Ditto that. Some of us are just extremely lucky and are there at the right moment. The rest of us...
Posted By: Big Sigh on 2007-01-11
In Reply to: Wow... I'd be a LOT more satisfied if I could make (sm) - Flipper
s
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
You are EXTREMELY lucky...
I can't remember the last time I even took a day off, let alone a week or weeks. I've often put in way more hours in a week than you say you work regularly and still have never come close to the kind of money you're making.
There are ESL specialists in all fields & all over the country. You've just been extremely lucky
s
Is this w/the built-in hand rest? Touch was nice, but the rest made my palms achey. Didn't
s
my fav moment
was when Taylor won and he was so overwhelmed! During the whole show last night I felt like he thought Kat was going to win but he was having a good time anyway. He's been my favorite the entire season. I just loved watching his reaction when he heard the news! Kellie Pickler was always annoying to me, but I have to say the little skits of her were funny last night. Like her hair short that way too--it's very cute. Was that her dad sitting beside her? I heard he had been released. Didn't see her grandpa I don't think. He was usually always there to see her.
Fav AI moment
I thought Clay's appearance was great - the other guy was so surprised. I also wondered about plastic surgery - but it may just have been the longer hair that made him look different. He looked more "built", too. I am so glad that Taylor won.
One at the moment, but looking for second as getting slow--nm
nm
Oh no, senior moment sm
Am I describing the right state? Could I mean Utah? So confused. Anyway, I've been to both states and they are both beautiful.
Some need to step out of their box for a moment - eh! LOL. nm
x
Surreal moment this a.m./CNN
Today on CNN they had on the phone a doctor by the name of Tony Asher, a local (Charlotte) neurosurgeon.
I have been to him and I work at a hospital where he practices, so ironically this a.m. I recognized his voice before I looked on the TV and saw his name during interview with Sonjay on CNN. For me, it was a weird experience, but only one that another medical Transcriptionist could fully appreciate.
Also I have seen him as a patient. I was misdiagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia and he verified it wasn't that diagnosis. In long run, it was a bad tooth - I actually went to Duke for a consultation and they couldn't figure out the problem, BUT the first thing the doc there asked, "Are you sure it isn't a tooth?". AND it was a tooth, but that didn't happen until a x-ray by dentist later on (which contradicted findings of x-ray when this first happened).
I will always remember the resident that was in with the doc (whose name I long forgot) - the resident looked just like Raymond's brother on "Everyone Loves Raymond." And talked like him.
These are my issues with VR (at the moment, that is)
I say this because the platform I work on has changed from 1 of really, really good to now: No periods even though starting another sentence and the next letter of next sentence capitalized so it knows; numbers can be completely haywire from 4,4, 3, 1, 4 and 5 to perfect for some dictators, mostly not though, doctor's names no longer in although previously had them in; no matter what the patient's name is, completely opposite from what is being said; sometimes throws in categories capitalized not even said and in wrong place. Now the good thing about VR, I am my own spell check now. Everywhere I go I am seeing misspelled words and I find literally hundreds all over the place. Just found 1 this morning in the doctor's office, surgeies. I guess the person making the sign did not have or use spell check. I do not think literally possible to do that many lines per hour myself.
At this moment I have 5011
and that's just in my ShortHand dictionary. All of my spelling correction type things go in the autocorrect file, and since I work in DQS, I'm not sure if there's a way to count those....
I'm adding more expansions every day, as I think up new and different things that need expanding. And not so coincidentally, my average daily line count is creeping up as well... although I am sure that is partly due to just getting more and more familiar with the dictators as I go along.
Say "I'm having a MedQuist Moment" instead of "Maalox."
My only "where were you" moment was JFK assassination.
I was a sophomore in high school and was in English class. I remember being devastated and the guy sitting next to me made a rude comment and laughed. I wanted to knock the heck out of him. 
My favorite moment of the night was
when Simon made that remark about Ryan with the Desperate Housewife look. Did everyone see those pictures of Ryan and Terry Hatcher? It may be a shock if Katherine or Mandisa go. I hope it's not Chris.
HA!!!! Lucid, don't you mean "Lucy" moment. LOL. nm
.
LOL. It took a moment to realize you weren't
nm
Please don't flame me, I'm having an Alzheimer's moment, but what is the (sm)
basic 4. I know it includes H&P, discharge summaries, and operations and procedures, but what is the 4th. My brain is just not functioning today...it's my only day off and therefore I don't have to think right??? TIA
MAKE GOOD $$ AT THE MOMENT BUT I WANT OUT
Have just landed a great job. Good $$. No nights, weekends, or holidays. How long do you think that is going to last? Look at the trend 6 months ago, now, and 6 months from now - or a year from now. The face of the MT business is changing. No one is secure and one thing is for sure - we can not all stay. I have a good client in a specialty I love now. I guarantee you, this client is going to obtain a cheaper source than me in the next 12-18 months. I am at the age where I need steady, secure, decent paying work. When this one goes, I am hanging up my headphones too. Hope to get my social security figure up first though.
I am drawing unemployment at this moment
due to being laid off my primary job. I can earn up to one-third the amount of my weekly benefit without being penalized. I have to be available and actively looking for work every day of the week, and I must be willing to accept work on any shift. I was specifically told that enrolling in school would forfeit my eligibility for continued UI benefits unless I was accepted into a state-endorsed training program because I have to be available for work 24/7. Tomorrow I have to attend a 2-1/2-hour job-search-assistance class and will ask about this again, but I know things worked the same way in my previous state of residence.
there are a bunch of these on ebay at the moment. NM
It's the topic of the moment. You must be in a foreign country maybe.
There was a catastrophic hurricane with a devastating flood afterwards! A disaster of biblical proportions! Many people lost their homes, the worldly positions, billions of dollars in loss. Lives were lost, the poor, the elderly and the infirmed. We watched it on the news (it was on here in the U.S. around the clock). Try www.cnn.com for all the details.
Hey! I just got my second dach (mini). Henry is in my lap at this moment.
dd
ditto and double ditto
xxx
My favorite moment last night of American Idol...
I loved the moment when that Clay Aiken wannabe was given that razzie award and was singing Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (much to the regret of my ears, LOL) and out walks Clay Aiken, the crowd goes wild and I'm sure the wannabe thought they were cheering for him. LOL I think he was truly shocked that Clay was there. Nobody could have acted his reaction out! I loved it.
Need help with calculating expenses for bid on large account. At the moment I do not know *sm*
how many lines they dictate per day/week. I am going to call the person who sent me the bid forms and ask. I do not have my own call-in system and would be using a TASP. Can someone tell me that currently uses a TASP how to go about figuring my costs in so that I do not under bid. I know that each dictator and the type of report is going to vary but on an average what would you say? Bottom line is I need to know how many cents per line I need to charge to cover the call-in system and my other expenses. Another thing they listed in the bid is that the vendor is to provide all other supplies including plain paper to complete each assignment. The hospital will provide any special letterhead, envelopes, etc. How do you provide the paper and probably the toner if you are doing this remotely? Would there be any other expenses that would fall under other supplies that you can think of other than toner and paper? How much toner and paper do I provide or should I ask the hospital what they use on a weekly basis? I would assume I have the right to ask questions as to how much paper, toner, how many lines they do each day or week on average. I want this account very much but I do not want to have to pay a cheap line rate and I need to make this worth my while. Thank you very much for you help.
I would NOT recommend Transcend at the moment.Worked there recently for several months, and it was
a HUGE disappointment. Very antiquated platform - total chaos on account rules - shuffling thru piles of papers for each job - horrible. Supervisors were totally unorganized. Most accounts had no work. I had work, but it was just a huge bummer...job was opposite of everything promised...or implied.
I totally loved Instant Text from the moment I started using it.
I imported my Expanders from my PRD that I used in WP5.1 so that I didn't have a great learning curve. You can import a lot of different programs expansions so that you can use what you're used to. The other part of the program I truly like is the ability to make compilations from files of reports that I've already type. IT makes the lists for me of phrases that are often used in the reports. IT is less profitable to use if you're just expanding words. Why exactly are you expanding entries that you don't intend? Guess I don't understand.
My favorite moment on a soap was years ago when Hope was marrying someone else and Bo came up riding
on his motorcycle to break up the wedding and take her away. I always thought that was the most romantic thing in the world! My favorite was the Christmas episodes when Mrs. Horton would put up the Christmas tree bulbs of all of the family members and it was basically like reliving the old episodes.
Extremely helpful - thank you!!! nm
nm
It was extremely perverted.
Be grateful they took it off. I would repost whatever you had to say.
this is extremely sad. I started on with MQ
0.0775 cpl. You're only going to get desperate newbies with that pay. If you want an "experienced" MT as you say, pay them what their experience is worth.
They are extremely close.
From what I know of both companies, oddly enough it is MQ catching up to changing its operations to par with Spheris with the new Rewards Plan.
However, while Spheris has already had their compensation/benefits package settled for a while, they seem to be aggressively pursuing purchasing other companies and increasing their offshore entities.
MQ seems to be focusing on it's US clientele.
MQ has ASR and if Spheris has it, I haven't heard of it yet. I would imagine ASR came in with a recent purchase if Spheris has much in the way of it right now.
You are welcome.
ok now I see it - extremely annoying. NM
x
I am extremely careful
Geesh, June. I am extremely careful, and my girls have been told not to open the door unless they know the person on the other side. You know children do not always listen. I had been down the hall using the bathroom, and my 13yo thought the 16yo had stepped outside and locked herself out. Since it was a soft knock and a familiar one, she thought she knew who was on the other side. When she realized it wasn't who she thought it was, she shut the door right away and came and told me there was a man in our garage. We've lived here for 10 years, and this is the first time anyone other than family has knocked on that door. There isn't a lot of crime in our area, and we leave our garage door most of the time. We never have any problems. I know...there's always a first time....never say never and all that...but I am careful.
A couple of weeks ago, religious solicitors walked up to our door. I was working, and my 16yo opened the door to them because they were women. Not anyone she knew, but she opened the door because she didn't find women to be intimidating. That's why I say children don't always listen to what you say.
After those Missouri boys were abducted in rural areas, I've talked to my girls again about being careful, beiing aware and watching out for each other.
My hubby thinks I'm paranoid. I'm the type to keep my doors locked at all times, day or night, and he thinks it's silly because we're in a rural area and probably fine. When I dispute the point with stories from the news, his rebuttal is that a locked door will not keep out someone who wants in. Maybe not...but they'll be a lot more noisy trying to get past that locked door than they would an unlocked door.
It works extremely well for me. sm
I am in a very, very rural area as stated; all woods. I was also told it works as good as your cell works. Our cells are "patchy" in this area, but are fine in our home and we have all metal roof too, which usually causes outages but not in our case. I was constantly frustrated with Wildblue and no signals on bright sunny days even. Like I said, in 3 months I have not had one problem with losing a signal and I am on the net 24/7 almost literally, lol. I know in my case, they gave a 30-day refund in case it didn't work out for you. So I would say give it a try first and if it doesn't pick up well for you, then look into HughesNet. The wireless was the BEST move I have made period and I am extremely happy. I did call tech suport on it when first setting up and the hold was very minimal and tech was very helpful. I was fixed and up and running within 5 mins with AT&T. Now I will say my first bill was also about $170 as they bill in advance so I had to pay first month and then 2nd month, but to get started all I paid was for the USB thing itself. Oh, if you do go with wireless, don't get the "cards", get a USB one that way you can change it from different computers and be mobile with it rather than just working in 1 computer. Say if you have laptop and desktop you would switch the USB between computers and if you got a "card" it would only work in one of the computers, the one which you bought it for. 
Anybody else notice extremely low IC pay?
I have always worked as an IC acute care transcriptionist. My line rates have always exceeded what an MT can make as an employee, which is only logical because as an IC, you have to pay your own taxes, no benefits, etc. I always peruse job listings on this and other boards, just to see what's out there. Lately, I have noticed a disturbing trend. It seems like most MT companies/MTSOs are only offering .08/line for IC. Unless that is for a gross line (and goodness knows gross lines are a thing of the past), that is outrageous!! When you consider that an IC has to pay approximately 15% of his/her income in self-employment taxes alone, that means a net rate of about .068/line! While .08/line for employee status is still low (in my opinion), at least social security and medicaid taxes are paid, and there are usually benefits, PTO, etc.
If I were an MTSO, I would be embarrassed to offer .08/line to any quality IC MT. For a newbie, sure. But for any MT worth his/her salt, .08/line for IC is an insult.
I know that competition with overseas firms makes it seem necessary for American transcription companies to lower their MT pay in order to be competitive. However, American MTSOs will never be able to compete solely on price; overseas transcription companies will always be able to do it cheaper. It is a slippery slope that has already lead to the failure of many American transcribing firms. The question for American transcription companies should not be can we do it cheaper, but can we do it better??
In today's market, American MTSOs need to stand their ground and quit underselling themselves and undervaluing the value of their American transcription workforce. American MTSOs need to start marketing themselves differently, stressing quality, accuracy, dependability, security, and good old fashioned patriotism. I don't care how low the overseas companies can bid a job. There is no way they can compete with the quality and accuracy of American transcriptionists. I myself have worked for an MTSO who lost a contract to a firm in India, only to have them beg her to take them back a few months later because the quality of the overseas work was so horrible. I am quite sure this is not an isolated incident.
While there are always going to be hospitals that will try to get by on the cheap, there are also hospitals and doctor's offices who realize that they get what they pay for and will put quality first. If you compare transcription services to cars, overseas work is the Hyundai while American transcriptionists are the Cadillac. Cadillac would never slash its prices to compete with the cheaper imports. They know that they have to cater to their own market, people with more discriminating tastes.
I am fortunate enough to work for a company that realizes the value of its services and takes the stronger, wiser stance. They are not after contracts at any cost. They will pass up work if they have to bid ridiculously low just to get it. And guess what? Any bid that only allows you to offer your IC transcriptionists .08/line IS TOO LOW!! And any quality MT is not going to stick around at those rates.
I find it is extremely so! sm
THe other thing is, unless you are ultra fast or so wonderful you are in high demand, you won't make a living at it. I know some cake decorators and it is high pressure. I could make and decorate 3 cakes in a day, of the 2 or 3 layer variety, but they wanted 10 or 12 just the decorated part. I found that daunting myself.
I can only make one of my signature cakes a year (heart shaped cake covered with handmade, real buttercreme roses...think about 150 to 200 roses) about once a year and I need to have time off of work to recuperate anymore. My hands ache and ache!
I get extremely car sick
I posted on the gab board and while I was typing this message moved, so am copying my reply here too in case the other message gets lost -
I get extremely motion sick in a car. I cannot read at all. I can't even read maps to help husband in areas we don't know (can't tell you how many arguments we still have over this and it's been 25 years), and if there are a lot of road signs I can't read them, therefore I would imagine that if you can't read due to motion sickness typing would be hard, because as an MT I am always reading what I type to make sure there are no typo's or I don't hit a wrong key. A couple years ago we took a drive to the Mendocino coast in California. Lots and lots of curves. I thought maybe I had grown out of it (motion sickness), but my DH had to keep pulling over. I was so sick it was awful.
If you take a product like dramamine it will make you drowsy (I should know cos I'm the Queen of Dramamine) Taken enough of it at different times and I end up sleeping through the trip if I take it. I'm not sure if they have any non-drowsy. A lady did tell me once that I should eat a little carbohydrate before I travel and that might help. Again, a big "might" and I don't want to take that chance.
I think the biggest problem with typing while a vehicle is moving is the constant movement of the keyboard. If you go over a bump or hit a rock or swerve, your sure to hit a wrong key. I'm not sure I know of any employer who would allow this. I'd be more apt to be looking at the scenery rather than concentrate on what I'm typing.
You would need to be extremely fast on your
computer in order to straight type 3000 lines per day. I never did that many and said before, used to have people seek me out in the office as they would hear me typing fast and they wanted to watch me. Straight probably for me never got over 2500 if that. Having said that, had 2 bosses at different times and would be willing to say both probably consistently got that per day. Your speed, I would think, would have to be around 150 to 160 or higher. Can you do that?
Ugh - how extremely nauseating and immature -
nm
I don't think that's " a big IF." That is an extremely sturdy structure. sm
It has a drainage system in the lower levels so it's not like it's going to fill up like an aquarium. It also has an extensive generator system, so it's not going to turn into a giant greenhouse effect. They did not direct people there "to contain the bodies."
Either you started at an extremely low line
rate to begin with or you are blowing smoke. I personally don't believe a word you say.
If you are so extremely thin and beautiful,
then why are you on this site. Are you a transcriptionist. If you are as beautiful and thin as you say you are, I doubt very seriously that you'd be typing for a living.
That was extremely rude & uncalled for.
Noone deserves to be harrassed or "kicked' when they're down!!
I have tried one- extremely hard on my knees
xx
Thought this was extremely old news
nm
Yes...extremely low volume since just after Christmas! nm
/
This is extremely dangerous reasoning. SM
It isn't what the "suits" are saying, it is what they are doing. These are two totally different and separate entities. My God, are you so complacent that you cannot even take a look around and see the face of the future? No one is telling anyone to not just "be happy." A little foresight and present thinking is imperative, not only in the MT world but in many other areas of business, especially IT. It's all going over to Asia and it's all same-same there.
Extremely well put Witch...regardless of personal..
religious beliefs..we could ALL learn to be better "people" from how the Amish treat their fellow humas.
Um, in this country!?!? lol Extremely common.
Poor grammar is everywhere, unfortunately, and ya can't fix what they don't know. ;)
not absurd, just extremely exceptional,
nm
|
