Finding your niche and working smart is the key
Posted By: diddles on 2006-02-10
In Reply to: Will show you my 1099's - Patti
When you have a good platform, have been on your account(s) long enough to know what they are going to say next, make good use of productivity software and references, $50k a yr gross is certainly possible. I got there in 3 years once I started working from home only working 30 hours a week after leaving a $32k/yr 40 hr/wk on-site hospital position. I could have made more but I wanted a life away from the keyboard too. It may mean moving a couple of times to find the best situation for you, but you can do it. I remember someone who made over $80k a year several years back with a hydraulic desk so she could work standing up or sitting down to keep her fingers flowing.
While it may be human nature for some to inflate their earnings in public, others do not and I am one who doesn't. My earnings are W2, not 1099, so I get benefits too.
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Any tips for finding a good alphabetized list of physicians in a certain state? Not finding very
s
There will always be those niche facilities who want quality
p
I'm looking but not finding
I want it all, good money, good benefits, job security. Why is this so hard to find in this business?? Where i'm at now, awful benefits, but i'm at the top of the pay scale and have had the same account going on three years, yet I havent got a raise and it seems my lines are disappearing or its taking me more time to get the money I used to, not to mention sore hands. So I also want a company who won't cheat me. I'm so afraid though because I have it fairly well here. Most companies start out at 7 to 8 cpl which is appalling I think. One place I found, MDI, starts at 9 - 10 cpl, but I do not see any benefits whatsoever. I think if you're an IC, you should be getting 13 to 15 cpl to cover sick days, the incredibly high medical insurance, and also some to stuff away in case of a longterm leave. All I can say is stick it out where you're at, maybe go to school for something better.
It might just take finding the right fit
I went through 4 different nationals before I found the right company with the working environment I wanted. I have the best of both worlds now, full-time benefits as an employee with the flexibility and control over my workload that I want. Just keep searching. You will find somewhere that fits.
Definitely asking a lot. Probably like finding the
pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
From what I am finding
you can deduct something for property tax for state taxes, and the online program asked about this specifically and calculated (because they figure the landlort has basically included at least partial prop. tax expense in the rent).
However, in the online tax prep question, it asks if rent a "home." That is why I am not sure about the apartment complex. What the difference might be.
Sorry for the confusion. Still need an answer if anyone out there knows. 
I had mine but let it go after finding out that
for many reasons, including supporting offshoring, lack of financial management and not truly representing MTs. Plus, the "standards" they are trying to set are not accepted nor recognized by hardly any facility.
For me the last straw (after putting up with the offshore blind eye - or not so blind) was when they came out with the new testing guidelines that are a slap in the face to anyone not doing acute care. In the past there wasn't such an "attitude" toward clinic work, but now newbies are forced to do acute care - not in their best interest in most cases.
I could go on, but that is the tip of the iceberg. AAMT could be a viable organization, but at this point it is not.
Finding Clients
I had gotten my previous clients when I worked in a hospital Medical Records Department as an MT. The docs just came to me and asked me to do their work at home. I am going to have a professional letter and business cards made up now to send to local doctors, just anyone in the phone book who looks good, but mostly cardiology, neurology, neurosurgery and orthopedic docs. They seem to have the most consultation letters.
Does anyone finding themselves needing a nap (sm)
Everyday almost, by 2:00 PM, I am so sleeping that I can't keep my eyes open. I think it is boredom actually, but a quick 1 hour nap helps tremendously:) Just wondered if it is just me.
Looking but not finding other companies that pay more
If anybody could point me in the right direction, I'm looking for a full time QA position (not IC) that pays more than 14.75 an hour and actually appreciates their employees - that would be nice.
I'm finding the same, but so many questions...
and finding that it it hard to know which is the best deal, when one pays per char, one no headers, one wants bonus for this and that... is so hard to figure... let us know who you feel the best bet is. I have talked to many also... and one other thing, sometimes its not the one offering the most up front, but find the work is more interesting with the one offering the less.
They are the same, but I have trouble with finding
things on the electronic one. Also, if you buy thru regular wholesaler, you get the book and the CD for free - $89, I believe. Otherwise, the CD is expensive on its own!
Another reason why MTs are finding
other professions. The games companies are playing is getting old. It's getting pitiful.
How do you go about finding your own accounts?
I have been an MT for 10+ years. I have always worked for either a hospital, clinic, or private practice, and have worked from home for the last 5 years, most recently with a service. I would like to try to get my own accounts, but not really sure where to start. Can someone give me some tips/pointers for landing my own local accounts? Im just tired of working for someone else and not making any money and having no benefits.
As an IC...are you finding enough work?
I was an IC for 26 years, then decided to join the digital world and become an employee for benefits sake. I am on my third company in one year and none of them have kept me in full time work (1500 lines/day). I'm so frustrated. I love the bennies but I need full-time work. So, I'm considering going IC again and trying to get as many accounts/companies as I need to get the lines I need.
I am wondering if the ICs around here are still able to find the amount of work they want...specifically via MTSOs rather than local offices/hospitals...anyone who cares to share, I sure would appreciate hearing your experience. TIA.
need help finding MS word
Hey ya'll, just found that I need Microsoft Word either 2002 or 2003 in order to start my new job doing VR. I cannot seem to find this anywhere, nobody is selling it anymore. I found one copy on ebay so far - does anyone else know of another website or how I could obtain this? I was really looking forward to this job, I am in desperate need. I am not the fastest MT in the world but I think one of the most accurate - was hoping VR might be a good fit for me.
Thanks so much for any help. Love, Cindy
So where is it that you are finding these MT jobs
that offer more than 6, 7, or 8 cents a line? I sure as heck haven't found them and have been told by past employers that I am a great MT even with only 3 years experience. I have many friends who are also MTs who made a recent change of employment to a service and we are all in that 6, 7, 8 cent range for lack of any other offer and wanting to be home and out of the inhouse atmosphere.
To me, this is the most important finding: - sm
"The average transcription price ranges from 11.9 cents to 13.2 cents per line, depending on whether the services provided are onshore, offshore or a mix of both."
There are some problems with the methodologies used to produce these KLAS studies, but setting those aside what's instructive here is that around 10 years ago a different study showed the average industry price to be 14 to 17 cents per line. Offshoring and cutthroat competition, and to a much lesser degree technology, have resulted in lower prices, and that can only do one thing - put downward pressure on the wages paid to transcriptionists.
Predictably, then, wages in our segment of the healthcare industry have stagnated or declined, while in most other segments prices and wages have risen - in some cases much more rapidly than the rate of inflation.
Finding Your Friend Alive
It is very possible your friend is still alive, as they are still finding people alive every day and if he is still in the area, unfortunately there is not much in the way of any phones working in these hard hit areas, so it wouldn't surprise me if he is still alive. Have you searched all of the Red Cross Shelter lists? Everyone who is at a shelter has to have their names put on a list and there are new names being added everyday.
Focus on finding the one or two companies you
really want to work for instead of many. That way you're not testing so much.
FINDING NEEDLES IN LAB COATS
I just had to share this story with everyone because I am a wreck. My 17-year-old daughter works in a cleaners. They have to go through all the pockets of clothes that come in. Last night she was going through lab coats (I did not know they did not wear gloves) and touched some needles that were in the pocket. She said that she was not stabbed put touched some white fluid. She said this has happened before but the needles had caps on them so they just threw them away. The ones from last night she tooked and threw them in the dumpster because someone that works there wanted them. She said she wrote a note to her boss and told her to please contact the doctor and tell him to be careful. The Dr. himself brings them in. I called a hotline and they told me that since she was not stabbed it was probably okay. I doubt they were used if they were in the guys jacket. I looked up his name and he is internal medicine. I am going out and buy her gloves today because the job does not supply them and I am not going to start a problem because she needs the job.
How about finding PT acute care, sm
If you can handle an extra part-time acute care job, they would be paying you and you would be getting the experience. I think the tapes are a joke and a complete waste of money. I never learned anything about MT from the practice tapes in school and I went to a reputable community college for a year for transcription. The true skills come from doing live dictations where you get actual feedback from the dictator or QA staff.
Need help finding a file converter. sm
Unfortunately, I had to bite the proverbial bullet and buy a new computer, which came of course with Vista. One of my accounts uses dvf files and the sony plug-in for that for use with my gearplayer is of course not yet compatible with Vista. (sigh)
Does anyone know a good converter I could download to convert the dvf files to wav or dss and IS compatible with Vista?
Thanks for any help.
How about finding some sites online.
Are you finding errors when you check them?
If you have quality MTs and you aren't finding errors, you are just wasting your time by checking them and your time could be better spent elsewhere. If it makes you feel better, you can do spot checks periodically to make sure the MTs are still producing quality work.
agree with finding a "challenge" and... sm
I routinely use a kitchen timer and keep track of my hourly line count (write down each job's tally which shows up on my platform after each job is sent) ... if I'm doing ER reports, I aim for 6 an hour (some are short, some are long, some hours I don't get there) ...
Also, depending on your employer, working two hours, taking a half-hour break, working 2 hours, or otherwise breaking up your day can increase my productivity and actually make my work day SHORTER (I have flexible scheduling) if I'm just too hopelessly distracted and more than willing to read every e-medicine article that comes up on my good word searches ... lol!
Changing my hours helps too ... hate to admit it but I am just a good at 0500 or 0400 (after a cup of coffee) as I am at 0700 or 0800 and I am MUCH less distracted and irritable ... when all else fails, I get up when I wake up in the middle of night -- oddly enough, I "settle down" to work much more easily then.
Good luck! What works for one person undoubtedly doesn't work for everybody but that works for me.
Any advice on finding balance... sm
with working as an MT, the ebb and flow of the business of IC working from a pool, being a mother of a 10 year-old and a wife. How do you find the time for a well balanced family and work life? Finding time to be with your growing children, teaching them values, finding time for your relationship with spouse so that all of your family are happy, working as and MT at home. I find I work way too long although I am still in the learning phase of my company just starting full time. I find my daughter is growing up and I barely have time for her or for my husband. I want to provide a happy home and I want my daughter to learn values. She is having trouble at school and at home with her attitude.
Due to finanancial difficulties we had to move in with my mother-in-law and father-in-law and it really is not the best situation but could not be helped. I am slow as an MT. I just have a hard time finding a good balance for my family and working. I wondered how some of you out there do it and are happy with your work life and family life raising children and finding time for a well-balanced relationship with your spouse. My huband is trying to find a job now working as a cook in a hospital. He just has to wait for the hiring manager to contact him.
I appreciate any advice.
Where are all of these GREAT JOBS that everyone is finding?
I have been following the Job Seekers Board and other MT jobs boards very closely, have applied at a few, tested, passed, etc. Apparently, I am delusional, because I am not finding these GOOD jobs! I do not think 8.5 cpl is GOOD. I do not think being told to work a weekend day is GOOD. I do not mind working a schedule, but having to work every weekend?????
I have been an MT for about 15 years now. I make 10 cpl and despite the job I am at right now... (yes, the Q). I am sick of ASR and sick of watching my work go to India.
Having said that, someone please tell me where all of these jobs are that pay close to what I make, happen to be US PROUD, and not required to work every blessed weekend.
Need help finding a good expander program
I work on DocQscribe and I use Instant Text. Does anybody out there work on a different shorthand program that is compatible with DocQscribe? Instant Text is okay but I am wondering if there is another program I would like more.
Anybody have info on finding Biloxi survivors?
My husband's friend hasn't heard from his brother yet and is understandably frantic. His brother was in Biloxi, Mississippi when the hurricaine hit. Last time he was heard from, he was boarding up his house.
I know this is far reaching, but does anyone have any information on finding someone in Biloxi?
Thanks!
what are you finding specifically wrong with this company
nm
My advice is you'd be better off calling 911, than finding out you should have and didn't
I don't want to scare you, but if you wait too long to make up your mind. Because you have children there you definitely need to find out. Better to find out it was GI than to not go and find out it was heart problems!
suggest finding out if your state is a community
When I divorced the ex, we had just bought a house. We live in a community property state - everything you accrued during the married is pretty much split 50-50. I hired an attorney for $600 !!! He hired a real-property attorney for $350 as he was worried about the house. I gave him the house and the dog and I took the child. It is a joint custody state but I was the primary custodian.
It's worth it to hire a divorce lawyer, and like you said you're only married 2-1/2 years (I was married 12 yrs) and you probably have little to no equity in the house at this point (just like us back then).
Check out cheaper divorce lawyers and see what you can do. Best of luck!
Anyone else having trouble finding a job?? I have over 16 years of experience, sent out at least 10
week... and nothing, nada. I know economics are really hard right now and I am sure that has a lot to do with it. I'm pretty sure for every ONE job opening they are probably getting flooded with resumes so I'm sure mine is not any more special than anyone elses. It is just getting very discouraging. It used to never be like this. I say, if you have a job right now, hang onto it because you may have nothing to go to if you quit. 
"Everyone" isn't finding good jobs.
I haven't worked in MT for almost eight months now. The line rate keeps going down while the work gets more difficult. I used to make $.12 cpl and could plow through the work with my expander. Now it's ESL, staticky recordings and difficult specialties like oncology and cardiology at a low rate. The last cpl I was offered was $.065. One company even offered me $.055. I'd rather work at McDonalds than go back to the same pay that I made as an uneducated newbie with zero experience. At least Mickey Ds gives free food and benefits. Snort!
And the CEOs keep finding new ways to cheat and bonuse themselves.
 while keeping MTs from making any money at all. We are the ones who pay for the bonuses for CEOs, lawsuits and bad business decisions.
switchboard.com is another good site for finding physicians
x
I'm not having any luck finding anything about health insurance in the archives--
I'd like to go back to an IC job, but I need insurance for my family. Does anybody have any suggestions for a good company to enroll with, especially in Indiana?
Good luck. In the same position and finding nada. nm
v
Finding accounts. Start with your own family doctors and even if they don't
need the service, they may know of other doctors who do. Good luck.
I need help finding a good company with steady work..sm
that pays a minimum of 10 cents a line. I have been an MT for 27 years and I take pride in my work. Things have changed at my current company and cherry pickers have taken over so I end up doing all the reports no one else wants to do. This takes me longer and my line count is suffering. I know there have to be good companies out there that pay well and need good employees. I have left my email address if anyone would like to offer me some hope and share names of companies. Please no flames, I am just an honest MT wanting an honest job with decent compensation. Thanks for any help.
Finding a legitimate work-at-home opportunity
Finding a legitimate work-at-home opportunity can be very confusing task, but once you get in to the field you feel great by working at the comfort of your home. You may come across many opportunities but you have to very ideal in choosing the best which suits you. In case, if you have always worked for someone else and are depressed with this situation, or if you want to spend more time at home, you may want to consider finding a work at home opportunity that will allow you to earn money but give you the free time you are looking for.
Even if you could do 3000 a day, good luck finding a company
x
Way friggin' insulting!! Or getting a job at a higher rate & finding a newbie
s
You must live in Calif - finding a good old doctor is nearly impossible here.
It amazes me. But, it is true. The stories I have heard are heartbreaking.
I blame it on the cap they placed on malpractice suits. Doctors here are complacent. In my town, we go to Stanford or UCLA for serious illnesses. It is well worth the drive.
Answer to finding job x15 years experience and not so funny post!
How childish! Just another embarrassing post by an American MT !!!
No need to be smart with him. He's got my
respect for having earned his degree, whether or not he's working in that field and for whatever reason.
Not because they are smart...because they
IQ was never the issue!
If they are smart and get out ;)
x
We are just so smart... sm
 and great at what we do that we need a challenge once in a while. No, switching professions is not the answer if your desire is to stay at home. I have found that helping each other through these message boards has been quite invigorating, and to know that I am not alone in my endeavors is quite reassuring, I must say!
Smart Gal!
Yes, this is the only job I believe where the salary goes down in time instead of up. You are smart to find another career. I have been in this line of work over 20 years and only wish I had made another move early on. Good luck to you.
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