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They ABSOLUTELY use it to their advantage! - sm

Posted By: Lowly MT on 2008-06-02
In Reply to: Another point to ponder........ - MY2SENSE

Back in the day, when all or most MT's worked on-site, MT was a whole 'nother job, and people who did it were treated like respectable human beings. But once the majority of MTs ended up at home, and INVISIBLE to both the employer and their fellow employees, it was far to easy to start taking advantage. Nowadays the majority of MTs most likely have never worked on-site like some of the more long-term MTs have in the past, and they don't even know what it was like not to be treated like an invisible piece of machinery. It is most DEFINITELY time for MTs to start to become involved in their own futures, if they are ever to even HAVE one in this field. We have to start squawking - LOUDLY. Our voices have to be heard not by the MTSOs, who will do NOTHING for us, but by hospitals, doctors, nurses, and unions, labor attorneys, legislators, and the average American citizen. The more people know about the degrading practices of the MT industry, and the larger the number of people that know it becomes, the better our chances become of bettering each of our personal situations.

Working at home is a blessing in many ways, but it has also been a curse in that it has kept us isolated from the doctors & medical institutions, our employers, and our fellow MTs. That isolation made it easy for the concept of sending American dictation offshore to gain a foothold in the US. We need to continue to network with other MTs including those still working on-site as well as at home, compare notes, companies, salaries, business & employment practices, ideas, etc. The internet is a powerful tool that may have robbed many of us of a decent wage. But if we turn the tables and use that tool in OUR favor, then things can change.


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The advantage is that as an SE the
takes 7.5% out of your check and pays the other 7.5% themselves.  So if an SE and an IC make the same amount of money in a year, come tax time the IC is going to owe more than the SE to Uncle Sam.  An SE can still take deductions on work-related expenses.
Take advantage of...

the pauses the dictator makes.  As he/she is pausing, you are looking up at what you have transcribed so far, reviewing it. 


Try proofing a line backwards, from right to left.  Don't read every word but look it over from right to left.  Things will STICK OUT at you because your eyes and mind are not used to seeing the written word in this way.  Looking from left to right is natural and you miss things easily.  Try it out.


The more you practice, the faster it will get.


Good luck!


I'm so tired of getting taken advantage of

I thought I had what was a great position, with a good company, I loved the work, but had an instance where I had to request work not be sent to me for ONE DAY, and now my job is posted on the internet.  Work was still sent to me, and I did it - but you know, did you ever try to sit and type with a 104 fever and a terrible urinary tract infection?  I was sitting at my desk with tears rolling down my face - my husband came and asked me if I was crazy.  I just didn't want to lose my job.  Now, they're looking for my replacement.  Maybe I really need to get out of this business ... there is no human component anymore.  No one genuinely cares.  Maybe I should have gone to the ER and had them put in a catheter and I could have worn a leg bag. 


Oh well, thanks for listening.  Back to work ... what a sad state of affairs.


I'm so tired of getting taken advantage of -
No, I've been getting 1/2 the work I normally get, so that's not it. I just will NOT continue to keep them within TAT and cover their butts if they're looking for my replacement. I'm not an idiot.
Administrative Advantage

Any info anyone has on this company would be greatly appreciated.  I'm just looking to do some part time work to make a little extra money.  I'm looking for the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Couldn't find much in the archives.


 


TIA!!


The advantage to the MTSO is
having good coverage on multiple accounts. The advantage to the MT is having work to choose from on four different accounts. You see people on the boards complaining about their single account being slow - this is one way to address THAT problem.
I do about 7 accounts. It's to your advantage to do more than 2 or 3 (sm)
Trust me, it's a very short learning curve since they all use ExText as far as I know.
You can say that again. Never for the MT. I get sick of being taken advantage of for their benefit.

Has anyone worked for Administrative Advantage

Is there really an advantage to staying local? Most

It doesn't seem there's any more guarantee of stable work from local MTSOs than the national ones.


If you do want to stay local but work at home, also try Southern Transcription Services, located in Taylorsville, I think.  They have a good reputation. Google them for their web site. 


Administrative Advantage? Anyone know about this company?
I got a job offer.  Please tell all good and bad.
That is what I would do. What is the advantage of Vista? There are so many problems with it.
There are wonderful instructions on the internet for repartitioning. I even did it before all the instructions were on the internet. Good luck!
You should have taken advantage of bonus all weekend - most did.
nm
IC or employee - sick of being taken advantage of?

AFter reading some posts regarding being taken advantage of and being treated like an IC by companies when its convenient for them and being an employee when its convenient for them, I must wholeheartedly agree. Therefore I decided to do some research and came up with rules as given by the US department of Labor regarding the definition of an IC.  You will be surprised by what you read below.  This is just an excerpt of a longer report.  Perhaps next time a client tries to boss you around, you might want to show them this:


 


US Department of Labor Handbook


Part 1: Independent Contractor or Employee


Probably the main reason you became an independent contractor (aka consultant, freelance and IC) or want to, is to be your own boss. Unfortunately, some U.S. companies don't fully understand the difference between independent contractors and employees. Even among companies that do understand the difference, there are those that attempt to exploit the relationship, because it's clearly to their advantage to do so.  The cheaters (and naive) misclassify workers as independent contractors, but still attempt to control them as employees. In doing so, they reap the benefits of both worlds, while depriving independent contractors of the very reason they became independent contractors in the first place: to be their own bosses.


 



  • Companies are not your employers per se, but your clients. As such, they are not entitled to direct you in your work.
  • Of course, your clients have a right to say what they expect for the rates they're paying you, but only as it relates to the outcome of the project.
  • It's your right to decide when, where and how to get the project done.

HERE IS THE BIGGIE


****In other words, by U.S. law, an employer cannot classify you as an independent contractor, then dictate when, where and how you work, as though you are an employee. It's all about degree of control and independence. ***


 


 

 


 


The Advantage Transcription Service
Has anyone done any work for this company out of Los Angeles? If so, were there any issues regarding line/character count. TIA
That's the type MTSOs take advantage of, and
just too minjute and worthless to be paid what I'm worth, stand up for myself, or take a con-artist to court. (Hubs probably beats her, too.)
It should be "when I see people being taken advantage of" --nm
xx
The MT industry is taking full advantage of the
stick it to your employees, than when they have little time and no money to go out and find something else. Make those poor suckas feel darned LUCKY to have their pathetic little peanut-paying MT jobs.

You just KNOW, though, that someday.... SOMEday.... not tomorrow, or the next day, but EVENTUALLY ----- somebody is going to do a total boot-plant on their sorry a$$es.

That day will be a cause for celebration across the land.
Comparing figs & plums. Advantage/disadvants to
x
"chuckle" raise in 3 days, not to their bottom line advantage is it.
Hey gooble up this one if you like. Not me!!! I could understand if hourly, but we are not. WE are the one who lose already, learning there program, acct spec, formats, the various QA preferences, learn/get an ear for each dictator. We LOSE BIG TIME because it takes time for all that above stuff, we cannot just sit down and zoom off. Hey but grab IT see how the attitude is toward MT with 6 cents offer, it says something ya know.
Absolutely not!!!
MTs make more money than migrant farm workers.  We work fewer hours.  We get to sit on our butts inside the house with air conditioning while they're outside doing physical labor in the hot sun.  Our supervisors don't threaten us with deportation.  We're not exposed to harmful chemicals and pesticides that cause cancer and birth defects.  Believe me, migrant farm workers have life a lot worse than you do.  I would suggest you try it out for a few months if you really think MT is that bad.
Absolutely!
Got 1300 lines in today so far, how many you got?
Absolutely . . . sm
But there's no need for personal attacks and insults. And while I have looked to this forum for info on companies, I'm really not interested in someone's daily nonstop personal vendetta against a company. And just because someone else doesn't agree, that doesn't make them "crazy" or "management." Those remarks are ridiculous and uncalled for. If you want to be the playground bully, go find a playground.
Oh, absolutely!

"Kuddos" is a very important medical word. 


Absolutely not
.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!
Depends on your acute - on my training account I was typing 300 lph -  now, they put me on the other hospitals in that same account, with TERRIBLE dictators, etc. - and I'm lucky to get 100-150 lph. It's disgusting. Now today - after the big incentive all weekend for my account - after weeks and weeks of backlog, there is absolutely no work. Isn't that special?
You absolutely sure?
no more
Absolutely NO.
You wanted me to make something up, so I did. :-)

Use your tools! Google it! do your homework. Ask professionals.

If people don't answer you here then you need to look elsewhere. None of needs to be called to task because we didn't take time from our lives to address something you could have found on your own (which is probably why you didn't get responses until you got pushy). Be grateful and thankful that some people finally told you where you should already know to look.

You know the saying, give a man a fish....teach a man how to fish....
Absolutely! nm
x
absolutely not.....
No company should take that long to pay. Even those in other areas of work who get paid once monthly, get paid at the end or the first of the month, not 2 weeks after the fact. That is ridiculous. I would come right out and ask them why the pay is taking soooo long!
The only reason (or excuse) would be they can't get paid any sooner from their clients, which means they should renegotiate pay schedules with them.

No one I know has ever had to wait that long, either at home or in a private facility, to get their check, or else no one would be working.....they would go to someone else where they get paid and can PAY THEIR OWN BILLS ON TIME!!
Absolutely NOT
IF you love nursing, there is definitely a shortage of nurses.  GO...GO.. GO! 
Absolutely!!!!

I just started the overnight check thing this week and was curious how it worked.  I hate relying on it to come by snail mail, need it to be a little more dependable.  I have been with them for about 6 months now and really do enjoy it.  I have my own accounts and just have to meet the TAT (48 hrs).  The pay isn't the best but I finally like what I am doing again so it's worth it. 


I left my e-mail address this time, so you can email me if you want.


Absolutely, consider it done!
This is my mission right now! Damn it, we did not deserve this and now the poster above is right, no email to give us our final resting instructions. I called out sick at Heartland last night due to my state of mind and Melissa Carr, my former manager sent my email to Kathy Clemmons and Colleen Neidert, guess you can't use your sick time either!

I am no longer mamacarolina, but Mary Kirkpatrick, ex-Heartland employee, standing up for all of us at Heartland. I want our voices to be heard. I want this to stop!
Absolutely Nothing
Zip, zilch, nada. She probably doesn't even know it's MT week. Sad, isn't it?


ABSOLUTELY!! Go for it! nm
x
Absolutely
Have to find something else. I heard a lot of good things about this particular company I am with on the board and thats why I went to work for them, but this is really awful. I figured even with a line rate increase$$ its going to make very little difference.
Absolutely.
No need to waste your time or theirs if the pay isn't enough
Absolutely!
I OFTEN email the reporter on a story - have even been interviewed as a result.

I ALSO like to follow the links/google jerks like this Acusis guy and email them as well. I have NO beef with poor people in other countries trying to improve their lives, BUT I have HUGE beef with cRapitalists in this country sending our WELL-EARNED, decent paying jobs overseas. Wake up people! Don't Americans see what is happening? By shipping good/high wage jobs overseas, we are now forced into a lower stardard of living. PROTEST IS PATRIOTIC. Lift your voices and let your public officials hear from you: FAIR trade, NOT free trade.

And BOTH parties are equally guilty!
Absolutely run

I edited quite a bit of work that she contracted out to an Indian company, which was horrible, and got paid the wrong amount.  Although she did make it right, I decided after just a few days this place was not worth my time and effort.  She talks the talk (looking to make a difference in the MT business, values people, etc.), but she does not walk the walk. 


absolutely right ...
Independent contractors set their own hours, IRS will hold a companies feet to the fire for that. I work Saturdays for Transcend and I gave them my hours I want to work and they accepted them. I think the weekend hours asked for is dependent on the account you work. At least that has been my experience with Transcend. All is negotiated when you are hired.
yes, absolutely.
xx
ABSOLUTELY
I will continue to be a cheerleader as well. I agree with all the good things you said about TransTech. I simply couldn't feel happier with my choice to go with them 2 years ago.
absolutely
I have written emails stating why i deserve the raise and have always gotten one that way. Plus I would always ask for more than you expect...bump the request up to 1 full cent so that if they give you half, you got what you wanted but you could get a bonus too.
Absolutely not. SM
Only the Administrator (owner of the board) and myself (main moderator). There are a couple of other moderators for the political boards, etc.

If you have questions about how the board is run, discuss them via email with us.

Goldbird
Absolutely do it
I did the same approximately a year ago. I've got everything you mentioned, plus they pay my cable bill, plus I get generous PTO allowances, plus they don't run out of work, plus the pay and benefits are great, plus I have the same doctors all the time. What's not to like? Also, I'd think being an IC is not dependable like it used to be. I think you should go for it and fast.
Absolutely too low sm
Considering I am paid 12 cpl for VR and 17 cpl standard transcription. The amount you stated is terribly low.

Of course, this is my own account; however, I can tell you the going rate for companies is 8 cpl standard, 4 VR editing and I have also seen 10 cpl and 6 cpl VR.


Absolutely! nm
nm
Absolutely not, not the MTs (sm)
They brought in a doctor to manage things (can't remember her name - things started to change then) & then for me anyway they drove out my excellent and professional super sweet and hard working terrific account liaison and put another MQ upper person in her position and it was never the same for me after that. So, I guess I shouldn't exagerate and say a bunch because I have no idea how many but I saw the whole mentality of the company change to exactly what I had experienced at Medquist and it was sickening. So, no, it was not the MTs, the leads, the management. They are snotty and started treating everybody like take it or leave it - that was the end of work on your specialty- it was the end of ever receiving a reply to an e-mail question. I could just go on and on but I just don't have the energy left. It's sad but true and I'm over it...I just hope the company can get back to what they used to be but I don't think it ever will be or could because they don't acknowledge their issues so how can they fix it? Just like MQ would overhire and make you just sit there waiting for work...is it deja vu or what working for MDI now? People who have been hired anytime in the recent past (and not counted as one of their favored long-time MTs) is simply and plainly being used as overflow disposable MTs and they want to pay you less and less so pushed out the people they hired at 10-11 cpl back when we had to pay for unlimited LD and dial in. Now they are .wav...MTs who want to work for them are a dime a dozen..they want to stay on top of TAT instantly so ipso facto overhire and keep overhiring and they get what they want and you get whatever you can get and good luck! Back in the day, you could write D. directly and she would answer and address it immediately and satisfactorily and caringly...good luck ever hearing from her unless it is just a form email rah rah bunch of fake (and misspelled by the way) crap sent to the masses. People used to be treated so well...now you are just a number...their era of greatness is over IMO. IT was good while it lasted but you can only survive on memories of greatness for so long before you have to face reality.
Absolutely should say something--
nm
ABSOLUTELY!!
Old dog, I'm probably an older dog, and I participated in the first credentialing cup challenge. I was so nervous the entire time because I just didn't think I was going to be able to learn every little minute detail. The course walks you through each body system and also grammar and punctuation, HIPAA regulations, etc. It will definitely prepare you for your exam.

The book you need for the course (The CMT Review Guide) wasn't very helpful to me. Someone recommended Davi Ellen Chabner's Language of Medicine - 8th edition. I bought that and it was the best investment I have ever made. She has developed a wonderful system for learning the information.

I absolutely recommend the CMT prep class. Make sure you get the LOM book - I bought mine online for a very decent price. Make sure the one you get has the CD, that has many chapter quizzes, learning tools, etc.

When I got to the testing site for my CMT exam I was a nervous wreck, but once I sat down and started taking the test, most of the answers just came to me.

You will not be sorry if you take the class, believe me. They will reimburse your exam fee if you pass, too!

Good luck to you! I'll be rooting for you!!
Yes, I absolutely do believe that.

I have had some seemingly unfortunate things happen that turn out to have been for the best.  We all have.  Miss a plane and the plane goes down.  Leave a job and find out those who stayed didn't get paid for the last month.  Lose out on a job and find out that was a pretty good thing.  Now you're still looking and available for some other opportunity.  It may take some time to pan out, but I'll bet you will eventually find out that it was a pretty good thing. 


My niece was running very late for work one day.  Very late.  Thought she would get fired from the hospital.  Turns out if she had been right on time she would have been on that bridge in Minnesota that collapsed.  Good lunck/bad luck.  It is not always so immediately apparent, but I do believe things often happen for the best. 


Hope this helps!