8 cents new pt, visit, lower rate for returning visits??
Posted By: . on 2009-07-27
In Reply to: Does anyone know what company the ad by Deborah Levinson is? - anon
Now this is a new one.
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VR rate is 1/2 rate of traditional typing,I believe it is 4 cents line.
yes. at new lower rate.
nm
Lower rate/better dictators
Again I agree with you! The MTSO, hospitals should go to dictators that are bad or hard to understand and ask them politely to clean it up. How are we supposed to do our jobs 100% when we get crap to deal with? You give clean dictation you get clean reports. Any fool can figure that out . . . . well maybe not. 
lower pay rate for templates
Hi folks, Has anyone heard of getting a lower pay rate for templates? The company I work for is lowering their pay rates for what comes up as templates to 2 cents per line and say they will continue to pay the 8 cents per line for what we actually type? I have not heard of this before and was wondering if this was a common practice? Thanks for any feedback you might have.
Elizabeth MT since 2001
EditScript and lower rate
I don't understand how you can think it's all right for a company to pay less because the VR system is good. Shouldn't it be a given that a company would have the best system they can find and not dock you? Seems like they are paying for having that system on your back and you think that's OK. That is really, really sad.
I happen to use EditScript (or Escription) and think it is an excellent program, though still prone to humorous errors. I make 4 cents a line for VR and wouldn't mind making more.
I think they do hire PT, but at a lower line rate (nm)
x
I have heard hourly rate is now lower in $12 to $15
per hour range. Lots of companies pay by line. Forget it with handling MTs - no win situation now matter how you deliver it. Truly the downside of the job.... a real bummer.
or tell you they "revised" their pay scale and give you a lower rate.
x.
Much more flexible than MQ. 12-hr window to do your work. Rate is lower, but they do have incentives
Haven's started yet, but E-mail me if you'd like and I'll tell you what I can. The Q was just unbearable to me.
I get 4 cents for VR at MQ. I think its the going rate
:(
The rate was 9.75 cents, 65 char. without spaces. No thanx! nm
x
Mq's voice rate is 3 cents a line, nm
nm
Hourly rate? That's a laugh. Try 6 cents a line nm
//
Add that 4 cents on to my line rate and I'd be plenty happy while I'm doing these ESLs all day
nm
Unfortunately, the "many MT jobs" have very low pay rates, and getting lower and lower. nm
x
$15 copay for PCP visits, $750 deductible. nm
With Transtech insurance, do you have to meet deductible before office visits are covered? nm
nm
Oh, they make money off us. Line rate is 17 cents a gross line.nm
z
Returning......
I would just send a reply to the e-mail received, so when the person opens it, they will see their e-mail and that you were invited back. That way, if it was sent mass or not, they still sent the invite toyou, so this would be a help, I think, in getting their attention. I'm sure you're just too cautious and keeping yourself from getting the job.
Go for it!!!!
Returning computer
There is nothing in their handbook about paying $125 to return their computer. I'm not sure where that came from.
Returning Transcend's PC
Please contact Jeff McKee at jeff.mckee@trcr.com and he will send you labels for return of our equipment. Thank you.
I'd like to know, too! Was thinking of returning..
IF they would have me! I want to work weekends/nights, Fri through Sunday.
you should consider returning PT flex....
if you get cesspool, sign off. If you get your accounts stay on. It is not too hard to get 2000 lines per week. You could probably manage it on the weekend when work volume is higher.
My work pools have improved over the last month or so. I get my primary, secondary, and then accounts from my PS's BOB. Usually I sign off when my primary and secondary are finished.
Returning to work after disability?
About 2-1/2 years ago I had to take employer-paid disability for an illness that was affecting my attendance at the hospital where I had been employed for several years as an MT. I loved my job, but had no choice at the time and have spent the last two years trying to do my best to return to health and return to work at the same hospital. During those two years, the hospital had a shortage of qualified MTs and was aggressively hiring; when I checked lately, however, there are no openings. I called the department a month ago inquiring about the possibility of returning to work and the department head never returned my call. Although I had exemplary reviews and years of extensive MT experience at this hospital, I know that my attendance the last year or so left a bad impression on my department head. Also, during the time I was quite ill and still working, my production temporarily suffered, worsening the situation (yet my last review was still exemplary, noting only attendance issues and need to pull up production, otherwise just outstanding). I do believe she got the message the day I called, but chose not to return the call. I made the call during a time they were actively recruiting and having some difficulty in finding qualified MTs. Now I see no such ads anywhere.
There are other non-MT positions at the hospital, but I'm really not qualified for most of them and my pay as an MT was outstanding and I absolutely adored my job until I became too ill to work. I'm afraid I ruined my reputation in my department when I became ill and she perhaps has decided not to re-hire me. Although I could speak with people above her, she ultimately has the final say in determining whether she would take me back into the department.
If my MT department head is unwilling to hire me, what do you think my chances are applying at national companies with a 2-1/2 year lapse in working and transcribing? I'm sure my doctors will gladly back me up that my attendance issues were solely due to my illness and I have copies of my superior reviews, even my last review the month before I left to take disability.
Although I believe I haven't lost my MT skill, I have been out of the loop in terms of new drugs, etc. for over two years. Yet, I do have many years transcribing for a prominent multi-specialty hospital. What would YOU DO if you were me? Would you more aggresively pursue the position with my current employer or try to move on? I don't want to move on, but may have no choice. Thanks for the advice!
What is average? 7 cents, 8 cents, 9 cents? 65-character?
x
Could we visit further--I'd like to know more.
I have been hired but am still waiting for someone to contact me about training. Could you give me a heads up on some things that might be handy to know? Tomorrow is supposed to be my first day but no one has called about training yet, as I said.
One question I had was--do they renew the QLDB, Stedman's SpellCheck, and SEMD when new versions come out?
Thanks a bunch,
Cindy
cweb@netins.net
You need to visit------------
another website to see just how many MT jobs are being posted and see how many experienced MTs are needed. All of these services will not pay for the expensive technology that VR is demanding in price. The way your one-track mind is, you'd think ALL hospitals and clinics in the U.S. are going to be VR. HELLO--don't you realize there are still many who work off of Dictaphone machines?? Give me a break.
On my last visit to the ER - sm
I took one of my grandchildren to the ER last summer. After the diagnosis was made, etc., I was given a printed report that looked like it was transcribed, but it was not. The attending doc entered the info into a computer and that was it! It scared me - I thought to myself, Who needs a transcriptionist? The same at my regular physician's office. I tell him what is wrong and he sits there in front of me and types my complaints into a computer with a diagnoss and treatment plan and VOILA!
In a nutshell, I am very afraid that MT will become obsolete soon, and I don't know what many of us are going to do.
I'm too old and tired and over educated (master's degree in business) to get hired anywhere, especially not in this economy which will stick with us for awhile.
I visit the African Cam a lot SM
right now there are about 6 zebras at the water hole! I put a link in this post. Once here, you would click on the words Nkoro Stream in the top left side of screen. The live cam will pop up! It is so cool. They have night vision at night too.
Chickadee
Don't you have a panda to visit? Ha!!
Only kidding, seriously. I throw down the towel, I apologize. I really, really do. Anybody who loves pandas is a great person. I love pandas. I also love peaches. I am sorry I was horrible. I apologize.
I noticed on my last MD visit
that the nurse who took my vitals, weight and chief complaint for being there had one of those EMR gadgets and was struggling with it and talking about how much she hated it. She could not even spell nausea (she said this aloud) and had to use the end of her pencil to hit each letter keypad (as they were so small) to explain it. I wonder how many doctors delegate the task to their nurses and other office staff?
I once worked for special needs patients and would take them to the doctor sometimes and that doctor started using EMR for his practice. I watched him once through a window in a charting room with it, he looked very frustrated. It then made sense why the patient reports and encounters from his office had started coming to my office so sloppy, whereas they had not been before, with poor grammar, little punctuation, incorrect capitalization and often sentences that just did not make logical sense. The doctor was doing them on his new fancy-dancy EMR. It seems to me the answer about EMR really depends a lot on the quality of the report the doctor and/or health facility actually want.
When my son had to make a visit to the ER the
PA asked about my background because I was talking the talking. When I told her what I did she said that their work was done by MQ and it was horrible. I don't know where the work was done. I briefly QA'd offshore work and it was bad. I know that for a non-English speaking person, they are doing pretty good, but pretty good isn't good enough. I'm seen some pretty crappy work from U.S. MTs too.
I also work for 8 cents a line. I left a job typing OPs for 10-11 cents sm
to take a clinic job. I made an average of $17-18 an hour with OPs, now make $16-17 an hour, but the work is easier on me. I do not call that poor pay. I type 200+ lines an hour. True, it isn't the $26-27 an hour I was making 10 years ago at a hospital, but that's gone for good. I have excellent skills, make better than 99% on QA at any company I have worked for, and some of those have been very demanding.
I'm afraid the people that are expecting to make $20-30 an hour in MT are going to be disappointed. A few can still make that amount, but for the average good transcriptionist, the pay is much more likely to run $15-20. Benefits are pretty much gone. However, I feel that what I'm making is considerably above what I could make in another field, unless I decide to teach, which I will not do. Still, I make more than I would at Walmart or Burger King, or even a secretarial job. It's my choice. Good luck to you.
Heartland/Presidential VIsit
Anyone interested can go to www.baynews9.com, click on the article about the presidential visit to Tampa today. Go to the comments and read my posted comment. Our president is allowing things like this to happen in this country and the average person is not aware of what goes on with offshoring of medical records. Everyone needs to find places like this to post so that ALL people, especially our senior citizens, vets, etc., can be fully aware of this disgusting trend. Americans need to take back America! PERIOD. END OF STORY.
I'd pay a little visit to the LABOR BOARD, myself. sm
Many years ago, my last paycheck from an MT company I worked for BOUNCED. Not, once, but TWICE. (I put it thru a 2nd time at the owner's branch). So, I went to the Labor Board for help. They not only got me the money from the last paycheck, but also some insurance reimbursement I was owed to me. Apparently this had happened to others at that place, as well. A former co-worker told me the L.B. paid the COMPANY a visit one day, and they went through her office with a fine toothed comb. Found lots of illegal little problems going on, and put her out of business for good. What goes around, COMES around! ;p
sorry - i don't visit those boards. I was only referring
I have been to Alaska and loved to visit but
would not even consider living there. Saw cars with what looked like battery cables coming out from under the hood and asked why- you have to heat the motors up in some parts in order to have the oil flow through the engine or would be unable to drive. Tires freeze up on the roads. If a big moose gets hit on the roads, they hack it up and give the meat to folks on welfare, lots of that there and alcoholism. Heck, I was there in August and weather here was in the 90s. The day before I left had to get another outer garment, it was in the 30s, August! You have to be made of real sturdy material to live there. Lots hunt and kill their own food/clothing. I am used to running to Publix or Walmart if I need anything. The place is beautiful and would visit again, but only visit.
I'm perplexed. The few times I visit this board, ...SM
I frequently see people questioning companies, negating companies, etc. I can only speak for myself and 10 MT friends that I have had in the business for 10+ years now, we have almost all stayed with the same company for many years. We are all quite happy and paid a fair rate for what we are worth in experience and skills. When I peruse this board, I find that the profession comes across very negative. With all due respect, are the majority on this board new MTs trying to find their way, or MTs who cannot fit in with a company for whatever reasons (accuracy, speed, etc.) and shed such a terrible light on the profession. Y'all would not believe the positive networking with successful Transcriptionist who have truly been rewarded in their careers. Please know that if you are truly talented in this field and have built the number of experienced years required, this is not natural to see this negativity. I have been with a company (approx. 50 MTs for almost 10 years now) and have been treated and paid what I am worth. I'm beginning to think the majority of posts here are from those who cannot make it in this professsion. Believe it or not, most companies can recognize so within the first several weeks of work. No offense to anyone. I am sure there are many here who are much more talented than I am in different apsects of life. My point is: If you are truly educated and gifted in the MT field, you will continue to prosper. If not, this is not your calling. Try something different.
Agree. I never visit my state's board. I bet a lot of
s
The mentoring program does not pay 8-1/2 cents per line. Believe it is like 6 cents.
n/m
is the deductible for insurance still 2500 bucks w/ no copay for doc visit?
That is the sole reason I quit. That and the fact they switched me from account to account as soon as I started making a decent line rate with one.
They also have the ability to slow down how fast you can download files. They slipped and told me that it was to help control traffic on the server.
4 CENTS , SCHMORE CENTS. THAT'S WRONG!
Whether an MT is new or an editor, 4 cents a line is deeply insulting, and 9 cents per line isn't really too much better. You know, I understand that most of these MT companies want to save money, but most of them don't seem to want to pay what an MT's time and skills are really worth. Why not pay an MT who has been in the field for 7-10 years or more 15 or 20 cents per line? At least I might consider working for one of these companies at home if I were to be paid that much straight off the bat for having 12 years' experience, but I guess that would be too much like right...
Do they still pay you 5 cents a line and 2 cents if you send anything to QA?
xx
I have a problem with 7 cents and 8 cents a line because
...when I started 15 years ago, my very first MT job started me out at 8 cents a gross line, then went to 9 cents a gross line after only a year. I was SOOO happy and proud of myself for choosing a profession that paid so well - I imagined myself making a lot of $$ once I had 10 or 15 years experience behind me...
Well that never happened; in fact, it all went backwards, pay wise. The company I worked for back then sold out to a national, and of course the pay was cut, and 9 cents a gross line was never to be had again, at least not that I could find. I am considered living in poverty now. I started out great but have ended up very badly.
I think my own personal problem is that it's hard for me to let go the fact that I made good money just starting out and how everything I had ever learned about jobs, careers and pay was that the more experience and education you have in a particular field, the more your pay goes up as each year passes. Well my pay has been consistently taking a nosedive for at least a decade now. I actually have to work MORE to make at least as much as I did years ago, and it's killing me health-wise as far as my wrists, my legs, my neck, my back....
It also kills me that I'm going to have to accept 7 or 8 cents a 65-character line when I made so much more than that 15 years ago.
I suppose to someone who's just starting out, 7 or 8 cents would seem pretty good, though. Maybe that's why I haven't been able to land any jobs with my resume. They may not want me with my years of experience, probably want a newbie who will be more grateful about such low pay. I dunno.
I could just kick myself for wasting money on MT school those years ago when I could've spent it on a career that would actually LAST and where I'd be making great money after being in the same field for 15 years. There's just no reward to this business. None at all, IMO.
I would NOT recommend this field to anyone just getting started. To me, it's a dead field.
I'd have more freedom working at McDonalds (for a number of reasons), and, believe me, I've been considering taking a local job around my home for minimum wage. At least I'd have a consistent paycheck and would know exactly what I'm getting every 2 weeks, then build from there as far as another job or two.
Well anyway that's all. I really need a job. I'm going down, going under, and it's a shame because I do very good work and have all this experience but no one seems to want me, even the low-paying companies. Oh well.
Few cents here, few cents there stolen from you by
x
I'll add my 5 cents to your 2 for 7 cents sm
I AGREE WITH YOU!
I know an MT who sits on her laurels and whines about no work and only getting 9 cpl after 5 whole years of experience. She can type 3 specialties, won't touch an ESL, goofs off when there is work and whines when there is not. I have tried to help, but it is quite plain to me she doesn't want that help.
I have about 3 times the experience of the above MT. The only specialty I have not done is pathology. I have literally done everything else. I know the BOS 2 like the back of my hand and I have outstanding accuracy scores (even if I can't type straight here). I work as an employee and make a base rate of 8.5 cpl, which I never get because I always have some of the different incentives offered. I regularly turn that 8.5 cpl into $25 an hour and at my PT job where I get 10 cpl and faster software, I can turn that into $32.50 an hour.
I have heard, more times than I can count from other MTs that they wish they could have my income. I can tell they why they don't. It is called hang out to complain on a message board like MTStars. It is doing everything, BUT your work on your shift. It is your lack of a willingness to learn new things, even if they slow you down some. This very year, recently in fact, I was put on straight cardiology procedure notes and I didn't worry for a second that I would suffer financially. I AM FLEXIBLE and that, in a nutshell, is why most MTs will not succeed.
A long time ago I realized that if I want more money, I was going to have to work SMART, not hard. In my 15 years, I now make 5 times what I did my first year and at the same exact line rate I had then! I spend less time working to achieve that these days. So no, I can't agree with your sky is falling routine.
Most of you...your attitudes suck. If I had to have you on site as my employees, you would not last 15 minutes. The first time I heard you at the water cooler whining about your pay, I'd fire your fanny so fast it would make your head SWIM. I have eyes in the back of my head too, so when you started making that stink face you are making right now, I'd have sacked you for that, on the spot, no warning and no day's pay. The ONLY reason you all get away with this is that you THINK no one who knows you is watching and that your respective contract holders can't figure out who you are.
By and large, I can't tolerate other MTs as friends. I find them lazy, self-absorbed whiners and complainers with some the worst negative attitudes I have EVER seen! If you hate MT so very much GO GET A JOB DOING SOMETHING ELSE. I can tell you, your bad attitude, your tendency to complain, whine, witch (with a capital B), moan and ALWAYS see the most negative side of everything...THAT crap will follow you to that new career and it won't be any better than this one. You have issues and I really think they are issues for a good therapist. They are called personality disorders and many of you have them in multiples and in spades!
I think you should be completely and utterly ashamed of yourselves. Too many people are out of work, homeless, and starving this Christmas to be so opinionated and selfish.
for MQ STAT employees tier rate applies to ME rate as well and how calcluated?
for a STAT MQ employee: Does anyone know if the tier rate is going to be applied to the ME rate as well or are they going to go with the 80% of the MT rate for each tier level? If the tier rate doesn't apply as well to the ME rate then going by the 80% of the MT rate is less than if the tier rate would be applied. I'm sure that MQ is going to go by whatever keeps money in their pockets. Guess this is a question for the supervisor tomorrow.
Their line rate was less than my current nat'l rate, even with mucho experience. nm
no msg
Sorry...lower 7 to 7.5 cpl. nm
x
I already get by on less. How much lower can
Soon most MT work stations will become shopping-carts parked under the nearest interstate overpass.
'Buddy, can you spare a dime?'
Lower pay
I hope that is not true but I bet they try to lower our wages again. I also work for Spheris and I know that we have to meet the QA standards. I do meet the QA and line count standards but I notice lately that I have been having to look up the patient information a lot more, which I know we are not compensated for. Also, lately it seems like I do more reports but my line count does not seem to increase like it should. Makes me wonder.
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