Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Nothing wrong with that but many recommend to their employer

Posted By: see inside on 2006-02-04
In Reply to: no those employees are all over here - diddles

privately so nothing gets posted just to weed out those that might not be qualified...understand...protecting a good employer from having to wade through resumes and resumes of nonqualified applicants. Referral by word of mouth is very much accepted without having to post publicly but rather privately to those MTs that are known to be good and this has been happening since the internet


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

I would recommend them as an employer if that helps -
I don't know what specific questions you might have, but if you want to post a couple I will try to help.
Any employer who is late or gets the pay wrong better think twice
about what they are doing. If you think word does not get out, it does. The statement this poster made about paying well rings true. I know several people who work for one very popular MT service that is supposed to pay well who never get paid on the day they are supposed to or the pay is always wrong (this service is not mentioned in this thread) and their reason for staying is that their pay is so good. I say ditto what this poster is saying. If you have to pay late fees and such what good is good pay? I know a couple of people who are always worried about whether they are going to get paid on time and if it is, if it will be right. There is something wrong with this picture and no, I will not mention the service but it has not been mentioned in this thread.
WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! We turn down work because so many hospitals are sm
calling wanting a company that keeps work in the USA. The trend was stronger a few years ago before it all came to light about poor quality, the woman in Pakistan who threatened to post medical records on the web, 911, etc. There are hospitals who look for US-only and they are the MAJORITY not the minority. Definitely seeing the tide turn on offshore from an MTSO perspective, both MTs and customers!!!!!
You are wrong! Here is the ad. I got it too. There are no words spelled wrong and the caps are pa
This is pasted from the bottom of the email blast.

Why are you trying to stir up trouble? Keystrokes does not send ANYTHING offshore.

Here is the email blast from ILHIMA. The KS logo is at the top but does not paste here:

Rapid Turnaround, Guaranteed Accuracy, Measurable Cost Savings, U.S.A. Only, & Personal Service. These are our Five Stars of Excellence Promise. Find out what they can mean for you today. Email Pam.Gingrich@KeystrokesMT.com today!

Sorry, that should be employer!
NM
If I were an employer
and observed the way some of the people behave on this board. I think I'd be giving psychological tests as well.
As with any employer..
They expect you to work your shift. If you want a schedule that is flexible, become an IC.
You need to ask your employer how they
count lines. Vary from MTSO to facility. Everybody is different.
No. If you are an IC your employer does
not withhold anything, you are totally responsible for federal and state and SS taxes. Most companies pay the IC a higher rate than employees because taxes are not withheld.

They are an at-will employer
and if you can't do x-number of lines in an x-amount of time with 98% or better accuracy, 40+ hours a week on a strict schedule, don't even bother. You can just imagine the kind of accounts they have.
No, this they cannot do, not an employer,
this is discrimination.
Health insurance company operate like that.
I used them and would not recommend them
to anyone. Heaven forbid you should refuse a job from them. Extremely nasty company
I'd recommend them!
I've been with DRC a few years and the best thing I ever did was sign on with them. I make more than MTs in my area working at the local hospital; can't speak for other DRCer's though. I have a lot of experience and have a couple accounts I work on. I enjoy all the work and feel like I get a good variety. The company is great, the staff is great. Usually tons of work, and where there are lows they don't last long, flexible with schedules. I really like their operating system too, very easy to work for them.
I am there, and I would NOT recommend them to anyone. no msg
x
i used to recommend MQ
but for the last 1-2 yr have had too much trouble with working too many accounts to have work. In fact, even with plenty of work in my primary, they often bounce me around to other accounts. Keeping all the different account specific info straight takes too much time and costs me too many lines. Besides, they have stated to us in the newsletter that much of the work is going overseas to the international labor partners. So unless you would prefer to edit or do the voice technology editing, you may want to go with someone else.
I would not recommend them either sm
I was there for 1 year 5 months, and I was jerked around the whole time.

I started off at a low pay, then I was bumped up to a higher pay, then my pay was cut, then they stopped paying for spaces.

I couldn't take it and quit.
same here, would not recommend them
same here, they start you at 6.5 cpl, I was moved up to 7.5, then bumped back down and the insurance after they changed it has a 250 dollar emergency room deductible.  What is great about that I don't know.  Several part-timers left last year because the few benefits they had were taken away, so no I wouldn't recommend Spheris either
Could anyone out there recommend...
a recruiter that they have worked with?  I have never gone through a recruiter, but I think I might just sign up with one.  Anyone have any recommendations. 
Would not recommend

If you don't mind not having any benefits or any hopes of receiving a raise then thehy would be okay.


Is there anybody else you would recommend instead?

My main two concerns are a decent platform to work in and a decent medical insurance plan.  But, you're right--there's obviously some other things that I need to consider too.


I know that every company will have it's advantages and disadvantages, but does anyone know of any companies where the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?


I recommend MDI, too
Very honest, decent people to work for. Great pay. Competence in all departments from payroll to tech. Superb liaison. MDI is very picky about whom they select and about work quality, which is fine with me. I have been in this biz a good long time and have never liked any company so much.
Would not recommend

I currently work on Cornerstone doing mostly letters and the occasional op and ER notes. By far, I spend more time looking up addresses, time I am not paid for. I would not mind it if the pay was fair but it is not. So, I plan to look at other companies because I can no longer afford working for them.


In the beginning I had a somewhat decent account where I could meet the line count but on my new account with more than half my work being letters I waste a lot of time having to look up information and then inserting it into the document.


Another thing is the number of upgrades, and I use that term loosely, have caused my computer to crash. So I end up wasting more time.


Also, raises are as rare as hens teeth. And, if you do get a raise they end up putting you on an account where you cannot make any lines, so you cannot really call it a raise.


This week I plan to dust off my resume and start sending it out. If nothing else I can get something PT and then work into FT and then get away from Spheris.


Sorry for rambling, but I would not recommend Spheris even to newbies and especially not to the seasoned MT.


To put it bluntly, their platform SUCKS ASS.   


I would recommend against it (sm)
I've been in this field since 1966.  I'm just holding on by my fingernails waiting for retirement age.  It's way too late for me to start a NEW career.  I was single mom for most of the years my girls wer growing up.  I supported them and supported them well in this profession.  Now I make less than I did in 1996.  When people asking me what I do, and express an interest in going into the field, I actively discourage them.  It's definitely NOT what it used to be.
Yes, I recommend it.

I just tell people that expect to make absolutely nothing for the first 10 years.  LOL


My pay has doubled since I left my hourly job; or should I say I was pushed out of my hourly job with outsourcing hanging over my head.  I was to train my replacement as so-called just for back-up but I saw the writing on the wall, so I left.  I was only making 13 dollars an hour and that was 3 years ago.  I started at 7 dollars an hour 17 years ago.  I'm making a lot more now and have a lot less stress for sure than working on-site and having to do everyone else's job with no one to do mine.


I'm happy MT'ing.  I do not recommend it to others though as I tell them it takes years to get acquainted with the terminology. 


As far as telling people to come to this board, they have no clue what all of these abbreviates mean especially the company names.  It's too confusing for someone who doesn't know our world to come in this message board and make anything out of it.


No, no, no - used to recommend MT but no more..
,
Do you ask your employer's permission to do everything
in your life?

I don't. I did what was best for me.

They purchase my skills and expertise from me while I am on the clock for them. I don't share their secrets with the enemy nor vice versa. I have maintained my quality and production the entire time I've worked for them.

I don't ask for permission before I go do what I need to for my household.

You're right. MQ doesn't seem to have a problem with it. Spheris would not feel the same way, probably.
MDI is very good as an employer, think they
have IC status but not sure and also may have SE status.  They are flexible as long as the accounts stay in turn-around time.  They are good to work for.  I have been there since 3/2004, started part time, went full time in 05/2004 after I tried them out to see how I would like it. 
To tell current employer or not? SM

I am currently looking for a new job.  I love it where I work now, but need benefits and they do not offer them.  On applications they want to know if they can contact current/prior employers.  I certainly don't want to put no (as I'm quite sure that would raise a red flag), but I just worry how my current employer will react if he gets a call from prospective new employers asking about me.


Should I write my current employer and explain why I'm looking for work rather than let him be shocked to get a call out of the blue?  Guess I already know the answer, but am so worried.  Would hate to burn my bridges if the new job doesn't work out.  Ugh...I sound terrible.


What would you do?


Thanks!


By all means ask. I have and my employer was
They want you to be as productive as possible. If you're not producing lines, they aren't billing and receiving for them either!


Do you always believe what your employer tells you?
I worked for a local company and transcribed university hospital and VA reports.  The company was pretty busy - 100 MTs across the country and the owner whined all the time about how he couldn't make ends meet and couldn't pay MTs more - blah, blah, blah - but I certainly never got any tissues out during these meetings.  We found out from the bookkeeper later that the company charged and got18 cents per line and that was 6 years ago.  Then he increased his charge to a large account the next contract bid and lost it and and didn't have the guts to lay off by senority and just let everyone keep working with promises they were seeking new accounts that didn't happen very quickly at all while we were all out of work and scrapping to find what we could.  It is called GREED.   
been there, done that - on the employer side..sm
not a lawyer, and not MT environment at that time. Did briefs, etc when working as secretary in legal dept of company (factory type/employee paid piecemeal wages for on-site work). Unless you can prove the time card was fraudulently filed (the hours were not actually worked), the company is responsible for payment of the OT. The advanced approval is not part of the law, only of the company policy. The company's recourse is through discipline for failure to follow company policy, but cannot withold pay. The laws have been tweaked some since then, but not to that point.
If you are IC, the company is NOT your employer.
x
Best employer who provides equipment
I may be changing jobs soon.  I will spare you the gory details of why.  Anyway, can someone tell me who you consider to be the best employer?  I need one who provides the employee's equipment.  I am also looking for one that does not offshore, pays well (I have 25 years experience), good insurance, steady work, minimal ESL, HOPEFULLY DAY SHIFT OPENINGS M-F, and let's see, I guess that would mean I am looking for the perfect employer!   Opinions invited!
As long as the new employer does not
contact them, and you can request they not, how would they know??
If Transolutions is not your employer
I don't care what location your talking about.  Transolutions in Illinois advertises they do not outsource. The connection to India is clearly the company in Illinois. 
Is that employer's initial FI? nm
nm
Depends on who the employer is ...
and if it's okay with them ... signed confidentiality agreements and QA issues can make this a deal breaker.... not to mention income reporting for the IRS ...

You MIGHT be able to act as a and MTSO or subcontractor ... but I'd check the fine print of YOUR contract. I've known of people who did this -- usually an older MT mentoring a newbie family member with 100% QA on all work -- but problems with keeping within TAT and, I think, the requirement to use a very very basic platform in which overlap of login/hours/senders would not intrude ... might work, but might not be worth the effort.

Doing such a thing behind an employer's back is a gonna bite you in the butt move for sure. IMHO there's a fairly strong likelihood you'd get caught, so get it okayed before you try.
The IC who works on an employer-SM
directed schedule and is required to ask for time off and other things only employees do is the same as the person who wants to come in and do transcription for 4 cpl.  It DOES impact the situations ICs can find in the future - the first thing the MTSO says is **well, I have ICs who work the schedule I tell them to and if you won't I'll find more people who will**
eTransPlus is my employer (SM)
and they do not have any VR accounts. Sorry about the confusion.
From what my employer says, the 50 have to be within so may miles of one another
Yes, there have to be 50 but they have to be within a certain mile radius before we are eligible for FMLA.  It really doesn't count for home MTs if this is the case.
Let me get this straight. Your employer
sold out to a company who offshores to India, and now you may well be going the route of Cbay, Medquist, etc., with all your work dwindling & being sent to Indians, and YOU feel guilty? That's absurd. I have no sympathy or loyalty or appreciation for ANY company who sends our work overseas, sacrificing patient safety for the almighty buck and thereby screwing over American MTs.
Cannot recommend this office at all!
I have been there for a long time, and it just gets worse. They have lost so many accounts that I seem to constantly be learning something new, and I do acute care, any specialty. No money to be made this way. In addition, the office personnel have changed so much that I don't even know who to call with certain matters. It is beyond frustrating!

The only high point has been the excellent computer room staff, but I figure they will probably all be let go in favor of calling 1-800-DICTATE or whatever.

If you have other options, I suggest exercising them! I can E-mail you if you need more info.
I would recommend staying away from
That is all they do, lie and run out of work! Have you tried Keystrokes? I think they might be hiring. I do not know much about them but it might be something to consider.
I recommend Keystrokes.
I have worked for Keystrokes for three months, and they have been very easy to work with.  I don't know about all their accounts/platforms, only the one I am on.  It is an internet-based Word document using Express Scribe--very easy to use.  I am assigned certain doctors and then have 48 hours (yes, 48!) for turnaround.  Pay is based on a standard 65-character line.  Hope this helps!
Well, I wouldn't recommend them.

They have some weird system for line counting and you never can quite figure it out.  Lines are VERY hard to get and pay isn't great.  Many have left because they just can't make any money.  They are also training people in Trinidad (I think) how to do transcription, so guess where they jobs are going to go eventually.   They haven't been allowed to post on this board for that reason, but since MTStars is allow U.S. based offshoring companies to post, they show up.


 


Also, how can you recommend DR based on the
original poster's request? SE status and not strict schedule? DR offers none of the above! Sheesh! What a waste of board space! Must be a DR supe or recruiter.
I recommend Keystrokes...
Never have worked for them but have heard really good things - the other three companies U mentioned have horrible reputations (especially Softscript). Don't know about them personally, just their awful reps. Good luck!
No place I could recommend!!!!!!
nm
Can anyone recommend a hospital?
I have acute care experience doing everything (25+ years), great education, excellent references and top-notch work ethic.  Just found out current 1000+ bed hospital account going to Spheris and they made an offer of 7.5 cpl and recruiter came across as if they had no interest in me (yet I see their ads everywhere and they are to the point of paying sign on bonuses-go figure!).  I would probably be a better match working direct in a situation similar to this account I had for about 20 years (did about 10,000 to 15,000 lines per week with consistently top QA scores). Any leads/direction would be sincerely appreciated.  Thank you. 
TRS I would not recommend a company
simply on the basis of having talked to a recruiter or testing with them without having worked there myself. I myself, did work for them and my experience was a less than pleasant one. Some of their equipment is outdated, dial in systems with so many different numbers that you have a hard time getting on because others have been given the same number, lots of confusion, very little communication and a great deal of turnover. Notice, they always have an ad out and always have openings. The good companies are hard to get on with. The horrible companies like this one are easy. They sing a very sweet tune so beware!
Totally would not recommend them.
Very soon after I started I ran out of work, was switched to a much more difficult account with many different rules to follow and never the same dictator.  Very hard to get a decent line count because you are not paid for spaces.  I am looking for another company.