Good for you, Amanda! sm
Posted By: Apple Scruff on 2006-10-03
In Reply to: Congratulations!! I'm Very Proud of You! SM - Amanda
Are you going to take the CMT when you are able, Ms. RMT? 
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You are right Amanda (sm)
It can be very difficult to work at home with children. I hear this a.m. "all you do is work, work, work, Mom". But, when we are doing other activities such as swimming at the community pool all afternoon in the summertime, I don't hear her say "All we do is swim, swim, swim, Mom". Kids will be kids. When you are working, you feel you should dedicate your time to your children. When you are dedicating your time to your children, you feel you should be working. I am fortunate in that I have chosen positions where I do not have to sit in front of the PC all day to meet a line count. In my personal opinion, that would make me crazy. I like the flexibility. However, working on-site, you must still have to ask to leave if you child is sick or you need time off, so... lesser of two evils? 
I must be the 3rd Amanda
I haven't responded to this thread and there are already 2 Amandas?!
Amanda,
I could have written that post myself today and I have been doing this for 23 years!!! There are some days I can produce a lot and other days where I STILL have to look everything up. What specialty are you in? Some are a lot more difficult than others. Maybe finding the right specialty for you is the key. It does take a long time to get all that information in your head. Some terminology is easy because you hear it every day. Other terminology is more difficult because it is seldom used. Stick to it. My kids grew up with me doing this at home and they still say they loved having me here when their friends' mothers had to go to an office.
Thanks Amanda
Amanda, thank you for your kind words. I would type on my head if that is what my client told me to do. I have been on this account from the beginning, and I have not heard from QA in probably 2 years. Like I posted before, we have always been instructed to type "the patient." This is highlighted in my account instructions. Jane Doe was just a random name I used here, thought that would just be understood. There were other things wrong, but I really do not feel it is worth going into here to just be told what a crappy MT I am. I have addressed my issues with QA but have yet to hear back from them.
Are you the same Amanda?
Are you the same Amanda MT who types over 400 lines per hour?
Hi, Amanda
Ok, Amanda, I am sorry, but the last 2 years something is really wrong with this profession, outscourcing, ASR, EMR, etc....
? for Amanda
Thanks for a possible ray of hope during a frustrating time for MTs these days. There is definitely no harm in trying. I was just wondering during your experiment how much time you would spend on looking up for defi''s and such. Some times between looking in my reference bks and googling for an med,etc. 10 minutes can easily fly by. Whats your take on that.
Amanda......
Again, sorry, I feel with you,
My point is:
Can we keep up with all those changes, pushing ourselves harder and harder. It is so sad seeing so qualified and excellent MTs having to give up a job in which they are so efficient, having to resort to little tricks to compete with the new technology.
MTs who have been in this business for 20-30 years taking tests and being rejected. I read this on this board. So sad.
That's what I mean.
Thanks to Amanda
Thank you Amanda for posting this. I, too, have found this to be true. It is one of the traps of working at home. I forget that I am still supposed to be working and get distracted by the things going on around me. then I would wonder why I wasn't earning as much. simple answer: I wasn't working as much. Once I eliminated all the extraneous activities I did during my "work" hours, my income rebounded. Those posters who are criticizing you here are the ones who think they are entitled to do personal things on "company" time.
From the other post I quote
"No talking, no emails, no telephone, no nothing? When do you eat and pee?
Don't you have a husband or children, who want to interact with you? What's the advantage of working at home, if you work like this? This is a 'sweatshop', what a life! No, thanks"
Okay, I would like to understand this. Is this person working or not. If you are working, then work. If you are talking, emailing, eating, interacting with your husband and children, then don't expect to be earning much! Those are choices you are entitled to make but you are also responsible for the consequences. We would all like to get a check every week for spending time with our families and friends but it isn't going to happen.
For me, the advantages of working from home are many and include the fact that I don't have to drive anywhere. I don't need a wardrobe. I don't get caught up in the office politics. I don't have to eat the donuts every Friday morning!!! I set my own hours. And many, many others.
Again, Amanda, your post is a breath of fresh air on this predominantly negative board. I am glad I still like my wok!!!
Thank you, Amanda
I applaud this sentence in your comment:
' I am going to college to get into another profession and be done with all of this.'
And for THIS I say 'Thank you, Amanda!' . For being so courageous and honest. 
Thank you, Amanda
I applaud this sentence in your last comment:
' I am going to college to get into another profession and be done with all of this.'
And for THIS I say 'Thank you, Amanda!' . For being so courageous and honest.
Thanks Amanda!
I was just thinking of doing this same thing myself but have forgotten to pick up a timer. I just added it to my grocery list. I get distracted a lot too and end up not being as productive as I could be. I've complained alot about this job but taking a step back I have realized I am not working smart because I have been mad because I'm not making the amount per line I was making 10 years ago. I like working at home, I like taking off when I feel like it or going on vacation for 2 weeks at a time without someone telling me I can't so I'm going to try to make the best of it. Thanks again.
Amanda
 I appreciate your challenge!!!!! I think you were very kind to post this and I personally am taking it to heart. You did nothing in malice at all. You just posted a challenge and a suggestion. I am not a new MT. I have been transcribing for 20 years. The first 5 years in acute care, then 14 years of psychiatric/psychology, and now another year of acute care. The change from psych back to acute care you can imagine has been challenging. I am doing whatever I can to get my production up. I had never used Expanders other than my autocorrect. I am now doing this and it has helped tremendously, and in that frame of mind, I accept "your excellent challenge" as you so kindly suggested. I find myself being distracted a lot, and I am sure when I take this challenge I will see this.
I love being an at-home transcriptionist. This profession has been wonderful to me and my family. I raised two children being an at-home Transcriptionist and never took time away from them in doing so. I would get up and work an hour before I had to get them up and ready for school, get them up and off, and then work while they were in school, throwing in a load of laundry here and there "on my breaks", etc. When they got home from school I was done and spent time with them. In the summer, I changed shifts and worked nights while they slept. You tell me what other profession gives you that type of flexibility. None!
Yes, things have changed for us as MTs, but as a working mother and wife, I find that it is still the best. This being said, I also just plain love it. I find it challenging, mind-stimulating, and I am always challenging myself to do better, which to me makes it a FUN profession as well.
Again, Amanda thank you for your post. I am one MT who is going to take this challenge to see where I can IMPROVE myself. We will never arrive to our potential if we do not challenge ourselves. The challenge is on!!! THANKS!
Amanda, you sound like you
know how to make a buck stretch, and I congratulate you! Most of my life, especially when young, I was always making my dollar stretch as far as it would go. I was a young working divorced mother of two, having to KNOW how to live on a song and a prayer. Nobody can do it for you. I am probably quite a bit older than you, probably old enough to be your mother, and I have noticed that a lot of young women today just don't know how to make good suppers from nothing, I mean without the best of cuts of meat, without all of the amenities, and how to make it taste fit for a king. Been there, done that. As far as ice cream, candy, and sweets, that was far and inbetween, mostly saved for the Holidays. My kids didn't even care for candy and sweets, really. They would have rather had green peppers, carrots and fruit, and to this day, they still don't eat a lot of junk food. They have healthy teeth and strong bones it didn't hurt them in the least not to have all the junk that kids get nowadays, and way better off. Don't mean to offend anyone but just use common sense. If you only have X amount of dollars, and that includes more than the other way around, then you have to do without some things, and it won't kill you! Well my 2 cents for what it's worth...
Question for Amanda
Amanda--low long would I have to live in Georgia in order to take advantage of this great program?
I really LIKE this, Amanda, thanks for sharing
I did this a few years back and it did help so am trying it again - great tip
Okay, I took your challenge, Amanda. SM
ME: Below-average typing talent. Sad but true. I'm a clutz. Use an expander, though.
I'm paid good but not top-level industry rates.
I work 35 hours per week, not 40.
So-so account, lots of ESL, mixed transcription and editing.
CHALLENGE: Worked in my usual manner for two hours of average work flow, i.e., not fast or slow. One coffee-refill break.
RESULTS: 291 lines per hour X my pay plus incentive = $32/hour = $56K/year for a 35/hour week.
IF I worked 40 hrs/wk, that would be $64K, but I prefer not to. Like you, I do prefer to work fairly intensively while I am working as a tradeoff to a shorter workday.
Good post, Amanda! Back to work now.
Amanda's Challenge
Until two days ago, I had several accounts. One of those accounts I used to smile and call "butta." (As in butter). I've been an MT for close to 30 yrs, Amanda, and this account that was taken away from me had tons of challenging ORs, not colonoscopies, etc. I made great line count--now I have an account that is populated by physicians who don't organize their thoughts before they start dictating, open their mouths and spew absolute nonsense (and the patient's safety is OUR responsibility-HAH). One doc in particular says each sentence at least three times and changes each version subtly (on a verbatim account, yet), leaves sentences dangling, hops all over the place and in general is a pain in the butt. You know, Amanda, I challenge myself every working day and with this latest smack in the head by my employer, I'm thinking of asking my doctor for antidepressants. You're a Republican, Amanda, and you have to act like this general mistreatment of MTs over the last five or so years is our own fault. Sorry, honey, the Obama sign stays on my front lawn.
Are you the eTransPlus Amanda?
What happened?
Thank you Amanda, what a boost you made for me.
nm
Yeah, like Amanda said, mine works on ...
COM1, 3 pedal, but you could try what she tried too - VEC, 3 pedal. I just tried all until I found one that worked.
I call for Amanda's head on a platter!
 Just kidding! Geez, people! Amanda tries a little experiment and shares who results with his and people start jumping on her like a pack of lions on a zebra (okay, I watch too much animal planet).
She makes a very valid point and obviously has hit very close to home for a lot of MTs judging by the tone of the posts below. Be honest, people! None of produce near where we would be producing if we were in the office. In the office, there are no husbands bothering us every five minutes, no kids wanting mommy to do something they are capable of doing themselves, no phone calls from mom or sis to fill us in on the latest gossip.
All Amanda is alluding to is we should all take a little responsibility for our careers and our paycheck. What's wrong with that? Sure, sometimes the deck is stacked against us and we aren't being paid what we are worth and the dictators mostly suck. But a lot of the time, we get interrupted, piddle on the internet, and I myself will get distracted in a good game of Solitaire!
So instead of jumping all over Amanda, take a good long look in the mirror and just accept a little, tiny bit of responsibility for your paltry paycheck.
Okay, Amanda, you've made your point..sm
How about giving it a break and get on something else? Other would like to be heard, too!
take Amanda's challenge. it's down a lot of posts with a fire tag.NM
no message.
Amanda, did my 2 comments help you? Mine is working,,,nm
nm
I agree with Amanda. How many people reading this should be working right now?! nm
x
Hi Amanda from WV (I once lived in Morgantown!). No drivers to download, has a USB optical device.
:)
That is a good offer. Pay is not that good at UIMC. Good luck! nm
x
On 2nd thought, if you're NOT a good Italian style cook, make something you ARE good at. Leave th
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Any rose gardeners out there? Good roses that are disease proof and smell good?
I heard good things about Knockout Rose but they don't smell too much like traditional rose. Supposedly blooms all season.
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Good for you! You sound like a very nice and generous person and you deserve all your good luck! nm
x
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Agree with other poster.. good price..good service
I definitely think they are one of the best out there. We also have been talked through issues over the phone and also had a warranty in which they came out and fixed it right at our home. My only complaint..and I am sorry for saying this.. but... when you call their customer service 9 out of 10 times...you get someone who barely speaks English and I just hate that. I think that is true of a lot of customer support centers these days, ironically they are rarely American anymore. I am not prejudice at all. I just find it frustrating to call in for help and the help you get barely understands you and you do not understand them, thus making the experience very frustrating..
Expensive is right -- around $300 per credit hour! But they do have a good rep. Good luck! nm
I believe Pilates is good for shaping and strength, but you still need some cardio for good fat
s
Maybe try to find a good web site to refer to! Good luck NM
.
Good for you. Sounds very interesting and a good chance of pace - sm
but I live in the northeast and not much need for that where I live. I also live in a small town so that limits my options. I have spent the last couple of years as a substitute teacher to supplement my MT job and just completed 4-1/2 months as a long term sub which I enjoyed and was a change of pace from MT. The only problem is as a sub or ed tech you only get paid during the school year so I would have to keep my MT job for summers and school vacations. With the way things are going in the MT world I hate to rely solely on that. I don't want to find myself without any job whatsoever.
Thanks for all the responses.
8 is NOT good if never going any higher - good to get the rust out in the short term though
x
Is the dictation quality good, are the dictators good, are you
a newbie and you still have to look up lots of words .... The very first day I typed, with absolutely no education way back when, when you didn't have to have a degree/certificate or previous experience, I typed 665 lines. This was without an expander and I was not a fast typist. I can do 1000 lines in about 4 hours now on average.
LOL! Well, good! I've done ONE good thing today, then. NM
x
You have a good, realistic attitude about it. Good luck to you. nm
x
So? Take the good will and good wishes and smile. When the first day of Hanukkah comes up, SM
have a doughnut and a latke on me. I'll wish you Happy Hanukkah then. You know we spread Christmas out over a month!
Good money? Can we ask how much is considered GOOD in your books????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Especially for Iowa, that is pretty good. UI can get good over time, but that's because of the u
No I did not sit here all day and wait for you. I have a good job that pays me a good wage for an e
I am sure MQ will change their policies now because of the actions you took. Congrats.
Yep, a good MTSO will get rid of the crappy doctor, not the good MT...sm
unfortunately, there aren't many MTSOs out there who will confront a poor dictator and nip it in the bud to begin with.
In the old days we used to do this all the time. A doctor was put on report and told to shape up and if he didn't he would either be charged more because they had to pay an MT more to do his lousy dictation, or he was always given the option to do his own reports if he wouldn't comply.
Believe it or not, almost every physician my former company did this to straightened up their act became good dictators and found that it was actually less stressful and less time consuming for them too!!
The MTSOs just don't have the guts to do this anymore... and they should. I can make more money on good dictators with a lower line rate than crappy dictators at a higher rate, and would rather have the better dictators and lower rate than the other... it's a win-win for both the MT and MTSO because the MT is making more money per hour and the MTSO gets to pay less for her MTs and make a better profit. I can't believe the MTSOs haven't figured this one out.
This is not a good choice. There are too many good schools
that have proven their worth. Andrews, MTEC and even Career Step, but I would not choose a school that has spammed the internet in every crack there is as the one you have mentioned. Find some graduates and see what they have to say. Go to mtchat.com and do a search of this school.
Thank you too! A good laugh is a good thing.
I really wish you good health and good luck!
I know that what you are doing is a major undertaking. Just remember that this is what you want and that you CAN do it! It won't be easy by any stretch of the imagination, but once you have accomplished it, you will truly know what you are capable of. I think you are very brave. Please know that all of us are pulling for you and are here to help you if you need it. Go to the hospital if you are feeling at all unsure or unstable. Don't give up because the reward will be great. Please let us know how you are doing.
Pulling for you!
good for you; you'll get more from it, with good socialization,
nm
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