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

for your wise and sagely advice NM

Posted By: thank you on 2009-01-19
In Reply to: This is January. It is always slow in January. Part of MT. sm - FrustratedLTMT

NM


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

Good advice, and advice that I'm giving real thought to ...

If I had known that they offshored before I accepted employment with them I never would have gone there to work.  I've been here long enough now though to not want to lose my benefits. 


Still ... making a DECENT PAYCHECK and making a living without being stressed out over the type of work that I'm doing is just as important as good benefits. 


wise
Thank goodness I am not the only one. I do not mind being on top of things, but it just seems anymore like you said that work is trickling in for UC versus where it used to be a good amount even with being up to date. I know we had President's Day last week, but even so we should be back up full steam already. I have a very hard time believing that they only have so much work considering what a huge facility they are.
you are wise to ask.
also, i think companies that have direct deposit are more generally more trustworthy.
You are VERY WISE, old owl.
nm
Wise of you.....
Was a joke when I was there. Got smart and got out!!!!!
you are wise! nm
x
Old and Wise
Thank you for understanding. Things were really crazy last week--lots of family trauma and drama, etc. Guess I was more tired than I thought. Anyway, I am praying that MTDays can find a good solution or catch a break. It makes me sad to see other MTs going through such difficulty. If she were in California, I could help.
Probably not too much different terminology wise, sm
but, as you know, differ from dictator to dictator. There wouldn't be any pediatrics in internal medicine.
I think that is a wise decision pls r/o
Like I said above, they are nice people, but nice doesn't pay the bills. I had glitch after glitch with Dictaphone TransNet. It was always MY FAULT somehow. LOL It was pretty archaic. One day I couldn't work for almost a whole day because the TransNet would not load up any jobs, but they kept saying it was MY computer and not theirs. Then they wanted to know how late I would be staying up to make it up! (BTW- lo and behold, it was THEIR SERVER at fault! LOL)
I think it is also wise to keep in mind.....
You get what you pay for. Wouldn't you agree? Bottom line, if you want the best, you will have to pay for the best. I can't get a Porsche for the price of a Saturn, unless there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with it. I think if I were in charge I would definitely have to think, what are MY goals as a business owner.
I don't think its wise to be naming sm
your account on this board.
Okie dokie. You got it, old wise one!
Might want to come back down to the real world and have some fun. Enjoy life!!!
yes they do, everything you need computer wise they supply. sm
very friendly user platform, pay always on time and correct, great bosses, great benefits, great sound quality, great QA people, all around a great place to work. Come on over to Webmedx. You will be glad you did.
Well, it sounds good pay wise, but (sm)

if you are not used to working the night shift, you may have difficulty.  It always sounds good, like, I'll go to bed when I get home, but in reality, do you go to bed now when you're done working?  Probably not.  It may take you several hours to unwind, if you are like me, and by that time, you would have to be up with your daughter.  I have seen several people over the course of my MT career try to do nights when they are not night people and it always ended up badly.  Not to say it won't work for you, but just keep this in mind. 


I think that is great. Very wise choice.
xx
It can be a toss up money-wise...
I made great money as an MT, and then went to QA. When I left QAing I was at 20/hour.  I used to make a lot more $$ MTing. The benefits of hourly are that you know what you are going to make, and $20 an hour was OK for me.  However, I hated QAing. As the other poster stated, it was so not worth the horror of the entire job.  No $$ can make up for the psychological damage of QAing when MTs are geared to hate you.  I also could not stand fixing up other's work, etc., and listening to nothing but the bottom of the already slimy barrel.  Maybe it was just the company I was with, but the MTs just didn't give a darn anymore, and QA got stuck with just a mess and mgmt didn't care.  Very stressful job.  Returned to MTing and $$ is about equal now, but I have the joy of MTing back again, which is priceless.  I looked for other QA jobs for a while, but heard that most pay by the line now, which is totally not worth it in my experience.  MTs most times are underpaid, and I think QA all the time are underpaid! LOL.  Good luck in your search.
You are wise not to trust Transcend
Look where trusting MDI got all of us......
IC Status...is it worth it money wise?sm

If the company does not take out the taxes and you have to handle it yourself, do you find yourself making less than if you were employee status? I am trying to figure out if it would be worth my while to take an IC position or just look for a flexible part-time employee position. I need the flexibility of schedule but don't want a big portion of my pay going to taxes either. Any thoughts?


What are top 5 companies size-wise? MQ still largest? nm
,,
thank you. I already knew but this validates that I made a wise decision last year.
I was being paid 3.5 cpl, and I always did 100% proof to voice because if MY name is on the report, then it WILL be without errors, and quite honestly we did not have even one MT that I trusted enough to not do a complete proof to voice, which is actually very sad. I provided feedback on errors, for which I was not compensated since I was on straight production. We had tons of new MTs constantly, many of them abysmally bad.

My supervisor loved my work. She said I was the best QA Editor they had, and boy howdy I was because I also worked QC for a bit and got to witness the handiwork of my fellow editors. Nice that they paid their best 3.5 cpl, huh? I stuck it out for as long as I could because I genuinely loved my job, but there comes a time when you just have enough of being taken advantage of. They had wanted to promote me to something that was akin to a QA lead that would also involve training new MTs as well as continuing QA and QC. I would be paid salary, so that's good, but they arrived at the number by basing it on what I had made the previous year (at the lowly 3.5 cpl, mind you), so basically I would have been doing MORE work for the same money. Right. They obviously think we can't do math...lol.

I have gone back to MT. It's harder on my body, but at least I'm not being screwed.



Until OUR government quits making it so lucratime tax wise to outsource...
these companies get great tax breaks to outsource. Google it, it will amaze you.
It still goes back to our government making it lucrative tax wise to outsource
NM
Would ya'll say that Medware's family ins coverage is relatively reasonable cost-wise? nm
xx
What speech/editing platform do you find the most profitable (money-wise for the MT, of course)?
What company uses it, please.  Detest Dictaphone Exspeech.  DQS was very user friendly.  Any others?
Amphion hires part-time - they're very strict schedule-wise though
Since part time is so hard to find these days your options are limited, so if you don't mind working for a company that is a stickler for strict schedule adherence, I say try Amphion.
bit of advice - sm
I have worked in many hospitals over many years, and after a bit of trial and error, I have found that this approach has always worked in my favor -

I STOPPED sending resumes to HR departments. Why? Because I would inevitably end up with a computer generated letter "thanking me for the resume ... on file ... should a position come up ... blah blah blah." I would contact the hospital and say I am responding to the position that is open, what do you mean you don't have a position??? The response would be "Oh, well someone should get in contact with you soon then."

By the time an HR department got off their butt to start calling in people for the position, chances are the transcription department was into overtime and overtime meant loss of $$ and next thing you know, it was being outsourced.

So I cut out the HR department, and would find out the name of the head of medical records and send my resume to that person. The person would either go to HR and say "contact this person for an interview" or would contact me themselves and set up the interview.

I would even send a resume to the head of medical records even if there was no opening because you never know. Hospitals may have onsite transcriptionists as well as outsourcing. But if the hospital realizes that there is the possibility of another Transcriptionist right in the area, they may be able to utilize me. Hence, I would get a phone call.

It's just a bit of advice - don't always rely on the website for transcription positions.

my advice is ask MQ for more than that...
if you have the experience and are 'seasoned' you should start out at least at 9 or 9.5. be firm. they must need MTs. if they say they do not pay that much say you are sorry to hear it but you have other offers, and everybody is paying at least 9 now...(IF you are as good as you say and you tested and passed, etc.)

men do this- they push back a little...

even if they simply will not give you more than say 8.5, they will at least know you are not stupid. if you take it at 8.5, tell them you want a review in the near future and expect to make more than that...

geeze, I started at 9.5 there a year ago...?

if you are good, demand to get paid what you deserve.
Thanks for the advice - sm
It's not a lot of money, but since I was courteous enough to send the equipment back immediately, I just don't understand why they aren't paying me. I am not going to drop it though.

Thanks again!
K
Here's my advice sm
If you are on your own and don't have a spouse or a second source of income, this isn't the job. You've really got to have some backup with Webmedx. This is not the company where you'll be on one or two accounts and have all the work you can do. This is scraping for every bit of work you can get some days and bouncing around on lots of accounts.

However, the benefits are very good. I'm not sure if they take them away, though, if you can't make your lines. Surely not if there's no work, but if there is work and you have trouble, don't know.

IF you have benefits through a spouse, I would go elsewhere and be an IC. I would not be here if I didn't need the benefits.

Good luck making a decision!
I appreciate the advice, but would like something a

see my advice
If you have been working for someone else, take a document, do the word count and the line count and see what you would need to charge per word to equal what you want per line.    I also worked for someone that did that and lost a lot in letters and consults as I charge by gross line.  She paid 1 cent per word also.  In medical there are more longer words than shorter one.  I would not do it for less that 2.5  to 3 cents per word as I just looked at one of my documents and it would have taken probably 3.25 per word to make what I did off of that document.  Good luck.  With words no spaces are counted. 
I need advice
Does anyone out there know about Entente Health Care.  Has anyone ever worked for them?  I have been offered an Editor position with them but I was wondering how they are to work for.  I hope I am posting this in the right place since I am new to this.  Any comments appreciated.
Thank you...I did take your advice SM

to heart.  It wasn't an easy decision as I heard just as many negative comments as I did positive comments.  After careful consideration, I decided to give them a chance.  I think I'm better off having heard all the negatives and positives as I was able to make a more informed decision.  I really hope I'll be happy there.  I'm not naive enough to believe it will be perfect (what company is?), but I want to start off giving them the benefit of the doubt.  Everyone's different.  I worked for Spheris and hated it (others I know love it there).  I worked for Medquist and liked it (lots of people hate it there).  So it's my hope that I'll find my niche with TransHealth.


I really do appreciate your advice, though.  I hope that you have found a job that is better suited to your needs.


Take care,


Chickadee


That would be advice. nm
x
Thanks for all advice given sm please
That is what I would love to happen in the long run,  but I am pretty certain that at this point I could not handle the potential daily workload myself, and I would not want to mislead them and get myself in over my head...  New advice??
My advice to you

Right now things are slow, probably on all or most accounts.  Get yourself a backup when it's busy.  Then you have it to fall back on at times like this.


Thanks for the advice (sm)
One of the jobs I had in Ophthalmology was at a medical school, but, of course, only in that specialty.  I know the job that fits me is out there somewhere, that is, if I lose my current one in August (I really do like the office for which I currently work).  Thanks again for your input.
Same advice here, but
I might add that nursing is also emotionally and mentally exhausting.  When I worked full time, I basically worked and recouped from work.  Not much energy left to enjoy life.  I'm glad I learned everything I did, but don't want to go back. 
looking for advice

Approximately two and a half weeks ago I accepted a job offer for IC status. It would be another full week before I would hear from them again, and another four days before I was able to train on the platform. As I sit here now, I am losing money, because I still do not have a password to begin work (this being yet another four days after training). It seems like a good job - a job I would like to keep. However, I am getting very frustrated with the lack of communication. I email and do not receive responses. I call and leave messages, and do not receive a call back. I have considered doing overflow work for someone, but if I ever get going on this job I am afraid that I may be spreading myself too thin to do that. I do not particularly want to name the company, but if you would like to know you are welcome to email me. I will, however, let anyone that may come on here asking about this company know.


 


Thank you for letting me rant.


My advice.

Thirteen years is a lot to give up for the unknown.  The current Transcend employee below basically said as much about her own situation, and she makes a lot of sense.


Why don't you try it on a part-time basis?  Then if you find it's a better place for you, you won't lose anything.


When I worked at TS, the platform was down every other day and tech support was virtually nonexistent.  Maybe things have changed for the better.  I hope they have.


The grass isn't always greener on the other side.


Thanks for the advice
x
Need some advice...

Hi everyone,


I just need some advice here. When put on a new account is it common to make stupid mistakes while getting used to how a doctor dictates? Does QA to some degree expect that these little mistakes are going to be made when starting out on a new account?


I was recently added to a new account and I am not making many mistakes, but the VERY FEW I have made make me want to kick myself--HARD. They aren't big mistakes..just something that when I see corrected I say WHAT WAS I THINKING ...(though, it did make sense to me when proofing at the time)...  basically the hear one word and it turns out to be another scenario, regular English words, not medical...the ones that make you feel  


 


Don't get me wrong, my QA is wonderful and doesn't try to make me feel belittled because of that or anything. She is excellent. I just really beat myself up over things like this.   I certainly don't want to look sloppy!!


Is this the norm for everyone just starting out on a new account?


Thanks for listening and for any words of wisdom.


Jess


advice
being a new myself, and getting an oncology account, which I know nothing about, makes it really hard, plus, my doc is ESL and talks like he's got a mouth full of marshmellows. I make mistakes all the time, dumb ones too! But, never, but never kick yourself. Just learn, if you spend your time kicking yourself, you're not focusing on the learning aspect. Just calm down and learn. Bec
Need advice
Can anyone tell me anything about Phoenix MedCom?  I have a choice between them and a local physician's office with an hourly pay of $14/hour.  Please tell good and bad, consistent work flow, easy platform, if its hard to get time off when needed. Also have always been an employee, so any tax info about ICs would be greatly appreciated as well.  Please email ASAP.  Thanks. 
advice?

Can anyone tell me about Phoenix MedCom.  Have a choice of them and a local physician's office with hourly pay of only $14/hr.  Please tell good and bad.  Also I have never been an IC before, so any tax info appreciated.  Please email ASAP.  Thanks!


Need Advice
Need some advice here.  I have been doing transcription for over 8 years the old- fashioned way with microcassettes and regular cassettes and am now wanting to go with a national account, which uses things like .wav pedals and different updated equipment.  I need to start testing with some of these companies, but I need to know what equipment I need so that I'm prepared to take this new step.  I assume wav pedals are different than these outdated pedals that came with my transcription machines.  Where do I start?  TIA
I better take your advice
I am starting to have bad luck with this company. The workload is very light when I log on to type. I request more work, but they never seem to respond back. I think I better start looking somewhere else. Thanks for your advice.
My advice would be to look for a job
Take the experience from this other job and put it into a medical center and work onsite for a while to learn all you can, around here most let you work from home after 30 days of working on site. Consider yourself lucky that you didn't stay with this company as they don't sound very professional, and you deserve better. Good luck. :)
You mean some ADVICE?
x
Need advice!

I have been a very depressed MT lately working for a company who never pays me on time.  The accounts are fantastic and the work is the type I love doing, but I do not get excited whatsoever anymore because I cannot guarantee my pay to be on time.  I communicate with the manager this issue and she says she understands, but she is not fixing the solution.  I told her I wanted to resign because I was offered another position and that I need to be paid on time.  I have bills to pay and MTs or any employee at any company does not work for free. 


My question is, if you were in this type of situation, would you just continue doing work for this company and start working for the new company and see how things go?  I know it's not good to quit a job whether you are not sure about how the new job is going to turn out.  However, this new company says they always pay their MTs on time and even have direct deposit. 


What would you do in my situation?  I am so nervous to give up this job I am doing now because it might not be like the new one, but on the other hand, do I just try out the new job for a month and work both jobs part-time and see how the new one comes out and if it is a match?  Of course the present job is just sending me tons and tons of work to do, but I will not be able to do all of that work if I am concentrating on learning another job.  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Need advice
Does anyone know of a company hiring part time (20 hours per week), who works via VPN using DSL or cable modem, provides equipment or requires little additional equipment other than own computer, foot pedal and MS Word and does not require you work weekends?  My current full time employer's set up is that I dial right into the hospital's computer system and I would like to find something similar.  Is there such a company?  :o)