For me it began to go downhill when ...
Posted By: JaneDoughnot on 2009-03-25
In Reply to: This is for the Veteran MTs (30+years) - Octo-MT
the smaller companies grew larger and/or were swallowed up by larger companies. That was when I was forced to become more tied to the p.c. with "managers" looking over the shoulder.
I miss the days when the files were uploaded and downloaded and transcribed at my will within a 24 TAT. Now it seems, even as an IC, that logging in directly to the system ties me to the p.c., unable to stop in the middle of a report and return to it later, unable to do maybe 3 hours in the morning and 5 at night as long as reports are in before the 24 TAT the next morning. Now plagued with IMs and emails about everyone needs to get on and work b/c there are 175 reports on the system .... insane with account specifics being different for every doctor nevermind the templates, and tons of ESL doctors. I could do 2000 lines a day years ago before lunch and have the rest of my day to myself if I wanted. With the advancement in high-tech I'm lucky to get that many lines in 8+ hours b/c the company platform changes or "upgrades" as soon as I reach any speed on the "old" platform, and so far every platform I've worked on slows me down, lags, or you have to go through multiple screens to even begin typing. Some platforms do not have the ability to create macros (expanders), some expect you to jump through several screens looking up patient info, medications, etc., account numbers, etc. some do not allow custom dictionaries.
It all sort of reminds me of being an underpaid in-house employee but with none of the benefits, and with some of the "office politics."
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No. It's been going downhill for the at least the last
x
No. It's been going downhill for at least the last
x
Yes. One of my best friends -- she began seeing married men
which was intolerable to me. I tried to look the other way. She wouldn't even try to hide it from me...wanting to talk about it, wanting me to MEET them. I finally just told her that I loved her very much and enjoyed our friendship but that something had changed so drastically for her to believe it is okay to live like this and it was in direct conflict with everything in my life. I just could not support someone who was intentionally pursuing such a hateful, devastating lifestyle. These weren't mistakes. She saw men she wanted and it was a game to her.
It hurt me very much. Many people who didn't know the reasons behind it blamed me for being a horrible person for dumping my best friend.
It was hard not to discuss her lifestyle to defend my actions.
I feel for you.
This is true. Ever since I began transcribing rad..sm
I have had a significant increase in income (an understatement). I was typing ER and acute care before rad. It paid the bills, but I was looking to get out of transcription after years of doing that.
Well, I was hired to train on a VA rad account, and it changed my outlook on things. It's a fast-paced specialty and very repetitive (expanders = money$$$).
That VA account has since went to VR, but I will be forever greatful to have had the opportunity to learn rad terminology, etc. Now, I am working on another account with a very reliable company and making the most money I've made transcribing ever.
When I began 15 yrs ago, people were bitter. I
aa
Just began 2 days ago at Aero.
Took a month to get the paperwork in order and clearance but I finally began working the account (radiology). Let me know how you are doing.
The Downhill Flow
I am so sorry you are having to put up with this. It's a crying shame. We who have the most experience and make the company and the doctor look good are the very ones who are dumped on with horse pucky the most. I might add, however, that this is the very reason that I have decided not to stay in the business for much longer, and I tell EVERY NEWBIE I EVERY COME ACROSS, LOUD AND CLEAR, RUN! DON'T START THIS PROFESSION! I tell them they will never get the respect or the dollars they deserve. Too bad for us, we found this out too late. At least I can warn the up and comers. Again, if you are looking for sympathy, you got it, sister!
Google going downhill?
I have been a faithful user of Google for years, but lately it seems like I get alot of "junk" when I want to search for something. anybody else noticing this or is it just me? any suggestions for an alternative search engine? I have been using Yahoo occasionally.
Unrelated to my work, this morning I was trying to 'diagnose' my cat with cough and rattle in her breathing - I never could get it to come up with a good site for pet health, just alot of personal web site junk, some of which had absolutely nothing to do with cats even.
This is why our field is going downhill -
It's not going downhill but it is changing
The job is evolving into an Editor process and there is a higher-than-ever ratio of difficult dictators.
The line rates are not something you can count on moving upward but they never have been. Where money is usually made is in production with incentives and bonuses.
Have you thought of accepting a job in house? That is how most of us began.
xx
Minimum Wage, as I read this tears began to well in my eyes ...
You, like some of the other posters, reflect a clear understanding of the downward trend this industry has taken over the last few years and the mindset of those who caused it. You mention so many experiences that resonate with my own. Most notably, I like you, put all of my eggs into this one basket, foolishly believing that this wonderland profession that I had found would last forever. It was a perfect fit for my skills, abilities, and work preference. I was able to make an excellent living and felt that somehow I was making a meaningful contribution to the care of each patient whose chart came to life under my fingers.
It is amazing to me how each year the profession requires more and more knowledge from us, more skill, more ability, more dedication, more resources ... and in direct correlation to what is demanded from us our pay is cut more and more and without apology. I mentioned in another post that I remember when I first got into MT'g some 20+ years ago hearing the Powers That Be constantly resentfully complaining that we made too much money and were no more than glorified typists. Who could have known that one day they would finally all band together and make an industry-wide collective effort to correct what they felt was an unacceptable dynamic?
It seems that everyone directly and indirectly involved in the process of transcription is valued and compensated well for their contribution to the process -- everybody except us -- the ones who actually make the final work product a reality.
Thank you for your contribution to this thread.
Things must have gone downhill really fast. You posted the opposite on
nm
I was addicted to Chapstik/Bonne Bell lip stuff--began "using" went I was 10 -sm
Pretty funny thing to get addicted to right? I used BB or Chapstik or Blistex until I was 27.....so 17 years of it getting progressively worse, not kidding I would lube up every 5-10 minutes...at least it was a cheap addiction (don't smoke, etc). Went cold turkey when I was 27....I had 3 months of hell, my lips peeled and generally felt and looked horrible for 3 months until my lips regained their natural ability to take care of themselves. Even now I have to be very careful not to get "readdicted" as it would be very easy to do and have "slipped" now and then by using my Chapstik a bit too much. Now if your lips are doing this for no particular reason, yes, I'd get it checked out, can't hurt....
I am surprised you are surprised it went downhill..
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