Focus on finding the one or two companies you
Posted By: quality, not quantity on 2005-11-17
In Reply to: Please no more tests - sm - tired
really want to work for instead of many. That way you're not testing so much.
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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.
Any tips for finding a good alphabetized list of physicians in a certain state? Not finding very
s
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.
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. 
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?
Focus has definitely improved
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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