Keystrokes is not as large as Transcend but they might be in the next few years. sm
Posted By: KSMT on 2009-01-07
In Reply to: I read that Transcend was the third largest - MT company in the US
Transcend has grown because they keep buying other companies, and Keystrokes does not do that. They have grown every year and still do because of getting new accounts and keeping the accounts they have.
Keystrokes is not in the $50M range; last I heard they were at $15M and will be in the $25M this year due to new accounts. They are very open about this, and also about the fact that they do not take on too much at once just for the sake of growing. They make sure that they are ready first.
Are they the perfect company? No, but they are better than any I have worked at since YOG. I have been at Keystrokes for 3 years. They continue to improve every year and have really worked through the issues they used to have including the insurance. The first year I worked for them, they were an OK company, the second year they were good, and this third year, they are great.
I am impressed with them because they still treat their employees as if they are a small company; we are not just a number to them. I am also impressed that they give more to their employees every year instead of taking things away, like a lot of other companies are doing.
I am happy at Keystrokes, as are over 400 of us. For those that are not or did not like working there in the past, I hope you find the company that works best for you.
Different strokes for different folks, but I have found the company that is best for me and plan on staying!
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I have 18 years experience with very large, well-known teaching hospitals. (sm)
and I went to TT in October with the big hiring push. Yep, there are lots of ESLs on my account, but no more than I've ever had on any previous account I've worked on. Most of the ESLs I'm getting are quite good, in my opinion. I can handle them. The one doc that gives me the most grief is actually EFL. He's just lazy and mush-mouthed. As for the sound quality, I haven't had a single problem with sound quality.
What I like about my current account(s) is that there are rarely any residents dictating! Oh! What a joy that is! Nothing like residents, whether ESL or EFL. Ugh!
Some people can deal with the ESLs, some can't. All you can do is try. We don't all fit into the same work situations.
Did Keystrokes sell to Transcend? I thought Keystrokes was buying up companies sm
but I heard from another service owner that they sold out to Transcend. Anyone know if that happened?
We heard Transcend is buying Keystrokes next. I'm not working for Transcend. No Way !
nm
Did Keystrokes sell to Transcend? I thought Keystrokes was buying sm
small companies but another service owner told me that she heard that Keystrokes sold to Transcend. Is this true?
I posted this down below but meant to post it as a new thread. Before I apply with them, I would like to know as I left Transcend a few months ago and do NOT want to get back into that mess.
MQ/KEYSTROKES/TRANSCEND
I am tired of hearing about MQ. Everytime someone posts something (almost every time) it reverts to being a MQ bashing. I think if there are so many disillusioned MTs at MQ, then perhaps the Administrator needs to make a new board one for all the unhappy MQ MT's, because I know most of us are all tired of reading how unhappy the MQ MT's are, and if they are so unhappy find another job. It's not as if MT jobs cannot be found. A good MT can find a job! I have 2, with 2 different companies and I love both companies and I make good money with both companies. I work for Transcend, and think they are a great company, and also Keystrokes, and are equally as wonderful. Lee could not be nicer to work for at Keystrokes, she is honest and upfront about everything.
And if you keep your butt in the chair, you can make money! Give MQ MTs their own board please!
No, Keystrokes did not sell to Transcend.
Not sure how all these rumors get out. Ridiculous
Keystrokes or Transcend....anyone have an opinion?
All input is appreciated. Need to make a decision some time today. Pros and cons for both, so looking for insight from those who have worked for either or both.
Thanks in advance!
keystrokes does not use offshore help, transcend
uses it a lot- one day you have work, the next day its slim pickins' - and you are left holding no paycheck. Transcend is ruthless and cares nothing about its MLS. It is just there for the dollar and you have to slave over a horrible platform, doing more clerical functions to get far less lines. My advice is to run from Transcend - masters of deceit- as fast as you can.
Transcend? Keystrokes? Good or bad?
 Does anyone know anything about this company? Keystrokes?
Not true. Transcend tried to buy Keystrokes last year. sm
Keystrokes owners turned them down as they are not interested in selling and they are against offshore transcription. They are getting as big as Transcend, maybe even bigger, and they treat their employees a heck of a lot better!
Where do you get these rumors from? Not from anyone who knows.
Transcend, Spheris, Keystrokes, Softscribe can
anybody give me the good and bad about these companies, as well as the platforms they use? I'm thinking about adding on some part-time work to compensate for the lack of work at current MTSO. I know there are a lot of companies out there, but these four seem to be discussed a lot. However, it's hard to compare them when you have to jump all around the boards to find out information. If anybody has other MTSOs besides these four that I should stay away from or definitely submit a resume to, please post that too.
Transcend, Spheris, Keystrokes, Softscribe can
anybody give me the good and bad about these companies, as well as the platforms they use? I'm thinking about adding on some part-time work to compensate for the lack of work at current MTSO. I know there are a lot of companies out there, but these four seem to be discussed a lot. However, it's hard to compare them when you have to jump all around the boards to find out information. If anybody has other MTSOs besides these four that I should stay away from or definitely submit a resume to, please post that too.
Transcend has improved in the last two years...
I have stayed throughout, but many people have left and come back. We have better communication, better benefits and more importantly, a better platform. We have a 401-K match, and I received a nice Christmas card with a $25 gift card. No company is perfect and I do know Transcend struggled for a while years back - but I can't complain.
I love Transcend, have been there for years...
started with MDI. The offshore component is mostly on Escription, and has never affected my workload.
Transcend is a good company; they treat me well and I make great money - I could care less if they offshore. Then again, I also have a Samsung TV, a German car and many things made in China!
Been with Keystrokes for 4+ years and not planning on going anywhere
I type Radiology and the Company is great just scroll down and you will find lots of info on Keystrokes.
I have been with Keystrokes for 2 years and can say the same as KSMT...
I have gotten a referral bonus, gift cards, et cetera....they are a really great company to work for and value their employees.
I left more than 2 years ago and went to Keystrokes...
I am way happier
I have been at Keystrokes for 2 years and I love it...
I have never experienced or heard of anything such as the OP is claiming...all I know is that Keystrokes is a great place to work for and you were unhappy there let it go and move on...I truly hope you found a better fit for you...and to those that do not like working for Keystrokes, find another job...
Been at Keystrokes for 2-1/2 years and LOVE it!
nm
I have also been at Keystrokes 2-1/2 years and love it...
Great company.
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!
After 8 years at MQ I went to Keystrokes in September 2006..and (sm)
I don't regret it. For the most part my account doesn't run out of work. I wish I had a backup but I haven't been able to get one. But my main account is swamped a good part of the time so when they do run out of work it doesn't usually last long. Good Luck!
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.
I worked for Keystrokes for a couple of years...
I was very happy with the company. I didn't have a problem with them, just needed to take a leave for a while and ended up starting with another company a few months later. It's been about a year and a half since I worked for them, but at that time there was plenty of work. I had no problems with supervision. I really don't have anything negative, but again it's been a while, so I don't know what the workload is like these days. Hope that helps - good luck!
Not true. I worked at Transcend for years and things have
For years people at Transcend were very friendly and the only time things got really heated on the forum were over personal opinion posts like politics and stuff. Not any more. More and more people are to the point of not knowing what to do with this company anymore. People who have been there years and years have quit or are quitting, and I think most of the peers that are happy are relatively new and haven't seen the downward spiral. A friend of mine quit a while ago and said she got a letter about a month after she quit asking her to sign a release saying she wouldn't take Transcend to court or be party to any claims relating to her employment with Transcend. If things were that hunky dory they wouldn't be so scared that they need to ask people to sign waivers when they leave.
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.
Keystrokes for the past 2 years!! I plan on retiring with them !! nm
nm
Agree with LTMT about Keystrokes..I've been there nearly 3 years (sm)
I had a bumpy patchy for a while with no work but the owner herself and some of the office staff worked with me to find a good secondary account that I couldn't be happier with.
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 worked for Keystrokes a few years back. There were some problems but was told they were working on
I had heard that before, too many times to count, so I left.
I came back 2 years ago and it was like night and day.
All of the old problems are gone. They blamed them on growing pains and never denied them. Instead they fixed them. They have my vote!
I can't tell you, sorry, but it is a LARGE one.
,
large comp
I agree.
They have taken on several new large accounts over
the past several months.
been with 2 large nationals; will never do that again.
Much better with the smaller companies.
I have 22 employees, which is not large, but had to do the same. sm
Our state unemployment division did an audit on me and determined that the ICs are actually employees. I had to pay unemployment on everyone who works for me or who did work for me back 5 years to present and make them all employees. I had to pay fines and penalties too.
The IRS has their list of 20 checklist items but the states can have a few of their own and they have the right to enforce them.
One from our state (Missouri) states that if you perform the same type of duties as employees at the company, even if you fit the 20 items from the IRS, you are an employee.
I appealed the decision and lost. It cost me $5000 for a lawyer but still have to pay the $218,000 to them (the total with the fees, penalties, interest and payments that should have been made). It is going to force me to close our doors.
If it is a large account
your email may be one of nearly 20+ she gets per day. When you are a lead you are getting many calls and emails daily. Address the issue with the head and go over his/her head if things don't improve.
these were supposedly large sm
companies that have been around awhile. I am hearing a lot of MTs going through the same thing. Its getting ridiculous!
It is hard to get a large
group of doctors at a hospital to ALL do VR and their own editing. Smaller clinics are more likely to completely do away with MTs, as they are more inclined to do their own editing; plus doctors in clinics do not go into as much detail as hospital dictators. Clinics usually stick to a fairly standard normal template, whereas doctors in hospitals dictate all kinds of ways...That is what I have seen..
I have found that large places
like hospitals, banks, insurance companies offer the best benefit packages to part-timers. In fact I once worked 10 hours a week at a bank just for the benefits package. PT MT at home with benefits, however, I don't think you will find. It's hard enough finding FT with benefits and the premium isn't $800 a month.
Yes, 2 large hospitals. Both accounts out. nm
nm
When I worked for a large national, they
had a gal from New York using a steno machine. She consistently turned out over 20,000 lines every 2 weeks/pay period. So if you know the steno machine, you can make megabucks in transcription. She always won awards at this biggest national.
The accounts are so large you get them some days
and other days none. I too have had days when that seems like all I get. Sometimes I will go 3 months before I get the same doctor. She should have asked them to route her a variety that day or try another account. There really is a break in period with any new account but Transtech really is the best company out there and they are willing to work with their MTs.
Um, not exactly - some of the VERY LARGE companies do the same thing!
Trust me. lol
I do a large number of ESLs and usually
don't have issues, but when I worked at SS their ESL dictators on at least 1 account were horrendous. They were bad dictators on top of the sound quality being the worst I've encountered in my 20 years of MTing. Management was a joke and you couldn't believe a word the CEO told you. I worked in QA and the quality of the transcription was very bad. Someone asked me if the work was done in India and I said it may very well be because it was so bad that it pretty much had to be done over. I had some suggestions on how to better run things and was offered a management position to implement them, but I declined.
The reason there is a lot of work is because they can't keep MTs. I agree not all companies, not matter how good they are, are a good fit for all MTs, but if a company has constant turnover there has to be a reason for it. I work because I need the money and I don't see any reason to waste my time going with a company that has the reputation that SS does. There have been a handful of MTs who despite all the negatives about SS decided to accept positions. A couple of MTs have come back about a month layer apologizing for not believing us and said everything we said was true.
I would not refer my worst enemy to this company.
Would anyone work for a large national co, with a
I use the company provided computer. They had a change in computers and I was sent a new one. Since that time, the foot pedal provided has not worked. I can hear reports, but I cannot backup or move ahead using the pedal. To hear something again, I have to bang my foot on the pedal. To move ahead forward or go backward for any length, I must go to playback page and manually move the cursor to where I need to be.
I have put up with this for five years. Yes, that is right, FIVE YEARS!!!! I have called our so-called Help Desk numerous times and I have been sent two more pedals, neither of which work, or, rather, work the same as the original pedal. I have asked for help from countless people. The Help Desk states I am the only one having the problem. The supervisor says I am the only one having the problem. I know one other person on my team who is also having having the problem, but we are too ashamed to really raise heck. I am disgusted.
By the way, it is the most commonly used foot pedal. Even their ad states it works with any computer. I just had to vent.
Large nationals don't like radiology because of TAT
xx
I was offered a very large rate of pay, so you
z
I know they just got a large hospital account near me.
xx
They have recently gotten a very large account. Probably
xx
Large deductible and everything out of pocket.
xx
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