I definitely share your concerns...

Many MTSO's are hiring only ICs now with no no benefits given.  Now given these are mostly smaller company's.  But why don't the hospitals form their own and contract out.  That's basically what some of the smaller MTSO's are.  They use the hospitals equipment.  I work for a small rural hospital as an independent contractor.  I worked inhouse for 2 years doing their Basic 4 and radiology reports.  For family reasons I was planning to leave but they offered to send me home to work.  Since my husband had medical benefits, I did not miss the benefits at the hospital.  But this situation worked out fine since I had a sick child that I was paying daycare for when he was not even there but home sick.  Ten years later, I am still working at home for the same hospital.  Hospital's work has grown and I am not willing to work so much now.  The hospital thought about hiring a MTSO but decided not to after they found out what they charged.  Which was about 3 times what I did.  They hired part-time Transcriptionist themselves to cover what I could not do.  So, to all those below who thinks it wound not benefit the hospitals, here's one story where everyone benefits. 

Any fellow Transcenders have knowledge of how the company handles not meeting line requirements, especially if low to no work on your account.  Are there warnings given or do they just pink slip you immediately?  Anyone had ANY experience whatsoever with this....Thanks so much.  Am worried. 

QTer so I have seen lots of changes.  Not that I expect anything, but we've always gotten something for MT week and this year not even a card and the whole stink over Christmas.  The IRA thing doesn't have me really concerned.  From what I understand they only hire ICs now.  I know they've had some long-term people leave who might have been employees, so it might not be cost efficient to continue the program.   I haven't had a raise in several years and these days I'm just glad to have a paycheck.  I don't know how much of the work is being offshored, but you would think that would free up some $$, unless they have had to hire extra QA people.  I like not having lots of e-mails/phone calls, but I also would like to know what is going on.  I denied for months they were offshoring, but when I got proof it was a slap in the face and I felt like we should have been told about it.  There seems to be plenty of work on my account so the offshoring hasn't  affected me directly.  So far the checks are always on time and have never bounced. 

Things have definitely changed and I don't think for the better, though I've interviewed with several companies lately and haven't found one yet that is better than QT.  I just try to do my lines and be thankful for a paycheck and just accept the fact that the company will never be what it was. 

Every OTHER medical field, nursing, therapists, techs, etc. are all experiencing the yearly salaries going up.  Transcription compensation is not increasing. 

While they may increase the RATES the ability to make the more money is not there because of VR, taking away the header allowances, more difficult accounts, more ESLs, stricter QA, etc., etc. slow platforms that require information inserted that you don't get paid for and anything else that lowers your salary.  If hospitals are looking to slash their transcription budget, they are going to pass that onto the service and the service will pass that onto to the employee. 

I know transcriptionists that were making 45-50K in 1987 working 40 hours and now they are making 35K and often times working more than 40 hours to make that lower amount.  Or I hear people say I can make the same money but I must work much harder and longer hours.  I think wow...you have to work harder and longer to make what you made in the 1980s. 

Other occupations have gotten consistent raises without the need for more hours and I don't think employees would put with up it.  Imagine a well qualified R.N. being offered a 1987 salary?  The hospital would have a hard time hiring nurses.  But the transcription service environment is so competative if they can offer the work cheaper and cheaper while guaranting accuracy they will get that contract.  So in order to stay in business they have to find a way to pay the Transcriptionist the least amount of money to see their profits which they need to stay in business. 

Of course if transcription is all you know and you don't to work in an office or get a job at Starbucks you keep going and accept the pay because we really have no control.  You have to work with what they offer you. 

OK remember the 1 cpl line thing?  Well get this, a friend of mine just called and was offered 0.0085 cpl.  I am not even sure if I am writing this correct, but it's LESS THAN 1 cpl!!!!  It was for the first 2 weeks and then she would get bumped up to 2 cpl.  We were laughing so hard, I had tears streaming down my face!!  Is this even legal?  I kept asking her if she was sure and if it was supposed to be 8-1/2 cpl, but NO she was sure and even kept asking them if they were sure.  I can't even be mad anymore.  It is just becoming hysterical like we are all part of a practical joke.  Anyway I went to themtdepot.com and cast a vote about line rates.  Won't do much of anything I know, but it's all I know to do.  I have tried to come up with something.  What can we do?   I'm starting an onsite position at a local clinic, hourly, PT, but I still want to work at home too.  So frustrating! 

Oh by the way, the job she applied with isn't a regular posted job here!

z

Hi! I've done a board search and have spoken to another person about TransHealth.  Seems like a decent company and am thinking about applying.  May I ask a few specific questions (if you'd rather not answer on the board, I included my e-mail above).

1.  Are you happy there?  Do you feel respected and part of the team?

2.  Is the pay competitive to what other companies are offering (i.e., 8 to 10 cpl including spaces)?

3.  Is the platform user friendly?

4.  Can you use your own shortcut program like ShortHand or can you only use their proprietary program (if they have one)?  If so, will they try to help you convert your word list to their format?

5.  Are the benefits worth the cost?  Someone very kindly explained their benefits--and they sound great--just wondering what your personal experience is.  When do benefits kick in?

6.  I read on the board that they require 12,500 lines per pay period.  Is that easily achievable (meaning, is there work available, are the dictators fairly coherent, etc.)?

7.  Is the verbal quiz/interview pretty easy/basic if you know your stuff?

8.  Finally, are they very firm about start/stop times, or can you work your full 8-hour shift in a 12-hour window (for example)?

Sorry I have so many questions...please feel free to answer any of them (and not feel obligated to answer them all!). :o)

Thank you so much,

Stressed