Companies organize, not professions
Posted By: lk on 2008-12-23
In Reply to: And those of us who do not want a union? - Anon
Unions are formed at the company level. A union can be formed to represent a particular group of workers, but only individual companies can be organized by the union. Unions generally focus on larger companies, as that's where the union dues are going to be significant. If you work for a small company, your company will almost certainly never be unionized. It's just not worth it for the union leaders (no money in it for them). And ICs cannot be part of a union, only employees of companies. The MT profession itself cannot be organized, only at the company level, and only if the majority at the company vote for the union.
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Let's organize
Please, anyone and everyone from MDI who is interested in discussing our situation and trying to bring some resolve, please help me organize a forum, private emails, or whatever we can come up with. We can help each other, not by whining and complaining, but by putting on our thinking caps and working together. I have email set up for this sole purpose. Everything is confidential! AmericanMT@yahoo.com
but how to organize a lobby
how do we organize a lobby? No Transcriptionist is willing to stand up because they can hire Indians or students who will work for 4 cpl. Also the doctors do not care about quality they just want it done cheaply.
there have been regular attempts to organize MTs over the years ...
generally, we sell out each other -- for many very good and practical reasons -- but also because, as far as I can tell, many in the MT population are fundamentally extremely conservative, don't tread on me, anti-union people ... though most(like most Americans living today) have only (bad) anecdotal experience with unions.
The best thing that can happen for us in the short run is national health -- perhaps eventually some sort of prohibition on off-shoring certain facets of medical records management and billing (though I'm doubtful Obama would push for such a thing) ...
Electronic medical records have been the next big thing for a long time ... but they have a lot of real problems and have failed to catch on or even be adopted in many niches where they should be perfectly suited.
I can't tell how much money would be saved by voice recognition if the files were not off-shored ... the administration of the accounts and individual records, the fixing and various stages to a complete report suggest that this MAY (again) be a case of companies investing heavily now in a FUTURE technology which may or may not come to fruition (the EMR may make voice recognition largely too much trouble for the gains)
We'll see -- I believe the Service Worker's Union has been approached -- their web site might be a starting place for anyone interested in past efforts to create an advocacy organization or union (since the AAMT is HARDLY that) ...
There will always be someone desperate enough to be willing to accept absurb line rates ... Bashing those desperate people is energy misdirected, imho.
any other professions.....
Yes, other professionals have similar boards - nurses, teachers, etc. You can Google message board nurses, etc. and see what you come up with.
In other professions, maybe, but not MT. In MT,
Your point about other professions
not being docked for not making production is quite the contrary. I worked in fast food for 8 years. I'd seen many fired for not making the grade. The same for tickets from metermaids (although in my area is the cops who have to make their monthly quota of tickets). What about car salesmen? Do you really think they will continue to pay salespeople who do not make sales? My point was directed more towards the fact that anywhere you work, regardless if it's production or otherwise, you have to show up for work and do a decent job. If someone constantly misses work due to illness, etc., eventually they will be let go.
Now I do not agree that anyone should be penalized for not making their line count if the work is not available. But that is not the case here.
I do not look at the MT profession through rose-colored glasses, either. I have a second income which is much more profitable, but it requires a little more travel, so I prefer to hold onto MT more so for the winter months and the flexibility it offers me with regard to my family's needs.
As for MQ, it did not go downhill because of TAT. It went downhill for a lot of other reasons, cheaper labor available in India, wanting to avoid paying unemployment, greedy suits, etc. The TAT issues were easily met with E-time and BOBs.
Not flaming you either, but I just don't see it your way. Have a good day! 
during history a lot of professions went
down the drain.
It is not O's fault if technology takes over. This is the sign of the times.
You cannot go berserk because your profession becomes obsolete or curtailed.
VR was only the 1st step.
And Obama did not invent computers, VR and EMR and he is not a VR- or EMR salesman.
Change of professions
MA doesn't pay well enough to make it worthwhile, at least in my area. I went to school for that and ended up in transcription b/c the money wasn't good. I am in the same situation, mid 40s, thinking of going back to school. I'm considering radiology tech or ultrasonographer. I would consider respiratory therapy too, but I hate drawing blood. These professions all pay well enough to make it worthwhile IMO.
Here's a funny for you. I switched professions at age 48.....
I jumped into MT from a accounting/administrative secretary work. Got sick of the backstabbing and college graduates booting out all the oldies who knew their jobs. I was next.
I have no desire to go out there for a regular job. What I see in stores and shopping reminds me too much of people at places I used to work, so even Wal-Mart, etc. doesn't turn me on.
My dream is to hit the lotteryand retire...fat chance since I never play... LOL
Good post, Amber. And true, too. All professions
restructuring. But anyone with eyes can see that even though the MT profession has changed, there's still a TON of work out there. You know, it behooves the employers out there to have doom and gloom run rampant and the MTs thinking that they can't do any better than 6-8 cpl. Sometimes I wonder if they're the ones spreading most of the doom and gloom, and then some naive MTs are picking it up and shouting it too!
TransTech and Medware, are these companies considered large, medium-sized or small companies? (sm)
TIA
Yikes.. That is only inline with companies like Focus and such. "Real" companies pay their MTs
decent rate. I make over 5 cpl editing. So, if I got that slap in the face, I'd be outta there.
Do the research...most companies, and not just MT companies, do not pay for maternity leave...
we get time off but not paid...and I really don't even understand the point of you posting this...
How do you know which companies are Nationals and which are smaller companies.
Is there a list somewhere? I'm new to this.
By "most of the companies", I meant MORE than MT companies.
clarification
Sten-Tel is the platform. Different companies use it, pay and how companies run are different. nm
:P
Nobody said MT companies were not for profit companies. (sm)....
As MTs we are an important segment of what it takes for the company to thrive, but we are still just part of the whole structure.
Not trying to be argumentative, just think sometimes we get that "I'm the quarterback" attitude and forget that we can't get anywhere without our line men.
Companies that outsource to other companies?
Anyone know of any reliable companies that will outsource to American companies and pay a decent line rate? I am amazed at what the companies charge and then want to offer in this business anymore.
2 companies with that name. Was this the NJ job? nm
.
I have been through a lot of companies and
they are all the same. I just found that out not too long ago. I am with a company now that everyone cheers about. They are just the same as everyone else. Nothing to cheer about IMO. This business has gone downhill fast. Sad.
What companies, if any,
. . .
. . . hire and actually promote professionals who have forgotten more than many MTs know, have years and years of experience, work when needed, don't rock the boat, and produce excellent work? At my company, the editors and managers usually have just a few years of experience as an MT, if any, and many have no management experience. Some managers have never even seen a typed document. That doesn't make sense. What companies give one a chance to actually grow with them? Any of them? How do the promotions go to those who took an on-line class and have been an MT for 2 years? Kudos to anyone who could answer this . . . Bewildered
He said that some companies do that, but
usually when they do there is a reason for it, so told me to keep an eye out for future class action lawsuits or that sometimes they use it as a means to withhold severance pay, etc. IMO - basically it's a CYA letter. Atty agreed. But again, IMO, why be worried about a CYA letter if you have nothing to CYA for? Any company that wants ex-employees to sign a release from future lawsuits is definitely not up for nomination for Employer of the Year, that's for sure and just one more bit of proof that it isn't the MLSs at fault. I'm not concerned about it, but I'm sure as heck not signing it either. I just think it's hilarious that a few Transcend groupies come out of the woodwork ready to blame the MLSs that left as if they weren't the GOOD transcriptionists and that's why they left. Seems to me if they weren't any good they wouldn't be able to get hired anywhere and so would want to stay put where they know they have a sure thing.
Some Companies...
Charge you per report for their useless template. What a rip off...
QA Companies
Anyone who works as a QA; I am curious as to what you think of the company you work for? Good or bad. Looking for a new QA position and would like some information on the companies. Thanks.
Here are some companies
First Choice Medical
QT Medical
JLG - some accounts still on WP.
TeleType
That is all I know of right now.
Good luck.
Some Companies Pay Less
Some companies, especially small ones, lure you in by starting you at less and tell you that once you're off probation in a couple of weeks your line rate will be raised a couple of cents. Months later, despite quality work and that pitch-in attitude during backlog periods, you're still making 6 cents a line. A lot of good begging does....What a joke these companies are...........
Any companies out there?
with:
1. ENT, cardiology, family practice or internal medicine work.
2. Require a minimum line count of 500 lines a day with the option to do more.
3. Word based with a 24-hour TAT and have direct deposit with assigned docs/accounts?
Are there any companies out there using DQS except MQ? (sm)
If I were going to try to work 2 companies at the same time until I could decide I thought it would be easier if they used the same program. This old dog is getting too old to learn too many new tricks at once.
That would be companies. If you
want to make it in this biz, you have to learn to spell!
Are any companies besides MQ using VR right
x
Not sure of any companies (sm)
I've worked on it for hospitals. I am not aware of any MTSO's that use it.
companies
Diskriter has some ChartScript accounts. A lot of hospitals use ChartScript also. I used it with my in-house job. Very productive platform.
None of the companies do! That's the name of the
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
There are probably less than 5 companies
(and that is probably stretching it) that don't offshore. I've interviewed with probably 8 companies the last 6 months, all either offshored or had less to offer me than QT. I immediately turned down all the companies that offshored (that I knew did anyway) and all the others I turned down because it would have been a significant cut in pay. We have a no frills lifestyle as it is so there isn't room to take a cut in pay.
With all the companies looking for MTs
I don't understand why you are thinking unemployment. I think you have to be unemployed xx days before you are eligible anyway.
Which companies use - sm
ftp sites?
Thanks!
Not all companies
are like that. That is unreasonable. We do not expect that of our employees. If you work both Sat and Sun you have 2 days off during the week.
MT companies, do any of you......
 have MT work available that does not entail heavy ESL dictators, like every single report? I cannot make an adequate living on those types of dictators day after day into the night, and sometimes even into the next day. I have 5 years experience with a lot of experience.
Just trying to understand what they want put down as far as their dictations is very, very tough, and I am losing my health as a result of having to kill my ears, straining to hear them, and trying to understand what they are saying at all. I have no problem with some ESL, but I am having a very tough time with every single report being dicated this way by ESLs.
If you have a low ESL ratio, would you please contact me?
I desperately need work. I am an excellent worker, and have no money for my bills.
I would really appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.
Publishing e-mail addresses inside posts is not allowed. Thank you. Goldbird
They are two different companies
nm
Not always, some companies pay
for experience and proven skills and you don't need a CMT. For me, having a CMT didn't always make a difference. Depends on the company. You can always make that 1/2 cent more somewhere else if you shop around. Some MTs without CMT make 10, 11, 12 cpl. I do,however, feel CMT is good for keeping up skills and with so many quality problems in the field I often wish it was a requirement! On the other hand, I knew a nurse who sat for and passed her CMT (the written part was probably a breeze for her) and couldn't transcribe to save her life! LOL!
As with most companies, there is
The average range is from 7 to 9 cpl. The line rate depends on many factors.
Most companies...
I suggest you don't go judging me since you don't even know me. For your information I have been working as an IC for over two years for a local company and I can work whenever I want and do as many lines as I want. If I don't work I don't paid. It's as simple as that. I also type over 1,000 lines a day so I am very reliable and my work is at least 99% accurate. My Turn Around Time is less than 24 hours. I just found this list and I was expecting people to be kind and courteous and not so judgmental.
Several companies came together to SM
form Spheris. There are several platforms out there. I work on TWS. If this is platform you are hired for, DO NOT USE DIALUP. I have nothing bad to say about it or Spheris in general, only, well, ask if you will use TWS.
Companies
Hi Everyone- I am looking into going to Career Step online schooling for MT. My husband and I are expecting our first baby in Sept. So I want to work from home but with flexable hours. (For those sleepless nights.) Any one have any suggestions for me as to what companies out there would allow me to do so? I have heard of Spheirs and Medquist but also heard they want specific hours you will work. Any advice would be appriciated.
Thanks
Are there many companies that pay
by the gross line? Sounds like a good deal for the transcriptionist.
What companies besides MQ use DQS (or DEP)? nm
x
Top 5 Companies
I'd like to know about companies that have IC/no benefits
Why I ask about companies
is because I am making sure this is something I want to do. Checking out all angles. I dont want to spend the money for school and put all this time into it and then cant find what I am looking for. I have even checked the backround of a school and couple of companies. I dont just jump into things like this without checking deep into them. I am usually a straight A student so school doesnt worry me. This is why I have posted the question I have. To get some input from people that have been in the field and have worked for a couple of companies.
any companies like the old MQ -
SE status and not a strict schedule? 
Some companies may pay
a higher line rate for CMT. Usually a cent higher or so...but I haven't been seeing that very much lately anymore. The exam is expensive to take and I believe you have to re-certify every couple of years or so by taking some courses (online or continuing ed, etc)and re-testing, although I could be wrong about that. Some people think it is worth it and some don't. I think it is really personal preference.
Which companies use the
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