As long as the MTSO does not charge the client I don't have a problem with it - sm
Posted By: XXX on 2006-01-25
In Reply to: Why spaces are not paid for... sm - finally someone enlightens us..
its those that don't pay, but then charge the client (which I am sure most do in that scenario) that is not right.
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
I know MTSO's that were TOLD by the client to charge less or
they would go offshore. So what is the MTSO supposed to do? You can't stick to your guns in that case. It's either swallow your pride and everyone takes a pay cut, or everyone gets no paycheck.
The going rate to charge a client for rad by an MTSO is in the $4.50 range.
Need to figure in what type of reports, etc. Never go below that - there is a lot of administrative work to do.
No, I do not charge my client for the template either.
.
I know some companies who only charge the client
18 cpl. I know companies who charge less and even at that they are being pressured to lower rates due to competition from offshore companies. Out of that 18 cpl comes office personnel, office space, equipment, and if you are an employee benefits come out of that too. I'm not saying the MTSO isn't making a nice living, but there can be cutbacks there as well.
If you feel like you s/b getting that kind of line rate you are going to have to get your own accounts and then you'll have all the headaches that come with it.
First-time new client - what to charge?
After working for years as an IC for an MTSO, I have the opportunity to get my own client. It's one oral surgeon in a city of about 30,000. He has been typing his own notes to date. I am going to get him a handheld recorder and somehow figure out how to transfer files via an FTP and what software is needed on both ends (I have a ByteScribe WavPlayer already). We're still working out details - very casually at the moment - although I plan to put a written contract in place (any samples?). He will do printing on his end. What should I charge him and if per line, with or without spaces? Any ideas would be very much appreciated. As stated, I've only worked as an IC and so have no idea how much more the MTSO rate would be.
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.
Client always rules over MTSO, QA,
You have to spell the way he wants it especially if he's adamant. You are not the expert in his field, he is, and he signs your paycheck!!! Think about it...
Need to check the with the client/MTSO about
the preferred way to do dates. Most of them are specific on things like this.
Too, the MTSO is not earning extra from the client
The gains come from their paying out less to QA.
Yes - I have a contract that my client and/or MTSO signed.
I always have them sign a contract also - mutual agreement and we stick by it. No problems whatsoever so far. That is the only way to practice good business and protect yourself.
I think it depends on the MTSO, some do not charge much - sm
in order to beat the competition. I worked for a MTSO that was only charging .13 cpl (65 cpl); I was making .09 cpl with her, that was as high as she would go so she could make some $ too. She ended up losing it to someone who bid lower, so I lost my job with her. As for cost of living and all that, yes it goes up but as far as MT goes, I don't see rates going up. All the doctors want is our prices to go down, since they are getting gouged by the insurance companies, their malpractice insurance keeps going up, etc. So to stay competitive many MTSOs have actually had to lower their prices to keep accounts. So it is possible your account does not charge too much over .12, again demographics has a lot to do with things too. Obviously a more rural area charges less than in the city, rates vary widely from coast to coast. I only make .09 at my current job, though I know they probably charge .16-.20; I don't know for a fact just a feeling I have as they top out at .12, and base your salary on both the number of years there and amount of lines per pay period. Those who do a large amount of lines on a consistent basis make a better wage (no incentive pay). I am trying to get my lines up so I can get to .10 (my goal). I only work PT but luckily I am good and relied up there, so I am in a good position and have 3 raises in 4 years. So I gues it depends on the rate you started at, you started a quite a high and good rate, so your room for advancement of pay is limited I would say by that. Again, ask for a raise, the worst thing that can happen is they say no.
I worked for a small MTSO who gave the client
the client changed to smaller and smaller font sizes, the MTSO let them know the rate would change so the MTSO never lost money just because of the font size. The clients always understood. The client simply wanted less bulk in their charts, not to short change the MTSO.
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.
Puhleez! I happen to know of two MAJOR MTSO's who charge 0.45 cpl and only pay their people 0.08
to 0.09 cpl! And both of the two companies I speak of also offshore. So let's do the math, they charge the client 0.45 cpl, they pay the India MTs 0.02 cpl. Either way you add it up, they are making big money off our sweat or by exploiting third world workers!
Boo Hoo for the MTSO's and their overhead and their time and headaches. And what friggin overhead do they have, really? They have an office staff of about 10 people at the very most! They employ mostly IC's, don't have to worry about paying for benefits and the one's that do have actually employees, the benefit packages are a joke.
I will say one thing, if I EVER lose my mind and decide to take a job with another MTSO, I will turn over every rock I can find before I accept a position. They want to do a background check on me?!?!! Well, I'm gonna do one on them.
I harbor just a little ill-will towards some MTSO's. If they're not offshoring the work, they're screwing us "worker bees." It is a racket and it's best to get your own accounts or eliminate the middle man and work for the hospital. I do both. The hospital pays me hourly and gives me great benefits for me and my kids. My accounts are for making my fun money!
I'm an IC for a long-term client; need advice pls SM
They have implemented a new ftp server that I cannot access through my work computer (Windows 98); however, I juggled around with newer operating systems (Windows 2000 and XP) and can access the ftp server. We are supposed to send completed files to this ftp server (which is a great idea and one we should have been doing all along).
My problem - I have been in nearly weekly contact with this MTSO about not being able to access the ftp site with my work computer. They told me to disable my firewall (which I am not about to do) and frankly the reason they haven't corrected my situation is because I am the only MT who is having this access problem (I am not - I talk to a couple other MTs with this MTSO and they are having the same exact problem). My Internet Explorer is the most current version (I have a cable modem) so that wasn't the problem either (another of their suggestions).
Today I get an e-mail from the office manager of the MTSO. They're going to start docking my paycheck (did I mention I am an IC?) if I don't start using this ftp site. What do I do? I am not making THAT much money that I can go out and spend $500 for a new work computer just to access this ftp. It really fries me that I have e-mailed, phoned, etc. and nothing is happening...it's just "my fault." So any suggestions? Great way to start the weekend, I tell ya!
Long lines . . . better to charge
You get accts and charge them 19 cpl. Hire and pay us 12-15 cpl and see how long you stay in
:+
correction: charge by PAGE, and keep track of long-distance of local numbers, as well as fax supplie
.
Oh no kidding! Needless to say, I did not work for that particular MTSO for long!
x
Will be a nurse-practitioner...but I'll keep my MTSO as long as it stays alive...
nm
ATTENTION all MTSO and hospital...please get 1-800 numbers...UNLIMITED LONG DISTANCE is being canned
This is going to be a HUGE problem for everyone involved. The long distance companies are watching and they DO NOT LIKE what we do over their lines, so please, consider getting 1-800 numbers. You could possibly charge each MT a small amount each month to cover the bill. Seems like a logical way to go! What does everyone think?
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?
Doubt you can charge 15 cpl for VR work to the docs - you can't even charge them 12 for straight
x
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?
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.
One office I charge .12, another I charge $2.25 page--nm
//
I hate Instant Text. It is expensive, long long learning
curve, and too much distraction for me.
How long should I wait after applying for a position before I follow-up. It has been as long as two
without hearing from some. Just wondering if I should send an e-mail to follow-up to see if they received my resume or not. I don't want to offend anyone but feel two weeks should be long enough for someone to at least acknowledge my resume and that I have applied for a position. Right now I would accept anything even a note saying no thanks. Any advice would be appreciated. I haven't had to apply for a job for the past 10 years so I am a bit rusty at this. Thanks again for any advice.
Congrats! How long have you been a MLS and how long did you study for the test!
Please see message. I have three daughters with long, long hair.
I also have long hair down to my waist and my three girls have hair that long too. My daughter brought them home from school last year. I was devestated and grossed out!!!! I have never had to deal with lice. Anyway, we did the treatments and two of my girls broke out in a severe rash with the OTC stuff. Their little heads were so sore!! I thought I was being meticulous with eggs, only to find them hatching again down the road. A nurse at the pediatricians office suggested I try oil to suffocate them since my girls were allergic to the lice solution. I bought a huge bottle of veggie oil and dumped it on all three heads, plus my own. I then wrapped the heads in platic wrap and then a towel. I left this on for 30 minutes. It takes a while to wash out the oil, but we never, ever had the lice or eggs again!!! If you try this, make sure you put on an old shirt and put a towel around your shoulders. Obviously we were desperate, but we all have such long hair and very thick hair so I was willing to try anything. And I figured there was no chemicals involved so that was pretty safe. And it sure did help my littles ones since their scalps were pretty raw from the solution. Hope this helps and Good luck!
It's been a long, long time since I've used a C-phone, sm
but I do think jobs can be paused.
I had a problem with this for a long, long time sm
I have always worked days, like from 6-3. Over the last few years, it didn't matter how much sleep I got, I became real groggy between 7 and 11. Really shoots the day. Talked to my doctor and he said my blood pressure pills were the culprit but he refused to change me to another brand or dosage since I have multiple aneurysms (2 in the brain). My BP has been stable for a long time and he wants to "keep it on the low side". I tried taking them before I went to bed instead of early in the morning, but then I had headaches all day. So, I am changing to a night shift for a few months so I can sleep when those pills kick in and so far it is working pretty good. I stay mostly awake during my shift and die when I hit the bed from 6 am to 10 am, then I lay down again later in the afternoon for 2-3 hours. I still get 6-7 hours of sleep, it's just split up during the day, plus I am mostly awake now when I sit down to type. I don't have to deal with the heat in my office, either. It tends to warm up real fast in here with the south sun on the house and 2 pc's running all day, even with the air conditioner on.
Way back when, a long, long time
ago and in a galaxy far, far away, I had my own accounts also and some years cleared $75,000. Yes it can be done, but you need to have your own accounts. Also lots of delivery, and other duties involved. I work for a large national now and make much less, but I got tired of accountants, having to deal with hardware problems, deadlines, driving deliveries, printing, printers, etc. So I decided to simplify my taxes and stay home and just type. Don't have to worry about computers either, because the company will just send me a new one.
Long, long files. Seemed like they'd never end! I'd never go back to VA again. nm
s
I've been doing this a long, long time...
I used to make $70,000 and up a year and did so for most of the late 80s and 90s (one girl used to make six figures a year working 7 days a week!) Because we were making more money than the supervisors and Medical Records Directors in hospitals, they began to switch to transcription services which were sprouting up all over the place. Plus AAMT came into existence and even though in the beginning it claimed it was to fight for transcriptionists (although assured us it was NOT a union), they eventually morphed into an organization that was more management friendly. They developed the "guidelines" and the 65-char line. That was the beginning of the end for those high-end wages. Then all those mickey mouse transcription schools popped up, and now outsourcing overseas. YES, we're complaining.
Been in this biz a long, long time, 30+ years and....sm
I love/loved MTing. However, things have changed so much during these years. The job definitely gets easier; don't have to look up much, can decipher ESLs much easier, in other words, you get pretty comfortable with things and you have confidence in yourself. The more experience you have the easier the job, but....
I actually made more money 10 years ago!! We didn't have speech recognition and you actually got paid for headers/footers, demographics, carbon copies, etc., you got paid for what you did fairly; today, I am not so sure.
You will feel burned out at times, but that passes and you find you like your job again.
Good luck to you!!
FTP Client
I still don't know what an FTP client is that was asked in the original question?
the client always wants a little something...sm
The client always wants a little something for nothing.....so I give them a free line if there is only one word on the line...I give them a 68-72 character line (spaces I do count). I have never upped them in 9 years, but on my 10th anniversary I am upping them to 13 CPL. I also give them their 5 line headings for nothing as it's only 2 Keystrokes for me. They are good to me so I bake for the offices a couple of times a year and give the offices a gift during the winter holidays. 
I do for one client
One of my clients requested that I charge this way. We do 10 words = 1 line, so basically a penny per word. From what I have figured, I'm doing okay when compared to the character count way of charging on this account. I think they requested charges calculated this way because of being ripped off by their last MT. Once I send their files, they can check the word count and keep a running tab to compare with my statement. They're satisfied and I'm satisfied, so it works well.
Have your client do it. SM
Call the office of your client and have them fax/e-mail to you samples of their prior surgeries. There's certainly nothing wrong with asking for this.
the client does not have to have it-- sm
The client can unzip using WinZip or whatever program they have installed, but MP Tools is so easy, some clients may want to use it. I have a couple who are interested in purchasing it just for the printing function, which works really well.
I had a client ask me to look
They provided a patient list for the date of service, but if the patient was not on there, then I had to view on-line the past week of patient lists to look for the name. Yeah right - that took 15 or 20 minutes sometimes uploading and viewing. So now, they get an inaccurate spelling of the patient name with a comment when I send there report, pt. not on list. Hello? Like the low wage isn't bad enough, and then add in that kind of junk. It is pathetic. 
What the client says is law, if that is what they want, then
that is what they expect and they have the right to tell an MTSO who can and cannot work on their accounts.
Even with this, the client is always
BOS is a style guide, which I do not own. However, I aim to please the client. So, if the doctor wants to spell something his own way, then so be it. He went to medical school, not me! A book of style means absolutely nothing to a client who wants things a certain way. End of story. 
It is just according to what the client
wants. Most do I would think, but some want them in a paragraph form and not captialized. Need to check with your supervisor or client.
Oh my! Do you have your own client? sm
I don't know of any MTSOs who pay 13 cpl. If you found one please share.
I'm not sure, but if the client does not
get a cut for using ASR, they why would they care whether their physicians use it or not????
We would be a lot more valued if they all thought ASR was as good as originally touted and had no editors to fix the darn reports it spits out.
First off..there is no way the client is getting a
And ASR is NO WAY 3 times faster...that will never happen. Most transcriptionists type the speed of the dictator to begin with. ASR could be a great tool for those of us needing a break from transcription, but it does not warrant ripping off our cpl's..ESPECIALLY when the client is charged the same...the have NO WAY of knowing whether the report is goes to ASR or not. Lastly, an ASR Editor needs YEARS of transcription experience, becuase to insure a correct report
It would be according to what the client
wants. We just type the numbers if they are dictated that way.
Unless specified by the client, I only
expand in diagnoses, procedures, impression, etc. I always type what they say when it comes to drugs, you don't change things like two a day to b.i.d. unless directed to do so by the client specifically. Also, on my client we are not allowed to use slang, so if they say "sat" we expand to saturation, bili is changed to bilirubin etc. A good MT never takes it upon herself to change something that is dictated UNLESS they are specified to in certain instances by the client or it something is wrong--then if it is changed you flag it for your QA.
|
