Agree. 9 cents/min does not sound like a bargain
Posted By: Me on 2007-08-15
In Reply to: at 9 cents per minute -- buy on E-bay - Patti
With unlimited long distance plans, it seems that you should be able to offer the service for much less.. IMHO.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
P.S. The temperamental Sony unit was a bargain at $100! Ouch!
Anybody want to sell me a bridge?
I have to agree. Doesn't sound right somehow
Especially the line about "now I only eat 2 doughnuts and half a gallon of milk for breakfast," and also the part about not understanding why the exercise machines make noises when she gets on them.
Call me cynical, but it sounds like someone is trying to stir up some controversy.
I agree, IMPRESSIONS (with an 's') does sound weird. sm
I have a few docs who say PLANS instead of just PLAN, for that heading, which also sounds odd to me, but I've started to type it that way if they say it. IMPRESSIONS though, doesn't sound right to me, although I guess it could go either way.
I agree - doesn't sound like it's worth your time to fight her anymore. NM
x
12 cents. I'd love to make 12 cents. sm
a line as an employee. 17 years acute care experiencing doing all work types and I only make 9 cpl plus incentives.
8 cents versus 9 cents
Wait a minute....9/55 is to 8/65....would not 9/55 be significantly higher pay than 8/64 (spaces are not counted in either case)?
8 cents a line. Should be 10 cents for over 10 yrs exp but
b
Has anyone disconnected the internal sound card and replace with another sound card?
I am having problems with my sound on one of my computers. Several different ExText program have been on it so I don't think it is the program and the sound is just now as clear as on my other computer. Has anyone switched (disconnected the internal sound care and replaced) to a new sound card? Did it make a difference.
Everyone on this board is so knowledgeable, I really appreciate you. You have helped me many times.
You do sound FAT, but you don't sound RICh.
Go live in Iraq or something.
Agree, agree, agree! Just listen to Benny Hinn..
he speaks perfect English, especially when asking for money! Also, in my opinion, blanks should be left in the doc's dictation if not able to be transcribed, maybe then they will know that are NOT understood. With QA fixing them, what need is there for them to care if we understand them or not?
Maybe it is cents a day. nm
You do mean 7.25 cents, right? . . .
 Otherwise, you are working way too cheap. Those darned decimals!
My 2 cents
They also say that the end of the world will be preceded by natural disasters. Think about it, we have had the Tsunami and now Katrina - perhaps the end of the world is approaching, however I do not ponder these thoughts. Only God knows why, when, and how.
My personal opinion is that all will be fine. With hundreds of thousands of reports being done daily, albeit transcribers or machines, editing will still need to be done. Also, in my opinion, there are a lot of old-fashioned doctors out there who will never go for VR.
6 cents!!!!!!
People who work for this crap money are the ones helping to ruin the transcription industry!!!
my 2 cents too!
You should take your computer to a computer shop and have it looked at. There are ways to have it locked up, I have my in lockdown mode and no one can get in except my son, he is the one that locked it down, (CSE), so take it somewhere and have it done or they will continue to hack you! Good luck.
My 2 cents
I think the touch is somewhat better than the original MS "Natural" model. Seems to be quiet, no clacking. However, the letter "i" is giving me fits for whatever reason, although this is my first night using it. Space bar feels a bit funny too.
The function keys are a bit smaller and hard to read if you're in the bifocal set like me. The zoom feature is pretty neat, as is the calculator function.
I think I will eventually get the hang of it and I do find it to be comfortable. I'm not a big fan of MS hardware, having once spent $$$ on a trackball that I could never quite get to work and didn't like the lack of product support, but this thing is a winner.
Well ....my 2 cents......
If I wanted to work mandatory OT... I sure the heck would not be working at home!
My 2 cents sm
Grr...sometimes I get a little cranky when it seems I am the only one who doesn't return the 25 minute blah, blah, blah progress notes that are behind TAT because everyone else skips them. However, with my company this is recognized and rewarded. I will get the cherries routed to me by my supe and have been told that once my minimun daily line count is met, I may cherry pick to my heart's content.
I chose not to cherry pick because I think it's important to maintain my own integrity. Why waste precious energy on on another person's lack of value for their own integrity? What goes around comes around, in some way or another.
I'm going to go have a cherry ;)
My two cents
Unfortunately, most platforms do not have a built in feature in which to provide feedback to MTs. It is standard to have to use a software other than the platform to provide feedback.
I suggest you speak with your supervisor about your concerns of low production. If he/she cannot offer any suggestions that may improve your level of productivity I'd start looking elsewhere. Please keep in mind that if you decide to seek another QA position you will likely have the same problem.
My 2 cents....
I have no problem with saying Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanzaa, Seasons Greetings, or Happy National Potato Week.... Whatever floats your boat. But when saying ANY of those is BANNED, I have a problem. Can you imagine if we only banned saying Happy Hanukkah? That would never happen. So why is it okay to ban Merry Christmas? Americans wouldn't know a theocracy if it ran over them. Everybody needs to relax. The only theocracy we might ever see is if we go soft on fighting these Islamofascists who seek to destroy us.
My 2 cents
Well, I think speech recognition is definitely growing, but I think 3 to 5 years is exaggerated. When I worked in house, quite a few rad MTs got laid off because of VR, but they still had to keep a few for the difficut ESLs. I work for a hospital at home now. This is a large teaching hospital and they still hand-write the majority of their reports (H&Ps, consults, etc.). They are working on dictating these in the future, but I just can't at all see things turning totally to VR in 3 to 5 years. I think there will always be hospitals who want to have MTs, plus there are a lot of private doctors out there and clinics who need MTs. Yes, I think the demand for MTs in general may decrease, but in my opinion there will always be some demand. I suggest to broaden your experiences and don't limit yourself to one work type or specialty. The more experience and versatility you have, the more marketable you will be in the future. 
just my 2 cents.....sm
not a prude here but what I don't like about this show is all these SO-CALLED MEDICAL PEOPLE (characters) having all this unprotected sex.......in the 21st Century....where sexually transmitted diseases have the potential to KILL. And at 10 pm when it is shown on the East Coast, teenagers are watching......*tsk tsk*
just my 2 cents.....
These kind of things are probably better handled if you don't let him think you need his okay for everything...go apply, sign up, and then let him know on these nights and times you will not be at home, that this is a done deal...all the responsibility for the children will be his. He probably will react negatively at first, but what is he going to do? Move out? Now come home?
Also, first check and make sure there is a market for a dental hygienist in your area. My niece has to travel 1 hour to work as a dental hygienist every day, and the local market is very tight. Good luck!
my 2 cents
I don't always send corrections back. It depends on how busy I am, how many blanks you left, whether knowing what the blanks were will make you a better MT, how new you are to us, how new you are to MT, how long you've been on the account, etc. I always respond when someone specifically requests their corrections.
My 2 cents
I am a hospital coder by day, home MT after hours. I have my CCS (certified coding specialist) certificate and have been coding in house for 6 years. I must be honest and say that I make more money transcribing part-time than I do coding full time. MT pays by the line, you write your own check depending on how hard you work. In house coding is not only hard to breat into but usually pays by the hour.
And here's my 2 cents.
Before I would see a chiropractor, I would have anything medical ruled out by a MEDICAL doctor. Like the above poster, I would be very careful about having anyone snap my neck around. People have been injured. Once a doctor has ruled out anything wrong that would require traditional medical treatment, then maybe I would see a reputable well-recommended chiropractor. That being said, there are some warning signs when you do see one. If he has charts in his office showing spots on the body that control things like digestion or renal function, or talks about curing everything from toe fungus to a brain tumor with chiropractic manipulation, then RUN. And finally, if he tells you he needs to see you on a daily basis or every other day basis... Forget it, he's a money grabber. I saw a chiropractor once that was included in my HMO group, and he saw me twice, I felt great afterwards, and that was it. It was just a muscle spasm problem in the lower back. Just proceed carefully.
My 2 cents
I'm not really sure what to tell you here. If you are having a hard time making production, then perhaps you should ask to be moved to another account that is less demanding. I am a newbie myself and I jumped in with both feet. I transcribe for an acute care hospital and I love it. I'm not really sure how you can become bored with it so soon. With acute care there is a very wide variety of reports on a daily basis. I do everything...from ER notes, to OP report, H&Ps, procedure reports, discharge summaries, psych evaluations, hospice notes, death summaries, etc. I would think you would get bored faster by switching to an account where you did the very same thing every day, which is what you would be doing on a psych account. But, that is just my opinion. If you need to do that to get your production up, then by all means, go for it, but having experience in acute care will benefit you in the long run.
2 cents
I posted the second "opinion" and wanted to add that I do not disagree with you at all. I totally believe that acute care is one of the best ways for experience. I just wanted to point out that if this person is overwhelmed, stepping back a notch might be a good way to go. I would like to note that I do not get bored with orthropedics.
Just My Two Cents
I got into MT because I found myself a single mom and needed to work from home. I can't say that I've made much money - we barely get by - but, the staying at home part I do not regret. I've been working for the same group for 5 years and I'm burned out. I haven't had a vacation, don't get sick days, paid vacations, or any benefits for that matter. I'm looking to get out of MT and back into making some money in a "normal job" to pay for college (two in college now) and retirement for myself. I've been very disappointed with the MT world/pay and am looking forward to getting out! Pay versus time spent is just not worth it to me. Being able to work from home was the only plus in my book. Just my two cents.
here's my 2 cents........
Well, first of all, I do understand what you're saying about having a different perspective on things. I've been doing this for 28 years and I definitely believe I have some medical knowledge under my belt and can think for myself about some things. Unfortunately, we also have several pharmacists in our family (in-laws)and they definitely know their medications, they just don't know the other aspects of it, the medical side, the side I see every day. And, you can tell, they don't think for a minute I know anything about the medical field. They ask questions like, "Are you still TYPING?, or "I don't know how you sit there all day TYPING for doctors, they would bore me", as if that's all there is to it. Or the big one: "I have a friend who can type good, maybe you can tell her how to get a job typing for a doctor. so, when I remind them of my degree and all the years of study put into this, that I'm not just a typist, you can see their eyes glaze over, because they just don't get it. But, I do get in my punches when they're talking about "pills" and how to give them or the makeup of them, but look blank when asked about a real-live medical condition and what that is. I just give a very off-handed explanation and let it go..they all sit there looking the other way, as if I just spoke "OUT OF TURN", after all, children should be seen and not heard.
Don't let your mother influence your feelings. If you're concerned for your aunt, see if you can find the doctor or speak to him over the phone and voice your concerns. If you don't, who will?
I don't proclaim to have the knowledge of a doctor or RN (well, at least not an RN with years of experience), but 28 years in this business does give us quite a bit of knowledge under our belts....we're not ignorant. Like a friend said, who is an RN, "How do you think they became doctors or I became an RN? They read, read, and read some more". So, she doesn't blow me off.
Doctors say to participate in your treatment, but it has been my experience they DON'T REALLY want you to know or ask anything, just be a good little patient and do as I say.
I say if you can be in the room when your aunt's doctor comes in or speak to him over the phone, you should ask these questions. Don't worry about what your mother thinks. Just because she doesn't want to admit you may know something about this field, doesn't mean you shouldn't express your concerns to the doctor. Speak up for your aunt.
Now, I'll get down off of my soapbox.
2 cents
In one post you basically itemized partly what you would need to give a lawyer if you were to file for a divorce - division of debts. The only other issues would be division of any assets and custody.
Next I noticed that you referred twice to _your_ son, not _our_ son (indicating to me you feel more invested in the child and not acknowledging his parentage).
Next you have this offer of a house that is trashed to help out your family and you take the stand that you will fight for your house. Having been there and done that, if YOU move into that house, it will be held over your head until you die (not just if you were to ever move out even on good terms). Also his family will become even more intertwined in your marriage than they already shouldn't be.
Others may disagree with what I'm about to say as being underhanded and mean, but I will tell you that if you want to be respected, you have to show you are willing to stand up for yourself. In your case, you have many people to stand up to.
You are mentally prepared to be separated, well, as I have read your posts. Go to that house and clean the bathroom, the kitchen and a bedroom. Find calmness within yourself as you do this. Then offer your husband the key to the house, a truck to move his belongings and invite him to live in it...alone. Don't fight. Load the truck yourself before he wakes up if you have to. Tell him you love him (if that is a sincere emotion) and that in order for the two of you to work out your problems, sometimes being apart can bring a couple together. File a notice in your local paper for 7 days that you are no longer responsible for any of his financial responsibilities. If he won't leave, tell him you will need to call someone to help him. When he is gone, change all the locks.
This is an extreme measure and in my case, I got what I wanted - permanent elimination of the man from my life. Think this over carefully before acting on it because you could lose your family; however, it seems to me - IMHO - that you are already in a place where you are thinking of yourself, your son, and your home as your priority. When my family (meaning his and mine) got overly involved in my marriage, it ended any hope of saving it. Think about how long you can emotionally and financially carry the baggage you currently do.
As I said, just 2 cents...
my 2 cents
Seems like most marrieds who argue - argue over money! I think the disability takes it toll on people - he feeling less like the provider and his parents feeling like they should jump in and "baby" him. My husband was hurt very bad in an accident and things haven't been the same since. I think I can relate! I do agree with the earlier poster who says the tie with the parents isn't good for your marriage. You two should be as one - with the two of you making your own decisions, etc. If you both love each other and want it to work you probably should talk to someone on the outside to get help working things out. It would probably help if you felt appreciated for the load you carry. He may feel so low about his situation that he may not express that to you often enough. If you are a giving person and it sounds like you are, you probably keep giving and now feeling like the parents are showing a lack of trust on your part feels like a stab in the back! Try to find some outside support for yourself - I would suggest a ladies group at a local church. Just getting out and going to a Bible study or coffee and not so much caregiving (son and husband) would be good for you! Remember Marriage is God's Design for Man and Woman and he has the answers! I wish you luck and God's Blessings on your marriage. CB
To My 2 Cents
I respect your opinion, but I gotta tell you -- if I was looking to hire ICs and they gave me that response about meeting my client's TAT, that resume would go into the shredder and I would move on to the next one.
7 cents ??
That is ridiculous!
12 cents
I do not really know what is charged these days - had my own business at one time many years ago but now work for a company as an IC and get 9 cents.
Four cents?
Heck, I'm an IC, and my "boss" started me at 10 cents/line. There were many days (and some even now!) where I was discouraged with the dollar result of my hard work! I think if she had given me 4 cents I would have given up way before I would have realized any progress.
I realize you only get 8, but don't screw them! Take a hit now and know that they'll be making you good money later on.
Just my opinion.
My 2 cents...
That paper is very expensive! When I went into the office every day and brought my work in on sticky paper a few years ago, the office supplied me with the paper, 2 reams at a time. You do not want to absorb the cost of it, believe me. I think the other poster is right, something like $35 or $40 a ream.
8 cents
okay, somebody PLEASE tell me where I can find a clinic job making more than 8 cents per 65-characters. I have six years of experience. I am a single mom with absolutely no help from the dad. I need to find a job that I can work 40 hours a week and have benefits. At 8 cents a line, I am having to work three jobs just to make ends meat. One of these jobs is not in MT as I cant seem to find one job that pays enough. Thanks!
My 2 cents - :)
Look at these articles. It's like the Transcriptionist is just out to suck them dry!
*disclaimer* :) I don't know if these is just some quack magazine or if these are real docs. There are also 2 good articles on there about MTs.
http://tinyurl.com/yvrfbt
http://tinyurl.com/create.php
http://tinyurl.com/2a67be
Just my 2 cents..
I got a large travel bag, specifically for my traveling equipment. It is padded for my laptop and has large pockets for my headset, foot pedals, keyboard, mouse etc..Other than that, I've been places where they strictly have wireless or I have been at some hotels where you have to plug the ethernet in. I am unable to properly use the laptops keyboard and mouse for my work so I pack my own and plug them in and just basically use the laptop's monitor etc.. Before I got the laptop, I had a portable computer that I packed in my suitcase and I bubblewrapped my flat panel monitor..and it made it even to Hawaii a few times. Having the laptop is less hassle as packing the monitor was a pain. Anyway, that is what I do..I'm sure others have their own style. I definitely never want to be tied down to a job.
My 2 cents
Like so many who have posted about QA problems recently, I feel like those who can MT can and should MT.
I often think that some MTs feel like they should have a management career track. If that is the case, why even work in this field? There is no management track, it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time and happening into it, for the majority of QA/team leaders. Once you do it full time for a while, you lose your ability to make enough money being an MT, so you stay in QA. This is why I think that so many of us dislike QA people...so many of them have completely lost touch with what this job is about and we MTs know they aren't capable of doing our job, not anymore (if ever).
I have 12 yrs as an MT this calendar year. I was a team leader/QA/lead 4 yrs ago now. I was paid hourly, about half of what I make as an MT and I working 80 hours a week. I was good at it and I could get more out of my team than anyone else could because I treated my MTs with respect and understanding. Every one of them felt I truly cared about them, and I did. I have heard from several of them since and they tell me I was the best QA person they ever worked with, both for knowledge and for attitude and treatment of MTs.
Would I go back? NO. Would any company I have worked for ask me to do it again? NO. The reason I have been given more than once is that I am an extremely valuable MT and that the company cannot sacrifice an excellent MT (in the top 5 producers of lines consistently) to make a QA person, no matter how wonderful a QA person I would make/have been. I have been told recently that because my knowledge and skill is superior to that of those who edit my blanks, it is more cost effective for the company if I am an MT because so little of my work ever goes to QA for a blank. In essence, I suppose, they are telling me I work cheap. I'd say that was accurate enough, but on the other hand, I am making very good money for PT work here.
I suppose I don't see what it is you think you should be getting. If you want more money, do MT! If you want a raise, do MT and get a better expander, ask me for my glossary and I'll give it to you. Work smarter, not harder. With companies cutting corners they are cutting them in QA even faster than in MT. And, once it all goes to ASR, you'll be cut down to doing what the rest of us do, you won't be management and you'll probably make less money yet.
My 3 cents
My opinion on the issue of global commerce is that we, the MTs who are losing MT work to India and such places, could benefit from fully participating in the global commerce through other non-MT industries. Obviously, we do not have to live in India, or even visit there, to benefit from those other industries that do business in India. I have totally given up on fighting the issue of offshoring, but plan to continue with the MT business until the ship goes down, hoping that someone in power prevents this from happening. But, at the same time, I am trying desperately to find ways to benefit from this new global economy thing, rather than let it be the reason for my financial demise. I promise to not make any further postings on the mtstars forum regarding my findings. But, the point of my message here is that we do not have to let this issue kill us, financially, emotionally, physically, etc. Let us not be its victims, but let us be victors who turn a bad situation around to provide us with positive benefits.
My 2 cents.
I have just a few comments to add to those excellent tips that have already been shared.
1. What are you eating? At this point in time, you either need to find a food pantry or purchase the best nutrition with the few pennies that you have. I highly recommend that you stay away from a lot of carbs, as they will make you feel more sluggish. Sufficient protein intake is important. If you like tuna fish, sardines, mackeral, etc., the canned varieties are relatively economical and good sources for protein. A little fruit is good, vegetables are even better. STay away from foods made with the predominant ingredients being flour, sugar and fat.
2. You need sunshine. Staying in darkness all the time will mess up your circadian rhythm and promote sluggishness, if not all-out depression.
3. You need exercise, even if only a short walk. It will do wonders.
4. Make sure that you have plenty of sleep, an appropriate amount, but not too much.
You certainly sound like you have plenty of talent and abilities and a bright future ahead of you. However, depression is a real and serious illness and often the result of chemical imbalances that require more than just willpower and natural means to eradicate. If you don't feel better within 24 hours on your own, you certainly need to seek professional help. Present yourself to an ER. If you can't get there on your own, call 911. If you don't have a phone, find a neighbor or someone that will loan you one.
I pray that God will help you to connect with whatever people or resources you need.
My two cents.......
I'm sure there will be those who don't agree, but I don't see it as offensive, I see it as immature. I mean, what's the point? It's obvious you are making an effort to stir the pot just to see what reaction you will get. Children do these things to get attention....you really need it that bad?
my two cents
Maybe you are the one who needs to grow up and act like an adult. You are entitled to an opinion but that opinion does not need to include insinuating that someone is immature or just seeking attention. I happen to like the song she got that from. In my opinion, there are a lot of people in this world nowadays whose give a d*** is busted.
My 2 cents.....
I am very familiar with type 2 DM and I think she is doing the right thing by waiting. Antihypertensives can make things worse....too many drugs handed out too easily and patient who don't know why just take it without question. She needs to really look into why they gave her this.....I wonder if the MD really talked to her in dept about the reason behind wanting her to start lisinopril. BP meds can cause many problems, problems she doesn't have at the present and problems she does not need to add to diabetes. Caution may be her friend right now.....
6 cents !!!!!!
Girl, you better find another job. You are truly being ripped off. I owned my own transcription service for 20 years and always paid my girls before I paid myself. Don't let them jerk you around. Patti
My two cents...sm
I would advise the best way to go would be to have two separate computers, if you must use two different versions of Word. Better yet, why not just go back to Word 2000 for both programs, and then you could probably run both programs on the same machine. I used to run three programs on the same machine, but they all used the same version of Word (that was the key). Also, I was recently running Word 2003 with EditScript and it kept crashing, so I went back to Word 2000. I know that Word 2002 works fine with EditScript, too, but I had a bad experience with 2003. I also use InstantText with EditScript, and it can be tricky in that you must make sure that the InstantText window is linked to the EditScript Word window BEFORE you download a job. Otherwise, when you hit the backspace button, InstantText will begin deleting any and all text in the window and totally erase your work. Yep, a nice little bug, for sure. Hope this helps. Good luck....
7-8 cents is about right for here, too
I don't know what area you are in, but here (NC), it's only 7-8 cents for MT to start. The only person I know with close to your experience has been an MT for near 20 years, has her CMT, and she makes 8.5 cents a line. If you want to make better money, you might want to consider finding your own accounts, because MTSOs really can't pay much more than 8-9 cents a line and be able to make it themselves. I have one local account of my own that pays 14 cents. Best of luck to you.
My 2 cents.....
Sorry to say but I have 27 years of experience, many specialties, and the highest I've been offered is 10-12 cpl when working for companies. If getting my own clients, I can ask a little more around here but still get looks like I'm running away with gold or something. I wish I could say the pay has gone up, but the truth is, I make, relatively speaking, less now than 20 years ago, when I was being paid in the hospital at an hourly rate with all the benefits. It is sad really. My husband worked as CFO of private hospitals and he hated to see what was happening to the MTs. He was over the Medical Records Dept head and made sure they got top pay according to their experience. We've seen it go downhill over the years and with outsourcing and selling many US jobs down the river, so goes this one.
my 2 cents
Never had a problem with getting answers, always very helpful.
|
