A bit long, but please read, at least, the end if you are up for an experiement
Posted By: Kathy on 2008-05-16
In Reply to: How much do expanders help you? - medtran82
I have used Expanders from the start, and I would say they help overall. However, as time has gone by I have discovered better ways of putting them together, so I have ended up changing many I had already created along with the endless making of new ones. (Some of this due to discovering which key combos are easier for me in regard to finger dexterity and some due to overlapping use of the Expander pattern I started with.)
I think you might actually be better off since you have learned more about transcribing before creating any.
I did read a funny and interesting thing on here a few months ago though. Someone said they stopped using their expanders and were getting a higher line count by straight typing. I was really tempted to try it for a day to see what would happen but never did. It would be kind of fun if we all tried it for a day (or even half a shift) to see the range of results.
Anyone game for that?
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I can't read for long in the car or do crafts because I get
motion sickness, but I've worked from coast to coast without having any issues. My issue is my DH and the radio. My DH thinks he is going to die if he doesn't have his music and I'm turning the volume down and 2 minutes later he's turning it up again.
I work for both ... my comparison (LONG READ):
HOURS/CLASSIFICATION:
MQ: You have a choice of FT with full benefits -- 39-40 hours producing average of 150 lines/hour minimum; FT with limited benefits -- 39-40 hours with less than 150 lines/hour average but more than 100 lines/hour; PT with limited benefits for 8-16-24 hour schedules all averaging 100 lines/hour.
Spheris: FT is 37 to 40 hours a week, with 10,200 lines required by payperiod's end. PT is 20 to 36 hours a week, production is 5100 lines/payperiod minimum.
OVERTIME:
Both companies structure overtime the same way; averaged in the same manner; requires approval, must be in addition to 40 hours WORKED (PTO, DT do not count).
SCHEDULES:
Both require a schedule with the offer of "flexibility".
TIME:
MQ: Time sheets are used; MTs fill them in manually and submit.
SPHERIS: Galaxy is used -- you clock in and the system punches your time for you. Day's end, you see how much you've worked and allocate your time accordingly (productive time, PTO, meeting with mgrs, etc.).
BENEFITS:
MQ: You see the benefits in the Harmonization booklet. The employee's cost of insurance benefits is assigned by the state you live in (as well as which/if coverages are available to you).
SPHERIS: Med/Den/Vision are offered. Employees all pay the same amount for amount of coverages (EX: All employees wanting EMPLOYEE ONLY coverage pay the same; all wanting EMPLOYEE+ONE CHILD pay the same). It is available to all employees. Cost is not region-specific.
EQUIPMENT:
MQ: Use your own or they will provide. The current rental charges will no longer be effective in January; as well, the internet reimbursements will not either. I don't know if there will be a deposit for those just coming into the company after Jan 1.
SPHERIS: Must use their computers. No rental fee but there is a refundable deposit. You can pay it at once or have it taken out in 6 paychecks. Refunds to you when equipment is returned in good working order.
PTO:
MQ: You see the new PTO offered in the plan and can read online the PTO calculation formula.
SPHERIS: Same type of calculation formula; averaged quarterly and you receive a notice of what your new downtime/PTO rate is and what period it covers. Limit is $20 an hour tops for PTO. Lowest is $7.50. Amount of PTO depends on status and length of service and ranges for FT from 11 days to 21 days a year and PT 2.5 to 7.5 days a year.
HOLIDAYS:
MQ: You can read in the Harmonization booklet.
SPHERIS: Thanksgiving and Christmas are designated holidays. If you are scheduled to work on it, you can take PTO instead. If you work it you will earn double lines those days.
QUALITY:
Both require 98%.
PAY CYCLES:
MQ: Pay WEEK is Su-Sat; pay PERIOD is bimonthly 1-15th and 16th-end of month with paydates on 10th and 25th. Direct deposit available.
SPHERIS: Pay weeks are same as pay periods and are Su-Sat with every other Fridya as paydates. Direct deposit available.
BASE RATE:
MQ: With the new plan, you have your current base rate and it is the same on all work (unless you do part radiology or ASR).
SPHERIS: Your base rate depends on the level of the account you type on. If you type on a really easy account, you will get less pay; more difficult accounts, more pay. Each account level has a new-hire hourly associated with it. Levels go from level 3 to 10 with line rates 0.065 to 0.102. With Spheris, if your production earnings do not add up to at least minimum wage for the hours you worked, they will pay you minimum wage. However, you will not stay with them long if you cannot produce enough to keep you off the minimum wage payments.
INCENTIVE:
MQ: We know that incentive is achieved on a daily basis -- after you produce 1200 lines. Tiered so that you earn incentive ONLY on the lines produced AFTER 1200. It barely puts change in your pocket for mid-range producers. Only rewards high producers.
SPHERIS: Incentive is base on each week's production (Sun-Sat). So you can have a really bad week and only get your base and then next week have a great week and get incentive. Once earned, incentive applies to ALL lines typed and ranges depending on FT or PT status. FT: 5200 lines start at 0.002 and increases up to 7000+ lines getting 0.015 cpl incentive. PT: 2700 lines = 0.001 and increases up to 7000+ lines = 0.015 cpl. Whatever incentive you earn that week is applied to ALL LINES PRODUCED THAT WEEK. Spheris also has special teams that pay higher base rates.
SHIFT DIFF:
MQ: 11pm-7am = 0.01 and 3pm-11pm = 0.005
SPHERIS: 4pm-8am CST daily = 0.005.
NO WORK AVAILABLE:
MQ: This is not specifically addressed per se; however it is not listed under downtime definitions at all. I doubt MQ ever pays for no work situations.
SPHERIS: Has a policy: "MTs will not receive compensation for "No WOrk Available" situations. If an MT runs out of work, the MT should immediately notify their Supervisor or follow th eout of work situation guidelines for their team."
Hope that helps.
But the help file is so long and boring to read.
I know about linking and hiding the suggestion window. Other than that, I don't know many semicolon or Ctrl functions. I put hospitalization in as hosn. I wish somebody would teach a Shorthand Expander class or come up with an in-depth book going over specific SH features. The other expander books I bought were lame.
I didn't read your way-too-long post, but...
did you type all that out, or copy and paste from somewhere, cause if you typed it all out...you need to get a life and quick!
Long, informative read - Merck vet manual (sm)
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/71600.htm
Help! Long shot, but if you're near Redding, CA, please read
I'm desperately in need of a Dictaphone pedal. Mine randomly quit working this morning, I need to work today and tomorrow, and I can't find one in any stores here. My employer's Fedexing me a new one that will get here Monday. If you have one that I could borrow until Monday, I'll come pick it up, and I'll bake you one of my famous apple pies.
Best post I've read in a long time.
I tend to go back and forth with my feelings about this profession. In the mornings I am glad I do not have to get up, get ready and go to an office. Many times in the evening, after I have during the day and still have work to do, I feel like stuffing it all. Many times I am disheartened when I get my paycheck, but I am glad to be getting one, while my sister worries about getting laid off from her manufacturing job. MT has advantages and disadvantages.
I work and do not have time to read such long posts, do you?..nm
nm
How long would you say it takes to get a decent grip on them. I do have samples already I have read
over and they arent hard but I havent heard the voices yet.
Oh, my. That's the funniest thing I've read in a long time.
AHDI: Solving the world's problems, one foreign MT at a time.
ROLFMAO
In 12 years of MT'ing I've never re-read an entire chart. Edit/read as I type. nm
x
Yes, I read your post, and I just re-read it, and I've copied and pasted for you in case
you've forgotten your own words! Your post above is 100% different "flavor" to it, now all positive and cheery! Your first post was 100% doom and gloom every which way, including "raining on your parade", and "if you want to go forward"...God, sounds like she's talking about jumping into oncoming traffic! Here is your quote:
My first boss (the one who hired me as a new grad) gave me some words of wisdom that I haven't forgotten. She said that transcribing at home with small children NEVER works under any circumstance. Either the work will suffer or the parenting will suffer.
****
How can the word "NEVER" in caps be interpreted in any positive way? You took about 8 paragraphs to cover every aspect and completely dash this poor woman's dream. I'm not blind, I'm not talking about day care at all, I'm talking about the total negativity of your original post! You know exactly what I'm talking about, cause you added some sugar to your second version! And that's much nicer than the first!
I hate Instant Text. It is expensive, long long learning
curve, and too much distraction for me.
How long should I wait after applying for a position before I follow-up. It has been as long as two
without hearing from some. Just wondering if I should send an e-mail to follow-up to see if they received my resume or not. I don't want to offend anyone but feel two weeks should be long enough for someone to at least acknowledge my resume and that I have applied for a position. Right now I would accept anything even a note saying no thanks. Any advice would be appreciated. I haven't had to apply for a job for the past 10 years so I am a bit rusty at this. Thanks again for any advice.
Oh I've read that site and continue to read it...sm
I agree...much motivation there. I have tried to quit numerous times in the past and did successfully quit when I was pregnant for the first time many years ago but I have never managed to summon up the strength or resolve to stay quit. Thus the "need" for a financial investment in my efforts. It somehow makes it more motivational to know that I have $$$ invested in this effort over and above the $$$ saved on cigarettes.
Who had time to read?LOL I only get a chance to read This Old House once in a while. (nm)
x
Congrats! How long have you been a MLS and how long did you study for the test!
Please see message. I have three daughters with long, long hair.
I also have long hair down to my waist and my three girls have hair that long too. My daughter brought them home from school last year. I was devestated and grossed out!!!! I have never had to deal with lice. Anyway, we did the treatments and two of my girls broke out in a severe rash with the OTC stuff. Their little heads were so sore!! I thought I was being meticulous with eggs, only to find them hatching again down the road. A nurse at the pediatricians office suggested I try oil to suffocate them since my girls were allergic to the lice solution. I bought a huge bottle of veggie oil and dumped it on all three heads, plus my own. I then wrapped the heads in platic wrap and then a towel. I left this on for 30 minutes. It takes a while to wash out the oil, but we never, ever had the lice or eggs again!!! If you try this, make sure you put on an old shirt and put a towel around your shoulders. Obviously we were desperate, but we all have such long hair and very thick hair so I was willing to try anything. And I figured there was no chemicals involved so that was pretty safe. And it sure did help my littles ones since their scalps were pretty raw from the solution. Hope this helps and Good luck!
It's been a long, long time since I've used a C-phone, sm
but I do think jobs can be paused.
I didn't read the other posts but just read this
My daughter got pregnant at 17, said she wanted an abortion but BF didn't. I have a wonderful 2-1/2 yo grand daughter that I don't think I could live without...and now, guess what? I don't. I have custody of her. She was dropped off on my door, I got court ordered temporary custody and final custody hearing in a month.
I'm single with no family support. I had just taken a new MT job one month before this happened and they have been wonderful during my adjusting to being a mom again and I hope I can resume a normal schedule by next week.
I'm passing no moral judgments or giving moral advice. The situation is what it is. My prayers are with everyone involved.
Definitely an eye-opening read. Having my teens read it, too. nm
s
I had a problem with this for a long, long time sm
I have always worked days, like from 6-3. Over the last few years, it didn't matter how much sleep I got, I became real groggy between 7 and 11. Really shoots the day. Talked to my doctor and he said my blood pressure pills were the culprit but he refused to change me to another brand or dosage since I have multiple aneurysms (2 in the brain). My BP has been stable for a long time and he wants to "keep it on the low side". I tried taking them before I went to bed instead of early in the morning, but then I had headaches all day. So, I am changing to a night shift for a few months so I can sleep when those pills kick in and so far it is working pretty good. I stay mostly awake during my shift and die when I hit the bed from 6 am to 10 am, then I lay down again later in the afternoon for 2-3 hours. I still get 6-7 hours of sleep, it's just split up during the day, plus I am mostly awake now when I sit down to type. I don't have to deal with the heat in my office, either. It tends to warm up real fast in here with the south sun on the house and 2 pc's running all day, even with the air conditioner on.
Way back when, a long, long time
ago and in a galaxy far, far away, I had my own accounts also and some years cleared $75,000. Yes it can be done, but you need to have your own accounts. Also lots of delivery, and other duties involved. I work for a large national now and make much less, but I got tired of accountants, having to deal with hardware problems, deadlines, driving deliveries, printing, printers, etc. So I decided to simplify my taxes and stay home and just type. Don't have to worry about computers either, because the company will just send me a new one.
Long, long files. Seemed like they'd never end! I'd never go back to VA again. nm
s
I've been doing this a long, long time...
I used to make $70,000 and up a year and did so for most of the late 80s and 90s (one girl used to make six figures a year working 7 days a week!) Because we were making more money than the supervisors and Medical Records Directors in hospitals, they began to switch to transcription services which were sprouting up all over the place. Plus AAMT came into existence and even though in the beginning it claimed it was to fight for transcriptionists (although assured us it was NOT a union), they eventually morphed into an organization that was more management friendly. They developed the "guidelines" and the 65-char line. That was the beginning of the end for those high-end wages. Then all those mickey mouse transcription schools popped up, and now outsourcing overseas. YES, we're complaining.
Been in this biz a long, long time, 30+ years and....sm
I love/loved MTing. However, things have changed so much during these years. The job definitely gets easier; don't have to look up much, can decipher ESLs much easier, in other words, you get pretty comfortable with things and you have confidence in yourself. The more experience you have the easier the job, but....
I actually made more money 10 years ago!! We didn't have speech recognition and you actually got paid for headers/footers, demographics, carbon copies, etc., you got paid for what you did fairly; today, I am not so sure.
You will feel burned out at times, but that passes and you find you like your job again.
Good luck to you!!
A long, long time ago, I was going thru
a really bad time emotionally and physically. I was suffering, and my transcribing suffered. I assure you - if you are to the point of not paying your rent, literally, and needing food stamps, there is something else going on in your life than current transcription rates. We are all in this industry and many are thriving, most getting along comfortably. If you are literally to the point of food stamps, you honestly would be a fool to continue. I blamed it on my job, on my line rate, on everything but the honest truth that I was ill and was NOT working as I should or could. It is a really sad thing that you keep spreading this propaganda that MTs in our culture are doomed and now destined for food stamps. Food stamps are not something to toss around lightly, as you would know if you ever had to use them. Please let's not be quite so dramatic. Again, if you are really in those dire straits, you really need to face that MTing is not the fit for you, personally, and do something about it rather than blame our industry. You dwell on the past, but we can't do that. While you may have made other wages 20 years ago, may I remind you that we were pounding away on IBM Selectrics using layers of paper and bottles of white out, going crazy trying to rewind tapes over and over to get that dang word, with no idea what an Expander was. Technology is fantastic. Things have changed, but things are still great in this industry, and in this world. Those who change and can adapt will be fine, but you need to recognize that most of us are not ready for food stamps.
Sure did...you been around for a long, long year
A gross line IS a gross line regardless if it's 90 characters long or 1 character long... SM
I'm very sorry that your lines are 90 characters line and you get paid by gross lines. You are cheating yourself - that's not my fault. You cannot change the definition of a gross line. So I gues I'm not understanding what you are trying to say. Now if you are trying to say that your line equals 90 characters and that's how you figure your lines, than you are not using gross lines. You have defined a line to be 90 characters, whereas most MTSOs define a line as 65 characters. If that is the case, then I must say again, you are cheating yourself.
So which is it, do you get paid by gross lines or by a 90 character line?
Yes she did. Read over and over.
Go have dinner and read again. What's your battle or issue with poster. It's an OPINION!
Read a few more
of the posts from ALS. I think that this is the poster who is trying to be "smart" in the way that you are referring to in your post.
I can read 2
She never did provide a reference for crepitants. This is because she cannot. It is not a word.
Please read - sm
If you are the transcription supervisor I would strongly advise you to please review the reports carefully - do this around the end of the first month or second month. The reason I say this is because for the first few weeks an outsourcing company will QA just about every report so that it looks great, gains the confidence of the client, etc. I have worked with many, many hospitals as a consultant and notice this to be the pattern.
After you have found the multiple mistakes, bring these up to the administration and ask to have a deduction from the bill.
I have had to point out to a few hospitals that use the overseas transcription that they are putting the doctors at malpractice risk. One hospital even ended up paying the outsource company $262 for the month because they had so many mistakes in the transcription and each line that had an error was deducted from their original bill. You can bet that company did a turnaround the following month with nearly no errors. I'm not afraid to tell you the company - CBay.
You need to read up on how (sm)
perverts select their victims. They don't just assault randomly unless they are planning to kill you afterward. They specifically target those who they think will not stand up for themselves or children who have nobody to stand up for them! Your pappy there has had permission from both his wives to assault others under their roof and he is going to get worse if you don't stop him now. He's not senile, he's not demented, he is a disgusting pervert who has been molesting children his entire life! No "mother" would allow this sort of thing to happen to their child, and it doesn't matter if you are 5 or 55! Do you REALLY believe that his own children were not molested? The only reason his daughter didn't admit it to you is because she'd have to tell you the gory details and didn't want to have to go there, much like you don't want to tell your family something he SAID to you. I guess if you're that worried about what your "mother" will think, then go ahead and get felt up for the rest of your life, but I sure hope you have the good sense to NEVER take your children over there!
You only read what you want to..
I don't advocate welfare for life no questions asked, but geez, louise,this is America, the richest country in the world and we have children who go to bed hungry!!!!
You need to re-read
Listen up! What part of re-read the darn posts didn't YOU understand?
People have been complaining on her for weeks about "oh I hate having so many accounts..." or "I have too many accounts and can't remember each profile" or "I already have 6 accounts and I don't want anymore"
Take off your bifocals, clean the slober off your monitor, and scoot your big old butt close to the screen and re-read the posts from several days ago!
Read this
Her uncle ron is your husband - get a grip on life!
from what I read
it is fine to wear black. I checked it out on the net. During my wedding, there were a couple of women wearing black. I also attended a wedding where the bridesmaids were wearing black.
You might want to read the (sm)
article/link that someone just posted on the main board.
Good luck, whatever you do! 
HELP! Where did I read this? (sm)
JAAMT or Plexus or other???  It was an article about AAMT's position in dropping the possesive form of an eponym and how other organizations were following suit (like AMA). In other words, not to type Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease, but Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. I meant to copy this to have it readily available (doctors don't seem to have read this explanation yet). Thanks!
See, the way I read that was...SM
The poster was saying "Hey, better to have an occasional drink than to wind up on antidepressants" - which, even when taken EXACTLY as prescribed, can really mess some people up.
I have never taken a job from there, but I just want to read it to keep -
ahead of what is out there and who is looking for what as far as jobs. What I did notice though, and I absolutely love that they did this, is that you cannot see what anyone else has bid. you used to see what everyone was bidding and it got to a point where people were putting down that they would do it for free just for the job and experience!! C'mon. How fair is that.
I agree with you on paying - I don't want to pay Guru a part of my check, that I am already under bidding on, just because the job was posted there.
read below
It means intake and output and you don't put an apostrophe because that makes it possessive. You also don't use one for words like TMs and so on.
Not just re-read but...
That's called re-casting the sentence and would not be permitted with TRUE verbatim transcription. My dream is to one day type EVERYTHING just as they say it, including "BEEEEEEEELCH", or 'Hi Joe, how's the golf came?" etc.
Do they like to read?
.
Please read
That may be true, but again, please don't let a bad reputation of one company put you in a negative mindset of the entire Network Marketing Industry. It's the same with medical transcription. If you look at these boards, you'll find that there are some companies with very bad reputations, and yet there are some very good ones out there.
I have and am doing it.....please read
I've been in this industry for several years.....and I never said that ANYONE should take my advice, I was simply giving my opinion and having a conversation. If Network Marketing is not your cup of tea, then that's cool. But I along with several other people I am associated with do make a nice living at it. Please understand, I am NOT defending those companies that truly are scams or the ones that make you spend lots of money before you even see a dime. I was just saying that not all companies are bad.....and that personal development is a good thing to do for yourself.....nothing more and nothing less. Have a blessed week!!
If you would read the
She says that she should be paid the extra that the MTSO is pocketing...what do you think that means?
Why do you read it then?
There is no need to be nasty.
What I have read..
From a government site, said that with the growing population and the expansion of new hospitals and medical facilities, the need for the medical Transcriptionist will increase. There are many people on here who will say, don't do it, and we hate our jobs, but I don't think there are many jobs where you can sit at home and do your work. You save on gas, clothing, food, day care, etc. In my opinion, it will be here for a while. Even if there are voice recognition programs, there will be someone who will have to edit those files because of grammar, ESL doctors, and just doctors who cannot speak.
There is also a concern for outsourcing out of the U.S. I do not think that is a problem. I know a few doctors who went with an India service and came back pretty quick. I doubt the need for the MT will reduce in the future. This is my opinion from what I have read.
You need to read this...................
Please be aware that if you are working in the evenings doing MT, and another agent calls you and says he/she has a contract on your listing, you WILL have to drop what you're doing MT wise and go; to not do so would mean you could (most probably) miss out on a sale, which you certainly don't want to do after having put all your heart, soul, and $$$ on the line.
Also know there are time constraints involved in all contracts,and they will not go according to YOUR schedule.
Please be aware that if a seller calls you and says he/she wants you to list their home - please come over at 7:30 p.m. - you WILL have to drop what you're doing MT wise and go; to not do so would be to risk the seller listing their home with another agent. In addition, you'll also have to spend time preparing for the listing meeting before you arrive there.
Also be aware that the majority of home buyers work during the day, so the busiest time of day to go out looking at homes with buyers is naturally when they are not working; i.e., evenings and weekends. If you are summoned to take buyers out looking at homes at that time, you WILL have to drop what you're doing MT wise and go; otherwise, there are thousands of other agents out there who are more than willing to drop what they're doing to show homes and make a possible sale.
You will find that Buyers do NOT wait. Real estate agents are considered a dime a dozen as there are so many of them out there who are willing to show homes at 2:00 a.m. if need be. Buyers want to see homes when they want to see homes.
I'm not trying to be snitty here, but I think you have an unrealistic view of making money in real estate. If you think you can work real estate during the day and that's it, you are going to be sadly surprised.
There's a lot of homework that goes into real estate and a lot of time involved in all aspects of real estate that go with it.
If you are planning on making any money in this whatsoever, daytime hours only won't cut it, and you will soon find that all you're doing is spending a lot of money, spinning your wheels, getting frustrated, and going absolutely no where.
Trust me when I tell you to be successful in real estate, you must give blood; this includes in the form of your energy, time spent, knowledge, competiting with other agents who would slit their own mother's throat to make a sale, and a multitude of other things that I don't have time - or the room here - to tell you.
Tread carefully into your new venture and realize there's no job out there that's easy, and least of all real estate. It's one of the hardest fields, but I know most folks think's its so simple - sorta like the little gal with a typewriter/computer who watches ER and, therefore, thinks she can be successful in starting a medical transcription business or SC'g for a service.
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