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RE American Idol. In the past Simon has said (sm) - Posted By: wondering

America got it right. Do you think he will say that this year? In my opinion, these are the two WEAKEST contestants of this entire season. Taylor is very lounge-y and Kat is completely inconsistent. She'll do well with one song and not the other. I think Kat is more marketable and I think, somehow, Taylor made it in under the radar. JMO. What do you all think?

Why does everyone complain about DQS and their line..sm - Posted By: mting

count being low versus another platform? I will soon be leaving a company that uses DQS to a company that uses Word, can I expect to see an increase? Before DQS on plain old word I averaged about 200, but I don't think I can only blame DQS because when I started on DQS I was doing unfamiliar work types. TIA!

Testing results - Posted By: Need reliable workload

I just tested with one of the nationals. I have never before had to do this and did receive the results (97%). Does anyone know if this includes the objective portion or only the transcribed reports?

Thanks for your input.

American as apple pie - Posted By: MTness

Many years ago I heard someone quote a prophetic statement - "The East shall look to the West and the West shall look to the East." I just never thought I would live to see such a rapid switch in my time. Let's see, we have Bush who sports an all American personna. I can't begin to count how many times he uses the word(s) "American way of life," yet never in the history of this country are we seeing hundreds of thousands of jobs in America in all fields given away to the far East and China. Even our military, the Navy, is considering having their fleets built in China! We fight a war with much of it under private contractors, we send our private information to third world countries but our leaders are touting the Privacy Information Act, huh? How can I support my president in his "all American as-apple-pie" agenda when he has demonstrated no regard for the American worker, our healthcare mess, or our jobs? The front door looks good, but the back door is something else. We work for big corrupt unethical corporations who require us, in our case, the lowly transcriptionist, to declare our integrity, and almost every day we hear scandal after scandal from these mega corporations who only get a slap on the hand for their unethical practices. I don't know about you, but it does bother me to work for or with a company that has no integrity. I'm not saying I work for one now, but it bothers me that so many people have to do so to keep food on the table.

Family Practice - Posted By: gotcoffee

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on what you should charge per line for a Family Practice of 4 physicians? I am interested in working for this practice that currently has been doing their own transcription (oh heaven help! lol), but did not know what would a fair rate to charge per line...thanks for any input!

Need help on Word Board please - Posted By: (nm)

xx

Barely working 20 hours a week...sm - Posted By: blondie_1147

I have worked for this company for over a year now. I love the account. I love the work. I am used to it and don't want to think about going elsewhere but I am not making squat I don't get paid by the hour I was just letting you know that is the amount of time I am getting to work due to the fact there is not enough work. I have never been able to get full time work here but more that this. I don't know whether to stick it out or look elsewhere. I only have 1-1/2 years exp so I don't have a lot of options with less than 2 years exp. I don't know what I should do. I have asked about a secondary account, but they said they don't need help on any of their other accounts. Anyone else in this boat? What to do?

help me understand laptop travel - Posted By: cat of Eric

I'm a hard-wired girl but I got a good deal on a laptop and would like to know exactly how you travel and work. I remember mention of air cards - where do you get these and is there a 1 time charge or do you have to sign up and pay monthly fees? Now - I still have to figure out how to connect it to router at home - TIA.

DQS and using the mouse - Posted By: abc

You know, maybe the loss of lines is because with DQS you have to use the mouse so much. I took have noticed since I switched to DQS that my lines are down. With the last program I used, I hardly ever had to use my mouse.

At one time, someone posted a link for a free clock timer. sm - Posted By: mlstoo

I've searched the archives but could not find it. It was for timing your actual time spent transcribing. Anybody remember what it was. TIA.

regarding physicals and drug screening for at home jobs - Posted By: no name

This is to the person that posted about Diskriter and why she did not take the job. I am also posting on this board as well.

I do not work for Diskriter, however, I can say with complete accuracy (I have a relative that works as a private criminal investigator for large and small corporations) that the reason that a lot of companies (not necessarily just transcription companies, in particular,) that have at home or offsite employees are requesting a physical and drug screen and background check is because:

a) background check is necessary in some cases because the potential employee will have access to SSN#, credit info, addresses, DOB, etc on many many people.

b) physical and drug screens are necessary because the company may be partly footing the cost for benefits, health insurance, life insurance, etc. Maybe they do not want to pay for drug rehabs (think about it)

c) drug screens - let's face it, some of these companies are sending equipment, vital information on people in the US, paying for travel for employment, etc (i.e. carrying drugs on planes, stealing ID for credit card info, stealing and reselling computers and equipment that was shipped to the potential employee, etc)

You would be surprised the things I was told about, including arrests for identity theft!! In the last two years, a TON of arrests have been made by investigators and agencies on people working at home!! Police are making drug arrests at homes and low and behold, some of the arrests are people that work at home doing a "day job" while dealing out of their house. Nice little sideline income, don't ya think.

So think about this - if a company is going to pay for a physical and drug screen for you to be employed with them, don't be offended by it. They are protecting themselves and their clients from potential identity theft, druggies, and thieves.

I'm sure I will be slammed for this post, but I know what I am talking about.

You could easily be the victim of identity theft and guess where the source could potentially come from? Transcriptionists. Think about it - we have access to some hospital databases that require us to put in patient information from the patient database, that means addresses, ID#, etc.

I PERSONALLY knew of a transcriptionist from NYC that could barely function more than 2 hours a day because she spent the rest of her day stoned out of her mind! Did you read the thread about traveling transcriptionists and drug screening? Do you want somebody stoned or high or meth'd up typing your hospital records? So what's to stop them from taking it a step further and commit identity theft.

Help! Does anyone have first-hand experience with VR, and if so, - Posted By: soon-to-be-x-MT?

what about the MONEY? I do not mind learning it and am excited about the new possibilities and where MT fits; however, am I to expect a major pay reduction? I imagine full-time with benefits will no longer be an option?

Please, any substantial information will be very appreciated...I am only interested in the money, so I can pay my rent, my utilities, my groceries. I do not have a husband who supports me, so live paycheck to paycheck.

Is it possible to make any money?

Thanks all!

I have only been at this for about a year so this is my first tax season as an IC..how much SM - Posted By: new chick on the block

income do you have to report as earnings or do you have to report everything? My first job was with a company that was really really hateful. I only made 60-70 dollars from them and then I quit. Do I have to claim that as taxable income or not? I go to H&R block and they charge per form that you turn in...that would bite to pay 100 bucks to claim 60 or 70!!! Thanks for the input!

How much should I charge.. - Posted By: one-time project

How much do you think I should charge per double-spaced page for doing a one-time project, on my own equipment, for someone doing mental health interviews for a research project? If it was 12 cents per line, how much per page would that be? This is a parent at my kid's school who knows I work for a transcription company. I wouldn't use the equipment owned by the company, I have dictaphone machine that takes tapes. I'm not sure how long the project would be or the format yet. Just give me some idea of what you guys think. Thanks -

Anyone whose child has gotten the flu? - Posted By: me

Symptoms of coughing, fever, chills and sweats, no appetite, hurts all over, sleepy. Grandson has been this way for 5 days, 2 visits to the doc, lost 2 lbs in 5 days (which for a little guy is a lot). X-rays show no pneumonia. What can we do? Any ideas gratefully appreciated.

Question about Spyware. sm - Posted By: searching

I can't find a technical board, so here goes. I was evidently infected by Spy Sheriff about 6 weeks ago. I kept rerunning my Norton, and the red button with the white x finally stopped popping up constantly. However, when I make a new Word file, I get a second file that looks like a ghost file, with a tilda and a dollar sign in front of it. Now I am having trouble with my internet connection cutting out, having to reboot frequently, and my emails are not always going through. I'm not sure if this is related. I have tried to find info on this "virus," but there is so much conflicting info I don't know what to believe. Has anyone had this problem? Do I still have the spyware? Can I get something that will completely wipe it out, or will I have to wipe my hard drive? Will that even work, if I have to reload my ShortHand and Word? Any advice appreciated. TIA.

For what reason do companies/hospitals want to do credit checks for MTs? nm - Posted By: Wondering

nm

Has anyone received a personal loan lately? - Posted By: See inside

I had unexpected expenses and had to get a small one from HSBC. Here are the questions I was asked:

Do you have medical insurance? If so, what are the deductibles for hospital stays, office visits.

Do you have life insurance and if so, how much?

Do you have disability ins and if so, how much?

What is your home owner's insurance deductible?

What is car insurance deductible?

Who are your insurance carriers?

I do not recall these types of questions. I ended up buying 10/mo insurance coverage which includes disability and life insurance...for $2600. I am 48.

Is this new?

What average line count do you type per pay period. what is considered above average and how long - Posted By: does it take you to do it?

Loss of American Jobs Poem - Posted By: Not the author

You may not think this is very grand.

But it is written so even a President can understand!

Where are our jobs?

Where have they gone?

Are they over here or over there?

Are they behind a chair?

They are not over here.

They are not over there.

They are not behind a chair.

Are they on a train or a boat or a plane?

Are they in England, France or Spain?

They are not on a train or boat or plane.

They are not in England, France or Spain!

HOORAY! HOORAY!

They are in Bombay!

Where people work for little pay!

In China and in Mexico too!

Where it costs ten cents to make a shoe!

Corporations say they have the need

To cut budgets and save money, indeed!

Though most of us would call it greed!

Corporations pay our Congress well

So Congress will do whatever they tell.

GATT and NAFTA so no tariffs there will be!

So corporations can import and export anything for free!

They have sold us out (the American worker) its true.

Our government and corporations too!

So if you are feeling blue,

Because there is no job for you

And you are unemployed for another day,

There is something you can do.

Find a flag and wave HOORAY!

Since "patriotism" is the call of the day!

Anyone know of any good internet radio stations or - Posted By: mlstoo

sites that play random music videos? I am getting sick of my own radio stations and am looking for a couple of new ones to listen to while I work. Top 40 or 70's through today.

Any ho t dirt y bitc hes here! - Posted By: MARIO BOSIO

i am on het wanna fuc k hard and deep so that my 12 inches long black rod reaches the thoroat of all the old MT bitc hes here.

To those against offshoring... - Posted By: sm

Have you noticed that anywhere you call, whether it be the phone company, the gas company, the insurance company, you get someone foreign on the phone. Oh yes and do not forget Microsoft and other computer related companies. I realize this cuz i get so damn mad because i can't understand what they are saying to me and they don't understand what i am saying to them. Now I noticed the post below about Earthlink and I am wondering...all of you who are against this..what are you going to do about the fact that the computer company that creates most of the software you use has places in other countries..your gas company..you insurance company, etc. etc. etc.? I, too, do not agree with offshoring, but I do not think there is REALLY anything we can do about it. Not working for companies that do it, yes thats a start, but what are you going to do about the rest of reality and everyday living? Just curious to opinions on this. I am not flaming..just concerned.

Has anyone updated yet to the new version of XP to 7.0 on updates and how does it work. - Posted By: MTPA

:

IE down sm - Posted By: tired

I cleaned up a second backup computer and believe I lost internet explorer. Tried to restore to an earlier date and said cannot do. Can't get on the internet at all. I depend on this computer for personal stuff. I think compressing files killed the IE, can still use all the Microsoft programs. Get a cannot display page. Any ideas? TIA

Do PA's get paid to dictate by the line? SM - Posted By: Betsy Cross

I am doing a 25 minute preop of a patient admitted for removal of two lipomas.

wedding gift - Posted By: nn

I need some ideas please. I have a very close friend who is getting married for the third time, and this will be the second marriage for her fiance. Of course, they have everything they need, and probably more. But I don't want to go to her wedding empty-handed. I'd like to get her something nice, even if just a little something, so does anyone have any ideas? Thanks very much.

Escription here and wondering - Posted By: VR person

do you get the line count on the actual work already there - or if you have to change and change a lot, for example putting in words, half sentences it is not picking up, do you get count for that? Thanks.

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.

I paid $1.95 for gas yesterday. What about you? - Posted By: Georgia gal

Glad it's coming down!!!

Wireless router is not working properly. Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not. This morning I had - Posted By: pkmt

plug my main computer directly into the phone company's DSL box. No settings are changed, ever, when this happens. Anyone have any ideas?

What companies other than MQ hire statutory employees and are they hiring now. - Posted By: MT

:

Need Some Help With My Resume - Posted By: NightOwl

I'm trying to write a resume (first one in you don't wanna know how many years, LOL!) and my poor little pea-brain.... I can't, for the life of me, remember the exact dates and order of my various jobs. I DO for the most part remember WHO I worked for...

So today I called the hospital that I worked for twice. They were able to give me the dates of my second tour of duty there, but they claimed to have no record of my first stint with them. The rather rude HR clerk told me that those records had probably been purged. Keep in mind that I'm sure of what YEAR I started with them that time around (1991), but not sure of the month, and clueless about when I left that time around. Is 1991 really so long ago that an HR dept wouldn't have records????

But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

I've worked for the Q at least 3 times (it might be 4, due to acquisitions and mergers). I worked for another medium-size MTSO twice also. Sometimes I was working 2 jobs at one time. Once I worked for a lady who was doing IC work for the VA. I have no clue what her name was, and she no longer has an office in the place where I worked for her.

How do I possibly consolidate this all into a functional resume????

Thank you so much for any help you can offer!

BOS and number and scales - Posted By: Janie

Dicated "pain is 2 to 3 out of 10".

I think according to BOS 2 ranges should be typed 2/10-3/10. Or should it be 2-3/10? (or something else completely?)

Thanks!

What should I charge for book manuscripts? - Posted By: Li

Hey ladies (and gents),

When I saw an opportunity to transcribe book manuscripts just a few hours a month, I thought it'd be a nice change from the usual MT. But I have NO idea what to charge. I've asked the woman to go into more detail, and this is what she gave me:

"The projects are anywhere from 3 hours - 12 hours of an author talking his book. A variety of subjects ranging from body building to business strategies. I have the document format set up. Most of the projects are 1 hr of audio = 2 1/2 hours of typing."

I'm so hoping someone here knows something about transcribing book manuscripts or can give me some ideas on how to figure a good rate. Please help - I need to get back with her today). Thanks much.

What to do. - Posted By: Megan Nicole

I have worked for a multi specialty acute care hospital for 6 years and all was well until recently. Long story short, I feel like I am being jerked around. They say I don�t meet production standards but the production standards change without notice. First it is 800 per day, then 1000, now 1200 but even if you get say 1200 lines per day it only counts as 1100 and something per day because of the crazy way they multiply this, divide that etc. So for punishment I am being pulled in-house to work after the baby is born. They are also accusing me of not routing the reports right. When the moon is full and the fish are biting Dr. Jones wants a copy but when the creeks rise and the humidity is up then he will look it up on the electronic record. We transcribe for over 100 doctors who change their minds and we are supposed to somehow keep up with who wants what and where and who can look it up on the electronic record.

Anyway, I am looking into working part-time for a company after I have the baby as this hospital is 40 miles away which would make an 80 mile round trip and you know about gas prices. I need one that will take out taxes and supply equipment and will allow me to work maybe 20 hours a week working the early morning hours. I have looked at the boards and am nervous about it because they don�t pay as high as this hospital and some people have good experience with the companies and some bad experience and I am just worried about jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Maybe MT isn�t for me but I don�t know that maybe pregnancy hormones talking and I am taking this last run-in with my boss too hard.

Websites to search for doctors - Posted By: IndyMT

I'm looking for some good websites that I can use to look up a doctor's name. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

platform called CPSI - Posted By: truffle

Has anybody ever worked in this program? It is easy to learn? Is is MT-friendly? Is it Word-based? Any input is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

In-shoring jobs for MTs. - Posted By: article from Advance - nm

http://health-information.advanceweb.com:80/Editorial/Content/Editorial.aspx?CC=200503

McDonald's drive thru outsourcing!!!! (sm) - Posted By: Me

Saw it on the news this morning, some place in California, I think it was Santa Monica. People drive up and order, the orders are taken by a call center hundreds of miles away and sent back to McDonald's via internet. They insist it will be more efficient because the call takers are not multi-tasking, just taking care of one order at a time. What next?

home office ? - Posted By: at home

I plan to use TurboTax Small Business this year since many of you seem to be satisfied with it. I will take a home office since I work exclusively at home as an IC. Have any of you had any problems with the IRS and taking a home office ? I have not taken one in the past because they said I could not even receive personal e-mail or surf the web if I did so in my office. I use the same e-mail for work and personal so I don't have to toggle between two different e-mail accounts. Besides, I only have one computer so would have to receive personal business on that computer even if separate accounts. I hope they change some of these ridiculous rules since I have no other place to work and have to use my own electricity, internet, etc that is unreimbursed by the company I work for. I use high-speed internet (required) also for work. Is this just lumped in with utilities? Last year I was an employee, so that is why I have so many questions (IC). Thanks in advance !

How many lines would you say... - Posted By: blondie_1147

A person new to Editscript VR would get a day? Or say a 4 hour day? (part time) They say you can do 3 x the amount of regular transcription. What do you say?

What's a C-phone? - Posted By: Looking at Other Jobs

Help. Just need some education on what a C-phone is, how it works. Thanks.

Looking to strengthen skills... - Posted By: KR

I have been in the field for 7 years with the same account (IM and Family Practice.) Looking to strengthen my skills. The areas I feel I need improvement in are grammer, proofing (something I have done very little of), and a stronger understanding of terminology. If you have any advice on where to go from here. I do not need a full transcription course, but does anyone offer a "refresher" and/or practice dictation in different specialties. Thanks so much!!

Today I got hired to hold - Posted By: a sign for $10/hr + benes

I don't have to own a computer, don't have to update a computer, keep paying for equipment upgrades, virus protection, pay for internet.

I will have health insurance, holidays, PTO, retirement,

WORKMANS COMP!

I have worked for M!Q for 6 years with them never giving

an iota more. I have 20+ years of acute care experience.

What does this say for medical transcription??????????

It says I can be an idiot ...holding a SLOW/STOP sign and otherwise

sitting on my arse and make more money and have benefits than knowing the equivalent

of a first year resident and typing my brains out for a company who is

making zillions off my back. MQ has done this to me....

My head hurts! My pocketbook hurts. You know what is unbelievable, they

don't even try to compromise. They act as if they are the only game in the

world. Frankly I don't think people can survive on the money they are willing to

pay for ANY of the work they are offering any more. Let them eat cake.

buh bye

Best/Favorite headphones for MTing - need suggestions nm - Posted By: LAMT

nm

Re QA, has anyone stopped - Posted By: MT****

looking at their edited reports? I simply cannot do it anymore. For 18 years I have been transcribing medical reports, and the more I type the worse QA seems to think I am. It is to the point I cannot bear to look at my reports anymore...it is crazy with tiny little errors and it only makes me sick, literally. Then if I want to take 1/2 hour out of my time I can relisten to all my reports, and 8 out of 10 times it is a 50-50 chance of who is right but of course it is always the editor. I get through the 'grunt' work, piecing together a puzzle from some horrendous dictator, with a 99% completed report, send to QA for 1 blank, and it comes back with 3 or 4 ridiculous noncritical errors which matter nothing to the content of the report, and all because someone was able to 'listen' against my already typed report (aww, that is so hard!) and found 'is' where it is totally questionably there or not, and I am sick of fighting it anymore. I have spent WAY TOO MUCH time worrying about this ridiculous stuff. What I want to know is: Does anyone else not look anymore, and how much can it hurt. There are editors who just want to mark off for something, anything, and make a name for themselves it seems even at the expense of ruining someone's QA score. How about I just stop looking and let a manager fire me one day because my score is down...who cares anymore. I will not even respond to posts with the attitude that we need to provide quality to the customers blah blah blah - hey, if hospitals wanted quality the work would NOT be going overseas to ESL transcriptionists in the very first place, nor would capitation be in place and all the woes that has brought, nor would our personal information be 'out there' floating around so some day it can be breached. That argument is totally lost on me. American MTs get constant abuse from not only the dictators but again also from editors, all the while reports come back from India or elsewhere with never a care or problem from hospitals at their quality or errors...oh it is a big joke all the time how many errors they make but that is okay, that is acceptable for them. For us - look out, you are constantly harassed and repeatedly tormented on a daily basis over this. It is not right, it just is not right.

Need some help sending a Word file by e-mail... - Posted By: MtMom30

We are selling our house and I am trying to send flyers via e-mail...however, I saved the file in Word (2 pictures and basic information, not very big) but it is too big to send via e-mail...is there any other way to save this so I can send the information via e-mail...I tried copying and pasting the document directly into e-mail but the pictures then do not show up..

I usually am able to figure out most things on the computer but I am getting frustrated with this...any help is appreciated...

www.oceangram.com - Posted By: Misha

If you want lose all the free time you now enjoy, do visit this website:

www.oceangram.com

You can turn on the wave sounds, gull sounds, and fog horn, and then wait for messages to come in. Or click a bottle and send out your own.

Let me know if you see any Burma-Shave messages. I might know who is sending those out.

sorry -- didn't know we had a gab board now... - Posted By: sm

(re NYC plane post)