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transcription companies in the US!  Of course, it doesn't surprise this long time MT considering the owner of the site highly promotes offshore transcription.  I am disgusted and have canceled their newsletter.

Marilyn Richardson

Just an honest question.  Why are so many people that have been in this profession for a long time bitter about newbies?  There sure seems to be many posts about how newbies are a waste of time to hire, they're worthless, whatever...

Have you who have been in the biz for so long forgotten what it's like to be new at it?  Don't you have to be given a chance in this profession in order to BECOME a good transcriptionist?  Even though I am new at this, it doesn't mean that I don't work as hard or that it doesn't mean as much to me as someone who's been doing it for 20+ years. 

I'm so thankful that the company I work with gave me a chance.  If most companies had the same attitudes as some of these posters, newbies would be screwed!!

the point here. And, perhaps that is the point!  We don't know who these oh-so-correct posters are. Perhaps they're management or ceo's.  Allowing ourselves to be distracted with that nonsense won't help our cause. What is important is to get a consensus and, perhaps, write a petition that all who are willing can sign. If we can do this on-line and then download and print it we can each send to whichever newspaper we choose and forward to our congressmen (and women) and senators. Does anyone here know how to set up a blog in which a petition can be drawn up. Let's use our talents (and our significant others' talents) to make this happen. And, yes, there were incidents a couple of years ago when a disgruntled employee overseas threatened to release patient information. There was nothing that could be done as HIPPA does not apply to off shore companies. I find that fact to be interesting and slightly suspect. It brings to mind lobbyists and makes me wonder "why" the HIPPA laws were written in such a manner. There is quite a lot of info here on that incident. Do a search on "release of patient information" or something like that and it will probably rise to the surface! If we all do what lawyers and pundits call "due diligence" (meaning extensive research) and have a forum on which to share this information we can put together a compelling letter and petition. Keep the conversation going and maybe we will find the right people on this website that can do a portion of what needs to be done, and so on.

The following post has information of the incident mentioned above.  I have edited as it is quite long and placed emphasis in certain areas.  Although it is long please make the effort to read it.

I have read on here that some of the transcriptionists who work on the EMDAT platform actually work in Word and then copy/paste it back to EMDAT.  How do you do this? In regard to a foot pedal which one would you use? Are there problems doing this? Thanks for any info.

Would anyone who has gone to Disney in Florida recently give me an idea of how much money it takes?  My grandkids want this as a goal for saving money and I want to be as realistic as I can with them about the cost and what they need.  Thanks.

Ok, guys I need your expertise.  I started with a new company and now have 11 accounts, each with different formatting/rules and of course MANY doctors.  I tried putting some of the common phrases in my expander, but it is not often I get the same doctors again.  Needless to say, my line count is low.  I'm trying to find a solution other than crying and collapsing every day after my shift.  Knowing this situation -- new doctors, a range of different reports/formatting, how do I increase my line count?  Has anyone ever gone through this?  Please help!

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I'm just wondering if anyone can give me any good advice.  I have been working as a Transcriptionist for three years at a dermatologist office.  I am the only transcriptionist that he employs and I can keep the clinic caught up in 1-3 hours each day.  My position is only part-time.  I currently make 12 cpl.  This is a small town and most all of the other doctor's transcription here is handled by one company.  They seem to have a monopoly.  I completed two medical transcription courses and finished at the top of my class.  I currently type around 95 wpm.  I have tested for several sites and seem to have a hard time passing because other than the training courses, I haven't had any hands on experience with the basic 4.  I would love to get my foot in the door somewhere but as you know there are hundreds of people on this site alone that would love to have that opportunity too.  I had a lady on this site offer me some clinic transcription once.  Unfortunately I contacted her numerous times and waited almost six months while she continued to tell me she would be sending me the work "tomorrow".  She finally just stopped answering my emails.  I just feel like I am hanging on but I don't know when the break will come.  It is sooo frustrating.   Any advice that you can give will be appreciated.  Thanks in advance. 

ok i would like to know on average (of course) how many mammo's and chest x-rays do ya type a day? 

so me typing about 30-40 mammos a day and lots and lots of chests...is this normal or what?????

Face it - the nationals are going to outsource alot more.  We are no longer immune to the economy.  They are just waiting for some of you to leave - and you will.  Using your PTO now (at their convenience) just means they don't have to pay it to you later.  You can not FIRE someone for lack of performance if there is a lack of work.  The number one eligibility for worker's comp is lack of work and the nationals certainly can't deny that.  If your income has been cut by one-third for 60 days or more, there are better incomes out there (maybe not with nationals), but the American companies do provide good pay, steady work, and understand and respect your rights as a worker.  If it is unemployment you want, do not quit.  Find out now how it works in your state.  There is about a week's waiting period.  You only get about 50% of your income for anywhere from 13-26 weeks.

For those of you who have no choice except to stay - do some research.  If you are full time with good performance records, benefits, and PTO - your job is just as legitimate as if you worked in a factory or any institution in YOUR state.  Your job has to be defined - hours, work, etc.  If your company is not supplying the work, then that changes your job definition.  There are laws in every state to protect you as a worker.  Know them.  They can be different state to state.  Remember, standing up for your rights may get you layed off and unemployment only lasts about 6 months. 

You would do all MTs a favor if you shared some of your research here on different state laws and better companies to work for.

I want to know what I can do to become the best supervisor possible. Personally, I have had only one great supervisor in all my years and what I found is that she displayed, fairness, objectivity, a sense of humor, consistency.  Can you tell me what your idea of the perfect supervisor is? 

Hi all,

Here's a great site I found recently. Sharing this with everyone.

I was thinking about getting a 10.2" screen "netbook" or laptop for use with basically Word and the internet concurrently.  I wondered if it was feasible to use as a backup for doing transcription.  And, I'm not sure what the difference is between a netbook and a laptop.  Basically I'm wondering if a "netbook" could handle the applications necessary to do transcription, i.e., needing to have Word open, internet open, wavplayer open, and abbreviation open all at the same time.  Anyone have experience with this?  Thanks.

I am soon moving to an area where cable is available.  A friend has advised that I have a backup phone line internet connection.  Any advice?

Thanks for any/all help! 

paint your house a funky color. I'm thinking I missed a huge sale at Home Depot on paint because my neighbors are going crazy with the colors. Yes, I understand home depot and Lowe's screws up paint and you can get the mixed up colors very cheap but geez. My neighborhood is going crazy with weird paint colors on their houses. Two months ago someone painted their house bright green with bright pink trim, then came the peach house with green trim, bright yellow house followed by bright blue house with the leftover yellow trim. New house being built across the street is all burnt orange including the fence. They even painted the driveway burnt orange and not UT vols orange. Now my neighbor is painting hers bright green. It's not a bad neighborhood here in Central Florida and the houses here run from 150s to 300s but these colors are horrendous. I think if I put my house up for sale I won't get an offer because the peach house, green and pink house, and orange house are all on the dead end street I'm on.

Who is using this platform, and can you tell me if it supports third-party expanders, i.e., Smartype specifically? 

Thanks.

I remember someone giving instructions on formatting in Meditech, something to do with the F8 key.  Could you please post that information again, I meant to print those instructions out.  Thanks.

I'd like anyone's opinion on getting started as a new full time MT. 

I am a new stay at home mom with two small children, one 3mo old and a 7yr old.  Until recently, I worked in a hospital/clinic setting for 10+ years.  Having gotten most of my MT experience on the job, I am now looking to trade in corporate america for working full time out of my home. 

I see a lot of job listings that require roughly a 6000 line count weekly quota and they also ask about your preferrd shift.  Currently my level is at half that much, as I was only doing IC work partime for a friend.  Also, when doing IC work, I am used to working around my schedule and not a consecutive 8 hour workshift. 

My questions are (1.) Is 6000 lines/wk the norm for what is out there or are there more flexible companies out there? (2.) Given my current work level of 1500 lines per week, am I doomed to be unemployed if I don't increase my productivity to what I have been seeing lately which is 6000 or if I can't work "shift" work?