Glass half empty....
Posted By: Seen A. Lot, MT on 2007-09-04
In Reply to: the downward spiral of the MT - time to get out
I can agree on a few points here. If you expect to be stroked, you won't find that in healthcare at all. I have worked in a hospital setting, have my own accounts, and also currently IC for a company online at this point. I just love what I do, and I'm pretty good at it. A lot of what you write is true in that this profession has evolved, but think about it this way. If we didn't evolve, then how long would a patient wait for you to get that report off of the old typewriter? How many people would go months and months before finding that lung mass or brain tumor?
Just like the typewriter has evolved, the technology in which we diagnose and treat patients has evolved with leaps and bounds. I still feel I'm doing a service to the patient. I like my job because I know it helps people. I'm sort of behind the scenes at this point and not visible to the patient any longer unless there's one in the waiting room when I pick up my tapes (doctor won't go digital), so I see the difference I can make.
Do I need to be stroked and told I'm doing a great job? No. I know I do a good job, but being told that every day or two is not why I'm in it. Money is just the means of a transfer. No one told me I'd get rich being a transcriptionist, but no one told me how much I would learn about the human body and functionality of it either and that I could most likely take that experience into another field.
Wow, when I type a report on a patient that has a serious illness, I think my lucky stars. I think at this point, reading your post, I may go back to school. My transcription skills could really help me become a coder (are they stroked/given raises every year?) or maybe I'll become a nurse (are they stroked/given raises every year?), or maybe I'll become a physician myself and pay my transcription enormous amounts of money and remember to call and thank them to express a job well done when really I should be calling my patient with the brain tumor or lung mass or any other disease. I wonder if the maintenance guy sweeping the hall deserves a raise or the nice lady cleaning the windows, then again maybe the physician himself wouldn't mind being reimbursed for the services he renders to someone without health insurance?
Buck up camper.... It's going to a long trip! 
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Let me guess - you see glass as half empty too, right?
I tend to see the good in people and think positive. There are exceptions to everything. I don't focus on those - I move on. Your posts remind me of someone who goes to a a restaurant and says to the waitress 'Every time I eat in here the food is bad!' - so - she says 'Why do you keep coming back?' 
Glass if half empty for a reason
Someone is drinking out of it!
You make it sound like we are all a bunch of whining babies looking for a pat on the back. That isn't really the case. The truth is, we just want what is fair. There was a time when you worked as an MT and made good pay. You got benefits, maybe even a paid vacation. You were respected by the doctors you worked for because you were generally in office with them and they saw how hard you worked and what you put back into the office.
As work has been outsourced to services, these jobs were lost. The MT who used to work in house, have her nice benefit package, get paid an hourly rate, and had the opportunity to develop a relationship with the doctor she worked for, is now an IC working at home. She has lost her benefits. The doctors she transcribes for in her pool of work don't even know her name. She is "the typist." She is paid by the line with no guarantee. She bounces from company to company only to find that most are the same. They make promises that don't pan out. She runs out of work at one company, which means no pay. She works on a ridiculous and inefficient platform for another (less pay). She ends up bitter, and who can blame her?
I think many of us feel the same way. I have worked in this business for six years, and the pay that I was offered then is the same as now (8 CPL). Why has this not gone up? God knows the cost of healthcare, groceries, and gas has gone up. We shouldn't expect COLA?
I don't want a pat on the back. I don't even care if I ever hear a thank you. I want fair pay and respect. I want to be treated like a person, not like a machine hooked to a keyboard.
While I agree with your glass half full
there are few points that are not necessarily correct..at least with my company MedQ.
While I can still "type in my pajamas" I have no automy over my schedule, need to clock in, in my own living room, to maintain an impossible TAT. I agree schedules are very important...but rigid scheduling held to the minute is not even possible in an office envirment, let alone your own home. A 10 hour window has and always will be a more productive way to produce your work.
I do not agree we have it good. I feel it is an abomination that our profession and hard earned skill (a skill that takes a minimum of 3 years to perfect in order to work at home...alone) is paid such a paltry amount. I have never complained over the years of not receiving one raise...I was more than happy making my 45-50 K a year...but systematically reduced to 20-25 K a year..and working harder for it..is unacceptable.
What really frustrates me is the axiom.."well you don't like it..go somewhere else." I wonder how nurses, x-ray techs, pharmacy techs..and other group of medical professionals that also require 2-3 years training before performing their jobs would take being systematically deducted 40-60% of their pay..and told to..You don't like? Go somewhere else! Of course that would not happen to them...they have a union to protect their interests.
So while I agree constant bellyaching gets you nowhere and the inevitable deterioration of this profession is a fact, I am not grateful for this job...nor do I think I "have it good." Other than the extremely poor economy which does in fact make me grateful to have any job....it is patently unfair and criminal what has been done to MTs. And until I see contracts between MTSO and hospitals that delineate how ASR work is paid at 40% less than MT work..I will never believe hospitals pay a lower rate for ASR. They have no idea what work goes through ASR and what does not.
I'll bring the dip and the half and half ;)
If it's so empty, why are you here?
Empty promises and
whenever you do get a response (that still doesn't answer the question or resolve the issue) it really burns me up to see that they have cc'd the message to a gazillion other people. Apparently, everything is everybody's business. I don't know why they have people with titles because it seems like no one person there can make a decision about anything. Uggggghhhh!!!!
And don't give Deb the recruiter a hard time, she has nothing to do with all the nonsense.
Empty Box from MT Stars
Sad day when someone goes through the mail and takes your gift. I received a tube from MT STARS today and it was empty...This was my gift from the Santa donation. I hope whoever took it really likes the gift.
While the queue was empty
While the queue was empty, I logged in to my public library's audiobook section and found an audiobook called The Law of Attraction, which I downloaded for free and started listening to. It contains tips and secrets on how to attract good things into our lives, which would include abundance and positive experiences in every area of life.... I also found links online to free worksheets and all kinds of stuff. Here is a you tube link to explain more about what I'm referring to here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoGCaLul8ms
No wonder this place is becoming empty.
.
Probably because someone can empty out your checking account before
w
EMR voice clips are empty on over 20
files. The lead MT at the clinic where I worked verified that it was not a technical problem and that the doctor most likely pushed the mute button. Now, I am told to go into each file and type "***" on the page. Over 30 files. It is quite laborious
Download the voice file, open up MS Word, transfer voice film from one file to another, close it, type document, exit voice file, exit Word, save document. Then, onto the next.
Well, ya know, I am paid by the line and three asterisks are going to give me about 2 cents. What do you think of this? The in-house lead is paid by the hour. I think she should go into each file and do this. If she comes upon one he miraculously managed to dictate on, she could send it to me. I am IC.
I am seething!
Empty Queue - try freerice.org
An MT told me about this site, it's interesting..
No, just want to cut to the chase and avoid tne empty posts. nm
:+
Can't wait - Aug. 29th. My refrig is empty all of the time!
I have two teens and they eat everything and drink everything in site. A food order is supposed to last a week, and it lasts 3 days if that! They are horses!
Other than that, I do enjoy them home.
The Add Entry window shows up but is completely empty..nm
nm
Glass of wine
I did not mean to start a war. I know the difference between a glass of wine and a "problem with drinking" as my father was an alcoholic as well as ex-husband. And just to let you know the open bottle that I opened Sunday evening for my glass is still in the wine case/holder with one glass missing. I will probably have to throw it out as I usually have one glass and forget that it is there to finish it. Would not make a good alcoholic as I forget to continue to drink -- just my one beer or one glass of wine every couple of weeks. Also, I usually wait until I am very near completion of my work before I "pop" the cork. But again, did not mean to start a war.
Glass of wine
Patti, unfortunately on this board lately, anything can start a war.
Like you, I sometimes start sipping a glass the last 30-60 mins. of my shift - about once a month. Ignore the hostile postings - some of these people read 2 words, take it out of context, and post in response to things that weren't even said.
Personally, I'm glad you posted because I felt a little guilty about sipping an ounce or 2 while working - I grew up in an alcohol-free home, but I certainly saw what alcoholism did to some of my friends' families.
Glass top stove
Have used these since the 70s. Be careful what type of pots you use on these. Never use any pots except the ones that are all metal underneath. The finish can come off the pretty red and blue pots and burn onto the stove. Check the bottom of your pots before you use them. If they have food embedded into the bottom, sometimes this will burn right onto the stove. Use the cleaner for a glass top stove. You can let is soak on the spots with a damp cloth on top of it and then go back and rub some of the soil off, but you have to keep repeating this until gone. The razor is okay under certain circumstances. Someone one stuck a contact paper onto one of mine inadvertently, not realizing the burner was on. Luckily for me I had the razor handy and got at it right away, while the burner was HOT. There's a lot of little tricks to keeping these nice. However, I did have one, a GE smooth-top free-standing range where the finish did actually chip off, which turned out to be a warranty problem. If the stove is new, maybe there's a warranty on it? Good luck. Try to relax and don't drive yourself wacko over it.
Main topic is "Things to do online while the queue is empty." nm
.
chug a glass of water
X
A glass of wine with typing
A while back there were several messages when someone made a halfway joke about drinking and I never answered but I do have to admit that when I sometimes have to work on Sunday nights or some late evenings I do sip on a glass of wine while typing, not an entire bottle but a glass of wine. Just thought I would not comment on it as several people were shocked that anyone would even consider it. Not all the time but occasionally and in moderation.
That is my Sunday comment.
Glass etching, maybe? see link
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_wood_glass_etching/article/0,1789,HGTV_3348_1383604,00.html
glass cleaning wipes
They are in a plastic tube kinda like the wet wipes but are made for monitors and TVs. Wal-Mart has them.
Emergency over... Kid hadh left an empty floppy disk in the computer.
x
What is going on when every time you start computer - there are numerous empty folders, cannot find
nm
I do the same thing now and then, have a glass near the end of my work, usually takes me an
I find it relaxes me a little and I type a little faster, but I certainly don't do it on a daily basis, maybe Friday or Saturday night when I am winding down. As for the open bottle, get a vacuum system for it--rubber "cork", then pump the air out of the bottle, it will keep for a LONG time, no more tossing of flat wine. Works great!
screen kind? Glass or trinitron?
Windex or rubbing alcohol on glass :)
I'd like to have a tall glass of eggnog spiked with a shot of rum.
dd
i've got a clear glass L-shaped desk,
and plain buttercup yellow walls (here when I moved in). I'm going to go into business with a family friend painting (faux finishes, murals, etc) so I'm thinking of painting my office with a stone look wall (on the wall with the window) and a mural of some sort (probably italin)on the wall that I face. I will eventually knock that wall down anyway so that it's open to below/looks over the family room so if the mural isn't that great it really won't matter-and if it turns out great- the wall will probably stay
How about grilled fish like salmon? Add a glass of wine and you're all set!
nm
My office has a sliding glass door that I keep open, but it helps me
x
Office lunches come to mind, the whole crew would have a glass of wine
We managed to get through the Friday afternoon following the glass of wine. It's holiday time, birthday time, retirement time. Rare - RARE - occasions. I remember the doctors have a very very slight slur LOL. I probably lost a keystroke or two on my speed. The nurses were happier that usual. The secretaries laughed for a change. It's all good.
Holy Cow, a gallon of Jack Daniels? I had a whole juice glass once sm
and was sick for a week, can't imagine a gallon.
another thought - if you can't see under the water, possibly broken glass, or other sharp objects
which could cut you, and cause infection or tetanus.
Merlot, white zin, chardonnay, sometimes daily 1 wine glass with din-din. Maybe 2 if I am thirsty
No alcoholic tendencies.
I use round glass lids from old Corningware and other glassware for all my pots. Find 'em at yard
s
1 out of 2, 1/2 looks like one-half
what do you do in this situation?
I have it also and they don't have even half sm
when you are doing angios and MRIs.
Could you do half and half - QA/MT?
Some days I think I'd rather do QA - I have carpal tunnel and I could sit in my recliner and QA because I wouldn't have to be pushing a foot pedal all the time and could use hot keys, and it would be a change of pace. But then I have days at a time, if not weeks, where I have the worst dictators. I rarely have blanks, but I do have them, and I think no way do I want to be stuck listening to every horrible dictator, although my company pays by the hour and a good rate, so it would be nice not to have to worry about working 50+ hours/week so I can pay my bills because I don't have a consistent pay check to try to budget with.
Which half?
nm
Hope you're gonna have a glass of wine while you're relaxing
in your spa goodies. Congrats!
they get half pay for retirement too!
Bus drivers are making $63,0000 and that is with no education. you can be a hs dropout or a foreigner. I hate NY and glad I left.
As an IC half-time I still use believe it or not...
I loved WP5.1 from the getgo....and still love it and all my private MDs are fine with it - they merely convert the floppy diskette over to whatever program they use. No complaints SO FAR and it's been TEN YEARS!!!! *lol*
Six of one/half dozen of the other
I have had both over the years (have bought my own insurance since 1989). Neither gave me any grief. Blue Cross was eventually cheaper for me than Mutual of Omaha. The downside to Blue Cross is that if you move out of the area where you bought Blue Cross, say you have Blue Cross of Illinois and want to move to Georgia, you cannot take Blue Cross of Illinois with you, and just because Blue Cross of Illinois accepted you does not mean that the Blue Cross plan in Georgia will accept you when you apply. With Mutual of Omaha, you would not have this problem.
Already checked half.com and they don't have any at all, e-bay only had
edition one cheap, edition 2 more expensive than any other place I've seen.
Yep..try half.com or eBay for used ones. nm
s
I write off half my DSL
I am sure I use it more like 3/4 time for work, but half to be safe. Tax Cut, from H&R Block, goes through the deductions with you and it is simple.
About an hour and a half if I sit still...
It also depends on how many screens to maneuver before you can type which takes time in between.
I transcribed a 70 min file in an hour and a half the other night but it was one long letter.
It all depends I guess.
half a brain...
Again... I am not trying to win any friends or make any enemies. If you are happy and have no complaints, that is wonderful. I was observing and making comments. Half a brain was not meant as a cut to anyone, simply a figure of speech.
half year mark
My small MTSO is at 22,500 and my part-time job in a clinic is $6200. So should do well this year.
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