Focus has definitely improved
Posted By: Amanda on 2008-07-05
In Reply to: Need new job w/ only 7 mnths exp. - sortanewbie
since Nuance bought them out. I don't work there anymore but I had a pleasant experience and made money while looking for a place that offered benefits regardless of line count (they found me, actually). If they aren't your first choice, apply with them as well as any other company you can find. Good luck :o).
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
Improved... some
I had this done about four years ago. I actually worked for the doctor who performed my procedure. Because of my anatomy and "large" uterus, I knew that it would not totally stop my periods but it has helped me have what would be called "normal" periods, lasting 3-4 days, normal/light flow, instead of 8-10 days of heavy flow. According to my GYN it does not help as much for painful periods, helps more with just the heavy bleeding. Simple procedure for me, only had to take one Wygesic that afternoon and was back to work the next morning. I could have had a hyst, but couldn't afford the "down time". Everyone is different, so don't expect miracles. Communicate with you doctor and get answers for your particular situation, but from my experience I would recommend it. Hope this helps.
I improved on it after a while, but then stayed the same.
When I first started on VR I had a really hard time because we don't have an expander on our program. I was so accustomed to typing shortcuts that I typed them when I was editing and ended up having to edit my editing.  But I've been doing it for a few months now and got used to the program, and my line production picked up a little. I'll never be able to double or even get 60% to 70% above my usual typing rate though because I can produce a lot with typing (about 1600 lines a day). I haven't heard of anyone producing 3200 lines a day when 100% editing. It would be different if it was like QA editing and just filling in the blanks, but sometimes this takes longer to do this than it does to type it.
I think they have improved over the years though
There are many choices out there but the ones I always look for are the ones that do not get hot to the touch, have automatic shut off even if they are tipped slightly, and also if they overheat.
I like the ones with a thermostat and fan and oscillating is nice as well. They really produce a dry heat though so having a humidifier would really help you feel warmer and you would be less likely to have it set at a higher temp., thus, costing you less if it doesn't run as much I feel.
Has the job outlook improved any?
Hey, all. I have been out of touch for a few months, getting some personal stuff out of the way, and have not been keeping up with the job market. Now that I am ready to start looking again, I was curious about how the conditions are right now. I was just wondering if it had improved any since, say January? Is the economy starting to come back as it pertains to MT'ing?
Thanks in advance.
Hc
My line count improved on DQS. sm
I wonder if they are complaining about their having to select the proper account now instead of slamming in phonetic spelling, MR#, and going with that.
I like DQS's ability to give me all the parameters I need for proper selection of the proper account when the report uploads to the client. I wished I had it now because the company I work for sends out so many e-mails about improper account selections (one patient can have several active accounts because of several visits), but the program we have now does not give enough search parameters to distinguish the proper account.
The real issue may be that the transcriptionists are not use to their reports directly uploading to the client's electronic medical record.
My husband has talked to them, it has improved some but they still do it....so it stays as it is - n
xx
I find that exercise has greatly improved the quality of my sleep
I used to need 10-11 hours of sleep to feel rested, but since I started exercising (40 minutes a day on an elliptical machine), I feel completely refreshed with 8 hours.
I resisted it initially. Much to my surpise, line count has improved. Lots of backspacing being do
dd
We see that you only focus
On the negatives! What about the children who were born into this poverty through no choice of their own?
You take the negatives only in this tragedy, what a very closed mind you have
Anything to help you focus?
I am very distracted by everything while I work. I don't think I have ADD. I hope not anyway. I just cannot focus for more than 20-30 minutes at a time. Is there an herb or over-the-counter medication to help you focus? I have tried Ginko and it seems to help a little. I just want to be more productive during the day rather than going back and forth to the Internet and taking breaks constantly. Thanks.
Focus
I have worked at Focus for just over a year now as an IC and I really like it there. Everyone is very pleasant and helpful. Any problems or concerns that I may have are addressed right away. I have plenty of work to keep me busy. They offer benefits if you are employee status, but you can also choose to be an IC. They also have direct deposit. I do transcription only, but they also have VR if you want to do that (you don't have to if you don't want to). I work on the Dictaphone ExText platform but I know they have other platforms as well.
The bottom line is that they are a great fit for me. I have had a really great experience with them. No complaints at all.
FOCUS-sm
 Thanks very much for the info. 
LOL!! Focus, focus, focus!! nm
focus, focus, focus--sm
and a strong work ethic that does not have you hopping up from your chair every other minute to do laundry, dishes, take out the garbage, or answer the phone. I have caller ID and use it constantly to screen any calls. If I do not recognize the number, I do not answer it. This saves a lot of time, as far as I am concerned. I know a lot of the work at home moms have kids and that has to be really hard, and I empathize with that. I don't have anyone at home, except my two kitties, to distract me from my work. I have no tv on and no music, nothing. I have had a lot of medical terminology classes and pretty know most of my doctors most used words, so I do not have to spend a lot of time researching. This also takes a lot of time, time we are not paid for. Then, of course, there are the two things you mentioned, staying in your chair constantly and shortcuts. I have pretty much the same doctors every day and know them pretty well. this makes a big difference too. I only use autocorrect as an expander, as I never could get used to IT or some others, where I spent more time looking at the bottom part with all the different entry options than I did typing. I also had many years of typing classes, as well, and I rarely need to look at my keys to know what I am typing. I watch the copy I am typing and can see any errors I make right away and correct them right away. I rarely go back and look through it again after I am done. I also rarely hear from QA about anything either. If I do, it is usually an address change or something. But I do have a habit of putting two periods .., at the end of a sentence. but I pretty much catch those too.
My last suggestion is that you have to WANT it, more than ANYTHING else in the world. Not having a spouse, or anyone else to help provide income is a HUGE motivator, as far as I am concerned. It all depends on how badly you want to pay your bills, eat, and have some extra for emergencies. It is all priority, as far as I am concerned, but that is just me. Everybody elses situations are different. but this works for me. JMO.
Focus
I also work for Focus, and I have to agree that they are the best company that I've worked for (or interviewed with) so far. So far, I've worked for 3 other online companies and one local hospital. Plus, I've interviewed with (and ended up turning down positions at) at least 10 companies since January of this year. Add to this number those who won't give me a chance because I only have 2 years of experience (it apparently does not matter that I've had between 99% and 100% QA ratings in every MT job that I've had so far) or don't live in the required state or don't own a C-phone, don't have access to unlimited long-distance phone service, or some other such thing.
The flexibility at Focus can't be beat. I don't have to get permission to change my schedule to fit my needs. Whenever I have a question, someone is available via IM, email, or telephone. The pay on my favorite shift (third) is better than I've been offered anywhere else. I also have 5 accounts, so if one doesn't have any work, I can generally find work on another. I am an IC, but they do offer the employee option, last time I heard, and the premium for health insurance for a family was less than $400/month.
My only fear is that they are sharing the work with so many other companies that I'm afraid of what is going to happen to the individual MTs like myself.
These are my experiences and my opinions, and are not open to debate. But, I am happy to share the good, the bad, and the really UGLY about any experience that I have had with any MT company in the past 2 years. Overall, it has been a true temporary nightmare, but I am very happy now at Focus, and have decided to stop searching for greener (USA-based) pastures; I'm not so sure there ARE any.
Focus
I've worked for Focus for 19 months now. I get 8 cpl for transcription and 4 cpl for editing. I much prefer the VR editing jobs because your hands don't hurt! You can also increase the speed of the voice file without it warping and there's this little red box that follows along with you and outlines the words as they are dictated. As far as average lph? I don't mark it that way because I have multiple accounts, etc., etc. For me, I work 8 hours a day and there will always be a little bit of transcribing because of new doctors etc. As an example, a good day I had last week, I did 140 typed and 2640 edited in 8 hours.
Focus
I just wanted to send you and anyone else a warning about Focus. I know they are advertising for MTs and QAs out the yingyang these days. I went to work for them a couple of weeks ago, and I have had very little to no work to transcribe at all. I don't know what is going on there, but I would not advise going with them at this time.
focus? What's focus?
Focusing and not getting distracted is my toughest chore. When I'm on point and working, I'm a great producer. It's the getting there and staying there that's an issue for me.
I found a clock chime program that chimes every hour. I initially got it to remind me to get up and stretch so I couldn't get so stiff, but it helps me stay focused, too. When I want to get silly and I let myself get distracted, I know that I'll have 5 minutes coming with the next clock chime, so I get myself back to work a little bit easier.
Wait until you've been there six months and if you've improved
quality and quantity, I'd say go ahead and ask. Otherwise I'd say annually... good luck
Don't focus on them. Or if you do, move your
mouse up and down really, really fast to see if it gives you motion sickness. LOL
Focus Infomatics Inc.
This company has offered me a job. I have never heard of them before. Anybody have any info on them??? Good/Bad.. Thanks.
Focus Infomatics
Can anybody tell me anything at all about Focus I heard they are a good service to work for. Anybody ??
Still happy at Focus?
Hello-
I am a newbie who is supposed to start at Focus and was wondering if you are stil happy with them? I am also going to be doing IC status, not employee. How much work do you usually get per day (hours?) Thanks for your help!
Amanda
Escription/Focus
I also work for Focus with Escription and I love it. I started as a newbie with them and I have received great training and because I have never been a super fast typist, I prefer VR over full transcribing, so I have a mix of both. My experience with Focus has always been good; there was low work volume at first, but there was a limit to the accounts I could do since I was a newbie. Now I have some experience under my belt and there are plenty of accounts to train on and they do not constantly switch you like some companies do. I still have the main clinic account I trained on a year ago, along with picking up some acute care accounts. I plan to stay with Focus/Escription for a long time.
OMG!! Just focus on the issue -
pay her the $100.00 which, by the way, is not measly to many people, especially if they worked for it. Two wrongs don't make a right!! MTSOs have to understand that you must pay subcontractor MTs on time, especially if you have a signed agreement, even if they have a 50% error rate in reports and the client doesnot pay until 2010.
And I agree with the other poster, what was your subcontractor doing with your client's contact info? Did you have her sign a non-compete clause in your transcription agreement? If so, and she still contacted your client, then you still pay her the $100 and let her know she is in violation of your agreement, too, because her contacting your client is interpreted as competition. If not, this is a learning lesson for you.
as a newbie with Focus,
I have not been docked pay because of poor accuracy. If you have any questions at all on your jobs, you send to QA.
Focus QA questions
I was offered a 100% QA position with Focus at 6 cpl and have been sitting on the fence because most of the prior feedback regarding this company has been so negative. A big concern is that, according to what I've read, the trainers are in India and the process of getting trained is extremely challenging. Can anyone currently working there comment on this? Also, is it true that the majority of the work you edit comes from India, and if so, how does that affect your income/lph?
Focus Infomatics
Has anyone else had trouble collecting their paychecks from this company?
I started with Focus
I was hired by Focus within a month after graduating and had a good experience with them. I know work for another company, but I think sometimes it is a matter of luck and being able to pass the test to get hired. There are some good companies out there, but also a lot of bad ones. If I had it to do over again I would have started part-time and held on to my full-time job until I gained more speed since I almost went broke in the process.
I wish you the very best and do not give up if this is what you really want, but it is a tough industry, even though I love it!
Focus Infomatics QA?
I was just hired by Focus Infomatics for QA. I'm coming from an entry-level job where I make a lovely, lovely 2 cents a line, whereas I've been told that with proper accuracy and shift differential I'll be making 7-8 cents a line at Focus. Any other QA for Focus? What's your average paycheck like? How's the workload?
Thanks so much.
RE: Focus Informatics!
Beware of quality-based deductions!
Tips on how to focus, would
Posting this because I want to get my line count up. I work as an IC and can work anytime I want to... when I type I do about 200 an hour so it is not the company line counter, as reason why my lines have been pretty low. I have been in this business a long time though and find it hard to sit and focus. If I could just even do 2 hours at a stretch and do that 3-1/2 times a day it would be great. I just get so tired, bored, I don't know what that I cannot seem to tolerate the length of time needed to sit. I am making a fine line count for part time and meeting my contract, but I sure would like to earn more money and the work is there. Anybody having the same struggles? Any input would be highly appreciated. BTW: I tried setting a timer, giving myself little goals, even long-term end-of-pay check treats for myself, but the boredom or tiredness or something is just too strong. Thanks again for any ideas.
Focus place
It always seems that that Focus infomatics place is hiring. I know nothing about them,except what I read here which is good and bad, but they always seem to be hiring.
You are exactly right. Beth is full of herself and her focus
is not where it should be. It's time to sit down and shut up and let the professionals do their job. She is in no position to criticize because she doesn't have all the facts.
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.
Avoid Focus Infomatics!
I worked for Focus for a couple of months, and I absolutely hated it! They offshore their QA and tech support to India, and you can never understand a work they are saying when they call you to train you on their software, which is the worst program that I have ever transcribed in. It was always freezing up, losing connection to the VPN, and it cost me so much money because I kept losing work that I had done. Their tech support would take forever to respond when I IM'd them, and they were hardly ever very helpful at all. It is also true that they deduct pay for mistakes. I now work full-time for Cymed, and I am so much happier!
Need tips! I have LOST my focus!
I have been working as a Transcriptionist since 1999, always from home. For the first 5 years I could pound out the lines and sometimes work 9 or 10 hours straight and get an awesome line count. About 2 years ago I started losing my focus and would get sidetracked by other things in the house, but I was able to meet my line goal most days. Last year I decided to rent an office away from home with a neighbor who also works from home and I was a little more productive there, but still distracted. Now, I am back home again and I feel like I would rather be doing anything than transcribing. I don't want to give up on it because I LOVE the flexibility it gives me! I am currently transcribing for two different clinics (not working for someone else) and I work as an IC for a national part time.
My distractions are: Internet, housework, sometimes my family although I'm working on re-training them (and I invested in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones so I don't have to hear them when I'm transcribing )
I know I'm not the only one who has gone through this so if you have and you have any tips that workd for you, I would love to hear them! I need to get out of this rut!
Thanks in advance for your advice
Focus stands for Foreign
Focus is an Indian company, you know. Most who have been there were not happy, and many MTs only go there because they are fresh out of school and find it hard to get the experience they need. Just FYI.
Focus Infomatics Job Posting
I thought I read something on this board at one time that a job ad for Focus was taken off because they are headquartered in India. Just curious because I saw they have a new job posting on the Job Seeker's Board.
Focus mentoring program
Focus has a great mentoring program---they gave me a start fresh out of school. They were very patient and taught me the ropes. Started out on a clinic account, but now doing a huge variety of work types. There is a large volume of ESL docs, so you will get an education on the accents. Be prepared for low earnings at first, until you pick up speed. May even be best to start part-time and have another job on the side until you are making money as an MT. It was a rude awakening for me when I gave up my well paying full-time job.
I was very lucky to find them right out of school, and I now work for them and another company. I have almost 2 years under my belt and still learning, but I am amazed at the progress I have made so far. I will always be grateful to Focus for giving me a chance.
Medivoxx does and I hear Focus...sm
Infomatics does also. I think Spheris may not sure. I can't tell you how any of those are to work for as I have never worked for any of them.
a good post, NOT; lousy focus you have
first you sling insults at MQ as a 'nonbusiness' -- do NOT back up your accuations with anything whatsoever substantial and then drift into 'mumbo-jumbo' about how the profession has degenerated --
MQ is the giant because they are VERY good at business -- and they give me and lots of other MTs a fabulous job and are always improving as a company...as far as the profession, yes it is changing, as everything else in our world. So we either adapt, or get left behind and whine. If you are all that unhappy, it looks like time for you to move on to greener pastures in another line of work.
Focus Infomatics has another ad on the jobs board
again
May sound silly but strict focus
will help you proof as you transcribe... Take short breaks fairly often to keep this from being too intense. I sometimes silently "say" (repeat to myself) what I'm hearing to make sure I "see" it on screen...
Anybody know anything about Focus Infomatics training period?
I received an offer for an internship of 2-3 weeks from Focus Infomatics....just wondering if anyone has worked for them and what I should expect?
Your not alone...Quantity not quality is the focus today!
x
Focus is run by a bunch of Indians who don't know what they're doing.
Any "long-timers" with Focus Infomatic?
I am thinking about applying to FI and I was wondering if there is anybody out there who has worked for them at least a little while. I checked some of the archives about Focus but is there anyone who likes working for them?
Skip the games - focus on the mom-to-be. I HATE going to those showers. nm
If my husband died I'd just focus on raising my kids.
And then after they were raised - no, I wouldn't actively pursue meeting someone else. If I just happened to someday meet the perfect match, fine. But I wouldn't be out looking. I think it would just be too hard to adjust to not only the death of your husband, but living with someone completely different. I'd just fill my life with all kinds of OTHER stuff.
They bought Dictaphone Corp, and recently Focus. nm
x
|
