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Recently Viewed Messages: (An archive of over 1 million messages related to medical transcription industry) Doctor offered me more... -
Posted By: stillinshock
I have been working on getting a very large group set up for digital. The Medical Director called me yesterday and asked what my cpl rate was. I told him it was 11 and he said, "How about 13?" I was like WHAT?? --that's the first time that has ever happened. Needless to say, I told him that would be fine by me I am just used to drs trying go get me to cut my rate back
WORD EXPANDER -
Posted By: Jacqueline
Does anyone know what shortcuts program works with wordperfect 5.1?
I have yet to actually even find a doctor that cares about people! All they are interested in is mon -
Posted By: discouraged
VR line rate -
Posted By: sm
Could someone just throw out some numbers for me on a fair VR line rate? I know the rate will vary greatly - just as it does for MTing and QAing. We all know the nationals pay 8-10 cpl (hopefully on a 65 character line w/spaces) for MT work - and more often than not they just pay for the typed report and not for any ADT info - no headers/footers, signature lines, etc. We probably can agree on QA rates - 3.5 seems to be the minimum acceptable and again on a 65 character line and while the company would like to believe you match 100% voice to typed word - it is possible to give a quick read and fill in the blanks - but only if you know the MT and know the dictator and this can be dangerous. Can someone please PLEASE give me some indication of what VR pays? Thanks so much!
Emdat/Inscribe -
Posted By: question
For anyone who has used the Inscribe program - if you have more than one report on a dictation file, do you know how to get the voice file for the 2nd report after you have got the demographics for that report? I can get the 2nd format but not the voice file. Thanks.
Just sad and needing to vent. -
Posted By: paulette
I just needed to come here and vent to you guys. I don't post here much, but I do come and read a lot of the posts. I think there are a lot of wonderful people on this board. I just needed to come and express myself somewhere other than my husband and friends.
To start with my mother has COPD and has been unable to work since March of 2005. She is not on disability yet, because we were both naive and kept waiting for someone to contact us after filling out the paperwork online. Anyway, I have been working at a casino job for 12 years and I have let her have my pay checks for the last 3 years to help her out with bills and other things. I also work full-time with Spheris. I work 60-65 hours a week. I also try to do her grocery shopping and do errands for her on my off days. I don't mind doing this, and if I had to work 3 jobs just to keep her here on this earth with me, I would. We have always been close. She doesn't have any insurance, so she doesn't get to go to the doctor as much as she needs to be going.
The thing that is really bothering me is the fact that I am the youngest of 4 children. I am the ONLY one who calls her every day and asks her if she needs anything. I have told my siblings that I cannot do it alone anymore. My older brother did start helping somewhat over this past year with the prescriptions and going to the store on occasion. But he will only do those things if I call or my mom calls him. My middle brother, about 2 years ago, won 50,000 dollars at a casino, called my mom to brag to her about it and never did one thing for her!!! He also about a year ago won 30,000 total in one night, and NEVER called her, and never came by to see her or anything. Last week, he wins ANOTHER 54,000, and yet, again, the very same thing.
In 1997, my mother and I took out a 15,000 mortage on our house to do remodeling. We ended up being taken advantage of by a guy that we had known for many years. We didn't have a contract drawn up, so there was nothing we could do. He came out and tore out a wall and concreted the add-on area, made a concrete porch, and then left everything else torn up. She has squirrels that get in her house from time to time from some hole somewhere. I absolutely kills me to see my mom in the terrible health that she is in. I try so hard to help her. I can't afford to get her house fixed up, but it kills me to think of her passing on without seeing her house fixed up. She deserves so much more. She and my father were married for 32 years when they divorced--due to his infidelity. I have tried talking to my siblings and it just doesn't work. How can a child be so cold to their mother??? I told my sister that I hoped that some day when they becamed aged, that their kids didn't do the same thing to them; also, I hoped that they didn't get in that type of health.
My sister has a gambling problem and doesn't do anything to help her either. She will call her and tell her that she will bring her something down, and then never shows up. I am just so tired. I have a 4-year-old son and a husband, 2 jobs, and the rest of my family JUST DON"T GET IT~! 
I am sorry this was so long, but I just can't take it anymore. Thank you for listening.
Paulette
What is with these dictators with the microphone in their mouth?! -
Posted By: Sheryl
Cripe - I've been on this american doctor all morning and he is the pits. Sounds like he has the microphone buried inside of his mouth. All kinds of breath noises and other undesirable sounds. Things are so distorted and my line count is in the toilet. Don't they know its garbage in-garbage out? Plus he talks 200 mph. ARGH
AAMT -
Posted By: guest
If the AAMT gets their way and gets an apprenticeship program apprvoved, MTs are sunk. Students will come out of the top 3 schools ready to work, but will have to work for lower line rates as apprentices. So who do you think the MTSOs will hire?
The AAMT has applied to the Department of Labor to get this scheme going. We are sunk unless we oppose it and state that the AAMT does not represent the majority of MTs. The group that wants to represent us is sending us right down the tubes. We have to stop them before they go any further with this scheme.
MS WORD - TOOL BAR QUESTION -
Posted By: sammypot
Part of my toolbar, from file through help, is now vertical along the left side of my screen. I checked "help" but could not come up with the solution for moving it back to the horizontal top of the screen position.
Thank you
Interesting IQs (see message) -
Posted By: me
132 Harry Truman (D) 122 Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) 174 John F. Kennedy (D) 126 Lyndon B. Johnson (D) 155 Richard M. Nixon (R) 121 Gerald Ford (R) 175 James E. Carter (D) 105 Ronald Reagan (R) 098 George HW Bush (R) 182 William J. Clinton (D) 091 George W. Bush (R)
Any ho t dirt y bitc hes here! -
Posted By: MARIO BOSIO
i am on het wanna fuc k hard and deep so that my 12 inches long black rod reaches the thoroat of all the old MT bitc hes here.
Need some advice from some seasoned MT's!! -
Posted By: Frustrated
Can someone PLEASE give some tips or advice: I have been testing with companies, but every dictator they throw out there is an ESL dictator and my ear is not as trained as I need it to be. I really want to get better at typing ESLs and have been transcribing for 1 1/2 years. Problem is, I am just missing so much of the dictation I don't even want to send it in. Does anyone with a trained ear have any tips???
Lowering IC Line Rates -
Posted By: KathrynT
As we all know, line rates for ICs continue to fall due to offshoring and other issues involved. I can no longer quote a decent line rate or I hear the phone slam in my ear.
Therefore, I've decided to do what I have to do to compete and get accounts, which is lower my line rate to 10.5. Naturally, I am not going to give this large cardiology group a 65-character line for that rate.
What do you feel is fair for me and the group line character-wise for 10.5 cents line? I was thinking of a 50-character line. Your opinions, please.
Thank you! 
Great interview from Mandisa on VH1 site. -
Posted By: p
www.vh1.com I get the newsletter sent to my mailbox so you might have to search, but it was sent to me today. It's terrific. Love her!
Word Expander for Word? -
Posted By: Emily Ayn
After years and years of using WP 5.1 we have switched to regular old word... i hate change but I know it's time.
The autotext in Word seems to be a bit... different. Does anyone have any helpful hints?
Now the fun part begins of adding in ALL the macros and shortcuts...
I am Rocephin! -
Posted By: ASR Funny
Made me think of "I AM SPARTACUS!"
I have to entertain myself somehow while I work! 
Retirement Accounts -
Posted By: nn
I am considering getting into a retirement account this year. I am a sole proprietor with no employees to contribute to. I am also looking to reduce my tax obligations for next year with this account. I am also over age 50, so this may be a consideration. Any suggestions from knowlegeable MT/business owners out there? Some of this stuff is very confusing. so any help would be appreciated. Also include who to go through for set up, if known.
thanks 
Wonderful new MTSO -
Posted By: LinK
I just have to say they do exist, you just have to look hard. I just took a job with a new small MTSO that had advertised here at MTStars for a part-time/p.r.n. transcriptionist. I had a new dictator last night with quite a bit of dictation. He was very confusing and I was getting very frustrated and ended up staying up until 4:00 a.m. I emailed her and let her know my situation. She emailed me back this morning and I was kind of afraid to open the email (I was unable to finish all the dictation). She was so nice and said that I shouldnt' have stayed up so late and to just work on the transcription more tonight. It was like she was apologizing to me for the doctor. I'm really happy to have found this job thanks to MTStars
I just HAD to post this! Unreal! -
Posted By: Love2BTyping
Yahoo had an article about careers that you can "do from home to earn $30K to $70K.....I KNEW the MT biz would be on there. Although I don't agree with everything folks say regarding the eventual decline and demise of the profession, this particular snippet could be a reason why things are going in the downhill direction. I'll highlight my favorite parts! 
Medical Transcriptionist
The job of medical Transcriptionist involves a lot of listening and typing. Medical transcriptionists listen to doctor's notes on a headset and type out the information, editing for clarity when necessary. Their duties might include medical discharge orders, autopsy reports, referral letters, consultation notes, and the like. The medical transcriptionist must have a good working knowledge of medical jargon and the ability to convey information with the utmost accuracy.
To become a medical transcriptionist, an associate's degree or one-year diploma from a medical transcriptionist training program is recommended. Being familiar with medical jargon is a plus.
Salary: Medical transcriptionists brought home a salary of $31,250 per year in 2007.
Going crazy, need some answers... -
Posted By: sm
My husband's grandfather is in the hospital. His mom just called and said that his kidneys have shut down and "it could be any day now." What does this mean?? Any idea of how long he could live?? He's refusing any treatment. We are just sitting by the phone waiting for his mom to call back after she talks to the doctors, but we're trying to decide if we should drive out there today (16 hr drive) or if it's already too late. Thanks for any help.
Hey, you tech MT's, help please. -
Posted By: Router question
I got a LinkSys router at Wal-Mart and with tech help, I got my Vista computer and other computer going at the same time; however, I unplugged the cable from the phone jack one night, as it was storming, and could not get both computers back on line after that. I actually have returned the router and doing without for now.
I would like your experiences and any help that you could give me. I have used cable router before, but not for phone line -- DSL. Thanks.
Did anyone ever have a video card go bad and what does it cause when this happens. nm -
Posted By: PAMT
:
re billing - am I being a total *ash*? -
Posted By: anon
I have plenty of clients, no shortage of work. Recently I started picking up some extra legal transcription from a company who is swamped & always begging for help. It's not something I've had much opportunity to do and it's fun to do something different. But they're totally out of the technological loop. I bill all my clients by an Excel spreadsheet attached to an email, and I have a master spreadsheet set up that keeps track of all my invoices for me. They are the only ones who can't open it. I know they can because someone who used to work there could, but now they have a new person and no one there can open it. Of course they can probably right click and "open with" some kind of viewer, but why is it my problem to teach them that? (here's where the "am I being a total a$$ question comes in!) I'm tired of their clueless clerk emailing me five times every time I send her an invoice asking me to resend it and having to respond "If you can't open it, it's not going to help to resend it." Sure I can mail it, but why should I when I have plenty of other clients? Do you think I'd be an a$$ for unceremoniously dumping them? would you do it in a quieter way and leave the door open for further work?
They are so technologically out of the loop, it's not even funny. I asked them for an electronic copy of one of their style guides for easy searching, and they said they don't do that and they "don't keep" things. They just have one hard copy they are xeroxing over and over. I knew it was somewhere, it had obviously been typed it on a computer. It's a .pdf file on the web! Someone had downloaded it directly from the court's web site. They are supposed to provide me with the names of judges and attorneys on the tapes but they don't and I have to struggle to hear names and spell them phonetically or designate unidentified voices somehow so I can tell them apart and then go back and globally replace them when I hear the name or I'm sure of the spelling. This adds countless time to transcribing their cases AND THEY HAVE THAT INFORMATION. I've asked them for lists or links for judge's/attorney names so I can at least search when they don't give them to me. No dice. I have since found good links on the web, of course.
I'm worried about getting in deeper with them, I'm not overly familiar with legal work and I'm just going to keep coming up against their not being able to provide me with the tools I need. Every time I have to find something for myself it's costing me money, obviously, being paid on production. They annoy me and I seem to have a very low threshold for that. But it's valuable experience and they are desperate, the owner won't be happy. But she's as clueless as her staff.
Posting on this board sm -
Posted By: Just me
I agree with the moderator and the thing that bothers me is that some take up so much of some of the boards, that they seem to "overcome" and this is why in desperation, some say, "Please help me on".....xyz board because they know the board they should be posting on has only one or two posters. Albeit, these posters are helpful also, but don't you think it would be wise to allow only a certain number of posts per day on certain boards to allow someone else to get a word in edgewise? Then there would not be so many "lockouts" and posts on the main board. I was in a situation that was of importance to my future business and I did ask for help on a board which seemed to have only one or two posters lately, and I was shut down. This is not a punitive message, just a suggestion that sometimes we are desperate to be helped. This board is an excellent source of communication and I would hate to see anything negative happen here. Just a suggestion. Carry on the good work!
Need help on word board, please. TIA :) -
Posted By: Thanks!
Mentoree made to feel DUMB -
Posted By: mentoree out here alone
I am so angry because I feel like the lady at this company I am mentoring with treats me like I am DUMB. I am new to this field but far from being DUMB. When I ask for clearity on something it is like her response is demeaning. I don't know if it is just me or it seems like there are people in this field that are just rude. I don't want to appear ungrateful for have the opportunity to have a company mentor me but I AM NOT DUMB!!!!!!!
I don't what to snap back at her in her emails for fear of losing the opportunity. Any advice?
Opinions about per page pay--sm -
Posted By: nn
I have an opportunity for a position with a company doing disability evaluations, but the pay is per page and at $1.75 to $1.90. I think this is a little low, but would like opinions from others. TIA
Questions about VR -
Posted By: Cookie
I have used VR for several years now and it is the pits now. It misses a lot of words, misses the numbering, just throws in salad and I am really at a loss as to why. At 1 time 3-4 years ago it was almost perfect. I am using the same platform, Escription and it is just plain frustrating to repeat day after day the same mistakes and yet the process is never learned- totally unlike what we were told when first starting on it. I would like to hear from others who have used for some time and see if yours has stayed the same or have you noticed any changes. Thanks.
New Doctor, some patients already typed -
Posted By: Lisa
I got a new doctor. They girl who had been working for him left him in a big mess, undone dictations, etc. The office gave me a flashdrive to do with about 30 patients on it over the holiday weekend. Today they've told me ten patients had already been typed, how did I want to handle that? It seems they don't want to pay me for these. My husband says to bite the bullet and not charge them, since this is a new account and I'd like to keep it, is possible. What do you think? I know it's a land of confusion there from what is done to what is not done. Thanks!
Another question for QA -
Posted By: old and tired
Can someone from QA tell me how they determine accuracy for each transcriptionist? I have one particular account that has A LOT of ESL, most of which seem to be assigned to me for one reason or another. I am used to most of them now but may have 2 or 3 reports a day that go to QA with blanks. About 90% of the time, those reports are returned from QA with the blanks not filled in. Are those counted against me, even if QA can't get them?
As far as I can tell, at the company I work for there is no random QA of reports. We are QA'd on the reports we send in with blanks. 
Expresiv--does anyone use this transcription/dictation system--sm -
Posted By: Debra
who could take some time to answer a few questions for me.
Using Stedmans spellchecker with Meditech -
Posted By: pauline
Does anyone know if a Stedman's Medical/Pharmaceutical spellchecker works with Meditech program?
I currently use PCShorthand with it but mine does not recognize drug names. I was thinking of buying Stedman's Spellchecker but how does this one work with Meditech. I friend bought Stedmans and loves it so I was thinking of doing thet same but my friend is typing in Word and not Meditech.
Does anyone know where a person could get a tutorial on Meditech as Help Button on the Meditech Help section when I am working is kinda of confusion. This is what I get working as a remote IC person. Trying to learn this system a little better.
Thanks Pauline
Anyone else offended or insulted to be offered 6-7 cpl? Or is it just me or finds this insulting. -
Posted By: Fourteen years of experience
Is this how bad it is that now this is the going rate?? I get sick to my stomach just thinking about it. I need a career change.
Longest ER exam on record! My funny for the day. -
Posted By: ER MT
"She states she has had right-sided abdominal pain and she points to her right lower quadrant for approximately three days."
I wonder if her pointy finger got tired!!!
Co. requires outdated version... -
Posted By: Burton
Trying to get started with Focus and they require Microsoft Office Professional 2003. I cannot get this from a reputable company. They tell me that 2007 is not compatible with their system, but the people from microsoft doesn't see how it couldn't be. Does anyone know a legal and reputable way to get this?
I have 1 year of experience. Does anyone know of another good company that willh hire PT with this experience. Thanks.
To Working Your Schedule -
Posted By: diddles
I'm not trying to flame you but just ask a question. How is it you know for sure this "greedy" MT is "him"? What I mean is, how do you know specifically who THE person is? Does your system allow you to see who is on at the same time you do? If not, has that information been given to you by someone in the company?
Again, I'm not flaming. I'm just wondering how you know to place blame on a particular person and have knowledge that someone is getting your lines rather than it just being a lull in the work flow.
d~
I have received a few letters -
Posted By: anonymous
so far. Keep those letters to The White House coming you guys! I am so trying to get our voices heard so that our careers may be saved. I am addressing outsourcing, offshoring, patient security, voice recognition and anything else that can come to mind concerning transcription. I want to have a packet of letters to mail off because that will have a greater impact versus just sending one letter here and there. Please join me! Deadline for sending letters is 1/28/09. Email me if you wanna join me:)
A very important read !! -
Posted By: JAS
Just something to think about.
The link below will take you to a page explaining the House and Senate versions of the bill and a link to send an email to your representatives in Washington indicating that patients have the right to be made aware that their personal information and medical records are being sent overseas for transcription. The letter is already written for you! http://www.rallycongress.com/support-fo ... formation/
off today and bored... -
Posted By: anyone wanna chat? nm
Help re transferring digital file -
Posted By: sg
Anyone know how to transfer a voice file from a Panasonic digital recorder on Voice Studio to Express Scribe? Any help would be much appreciated!
said albuterol ipratropium inhaler 6 puffs qid and prn that can't be right, can it? -
Posted By: gmg
That can't possibly be right, can it?
Working for WalMart Soon Perhaps?..sm -
Posted By: TechSupport
Holy smokes! I think I've seen everything now. WalMart is getting into the EPR business:
Meditech (sm) -
Posted By: Anon
I remember someone giving instructions on formatting in Meditech, something to do with the F8 key. Could you please post that information again, I meant to print those instructions out. Thanks.
Jill H, we have a question about the spa basket you won. Can you -
Posted By: Keystrokes
send you email to us (our email is on here). We have two different choices for the spa basket and want to ask your preference and we also need your phone number for the UPS label.
Thank you!
Question for ICs or MTSOs -
Posted By: StudentMT
I'm curious (for those of you who wouldn't mind posting anonymously) what do you charge for various types of transcription services?
-StudentMT
Do U MySpace? -
Posted By: MySpaceJunkie
I'm addicted!
Line counting -
Posted By: Tracey
I work as an IC for a company. When I type my document I go into Tools and use the Word Count and divide by 55 (that's what my company pays by) giving me my line count.
However, when I get my paycheck it is considerably less than what I anticipated. Is the MS word count not adequate to go by?
DOes anyone feel it is necessary to have their own line counting program?
long distance -
Posted By: debra
Does anyone know of a good unlimited minutes long distance company?
Newbie update from a couple of weeks ago -
Posted By: sm
Sorry it took me so long to update. I wrote a couple of weeks ago about being a newbie at a company and wanting to ask about getting off QA after four months. Well, I heard back and sure enough was told that I was ready to come off QA! I am so excited! Thanks to all who took the time to give me their opinion on the subject.
Do CMTs make more money? -
Posted By: metawhat?
I have perceived this as a scam by the AAMT. Am I wrong?
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