Do they count spaces? If not then it would be a lot less. Find out what the variables are from your
Posted By: mommt on 2008-03-22
In Reply to: Line count - sm
Good Luck. Had the same problem with a job I had to leave. I got half the lines I used to. Now with another job same thing, just a little more than half of what I used to. Still looking for a company with the fair line count (65 with spaces, headers, footers, etc). Tired of looking but still trying. Good luck to you.
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- Line count - sm
- Do they count spaces? If not then it would be a lot less. Find out what the variables are from your - mommt
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Too many variables to count. A lot depends on shift, accounts, what types of work you do. (sm)
I can be totally out of work on my 2 accounts and pull up backlog report and see some accounts have OT offered.
Every company has some employees totally satisfied with amount of work and some who run out totally.
Like I said, many, many variables to be figured in.
All compaines count lines different--with spaces, without spaces, headers or no headers, 65 characte
a line, 75 characters, etc. I would ask each of them how they count their lines. Sometimes the way lines are counted does not make a company worth working for.
Several out there don't count spaces now.
x
They do NOT count spaces?
If they do not count spaces, then I'd find a way to disable my space bar. If I don't get paid for it, they ain't getting it!!!
They do count spaces but...
Many accounts line counts come through Ichart. I believe they weight characters to be less than a full character, or in other accounts they just take a flat percentage right off the top for headers and footers, which turns out to be many more lines than the headers/footers are worth.
I've worked on many accounts at OSi and they have never matched the word count (characters extended divided by 65) in Word. It is always, always less. On my particularly account, it is consistently between 9-10% less than the count in Word.
So why do I stay? I'm not sure. Is it better anywhere else? I'm also not sure.
Which companies do not count spaces?
I am wondering which ones are doing this that you know of. Thanks.
Think about it if you couldn't count spaces.... a lot of companies.....
don't count spaces. Header information we don't transcribe anyway so why get paid for it.
usually 55 does not count spaces and that's a lot of unpaid characters. NM
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Yes, it counts spaces. It does not count headers/footers. sm
Chartscript counts the demographics i.e. headers/footers. That may be where your difference is. ES used to count them, but no more. It is about 15% less lines now that they do not count them.
Spaces are counted.
they do not pay for spaces, line count not verified, check archives!! nm
x
From my experience, it is all in how the company sets it up to count i.e. footers, headers, spaces
etc.. I work on another platform but I noticed the same thing when I worked for a company and it would me 12 hours to get 1000 lines, and at the time, I had nothing to compare it to. Then, I thought..this is just wrong. Working 12 hours to make $80 is ridiculous so I quite. I went to work for another company...same platform... and routinely do 1500 to 2000 lines a day and I can tell the difference. You know when you do a whole page report and all you end up with is at the max 40 lines.. something is wrong. I'd say keep the best paying and dump the rest. They are obviously shorting you somewhere.
Keystrokes accounts all count the expanders as characters printed with spaces, not the abbreviation.
I have checked it, but we use Shorthand. What are you using?
Do you find it hard to get your line count in daily? sm
And the recruiter told me that they did not mind you not working a strict daily shift as long as you got your line count in -do you find this to be true? Thanks for your information!
There are just too many variables...
in this business to answer these types of questions. Line rate, platform, work types, experience, definition of a line, employee versus IC, etc. It's like comparing apples and oranges sometimes. I've personally known MTs to earn anywhere from $5 an hour to over $50 an hour. $1000 a week is NOT impossible.
Too many variables to say --
When I worked for MQ, I was on 2 primary accounts that were SR. The dictators on these accounts were pretty good and I generally got 300 lph, sometimes more or less depending on the dictators. MQ paid 70% of your line rate for SR and paid for spaces but not demographics. Some companies only pay 50%. A lot will depend on the platform, the dictators, your SR rate of pay, what the company pays for (ADT, spaces, etc), and how many accounts you are on, in addition to what your general MT capabilities are. Generally speaking, I type about 200 to 250 lph.
You might get a better idea if you state which company/platform you are talking about. 
There's a lot of variables
There's a lot of variables
Especially if you're a relatively new hire, you're probably just getting up to speed on the account they hired you for and so they may not have the personnel to change that right now. As to adding it as a secondary, they're usually pretty good about doing that as long as it's in the same 'difficulty' level. They're not real keen on having the top tier transcriptionists getting paid at the top of the scale for typing no-brainer stuff. But your best bet is to talk to your supervisor. It may be that the spot you have now can be easily filled by anyone, and if you've got skills that would work well with what sounds like a new account coming on-board, they may be more than happy to switch you over.
Of course, like everything, be careful what you ask for.
Depends on SO many variables.
I have seen 6-8 cents for a 65-character count line for acute care. There are many variables here. It might be more with incentives, if you can attain them as a newbie. I am sure others will weigh in with what they know. Good luck!
There are HUGE variables
Formulas that MT companies give as average are usually based on average work that a MT is well versed in - which companies do not always make available to MTs then act surprised. Duh. Connections, software, familiarity, accents, account types, etc., etc. are huge variables for production and should be considered. Left on the same work for awhile I used to be capable of producing 2,000-2,500 lines, but that changes if my work is changed or if I'm put on a subspecialty I'm not familiar with. It's why companies that have people on a zillion accounts and are not rewarded for it have unhappy MTs. People making huge counts are usually people who are happily typing away at familiar work. Been there, not there now, and am miserable and burnt out.
Again, there is no average. Too many variables. As for
work it out with your client or clients or find someone to cover for you. Or you can have them find someone to cover for you, but if that person is faster, nicer, or better in some way in their eyes, you run the risk of losing the work. I always provide backup if any extended time off or just work double the next day after a single day off.
You can set forth your TAT, but if the client doesn't like it, you won't get the work. I typically ask what kind of TAT the client expects and if it doesn't work for me, I don't have to take their work.
Perhaps just finding a place other than MQ would solve your problem better, though. Having your own clients doesn't always equate to more money. You might get a better per-line rate but there's a lot more involved so you end up working more hours, etc., as stated below, and don't always end up on the profitable side.
With all the variables as to what could be lurking
that dictated minute, your guess is as good as mine. Do you have an offer? If so, what is it? Is this for an IC job? PT? FT? No real way of knowing uness you take the plunge, do the dictation and see what you come out of it with. IMO, sounds like more smoke and mirrors.
Lots of variables.
I do tend to agree with the poster that a lot of it has to do with the type of work. Like her, I had an account that paid 9 cpl but because of the nature of the work, I was lucky if I could break 125 lines/hour.
I recently chucked it for an account that pays 8 cpl, have my weekends back, sit down, do my much easier work, and walk away...no more sitting at the computer from morning to midnight hoping to get enough money to get a living line count. I'm getting line counts in five hours that it would take me 12 to get at the 9 cpl place.
I will also point out that a lot depends on what company it is. Some of the same people saying that there was no way in hello they would work for 7 cpl, yesterday said they would work for even less for a small mom-and-pop American company to help get it going.
So, in a nutshell, if it was one doctor, one account, plenty of work, free-form schedule, for a small company, yes, I would do it for 7 cpl.
Variables in cost of living
Some states sound good, but then check out the taxes - real estate tax, personal property tax, sales tax, cost of heating/cooling, transportation, license plates, insurance, etc. A lot of it balances out in the end. Some states have outrageous license plate fees, (I paid over $600 for my car last year). I also get a personal property tax bill each year for everything including my dishes and silverware. State income tax is out of sight. Cost of heating in winter is unbelievable. I have to have 2 sets of tires for the car, 1 for winter, 1 for summer. I have to have 3 complete wardrobes for the weather changes.
Something is missing here. Please answer a few ??ing variables here. Please sm.
I'm not affiliated with Landmark, but have perused enough archives to see that not paying their employees is not a common practice with them. The majority of posts regarding LM are very positive. No MTSO has 100% positive info, especially on this forum.
I'm not taking sides here, but to quote a poster below, there is a lot of missing information.
There are always two sides to every story, which is the reason for my questions.
1. How long were you employed with Landmark?
2. Have you returned any and all of their equipment?
3. Is nonpayment why you quit? If not, did you give the customary 2 wks notice?(Not that this justifies holding back pay, just trying to find ALL the answers.)
4. Were you in breach of contract in any way?
Whether your statements are true or not, they are still considered slanderous/libel. You may want to be prepare yourself in case you need to back them up.
Good luck!
Part of the problem with variables, and where we are today -sm
is because of how isolated we are, not only from the managers in the hospitals and MTSOs who don't have to see and get to know the people whose incomes & healthcare they're grinding down, but also because other than boards like this, for the most part we're isolated from each other. I'd venture a guess that of however many MTs there are working in the US nowadays, only a rather small percentage read this board or ones like it, and it's nearly impossible for MTs to function as a single, large entity that would get more respect from hospitals, MTSOs, and even our elected government officials.
I don't know if it's actually possible, but I still carry the hope that someday, somehow, this powerful communication tool, the Internet, can be used to once again get MTs what they deserve - even if it's just a small portion of the financial pie. The more money the employer makes, the more the employee should made, as they are the cogs driving the wheel, and it's the squeaking wheel that gets the grease.
Many variables affect work load
Sometimes I have run out of work. Sometimes my accounts are swamped with OT, while other accounts are caught up. Some platforms have more work/accounts than others. Some specialties are overstaffed, some are understaffed. Its pretty much the same at other companies. Its just that people speak in absolutes on this board about their experience. You have to take it all with a grain of salt. I have come to understand that everyone's situation is so different that maybe we all should put a disclaimer that my situation is this and not make blanket statements using words like always and never, nor argue with one another about who's reality is valid - they all are.
Sounds good to me, but lots of variables. Employer stability, for one. nm
x
I think most places pay for spaces. I work for TransTech and they pay for both spaces
as well as punctuation. I would never work for an MTSO that doesn't.
It's all the variables that can make it difficult - lousy software, mangling ESLs, inaudible dic
s
65 with spaces versus 65 without spaces; how to calculate?
Can someone tell me if you are getting 9 cents per 65-character line with spaces how much you would need to be paid per line to make the same amount per line if you are offered a ''65-character line without spaces?'' Thank you very much
So, if not spaces paid, what cpl would be comparable to at least 9 cpl w/spaces, do you know??
Thanks.
In my Extext experience count was about 10% less than the Word count. nm
X
It means to double check what THEY say your count it. Count
uj
Did find a Wright Watson Sten-Tel in Austin if their site isn't old. Find 'em with Google. nm
s
Trying to find info on Encompass on this board, can't find any recent. sm
Anyone have any current info. Any employees out there? Give me the low-down if you can! Thanks a million.
Are you aware of how they count your time?.. or don't count it i should say
nm
54 without spaces = 65 with spaces if you do the math nm
nm
WMX - line count. Was working along and noted line count accumulation (sm)
signed off the report I was typing. Those lines didn't add immediately, but sometimes they do that. What concerns me is that when I signed that job off and the next one came up, not only were the other lines not added in but they were LESS than they were before I signed off previous job.
I thought I noticed this happening the other day, but figured I just wasn't paying attention. Today I definitely noticed it. For some reason it changed it's mind and took 8 lines off my line count. What the heck?
Am not really ecstatic with the way things are going anyway and then this confuses me.
Please, someone have a realistic explanation so I don't feel paranoid and cheated here.
Then company should set line count per day with incentives for above that. If get line count done
:[
$.08 w/spaces vs. $.09-.10 w/o spaces
Would you make about the same, i.e., $.08 with spaces versus $09-10 without spaces? Just wondering. Thanks.
They do not MTs for spaces. nm
x
They do not pay for spaces. nm.
nm.
spaces
I asked them about this specifically and they said that wasn't the case. I'm half tempted to have THEM sign a contracted stating everything they are telling me is true.....Lisa
Spaces!
 SoftScript just announced that they are paying for spaced again as of today!
but, did they tell you when the took the spaces away
before. Nice to give them back and admit they took them. Believe it when you see it.
spaces
Do most companies pay for spaces? Are spaces included in the standard 65 character count? Thanks
I know they pay for spaces,
I assumed they were paying the headers and footers, but I never specifically asked, so I can't say for sure.
They don't pay for spaces though
nm
They pay .07 without spaces....
I applied when they first posted the job on MT Jobs. I received an email stating they only paid .07 cpl without spaces. They probably got a lot of resumes but once people found out the low pay, nobody was interested, which is probably why they are hiring again.
No spaces
If you negotiate a better line rate, along with their excellent platform, being paid for headers, and not running out of work, then I just don't get what the big deal is with spaces versus without. With spaces for less money doesn't cut it either. The bottom line is whether you are able to make a fair wage or not and I have found Cymed to be very fair.
Looks like they DO pay for spaces
CTech prefers to us the Net Line (defined below), however we will also price per visual black character and per report. For more information please see our Billing section.
I copied this from the site:
Price per NET/ASCII Line CTech defines a NET/ASCII Line as 65 printable alpha/numeric characters and spaces (no more than two consecutive spaces). ASCII table codes 13 (hard carriage return, only when needed) and 32-125 only. No fixed headers or footers are counted. The pitch and font style are defined by the client and do not impact the price per line. Attributes such as bolded letters, italics, and underlined characters are not charged. The total number of characters divided by 65 is the line count for the document.
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