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Answering your questions,

Posted By: Glad he is in on 2007-10-11
In Reply to: My husband used to drive a truck and - Getting older

No my husband does not make $1.00 an hour. He tells me sounds like your husband might have been owner of his truck but then mine is in the union and thank goodness, he was able to bring home over $100,000.00 last year which now allows me to work part-time instead of all the time. He does not do the gone for 3 days or more a week, in fact he is home so much feels sometimes like he is not gone at all. His off day is Monday. Gets home around 4 that morning and sleeps for awhile and then does not have to return to work until Tuesday at 9 p.m. the next day. He returns home again on Wednesday morning and then leaves out again at 9. We have loads of quality time together. He is not an owner, does not worry about having to pay this person or that and this is a great thing for us, our medical insurance is a freeby. I love his job. We are further up in age so we both enjoy our time together as much as our down time from each other. Gotta run, on my way to my ceramic class before work this morning.


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Thank You so very much for answering my questions

People on this board are great. Always willing to help. This should solve my problem.


I went to MQ web site where Frank is now answering questions. Looks like Frank
is running behind on his questions because they are last dated May 11.  Maybe he is in Hawaii?  
Meditech questions and Cerner questions. Any input is appreciated. SM

I just recently went back to work in the office at a local hospital. We type in both Meditech and Cerner, depending on what you are typing, i.e. Medical Records reports versus Radiology.  We are currently typing blindly in Meditech, meaning we do not have access to our line counts and must depend on management to give us our totals.  In Cerner, we are able to run a line count report and print out a hard copy of our line counts at the end of the day.

We are finding that 800 lines in Cerner equals about 500 lines in Meditech.  We are not paid per line nor do we have an incentive plan, but we have a new HIM Director who would like to institute an incentive plan and the administrator over our department has laid down the law and decreed that all transcriptionists not making minimum in the department will be written up.  Problem is according to Meditech line totals that we have been given, that would be about half the department.

The transcription supervisor has taken our concerns to the new director who told the MT Supervisor to hold off on writing people and has taken home all the line counts from the last month and she is going over them with a fine tooth comb this weekend.

I am not a very trusting soul by nature, so I am doing a little research on my own.  I've been in this business for about 15 years.  I started out in a hospital and have worked for a few services at home and am now back in the hospital setting.  So I know a few things about line count and I consider myself to be pretty well informed on trends and technology in the industry.   I would like to walk into our next department meeting armed with as much knowledge as possible.  So I have come up with some questions that I would like some fellow MTs to answer, give opinions, and maybe even direct me to websites or individuals who could give me a better understanding of Meditech and Cerner.  Here are my questions:

 


  1. Is it possible for an MT to have access to her line count in Meditech or is strictly a management function?  Any MTs that work in Meditech on this board, do you currently have access to your line counts and if so, how do you check them?  Is it an option on the main menu after you log into Meditech?

  2. How is a line defined in Meditech?  (i.e. 65 cpl, with spaces, without spaces)

  3. How is a line defined in Cerner?

  4. What abbreviation Expanders work with both Meditech and Cerner?

  5. Examples of incentive plans (if anyone would like to share that with me that would be great, if not I completely understand).

  6. Measuring productivity by minutes of dictation versus typed lines.


    1. What would be the minimum minutes required for an 8-hour day?

    2. How would one structure an incentive program based on minutes?

I was thinking of presenting the idea that we keep track of productivity using minutes instead of lines since there is such a discrepancy in Meditech.  I also worry that if an incentive plan is put into place and we are still typing blind into Meditech, what's to keep management from shaving off a few lines here and there?


Feel free to email me or post here any responses.  Either is fine.  I really appreciate any input, comments, or just plain old supportive posts would be nice too! 




Thanks for answering
With my second job, I have to use an external modem to dial up, they don't support high-speed internet. Is that what you have to do as well? We wondered if it would dial up or not. Where we live, if the phone goes out the cable goes out, as the cable uses the fiberoptic lines, so it's pretty much the same I guess if the internet went out, so would vonage. Seems like a really good deal.
Thanks for answering! (sm)

I think that is excellent that you can do that much.  1500 lines (with the kids home all day) would probably take me 12 hours!  My little one will go to kindergarten 2 years from now.  While I certainly hate to wish away the years, since children seem to grow up so quickly anyway, I know my work days will be so much easier and much more productive when they are all in school.


 


Thanks for answering (sm)
I was referring to Meditech Client.  I remember someone posting about an F8 function that took the spaces out.  I've been trying to locate the post, but I can't find it. 
answering
Would like to hear opinions!
Thanks for answering.
My nephew next door just got a new laptop and together we have been trying to research possibilities. He has Verizon as his cell phone carrier and we have a local service. I had just stumbled onto the local fixed wireless service online and was just trying to check on feasibility of all options before actually making calls. It has been my experience that many companies supplying these services will assure you they can can work for you, but after they get your money you find out they cannot. I refuse to plop money down until I find out what (if anything) will work here. Until then I will contend with dial-up. At least it is cheap. I really appreciate your information. Thank you so much for taking time to respond.
Thank you so much for answering! sm
I really want to move on so I think I will continue my pursuit of my RHIA and my Masters in Heath Services Administration.

I really appreciate your answering!!

RE: Thank you for answering my
question. Not I realize how the hospitals are making such a huge profit by switching to VR. Yes, it may be easier on us to edit, but we are also being deprived of lines that we would be entitled to by transcribing the demographics and the list of recipients.

What are you asked to do (and not be paid for) if you cannot find a doctor's name in the database?
Thank you for answering. Much appreciated.

-


answering a question or two

Hello again, I see my email address was removed, sorry, didn't know that was a bad thing to put it in, sorry about that. If anyone is still interested if you just reply to my first post or this one, I will get back with you.


I had someone ask me if you had to be an MT for a bunch of years to help out with my MT mentoring project, and nope, if you know the answer to a question that's been asked it doesn't matter if you've been an MT for a month or 20 years, all the help we can get would be greatly appreciated.


I know that most people can get their questions answered here because MT Stars rock, but my hope is to help people out who need a question answered quickly. Heck, I know I've been an MT for quite a while and I still have questions sometimes that I need an answer to right away and QA is slow to respond.


Anyway, thanks you guys for the responses I've already gotten, you guys are great. Shannon


 


 


There you go again,Mary, answering
tsk, tsk, tsk...


I am answering to my own post sm
above. I am not an IC right now. I took a job with LM that didn't work out. That was IC. This job with KS is emp status. If I said it was IC someplace that was a mistake, but I can't find it. It is one account, one group of docs, no VR, nothing. Why the big ruckus anyway. Just trying to let folks know there are decent jobs out there. Good grief.
Answering your last question...
The doctor would probably just deny up and down that he actually said it that way! Those kinds of mistakes always get passed off as [must have been the transcriptionist's typo, I couldn't have said that!] grrrr..... ;)
Everyone answering, are all working on VR or do you just not want to?
NM
Would you mind answering another question
Once you have created the template, if you need to make changes to it, how do you open the template rather than a new document based on the template?

I sure would appreciate any help on this. TIA
I have hesitated in answering this question--sm
simply for how it will be perceived, but someone below mentioned something about not caring for elders if there had been abuse. My mother physically and emotionally abused me from the day of my birth. She never wanted another child and made no bones about letting me know that my whole entire life. I have had difficulties all my life in developing and maintaining loving relationships with anyone, be it male or female, my whole life. My father died three years ago now and my mother has tried to force herself on all of her kids since then, expecting us to take the place of our dad and provide her entertainment and socialization. I must mention that my mother is a raving alcoholic with violet outbursts when she is drunk. My sister and first child has always been the favorite, but she lives 200 miles away. My brother and youngest child had enough of her demands and expectations when she moved to his same town after my father passed on. He has moved 500 miles away now and has washed his hands of her. She has since moved to within one mile of me and now I am "expected" to do everything for her that she needs. I have no warm and fuzzy feelings for her due to past treatment of me, but I do what I can for her out of pure responsibility. She cannot drive anymore, so that is left entirely up to me. My sister comes around only on holidays, but that is about it. I have contributed financial support when needed, I take her wherever she needs to go, but on my schedule not hers, and I have had her tell my siblings and other relatives that I won't do anything for her and that I absolutely refuse to, which is definitely not true. I gave up defending myself. I do what I have to do, but not because I want to. I will not see her in a nursing home. I do not feel they are appropriate, but she is still my mother, no matter what water has crossed under any bridges. She is 78, mourns my father's passing, and wishes for death every day of her life. She is needy and demanding and I hate that, but I do what I have to do.

this is just my story and I am not wanting to start any arguments here. Just venting, I guess.
It may be old news, but it's something I wanted to know. Thanks for answering. sm
I do think the name "American" has been removed, as it should have been.  Thanks again.
Answering the question you asked...sm
The phenomenon you correctly observe hasn't come about as a result of any one thing or at any particular moment. It is the culmination of a number of cost-cutting measures and offshore competitive pressures that have rolled downhill and landed most heavily on the folks at the bottom.
Elssa - Sony answering machine
You mentioned in your post that the docs called in on your Sony answering machine. Could you please tell me what model that was and how it worked for transcription.
Thanks
Barbara
Never mind..I didn't see your post answering that sm
very question below.

Mea Culpa.

And sadly, I don't have the Spheris Expander to which you were referring.
If you quit answering the door and the phone...
x
while working my answering machine is set to ring twice
Period. If i hear the machine message saying emergency, i will grab it; otherwise they can wait until I am done!
Use an answering machine, or change your number
It has been my experience that these types of call will continue as long as they can reach you and make you "feel responsible." I have been called at midnight, 3:00 in the morning, 5:00 a.m. They are heartless and persistent. They Don't Care if they are bothering you or interrupting you or waking you. They only want to dump their "STAT" problem on YOU and off their hands. Change your numbers, use an answering machine, or get a line just for work and don't answer it when you don't want to get those types of calls. Good Luck, I know they make you feel guilty if you say no. Just do what you feel is your honest share and let the "callers" worry about the rest of the jobs.

Wise
Nevermind - I saw your second post answering my question. sm
It might be video, but you might not have a video card because a lot of motherboards have the video functions (chipset) embedded on the board these days. If that's the case, it might need a new motherboard. Hopefully, you do have a video card that proves to be the problem and it turns out to be an easy fix.
Change voicemail/answering machine message
leave a message and you'll get back to them after work.
I was not answering MT school post but the one that happened to correct an error
they made on a post with this quote "that is verbatim. QAs are only human too." So you can mind your own business and STFU. Answer your own posts if you can't read the ENTIRE THREAD and understand what post my post is RELEVANT too. You are an arrogant QA person BTW who sits in judgement of posters and what is relevant or not. Just MIND YOUR BUSINESS.
re questions
yes i drink green tea, but prefer black tea. No, i've never had any such symptoms from it though and have no idea why it would happen, unless there are other things in that brand of tea that might irritate the colon?
questions

i am very interested in taking courses on mt and would like some help in guiding me in the right direction....can someone help me on that


 


Questions about VR
I am getting ready to train on VR and I am wondering if this is part of the latest, newest technology in our industry that I have been hearing about.  Are just some companies going to use this or is this something that is going to be required in the future from us throughout the industry? 
Questions....

If a person takes a job and finds out they aren't happy and then looks for another job, what happens if the recruiter overpromised?  Do they find another job?  And if they find another job and that one is running out of work all the time, do they start the search again? 


Final question....if they do all this, why do so many people on the boards call people who complain about companies good-for-nothing job hoppers who are never happy?


Looking for a new job. What are some questions...sm
I should ask besides pay, benefits, and hours to make sure I don't miss anything and then find out I've been screwed later?  Should I get pay in writing to make sure they pay me what they tell me. I never worked for a National, so I am unsure how a lot of things work with them.  Thanks.
IC Questions
Hi. I just accepted my first job as an IC and I am nervous!  Did I do a stupid thing by going IC instead of employee?  They are paying 8.5 for 65-char line including spaces and returns.  Does this sound reasonable?  How do I pay my taxes?  What about social sec? HELP!
Any questions to MQ

you can be an employee and ask, what will be my new


pay under the new plan.......NOBODY KNOWS.


you can ask what do you pay to be an Editor of voice recognition....


NOBODY KNOWS


But at the same time they want people to work for them.


Now you are saying there's a new mystery something?  This is


hilarious.


No legit company every does business this way.


two questions
I am also single and 50K is what I am thinking as well. I have very minimal bills. My only "dependents" are my 3 kitties and bird. To be honest, I got into medical transcription after my first year in college. I wanted to be a veterinarian. As much as I love animals, I really love what I do and honestly cannot say what else I would want to do.
Ok, I do have some questions...
Is it possible to speak to you via private messages or something? This board is a bit awkward to use and I have a few questions for you.

Thank you both... I have a few more questions...

Is this something that will happen on a regular basis?  How often do bipolar people get like this?  Is this the worst of it?  We both watch each other's kids a lot, and my kids absolutely love her.  But I'm a little worried now that it might not be safe. 


I'm also concerned for her as she just started a new job and is working on her master's degree.  I'm afraid that she may fail at both if she doesn't get this under control.  Is there anything I can do to help her? 


ok, so you have 2 questions?
1. i'd think that is great money.

2. i gross about $1200 weekly in 40 hours as an employee.

More questions

Do you find their work flow to be consistent - you don't run out or anything? It is really hard for me to decide to make a move - am not happy where I am at and want to come back home, but have really good insurance for family - I know there is no perfect place to work, but I would just like to enjoy getting up and working again without all the office politics. Thank you for being so open in talking - I find this board much easier to talk on than the previous one I was on - more open answers. Also, what kind of platform is used. Do you have to type in demographics and if so, do you get paid for them? Do you have a good word Expander and macros? It is so hard to make changes and want to know as many specifics as I can before I apply.


Thank you so much.


more questions

Do you charge more for printing?  How did you know the price range to charge? I live in a rural area and I have no idea what people are paying for this and I would feel stupid asking them what they are paying.  Did you go to the office in person and sell yourself or did you do mailings?  I don't know anyone in my area that is doing this so I am kinda walking bling here. I am sure I can do the work, it is just sollicting the accounts that I fear.  THanks to all that responded


Have all the same questions
you do. Also does anyone have a used c phone for sale?
your questions--sm
There are no connection problems with this voice player, as you are not on the internet while you use it. You type into Word and then connect to the internet to return the files. As far as the quality of the voice file goes, the digital player has nothing to do with that either. It depends on how the file was recorded from the company you are receiving it from. my files come from a call-in service on my employers server. If the docs use the telephone connection, like they are supposed to, the quality is great. If they use a speaker phone, cell phone, or head set, it can have more *interference* on it. I have one doc who dictates onto a tape recorder, then calls in on the *system* and plays the whole 30 minute tape. He uses the tape over and over again, so it degrades with time, but I have learned to understand him anyway. I have another doc who also uses a tape recorder, but likes to do it while he is waiting for a train at a depot and while on the train. I mostly hear the background noise, which is awful, but I can still make out what he says...most of the time. so, the file is only as good as the person recording the dictation. you have good ones and bad ones, just like any other dictationists. anything else, just let me know. relax, it will be fine.
questions
good day to everyone.  i have just finished my medical transcription course.  however, i have questions regarding how to put negative points on errors on my transcription. how would you rate the gravity of an error in punctuation marks as against an error in the MEDICATIONS SECTION of the report.  for example, my punctuation error was given a negative point of .5.  in the same manner that the dictated KCl (potassium chloride) was transcribed as KCL.  would you also give the latter a negative point of .5?  if not, how many negative point would you give? thanks a lot and i hope you could help me.
More Questions

To those of you who so kindly gave me advice on working from home:


What kind of equipment should I invest in?  Do most companies us the internet. One company I talked with still has clients that us Lanier equipment.


#1 I would think would be a wav pedal and headset but what about an LX-219?


What do you use?


Thanks


Your IC Questions
You are responsible for your taxes. I recommend w/each paycheck, you put 20% in a savings account so when you file taxes, you don't have to scrounge up the money to pay IRS - or you could do like others and file taxes quarterly. You will have a 1099 instead of W2/W4. You don't establish yourself...as an MT you are either an employee with insurance benefits, 401K and taxes withheld or not.
Questions about DQS
Good morning, I am about to start with a company that uses DocQScribe and I understand that MQ uses it also. Since there is a specific MQ board here I thought I might get some answers here. I really like Stedman's Spellchecker, and want to know if it is compatible with DQS? Also use ShortHand for Windows, wondering about that. I have used built-in spellcheckers in other platforms, and just don't care for them, they just don't seem to be as good as Stedman's. And in general, your opinions about the DocQscribe platform itself. Thank you.
VR Questions

I have an office going to EMR with voice recognition software.  The OM tells me I will still have this account because there is no way the VR will work for their Indian doctor and another doctor that mumbles horribly.  Is there anyone that has experienced this?  Also, will editing of the VR be needed?  The OM mentioned that if it does work, she will need me to edit reports.  How much does one make per line for editing VR?


I know I have lots of questions, but this is my largest account and with a disabled hubby and three kids, I'm a panicked breadwinner right now.


Thanks!


More questions
Does he hold out your taxes?  Do you have benefts?  Do you get paid the same amount no matter how much or how little you transcribe or if you take time off?   Have you figured out how much you get paid per cpl or hour?  I would figure out how much I am making per cpl or hour and go from there.  Be sure to figure in the time you are not working and getting paid.  That is a little unusual to be an IC and paid monthly and not on production. 
Questions
Are you using an Expander along with the keyboard? (I sometimes mess up by assigning F keys to things that I shouldn't).  I've linked an article from Computer Hope that might help.  If it were me, I'd just go out and buy a new keyboard.  Nothing more frustrating than a semi-functioning keyboard (except perhaps a semi-functioning toilet).
asking questions

I get the feeling that many MTSO do not liked to be asked questions.  If I am looking to make a switch I am just looking out for myself.  Mind you, I send in the resume and THEY call me. While I may get some that offer 3 insights to the job right off the bat, if I ask if there is a chance to make more of a base pay I either don't hear from them or they think I should look into something else.  I have run across 1 company that was very very informative without me asking too much, but they didn't have direct deposit, and they were on the other side of the country from where I am and was just not too keen on the thought of a check by mail. I guess I'm just kind of feeling not to happy right now with all of this.  Thanks for listening.