That is crazy!! I do QA too - how unfair to be docked points!
Posted By: nm on 2007-02-09
In Reply to: Speaking of QA - Lee
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If you like getting docked pay for lousy dictators, go for it. nm
adf
You aren't docked for blanks unless maybe
How does Axolotl define a line? Do they pay for spaces, headers, footers, & expansions? Are you docked for blanks or sending things to QA? If so, how much. you keep leaving the same blank after receiving corrections. They would rather you leave a blank than to guess. Line is 65 characters, pay for spacers. There are acute care and clinic accounts and I don't know if they pay differently for them as far as headers/footers. I have no footers, only have to fill in date in headers so not sure how they pay. I don't know why wouldn't get paid for expansions, I get paid for normals and I have some normals as expansions so I guess they do pay for them.
Would you work for a company that docked for errors?
If you make an error in a report, you don't get paid for the whole report.
Would you work for this company?
Only if it also docked doctors for dictation errors
HA HA
Paid direct by Transcend, never been docked.
Only time I had to complain was the one (and ONLY one) time they neglected to add on my carried-over TRS production incentive bonus. I pointed it out to my supervisor, she told me to contact payroll, and it was corrected (and the difference made up) on my next check.
Not actually a check; I have direct deposit, and it's always been right on time, on the day advertised. (They gave us a payday schedule, and it's always been spot-on.)
Again, I've never been docked for anything, and never even been told what things a person might be docked for. Too many things sent to QA? Hardly. We (at least, we TRS transplants) are supposed to NEVER guess, and if we put 100 QA marks in a report, so be it.
Of course, I suppose if we were making constant critical errors, we might need to be talked to... but that hasn't happened to me, so I can't speak to what might happen in that case.
Old posts also say your pay is docked if client is unhappy with your work. No thanks. nm
s
Like I said, this was when I interviewed in 2005. REpeated errors got your pay docked, not
s
I was offered a job months back, but the contract said they docked for errors.
Not my cup of tea! I never was docked pay for making a med error as a nurse. I would not have accepted that kind of treatment. I'm human, for crying in the corn, not a machine.
Ditto to what needavacationmt said. They talk but dont deliver. Do you truly want your check docked
based on what Indian QA says is proper sentence structure, use of English language, punctuation etc..I have no issues with expecting high quality but I think I had a difference in opinion on these factors. There is a language barrier as your supervisors IM you from India and just dont get things like NO.. I am not working right now and do not plan on it until my scheduled shift. I know another person said the recruiter actually told her that their middle of the road Transcriptionist make about $4000 a month average. What kind of scam and lie is that. Just goes to show they will tell you anything to get you to work for them. You'd be sorry.
Another example of how unfair they are.
It is definitely unfair if someone has been
there for 8 or 9 months, has to wait until 12 months before even accruing 1 minute of PTO and a new employee hired today gets PTO immediately. How is that not unfair?
How is it unfair?
Constantly assuring someone their check has been mailed and still has not been recieved is not good business ethics period. Then to have the threats on top of it...that is just plain bs. She STILL has not gotten her check and if he has any decency he will stop payment on this supposedly mailed check and just overnight her a cashier's check for her full pay. I dont know about anyone else, but Im not rich and need my checks in a timely manner, and as far as I know there arent MTs out there just doing this for the fun of it alone. Not being paid is what is UNfair.
It is unfair because those of us
who have put in 10, 20, 30 years or more should not make what a newbie does period! It doesn't matter if it's production or not. Someone with 10 years or more experience should NEVER make what someone just coming out of school or with 1, 2, 3 years in MT. We have put in our time, learned a lot in those years, and absolutely should be rewarded with higher line rates for that! When the newbies get in their years and years of experience, they too should be rewarded.
It used to be we all had to start small and work our way up. Now it seems that everyone makes the same, and it's not right at all! 
SPi unfair!
The new comp plan looks wonderful but when you start typing you notice it takes almost double to get your line counts. Sure, they lowered their line counts, but they don't pay for headers, footers, spaces, returns, tabs, and the patient info area! We get audits and have never been provided with the policy on them.
So much is changing in that company! Something is wrong! Everytime you turn around there are new MQ managers and less United States MTs and Editors. What is going on? I've went though 5 managers in the past 6 months! The director of ops is running though the company trying to model it after MQ. Well look where MQ is now! Why don't people see that the higher-ups are NOT getting the job done correctly and everything is falling apart! A change has to happen or this company is going down faster than Leroy Brown. They need to start changing their upper OP managment team ~starting with the director and all of her MQ followers!
unfair practices
I would like people to be aware of a company called Advantec MT, to let people know that at least at the beginning they pay 1/2 cent per line but don't let you know until your first paycheck is due and then you find out and you have to pay for their equipemnt which I believe is very deceptive. Thought everyone should know.
not really unfair, a lot of other companies do that too
At my last office position I had to wait a year for vacation.
That seems unfair. I have no reason to think sm
they do anything unfair. I did a little over 3000 lines last Sunday. If they were manipulating things in any way, that wouldn't seem likely.
Granted, I would like to be able to use the Ctrl/I function, but because I cannot, I do not automatically assume something underhanded is going on. The company has treated me well, and I have no reason to suspect they would cheat me in any way, and it is unfair for you to imply they do unless you have proof to back it up.
100% QASeems VERY unfair for..sm
Unfair to QA the whole group for work THAT'S UNPAID to begin with, such as demographics garbage, etc. bookkeeping that their OWN clerical staff is supposed to be doing...not the MT for GRATIS...If the client really is so demandinging and picky about the demographic work, you know full well that he is paying the MTSO for it, while we get to do it for nothing for the sheer privilege of working for them. What the heck does this have to do with transcription?? That's what we were hired for and paid for....let them do their own bookkeeping.
Don't you feel this is the least bit unfair? sm
Unfair to each one of these companies who has to spend quite a large sum of money to recruit and train and ship your equipment? And unfair to yourself, as how can you expect to truly learn all the different operating systems and dictators and accounts if you can't concentrate on just learning a single thing at one time?
I think you give us all a bad name.
You're right - it is unfair
My company actually put it in the employee manual - that employees are required to use PTO for periods of low work volume and computer downtime - and the company reserves the right to INSIST upon the use of PTO. Obviously if a company needs to put that language in their manual, they are deliberately planning to overhire, run out of work, and have computer downtime. It is completely unfair - especially since there are rules about requesting it in advance when we want to use it for OUR reasons, but of course those rules are waived when forced to use it for the company's advantage!
Companies SHOULD live up to their end of employment and pay when you show up to work as agreed - and most do in other industries! What is the point in EARNING something they can snatch away whenever they please? PTO is not really a benefit when you are forced to use at the company's whim and for their benefit instead of your own. This ensures you never get to plan an actual vacation, and the company doesn't have to have much concern when work volumes are low - they can just force us all to go on vacation - although instead of CALLING it that and letting us WALK AWAY from the job and go do something else - they force us to sit there and TRY to work, then take the vacation after the fact when it turns out there was none! That is a double whammy because you never got to actually LEAVE the workstation - and it snatches away a future time when you actually planned to! So of course we get burnt out and miserable without hope of a REAL vacation spent away from the keyboard!
It stinks that every chance they get, some suit (who gets salary and NEVER gets forced to take PTO himself) finds a way to steal an employee's benefit and turn it into a benefit for the company instead. PTO under these circumstances is NOT a benefit - it is just another term for slave labor. How DARE they act like unpaid time off is a priveledge that THEY may choose for us, but WE may not. Its unbelievable the lack of respect we receive, and the crap we are supposed to put up with, for the luxury of working at home.
That's pretty unfair.
Just because the patient returns for multiple hem/onc visits is not a good enough reason to pay lower scale to type a few lines.
Unfair and no work
I have worked for them for about a year now and they are always running out of work. They are sweet as pie to you if they need you to help with overflow, but when work runs out they get ugly. JMO
It's unfair to say it's only people with children.
I think the above poster is correct that it's the perception that you can work when you want to that has caused this, not just people who have kids. I have a transcription service and some of the worst offenders don't have any children at all. Even in the real world I always saved my vacation days, etc. to use for my children's school events or whatever and took time off for my kids because they are my no. 1 priority. That has never interfered with my fulfillment of my job duties, even when I worked outside of the home.
I've hired anywhere from someone straight out of school to older people nearing retirement age and some of my best ICs were mothers. Some of my worst included one gal who wanted to party every night of the week and couldn't work the next day with a hangover, an older lady who got tired earlier in the day than she thought she would so she had to stop work early, and yet another lady who had marital problems and used an argument with her hubby as her excuse not to work on any given day. I can give more examples, none of which involve kids. Most of the women with kids did well because they knew how to organize their time, worked when kids were asleep or at school since they knew it was their only chance to get it done, and they were adept at multitasking.
What you are really seeing is a lack of work ethic in general, in all different professions. So many want to get rich right now but they don't want to have to work to do so. We live in a drive-thru, high-speed society and everyone wants everything RIGHT NOW with the least amount of effort possible.
as unfair as it sounds, I have never heard sm
of a company that lets you see a contract until you are ready to sign. If when you read it you don't like it, you don't have to sign it. A hassle yes, but companies are not going to just arbitrarily send out their contracts for folks to see.
Payback is what comes after notification that your sup is being unfair.
I have lost 1/3 of my income, lost ability to work OT and am having less than desirable work siphoned to me since I finally found the courage to go above my sup's head. So, know the risk if you stay in the job.
I think you are being a bit unfair. We all say we want MTSOs to be upfront sm
about what they will pay, what they expect, and not to waste OUR time testing if the wages or whatever do not meet our expectations, then when someone does that, she gets blasted. I just started doing some part-time work for her, and the work is clinic work, which is super easy, and the pay is on time and it is weekly, which is a nice little extra.
Just my thoughts. 
As I have stated repeatedly, although very unfair, leads have line counts too.
nm
Curious. Scrolling down yesterday and noted comment about unfair labor practice
suit possibly brought by an MT against a certain company. I know this company only hires ICs - not employees. Is this possible? TIA.
some points right, but
hospitals want to pay less and less for the same service which makes it very difficult for the MTSO to pay experienced MTs the line rates they are looking for - - which makes it difficult to hire US based MTs, it's a nasty cycle
Two points SM
1. Where in the world did people get the idea that TT does not do audits once an MT is off full Q.A.????? They most certainly DO do audits. If you don't hear anything about it, well I guess that means you're okay. They aren't the first company to not give feedback on audits; both Medifax and MRC, for example, did audits but did not give feedback to MTs unless they fell below the required accuracy.
2. I probably do about as much looking at old reports as anyone and I have yet to see any glaring errors that would call into question the expertise of TT MTs. Now if I wanted to nitpick.........
Just as an aside note, I can easily do 2000 lines in a day. If I push it I can do up to 3000 but that's a pretty HARD day. This is acute care and various accounts, both extext and the ichart thingy.
If I had 1 complaint about TT it probably would be that communication isn't the best. On the other hand they give me a job to do and leave me alone to do it. So given a choice between great communication and being left alone to do a job, I'd take the latter any day of the week.
I see your points, but.....
As an MTSO, do I chance losing this large client, and need to layoff MTs? I believe I am doing more for MTs by keeping their wages as high as can be afforded by searching for off shore companies to fill in when the client is too penny-pinching to worry about anything else but cost.
Two points to add
1. Do not be surprised to find out that many facilities already know that US records are being offshored and simply do not care.
2. Speak for yourself about taking 1 cent less per line. Many of these companies are already offering US MTs 6 and 7 CPL. You think I am willing to work my tail off for 5 or 6 CPL? No thanks!
Many good points, they just have to be right for you. sm
Good account for me. Took a bit to catch on to the second one, but I love it there. Treated fairly, tested at nite, and was contacted immediately the next day. Pay always on time, supervisors are nice, love IM's for questions or help, instead of phone tag and waiting forever for e mail.
All places have good and bad, you just have to find the right fit for you.
Good points. SM
Newbies are not necessarily careless or ignorant. Anyone can be a bad MT, experience or not.
They had a lot of good points--
but there was one bad point (I won't elaborate on it any further than that) and I'm wondering if it would be worth it to try again.
Valid points! nm
x
All have good points,
Best thing about Medware is XXXX . She will go overboard to make sure you are happy. Best thing about Amphion, people are friendly and nice. You won't make a lot money, though. Best thing about Spheris... I'm still thinking.
Please do not post names. Thank you. Goldbird
APT...All Points Transcribers......SM
Boss bought it from an MT. Boss couldn't type, knew next to nothing about computers when we went over to computers...played all kinds of holiday/bonus games involving money and was EXTREMELY cheap and I expect nothing in the life and can still say just how cheap she was and to her 5 closest (most important and highest producers) people in her office. I left first and then 4 others slowly followed (her 5 best people) and then her biz liquidated (completely went under) which was my plan from the moment I walked out.
Payback is just SO GREAT, isn't it???? *ROFLMAO*
Now she is a miserable old lady today!
I will give you a few points there.
It belongs on the comedy board, but I would hate to see our country become so PC that no one can say anything because it is too sensitive.
good points, but.........
Maggie had some very good points, but what about companies that you do work as scheduled and then no pay! I am a very hard working MT and have worked for companies like that! Also what about working for companies that ships the work to India and you have to sit in front of your computer almost all day and through the afternoon to hope you get enough work to pay your bills and sometimes things change so quickly (no heads-up) you are just caught. Also with voice recognition, we are paid less, have to produce more and basically depending on the physician, some of the reports we have to type because voice recognition does not, recognize many of the words the physician is dictating. Also what about the companies that lie straight out, just to get you to work with them.......and there is no work! I work my but off, almost every holiday, and every weekend (I am making the sacrifices now) so I can pay my bills and I go to school full-time because this industry is going downhill fast and the fault lies with both sides, for the MT who slacks and to the jobs that don't pay on time, treat us like crap, lie, etc.......
LOL--I have to agree with you on all points
and you weren't rude at all. The system is a part of it but I am the remainder......
Thanks for making these points.
.
Great points!
Totally correct!
Good points
Those are good points. I never really thought about it, but I have worked for a couple of MTSOs and this is the first one where it is just so....quiet basically. I guess I should be thankful that no one bothers you unless you mess up or you are just called to be informed that if there is a lot of work they give you a message to let you know if you want OT you can have it. But, I feel almost isolated. It's not that I even want to contact any of the other MTs, but I think it would be neat to be noticed if someone's birthday or anniversary date at the company, and just some odds-and-ends info put in there. One company I worked for even had something called the 100 club or something like that, where if you made 100% QA score for either the month or could have been payperiod they put it on the newletter and you were paid a bonus. I missed it a couple of times with a 99.9 :( but it was just fun to see those.
Think you may be mishearing my points
AAMT has not elevated the profession EVER in my opinion. AHIMA did more for the MTs, again in my opinion, than AAMT ever has. AAMT has advocated for global transcription for decades now. I remember sitting in meetings with a couple of very high muckety mucks as they talked about how to cut out lines for the MT.
AHIMA has made HEALTH INFORMATION a profession and I see AAMT as having done or accomplished very little in 30 years.
Because MT is a telecommuting position for a portion of MTs, those are the MTs who will be affected by global economy.
And my comments regarding being single and supporting myself is that I do not have a supporting income from a signficant other, and I've learned what the field is like and know that working one gig as an employee doesn't usually meet the financial desires I have.
So i would say the requirements of a telecommuting MT is to acquire the best skills you can. Treat the work as a real job and draw healthy boundaries for yourself with your company. Ask questions if you think your line counts are off. Ask to be shown how lines are calculated and don't accept it's based on 65 char line as the answer.
If you are an IC, know how to run a business. Don't allow yourself to be called an IC for the sake of a company skirting the law. If you are not meeting the IRS criteria for an employee, know that. If you are, know that.
Know when the slow times are and that there will ALWAYS be slow times. Stay abreast of technology. Be PROACTIVE instead of retroactively bemoaning your plight.
There are many companies that do not run a good business. If you went to work at Home Depot and they said you had to work 2 hours extra a day for free, would you?
Mind set. Most of making it in this business is all about mind set.
They deduct points for that?
The company I worked for did not deduct for punctuation. I believe in the AHDI guidelines there is no deduction for punctuation, unless of course it changes the meaning of a statement or something like that. Alot of the commas are open to interpretation, but some QA people are really picky about the hyphens.
The companies do get paid by the lines, so if your accuracy is 98% they should not care that your line count has increased significantly. I would say take note of what it is they are complaining about, and keep up the good work. As far as running out of work, I would wait and see how often that happens. Could it be another case of offshoring what is out of TAT?
You do have some valid points, but
there is a lot of misinformation also. They will work with you to get your lines up and improve QA scores. It doesn't take someone long to know if you have what it takes to do the work though and giving them another month isn't going to make much difference. I made the minimum QA scores my first month. I was on 100% QA less than a week. They are NOT anal about punctuation. If you are on 100% QA they are going to correct any error, including punctuation, but I have never been charged with an error for punctuation, though it may be corrected in a report.
It sounds like things didn't work out for you so the company is at fault. They aren't perfect. I have issues with different aspects of the company on occasion, but what you have posted is a posting from a typical disgruntled employee. I don't know you, don't know the details from either side, and I am not making any accusations, but your experience is not typical, as proof by the many MTs who have been there for years, myself included.
Good points...
It's true that many facilities/MTSOs consider working at home and having a day shift perks. There are many people working in various industries who telecommute and many of them are treated much better than MTs. I think as MTs working from home the 'out of sight, out of mind' rule applies.
I agree that transcription is an important part of health care as a whole. I read that some 159 end-users rely on our transcribed documents for anything from patient care, to statistics, to reimbursement and funding. Can you imagine the cost at all levels when these documents are riddled with mistakes? Not only does it affect patient care, but it affects all of the above uses of these documents.
Some good points...
But the bottom line is that each person is responsible for themselves. We cannot change how the facility operates or what management is paid. If the consumers (patients) rallied together and demanded quality, then, and only then, would change take place. But MTs do not have to be a part of that cycle by creating low-quality documents. It is never okay for any MT to decide to personally let quality slide because they don't like how the facility is run or because they are unhappy with their rate of pay. If they are unhappy, then they need to find a different job. The patient does not deserve to suffer because of this. Should the way the facilities operate change? Yes, but that will never justify producing bad documents. Our entire healthcare system needs reform, but that still doesn't justify an MT sitting somewhere not doing his/her job correctly.
Good points
I've been in the business a very long time myself and with many of the things you described above.
When the SUITS figured out there was $ in transcription, the industry started its slow spiral downward. Not to say good service is a thing of the past, but there is no doubt that it has suffered, because as usual in a capitalist society, a corporation is INTENT on making as much $ as it can - in profit.
The balance started to shift AGAINST MTs when the bigger companies forced the smaller ones out - limiting opportunities. At the same time schools were churning out half baked (and sometimes fully baked) MTs, and the VR machine was constantly being tweaked.
So it comes back to the old supply and demand model: to some degree we have to realize that MT work is certainly not the first job description to be affected by changes/progress in technology
OK I am tired so this likely makes NO sense so I stop now.
You make good points. SM
I agree with you. Just experience does not make a good MT and some newbies are excellent and careful. If you have 20 years of experience with no mentoring and substandard training, you probably make dumb mistakes and are not aware of it. Everyone makes mistakes but some seasoned MTs make way too many. Keep up the good work.
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