Exams is what I mean. Docs are stretching
Posted By: grannyMT on 2006-02-15
In Reply to: Keystrokes - Babe
reports/exams out so long, I wish I was being paid by line.
Spheris is paying between 1.35
and 1.45 per exam.
Was getting 11 cent a line before but home-based hospital
employee. Much better.
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A good mix. I don't mind ESL docs. I think that some U.S. docs are worse! nm
nm
are you stretching it just a bit
I cannot believe that you make that much money. No company in their right mind would pay an Editor 12 cpl. That is nuts. Are you beefing it up to make yourself look good or something?? lol
Diskriter exams...sm
I do not work for Diskriter, but I did interview with them recently and the recruiter is very nice and professional. The thing I found really odd about them is that in all my years as an MT, over 12, I've worked for some of the largest in the industry and never before have I been told I'd need a complete physical exam plus a drug screen to work from home. They were going to send me to a local hospital for all this, and that really bothered me. I don't have the time to run off to the hospital for something that no other company that I know of ever asks of potential employees...unless you're working in-house, and that's to be expected. I decided if they were that rigid about hiring someone then it might be a red flag about getting along with them down the road...so, that's where I went...down the road:)
to the above post about exams for Diskriter - sm
I do not work for Diskriter, however, I can say with complete accuracy (I have a relative that works as a private criminal investigator for large and small corporations) that the reason that a lot of companies (not necessarily just transcription companies, in particular,) that have at home or offsite employees are requesting a physical and drug screen and background check is because:
a) background check is necessary in some cases because the potential employee will have access to SSN#, credit info, addresses, DOB, etc on many many people.
b) physical and drug screens are necessary because the company may be partly footing the cost for benefits, health insurance, life insurance, etc. Maybe they do not want to pay for drug rehabs (think about it)
c) drug screens - let's face it, some of these companies are sending equipment, vital information on people in the US, paying for travel for employment, etc (i.e. carrying drugs on planes, stealing ID for credit card info, stealing and reselling computers and equipment that was shipped to the potential employee, etc)
You would be surprised the things I was told about, including arrests for identity theft!! In the last two years, a TON of arrests have been made by investigators and agencies on people working at home!! Police are making drug arrests at homes and low and behold, some of the arrests are people that work at home doing a "day job" while dealing out of their house. Nice little sideline income, don't ya think.
So think about this - if a company is going to pay for a physical and drug screen for you to be employed with them, don't be offended by it. They are protecting themselves and their clients from potential identity theft, druggies, and thieves.
I'm sure I will be slammed for this post, but I know what I am talking about.
You could easily be the victim of identity theft and guess where the source could potentially come from? Transcriptionists. Think about it - we have access to some hospital databases that require us to put in patient information from the patient database, that means addresses, ID#, etc.
I PERSONALLY knew of a transcriptionist from NYC that could barely function more than 2 hours a day because she spent the rest of her day stoned out of her mind! Did you read the thread about traveling transcriptionists and drug screening? Do you want somebody stoned or high or meth'd up typing your hospital records?
you're stretching it....most tech support are helpful; some are not.
nm
Could be because all they can get from the docs is 11 cpl....nm
x
ESL docs
Im having a very hard time with all the discussion that I see on the boards regarding ESL doctors -- I have been in this business 20+ years and it takes time to develop an ear to be able to understand ESL doctors -- if you have a friend who is an MT, have her on instant message and ASK what the doctor might be saying -- there have been times too, with her and my experience where she has played her stuck spot back and I heard as clear as a bell what the doctor was saying -- unfortunately, the schools with their training don't do ESL doctors and this is the reason that 99.9% of the companies wont hire without experience - PLEASE resign yourselves that ESL docs are going away unfortunately
with ESL docs, you just never know..sm
You could have great ESL dictators, and at .09/line, you would be paid at least close to what a good Transcriptionist is worth (still not enough as our wages are pitiful now). On the other hand, if you have really terrible ESL dictators, that .09 could easily become comparable to making .05/line if you have to slow down to understand the doctor. With ESL's, you really don't know until after you have made that commitment. However, as a previous MTSO, I would never give one person all of the crappy dictators. Rather, I tried to distribute the work evenly to give everyone a fair shot at a decent line count. Good luck in your decision. Try bargaining. Tell them you feel ESL doctors are worth the extra compensation because often times your hourly production is decreased because they do not dictate proper English sentences, mispronounce words etc, and tell them you believe the work is worth .10/line and you will strongly consider the position.
Docs
who eat, slurp, roll hard candy or lozenges in their mouth, sniffing their nose constantly all while speaking....especially the eating while dictating drives me CRAZY! It is just like having a rude person standing right next to your ear eating smacking his food. GRRRRRRRR
the docs may not NEED it but its sm
not for you to decide. If thats what they want and you do their work, then you do it or you don't work. I don't like it either, but they don't dictate their reports to suit the lifestyle of your or me. I don't understand why people can't see its the profession, you aren't going to change it. you need to get a new profession.
As far as the grocery clerks and weekends, etc. etc. They don't all call in sick and not work. Years ago when some of these supermarket chains were union, they made good money and those people worked their hind ends off, weekends, nights, holidays the whole bit. I know because my hubby is now drawing retirement from one of the chains. Seems to me we have a whole generation of younger folks that don't want to work but like the other poster said, they just want to p*ss and moan!
Rotten docs
Dear Doctor:
While I have a great deal of respect for what you do, you aggravate me.
Please, when you are addressing a letter be courteous enough to include the CITY and the STATE, and if you spell something don't spell ROAD for me, because, trust me, I learned how to spell road in the second grade!
Don't make me search for 15 minutes to find something your lazy ### could have read off the chart, because I only made 14 cents to type that letter, and my time and skill is worth more than 60 cents an hour.
And while I am venting, how about you say pheochromatoma, instead of feo, if that is what you mean. Don't be so lazy my job is 100 times harder.
If thats all they can get from the docs, get a different account!! There are more out there
I'm tired of these companies expecting IC work for 8 cpl, have a set schedule and thats even when I'm offering to do ops mainly!! Thats disgusting. I can just as easy do the basic 4, have a set schedule and not have to pay my own social security and taxes! Dont take it!
No ESL docs, no op notes (as far as I know) SM
They are mainly consults, soap notes, some radiology. You use their templates and get paid for headers/footers.
I don't know if everyone makes the same, but I make 8 cpl (55 characters per line) without spaces. I compared it to the normal 65 characters per line with spaces, and it is equivalent to 8 cents per line with spaces. So, not too bad...just average I guess.
But the dictators are really clear and there are a lot of samples. I think the work is pretty easy. I think it makes a really good p.r.n. position.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do. :)
Chickadee
You need to realize that about 80 pc of the docs sm
practicing acute care in this country are ESL. It is what it is.
I like them a lot better than the native English speakers, who slur words, like to play with the language. ESLs learn one way to say it, and they say it that way every time. You just have to get used to it.
TransTech and ESL Docs
Well, you know...ANYONE who wants to continue to be a Transcriptionist had better become proficient in ESL docs. They are here to stay. If you had YOUR own business you would take the accounts to. I can do them. I moan a lot of times when I see a particular doctor's name come up for me to transcribe for, but it's all just part of the job. Like I said, better get used to it as there are more and more foreign doctors every day. I transcribe and I get paid and I don't feel cheated ONE bit.
All the decent docs have
TransTech did a big hiring blitz back in October last year for a new account, but the account almost immediately started going to VR, so the doable dictators left in a hurry!
The jobs that get sifted towards the MT's out of VR machine, thus, are the very difficult dictators that should be warned about their dictation habits.
The ExSpeech (editing platform) is very awkward and time consuming, so it is a catch 22 for the MT's. ExText has a good spell check and is easy platform to learn.
TransTech does not allow the MT's to check/verify our lines in the manner in which, in my opinion, we should be able to do. The CTRL I function does not give even a close line count and our pay stubs do not show it either -- just the word *piecework*. We can go to iChart; however, it does not show an immediate line count nor the jobs or line count per report -- only a total line count for a period of time per TransTech's counting method. It is a lot of trouble to go to iChart to get an immediate line count each time you choose to check your pace. We should be able to do this right from the platform/software that we are working in, IMO.
It seems our lines have been much harder to obtain in the past several months -- I suppose more to the dictators shuffled our way from VR, than anything that Transtech is doing with the line counts. I can't imagine them messing with our line counts in any form or fashion, as some companies have been accused of doing.
VR is the way of the future in order for the companies to be more profitable for themselves, so this is what we have to look forward to -- those of us who remain in the MT profession.
They use their own software. You get docs
s
all those horrible docs got you
Schizophrenic? You're like one of those people who sit in a bus & just starts telling and calling people names with no thought. All bark, no bite.
Number of docs
Are there any companies that assign a certain number of doctors? I have too many to EVER make a good line count.
Docs using PC's instead of charts sm
The younger docs are now carrying laptops into the examining room, no more charts. My husband and I had extensive, large charts (which we earned through serious stuff) and now they have been replaced by the young staff coming in with a laptop, no more charts. I was not brave enough to ask at my last visit but I will this visit, Where are our huge charts? Mine used to make comments about the large chart and too many papers. I wanted to say, Do you ever read any of those reports? Very curt, very non-caring attitude, told me last time had had input all my allergies (which are serious) into his computer. I am really worried as my husband and I have been through a lot. I think they could very easily print a H&P from there if you went into a hospital. Two of my clients used to do open heart surgery and they would ask me to print out a H&P from the chart just before the surgery. Some of those people they had not seen in years. I explained that I would not do that as the patient could have developed an illness since last seen. You gotta thank computers for replacing us. Between outsourcing and electronic medical record, we are becoming distinct as the dinosaur. Just IMHO from this area anyway.
When I was inhouse the rad docs liked it
And at that hospital those same docs were pushing for VR. Most of 'em liked to goof off for hours wandering the halls telling jokes, then wanted to read like mad when our MT staff was down to a couple night people, and whine that we didn't get it all typed for them to sign off before they went home. So I think its fitting its going to bite them in the butt.
assigned docs
On my account, I have one doc that I am assigned to. My main priority is his work for that day. If other MTs are out or busy, I can be asked to help them out. It is hit or miss. Last week I did 10,000 lines (my hands were killing me) just helping out for the MTs on vacation.
The other account I work on is a pool, so I go there when I am done with my assigned work. This week, my doc is out and I am only working in the pool. It is backed up and getting further behind, and it is mostly very short jobs (20 seconds), so I much prefer my other account.
I understand there are some new docs coming on, so hopefully this will pick up.
I love having a few assigned docs since I get to know their style and makes my job much easier.
There is pretty much an even mix, but my ESLs are better than the US docs.
I am very happy with my account, my pay and the way I am treated.
I am PT. I do 600 lines/day. I share one of my two docs with
another person and it works out well. Key advice: Let your lead know if it is too much. They would rather know early than miss deadlines. I learned the hard way but now with sharing the one doc it is perfect.
NEVER whined about the hard docs...
I was offered by them when there were a lot of certain docs up they would assign me some different ones to break them up, but...I have not asked them to do that. So don't assume....
If a lot of MTs, hosp. personnel, & docs are on all
s
If you hear docs discussing it,
I'd be very cautious to work for them. Chances are, they're going to fly through that dictation faster than a speeding bullet. You might be better off with an MTSO that pays by the minute rather than a private office.
If docs would spend 5 seconds...sm
spelling another doctor's name, which they believe we're automatically supposed to know how to spell, it would save a lot of grief. But MTSOs are quiescent about this, even though they know it's a hardship on us...what the heck, it's not THEIR time. Don't want to spell a doc's name... their 5 seconds is worth more than 10 minutes of my time looking it up. Tough!! Blanks are in. Let THEM fill it in.
That is docs who think you can read their mind.
Sorry, needing a little QA on my post here!
A flyer for individual docs:
*If you're like most doctors, you never read dictated medical reports, anyway! Yours, or anyone else's! So why pay through the nose for something you'll never look at?*
*At AchooQuist, we understand the needs of busy docs like you.... men and women who laugh in the face of malpractice suits. That is why we've tailored our MT services to suit your busy, careless, greedy lifestyle.*
*When you joint the AchooQuist team, you'll pay what YOU want. (next-to-nothing). And you'll get exactly what you pay for.*
*We GUARANTEE it.*
If you go to the docs, be prepared to lose your job.
Although how much can that matter if you are not being paid anyway!!! I personally have never had this happen to me, but I can see where it could cause major problems on many levels (especially if you have automatic bank withdrawals). I would have to consider - Is it the client's fault? Is the company not managing money correctly? Does this happen often?
It is your employer's place to investigate this problem with the client, not you. I would strongly suggest that you not go directly to the client unless you have reached your limit with the company and no longer wish to be employed by them. Have they actually broken their contract agreement with you. If so, then I say it is every man for himself so to speak.
just edited a few docs & almost 1/2 was missing
with your attitude no wonder you cant keep a job "crappy American docs"
What makes them crappy????
They may not talk as clear as you would like, but maybe they are a darn good doctor because either they care or they are educated enough to help people.
No one said you have to talk clear to be a doctor. No one said we would have "perfect doctors" to transcribe for. They are everywhere.
"Good MTs" can work for the ESLs, the slush mouths, the docs that talk while eating, etc. That is what this job consists of. We all have to do it.
Ditto. I have 3 docs (ortho) and if one is not there or on vacation sm
I either help on other or take the day off. We always know in advance, and I plan around it. I have high volume with them, so if I miss part of a day because one of my docs is out, I catch up on errands as it does not affect my pay much.
Pay always on time (direct deposit) but was incorrect rate a few times. Took a few days to be corrected but it was and now it has been fine other than those two that the rate was wrong.
Maybe you could ask them to limit your docs and/or specialties until you get more familiar? nm
x
Can anyone recommend a company who allows you to type on just 1-2 docs M-F? SM
Pays every other week or twice a month, on time. At least paying 8 cpl and with an MT-friendly platform.
Thanks guys!
Even with the best VR system, there are a significant number of docs...sm
nurse practitioners, med students, etc. who would never succeed with any type of VR system unless they first learn how to speak properly, first grasping command of the English language, and secondly learning proper grammar. There are many of these medical professionals who cannot even form a proper sentence not to mention be trusted with working on a VR system. I bet my 6-year-old granddaughter could be more successful with VR than many, many of the medical professionals I have typed reports for over the years. Yes, VR can be very successful, but it depends on the operator!
Nice person, but docs stink
if it is the same that it used to be the dictation is bad and the sound quality is awful. I think that it is a rerecording. This was years ago though.
Does anyone know how to find out what the nationals are getting paid from the docs? (sm)
I would LOVE to be able to find out what the doctors are paying these national companies for their work. I have heard so many times, that the transcriptionists have to take a pay cut because of the economy and because of outsourcing. And personally, I do not see how any of us can work for less than what we are getting now.
Is there a way to actually verify what these nationals are charging the docs, maybe calling around and getting quotes is the only thing I can think of. Does anyone have a better idea. I would LOVE to get ACTUAL QUOTES and see how it compares to what we are getting. Any ideas?
Go ahead and revolt - do you think that docs CARE? SM
or the public cares? No - and the companies will use that as an excuse to send the remainder of American MT jobs offshore.
And before someone says you're a SUIT, NO - I AM AN MT who doesn't like it any more than you do.
Scenario: No work. Docs not dictating. You are an employee. What does that do to your
If you are doing no work, well, any formula to extrapolate your "down" rate of pay is still going to equal zip.
And if you go on vacation? what does that do to your "down" rate of pay? If you have no sick leave and you can't type, what does that do to you "down" rate of pay?
If you have no PTO yet and you are down for weather, computer problems, etc. if you are an employee, are you kicked to SE? What happens to your insurance?
These are all questions you need to get hard answers to and get answers that are palatable. And get them in writing.
Dawn, I agree with you girl! All my good docs...
have also been kidnapped by the cherrypicker gang!
I thought their "niche" was being able to do all those awful NYC hospital docs? Used to be lik
s
Agree with above, not to mention all the docs' names they refer to
xxx
Shoot scuse my typos...tired...bad docs...long day...
 
I think MT is becoming a niche business that will soon consist only of ESLs with the good docs
s
sad part is, those decent docs likely have no idea their work is being sent overseas. nm
x
Mine was hourly for 40 hrs to learn 35 specialties/100 docs. NOT productive. nm
..
independent MTSO; freedom without a time clock and as the others said, same docs. nm
;
Docs can't be trusted to spell medical terms correctly much less a doc's name. NM
xxx
It's a holiday, for heaven's sake, alot of docs off today!
lighten up.
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