Anybody here been laid off by SmartMed recently?
Posted By: Nervous MT on 2009-09-06
In Reply to:
SmartMed employees received an email about 3 weeks ago that there would be layoffs and/or cutting back on benefits, but no subsequent followup email, so we don't know if the layoffs have occurred already, or if we should still be waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's a wonder we don't all have bleeding ulcers (no matter what company we work for). There just doesn't seem to be any respect for our skills or the difficulty of the job. We are just numbers on a spreadsheet.
I know this won't be a popular sentiment, but as far as I'm concerned things starting going to hell in a handbasket for all of us with the advent of the Internet. When you had to go in and work at a facility, be it a hospital or an MT company, they knew who you were. They had to see you everyday and work with you. You really were a part of a (visible) team. I truly believe that made it more difficult to just be let go without a backward glance.
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Better yet, go get laid!!!
:{
Soon to be laid off...
Is there a way to find out which companies keep ALL their work within the United States?
laid off sm
Well I am another statistic. I started at Milner Voice and Data back in June. Things started getting very slow about 4-6 weeks ago. I asked at least a dozen times what was going on and got the answer nothing it was just slow. I even turned down another job because they told me it was going to be ok and this was normal.
Monday morning I talked to my supervisor and she said nothing. Molnday afternoon I went to get into the system and couldn't get in. Went and checked the mail before I called them and got a lay off notice in the mail! What a way to notify someone especially when I had been asking for weeks.
Excuse was that the bigggest account (not mine) lost 60% of their volume when the hospital decided to not dictate the ERs because of budget cut backs. Because of that, other MTs taking my work. Apparently 9 of us were laid off.
I understand cut backs if there is no work, but I DO NOT understand lying when I asked and asked and asked some more. Because of all this, the place that offered me a job, hired someone so Milner cost me a job.
O well, I have an interview tomorrow at 2 with another company. We will see! Really bad way for company to treat MTs. Stay away from this company and TB!
Proscript-Laid off sm
Laid off as a result of not enough work..still waiting to hear from them..
Yep, I got the laid off today too
I've been with Cymed forever too. I did double the required amount of lines to edit, typed when needed and worked the shifts nobody else wanted. No one is safe with this company. SPi took a #3 company and have run it in the gound!! I am hoping they will go belly up before they can say what the...
I got laid off yesterday...duh
...
They laid off all US MT & QA employees.
Period. And they sent all work to India. You simply are one of a few ICs they subcontract to do the few reports India can't get to in time. You are not an employee of Cbay as they don't have any US MT employees anymore.... I do find it odd how defensive you are about it though.
Yeah, I got laid off by them when they sent
all the work to India, save for a few US IC radiology people for stats... I absolutely wouldn't advise working for them. They now own Medquist and are doing the same thing to them.
I got in it about 1970 and was laid off
end of 2007. Per GP's post below, we were well thought of at one time, the administrative secretary would come in occasionally and ask a question regarding English rules and such. Then, somehow, it all changed and we began to be regarded as useless workhorses, nags if you will, and you'd better not look up or stop typing for a moment or someone would say something. I would advise it against it just for what it does physically over time to your hands, arms, shoulders and neck and back. Great way to get out of shape especially if you work 8+ hours a day. It does keep your fingers limber, but that's about all. I can't think of any other profession where you are expected not only to know so much, but keep learning, and steadily getting underpaid. Might as well try to be a Bell telephone operator, going the same way as they did and telegraphers and pony express riders.
If an employee, you'd be better off being laid off.
If they would just straight up lay you off, you could collect unemployment, which in some cases would be more than the money made sitting in front of the computer for 10-12 hours a day.
And, in a bit of a double whammy, the lower the rate you'll get on unemployment should the time ever come that you can actually file, as most states base unemployment is determined on wages over the last five quarters, so the longer you stick it out the harder you stick it to yourself when they start calculating an unemployment wage.
I know someone who worked 8 days in early June 2008 (his previous work was early spring 2007). He has been collecting unemployment since August 2008 in the amount of $175/week. His home is paid for, he can't drive, and with some investments that pay monthly annuities, he is able to live better than a lot of people, without the stress that MTs endure wondering how they'll make their line count.
I got laid off too,. same scenario. sm
There were several of us that got the ax with no warning.
I did 2 weeks ago. My gal was very laid back
and I really enjoyed talking to her. There was a ton of questions about how experienced in certain areas, you had to rate yourself, and also there was a verbal test, I think 10 questions, thinks like what is hypocalcemia, what MRSA stood for, things like that. Very easy, had a job offer about 3 hours later.
Is this the company that laid off a bunch of
MTs at Christmas and sent the work to India?
Cbay has laid off all of their US MTs and Editors
and sent everything to India. They bought up a lot of smaller US companies and slowly transitioned EVERYTHING to India. What more is there to say about them? Bad news.
they did lay off- didnt outsource but laid off a lot
They bought another contract and then lost it so had new employees and not enough work to go around
I never got the email and got laid off yesterday... strange... sm
I wonder what is going on. Was it the one with all the unemployment info in it?
Aren't they the company that laid off a bunch of MTs and
sent work to India a few months ago.
We were getting laid-off, wages cut, losing bennies
Like for the last 5-7 years.
I am a Heartland employee that got laid off and I won't support AAMT in any way. nm
x
I was the *half full* type until my company laid me off.
They said identical things as this DRC acquisition. They told us to just keep working as usual and do your best. Three months later (after the Indians had proper training on our accounts), they laid off the whole US MT force. The particular account I was on DID NOT want their dictations outsourced overseas but this happened anyway until this account caught wind and eventually left. These things do happen out there, and all of these people have the right to feel skeptical. These Indian company takeovers happen more often than not. We MTs need to be less naive about things and more weary to protect our occupation.
Let me sum it up for you, 80% of work is done in India, they just laid off a bunch of American
QA people, some of which were hired only a few months before they were fired, and they just now fired a lot of their upper management. Something is in the wind at Focus and it smells like crap! Don't work there. If you do decide to ignore the warnings, don't believe anything they tell you! They lie to you right up until they call and fire you.
I thought there were posts a few months ago saying they laid off 50-some people. nm
Haven't had enough java this morning...should be "I got laid off today too" and "ground&
Bad day...please forgive me :)
Smartmed? I think they used to be TSI in TX?
I have searched the archives and see a lot of positive feedback about TSI, but nothing really as Smartmed. I believe that these two companies are one in the same. Anyone have any recent information that they can share? Thanks!
SmartMed
Care to share?
SmartMed
Thanks for the info. I had no idea they were offshoring. Are you sure you have the right company? Transcription Solutions now SmartMed. Was it an acute care account?
SmartMed
Interesting! You learn something new everyday in this business.
SMARTMED pay
They really do not pay well. Very chaotic. Would not recommend it.
SmartMed, LP is the best!
This is a great company to work for. The believe in teamwork. Not many companies can say they still employ their first 2-3 employees since starting the business 24 years ago. Too many employees to count have been with the company for over 10 years. I would say that speaks very highly of management. With the owner and managers being medical transcriptionists themselves, this has made a difference in how they handle their own employees. Their pay is average or higher than many other nationwide transcription services. Only those with superb work ethics and produce quality transcription can appreciate SmartMed, LP. With what I've experienced in working for other companies in the past, I wouldn't work for anyone else.
SmartMed
I work for SmartMed part-time doing radiology. This is easy work for a fair price. I have worked on and off for them over the past 20 years. They are honest and fair and have never cheated me out of a dime.
SmartMed is TSI
The company changed how it is structured in January and with that came a new name. Nothing more exciting than that. If you get on when you are supposed to and do your work, this company is great. They have excellent 3rd shift incentives.
SMARTMED
Run - don't walk away from this one. Very disorganized. Low pay. Not on par with national rates.
SmartMed
Does anyone have any information on editing for SmartMed? Is this a good company to work for?
SmartMed
Yes, the people were very nice, but the account that I was on was totally screwed up. Very unorganized. They may have gotten better after they lost the account that I was on, but the short time I was there, I did not have good experience. Yes, the pay was on time.
SmartMed
Awful company for me. Very disorganized. I would not recommend working for them at all!!! When I was there they didn't even have QA editors. So much work was going to the client wrong without any proofing from a QA editor. Pretty frightening in my opinion.
SmartMed, LLP/TSI
I have had nothing but positive interaction w/ this company. Pay rate is comparable; management is very helpful and keeps close watch on all accounts; very fair and trustworthy--not many companies can I say that about. Good benefits, too. Good luck.
SmartMed
Hello ~ Anyone have any info on SmartMed? I'm debating on taking a new position with them (transcription) but have some doubts. They're based out of Houston (I'm from Wisconsin)and was told there are quite a few ESL's which I'm not too experienced with. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
SmartMed
I am interested in Smart Med. Does anyone have any information to offer?
smartmed
anyone have any info on smartmed? I have a test to take for a position but I just thought I would ask here first if its worth my time. Thank you in advance!
SmartMed
Anyone working/worked for SmartMed? Pros and cons please. Thanks.
smartmed
Worked for them for 4 days, hated it!! Never looked back.
smartmed
Several things why I quit. The editing was not voice but QA editing and you had to turn on track changes so you're correcting someone's transcription fresh off the farm so you pretty much have to change everything and add words they either didn't understand or just plain left out. Smartmed also said I was leaving out dictation after I got done editing, which after I finished editing, it went to yet another editor. Yeah right, I have only been doing this for 15 years and just randomly leave out words. Whatever! Also you had to log in on one site to download work, then log off and log onto another site to retrieve the work, then after 5 jobs you send the work in. A lot of toggling back and forth nonsense. Cannot make money doing that all day long. I just didn't like the QA editing aspect of the job, I'm used to voice editing so moved on to greener pastures. Good luck.
SmartMed
I almost did not accept their offer because of 2 reasons: the negative comments I found on the boards, and the generous pay. I thought to myself A company would not offer that much per line unless they are truly desperate. I am glad I overcame my reluctance. They are the secret jewel of the MT companies. I have only worked on one account so my experience is limited. The account is challenging, but in good way. I have zero bad things to say about them - nothing but praise.
Smartmed
Anybody? Anything? H-e-l-l-o-o-o? Tia.
SmartMed
Anyone know anything about SmartMed. They are offering 11 Cents a line? Good or bad?
SmartMed
Is this the SmartMed in Texas? If so, I worked for them as an Editor on an account that was nothing but offshored, 100% offshore. All typing done offshore.
SmartMed
Hello. Does anyone know anything about SmartMed? Thanks for all replies. 
SmartMed
Thanks for taking the time to respond -- I greatly appreciate your making me aware of this.
Smartmed / TSI
If you are actually finding the SmartMed website, you would see they are TSI. You would also see that you cannot access any information for applying or the benefits page. This is a BIG sign that it is an offshore company. I'd stay away.
I would also like to know about SmartMed
or maybe it is MedSmart. Anybody ever worked for them?
Smartmed
They've posted the radiology and pathology jobs on here because no one in the company wanted them. I currently work for them - 9-1/2 years now. BUT they have made up their own platform which sucks. Time consuming, used to have a lot of updates on, froze up, etc. It's better now but myself and another girl on our main account have to work longer hours due to lack of work (they have over-hired) and how slow this platform is. I'm checking out other companies but the grass is always greener thing keeps coming to mind. Smartmed's benefits are ok. pay is average.
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