Been there a week? A month? Do you see the opportunity to add to your expander
Posted By: and make headway or not? nm Lots to think of on 2007-07-05
In Reply to: Line counts with Dictaphone EXtext - tml
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I make about $1,500 a month working about 20 hours per week.
Believe me, I'm not bragging or slamming anybody at all. No way. I'm frustrated with my own income because I'd like to make more. I'm willing to put in more hours to do it, too. Honestly, I'm not that fast. I have one very small local account and one small MTSO I subcontract for. None of it is verbatim, it's clean up the grammar as you go, which totally slows me down.
I won't work for a national any more because I couldn't make enough money there. I wasn't willing to tough it out for three months until I could make their line counts, especially when they had me on their worst accounts, pools of hundreds of dictators per hospital so I couldn't use my expander, and a new account every week.
I've said before that if I'm going to do MT, it's going to be on my terms. I won't chain myself to a desk or be "on call" all day long waiting for work to come in. Nationals don't pay you to sit there and wait for work. That's bull. Being on call IS working. Other businesses pay their "on call" people at least minimum wage. They skirt around the issue trying to use SE and IC terminology, but it's just a way of paying us less to be at their beck and call.
Don't give up on MT entirely. You'll find your fit. It just takes some searching.
Doing great! Made more money in one week at TT than I did in a whole month
at previous job!
I make 1300 per month 10 hours per week (IC) extra job
I want to know cpl and how many hours a week! Cause the 8000 to 9000/month person
nm
Told minimum PT was 3500 lines a week; requires 2 weekend days a month nm
xx
i had the opportunity for both and
i chose MDI -- no regrets. but it may not be the same for you. if free weekends and employee position are what you want, well then, MDI is not for you. If a stable company that treats you very well, does not offshore, lets you work your own schedule, set your own line committments is appealing, then MDI might be for you. As i recall, i did not, for one thing, like KS's convoluted pay scale, but there were several things i didn't care for and turned down the job. What to do? you could accept with MDI, and keep your other job til you are settled in. If then after giving it a fair shot (several months), if you are not totally happy, you can cut to very part time (even prn) and see if KS will extend the same offer.
Like I said, I have an opportunity. (sm)
It's a position that isn't available at Webmedx. You know, you can think a company is honorable and know you're on good terms and still see an opportunity in another position that would be more challenging, pay more, etc.
My other opportunity
has turned into full-time, so I am going to do that and not try to do MDI full-time. I do think very highly of all of the MDI folks (both MTs and management) and I hope things go smoothly for everyone. It's a great company and I wish it well.
Have an opportunity work for MDI-MD. How is the QA? nm
Is the QA nitpicking or do they leave you alone?
Thanks for your response
Equal opportunity
I recently applied at a company and was told that my transcription test did not meet the minimum requirements for any of their accounts. Yet, a friend of mine took the same test and showed it to me in which she had several blanks. It looked very similar to mine other than the fact she had blanks and I did not. Has anybody ever had this problem? 
This could be your own opportunity to write your
x
You certainly took every opportunity to insult everyone you could. nm
x
Or better yet, find another opportunity!
That's what I did. No skilled MT should have to suck it up and stick with an MTSO who is clearly GROSSLY overstaffed. So what if they pay a penny or two more per line than another MTSO? At the end of the day, if you've been playing beat-the-clock to (hopefully) get your lines in, flipping from account to account to account to do so, is it worth it?
Not for me. I sought out other options and managed to land a spot with a great MTSO on an account with a very MT-friendly platform that is adequately staffed with plenty of work for all of us, and the pay is comparable to that offered at MDI-MD.
I now work my 8-hour shift without that constant fear of not being able to make my line count or the additional mental stress of juggling multiple accounts to do so.
I don't get it. The positions at MDI at IC/SE, so it's not like they have this terrific benefits package to lure MTs in and keep them. I would hope I never reach the point where for whatever reason I choose to remain with an MTSO who is clearly overstaffed, less than honest, and offers no benefits rather than seek a place to better utilize my skills.
Different strokes I guess, but I'm with NorCalMT. No skilled MT should ever have to beg for extra accounts or waste his/her time account-jockeying to make the minimum line count. Especially not when there are other opportunities out there that afford far more security.
What companies allow dial-up??? Looking for a new/better opportunity- TIA - nm
Please take the position and be glad for this opportunity!
What a great opportunity! I have been with Webmedx for a while. They truly do help you to succeed as an MT, giving you all the necessary training with classes that will help you succeed. As for reaching the required line count, it may be easy for some and harder on others, but I truly believe if you are a new graduate and show continual improvement that you will be worked with until you reach the required goal; how long that is depends on your supervisor. I have had a great experience with Webmedx in helping me grow as an MT and would encourage any MT or new MT to be with Webmedx, as the benefits are good and they will provide the necessary tools to help you succeed. Lots of training classes for productivity tips, normal tips, ShortHand tips that you can take to help you along.
I agree. I recently had the opportunity to get out of MT.
I didn't. Maybe if I could find a different WAHM job with flexible hours, but I just can't bring myself to work outside the home again. Just the thought of daily makeup, pantyhose, high heels, commuting, packing lunches, office politics, finding daycare and transportation for the kids for the daily 10-hour span of time that I'm not available, coming home to a messy house because I've been gone all day, etc. Not to mention having to work twice as long for half as much money. And my favorite? Total control over the thermostat. LOL
And it's looked down upon to try to find the BEST opportunity available?
This business is different in many ways to traditional jobs.
You cannot possibly know for sure if you're going to make money on a company's platform until after you start working on it.
Isn't that why most companies, even those that hire ICs, give new MTs and themselves a 90-day trial period to see if it is working out for both? That's 3 months. If it's not working out, on to the next opportunity.
If an MT takes a job and then two months later discovers another job that pays more for the same work types or has a quicker, better platform, then that MT shouldn't try for the better opportunity?
Yes, sometimes the grass is greener. We all look out for #1, including the MT companies. No one else is going to do that for us. In these times, unless the MT companies are paying well and offering up relatively regular work for their MTs, the grass is always greener on the other side.
If the MT companies these days would treat us with respect and pay us a decent wage, I would wager that there wouldn't be so much job hopping going on, which seems to be happening more and more, especially now.
Times are changing, and, like I said before, this business is different from other businesses.
I used to love this business. Now I am actively looking for my way out, and once I find it, you better believe I won't be looking back.
An opportunity has finally come open-- What would you do?
Okay, I've posted on this forum several times indicating I'm burned out after 32 years of transcribing, and the lack of work at times, diminishing benefits, no 401K and I'm 53 years old, along with my lack of momentum, and such. Well, I have had the opportunity to apply for two outside jobs in my community, both of which sounds promising. 1) A State job as an adiministrative support personnel that has nothing to do with transcription (13 paid holidays, 13 sick days accrual, 13 vacation days accrural, company paid health insurance, company paid retirement plus 401K, and so on)- The catch- pay range 22, 272 - 36,489 . The second 2) A County job at either our local county hospital or county health department as a Medical Transcriptionist (excellent benefits also, but not as good as the State job) but better than what I have now. (The pay 32,400 - 48,500). Which would you choose? I know looking at the pay, one would say that's a no brainer, however, although the county has not outsourced their transcription department over these many years yet, does not necessarily mean they will not in the future, and I would hate to end up right back where I started from, and although the State job pay starts out low, it is possible that they can start me off somwhere in the middle of that range, but the job is a secure one. Give me your ideas on which you would choose?
This is your opportunity to approach Deventure
very legitimate question and/or possible concern about Transcend and the rumored sale, etc. Any answer you get here, for any job, is not truly reliable. So, there is nothing wrong at all with calling them and state that you just have 1 question before you decide, and also fine to be honest that you had run into this issue while researching the company. Something to that effect. I have always up front let any potential employer know that I am aware of the rumors or negative reviews their companies get on different MT forums. I handle it professionally, but let then know my awareness of these situations. It gives the recruiter a chance to usually laugh with me about places like this, and then I am always keenly interested in how they handle the answers. All MTSOs are more than aware of MTStars, and we need not be ashamed or secretive that we get info here. That's what its all about - networking info! LOL. Best of luck! By the way, I only have experience with Transcend, and it was awful. The recruiter handled all the questions well, but turns out the truth was on this board and not out of her mouth! LOL. Live and learn, and gamble and try again!
Please share the name of the company so others may investigate this opportunity!
Okay.. I should be fair. I know there has to be newbies out there that would love the opportunity so
I shouldnt be so condescending. They are looking for experience, not an income, like I have to have to survive. So, we need to cut them some slack that they would be given that opportunity and take it for what it is. Then, once they have experience under their belts, they can move on to a real job ...
Switching jobs is an opportunity, the door to better
x
OP is checking opportunity by coming here. Dont
x
I was told several new accts are coming on this month and also next month, so
I'm not worrying.
Pay period goes from 1st of the month to the 15th, then 16th to the end of the month. sm
So, I guess you could maybe get by with less than 1000 a day, although the incentive tier would make it worth your while to do a bit more. I am using ExText, and yes, I find it easy to use, but then I used it for a year with another company. I think their other platform is Mongoose, and I know nothing about that, so really cannot say.
Yes, they are hiring now. In fact, there is a $500 sign-on bonus. I think it is all just acute care. I'm sure they would love to have someone with your experience. Rhonda Durham is the recruiter. I am sure she could answer any of your questions. I am happy to help too, if I can, but I am relatively new. The account I am working on is mostly psych, it seems, and I am loving it.
Another nice thing, their benefits start after 60 days, not 90 like most.
Good luck to you. 
Yeah, so? I am equal opportunity anony poster.
nm
Perhaps they took the opportunity of switching to a new platform to slash line counts?
Maybe they figured everyone would blame the new platform and not THEM??
right attitude, this opportunity is for smart, open-minded people.........nm
nm
TransHealth starts 1st day of month after month SM
you start, BC/BS, good rate on single, don't know about family premium.
Last month was slow on my account..but this month (sm)
we've been swamped...
The new insurance is very reasonable. I pay $200/month and they pay $200/month. sm
Unfortunately, I have had to use it a lot since it changed and I am very happy. They have covered everything.
The insurance is actually $80 cheaper per month than I paid at the local hospital, which is a large employer.
Full time with Transtech is both. 40 hours per week and 5500 lines per week.
x
Nope .. email on 1/18 promised "within the next week." Here we are, 1 week later and no info.
x
The minimum is 5500 per week, NOT 6600 per week. I think you made a typo. :)
NM
i clear over 800 a week, 40/week; 30+ year experience. (nm)
x
I get my paycheck every week - that is enough for me! Happy MT week everybody! nm
x
I got laid off for MT Week. Happy MT Week to me!
x
Good last week - Slow this week.
I hope this is not an indication of things to come. I am getting 1,200 lines a day but it is taking me all day to do it. We seem to be out of work from 9-12 every day this week. Hope things pick up after Labor Day.
Expander
As long as it will work with Windows-based programs then whatever expander you use should work in Merit. I use Shorthand with no problems but have no experience with the one you mentioned.
expander?
I worked for a small local company, and only did proofreading, no transcripton, so I'm embarassed to say I don't even know what an expander is.
Expander
As long as your Expander is Windows-based it will work with the Merit platform.
I only use my expander, AUT.
dfsdsd
expander
I'm not a window person but their window program is easy, easy, easy. I use ShortHand as an Expander because it is not limited except by the size of your hard drive - autocorrect is limited, so rather than have everything going on at once, I disabled autocorrect and stayed strictly with Shorthand and made my own custom dict. This is truly a great company but don't play around with your schedule. If you commit to a certain time, be there. They need to know they can depend on you for TAT. I've never had a problem with them. They are great, but they do have standards like not abusing QA because you don't want to take the time to check it out yourself. Otherwise, go for it.
expander
Can you use an Expander with it?
Anyone out here with JLG, what expander do you use? (sm)
I have one that I use to help me with DQS on my full time job, but find it doesn't work that well for me with JLG and I don't want to take the chance of having it set up for JLG and then screw up my FT job. I also haven't been able to figure JLG's out (don't laugh!) correctly and I'm looking for something else to supplement it/replace it so I can get my line count up higher (only working there part time). What Expander works for you??? 
expander
The one I use is ShortHand 8.60v. Having enough money to eat is my motivator I guess!
What expander do you use?
Do you use shorthand?
expander
when people talk about extext and they use ShortHand and the built in esp, are they referring to shorthand as their own shortcuts or something different? I don't want to sound stupid but just wanting to make sure I understand! Thank you for your help!
expander
The platform I am on uses Instant Text ...
I don't use an expander.
It is just a really, really easy ER account with tons of work.
Expander.
I came from a company that used word perfect and honestly I loved it because I was used to it. Setting up and using macros was easy for me and came naturally after all that time. I have tried some free demo Expanders and have a hard time getting used to the automatic additions but I'm getting there. I have not been impressed with the demos and can't see spending the money on the ones I've tried. I have since been using the word auto correct and auto text.
I'm thinking about trying Instant Text from the reviews on here and other forums, but the price tag is a little put offish for me. I don't mind putting the money into if it gives me the money in return, obviously. Has anybody tried this and regretted the purchase? Being Christmas time and having 3 kids and a large extended family to think about the coming month, I don't want to put this kind of money into myself, aah, y'all know what I mean.
Shortly, is it totally worth it to buy for myself at this time of the year???
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