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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I guess 17 years of ortho exp. isn't good enough for them

Posted By: feeling ignored on 2008-10-03
In Reply to: That's indicative of the way the run their business - Also sm




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I have almost 9 years of ortho and I
when they called. When I returned the call, I was told that We did have 3 openings when I called you but it's first come, first served and you missed out.

I was told that at 1 pm today and now I see they have a job posting for 12 ortho MTs.
I have been with them over 2 years as well on ortho...
I use Scribe, which is a word-based platform...very user friendly.
I did ortho a couple of years ago...
and it was definitely a challenge! What I did was got an ortho word book and studied it when I could. I also took as many repeated phrases as I could and put them in autotype. Hope this helps!
I agree 100%...I have been at Keystrokes for 2 years doing Ortho
and I love it...best company I have worked for...
Keystrokes does. I have worked on ortho only for them for 2 years. sm
I have my own docs and my supervisor is great. She leaves me alone to do my work and as long as I do it well and on time, she leaves me alone. I prefer this, so it is a great job for me. I average 14,000 lines a pay period and make 0.09 per line. I do use their insurance, which costs me $204 per month, but it's only me. So far, so good with the new insurance!

I'm not sure if they are hiring but it would be worth trying.
Over 9 years ortho experience and not even a callback from Keystrokes..
I can assume that they were swamped with applications or maybe I was just not want they were looking for. Oh well....other ortho accounts out there. I have enough acute care that I should find something.
Yeah, with 14 years of ortho and WC experience, 6.5 cpl is NOT an option.

I'd work at a fast-food restaurant first. When did our skills become so insultingly undercompensated. I'm like a lot of us, about ready to go back to school..do anything but this. Luckily, I also so medical insurance billing so I may have to go back in-office and do that. At least, I know I'll be compensated ...FAIRLY.. what a bunch of.....


Apparently, you got a call back.. Not me.. over 9 years of ortho experience and nada
Oh well, best wishes to you. Let me know how it goes once your through the process. I had asked before about information on them but no one seems to have any.
Keystrokes has great ortho accounts and a wonderful manager over the ortho work. sm
I have worked with them for 4 years and will never leave unless something drastically changes. I do not post here normally as it seems that there are so many negative people, but this is one I felt I could answer without being attacked.
Short cuts go a long way with ortho. A good speed typing engine will
dd
Guess my 28+ years over your 2
equals an extra cent per line. Last week, I was offered 7cpl for cardiology and they wanted someone with extensive experience which I do, was in on the original forms back in the day setting up echos and caths, etc. I think the american based companies are counting on us being desperate, just offer us a tiny bit more than they are making in India. unfortunately, our cost of living is not a tiny bit more. The lady doing the hiring even apologized for what they were offering.
Have done VR now for some years and guess what?
The same hospital, same platform and VR for some reason seems to just go quirky every once in awhile. This is something new my VR just started- under final diagnoses it usually would put 1 and then go to 2, now it has started messing up and misnumbering, having the first diagnoses besides final diagnoses and then the 1 that should be 2 is numbered 1 so then have to go down the list and renumber all. Another thing, has forgotten to put in periods in the last several months- even with the person saying it and then the next word is capitalized like it should be but I have to put in that period. Sometimes now will capitalize The patient in the middle of a sentence as it knows usually the patient is starting off a sentence. If I were you, knowing how long I have been doing VR now, I would not worry at all. Even though mine is exceptionally good, it does revert back for ?? reasons off and on. The mistakes I see now are not the same as say 6 months ago.
Yikes, I guess that says it all for this field....I made that over 15 years ago!
Guess it's time to move on :(
I guess my major dissatisfaction working as an MT for the 15 years -

is that there no other profession I know where everyone usually starts at the same pay, regardless of experience.  It is also the only profession I can think of that does not feel compelled to give raises. 


There is just so much of MY time spent reading and responding to emails to comply with changes and specifics, switching to backup account, actually doing text on VR reports to make them accurate and not getting paid for it at text CPL, no work, downtimes, etc, etc, etc.  that I don't even get paid for.  Afraid to keep track of my time working and trying to manage my work and figure how much I make an hour that if I did, I would probably jump off the nearest bridge.  (No responses on that - I have other skills and will get out of MT and head to another type of job before I resort to this). 


I started my last job at the same rate as those joining the company with 2 years' experence.  Haven't had a raise in 5 years. 


I don't want to hear back that we are fortunate to work at home.  I know any poster that comes back with this works in management, so spare us all your thoughts on that.  The MTSOs don't have offices big enough to house their MT staff.  They don't pay for our computers and generally not our internet, do not pay for our utility bills, virus protection and would have some hefty bills if we were all working in their office and they had to pay these bills - SO they do come out rather well -they just don't know how to share profits.  Our cost of living goes up - no raises to reflect that at all.  I am back to thinking greed is driving the MTSO businesses - but have known that probably for a lot of years.  3 CPL for VR some places and lucky to get 8 cpl for text - give me a break.  Ready to throw in the towel. 


And MTSO managers, supervisors, team leads, if you are reading this, please do not send me another IM with your picture sitting on a beach.  That constitutes you had made enough money to take a vacation - I don't and I actually do the work, am a skilled professional with lots of knowledge, and this implies you got to take a vacation - you guessed it - ain't been able to afford one of those for a few years now.  Put a picture of you at a keyboard or pulling your hair out over a bad dictator;-) which is what MTs go through on a daily, if not hourly, basis. 


 


 


I havent heard a word about an incentive and I have worked there almost 2 years so I guess I didnt
qualify for whatever status you needed to get an incentive. Is this something you get every pay period if you meet a quota or just something quarterly. Just curious.
Oh, guess it is good I didn't then:)
nm
Good guess. I'm one of the in-house
MTs that were tossed out.
My guess, your test is either really good or
s
I guess my original point was that it's not all good for all MTs

I was thrilled when KS called me, and I had really high hopes, in large part based on what I read here in this forum.  But my primary account dried up after the docs went to voice, and yet it's still my primary account -- with no work!  There are two of us attached to this account, even though there isn't enough work for one part-timer.  Lately I have been checking the account from 7:30 a.m. until 10 p.m., but there simply isn't anything to do.  The docs are doing their own work.  So why do we even have this account?


I too have a great relationship with my lead.  We talk on the phone every day, we e-mail every day, she regularly requests additional accounts for me, but still the work doesn't come.  It is truly a mystery, but based on some of the other comments on the boards, I'm not alone. 


I've already had two backup accounts fizzle out, and I'm waiting to train on a third -- but I'm only to do overflow and won't have any regular work from the account.


That is great for you that your accounts are steady and reliable, and I would love to be in the same situation.  I expected to be in that situation!  I'm used to 1400-1600 lines per shift.  I have had really good feedback from QA, so my work isn't an issue.  All I am doing is asking for enough work.  I thought that was why I was here.  I can't wait for accounts they hope to get in a week, a month, two months.  I have tried to give KS the benefit of the doubt, rationalizing that the accounts drying up is out of their control, but I need work and my family is counting on me to bring in a paycheck.  I've been waiting for work for five months.  Would you wait that long?


Well I guess I should have said good company not job. No I don't expect someone
to just hand me a good one. I am very capable of finding my own jobs. And for your information, I have a good full-time MT job that I have been with for the past 4 years. I'm looking for a part-time job with a good company. Sorry I hit a nerve with you. That is exactly why I have never posted on these boards. Ask a simple question and get snotty answers!!! Have a nice day.
LOL Everyone I guess that says something good about a company is upper management.
Make sure you get your facts straight before you call me upper management.

If anyone would like to email me, then that is okay with me. I dont know how to add my email addy on here, but if you let me know how I would surely like to email you.
Thanks.. I really needed to have good family coverage.. I guess MDI is out for me.. nm
nm
I guess the real test will be if the adminstrator removes the ad as a scam. They are very good at
looking after us and do try to help us from getting scammed. It also is incredibly sad the because of the state of the our profession when an ad like that does post so many people flock to it. Maybe, it was some kind of sick joke because things like that usually do not exist in our profession. Really gives me a red flag kind of feeling but you never know. Maybe it is a case of a company being started by MTs who have also been where we all are and want to make a difference. We havent' lost our ability to dream, have we??
YIKES... I guess I knew it sounded to good to be true. I wonder if anyone ever gets sign-on bonuses
at any company. Maybe we should take a survey on who actually gets a sign-on bonus. How depressing is that. Now I'm bummed.
been there almost two years, really good

Right after I started with them, I was able to drag two MQer's over with me.  The three of us can't be any happier.  They run off DQS, but are NOT affiliated with MQ.  They fine-tune your work pool to exactly what fits you best.  I type mostly OPs, then RAD mixed in for variety. 


They're not planning on becoming huge.  They're family owned and small is quaint.  They close the office at 5 p.m.  We have our own mail site where we can all communicate with one-another as we are transcribing.  Also, no ESL and the pay matches all the big companies out there.  No honeymoon phase here, we are truly appreciated and respected.  Such a relief.  It's so sad reading these posts where people say there just are no good companies out there, when the truly do still exist.


I did MQ 23 years. THey use to be good sm
and then got bad. I got out in February 2006. I STILL miss the way MQ/Transcriptions Limited use to be. I figured I would work there until I couldn't raise a hand to type anymore!!!!!! haha
Good idea - don't. She was with OSi for several years
obviously a wrong move... she didn't know how her new boss is-- that she gets rid of anyone who knows more than her which of course is most people. Damn shame but heck she already has 2 other jobs and 3 more offers which should say something for her.
Not possible to be a good ditor after 2 years.
no way, no how
Good company for me for last 2 years.
Lots of work. Good pay rate. Management/team leads are accessible. Good feedback. Get paid on time.
Is 7 cpl test/3.5 cpl VR for someone with 13 years exp a good amt.
Does not sound like it. Depends on their definition of line and whether they count spaces, but unless it's an awfully short line (most are 65 char) and they count spaces and headers and footers and supply the computer and have really, really cheap insurance (and you said there were no benefits), I'd say definitely NO. 8.5-9 regular and 5 for VR for acute care for experienced. And that's with benefits. Without, I'd say 10-12 or more. Have never heard of more than 5-6 for VR, though.
and just because you have been an MT for 20 to 30 years doesn't mean you are good at it...
nm
10 years experience... that is good for 8.5 cpl. YUP, thats it.


I've been there for 3 years - yes, good company
xx
Is 7cpl text/3.5 cpl VR for someone with 13 years exp. a good amt. sm

or is it low?  I've recently had to start looking for a new job and am trying to figure out what a good cpl rate is for someone with my experience:  13 years of mostly acute care work.  It seems kind of low to me but maybe not.  I've been an IC for the last five years or so, but kind of wanted to get away from it for a while as I can never seem to be discplined enough for my taxes.  The 7 cpl text and 3.5 cpl VR is employee status, the only benefit right now would be PTO with insurance in a few months possibly.  I worked at my last company forever and only made 8.5 cpl as an IC, so all of this is kind of new to me.


Thanks!


Sounds good to me. I agree 100%. Am 50 years
30 years and have a LOT to say and share.  Its late, and I just happened to stop here for a second before bed while my other computer is defragging. I will follow up on this definitely within the next day or two, holidays or not.  We have no time - less than no time, right?  Can't wait to communicate with others who have some hope for us as a profession, a UNITED profession.   Laurie
I've been there a few years. I think it's a good company.
Although I feel that ALL MT pay is far too low, Acusis pays better than most. Several accounts are teaching hospitals, some regular hospitals, and some clinics. Most of the time they have plenty of work, except right after the Holidays.

I find the management to be VERY nice to work with - a welcome change from my old situation, which was horrible. Excellent techs, too. The SoftScript platform they use works well. Sound quality is good. If you email a supervisor or other person there, I've found they respond in a timely manner.

The pay varies based on the account; more for harder ones, less for easy ones. They ask for feedback from MTs, and are appreciative to get it.

Anyway, judging by what I read on this board about other companies, I think one reason you don't hear much about Acusis is that most people that work for them are happy with them.
You can do a good job and despise the company. I was at MQ for 10 years.
I eventually deservedly despised them, but I did a great job. Otherwise, I would have heard about it. I'm at the Web now, and I agree with those that say they are getting to be just like MQ before MQ imploded and was sold. I don't despise Webmedx, but I don't love them, either. I don't think you can completely trust any of the nationals.
Hey, wages were even still good 5 years ago, now pretty much gone. nm
x
I used this years ago, first hated it, but once got used to it, it was not so bad. Good luck :)
You will get used to it. Build up a lot of shortcuts, like you are probably acustomed to. I'm sure you'll do fine.
It was a good deal 15 years ago if you could live with
nm
I started 18 years ago and gave up a very good career
at a major medical association where I was just starting to move. I was 26, married three years and having my first child. I wanted desperately to stay home with him, but back then, my husband was not making quite enough to keep us afloat.
I just fell into MT when I saw an ad in the paper posted by a local MTSO. I thought, I've worked with doctors before and I know how to type. Well, I failed their test, but they were running an in-house class that cost $100 for six months, and the promise of a job as long as I could pass the test at the end. We had $123 in our savings account, and against my husband's wishes, I invested $100 of it in that course. It was well worth it!
Socially, it was hard at first to be isolated at home with children and work, but it's great now that they are all teenagers. I've always known where my kids were and been there for them when they needed me. I worked part-time for many, many years, and that gave me the chance to relax, not be stressed, go on hikes in the afternoons, or have a paddle in my kayak occasionally while the kids were in school.
I have a bachelors degree from Temple University and majored in marketing. My husband is a CPA, and we'll be married 22 years this January. He is now a partner in a small firm. He gets very good medical benefits and insurance, but no vision or dental plan. I'm sure that if I had worked for 20 years and attended to a career rather than a job, I'd be making six figures these days. I certainly don't make that doing medical transcription! But, I worked hard at raising my kids, and I have three great ones! I've saved bushels of money because I've not had to buy an office wardbrobe, pay train fare to the office, or send my children to daycare.
I have been very, very fortunate in that we no longer need my income to survive, but now I have the time to work full-time, the kids need me less, and I can still be reasonably flexible and unstressed. And, I'm still here when my teenagers need me, even though that's not as often as before. Yes, the industry has changed, but if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing!
I cannot say enough good things about Keystroke, not just one month but years
I remember when they were having growing pains and I was with another company and saw them on this board. Lee even got on to defend her company. At least she cared and nothing but good things have happened to this company. She still cares. Recently complaints were of running out of work and needing secondaries, and high insurance. She contacted all MTs and has been working on and from what I understand is correcting all that. She is a hands on owner and appears to deeply care for the Transcriptionist even though she cannot see our faces.

All of my posting is from hands on experiences and if for 2 years I can say this is where I want to retire after all the other companies I have had to go through, I am only trying to help and not post pie in the sky hoopla to rope anyone in. This is a down to earth, straight shooting company that I am sure is in it for profit but deeply cares for the transcriptionists who work for her and not make that profit while we eat 69 cent pot pies because our pay checks are so crummy. it takes time even for a good transcriptionists to get familiar with a new account but if the dictation is fairly distributed (I mean first in, first out, unless other arrangements are made between you and the company) then there is hope and a chance to make a living. I don't think it is fair to complete with your team leaders for dictation because they will always win and you will be left with what they do not want as they have dictation goals too with some nationals along with supposedly helping you. That is my 2 cents.
I have been there awhile. The good posts are because over the past few years sm
they have really worked hard to improve employee relationships and it has worked. There are no problems there anymore. They used to say they were growing pains and we all wondered how long they could say that. Now I am glad I stuck it out because all the old problems (and I mean old being over 2 years or more) are gone. Great company to work for.
Good riddance! They have gone way downhill in the last few years and do an awful job.
Thats why we fired them.
I have worked there for a few years now. Not a lousy company but a very good one. sm
Perhaps you did not meet their standards or perhaps they did not meet yours, but there is no reason for you to be on here bashing those of us that love working for KS. If you have specifics, please share. I will:

Good pay, on time every time.

Good account with plenty of work.

Good benefits.

Managers that are human and know that the employees are too.

Owners who care about the company and employees. They are involved but less and less with employees as they grow. Instead, they have hired managers that are great so that they can concentrate on sales and customers.

Growing company with no lost accounts, which is more than most can say.

Opportunity for advancement.

IT helpful and caring, especially since the major change in that area a few months ago.

I love my job and I'm not in Illinois either; I'm in Florida.
Webmedx didn't about 1-1/2 years ago. Good luck. nm
x
I am not afraid of VR, as I learned it many years ago on a very good platform, but they did not cut

my line rate, but instead paid me for my knowledge in the medical field.  By the way, I made very good money back then, too.  Cannot allow my skills to be sold at one-half my current line rate.  I have more pride in myself and confidence in myself than to be paid that cut-rate by any MTSO out there.


I am still making good money with a natl. Not giving up yet. Just need about 10 more years and I a
x
I've been looking for years. It's always a mix anymore. Good stuff gets kept in house. nm
s
I've been there a couple of years and it has been a good fit for me, very flexible with my schedu
as long as production is being met.  We are definitely a growing company and sounds like you have the experience that we need.  Paychecks have been always on time for me, direct deposit.
I'm at Webmedx after 10+ years at MQ. Good company. Plenty of work. SM
Pay is direct deposit and on time. You have a 12-hour window and 35 hours is considered full-time. I cleared QA review in less than a day, and they leave me alone to do my job. Benefits are affordable. I don't need the insurance, but I understand it's pretty good. Don't get much PTO the 1st year, 3 days. If you know you will need to be off ANY time in the first 6 months or so, tell the recruiter. Line rate is fair and you can negotiate. They have a bonus/incentive plan that allows you to earn good money. Seems like no place is great these days, but they are probably as good as it gets. Feel free to E-mail me if I can help you out.