I was with MQ for 11 years and left last summer.
Posted By: former MQer now TTer on 2007-08-03
In Reply to: I guess you must be happy there since you say it is a great company... - backandforth
The changes after 1/1/06 were not to my taste. And from what I can see over on the MQ forum, it hasn't gotten better. I started with TT last October and have really liked it. I've only run out of work a few times, and have had work in my backup. The office staff is wonderful. It was a very good move for me.
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Well, I left MQ after 8 years last summer to go to Keystrokes (sm)
so I would have to say Keystrokes. I have plenty of work and love my account and Keystrokes gave me primarily what I asked for as far as what specialty I wanted to type. I work in Meditech but there are other platforms there, it just depends on your account. MedQuist was a great place to work for about the first 7 years. In January 2006 they introduced what they called the Rewards Plan and after that my work dried up in a hurry and I lost a LOT of money by staying there. But there are still people at MQ who have plenty of work and like it there, the way I felt about it in the old days. Both places have positive qualities but I am happier now at Keystrokes. It also depends on what you are looking for as far as how large of a company you want to work for...MQ is a big national, KS is much smaller and more personalized. Good Luck!
Just left after 5 years...
Up until Jan 1, it was fine, although my line rate was low. They had bonuses that made up for that. Then came Jan 1. They took away the bonuses, which halved my income. They promised a raise in my line rate, but it always got lost or forgotten, until I finally got sick of asking about it and gave up. Before Jan 1, I ran out of work twice in the entire 5 years I was there. After Jan 1, I ran out at the very least twice a week.
If you do decide to work for them, make sure you get the line rate you want up front. Once you are there, they never give raises. Even when they promise them to you, it won't show up on your check, someone will have to check on it, and they will never get back to you.
I left there maybe 3 years ago and
the part you mention about the 'medical lesson' reminded me of an embarrassing episode - I was taken to task because I put peridium instead of Pyridium - was just typing what I heard and meant to go back and fix and missed it on my reread and you would have thought I was in kindergarten the way I was taken to task for it. I do QA now myself and I know it was a bad error but give me a break - I'm the type that beats myself up and don't need to do them for me!!
I left for 2 years...
Boy was I happy. Then DH's business slowed down and I had to get a part-time job, figured I might as well get back in MT. Man, was I rusty after 2 years.
Now, I'm really wanting to get out but am afraid of that Rusty period if I decide to get back in.
I think I'm going to just help market my DH's business and maybe try to find a couple of accounts on my own.
I am sooooo miserable doing this. I have worked since this morning and barely got 500 lines. I'm bored and miserable.
I thought about going back to school. My kids are finally in school all day so I do have options now. Jobs are slow around here though, right now. Wonder if I can deal with 'office politics'. Of course it's not like I don't deal with it now, just more of a passive-aggressive-type office politics.
Anyway, going to take something for this borderline migraine!
I was there for 3+ years and still left
Things started going from good to bad. Like I said it has alot to do with the account you have. Lost an account that was absolutely the best, but had in-house hospital girls cherry picking there also, proved it and was told that was a HIPAA violation and not to be doing that. I had just stumbled onto the fact and was in a position to prove it, which I did and had been saying so forever and a day. We had in-house hospital girls along with the KS girls and cherry-picking going on a daily basis and that is still going on more than one account. We were told there was nothing that could be done about it. If you want to deal with that crap and be told that I say go for it. There are not many out there that care to deal with that. But you will never know until you try it.
not me, left there over 5 years ago. just trying to help out sm
a fellow MT so she does not take a job that will make her unhappy, like it was your business anyway.
I left 2 years ago for same...
they are like this always. A revolving door. They just keep hiring and people keep dropping out for this, but they are always covered. the only ones paid are the recruters.
I left MQ after 11 years too...sm
I made the move about two months ago to KS - and I love it! No more time clock! And REAL PEOPLE to talk to if you have a problem. ALSO, ONE ACCOUNT and all the work I want. I don't know if this will apply to your account, but be sure you dont use ATT long distance for ULD. I did, and had to miss a few days of work while waiting for Charter to come out. (No one at KS told me I couldn't use ATT, but they did tell me they are advising future employees so they won't have the same problem. Other than that, the freedom from being out from under MQ will overwhelm you! Congratulations!
I left the Q after 18 years for TT. I am very
happy here. You are treated like a real person. Work can get a little low at times, but that happens everywhere. I think you will be happy here.
over 2 years ago I left WMX because of $200
a payperiod cut in pay after working on VR there. you mean they are lowering even further? I was there 2 years and when I had started it was the best company around.
boy was I wrong. once that pay cut hit and I started questioning, they turned on me as did a lot of people on this board.
that was at a time former MQ people had almost completely taken over and they sort of turned it into MQ philosophy, in my opinion. attitudes changed, everyone got meaner/nastier, and that wonderful job I had with all the nice people, GONE in a heartbeat. my supervisor got changed and well thank goodness I left when I did.
I feel your pain - there are no jobs out there really. 1 job opening and probably 500 MTs apply. anyone who tells you it is easy or there are jobs is I think in denial. who cares what those people think, we know differently.
we missed the boat on forming some type of (labor) organization. I know 'union' is a bad word and as with anything these days not to be trusted, but we have absolutely no representation or advocacy whatsoever. this is ridiculous, like living in China. ever see how Chinese people work? I saw a documentary and trust me we are not far from it.
you think it will not happen? it will exactly happen. this profession for some reason attracts a lot of sadistic people...too many with really bad attitudes.
I left a couple of years ago
From what I heard they still deduct like crazy but maybe they are better now than they used to be.
IMO is it that bad. I left after 12+ years. As of July 1 no
incentive, replaced with a quarterly bonus that is almost impossible to obtain - also the amount of bonus is subject to how many MTs receive it and how much they decide to pay out for cpl. Also if you like transcribing 8-10 or more different accounts a day then go for it. A good many of us lost our primaries and went to a national pool and some were reporting 25 different accounts in 1 day. Impossible to obtain line count and/or quality. They are now apparently losing many accounts because of the poor quality of dictation.
I left after 7 years, and am much happier,
after MTing for 30+ years, i too dread learning new things. I find the bayscribe platform to be not as perfect as DQS in some respects, but much simpler in others. It was a heck of a lot easier to learn! another big bonus was being able to transfer my Expanders over. but like another poster said, my stress level is 0 now, i am not reduced to complaining all the time and i suggest you go on with your thought to move on. i don't regret it one bit.
I left more than 2 years ago and went to Keystrokes...
I am way happier
I worked for MQ for 12+ years, left in
6/07. Up until 1/07 it was a good place to work. But in 1/07 they started losing accounts and in 6/07 changed the incentive plan to the point I was losing $600 a month, not to mention the inflexibility of schedules, no communication, lack of raises (did not have one in 5 years), etc. I have never once regretted leaving especially after reading the MQ Board. If you just start there and did not go through the changes it might be okay, but if you have a choice to not go there.
I just left there last month after 2 years -
I had been really happy with my job until about last November. I finally even applied for and received unemployment. Not only was my line count down from 20,000 a pay period to sometimes 7000-8000, but that also meant my line rate of pay was down because of their tiered schedule. It did not seem to matter how much I asked or complained about the work and begged for more, there was always an excuse.
I worked there for 2 years and am glad I left
However, I have several friends that still work there, love it and probably will never leave. I personally choose not to work for a company that outsources overseas. Just my opinion though.
Been here about a month, but worked for them 3 years ago and never should have left.
I left the first time cuz DH (now my EX-DH) was less then cooperative to say the least.
I LOVE it here.
Poster said she left there at least 4 years ago. did not say she knew what was going on now.
x
I was there 12 years, left 3 weeks ago. Many are leaving. (nm)
x
I left after 14+ years. I loved MQ and my PS until July 1. sm
I left for another company. I started with the new company and also with Instant Text on the same day....threw myself into the fire! I so struggled the first 2 weeks and even questioned both on here. I decided to stick it out, and I have to tell you that I definitely am getting settled and love it. When you see dictator names and report types come up that you actually RECOGNIZE, the feeling is amazing. Even tho I felt that i was struggling, I made a bonus for my first full pay period. The grass..IS GREENER! Good luck
Run, run away. I just left after working for them for 12 years . Go to their forum
and read a little bit.
I just left MQ after 12 years, read their board before
thinking about them.
Read their board. I left after almost 12 years. (nm)
x
I just left a company after 10 years, making only
nm
I left MQ for KS 2 years ago and love it. They have a lot of rad accounts. sm
I make great money even though I took a report pay cut because there is always work!
left after 6+ years - loooooong wait
on invoices and they are very good at finding deductions and telling you after the fact (that is, when you finally DO get your invoice). Great account (not EMDRAT) but I can't work for free!
Left MQ after 10 years for Webmedx, a better place. nm
x
not matching for a couple years now since I left.
It was just sitting there. Started another 401K with next job. Let it ride say the politicians...yeah, right. Could have done better in Vegas.
I wasn' screaming...I left MQ after 8 years and worked for MDI-MD
for 1 month before I finally went to where I am now. I just asked if anyone else got theirs. I got mine from MQ and now I have to wait for 2 more. It was just a generalized question, not accusatory at all. What a jerk!
I left there several years ago, but from reading recent posts, SM
it seems to me that if it's the MTs who have been there for a couple of years or more that are are liking it fine there and sing the praises, and that it is the new hires or recently hired people who don't like it and don't seem to get work or at least get bounced around. Just an observation from what I've read. HTH.
I left EDiX/Spheris after 8 years there to come to Webmedx. SM
I moved over here in 2003 because I knew the recruiter and she told me it was a great place to work. She was right. The benefits are fair, the work plentiful, the bosses fantastic, and the QA staff wonderful. Good luck!
For radiology, Keystrokes is the best. I worked at MQ for 8 years and left in January. sm
Wish I had done it two years ago. Lots of work, easy accounts, great team leads! I am making less per report but more each check because of better account with more work available!
I left them over 4 years ago. Best thing I ever did. Moved to Webmedx. Quite happy. nm
.
I left after nine years in June before the pay cut and I am very happy in my new position and making
NM
I left MQ after years and went with a highly rate company on this board (sm)
my account has dried up and I am constantly out of work now...same with backup account. I like the company I'm with and don't want to leave but I HAVE to have a steady account. I realize there are slow times of the year but on this account they have overhired and now it's low a lot of the time.
I left Amphion a couple of years ago and never looked back.
It was one of the best moves I ever made.
They never change, 4 years ago a Xmas, they lowered everyone's line rate, I left then
NM
I hope it's a rumor..I left MQ for KS 3 years ago..I finally found a place I love (sm)
so I hope the rumor is not true!
omg-heat of summer
I meant heat of summer!! not head--sorry
Last summer? see inside
They do not keep anything that long due to privacy. Their recruiter was let go a few months back, so it definitely is no longer there. I would send it directly to them at KeystrokesHR@aol.com and let them know that you had sent it before. I know that the process is smooth now, based on talking to a few new MTs, so if you are interested, that is the way to go!
thank you - I'm hoping by summer to
nix the Q alltogether, unless by some miracle things get better. I think my biggest peave with the Q is that stupid time clock. I never wanted FT or benefits, so I don't see why PT with no benefits has to punch a clock. Give me IC any day!
The new company I'm going to only requires me to meet my daily quota on the days I say I'm going to work. If I need off, I just let them know I won't be working that day. No more holidays, no more cesspool and no more TIME CLOCK!
I hope things go well for you at KS. I've heard a lot of wonderful things about them on this board, especially if you want FT and benefits. Good Luck! 
There is no summer slump at MDI. Its a
permanent slump situation, as its been going on for a long, long time. Something is way not right about this company, and I'm not sure what's going on, but its not good. Look below, and you'll see more eager new hires ready for training, every single day. I was bored the other day and browsing other MT sites, and I was shocked to see a thread and battle, just like here every day, of MDI-MD MTs with no work, MTs who can't get the 5 training jobs a day, yada, yada, and I saw the EXACT same letter from the recruiter and also from the tech person, whom many claim does not set them up at the agreed upon time, etc, and does not help with tech issues. The shock to me was that all were dated from Spring of 2007. That's how long this exact scenario has been happening, and it was creepy to read what looked like sincere posts here, as they were copied verbatim from a year earlier, and probably more before that had I wasted my time looking. There is something WEIRD and wrong about this company, and why anyone would waste 1 minute of their time with them is beyond me. And it was so hurtful and hateful a few months ago when those who posted that they had no work and something wasn't right were bashed and flamed for it being their fault somehow. Inferior MTs or whatever. There is a boatload of BS going on at MDI-MD, and I have personally experienced that boat, and its not gonna float for anyone. I truly believe they have their original staffers who get work, but forget the rest, and they are always, always hiring more and more, and with no work. If I were with them now, I would be MAJOR pissed and demand work. But there isn't any? I would also be demanding to know why they keep hiring. They have no answers, and they have no work either.
I was mid summer this year.
I used IType.
TTS - When I applied last summer
nothing more than an insulting subcontractor rate for 30 years' experience. Are you making at least more than 6.25 cpl?
Here's a review from last summer.
http://forum.mtstars.com/company/v/1/74751.html
Anyone else running out of work this summer?SM
I have been with this company for quite some time, and this is the first time I have run out of work. It has been slow since June, but pretty much the whole month of July has been hunting for work and getting lucky if there's any there. We've been told it's just an unusually slow summer. Anyone else with this problem?
They added several new accounts this summer
so I don't know which one you are talking about, but I have been out of work for 2 days too and despite asking for a back-up account I have yet to get one. I do know that another account is coming on-line next month, though they have hired people for it and those people are probably working on the other accounts in the meantime, taking work from the estabilshed MTs.
How do you know new accounts are coming on in the summer?
I have not received any email saying such to us MT's. I hope so, because work is really low during the week, a little more on the weekend usually. More and more of our work is going to voice recognition, leaving low volume of transcribing left to do.
This is an excerpt from a press release by Transtech management that I saw on the internet. Maybe those 20 MT's love the system, but the other 280 must not. I know I hate Dictaphone ExSpeech editing platform (and hate the pay that goes alogn with editing on that platform).
We started using the Enterprise Express Speech System in late October of 2007 and have already seen a 500 percent increase in speech-recognized drafted
reports. While just 20 members of our team of 300 transcriptionists
are using the system now, we plan to expand its use significantly. In
only 60 days we've seen dramatic productivity climbs and our team
loves the system.
Info about Wordz from this summer.
Wordz was not the job for me, but I have nothing bad at all to say about them. Here is some recent info from this summer, hope it helps:
Pay on time by DD.
I worked on 2 platforms. (Winscribe and Transnet) Both use your version of Word and your Expander of choice or autocorrect. The platforms were just for management of voice files and attaching/uploading documents, no demographics were filled in.
All demographics were manual, and you download pt lists (some in notepad where you can copy and paste names and some fax copies where you have to retype everything).
Provider/address lists were provided for letters.
Job lists come out 4x per day. On at least one platform you have to check the job list for your work and manually enter the dictator# into the transnet platform to download jobs (you are not routed jobs automatically on the Transnet platform).
Pd training. You get about 4+ hours of phone training your first day, 3 modules. The longest module of training is administrative, paperwork, file management that you are expected to do and the other modules are on the transcribing and audio platforms. The administrative/paperwork/file management is the longest for a good reason, you spend plenty of time wrangling voice files, job lists, and pt lists every day.
QA was outstanding and very helpful. Quick relevant feedback and even a good job here and there.
There are set hours - sort of! They do ask that you set range of hours they can count on you to be there every day (maybe 8:00 to 3:00 for example) in case they need to reach you for stats or whatever, but you do not have to necessarily be working all that time, and you are not monitored. You are just expected to complete your account assignments within TAT.
Pay is low (it was 7.5 cents), but they justify that by the fact that they match transcriptionists to doctors....no pools. (That did not turn out to be the case for me, I was up to 20 dictators with more to be added on, although I know many are assigned to a small # of stable dictators...just get as much specific info during your interviews about exactly what accounts you would be on and how many providers so you can make an informed decision.)
Good luck!
Grandchildren keep me young. I have had 2 FT this summer (sm)
and occasional trips to town for teenaged grandson who has stayed at home this summer. Sometimes it is hectic and I feel stressed getting my hours/lines in, but then I take my mother to the Senior Center and watch all those people with so little to occupy their time and I feel really lucky.
During school year the 2 youngest still catch the bus here and come here after school. I am able to adjust my schedule so I can attend school functions/lunches during the day if their mom can't.
There may be a lot of problems with MT work anymore, but these are the reasons I and many other stay with it.
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