While it is true clients can set forth when the work is available
Posted By: and IC can decide if that works...sm on 2008-08-30
In Reply to: They can still have specifications on when they - need or want the work.
This particular ad stated these are straight shifts and not flexible. That is a no-no in IC, IMO. They can say when work is available but can't dictate what hours you work, period.
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That is not true is all cases. I charge .135 cpl to my clients and with my overhead, I can only
/
What happens, is MTSOs coddle the clients and let the clients call all of the shots.
Then the MTs get stuck with account specs that are contradictory and confusing.
It should be simple. When an MTSO is wooing a client, the MTSO should present with a copy of the style guidelines they intend to follow or if it is the BOS, let the client know that. It should be made clear that with the exception of report format, the guidelines are not flexible. Either we use apostrophes or we don't. Don't do it one way for one client and the exact opposite for the other client and then hold the MT responsible when she gets confused as to what account she is typing that day!
Most of the clients don't allow their work
to be sent offshore because of privacy issues, Americanism, etc. The CLIENT decides.
keep those local clients and work part-time maybe SM
Depend on ourselves for a change? I don't know.
Maybe if this deal loses clients, I can work out an at-home deal with one of my current accounts.
Or else get a McJob at McDonald's flipping McBurgers....
No one said KS was out of work or low on work. The opposite is true. sm
I have heard that every account is busy. My primary is and both my secondary accounts are looking for extra help.
Isn't MDI Florida part of Transcend now? Maybe the work is going to India. They are pretty open about that.
This is so true. I bet we all work for the
same company. I still think it is great work and great accounts, just with you and the OP, don't understand how we just cannot at least be made to feel secure in our jobs. Why the constant fear. Catch more flies with honey than vinegar, but then again, fear of the economy is also a threat.
true, at least they can work in their jammies...sm
That was in the ad that started me in this rant in the first place. Stay home and stay in your slippers all day if you want. No gas expense? No uniform or clothing expense? (I don't know about you but I do wear clothes regardless if I am working or not, LOL
In the same paragraph...we are not a work when you want company.
All transcriptionists are scheduled on a daily duty roster. If a Transcriptionist is scheduled, then they are expected to be on working. While working from home does allow for distractions, _______ requires that all schedules be upheld per the scheduled roster without exception. This is not a “work when you want” corporation.
No, that's not true. They work with you. Yes, you have to be FT to get benefits. sm
but that is anywhere. They define FT by 12000 lines per period. They average it out. They take into consideration accounts, volume, slow periods, etc. If you are working FT and not getting the lines you need, they work with you to get there.
Someone is just trying to stir things up here, and I am not sure why, but it is very disheartening to see half-truths and lies about so many companies. I love working for Keystrokes. I average 2500-2700 lines per day but I have been doing this a long time and use my Expander for everything. I have an account that is considered a nightmare to some people, but I think that they come into it with a bad attitude. IMO, any account can be great once you get used to it, with Keystrokes or with any company, as long as the line count is accurate.
true, tho, would work for the painter. sm
painter - do not back down, have no fear, and stock up on gumption! We are all here with you as you represent ALL of us.
Yes, it's true you do not have to work weekends/nights
They let you choose your own work schedule when you start. They use Dictaphone with Word. It takes a bit of patience to get used to what you're supposed to do as far as finding the right visit or if the doctor inputs the wrong work type, etc., but as a program in general, it's simple to use.
True - Regardless of line rate, if the work isn't
flowing like you need/want it to, then you'll not make your goal.
They do not pay the MTs a true line count anyway. Why would anyone work for them? nm.
nm.
It does not matter who you work for, a true QA person
who is worth their weight in gold, will NOT take a position that pays any other way than by the hour. It does not matter if it is regular QA or ASR, there is no difference. I have seen ASR where you have to retype the entire report; of course that also means that you have to take out what is already there. If you are a QA specialist and have 100% listen, many blanks (I see them in every report), difficult dictators (which is no problem with me but is with the MTs), there is no way on earth you will make a wage if you are paid on production and these companies that do this, do not give a hoot about quality and they also do not give a hoot about their QA people.
This is most certainly true. The work ethic has changed
And it is an old fashioned thing to stay, rather than throw away a long-term relationship or seek one out. Looking for something new and better rather than building seniority seems to be the ideal these days. I am not saying not to leave if something is wrong. Any intelligent person would do so. But to want longevity in a particular company that seems to be a thing of the past, not only in this business, but in many. Times change and people change. For me, bird in hand worth 2 in bush. :)
Not true - been doing clinic work for 8 years
and while yes, there are things such as px and other things you can make macros for, my docs say a lot of different things based on who the dictation is going to and what the problem is, also personal things pertaining to that patient. I have found OP notes have more of the same things in them than clinic notes and can make you more money.
That is not true on all accounts. Mine is always out of TAT with plenty of work.
The teaching hospital accounts are pretty busy all the time. Ask to be put on one.
True but I got news for ya - you aren't going to get steady work anywhere that way.-
An MTSO has an account to cover. Period. She will give the work to whomever is willing to be flexible enough to cover the account. Even an IC has to work within some framework, not just whenever I feel like it, right?
i don't find that to be true, i work there & haven't had problems with pay. sm
never have i encountered disorganization or rude people so far. maybe things have changed or wrong company?
Not true. There are many industries that pay according to "piece work" or commission or any n
employee positions as well. If you are to be paid whether there is work or not, you would have to be a set hourly rate, no extra pay for really good production hours, etc. As an MT, I would lose money if that is the way I was paid. In any given week, I average 26.50 per hour for the 40 hours, but some of those hours I make $40 and some I make nothing.
You can believe those on this board saying NO WORK at Transtech ! Absolutely true !!
Getting worse and worse every day. They are going to VR at a VERY FAST PACE, which pays so little you cannot survive on the money UNLESS you work 60 hours a week OR are one of the supe's fav's that get the better dictators.
There is always an excuse by TT as to the low work, but remember that doesn't pay our creditors. Work disappears in large chunks when were at getting almost out of TAT (if ever) so it is going somewhere.
TT is turning out to be like every other MT company out there - more and more executives/supervisors to pay and not a single penny raise for the MT -- much less provide work for the MT's on a consistent basis -- not near consistent basis.
very true... MT wages won't cover holiday work and sm
grocery stores, nurses, those people usually VOLUNTEER and are not forced into their shifts. Some people want to work on holidays and get DOUBLE or TRIPLE pay, not 9 cents a line to do an ESL that makes you $10 an hour. And what does Obama have to do with it?
NOT TRUE! I worked every account and all work types and couldn't
nm
That's not always true. I have been editing a Powerscribe account for 2 years. The work sm
has actually steadily increased due to fewer and fewer radiologists self-editing their own work.
I know of at least 4 other Powerscribe accounts at Keystrokes that are also increasing in volume for the same reason.
I am sorry that the account you were on with Webmedx went to total self-edit. I know that Keystrokes had a few that did that too, just not all of them.
Glad that's true for you for 8 years. Not true for many. I love the company, but I do run out of
as do many others. Wish I were as fortunate as you.
the clients were in NY. nm
s
Maybe not your clients, but many are.
Your clients may be behind the times, but many are not. VR has gotten much, much better, and I've spoken with many, many MTSOs who are moving their accounts over.
The average seems to be about 60% to 80% VR and 20% to 40% transcription. There will always be those you cannot put on VR, but it is growing rapidly.
Not all clients DO know--that's just it!
Yes, some clients DO know, and the almighty dollar is the only thing they think of. But some clients DO care, and they don't know their records are going overseas. They would be apalled if they knew. Come to think of it, so would the patients.
not when the clients have the last say
Do not get me wrong. I do not care for it either, but somewhere down the line, the companies will have to suck it up and so will we. Otherwise, we move to a different field. Unfortunately, that is just the way it is.
Becoming an IC with own clients
How does a person become an IC with their own clients, not working for an MTSO? From what I have read on this board, it seems that is the way to make the most money per line/word/page, etc. so I am thinking about doing this after being an employee for 15 years (with things going downhill now). I would appreciate knowing several things:
1. How do you get the clients.
2. Are there certain types of docs that tend to prefer this situation rather than going to an MTSO?
3. How do you determine what to charge?
4. How can someone get the dictation, type it and return to the doctor without having to pick it up and drop it off?
5. Without QA other than yourself, how does an IC handle blanks? Do doctor's offices tend to get upset with blanks?
6. Is there a particular software system that is better to use when you have your own IC service and want to get work over the Internet and return it over the Internet?
This and any other advice greatly appreciated!
I'm sure they do tell their clients to sm
hide it from the MTSO, just like the MTSOs hide the fact that their clients' work is being generated by VR.
Do you think clients don't already KNOW about VR? That they are sm
being sold it at every AHIMA conference they go to? Being cold-called by companies doing VR already? That doc don't get info about it at their little retreats and conferences?
It's better to be proactive and have VR sold as part of an MTSO's offering (with MTs doing the editing) than being undercut by other VR-only companies.
do not forget the clients -
They also deserve to be billed correctly. Sad, sad, sad.
IC - FINDING CLIENTS
Do you have to pick up tapes and deliver the hard copies with your accounts? I used to have an account where they would dictate into my Sony system (a special system that allowed docs to dictate from their phones, pause, rewind, make changes, etc), and then I would just e-mail the completed work back at the end of the day for them to print out in the office.
I wonder if the clients are leaving
because they are being sold and that is why I have no work? I can't wait until they make the announcement - then I will know if I need to pack up and leave.
If you are seeking clients, there is not
NM
Are their clients aware?
If I were a client of theirs, I would look for someone else to do my transcription. If I were a patient of this client and if I found out that the client knowingly supports this sort of crap, I'd look for healthcare elsewhere. Heck, docs come a dime a dozen!!!
It all comes down to the customers--that's US!!! The American citizens who trust that our medical records are (1) kept confidential and (2) are done correctly IN THE USA!!!
There should be a way to inform the customers of HIS's clients. First and foremost, we, as customers, as Americans, need to boycott the physicians first--the ones who are sending American money overseas!!! There are PLENTY of other docs out there who support the USA and want to keep the work at home. They'll gladly take my money!
Persnonally, I don't want my medical record entrusted to overseas folks who, for the most part, hate us to begin with. They barely speak a word of English and they certainly do a pathetic job at trascribing. I've seen the damage these folks can do to medical records.
I think that we should boycott MDs who are paying HIS to transcribe for them.
If we don't stand up for ourselves now, what's next????
Too bad they mislead their clients about it
That is what is so rotten about the whole thing, the hospitals think the work is all being done in the US when it is not.
RE Acusis Buy-Out, What About US-Only Clients?
Something does not add up here, because many of the bought-out company's current clients vehemently refuse to work with anyone who outsources. Won't they drop new company outright and have to look for a new MT provider?
But your own clients bring many of your own
x
*Stealing* clients
You can steal things, but you can't *steal* a sentinent being (client) who chooses to go with you because you offer better service/better price or any combination of the two. Said client can walk away from you, too, if you don't deliver. What company does not try to lure clients from a competitor?
If the severance is minimal, you can easily get another job, and you really believe the company would come after you, then maybe foregoing the severance would let you rest easier even if the clause wouldn't stand up in court. If you really believe the company would come after you, do you want to spend time and money in court, even if you win?
stealing clients
I partially agree, but when a person uses insider information about a client's setup, preferences, etc. IMO that is stealing. You're using privileged information in an inappropriate way. So strictly speaking, a person hasn't stolen the client, but they stole the information they needed to get the client's business.
Clients at fault?
I really think it varies from client to client what is expected as far as unpaid fussing. Some expect the moon and the stars (looking up the ordering physicians on huge databases instead of passing us that demographic). I don't understand why a company would agree to contracts like these with the clients - they know no production will result from it!
TT has just taken on several HUGE clients
That is the reason for the ad
What goes around will come around and eventually your clients
They see that all the other doctors are hardly paying anything per line for it and they'll expect you to adjust your rates accordingly. This is precisely what happened in my area. All the doctors started thinking they should get bargain-basement prices because they could use the threat to send it offshore. So wallow in the green while you have it, at the expense of your offshore workers (and hey, if they're truly so great, why not pay them US rates and really do something really noble to improve their lives?)
You might be helping the economy in third-world countries (they'd starve w/o you?! Get over yourself!) but you are INDEED helping to lower ours here. You can justify and deny that all you want, and frankly, I don't care that you sleep at night. The fact that you are here defending your stance so vehemently tells me you know deep down.
You can also claim there are no good workers here, but you're wrong. We just don't work for MTSOs with your attitude. And guess what? There ARE plenty of doctors that DO care where their work is being done. You might have found a few who don't care (if you truly told them), but that's not par for the course in most places, my dear. Most ESL clients are the most adamant that the work be done here because the US MTs are the only ones who could clean up their grammar!
I can name 5 more on that list who are NOT clients of theirs. nm
nm
some clients want those apostrophes
The two docs I edit for want those apostrophes there and you can find just as many reference materials that DO include them as don't.
I agree this is nothing that is going to affect patient care, but bottom line - you have to give the client what they want.
MTSOs cannot pay more than they get from clients
If the clients are only paying 10-12 cpl, you cannot expect them to pay you more than 8 or 9.
The only way to get decent pay is to get our own accounts and cut out the MTSO.
Then your MTSO would have NO clients
Overrated you say? If you saw some of the hair-raising mistakes we have to clean up on a daily basis you wouldn't even THINK about doing away with QA because the people you work for wouldn't stay in business.
How about the MTs who are too lazy to look things up and use QA as a reference source. I know I send feedback to the same MT over and over again without seeing any improvement. That is frustrating and a waste of my time.
I was an MT for 35 years before I became a QA person. I had a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge and felt, (very naively I realize now) that I could actually HELP people. But the MTs don't appreciate the help. They just want us to clean up their work and be quiet. If we send feedback we get blasted by the MT instead of being thanked.
I personally got into QA to help people. Boy, have I been disappointed. This is the most thankless and difficult job in the transcription business. Thank you for reinforcing that point.
I am so glad that I have wasted 38 years of my life trying to help people who just want to use me as their whipping boy.
So yeah, do us a favor, get rid of QA. What a waste we are trying to educate and help people. How dare we?
I personally give up. Do your own research and find your own answers. Don't bother me anymore!
It's not KS's VR. It is the clients and they have had that account for sm
several years. The lines are all counted and the rate is the same as my normal rate. The reason is that it takes a lot to edit these reports and they know that. This is not new for KS.
For those that said they do not do VR, they must not in their department or accounts, but there is VR with KS. They have a lot of Powerscribe accounts for radiology and a few VR accounts for HIM already and have for a while now. The pay is good and has not gone down. I am at 9cpl and happy but the VR editing does take as long as straight transcribing.
That 9.9 cpl is what they are charging their clients
I clicked on that link. It's completely an off-shore based company. The 9.9 cents is what they are charging the health care providers. That's only possible if they are paying 1 to 2 cpl for the workers.
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