The state of MTing
Posted By: MTness on 2007-11-19
In Reply to: Why (Some) MTs have a bad name... - HD Wallen
Your post is well received as both a former owner and a transcriptionist. But this is not the whole picture of the state of MTing today. What you are experiencing and what the transcriptionists are experiencing is something like a star that is burning out and sputtering.
Deep down inside we all know that medical transcription as we know it is changing dramatically, changing because of technology and other sources available at much cheaper labor costs. This profession has no job enrichment. There are few real opportunities that offer true advancement with better pay. There is no security, not that we feel we must be entitled to it, little benefit or perks, and the pay psychologically does not attract the personality who is motivated to advance, and is ambitious. This is not a value judgment about anyone who performs transcription. It is a stark fact in the industry, and your post reflects the true position and frustration felt in the industry. Any business behavioral professional will tell you when there is no job enrichment or motivation, or incentive, workers will perform below their level. The industry pay scale has been directly impacted by the healthcare corporations and globalization. Now, please, do not misunderstand what I am saying. Each and every one of us should have the ethics to perform a job well done, and give our best no matter what pay we get. But studies and analysis of job performance will show you time and time again that when there is low pay, no raises, lack of incentive, and no future in a job, one begins to see the problems you are describing exactly. The expectations to uphold the privacy, confidentiality, accurateness, have an extremely extensive knowledge of medical language, and continue education in the field, does not match the low pay any more. So you see, you get transcriptionists that are anxious, always looking for better pay, even if it's a quarter of a cent more, and the focus goes toward that penny. Businesses struggle to stay afloat with operational costs and payroll, and more and more trying to attract good transcriptionists.
The thing I hear and understand about comparsion to Transcriptionist in India is the disturbing message American transcriptionists get from those that control the pay scale. As Americans workers, we have standards and protection for the American worker - labor laws, a livable wage, ethics,and we have gotten used to that. When you hear a business owner flagrantly make statements about how the poor little Indian transcriptionist will be grateful to work long hours for very little pay, work weekends,holidays, make her job her life, something about that pitted against our standard becomes disturbing. Since we are not yet at the economic level of India, you will continue to see revolving door workers. You might say the etiquette is becoming that of workers who can get a job at Seven-Eleven or MacDonalds - sure you can get a job there, those jobs are plentiful, and pay almost as much as transcription does today. These are just the cold hard facts. Perhaps if industry owners would try something different - instead of going through 3000 resumes to get a good handful transcriptionists who possess both the work ethic and the quality, start off at an agreeable pay with guaranteed raises based on consistency and rotate weekends. More companies should learn that rotating weekends works better than consistently looking for permanent weekend schedules. Transcriptionists need to have a balance of work and life outside the computer.
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State of US MTing
...poop, or xxxx before the moderator gets hold of this... it has become all a game, a XXXXXXX game. NOBODY WANTS TO TELL THE TRUTH... Corporate poop heads are all sending what ever they can to India and playing games with US MTs. Just look at IT jobs in other web sites... this is all XXXXXXXt.
state of MTing
.. yes, I agree. BUT, there are other factors involved today. The time is RIPE for corporate greed. Under the current presidential administration, CORPORATIONS RULE. Their exploitation of workers is at an all time high. Mark my words, in the coming year or so, we will be seeing many demonstrations from all sectors of workers and industries. President Bush has not a clue as to what his directives has done to the average working American. Please, I am neither a Democrat or Republican. I truly believe that Bush is so far removed and protected from the average American, that he has no idea how many jobs are discarded to third world countries because of his polices. We are truly at a unique point in the American history. America is changing rapidly. Mting and outsourcing is not unique - there are so many other fields affected by the current administration's policies. Not until the damage is done, will our goverment ask, Duh, what happened?
Unless something has changed, health insurance rates vary state by state, so we may not have the
info you need. I'm an IC so I don't have benefits.
You are correct. The state that rules is the state the employee lives in.
My state laws has is spelled out in their Code. If another state does not withhold, they are fined heavily and if they don't withhold for years, their fines are pretty bad. I worked for a Florida co that did not withhold income tax for my state even after I brought it to their attention in the state code. They kept saying that they would eventually and never did. After two plus years and when I left, I made it known to my state all the conversations, the state refunded me all late fees they charged me and then said they were going after the company in Florida because they had many employees in our state. They deserved it. They knew better.
The state you live in or the state where the MTSO is located? nm
nm
If company is in state that has no state taxes
they are not required to take out state taxes. It's enough to keep up with your own state tax law code, could you imagine having to stay abreast of 49 other state tax codes? The cost would be huge and ultimately passed on to us by lower line rates. Regardless of who owes the tax, someone has to pay it. Just a matter of convenience I guess.
Not state by state, federal labor law - sm
and you don't have to be asked. If you work it, asked or not, they have to pay time and a half OT rate for hours worked over 40 in a week.
Taken right from U.S. Dept of Labor -
An employer who requires or PERMITS an employee to work overtime is generally required to pay the employee premium pay for such overtime work. Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)MUST receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek of at least one and one-half times their regular rates of pay. The FLSA does not require overtime pay for work on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or regular days of rest.
Extra pay for working weekends or nights is a matter of agreement between the employer and the employee (or the employee's representative). The FLSA does not require extra pay for weekend or night work or double time pay.
Different state to state. You would be surprised to find
IC can be defined differently state to state. Even the IRS cannot come up with a definitive set of rules. You would be surprised how many ICs actually get unemployment in some states. If the unemployment claim form asks specifically if you are an independent contractor, do not lie, but if it does not, do not volunteer it. Let the company prove you are a true IC according to the rules of your state. All you lose is a few minutes filling out the claim form. I would only do it as a last resort. If you can find work fast, by all means go for it, but the way things are now with all the VR and off-shoring, it is a backup if you cannot find work. No one should go hungry because they are afraid to file for Unemployment as an IC.
MTing could not have said it any better!
Sorry everyone, I have been busy today. MTing could not have described the company any better. Also to add to that, to get a raise they do evaluations on your work and always tag you for stupid things such as missing a semicolon which enables your pay raise. A semicolon honestly does not interfere with patient care. Everyone is human and nobody is perfect!
MTing
The hospital I worked at outsourced our department and went with them. Quality was a nightmare and they are not renewing the contract.
mting
Hello, I am Karen, are ya'll working? I need something to keep my busy, and it needs to be steady. Where is the work? Help....
MTing
Excellent, excellent post. Your references to the psychological studies is right on target. There is no reason why medical transcription should be any different than other professions as far as what ambitious, serious workers want in a job. We have every right, and it only makes common sense, to seek the job where we have the most to gain and are the most satisfied. Isn't that what everyone else does when interviewing with and/or deciding to stay/leave a company or profession?
Unfortunately, due to the nature of transcription, it is not always apparent at the beginning how well a particular job will suit our needs or how truthful the service has been with us. I've been stung twice in 3 years. In such a situation, to not look for something better is not only stupid for the MT but does not pay off for the service either if they have an unhappy MT who, as this poster has said, will not perform at his/her best. It has to be a good match both ways for it to work to each party's benefit. That's the nature of this profession.
MTing
I'm in love with it too. I've only been with them for almost a year but they've been great for me. I do OP notes and really get good lines. TT is by far the best co. I've ever worked for. They are so employee oriented and have a great leadership team in place. Couldn't ask for better on anything. Looking for another great year.
MTing
Found this as their website. Some Co info and you can take a test/apply on line. read through it quick and sounded good. You could always check with Dept of Labor, Texas Work Force, Better Business Bureau to start with. I have never been a very trusting person and not getting any easier to trust people now-a-days.
I've googled medquist v. (as in lawsuit) in the past and you get all kinds of stuff, so that's not a good sign.
http://www.mtsoftexas.com/ Good luck.
MTing
Not only is asking ICs to work set schedules not right, it is ILLEGAL. Whoever is asking for this needs to take a good look at the US Tax Code and labor laws as well. Call them on it if this ever happens in an actual situation.
Busy MTing
My sentiments exactly. One has to look out for themselves because God knows these companies donot look out for you Wouldn't you like to know how much the company actually gets per line plus they make all these promises to get an acccount on board and to get an MT to work there.
Busy MTing.
You are absolutely correct dear. It's no one business if you work for 10 companies. that is your perogative. More power to dear. I am on your side all athe way.
Change and MTing
This is no longer the once respected career where one is paid for their knowledge and many years of experience. I urge everyone to pay very close attention to who they are voting for in the presidential race and what they stand for. Back the candidate who says no more tax breaks for businesses that are sending our jobs overseas. It not only applies to our jobs but those throughout the country. How many times do you call a customer service line and get someone on the line you cannot even understand??? This is an outrage!!! While people here in the US struggle to find jobs or see their $$$ go down and still have to work under sweatshop conditions. Bottom line, back the person who is going to help us the most at risk for losing our job to some offshore company. Companies will say they will never do it. Believe me, if its going to increase their bottom line they will do it. Most of all do vote, every single vote can make a difference.
She went back to MTing for OSi
nm.. RH
how long have you been MTing?
Sometimes it can take a while to work up your counts. But as other posters below have said, if you've been at this for a while, I'd look into how the company is paying you - what constitutes a line, spaces included, expansions included, normals included, etc. If you feel they're not paying you correctly, you may want to address that with them. I would definitely suggest a change in employers before giving up the whole industry. You might have just gone with a sneaky company.
There are companies out there that pay for ADT info, you just have to seek them out.
Believe like you want but my MTing money is
not all that I have, receive a trust fund each month plus retirement money. Sorry you seem so bent out of shape about the possibility of having to do VR.
Not a newbie, but I have been away from MTing for a year...sm
and I was never the fastest typer in the West to begin with. Plus I cant find a job doing anything outside my home either!!! It is really scary trying to get a job anywhere these days. I like Allegiant's flexibility and line count requirements. I think I can do them...
not to but in but MTing put herself out there stating she was perfect...
and had 100% quality. No one is going to just take your word for it with a comment like that. I am not even in QA and thought the exact same thing when I read the post - I could not help but notice the errors.
Yep.. they are both back to just MTing as well as one of the trainers
nm
Best platform ever used in 20 years of MTing. NM
xx
Yep, I make as much MTing now as I would on disability.
Guess what I am going to take since I qualify?
so glad to hear that MTing has been sm
brought down to a profession of chump change by the newbies.
so glad to hear that MTing has been sm
brought down to a profession of chump change! You do the profession proud. NOT!
VR is more difficult than straight MTing
because there are no expanders, no templates, no macros and that brings you down. You MTs who so desparately stick to the OLD methods, are impotent without your Expanders and your grammar and spelling is questionable when it comes to correcting the whole document!
VR is ok, but the payment is pitiful. Hopefully this will be corrected in the future. VR is here to stay, believe it or not!
YOU are the ignorant one, always were and always will be, the future will show you!
VR and straight need the same MTing knowledge...sm
the manual skills differ, but not necessarily always.
You can download to an MT who has never done VR a VR document for editing and she will be able to do it. NO SOPECIAL trainin g is necessary.
When I tested for companies, when VR was introduced, they tested me on editing VR, I had never done it before and I passed.
Basically every MT can do it, bringing up the speed that is the challenge.
good point, keep MTing
at least some, and you can still take those tax deductions as well as keep your skills up.
meant hourly rates for MTing, not QA.
Thanks
If money's an issue, you're better off MTing.
Most QAs do it because they MT'd until their hands gave out & can no longer MT.
I really get the idea you would love MTing go out of business
Lots of your postings go in the same vein. My work on VR is darn near perfect but it still will throw in some crazies ever so often that has not done before and continue on with that for awhile. My hospital allows for the patient's name in a report. Eight months ago the names were almost always right, now never so we have to change those. Eight months ago when doing preop diagnoses you had the first diagnosis under the preop and now it is out by the side so then you have to move that down and put #2 and #3 under those. It can do things today that you may not have had last year. The ones that were problems last year cleared up this year. I do not worry about a machine putting me out of business, hey if that happens I might be like others and just retire, right?
Typing is the LAST thing MTing is about, it's about KNOWLEDGE..nm
nm
Having the years in MTing is making no difference
with the pay. If that were the case I would be making the big $$$ as I have over 30 years. You are either going to have to learn or find another profession, that is unless you are perhaps working for a specialty group of physicians, not these companies. I was outsourced from a hospital position to a company. Do you really think that company takes into consideration the years I have in? Nah, doesn’t happen. Having said that, I am extremely happy I know VR and use it now, only work an 8 hour day and can make good money doing that.
They should take out state taxes for the state
nm
It varies from state to state
nm
Varies from state to state
My own state recognizes partial unemployment, too, when your work gets cut down to half of your regular workload/income.
Whoops! Meant agree with MTing - not MTer!
..
Bravo! Well, said Anna. TT is the BEST company in my 17 years of MTing.
Thank you for standing up for them!
Against. Dead/dying for MT now days for sure(30+ years MTing
.
what a nasty post! Her 40 years of MTing count for nothing? I cannot believe this...nm
nm
Are you kidding and hoping htagt MTing will go back to manual typewriters again?...nm
nm
They must deduct FEDERAL taxes.. NOT STATE taxes.. if they took out state taxes.. it would be FLORID
which would only have to be refunded to you for you to pay YOUR state what you owe them which is nothing but a pain... be glad they weren't handling your state tax.. and I think in this case.. if someone at the IRS told you they have to deduct YOUR states taxes.. it is that person who is uneducated... they only have to deduce federal income tax
I am not sure which State
The person I had E-mail contact with was named "Suzanne". I have no other info.
Thank you.
Perhaps not in your state.
NM
State tax
No, I'm sorry, but deducting state tax is a cost of doing business and it is a very small cost to the employer. Medware is a lazy, greedy corporation, and that is why they don't deduct state taxes.
It is very simple to do payroll nowadays - it's all on computer and the payroll programs have all the states' information in them and all it takes for Medware or any employer to pay the individual states is to electronically transfer the money, which is set up at their bank.
can you tell us what state they are in so I that I do not
make that mistake?
My state too...
Of course he wouldn't want to see them. He refuses to see reality all around him. He still thinks we have it soooo good. I agree with you. Heaven help us all if the Haliburton puppet becomes the legal ruler when the present king steps down.... hopefully his health issues will preclude that. Oh, yes, I do wonder if his medical records are transcribed in India?
Don't pay them yourself. I did not and my state says they
are going to take action against MedWare. My state apologized to me for charging me late fees (I refused to send in state taxes to the state because I was an employee and because it was written plain as day in my state law that they should be taken out by the employer). I was with them for 3 years and all those years I got charged like a $10 fee each year for paying state taxes late. My state REFUNDED all my late fees to me and apologized stating that they were investigating the practices of the company. Don't know whatever happened with that, but last I knew they were looking into it. My state did not penalize me at all so by refunding all their late fees, that tells me that they know it was not my fault.
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