Home Contact Us

Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Medical Transcription Discussion Forums:

General Discussion Forums:

Recently Viewed Messages: (An archive of over 1 million messages related to medical transcription industry)

Those of you who do a lot of lines (2000+) a day, - Posted By: share your techniques! sm

Now I know a lot depends on how many characters per line but putting that aside: How do you get in a lot of lines every day?

Do you sit and work nonstop? Do you type at a leisurely pace or bang your keyboard as fast as you can? Do you use an expander? A word completion software like Smartype? Are you able to keep up with everything else - house, kids, DH? Do you just keep on typing till you get all the lines you want? Do you set a goal for yourself each day, or just type every chance you get and what you end up with is okay with you?

Just wondering cause I know even though I've been an MT many years (23) I am sort of spoiled. Had many years where I had easy money accounts and made money not really even trying and not working very hard. Well now I have canned my own accounts and working for someone else at a respectable line rate - but I find myself wanting to type 1000 lines a day and stop and I need to make more money than that. I guess I just got lazy!

So if you don't mind, share your tips!

problens with co-workers - Posted By: Help

Does anyone know of a good way to get my co-workers to be quiet? I swear there is this one who if something sets her off we hear about it for the next 4 hours (no kidding). Then others get involved and come into the office and try to say their piece. It is so hard to concentrate and get a decent line count. The quality of my work is suffering. I got a report back the other day with some embarrassing typos in it. I don't get paid hourly I get paid on production. I need to make more than 1003 lines a day to make it worth my trip up there. I was making 1300 lines a day when working from home but then they pulled me in house because they didn't like my internet connection. Complaining to the supervisor doesn't do any good as there was a girl that did that and it just made everyone mad and they talk ugly about her. help!

DD is a 1st grade teacher, and is ready to throw in the towel - Posted By: venting for my daughter

already - not because of the kids, but because of the interferring parents (mothers) who cannot bear to let "little Suzie" out of the nest, cuz, you know, she is my baby, so I want to be with her as much as I can. She thinks these mothers cause more harm psychologically for the kids that anyone realizes. They lose coping skills, other kids make fun of them for being a big baby, and they lose all identity. Can't these mothers get a life away from the kid's school? She has 3 or 4 that think they know everything and are constantly interrupting her to "correct" her way of teaching. She is not a new teacher, has been teaching for over 10 years now and is rated one of the top teachers in this area.

foot pedal problems...sm - Posted By: MT in MI

I just bought a serial foot pedal through ebay and it doesn't work right. Rewind and forward work but play doesn't. You can get the sound to play but only if you tap the forward pedal. To get it to stop, you have to tap the rewind pedal. I e-mailed the girl and she said it worked for her just fine. Do I need to configure it or anything? I had a different serial pedal that I just plugged in and it worked and they seem to be the exact same pedal. Any ideas on how to make this pedal work right? Thanks!

EditScript users - Posted By: Jessica Helquist

I have a few questions about Editscript that I was hoping someone could help me with. The tech requirements state that USB infinity pedal version 14, and of course, I have the "non version 14" one. Does anyone know where I can get a version 14 one? The specs also state that Editscript is only compatible with Norton or McAfee, but I have a paid version of AVG and was hoping that I would not have to switch. Is there a free version of Mcafee? Geez..so many things to figure out. Any help would be appreciated!

Hyphens - Posted By: Meddy

? Should re-evaluate be hyphenated or never hyphenated. I am from the old school that it should be hyphenated to avoid doubling vowels but in QA I was told not to hyphenate it. Should the word penicillin be capitalized when listed in allergies and not any place else? Thanks

C'mon guys our topic is losing! Please vote! sm - Posted By: D

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18826755/

How about Celebrity Fit Club?? - Posted By: Jodi McBodi

Does anyone get into that? I think this season will be good. I'm Tempestt Bledsoe's age and I loved her in Cosby Show. Go Vanessa!! I'm also curious about Young MC. That's good ole school stuff. Tee hee.

Line count / pay - Posted By: Christy

I was reading the posts about line counts. I am relatively new at this and still trying to gain speed. With all the varying line counts (600 - 3000 per day) people mentioned, I am wondering what your earnings are. - If I type 850 in a shift, I am barely above minimum wage and nowhere near enough to live on.

I am also wondering what the average number of reports for those line counts would be. I know they vary in length, etc. and are different from day to day, but a rough average would be helpful.

I am trying to see where I am in the scheme of things and where I need to be to survive. Often when I think I am really cranking, my line count turns out lower than days I feel I spent lots of time looking things up, etc. This is also very frustrating.

Diff between IC & subcontractor - Posted By: Wanda

What is the diff between these two? And do most of you have set hours that work as a subcontractor or do you pretty much have flexible hours? Thanks!

reply to Busy M'Ting - Posted By: cowgirl

You sound like MQ management...

[Post a Reply] [View Follow Ups] [Main Board]

Posted By: cowgirl on 2005-09-09
In Reply to: Illegal? Hahaha - Busy MT'ing

I just now read your ridiculous post (I'm not on boards very often, just check occasionally to see what is going on or blow off steam).

MQ adjusted my compensation without telling me. Had they told me I would be making less per line, I would have sought employment elsewhere. I was hired with the verbal and written agreement that I would be paid on the basis of a 65-character line, i.e. space bar, commas, bolding, underline, headers, footers, cc lines, headings, etc. etc. Through manipulation of their counting software, and various platforms, (Im'on my fifth platform)they have systematically underpaid us for our work. In fact, they just admitted that recently and I have a check and letter from them stating those facts. The amount I received is not near the actual amount that they underpaid me. I have no idea how they came up with this bogus figure. Yes, our business is an exchange for skills and service, but they must uphold their end of the agreement which was to base our compensation on a 65 character line. If that changed, nobody told us. In fact they repeatedly told me that nothing had changed and we were still getting paid the same way. They could not account for the decline in my production except to say that I just wasn't producing the same amount as I was before. Duh!

There is no heartache here, just anger. I'm angry that I've been ripped off by a bunch of greedy bums who have become quite wealthy off our blood, sweat and tears. Yes blood, I recently had to have surgery which was job-related, and am still recovering. So, why do you even care if you don't work for MQ and this doesn't even concern you. Do you just enjoy beating up on posters, does it make you feel better than everyone?

Post QUICK reply

Serious Poll: Paycheck-to-Paycheck - Posted By: (questions inside)

1. Are you living paycheck-to-paycheck? Defined: Missing one paycheck would seriously harm your basic living (housing, food, utilities or necessary meds/medical care).

2. If you lost your job today, without warning, do you think you could be employed again within 1 payperiod?

3. Do you have an emergency fund in case a loss of job happens?

My answers:

1. Missing 1 paycheck would hurt but not devastate me. Mising 2 or more, yes - it could be dire.

2. Yes, most definitely.

3. Started one and slowly building it up.

Help - Posted By: Meme

Trying to figure out a test that sounds like Faber-Thanes test negative for disk herniation. Anyone know?

Does your company pay for mandatory training/conferences? - Posted By: Curious

Not as a new hire, but as a regular employee when they have a mandatory phone conference, or training for new platform, ASR, etc. ??

98% quality - Posted By: turbotypist

Hi peers,

Can someone describe me how to calculate 98% accuracy. Any description or link would be appreciated. Thx!

Why does my Winscribe window - Posted By: Driving me crazy

disappear between every radiology job (and that means at least one hundred times a day)? It falls into the abyss known as the margin. I have to minimize all other windows for it to peek from the corner where I can grab onto it and drag it back into view...arrrrgh

Long difficult day I am having...

Does anyone know if using an inhaler - Posted By: when you don't have asthma is dangerous?

Or a website with information about the dangers, particularly Qvar. My grandma was prescribed but does not have asthma. Thanks.

New independent, need information - Posted By: Tina

Started this year as independent. Tried to reach tax person, not there. Now when I send in my federal taxes, are social security taxes paid out of that or am I supposed to send those somewhere else? Thanks.

SINGLE MOTHER & NEW WAHMT - Posted By: Phyllis

I am 46 and the single mother of a young son. I worked for the last five years at one of the premier universities in Chicago as a secretary to two urologic surgeons. I resigned from my job almost two months ago, and beginning in one week, I will start my first independent contractor MT position. My little boy will begin first grade the day after Labor day, so this will free me up to type for about five to six hours each day. Does anyone have any advice for me on the MT home alone experience. This is going to be a major adjustment for me. Phyllis

Is there anyone who works for - Posted By: cekkrsid

social work departments, foster homes, children's protective services....and NOT a typical hospital or dr office or national company?

If so, how do you find those jobs.

I have a degree in Family Studies, with a minor in Substance Abuse Education...and I am finishing up school and would love to combine my BS degree with my new career choice as an MT...

Wild Blue satellite internet - Posted By: Denise

Anybody currently using Wild Blue satellite internet? Any responses good or bad would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Summer Solstice!!....sm - Posted By: mini-vacation for me JUST began!!!..sm

THIS second a mini-vacation begins for me - until Monday morning!!! *does a happy dance*

Hope everyone gets some time off for a little R&R this time of year!!!

CHS transcription company? - Posted By: pat salazar

Has anyone worked for CHS (Comprehensive HealthCare Services) which is based in Georgia?

yikes ! ESL driving me nuts - Posted By: ER-MT

Just a quick vent - for the last 45 minutes I have mostly been listening to the sound of her breathing with an occasional "continuing dittation" thrown in here and there followed by more breathing . I even heard someone in the background say "You can push 1 to put it on pause" which she does for a split millisecond and then continues back with her breathing/"continuing dittation" pattern. Not having a good day today. Beam me up Scotty, Please !

Be careful-------there's a new WORM out there. See link to USA article and - Posted By: a couple of sentences about it.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2006-01-30-email-virus_x.htm?csp=N007

"...fast-spreading e-mail worm is raising alarms because its sole purpose is to obliterate the everyday working documents widely used by consumers, students and businesses.
The Kama Sutra worm � also referred to as Nyxem.E and Grew.A � is unnerving because, unlike other e-mail worms, it appears to be detached from any profit motive.

It is designed to destroy all Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint documents and Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop files on all hard drives connected to an infected PC...

appears in e-mail in-boxes with subject lines such as "hot movie," "A Great Video" or "Crazy illegal Sex!" enticing the recipient to click on an attachment. One variation makes reference to the ancient Sanskrit book on sexual positions.

By clicking on the attachment, the victim launches a program that disables anti-virus protection. The infected PC then begins to send copies of similarly tainted e-mail to every e-mail address on the victim's hard drive...

It implants a program to erase common work files on the third day of the month, hitting even external data-storage devices connected to the infected PC...

More than 500,000 PCs are believed to have been infected since it first appeared on Jan. 16. That's a modest infection rate, but victims face grim consequences. On Friday � Feb. 3 � any infected machines will lose all Microsoft documents and Adobe files.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The worm is designed to inject file-deletion instructions onto corporate servers. It does so via systems that share data with employees logging on to corporate systems from remote locations. "The worm can spread quite well once it finds its way beyond corporate firewalls,

Victims can tell they've been infected if they clicked on an e-mail attachment and had their keyboard and mouse freeze up, forcing them to reboot

Disinfection requires reinstalling an anti-virus program updated to protect against this worm, then scanning to make sure it has been purged.

"It's about proving the virus community can't be stopped by anti-virus companies," says John Pironti, banking security consultant at Unisys. "

Do you think we will have pandemic due to avian virus? What is your opinion?(nm) - Posted By: Wondering MT

Anyone know where Mary Patterson (of YOG) - Posted By: is these days? nm

nm

ASR, VR, SR, are these all the same thing? TIA - Posted By: confused

xxxx

Washable KB/mouse - Posted By: RettaB

Here's a great idea if you work in a setting where there are multiple keyboard/mouse users; however, note not available in our ergo style.

http://www.unotron.com/UK/products.htm

Need computer help - Posted By: ER-MT

We lost internet last night and when I rebooted this a.m. I have Japanese Google. I have no idea how to change this! Please help me someone!

Golden Isles Transcription - sm - Posted By: Looking

Question for anyone who has been with them long enough to form an opinion! How is work availability and pay scale? Do they offer vacation time? If not, do they allow you to take a week off (unpaid) for vacation. How flexible is scheduling? How are the QA people? I have checked the archives and cannot find a whole lot. Maybe a fairly new company? TIA!

I don't normally type this kind of thing: sm - Posted By: Needing help please TIA

Calculated aortic valve area 0.6 square centimeters.

How do i format this correctly?

If a company I apply with has VR, what sort of editing rate is fair? - Posted By: tia

Most fill-in-the-blank editing rates are around 4 cpl. What are the usual going rates for 100% straight editing VR?

What's for dinner? Beef stew here. - Posted By: nm

p

What's your favorite sing-along song when alone in your car? - Posted By: anon

Mine are Rose-Colored Glasses and Crazy by Patsy Cline.

FTP questions... - Posted By: Penguin

I work for a small doctor�s office and the time has come for us to have outside transcriptionists working as independent contractors. How do I set this up for them to send me their completed work via FTP? Help!! The only thing I understand about the FTP is you can transfer files from computer to computer securely � the rest I am totally lost about. How do I set it up? How/where do I log on to get the work? How/where do they deliver the work?

question - Posted By: question

After quitting a job, is there a time requirement for being paid your last check? Thank you.

Word count program - Posted By: Terri

I have an older model puter that is slowly going up and have word 97 count program on it. I am looking for something that is compatible with that - that also does all headers and footers - not just the header and footer on the first page that I can put on my new puter. I have checked in to SPellex and that is really slow counting. I also checked in to Abacus, which was fast and pretty accurate; it actually gave me a little more on a few of my reports as a trial run. ANyone have any ideas on this. Thanks for any help.

Andrews or M-TEC - Posted By: mtstudent

Andrews and M-TEC. Do a search on either one of them and you will find they are the best of the best in MT training.

Please no more tests - sm - Posted By: tired

Any company that doesn't test? There has to be a better way than wasting all this time.

Microsoft Word question - Posted By: sg

Is there any way to have Word open up automatically with the view screen at 125% (rather than 100%)? Right now I have to change it each time I start it up.

Thx for any help.

neat web site 'chemo angels'. Help cancer patients - Posted By: sm

http://www.chemoangels.com/

DragonNaturallySpeaking? - Posted By: LoveHate

I'm looking into getting VR software for some of my projects outside of MT work and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this software? Is it really as good as they say as far as accuracy goes? How long does it really take for it to "learn" a person's dictation style? Can I play recordings in ExpressScribe to be transcribed into Word? The site is not very helpful giving all the specifics as to how it REALLY works with other programs so I'm a bit hesitant.

Again, this is not for MT work so it doesn't need to have a medical vocabulary or be able to work with EMRs or anything like that.

Nothing to do with MT but does anyone have any ideas on how to clean - sm - Posted By: Laura E.

a linoleum bathroom floor? All my bathroom throw rugs (4-large bathroom) have left yellow stains under where each lies. I presume the rubber somehow reacted with the floor. This has happened in both my bathrooms but much worse it the one which has a window. Short of replacing the floor does anyone have any ideas? TIA.

Editing Radiology Reports - Need info RE charging per report (Exam) - Posted By: Radiology Editing

I am in the South - any suggestions on going rate for editing Radiology Reports per report (exam)? I have seen charging prices from $1.25 to $2.00. Thank you for any input, it is greatly appreciated.

Making a list of funny MT names such as Al Buterol....SM - Posted By: need a laugh

Al Buterol
Ana Phylaxis
Candy Sartan
Angie O'Tensin

I know there are others...can you help me out?

:D

MTec or Andrews? - Posted By: Wanda

I've been researching and it seems to always come down to these two. Which would you recommend? I'm having a really hard time deciding which one would be best. Are there any differences between the two? TIA

How to bill client for call-in system.... - Posted By: MTing

Do you charge slightly more per line if the client is using your call-in system (versus other less expensive methods like digital recorder) or do you just bill them the amount of the phone bill?

Thanks for any suggestions!

how old were you when you got married? sm - Posted By: curious Georgia

I was...18! Wow, now that seems SOOO young! Been married though, to the same man

for 18 years! Just a curious question!

how about 54 discharge meds?? - Posted By: sm

That's got to be a record, at least from my end -- i was thankful when he dictated that reader was referred to chart for most of them -- wow. how can a body handle all that really??