lower pay rate for templates
Posted By: Elizabeth on 2008-09-11
In Reply to:
Hi folks, Has anyone heard of getting a lower pay rate for templates? The company I work for is lowering their pay rates for what comes up as templates to 2 cents per line and say they will continue to pay the 8 cents per line for what we actually type? I have not heard of this before and was wondering if this was a common practice? Thanks for any feedback you might have.
Elizabeth MT since 2001
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yes. at new lower rate.
nm
Lower rate/better dictators
Again I agree with you! The MTSO, hospitals should go to dictators that are bad or hard to understand and ask them politely to clean it up. How are we supposed to do our jobs 100% when we get crap to deal with? You give clean dictation you get clean reports. Any fool can figure that out . . . . well maybe not. 
EditScript and lower rate
I don't understand how you can think it's all right for a company to pay less because the VR system is good. Shouldn't it be a given that a company would have the best system they can find and not dock you? Seems like they are paying for having that system on your back and you think that's OK. That is really, really sad.
I happen to use EditScript (or Escription) and think it is an excellent program, though still prone to humorous errors. I make 4 cents a line for VR and wouldn't mind making more.
I think they do hire PT, but at a lower line rate (nm)
x
I have heard hourly rate is now lower in $12 to $15
per hour range. Lots of companies pay by line. Forget it with handling MTs - no win situation now matter how you deliver it. Truly the downside of the job.... a real bummer.
or tell you they "revised" their pay scale and give you a lower rate.
x.
Much more flexible than MQ. 12-hr window to do your work. Rate is lower, but they do have incentives
Haven's started yet, but E-mail me if you'd like and I'll tell you what I can. The Q was just unbearable to me.
8 cents new pt, visit, lower rate for returning visits??
Now this is a new one.
Here, here, I agree. At one time, I was even accussed of holding MY templates hostage. Templates
L
Unfortunately, the "many MT jobs" have very low pay rates, and getting lower and lower. nm
x
Templates
The way I handle it is I try to figure out lines I type per an actual document minus the template part. Then I would adjust my line rate downward to compensate, e.g., if my normal rate is 15 cpl, I would charge them 13-14 cpl OR instead of my usual count including spaces, tabs, etc., I would would try to figure it without counting them. I make clear to the client that there is no way to segregate the pre-printed lines and the lower than usual rate is a way of compensating them for it. Another way to do it is how some hospitals and other MT companies are doing it - if you're using digital, charge by the dictated minute rather than the line.
Spaces or Templates/Pay or No Pay
Interested in learning what companies out there do not pay for spaces and/or what companies charge per report regardless of line length for use/nonuse of their crappy template? For those of you who have worked for a company that charges for templates, was that information disclosed to you by the recruiter and/or contained in your contract? Any info (and opinions) in this regard would be appreciated. Thanks.
Normals/templates
I let my IC's use them especially in my psych accounts. However there was a time that one of the gals forgot to change the name on the header and I was gone and it went to the doctor directly with the incorrect name on the Header and big, big HIPAA violation and the doctor almost pulled the account since he did not catch it either. So I understand where your MTSO is coming from but again, I would not keep the help that made these mistakes rather than make the other MT's pay for the incompetent ones and be unable to use their autorcorrect, ShortHand or whatever normals/expanders that they use. The account stayed with me but we do watch the names closely now. Why make all suffer for the mistakes of a few.
Yes, we are paid for templates.
NM
We can make templates
In Meditech you use the F keys for every little other thing, including their canned text which you have to hit, I think, F4, to pull it up. All the F keys have some laborious function but you can get used to it. As for templates, we do indeed create our own templates for the different dictators. The downside is that once you create one and it's there, you can't go back and edit it or change it, like when the doctor changes some wording and you want to edit it.
Mainly what I'm saying is, ask IT about the MT's creating their own canned text entries for templates. Use ShortHand or whatever Expander for everything else.
Our system used to crash a lot, too, but you could do a Recover and get it back. However, they've fixed that. Meditech doesn't have to be a pain, you can work it.
Good Luck...
You get paid for the templates too
NM
With the use of expander and templates sm
basically all the prep work it's definitely possible.
Reports with a lot of templates...
and very fast dictators. Also, the MTSO counts lines in an honest manner, i.e., caps, bold, underline, headers, footers, templates, etc.
Read this about VR, templates, etc.
Ok, our profession has been threatened and outright replaced by voice recognition and/or templates which is fill in the blank type forms. Here's what I have found upon interviewing the people at these various places.
Bottom line is by going with VR, you can get rid of the MTs but they are replaced with approximately 1.5 FTE in IT help. So fire 5 MTs, hire 7 ITs. They need people to babysit the computer generated reports with which they have chose to replace us. Same for templates. So if there is any medical provider out there reading this, just beware. You will spend more money by going with VR or templates than you ever dreamed you could save. I hope this does some good but please don't be fooled by these slick salesmen who sell you this VR or templatesoftware and charge a fortune for it. Not only does it take up more time from your physicians, but you will spend more money babysitting the computers and software than ever before.
Especially if you use a lot of expanders and templates.
Then, VR is definitely NOT WORTH YOUR TIME. If you type 5 lines an hour or something, yeah, I could see it working out for you. However, if you are a good MT, not so much.
How about 0.03 per line for templates?
what templates, ones I make or their's. BS
You do get paid for things in templates...sm
Please e-mail me who told you otherwise. Thank you.
And no pay for headers you type or templates they add
/
Templates and word expanders
Figure out which abbreviations trigger an easy memory response. For instance, I've seen people put pn for pneumonia, but that just seemed to trip up my brain and so I put pne. Do you have doctors that use the same phrase over and over? For instance, nothing to indicate; that's nti. intrinsically and extrinsically is iae. no acute disease noted is nadn. You get more lines by typing (in the above example) 4 letters and getting paid for 22 (with spaces). I organized my templates by first 4 letters of last name and first 2 letters of first name - i.e., John Brown is browjo. (This habit started when I had a large hospital with 2000 doctors and this was the only way to keep them straight.) Then, if it's an H&P, it's browjohp; or discharge is browjods, etc. Seems complicated and you may find an easier way to catogorize, but once it's set in your brain, huge masses of data can easily be sorted through, accessed, appear on your screen, and half your typing is done for you.
companies that have lots of templates
Are there any companies that provide lots of templates and normals and a good rate per line? This is my dream job, to find this company!
Templates are created by the IT people or
The MT usually does not have access to these things. In my day, we had to put in a request and hope to heck they got it right. Plus, we had to wait a while. I think they're called dictionaries (templates) believe it or not. It has been about a year, and I don't miss that system at all. Clunky, slow, and lost many of reports due to it going down in the middle of typing. Grrrr.....
Keystrokes and templates question (sm)
I see Keystrokes has an ad up on the job board. I presently work for a company who fills in every possible heading that the doctor MAY dictate throughout the report and calls it their template for each work type. They do not pay for any of these lines. In some cases we are expected to delete headings if not dictated. These deleted headings are now subtracted from the total line counts because they take the total number of lines in the template and subtract that number off the top of the line count. Any missing lines would actually be subtracted from lines that the MT typed. It would be so much easier for all involved to just let the MT type what the doctor says, headings and all. I'm wondering how Keystrokes handles headings and templates? Do they include them as part of the template or do they just let the MT type as the doctor dictates them? If they are part of the template already, how are they counted or not counted?
Also, what platform do they use and is it MT friendly?
TIA
MT SHOULD be paid for templates. Horrible MDI
x
The built-in templates for the ones you create
nm
I worked for one company that did not pay for any templates.
The client had many templates. When I started I received pages of templates with the codes. It was after my first paycheck that I was informed that the company did not pay for any templates. You know they were charging the client full price and guess who was pocketing the profit?? 
You probably aren't paid for templates.
Ask your supervisor. And I hope you aren't using your real name. Good luck. I hope you find your answer :)
Anyone know of a company that uses a very easy platform with templates...
and lots of fill in the blanks? I am trying to find part-time work that doesn't require a whole lot of typing because I have pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome. I still have several months of pregnancy left and I still need to work, so my only option is to find work that requires a lot less typing! I am just happy that this CTS is usually only temporary! I do wear wrist splints and take frequent breaks during my shift but this provides little relief. If you know of companies that use easy platforms with templates, fill in the blanks, cut and paste, etc - please let me know! Thanks in Advance!
Line count involving templates
I need advice!! I am typing in a template that consists of 205 gross lines before any typing is done in it. The client isn't questioning the body of the template where we add the meds, past history, etc., but there is an area of a preprinted form that is added that consists of about 85 lines. The client doesn't want to be charged for this, as this is not part of the typing. How can I bill for this exclulding this preprinted form? I would have to get the total number of characters for the entire document including the form and divide by 65? Help!!
I don't know if this can be asked or not, but how does Keystrokes handle templates? (sm)
Are they prefilled by the platform and if so are they paid to the MT as having been typed by the MT or does the system subtract for the template?
I have no problem not being paid for template characters; however, I have found (with a couple of services that I have worked for) that the platform (or client or maybe even the service) will fill in absolutely every heading that MIGHT possibly be dictated by the doctor. We, as the MT, have then had to bounce up and down the template looking for the heading that is being dictated and in some cases, having to modify the template by extracting words to fit how the doctor is dictating that heading. In both cases, the line counter was set up to deduct the characters from the ORIGINAL template (which we were not paid for). If the doctor dictates a shorter heading than was prefilled by the system, we are essentially losing lines. (I hope that wasn't too confusing.)
It's just so much easier to type as the doctor is dictating and use my expansion program rather than jumping up and down a template. I'm wondering how Keystrokes handles their templates. TIA
Shine templates take too long to load sm
Isn't too bad if you can go straight into it and start typing, but the account I do you have to go in and fill/fix the template after it loads before you can start typing, so it can be time consuming. 
The majority of places have you use templates and software platforms. Maybe someone can suggest a
s
for MQ STAT employees tier rate applies to ME rate as well and how calcluated?
for a STAT MQ employee: Does anyone know if the tier rate is going to be applied to the ME rate as well or are they going to go with the 80% of the MT rate for each tier level? If the tier rate doesn't apply as well to the ME rate then going by the 80% of the MT rate is less than if the tier rate would be applied. I'm sure that MQ is going to go by whatever keeps money in their pockets. Guess this is a question for the supervisor tomorrow.
Their line rate was less than my current nat'l rate, even with mucho experience. nm
no msg
VR rate is 1/2 rate of traditional typing,I believe it is 4 cents line.
Sorry...lower 7 to 7.5 cpl. nm
x
I already get by on less. How much lower can
Soon most MT work stations will become shopping-carts parked under the nearest interstate overpass.
'Buddy, can you spare a dime?'
Lower pay
I hope that is not true but I bet they try to lower our wages again. I also work for Spheris and I know that we have to meet the QA standards. I do meet the QA and line count standards but I notice lately that I have been having to look up the patient information a lot more, which I know we are not compensated for. Also, lately it seems like I do more reports but my line count does not seem to increase like it should. Makes me wonder.
So what happens if they lower your cpl? With
my guess is lots of people will fall below the $900 mark, and then they get the added bonus of not having to insure you. Where I work they lowered our cpl pay this year, and now it's nearly impossible to make $900/pay period. If we were figuring full-time/part-time status by earnings, even though I work 60-hour weeks, I'd still be considered a part-timer. How do you spell ' R-I-P-O-F-F' ???
Definitely lower than average. nm
s
so if it is not 8, is it higher or lower..(nm)
''
Pay is much much much lower than any other national
/
Isn't their pay way lower than average? nm
s
I think it goes with the MDI post a little bit lower down
/
Maybe they're somewhere at the lower end?
I know I'm at the top and mine was cut, so maybe someone on one of the accounts that was only making 7 cents/line to begin with, didn't get cut any further?
I took that to mean you can get to that rate after 1600 lines and that is not the starting rate.
:
Webmedx ASR rate is 70% of your regular line rate. sm
So if you are on a 9 cpl account, you get 6.3 CPL plus any bonus / incentives / shift differential.
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