Any updated info on Ascend?

• Any updated info on Ascend? - me

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Hi -

First time ever on this board and I've been an MT for 15 years.  Worked for Healthscribe before Spheris took over (3 years) and now work for another company...but looking elsewhere.  Can anyone give me their honest opinions about CyMed?  I just tested with them, extremely easy to me, but I HATE changing job.  However, job I have now....isn't paying the bills at all, waiting for work constantly, they are going to start off-shoring, etc.  I'm single, have 1 child, lost a great job last year working by the hour (outside of home), but lost the job (don't even ask). I loved it, but got screwed. Now I'm just depressed, disgusted, broke, etc., and very stressed and worried. I'm going to have to get out of transcription or something.  This just isn't working and I seriously would appreciate any good or bad.   I talked to a man there for over an hour yesterday.  He was extremely patient and took his time explaining everything I asked. 

Thanks in advance everyone!   

Archives only go back as September 2005, I believe.  Thanks

Unexpectedly this morning, I received a recruiting email from them.  I have sort of been going over some of the companies and comtemplating making a change.  I have 5+ years in my current company, and the only real thing I am looking to change is: (1) Better pay by the line; (2) Getting my weekends and holidays back to spend with my family.  I currently work EVERY Saturday.  Don't really mind it, but would like to be able to make plans and perhaps rotating weekends would even be okay. 

I was just wondering if anyone can give me any updated insight into this company. I did a search, but the threads are several months old, and was wondering perhaps if things were any different than those posts read.

I have a lot of experience in transcription, upwards of 16 years, with probably only half of that being in acute care.  Other important things to consider in my search is benefits.  The health insurance at my current company is very expensive. 

Thanks for any input guys! I appreciate it.

I need to the real specifics on this company before I accept their offer.  The pay they are stating is within reason.  Does their accounts consist of ESL doctors?  Does any of their paychecks bounce?  Please help, thanks.  Good bless the hurricane victims.

Any info out there on Ascend Healthcare? Any suggestions on a great company to work for when one is just looking for part-time IC status employment?

I'm posting on this board and will also post on the company board.  But those of you who have been ripped off by Jayne Mattingly from TSI (Illinois) may have received an email stating she would send us the contact info of her 'partner' who 'seized' the acct.  Well, don't bother calling the phone number of the 'partner' as it has been disconnected.  Weird huh.  Also, it's not a partner..its her attorney who is just going to fool around some more and never pay us.  You could email her and ask for the correct one, but good luck with that.  I saw a post about contacting the attorney general (yeah, apparently other people dont get paid) and I plan on looking into that more and will let you know what i find out.  Also, if you are interested the local newspaper is Herald and Review.  Might be an interesting story for them....would love to read the story "Local Businesswoman Pockets $1,000s from a Government Contract and Never Paid the People Doing the Work"  I sent a quick note...would probably help if others did.

I just read through the updated FAQ sheet for 08-28.  Maybe a little reading between the lines, but that seems to be what we have to do to get a real answer we can sink our teeth into.

Do employees get shift/weekend differential?  No, it is incorporated into your pay rate.  I may be wrong, but I have never heard of a hospital, factory, any type of workplace that had shifts that did not offer a shift differential for those choosing to work the 2nd or 3rd shift.  Maybe not the weekend, but definitely a shift differential.  Could be part of the reason not enough workers are willing to make that type of a sacrifice.  I know we have two major hospitals here in our city, both pay differential for their odd hour workers. 

Will my line rate change if I become employee status?  Case by case basis, BUT keep in mind that the benefits package that we offer has significant value.  Why not just come right to the point, YES, your line rate will change because we are going to value out your benefit package to the penny and show you how that, plus your line rate, will equal your current line rate you are receiving now.  When the electric company wants their money at the end of the month, I'll refer them to my insurance carrier to collect my bill, or when my kids want to go to the movies on the weekend, I'll remind them how we are so fortunate to have benefits (which we are), but unfortunately instead of it being an added benefit package I am truly paying for it in the longrun.

Can I work more hours than what I sign up for if I become an employee?  Yes, however any overtime hours will need prior approval.  So, you better hope that the shift you have signed up for or split for or however you work it has enough work available for you to make your necessary salary (and please, really tell me what person can really live off $900 every 2 weeks - especially when you are a single person supporting a mortgage and kids - I am getting almost twice that now) because, if not, you are going to be standing in line with 500 other people trying to get approval for overtime and, if it works like anywhere else, there is only so many $$$ approved for that overtime budget before they start saying no.  Perhaps they might consider that letting us remain SE's could actually be to their benefit.  That, and counting lines instead of dollars, could in part be the reason MDI rose to the top as it did. 

I'm thinking the answers to our questions aren't really answers at all, but - I know - what should I expect (Hey, I said I was an MDIer with a headache !!)

I am thinking about taking their online test,but in the past, many MTs complained about them.  Are their current Breitner MTs willing to share any information regarding them. 

Thanks in advance.