they were TLF and have been with them throughout all the changes that have come down the pike. Some I have been frustrated with, but bottom line is I like what I do and it hasn't been bad enough (yet) for me to look elsewhere.

Go ahead and flame - I've got my hose ready, too.

Medical transcription - Posted By: USED TO BE MT

I have tried to post this twice before , but was given some lame reasons about me mentioning a certain company or 2 - This company has a site of their own on this forum, so I am guessing that is the reason why!

To all you newbies - good luck - you're going to need it!!!! Back in the middle 90s I was making almost $50,000 a year MTing, just my normal hours a day. For the past couple of years I have been lucky to make $20,000 a year, doing twice as much work, of course. I guess when you have foreigners who will type the stuff for 4 cents a line, why do they need us? This used to be a great profession to get into. All of the business colleges had courses in it - which I took 2 years of, plus worked in an office for 2 years before staying home with my babies.

I guess it served it's purpose when I needed it, but if you are looking for an MT job - Please be very cautious!!!! They will promise one thing and deliver another. Try doing 5 different hospitals, all with at least 500 docs, who, of course, all want something done different/specifal just for them, and you may get these docs to transcribe, oh lets see, maybe once a year - but God forbid you for get that E-mail from 6 months ago that Dr. So and So wants his dictation done in a different format!

This profession has really becme ridiculous, and gets worse and worse by the day! I am collecting unemployment now, which is not much less than I was making transcribing, and I am planning on going back to college to obtain a real degree with a REAL job! Good luck to everyone who hangs in there!!! REALLY! I hope you prosper!

Now, I know there are going to be MTs out there who claim to type 3000 lines a day and make 15 cents a line - Bullcrap!!!! I can type ANY speciality and after all these years I haven't met one person who could type faster than myself!!!!

Now, I'm sure this will probably be deleted because MTing is the bread and butter of this web site, but just in case, if there is anyone out thre thinking about transcription as a position, think again!! Wendy

Can someone help with an internet trick... - Posted By: Mary

If I was looking on the internet at something and saw an address to respond to, I could click on the email address and it would pop open a box in my yahoo and put the address right in the "compose" a message part of my yahoo mail.

A couple of days ago, this feature stopped working, and now I am cutting and pasting the email addresses off of the internet and pasting them into my yahoo mail.

Does anyone know how to get this feature back.

Thanks!

This is a wierd question, but I need help. - Posted By: Faith

I took on a group of dermatologists three weeks ago, and I just hate transcribing for them because of the sloppy way they dictate. Also, I realized I am charging way too little. Further, the OM calls me multiple times daily for this and for that, and she's really getting to be an annoyance. All issues combined, I want to drop this account but I just don't have the heart to tell them the true reason why. What excuse can I use to get rid of them. They're making my life miserable!

Thanks!

Any MTs in the Colorado area? - Posted By: mt

My husband has a possible job opportunity in the northern Colorado area. I am just wondering if anyone on this board is out in that area? I am wondering what the average pricing is on housing, apartments, etc. Anything really fun to do out there? This would be in the Fort Collins area. Also, what is the usual temperature in the summer and winter, snow fall, etc.

I have found most of this information on-line, but I would much prefer to hear from someone who lives around this area. I would take a personal view over a computer anyday! We live in Florida now, so this would be a HUGE move for our family!

Thanks for any info.

Worked in early 90s for 15 cpl - Posted By: just got offered 9 cpl...they laughed at 15 SM

I work in a clinic and am salaried. I decided to pick up some extra work at home and try out one of these companies. Offered 9 cpl...In early 90s, I worked at home for 15 cpl for the local hospital. Who are these companies kidding? What's up with that? I think I'll call the hospital back. But I've heard they are outsourcing now, so they may not pay that anymore either. I believe all these companies out there have been the cause of the drop in OUR pay. Whatcha think?

opinions on EMDAT - Posted By: Eileen

I need opinions on EMDAT software aznd that it seems not to be compatible with Start/Stop pedal. Is that true?

No work, low, work!!! - Posted By: I am so frustrated!

I have been in the profession a long time and I don't know how many times I have been hired by a company is "soooo backlogged and sooo behind" and then when I start working with them they run out of work. This really bothers me. Now I am looking for some part time clinis work AGAIN to fill in the gaps. I am serious thinking about do what thie website has on it http://www.CaliesWAHPlace.Blogspot.com . Has anyone done this?

Thanks for letting me vent

I'm thankful to have a job at all - Posted By: new attitude

To my fellow MTs on Thanksgiving Day. A poem that makes me realize how blessed I am to have a job at all in this economy. Even if it's not perfect, it's a paycheck. Hope it touches the heart of all who read it.

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

~Author Unknown~

Have you ever had most of the text in - sm - Posted By: Flibertygibbit

one of your My Documents files in your PC just plain VANISH? I had a spelling reference file I'd built over many months just plain disappear, except for just a couple of lines. It's so WEIRD! I've done a search of the hard drive, checked the Recycle Bin, etc. But it's nowhere to be found. I hadn't backed it up because it was still a relatively new file for me, and there was more I wanted to add to it first.

So my question is this: Is there a way to retrieve or restore an apparently "lost" file?

hypertype - Posted By: Diane

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any info on Hypertype? How is the platform, how are the dictators ( any ESLs), how is the pay? Thank you very much!!

can't seem to reply to one space or two ... - Posted By: California

I recently made the switch from two spaces to one space after punctuation (periods, colons, question marks). It wasn't forced on me by any means but I just felt the desire to come around in the "computer age." The standard of two spaces after periods came about with the typewriter, but now with the computer, spacing seems to look nicer with one after a period, and that seems to be the trend these days, the one space. I'm glad I made the switch as it is sure saving my thumb from tendinitis!

That being said, I get paid by the gross line, so cutting out a space here and there doesn't hurt my livelihood.

Office Max has 25 colored copies free until 6/9. (nm) - Posted By: mtstudent