Agreed! I couldn't stand to make my living (sm)
Posted By: Been There on 2006-03-31
In Reply to: No way would I work at a prison - notgointhere
facilitating the state of California's biggest growth industry. Not to mention the doctors' callous attitudes towards their patients and the things you would have to transcribe would make you ill. You do know our country has the greatest percentage of our population in jail of any country in the world?
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It is worth it though. I couldn't make a good living without.
x
I couldn't stand it with a
I had a good deal too, free rent, worked at home, vacations to where ever and whenever I wanted, limos and NYC every weekend, could pack up and go back to work at my mom's for 1 or 2 months at a time for my "family" fix. I just couldn't keep doing it. I packed up, came home and last week my GD turned as she walked from my front door to look at me and say, "Bye, Nammy! I Love You!" I got a better deal after all 
I bought an optical mouse because I couldn't stand
the roller ball mouses. Mine would do that as well, but cleaning it would not help. I love my optical mouse!
couldn't stand STAR as a thin woman...don't
.
You want to make a living don't you?
Then you listen to idiot dictators. You want to be in the spotlight and be on TV, stay in Aruba. You want to grieve the loss of your daughter privately, stay at home and appoint a spokesperson. You ultimately make choices about what you do based on facts and necessities. It is NOT NECESSARY for Mrs. Twitty to be in Aruba or if she decides she rests more easily in Aruba it is NOT NECESSARY for her to give press conferences acusing people of being criminals or incompetency.
to make it official, not living in sin, tax
nm
Can't say I make a great living, but...
I support myself, my disabled husband, and also have 2 grown children at home, which the one pays his bills, but the other is having problems. We are buying our home, paying for our car, and still have enough to eat out a couple of times a week. I make more at home than if I go back out into the work place.
If you make a living with your PC, it pays to
x
I guess it is time to make a stand...
I just received my first subscription via E-mail to Advance Health Magazine.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY ACTUALLY HAD TWO ADVERTISEMENTS IN IT FOR HIRING INDIA MTs?
These are about 1/4 of a page size. One is from CBAY, which is Spheris, which is their 100% India company. Bragging a 30% decrease in costs to hospitals.
This not only threatens American MTs with losing jobs outright, but it also UNDERCUTS us. This is why we are making less money, less benefits, and needing to work harder.
I sent an E and cancelled immediately. Actually, I had been considering it for a while because of a bit percentage of their Medical Transcription articles are pro- undercutting American MTs, anyway, just like AAMT.
In my opinion, WE ARE BEING SOLD-OUT, AND BEING SOLD-OUT BY AAMT as they push harder and harder to make money any way they can, even by supporting Indian MTs, who are probably being told they "have" to join their organization...
They have been trying to force American MTs to become certified to fill their pockets and position themselves for the future as a monopoly. However, it seems American MTs are not as easily led as in India, so they flip-flopped. If you can't beat them, join them, right?
I am so disgusted. Last month they had an article from someone encouraging companies to hire American MTs and I was so hopeful, but this made me sick, to get it in my E-mail.
Time for me to make a stand. My job is worth fighting for and I need it...
You can't fault someone for wanting to make a living.
Outsourcing simply means that big corporations show bigger profits and the CEOs get bigger bonuses. They claim that it's good for the economy because the companies and CEOs have more money to spend, gag me with their trickle down economics theory, but they refuse to see what it does to the working class people. It's going to be interesting to see what happens in this country down the road as more and more working class people lose their jobs to offshoring. What, are we all going to sign up for unemployment and welfare? Will crime go up as we all start stealing just to put food on the table? I wonder what's going to happen.
You can make more than that per line, but at 125 lph, not a good living. Have to do at least 300 lp
x
Is it possible to make a living off of 4 cents a line?
If there is anyone out there new and still considered a mentoree and able to work full time and make rent please tell me because I need some encouragement. I want to quit the day job to be able to do this fulltime but when I do the math it just doesn't add up to the rent:-)
Any words of encouragement would be helpful.
his brother who couldn't make it....sm
and while he may appear to be *ghetto* and not formally educated - calling him stupid makes you look stupid because he is *out there* helping kids today to take the right path instead of all the wrong paths out there today....trying to make them listen and not make mistakes he made in his past.
Really? I make a good living transcribing tapes.
Just because it's not the way you want to receive your work does not mean it is worthy of contempt. As far as I'm concerned, practitioners who are reluctant to give up their familiar dictation methods are less likely to give in to the blandishments of VR or EMR salespeople.
You are free to work your way, and I am free to work as I see fit. If that makes you cringe, well, I guess that's just your problem. It doesn't bother me at all. Cringe away.
The result of MTs' efforts to make a living wage are (sm)
And of COURSE we don't want less - we DO want more. That goes without saying. But you see - the type of verbal attack that you and other "Debbie Downers" like you launch every time an MT says, "Wait a minute... maybe there IS something we can do is so typical of the type of thinking that holds not just MTs, but women in general back. I have already checked and made sure my doc's MTSO doesn't offshore. If that changes, my ins. (which is just your average, run-of-the-mill HMO) STILL allows me to go to other providers. If you "don't have many options", have you ever wondered WHY? Could it be that you keep SETTLING for less and less? And could it be that other MTs, when they read the gloom and doom in your post, will think THEY have to settle, too?
As for pulling other endeavors out of other nations, hey - there are quite a few that I think others would LOVE to see pulled out. Such as tech help for just about everything from your PC to your cellphone being sent to places where they can't understand what you're trying to tell them, and vice versa. I have a friend with a Masters degree in software engineering who is working menial jobs right now in order to pay the rent, while he looks for a job in his field that is a full-time, benefitted position, rather than as a part-time IC with no benefits. He says even the part-time jobs are getting hard to find because so many employers are sending EVERYTHING out, including part time.
The old, "Go ahead and try! Why don't you quit MT? Oh, boy - more work for ME!" song and dance may fly for a while, but why sit back and seemingly enjoy watching your profession go extinct, when eventually it WILL affect you, too? Do you really want to sit there all day as an "editor" and stare at work typed by other entities? How boring is that? Where is any ounce of creatitivity? At least when you transcribe, you are producing something of value, and can take pride in it. And at a lousy 3-to-6 cents a line, where is the pride in speech-rec or editing work?
BFA in Jewelry/Metals, did craft shows here and there but did not make a living -sm
goal though for this Fall or soon that is, is to get my work done by noon, then spend 3 hours at least 2 x a week in my studio which I have not touched in about 6 years.....see if maybe I can get the ball rolling again with that via local shops, studios, etc. Used to have reps that sold my jewelry in Philly which was quite nice.
I will stay in Podunk and make a living wage if you will take it to a blog. sm
Is that concept so hard to understand? I you cannot understand that simple idea, maybe that is why the lot of you don't have the sense to do something about your situation other than just whine. Take it to a blog, where maybe between you will be able to help yourselves. Or better yet, think of it this way,,, take it to a blog and then you won't have to navigate around the other posts to whine to each other.
I couldn't screw this up any more if I tried! I make 7.25 cents per line. There! lol - nm
I couldn't screw this up any more if I tried! I make 7.25 cents per line. There! lol - nm
what size package do you have? i have basic and i couldn't make good lines due to speed. nm
;
I make a second living off ebay! I have sold maternity clothes, baby clothes, tupperware, and I have
Christmas dresses and boys' outfits that I will be listing in the next month or so that I bought last year at a smocked closeout and paid 8-10 a piece. Price tags read anywhere from 56 to 88.00 dollars and I will get approximately 25 to 40 a piece depending on what brands and size they are. Plus they pay shipping. I sold approx 35 Christmas outfits on ebay last year which paid for my Christmas. It was awesome and I'll do it again this year! Good luck.
Oh, you do have to have a credit card, bank acct. for ebay. It is worth it though. They just have to verify who you are.
You can check out my auctions with momof3boysal
Agreed!
more are women than men.
Agreed.
By ''too pushy or desperate,'' I just meant not haranguing them TOO much or TOO frequently. But definitely follow up, in a professional manner, and let them know that you're still interested ... especially if you haven't received a reply in a reasonable amount of time. Worked for me! (third time's the charm?)
agreed -
I did not renew this year - and I personally know at least 10 MTs in my area who did not renew this year -- they have lost their focus to the American MT. IMO, perhaps their biggest financial support is through sales of their membership listing to offshore and/or unrelated companies! No thank you!
Agreed
And poor Elliott. He seems like such a sweetheart. And mq_mt, I'll be sure to say hello. LOL.
Agreed!
Looks are only skin deep and come and go. Stephen is a hunk in ways to numerous to count and truth be known, he makes a lot of women's heart go a flitter flutter, they're just too timid to admit it, but I'll stand up right here and say it out loud and clear:
THAT
MAN
IS
F_I_N_E
AGREED! (nt)
Agreed!
Tell them you have six school kids at home and will need extra money to leave them and take the job traveling to do their bidding! (wink!)
Agreed. I'm with you.
And getting paid crap for it when it takes longer to edit than it does to transcribe outright because the VR companies don't train the docs.
Agreed
They basically want their files online because they are horribly disorganized and cannot keep track of what they've sent to me or I've sent back to them. If I store them on an external drive here, they will just drive me crazy asking me to look for stuff. I've tried hard to work with these guys, but this issue coupled with some others has shown that what they really need is an inhouse transcriptionist.
Agreed!
I certainly agree with you there... :)
AGREED
When I needed to switch my docs to digital I got my stuff from transcriptiongear and my FTP through Hippo. Transcriptiongear is great at recommending the right products that are the easiest to use for offices doing the switch. They also have tech support for all their products to help you get set up. This is what you will need.
Digital recorders for each doctor. Most recorders also come with software that will automatically transfer the dictation from recorder to computer (I find this an important step). Computers will also need a free USB port for the recorder.
FTP. You will need a host (somebody will have to pay a monthly fee for this) and both you and the office will need an FTP client (a program to transfer the files). HIPPO offers both and again good support. There are free FTP clients out there but you don't get any support so if you are just starting out I don't recommend it.
What you need: In addition to an FTP client, you are also going to need a player and a foot pedal to play the digital files once you get them. I just use ExpressScribe, which is free, and you can talk to transcriptiongear about the right pedal.
If I left something out, somebody will (hopefully) point it out. There are many other options out there with many pros and cons. This is just the set up I use and we're happy with it.
Agreed
!
Agreed.
I had my own accounts for about six years and ended up keeping a brutal schedule that put me on psych meds, ultimately.
If you go this route, I think it's absolutely necessary that you are a person who CAN set healthy boundaries for yourself.
I couldn't, of course my clients didn't much care even if I could, and I'd get phone calls at 11:30 at night, 6:30 in the morning, unreasonable demands, COMPLETELY inconsistent workload... and remember, when it's just you, you keep up with no matter what they throw at you (meaning, 20 minutes of dictation OR 200 minutes of dictation) in your required turnaround time, or you could lose the client. Office staff doesn't often remember (or care) that you are just one person. You are a vendor to them.
I sound horribly harsh, but I just think it's a good idea to know what to expect. It sounds glamorous but, for me, it was anything but. Didn't make enough to hire an IC, but had too much work for myself, and now I'm here with CTS and severe burnout, having cut back severely on my work.
If you can handle those challenges, that's wonderful, and good luck! For all the positives, remember the huge challenges.
Agreed, but...
Your post is true. However, MTs who are not ready to "fly" should not be hired to do hospital work in the first place. Some could, but they need to be screened for the ones who know their limitations, how to use their resources, and that includes QA resources (assuming their QA person is a good resource). Now, who hired them? The vultures who hope to make a buck off of them and us? The MTSOs who hire unqualified people do us no service, do the new MTs no service, do the clients no service and definitely do the patients no service. If they want to hire people who are marginal those new people should be assigned a mentor to help them along and that mentor should be paid for that service. That is the only solution, as I see it. Only the qualified should work and earn what they are worth. I don't know about you, but I would welcome the raise they could give me if they hired fewer unqualifed people, hired more qualified (which they could do if they paid fairly) and then they would not have to have so many angry QA employees. Makes sense. Maybe we should all the the CMT test and only those who pass work (at a higher line rate). Then, when new transcriptionists start, they will be more qualified and less a burden on QA.
Agreed
Actually the only MT I know who makes decent money is one who works for a hospital (familiar work, familiar docs, 1 set of formats) which pays a combination of hourly and per line. She only makes it because she is the "fastest gun in the west" at the keyboard, fingers fairly fly, but she's getting the physical results of that, ie carpal tunnel, arthritic fingers, etc. Unfortunately for me, I love the work if I could only find a decent place for it.
agreed...
nm
I have never agreed with anyone like I do with your's!
Anytime I hear a single mother I just get a really bad taste in my mouth. It is used as an excuse. I was a divorced mother, never a single mother, but I had 2 children that I saw after and never got any coddling because of my having children. Anytime I hear "single mother" it just sounds to me like you want something for nothing and to be singled out for reduced rates, a giveaway, freebies, food stamps, well you get the picture.
agreed
You have to comply with HIPAA on this. It is not in your job description to question a doctor's judgement. You don't know what the patient's wishes are and why the doctor is treating a patient a certain way. If you value your integrity (and job) leave it be and don't get emotionally involved with work.
Agreed, but...(sm)
I think we can probably all tell where the OP worked and I don't blame her at ALL for being soured on the profession. Glad I passed on that particular opportunity when it was offered. *Shudder*
That being said, I've had great employers, particularly my current one, and I'm still making very good money.
It's all in the luck of the draw and with which company you have the opportunity to work for.
Again, OP, you have my sympathies...I'd be living on benzos if I worked for *THAT* place!!!
Agreed (more)
I know. I agree with you there. I'm just glad that for now the attendings are still using us. I'm just afraid that they are going to phase us out eventually. Maybe not right away, but there is always that possibility. But, these attendings are absolutely opposed VR. They did not want to switch. They did not want to be responsible for editing because they rely too much on us. The residents are trained coming in to use it, so they'll never come back to using us. <sigh>
LOLOL - AGREED
LOLOL--YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!
Agreed. But you have no answer. ;(
I cannot believe what we've been reduced to either. When I started 15 years ago, this was a hot job. I got more money each time I started a new job. I have had great accounts/jobs go to templates and VR, or (?) Through the years, my needs required more income but even with more experience, I watch my income shrink.
I was just commenting to my daughter the other day as I came on this board how sad it is to see so many people scrambling to work for companies for for pennies/line. There is no dignity and not much self-respect to glean anymore from a job well done.
Most of us just have to "bite the bullet" and play the game. I wish you luck. :)
Agreed. Roll with the changes in the
be phased out. Those who refused to switch out of WP5.1 and learn Word or some other windows-based program now have a much more limited set of work options. The same thing will happen with ASR. You can learn to work with it and learn to be part of it or eventually be obsolete and out of a job.
Agreed; what's the deal .....
There are other companies, instead of spouting your bitterness here... please work elsewhere.
I am really happy at MDI, as are most of the people I work with. I love my team leader. I don't know who you are, but gosh - you sure are negative.
agreed, i'm in school and still only about
i'm quite torn, as I want to do this the rest of my life (psychology) but at the same time school is so hard when you're trying to keep a full time job, and I would need a graduate degree to get a job that pays well. I can't go full time either, i'm just starting out, so it seems like a jail sentence some days. Looking at close to 10 years of schooling. I also love nutrition, to become a nutritionist it would take much less time, but just thinking about all that math and those formulas, eek! Then there is cooking, a school here offers an associates degree for that. It seems like a stressful job that I would not get joy out of. Cookie cutter restaurant recipes.
I look at it this way, it wouldnt hurt to learn about social sciences, that can be applied to any field. Maybe take a break from social sciences, go for that cooking degree or get a nutritionist diploma and work with food. I'm showing my indecision right now. I envy those people who knew what they wanted to do early on and are successful at it and thriving.
That's what I meant. I agreed with you.
And you responded with vitriol, "dear". Not at all nice. And from someone who was so upset with perceived negativity.
Agreed, Patti!
I guess if I were the OP, I'd be looking while working. :-)
I agreed with post up until that SM
"fascinating and exciting times" comment.
The work is going offshore to India, Phillipines, China, Guam, Timbuktu, whatever. Anyone with a small child they hope to home school for 18 years, better find a new line of work.
Things are changing, but they most certainly are not getting better.
Agreed, standard set, so
who would that be? When can we start? Who wants to help? What about a committe appointed and administered through a university with Merriam-Webster, Stedmans, NIH, etc. on the committee. I once met the man (on the phone) who started Sno-Med. Wish I could find his phone number. Maybe he could help us all. All this middle-man stuff and uncertainty has to stop. Thanks for your post.
Agreed, that's not logical. (sm)
...so it's a good thing no one said that. :-) Not sure where you got that idea. I don't question Norton's or McAfee's "safety," only their superiority (and I have, indeed, seen numerous systems slow to a crawl while either was installed and running). As I ended my last post, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
It depends on what the agreed contract between
the company and the client defines.
I know of 2 companies that provided all work out of TAT for free to the client (so, of course it cost the company considerably because they were paying out money but not taking in money).
Regardless of what it costs financially, it costs in reputation and that is just as expensive and devastating.
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