Absolutely not! Most editors do not charge by the line. A good editor
Posted By: Vickie Herndon, CMT on 2005-07-27
In Reply to: editing vs. transcribing - oldMT
knows that line pay is not fair pay, or let's say a quality editor knows that line pay is not fair pay. I have done some VR editing and believe me, the ones I did you literally had to retype the whole report. Figure out an hourly rate that would work for you and don't take anything less. Editors or QA people should not be paid on production. That's the final step to quality and some of these groups, services, will learn that one day! Some of the better ones already know that. 
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- editing vs. transcribing - oldMT
- Absolutely not! Most editors do not charge by the line. A good editor - Vickie Herndon, CMT
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I'd still charge by line, just charge a lower
rate, like maybe 8 cpl. Do you have to pickup and deliver work? You could also setup a one-month contract until you see how it goes and then you can figure out the best way to charge and go from there. You could also charge a flat rate per page and keep it fairly low.
Curious, do most IC's usually charge by the gross line or 65 character line?
Thank you~
you don't have to charge $60/HR - all you have to do is charge a good rate and then..
work smart, not hard. If you have a great dictator, charge him 14 cpl on a 65 char gross line, then set up your templates and word expanders, you can make $80/hr. But you need all three to work together, otherwise you might only be making $60/hr. Some people are just really good at what they do - shouldn't they make more if they are more productive?
No, but I am a QA editor paid by the line
There are a few of us I guess.
if mt paid 9, editor paid 4 or 5...how can company charge 14 and make it..sm
I know the going rate in our area is 14 cents per line. As MTs most companies here pay us 8 or 9 cents a line. Now add in the Editor rate at 4 or 5 per line..you are paying OUT more than you can charge a line. How would companies stay in biz?
Unless all work is sent by the company overseas at pennies per line, this would not pay for a company.
just curious how this works out
QA/Editor line count query
Does anyone out there work for Medquist as QA/Editor (editing transcriptions)? If so, can you tell me what the per hour line count requirement is for you?
Also, anyone from any other company who works as QA/Editor. Can you tell me what your line count requirement is?
Thanx tons.
PS on line charge
One thing to remember is that if they add those other six facilities you will need help and with only charging 8 cpl you won't be able to pay someone much to help and so your quality of help might not be that great. Also I count my headers in my gross line. I do a lot of 9 to 12 page consults and add on 4 to 5 spaces depending on the length of the header per page to the line count. And my accounts know that my line count is based on Courrier 12 and NOT the font that they chose to use. I am upfront about that. Change back to it when I do my line count. Again, it is a starting point and good luck. If you need help or have questions either E-mail me or post on here again. Patti
how much to charge per line
I have the opportunity to transcribe insurance reports. I would be subcontracting. Any idea how much to charge per line? Is WordPerfect the best program? I live in the Southeastern US. Any other info greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Charge by line
Hi Laurie,
The last time I had an account for myself, and not through an MTSO, I charged 14 cents a line. That was as recently as December. I did not print the reports out though! I also did the pick up and drop off but since it was extremely close to the hubby, he did that for me  So I'm guessing since you are doing all that extra work, 16 cents a line?
Good luck!
charge per line
I do 11.5 to 12 cpl but gross lines. My accounts have been with me many years -- some 18+, and so I know them inside and out. For any new accounts that might come along I would start them at 12.5 cpl. I do pick up and deliver, provide sticky paper, envelopes all in the price. Reruns also. But again, my accounts have been with me a lonnnnnnnnnnng time and I can do 500 to 600 lines per hour and they pay on time without questions asked about my lines or anything. In fact have stopped giving them daily line counts, they only want totals now. So we trust each other. But start around 12.5 or so and go from there. Patti
I charge per line.
I do the clinic notes for a clinic in our area for free since they are a ministry/outreach program. I cannot take a charitable deduction at the end of the year for this. It's considered volunteer work and is not tax-deductible.
and how much do you charge a line?
are you willing to say? most people wont which is weird since most of you on here are anonymous.
I never thought to factor those costs into my line count, especially after i was just underbid for 2 cents less than I already charge.
Charge per line
I thought I posted this successfully earlier but I don't see it.
What is a fair charge per line. I currently am charging my client 12 cpl but am thinking that is low. Also, how many characters per line are you using?
Thank you
Lynn
Charge per line
Thank you for the information. May I ask what state you are working in. These will be office notes, pretty basic stuff.
Another good idea is to write a letter to the editor...sm
of your local/state newspapers telling people what is happening with their medical records and the downside of them being sent to India. Most people have no clue.
Why don't we (MTs) charge by the gross line?
-
I, too, charge by the gross line (sm)
I used to charge 14 cents a gross line and delivered and picked up every day, printed reports, provided a list of each report transcribed, and reprinted lost reports, all at no extra charge. Only one of my clients has ever been a real stickler for 24-hour TAT, so I'm lucky in that regard. When things get too busy, I do the best I can. Then I went to 12 cents a gross line as I could no longer pick up and deliver every day. This was 10 years ago that I switched from 14 to 12 cents. I haven't raised my rates in a long time but am pretty comfortable where I'm at now with my rates as I no longer print, have gone digital, have good dictators and report types, and also there's India to consider. I'm in central California which is not nearly as expensive a place to live as southern California. I would *think* your area could support 16 cents a line but I really don't know if India would be a concern for you? We have quite a few docs around here using India but a lot wouldn't consider it an option. You can always ask for more and see what they say, but you also want to be given the chance to dazzle them with your skills so they think they can't do without you. With the cost of living increasing, if you aren't making enough due to the type of reports/dictators you already have, I would definitely approach them with the idea of an increase.
I charge by 65-character line (sm)
My clinics have wanted 0.5-inch margins on the side. One of them wanted 10-point Times font. I think 65-character lines are fair for both parties.
average charge per line
Just starting out on my own and have been asked by a local chiropractor to handle his transcription. I don't want to undercut other sub-contractors charges but don't want to quote too high either, especially being new. How can I find out the average charge per line for chiro transcription?
I charge .10 a gross line.
.
I also charge whatever the line count totals. How are you--sm
supposed to keep track of what she changes and what is a straight normal? It still takes you time and Keystrokes to input the macro.
They reportedly charge 7 cents a line. nm
I am in Ohio, but have friends in MI and MO that charge 15/line.
You may need to check further. You may undercutting yourself.
Tell him for demand jobs you charge .02 more a line - sm
maybe that will cool him off, or if he wants 12 hour TAT .01 more a line.
I charge by 65-char line with spaces...sm
The two accounts I've worked on wanted 0.5 inch margins on both sides. One of the accounts wants 10-point Times. The other wants 12-point Times. They want the margins so big because they are trying to save on their paper costs, because the sticky back paper (I think that's what they use) is apparently quite expensive. I send the documents via e-mail for them to print on their own. Anyway, charging for a 65-character line with spaces nets me more than a gross line because of the margins, font, and typeface. Try it with your line counter. I have one built into my Instant Text (which I don't use for invoices) and SylCount. Both of them show that the gross line is quite a bit less when the margins are this big.
Why not charge for spaces? You type 'em like you type a letter or number! 
15 cents a line AND charge mileage
nm
65-char line to client and charge for gross? sm
That's a bit underhanded. If they ever get suspicious, your line counts are going to exceed what they count at 65 char. a line. You said yourself that 65-char/line and gross line are two different things, so why do you contract with the client saying you bill for one and actually bill for another ?? That's shady, IMO, and I would never quote my client a 65-char line and then charge them for gross line.
Own accounts, line charge, MTSO percentage
I think you might have posted this same question about a week ago. I take anywhere from 20 to 30% on an account from my IC's that covers my being the QA, the accountant, the customer service rep, the go between and the relief transcriptionist. I really think you MTSO is being more than fair. Stop and think if and when you get your own accounts, would you only keep 25% if someone was typing for you? Sometimes it is hardly worth my time to keep the accounts for the IC's as the time I spend on those accounts I accounts I could be typing and earning $30 to $40 instead of the $10 to $12 that I get when someone else types it. Remember when you have your own accounts there is no one to cover for you when you are sick, your child is sick, you go on vacation, holidays, etc. There is always a flip side to the coin. I do wish you luck but there is more into doing your own accounts than you realize.
I charge 1.5 times my regular line rate.
Absolutely never take anything that low! I would never take pay by line at all anyhow.
However, if you do, don't do it for any less than an MT would make per line because it takes an Editor a lot more time to edit than to transcribe a report from scratch.
I've also found it varies from editor to editor -
In one case I researched it fully, and found that both of them were wrong, and I had been right all along.
[Sigh........]
I would charge more per line for working holidays or if asked to work scheduled days off. SM
But did you address that in your contract?
Does this seem fair? To charge .16 per line - includes printed reports, copies on disk for one year
and delivery. I do travel twice a week to this office. Plus, at times I will fax or email the reports free of charge. I live in Southern California in an upscale area.
Thanks again!
This is one place the font and line length absolutely
make a difference. If you have to use a small font and long line length, you will make the same or less than a 65 character count. Always check out the number of characters that can be put on the line with their defined margins. For example, 1 company uses 1 inch margin, but a tiny font, so the line length can actually be 104 characters, or almost double what the counted 65 character line is. Some have a "secret" formula for saying it will come out the same as a 65 character line, but that is a hoax, as well, as only part of the report is adjusted for that, not the entire report. The only gross line count on WP51 was the only good way for gross lines. Word has really changed that picture.
Absolutely OPs only! Great pay and line count - been doing only Ops for 12 years now! nm
x
It absolutely is a way to cut an MT's line count since most companies don't pay for headers,
footers, and anything in the template. This one of the BIG reasons why I decided to give up working for the nationals. I bit the bullet and went back to work in the office for a while and then finally I found a job with a hospital that allows me to work at home, pays me hourly plus incentive, and doesn't try to cheat me out of my line count.
I just always felt like I was working my rear end off lining the pockets of the MTSO's while they nickeled and dimed me to death!
That's my 0.02 cents worth!
EditScript absolutely tracks your reports and your line counts
You edited lines are calculated, your standard transcription lines are calculated, and all of your reports are logged.
If you click on the metrics tab on the toolbar, that gives your line count - you need to insert the date range, and voila! Your counts come up.
Maybe your employer unabled your toolbar?
Yes if gross line or 65 character line with spaces....Good Deal!!! nm
x
Absolutely everything, and good for you SM
for asking. Abbreviate everything and to the point you feel you're doing something foolish when you type out an uncommon word or phrase in its entirety (and then add that one too!). After all, why would anyone type type "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" when "copdd" earns the same CPL?
But also, shortcuts for any and every other string of Keystrokes one does as an MT. Like a shortcut for the set of strokes that sends a report to QA with a standard message. A single keytap that adds a "The" at the beginning of a sentence and lowercases the next letter. That types a postop diagnosis heading and then copies the preop diagnoses under it. And more complicated ones I've put off learning how to enter because I'm still busy with this stuff.
But ask yourself, if it's something you type, can half the keystrokes be eliminated? A third? Three-fourths? One? My abbreviation for backspacing one space, adding a comma, then jumping back to the next word only saves me one keystroke, but I use it many, many times a day.
Best wishes.
For this account, I charge 0.12 cpl. It is very easy clinic stuff with good dictators, but ...
I also do tapes which are horrible so I'm considering upping my line rate especially if all this aggravation keeps up. When I first took the work, I thought I was being fair because the work was so easy, but then they asked me to do tapes and then work specific hours, print and deliver work three times a week. I wish I would have addressed more than TAT and line rate in the original contract. I do charge them a $5 per delivery fee because of gas prices, but still I think I'm getting the shaft.
Oh well, live and learn. I am negotiating for a local doctor's office here in my hometown, small one doctor office, and I'm here to tell you I will be negotiated every little detail right down to paper and toner charges!
accounts. Pay own taxes & insurance, charge to cover it all & to pay yourself a good salary.
nm
Charge what the credit card companies charge when they don't get paid on time!!!!
Audio hour charge - what is fair rate to charge company?
absolutely agree; they needed a good dose of Exlax. where was the local talent.
nm
Doubt you can charge 15 cpl for VR work to the docs - you can't even charge them 12 for straight
x
One office I charge .12, another I charge $2.25 page--nm
//
I have a very good job, top of the line
pay, but my company very rarely advertises because no one leaves.
Good line counts. Do you do 16,000/pay (sm)
working part-time with MQ? How many lines per day are you doing, and how many hours? Hope you don't mind sharing the information.
How to get a good line count on DQS
Yes, and here is another tip that would help a lot of people:
For some reason the DQS mindset is to put everybody on everything.....In other words, they like to put multiple accounts in your pool. The thought here, of course, is to improve TAT on all accounts.
However, the problem is this. One account has certain banned abbreviations while another account has other banned abbreviations. One account has special rules that the next account does not --- and the next account has its own special rules.
Out of 10 reports, you may get 3 ds from account A, 2 ER reports from account B, 1 H&P from account C, 4 ops from account D.
What management needs to understand is that this is NOT productive. You have to stop and rethink the "rules" between each report and check the client profile or make needless mistakes. This may seem to be a small consideration but it definitely impacts speed/production/TAT.
Each MT should make it know in very clear terms (and you may have to repeat yourself every couple of weeks on this) that you can only juggle a certain number of accounts without negatively impacting your production (which impacts their profit margin and TAT by the same level of negativity).
get a good line count
Switching back and forth like that, you can't get a good line count.
good line count on DQS?
my sentiments exactly!!
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