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Food for Thought - Posted By: Worker in USA

I have worked 2 jobs for many years now. My full-time job is with one of the nationals. My second job is for a local specialist's office. It is the second job that I want to talk about.

I have worked for these 3 physicians for 14 years now. I started out typing from tapes and bringing in the work daily on "sticky back" paper. We have progressed over the last year to having the work put on the internet and having the office staff download the work each day. It is working very well for all of us.

I am paid a very generous hourly wage. I am on the company's payroll. I get benefits, such as paid holidays, AFLAC, sick days, bonuses, personal days, etc. I am quite satisfied with the arrangement.

My thought is, can we somehow appeal to our local providers to once again give the work to those of us who work at home as employees rather than farming out work to the big nationals? This would eliminate the middle man and our wages would hopefully once again go up.

I am most interested in others' opinions. Are you happy working for a big MTSO, or would you prefer working, once again, as an at-home employee for a local company. If so, can we somehow solicit this work back where it used to be? I have been doing this for 25 years now, and I remember when most local health care providers did have their own employees,either in house or at home, doing their transcription. Guess all the recent discussions on this board have got me to thinking how I (we) can improve out current situation!

Thanks in advance for any replies I may receive on this post.

Why are companies willing to train - Posted By: sm

offshore MTs but refuse to hire American entry level/new grad MTs?

Why is there an ad for MT in india at top of this page? - Posted By: Amazed

I thought this site was strictly for US MT and no ILP advertising allowed. I also saw an ad for India MT on the side of a post the other day. Is MT Stars now following suit with the MTSOs with offshoring?

Line Count in Word - Posted By: Trish

I am an IC and will be starting with a new client this week. Can someone tell me how to get an accurate line count in Word? I know that have a word/line count in Tools, but I have found that it is not accurate (it usually gives you more lines than you actually typed). I don't want to cheat anyone, so I am hoping someone can tell me how to get an accurate line count. Thanks in advance for your help. Trish

Any new info on MxSecure or OSI? - Posted By: ngj

Thank you!

1st, 2nd, 3rd shift???? - Posted By: nm

My husband is a correctional officer, and his 1st shift is considered 12 am - 8 am, 2nd is 8 am - 4 pm, and 3rd is 4 pm - 12 am. I get the impression that most MT companies consider 1st shift as day shift, 2nd as evening and 3rd as 12 am - morning hours. Can anyone clarify this for me? Thanks.

Any opinions regarding TransformMT - Posted By: cwigginton

Just wondering if anyone out there has had any expierences with TransformMT (good or bad)?

If someone would share where I can find more info I'd appreciate it. - Posted By: me

My future DIL's dad had surgery to remove cancer from his bowel, now they find it is also in his blood. Any info I can find on this would be appreciated. I've already done a Google search, but need something more specific if anyone has any knowledge in this area. Thanks.

Advice on brand, RAM, etc. to load MT'ing software on. - Posted By: New Computer

Needing to replace my old computer for a new one. I need to get a really deal on a really fast computer. Help, please, with your experiences.

to Administrator - see message - Posted By: mt

The post on word board that is titled "I need some help" :( should be on the main board. She posted on the word board by mistake. I think she would get more responses if you moved her post. Thanks.

WHAT is "verifiable billing" ... (sm) - Posted By: ??

... and what are "ambiguous line counts" (mentioned by someone who has a web site related to verifiable billing which I cannot for the life of me figure out).

I charge X amount for a 65-character line. I take characters w/spaces, divide by 65 and voila, there's my line count. How much more "verifiable" can that get?

Can someone explain to me what this means in case the person who mentions this doesn't ever reply to my question?

paycuts - Posted By: Jasper

anyone else get slapped with a 30 percent pay cut today besides me? and yes, that is 3-0, THIRTY.

Meditech Users - Posted By: pauline

Help!!!! Question for IC MTs who use Meditech currently. I need to get another

"Medical/Pharmacological Spellchecker. What do some of you have and use right now?

I work PT for this hospital but and the only spellchecker they have on Meditech is called this: Proximity Merriam-Webster Database Dictionary. It does not have drugs on it per say.

Bought a Stedmans but now people tell me that will not work and I have not tried it yet. I do have PCShorthand but there are no drugs on it either.

Does anyone know what would work? Thanks

Please check As the Doctor about Lipitor - Posted By: That forum is not very active and appreciate info

x

Much ado about The Day...(see link) - Posted By: RadGuy

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10561471/site/newsweek/

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.

does Instant Text work in DocQScribe? - Posted By: question for geeks (affectionately meant)

Anyone know? I appreciate your answers.

Need help on wording to Google area hospitals that hire MTs at home - Posted By: SM

Everything I put in gives me sites like MTDaily, etc., that have stuff about work-at-home programs and work-at-home information. I would like to find out which hospitals here in my area hire MTs to work at home so that I can apply as I have just found out that my company is about to sink. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

Is VR just not for everybody?? - Posted By: need input

I was SO looking forward to giving my body a bit of a break so I took a VR editing job...I was hoping my speed would be up before long, doing at least double the lines (or more!) than straight transcription, as they pay you half of the regular rate, and many can do triple the amount, so like many, I was seeing dollar signs...

I know some MTs do wonderfully, but my speed is only about my straight transcription speed. I employ all of the keyboard shortcuts too. I am thinking of going back to straight MT work because it's just not worth it for me. OR, am I missing something??? My dollar signs are fading...

Thanks for any input, good, bad or whatever!!

Dental insurance - Posted By: sbMT

Can anyone recommend a good company for dental insurance?

TIA!

JLGTranscription - Posted By: Cathi Miller

Would like to know if anyone has any experience with JLG Transcription. I am considering working for them. They seem very nice. Anybody know anything?

Any Powerscribe editors out there... - Posted By: Former hourly Powerscribe MT

...is it possible to make decent money on a per report or per line basis editing PS? I've used it before (in-house MT) but was paid hourly. I checked the Archives and it seemed the going rate for PS editing was 0.70 - 0.90/report. Hmmm...is it worth it?

Extext...need the lowdown. - Posted By: anon

Line count accurate? Can it be accessed? MD and patient report access? Efficient to use? Easy to learn? Slow/fast? Any info you would want to know about company platform.

macro help - Posted By: Debra

can someone please tell me how to make a macro in word for go to *?

Word Expanders - Posted By: KarenB

Can anyone tell me the advantage of using word Expanders versus autocorrect/autotext in word? I use autocorrect a LOT but am wondering if there is an advantage to switching over?

Thanks so much for your help/advice! - Karen

DSL vs. cable internet - Posted By: moving soon

Currently have AT&T/SBC phone service (landline), Verizon Wireless cell phone, and Insight broadband internet cable and TV. Monthly costs:

AT&T: $50/month unlimited calling

Verizon: $40/month with 400 minutes (and never even get close to calling that much)

Insight: $45 internet cable and $45 cable TV

Total: $180 per month

Thinking of switch to AT&T for bundle of phone, internet, and TV for total of $100/month. Can't break Verizon contract, or would switch cell phone service too. So, would save $40 a month by getting the AT&T bundle.

My question is: Is DSL "elite speed" REALLY as fast as cable? And does DSL have fewer episodes of service being down? With cable, I've had entire weeks where the service was down, and I couldn't work; thus, didn't have a paycheck! DSL tells me they "never" go down because I'd be on my server, as opposed to sharing a server with cable internet. Speed is everything to me, as it is to all of my MT colleagues, but it's also important to have service that won't go down for long periods of time. Any experience with these that you'd like to share?

missing 1099 - what to do?? - Posted By: sm

Ok, it's now near the end of February and I'm still missing a 1099! I've notified the company, but they just said it was sent out and weren't any help. The amount was over $10,000, so I obviously need to report it. How do I go about reporting it without a 1099? Do I need to report the company to the IRS? Anyone out there with their own service, what do you do when someone doesn't receive their 1099? Can you just send them a copy or do you have to completey re-do it? I remember reading something about the form having some barcode or something in it so the IRS can scan it, so does this mean you can't just send a copy?? Thanks for any help!

Escription - Posted By: LieseOrlita

Does anyone work with Escription that could help me with a problem/question that I have?

TIA

Tina

no books here - Posted By: help please

is it Grey Turners or Gray Turners sign? thanks

Looking for feed back from someone who uses AT&T as their internet provider sm - Posted By: Jan

I get my work over the internet and am just wondering how they are with their services. If you lose your internet, how long does it usually take to get it back up? Do you find them helpful if you have to call? Do they return phone calls promptly? Do they come in and set it up, or do you have to? I'd appreciate any info and feedback about their services. Thanks!

Is there anyone who just cannot work from home. - Posted By: wondering minds.

I have ADD. Actually a college friend of mine diagnosed me when I graduated HS. I went to college and I was explaining to a friend of mine why I had so many problems in school is because my mind won�t shut off from something that happened earlier, or something that I know is going to happen later and I just cannot keep focused on the task at hand at the moment. I do have good days and bad days, lately more bad than good. She said that she thought I had ADD because she had it and she had done the same thing. She said she went to her PCP and she got on Ritalin and her grades went from Ds and Cs to As and Bs. I did not go back then because I did not have insurance of money. I tried everything else I know of. I tried counseling, I tried the tips I have found on the internet, nothing seems to work. I went to my PCP, told her what I have been doing and she dx me with depression and ADD and put me on Ritalin and Celexa. I have been taking this for a little over a week now.

Well, my OM called me and told me that I needed to work in-house because my line count was so bad. I did and H threw such a fit and cussed me out royally. We cannot afford the drive and why the heck isn�t my line count like it should be, he shouted. I told him that she will probably just keep me up there a few weeks. Well, I talked to her today and she said that I was going to have to stay permanently. No going home again for me. I told her that I have been taking meds now to help my mind from wondering and could I have another chance. She mentioned that someone else in the office (no names) is doing that too and it helped her tremendously but she thinks I do a better job in-house than I do at home. I told H and he is so mad. I can understand why but I don�t know what else to do. OM won�t give me another chance to go home. I could try an MTSO but H doesn�t think there is no use. He mentioned to me moving in with my brother because he lives closer to the hospital then we do, then he said that I should quit my job and he will find a new one that pays more and looks at me like I am a complete useless failure. I know he is just mad but him doing this doesn�t help me with my depression.

I just started these meds. It maybe the answer for me and it may not. I don�t know if I should try an MTSO while taking the meds because if it does for me what my friend said it did for her, I should be more successful. H wants to give up on me.

Duh - 4 o'clock slump - How do you write 6 million 10 thousand nm - Posted By: Not always this dumb

nm

Can someone tell me Chart Script is? It is a - Posted By: transcription platform? nm

nm

new one to me.. need some help - Posted By: upnorth

Doing a report for a transgender patient and the doc keeps going back in forth with the he and she. The patient has taken on a female name but still has male genitalia. Do I stick with the he for consistency? Definately a new one for me.

Trying to contact Rolling Eyes - Posted By: John

I am trying to get an email address for someone who regularly posts at "Rolling Eyes" e.g. Rolling Eyes on Sun, etc. If have a question about a prior post and want to send a private email. Thanks

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

nm

Can a national require full time MTs to work overtime? - Posted By: ?

Good Morning - Posted By: TA

We are soon going to convert to electronic medical records. I am still going to transcribe reports for the doctor. If I work from home and the doctor wants me to type straight in to electronic medical records system- how is that going to work? Will I still be able to do it from my computer or will doctor have to purchase laptop?????

Thanks

What is the average line/hour for a 65 character line with spaces? NM - Posted By: Lisa

.

Winscribe-is this Word based? nm - Posted By: MTired

nm

Independent MT - Posted By: Angela

I don't know if this is really where to post this, but I'm not a new MT. I have been doing this for almost 3 years. I have been working for companies and want to get my own doctors. Any ideas on how to advertise? I was thinking of mailing flyers, but am not really that creative and don't really know what to put on there. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Are Ops hard to do? - Posted By: Curious

It seems some MTs love to do them, but why do they seem so ominous? Are some harder than others? I've heard of MTs making normals out of them, thus, good money. They've just always scared me for some reason.

Thanks!

Resumes - Posted By: ET-MTSO

I have been advertising for an MT, but some of the resumes received are appalling. There will be misspelled words, incorrect word usage, etc. I advertised for a few years experience and although these resumes show that they have the number of years required, there are still these types of errors. Now, of course, for me I will not hire anyone with multiple errors in their resume. But, here is my question I guess, I will thank everyone for sending a resume once I have filled the position, but on some of these (and I cannot do all of them of course) that just need a few touchups, would you take the extra minute to let them know what they could do to improve their resume? Not downgrading them by any means, but just let them know maybe what knocked them out of getting the position you had available or maybe just letting them know about the errors. I would love opinions on this please but really more for can I help them or will it just tick them off?

what a nice gift on MT day !!!! - Posted By: JMK

Today I landed a hospital pathology transcription position; per diem, $22.50 an hour with possibilities of f/t down the road! They hired me on the spot - yippee! Happy MT Day, everyone !

Joanne

Can a decent line count be made - Posted By: tired and confused

doing discharge summaries alone, multiple,consistent, bad doctors, without working 12 hour days?

AMA membership/nonmembership - Posted By: dlsifford

I need to know the signifiance of whether a doctor is a member of the AMA or not. What exactly does this organization do and what does their membership mean. Any info would be helpful. I am researching a physicain who is a nonmember.

Doggie down situation update to the very kind posters below - Posted By: OP

Well, she is trying her best to put weight on her hind legs. I have been beside myself with worry and can actually tell she is scared as well.

Will let her rest. The procedure was stressful for her and I wish I had not had it done now. She held firm when they came for her; they had to pick her up and carry her - that in itself should have made me think that she was not up to it.

I just want her to be with me for a few more years if possible. The lipoma had grown so fast I was afraid it would continue to grow (it was size of egg, on her chest, by breast.)

Thank you very much for your posts. I thought you guys would think I was ridiculous to try to preserve my old girl. Was sure I'd come on today with people telling me to put her down. Thank you so much. She is my family.

silent keyboard - Posted By: tiredofclackingkeyboard

Does anyone know if there is a silent keyboard made or a very, very quiet one?

CONGRATS to Laura M. of Jeffersonville, PA & Beth R. of Yorktown, VA - Posted By: who won the Golf Umbrellas courtesy of PRN Funding

Two years without a raise - Posted By: MTTX

I have worked for this doctor for five years and have not received a pay increase for the past two years. His patient load has increased very much in the past few months. Is it OK to to type a letter requesting a pay increase? It is very difficult to get a hold of this doctor???

tHANKS