Good for you, Linda! SM First, editing's a desirable trend. Higher skill, easier SM
Posted By: MissIndigo on 2008-04-17
In Reply to: VOR - Linda
I feel it may be like a train about to rush around the bend at me.
For the discussion, editing is a higher skill and it's easier on the hands--absolutely no carpal tunnel problems since I started editing. And the WAGES ARE ABOUT THE SAME--you go through approximately twice as much dictation (some people more, some less depending on talent) in the same time it would take to transcribe it and get paid half as much for that amount of dictation, ending up without a drop in wages from editing. This is fair and market-driven.
Fewer editors would be needed, but some would be needed for the stinkers, even scary-good as VR gets with most dictators.
The big threat is from the electronic medical record, where physicians and their assistants check boxes on a handheld device they carry around with them and there is NO text report to come to us at all. England has had this for some years; go look and see how MTs are doing on the Emerald Isle.
No Chicken Little here, guys, AND not burying my head in the sand either. I don't have a view into the future, but the one thing that's clear is the future will require developing new skills, professional or trade level, of one kind or another. I just hope and pray it doesn't require going back to suits and office politics. School's okay, even at my age, but am guilty of putting it off to see if I'm going to be allowed to continue pretty much as is until I'm too old to work...huh--maybe there's some sand obscuring the picture after all. Best wishes.
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- VOR - Linda
- Good for you, Linda! SM First, editing's a desirable trend. Higher skill, easier SM - MissIndigo
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Editing is the higher skill. I earn more editing SM
because I'm able to produce more--if the company doesn't adjust the way production's figured down and down again to keep the account from going elsewhere (when that happened to me on EditScript with no explanation of why my income was dropping, I went elsewhere also).
If you believe editing is a HIGHER skill, then why are we being paid
Editing is the higher skill since it's more brain work,, AND SM
the computers are taking over the finger work. That and practitioners entering directly into the electronic medical record mean that most traditional transcription jobs before too long will be a thing of the past.
So I'd recommend you go directly to editing since you'll end up doing that anyway. If there's a future in this, it's going to be with a higher level of medical knowledge and a more expanded involvement in medical records beyond merely editing dictation, but likely including that.
Plus, with editing you'll be in at least twice as many reports as if you were transcribing them, which means you'll get much more experience more quickly. Whether you'll lose some benefit from not typing every word out I don't know, but you will spend a lot less time getting verbage you don't need to learn on paper. I.e., instead of typing some version of, "The patient presented to the emergency room by private automobile with a complaint of" a few hundred times a week,...you don't.
Do commit to developing an expansion base that will cut the Keystrokes it takes to do your work to the very minimum. As long as anyone's paid on a production basis, and as long as we're using keyboards, someone using 5 keystrokes to make 2 edits will BOTH make a lot more money than someone who takes 9 keystrokes to make one correction AND be a much more valuable productive worker--i.e., worth keeping on and developing as most traditional jobs disappear.
And do sign up for more medical classes, the ones people preparing for nursing and medical school take.
Whether you'll make more or less money one way or the other right now probably depends more than anything on the particular talents you bring to the job and the particular skills you choose to develop. Unlike the previous poster who does better transcribing, I make more editing, but I'm a fast reader and a slow keyboarder, so the less my income depends on what my fingers are capable of the better. Best wishes!
Good research skills the best skill an MT
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8 is NOT good if never going any higher - good to get the rust out in the short term though
x
Sylcount is good. It gave me a higher count
xx
satellite does not seem to be desirable in this field...can anybody tell me why?
I'd like to look for a 2nd employer, but I am so limited when it comes to internet connection -- either s-l-o-w dial-up or satellite.
Good idea and easier for you too, but bad for those of us that "freeze" up - no matter what -
I have had phone interviews, I freeze up every time. Feel so stupid, I know the answers but can't get the words out. I am a good MT too, not super experienced as yet (4 years) but have a good knowledge base. So for me the written and the sound file test are better. I do hate the fact that they take 2-4 hours to do too, but if I find a good company and fit I am willing to go through it as long as they are not wasting my time with the whole process---but then you don't know that until you take the test do you?
FDA warns that it delivers higher doses than expected, and has a higher rate of stroke. (sm)
http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/115/111590.htm
If you are a good MT, you will realize editing for
what it is. Slow and tedious and you cannot sustain a rhythm. It takes longer to edit than to transcribe if you are utilizing expanders when transcribing. You should be paid the same.
Are you getting a good editing rate?
I have to ask because your post demonstrates something about this industry that really irks me.
Most companies are charging 1-2 cpl for editing. At 400 lph, that is $8/hour max. Meanwhile, even if you were making a bottom of the barrel transcription rate, 6 cpl, you would still be making $12/hour for 200 lines.
The rates these companies are paying for editing just doesn't add up.
yes, I get a good editing rate....nm
WHAT IS A GOOD LINE RATE FOR EDITING POSITION?nm
nm
for Linda
What do you mean by....'then I pay interest on the dividends here?' Shouldn't you get the interests from the bank?
Where did you buy the stocks, in Britain or in the US?
I think Linda may be right sm
I have 15 yrs in this biz. I have worked for everyone, or so it seems to me (not really). My resume? ONE page with the highlights of my MT work. It is NOT very detailed. I have my name, location (not home address), phone number and email at the top. Under that, I have my education limited to high school, the college I graduated from (I had had to transfer twice and I don't put them all), and my MT training. Under that, I have something like this:
2006-2007 - XYZ Transcriptions, Inc. - OP notes 12 specialities, 60% ESLs
2004-2006 - ABC Timely Transcriptions, LLC - Acute care Basic 4, heavy OP notes.
It is the time when I did it, limited to year only, the name of the company, and BRIEFLY what I did there. References are strictly available upon request. Any place I worked which won't demonstrate a time line or won't show some experience they are looking for, is dropped. I have my very first MT job on it because that is the year I started and I tried to make it look continuous because my experience is without a break.
I have had great success with this resume. My FT job hired me because it didn't sound like I was breaking my arm patting myself on the back. There was no bragging, no padding, nothing about how wonderful I may or may not be. They told me they hired me without testing (not the norm) because that resume was incredibly dry and the information it gave was straight up, no frills! This is actually what my account manager told me and I found it funny, but in thinking about it I see her point about it being a fairly humble little resume with loads of good experience on it.
By the time you have done it as long as you (the OP) and I have, you really shouldn't need to lie, embellish, purdy up, frilly out a resume. You can afford to be dry and plain because your experience will say it all...you don't have to.
Heather vs Linda
 Well in my opinion, Heather never had a leg to stand on compared to Linda.
for Linda......see inside
As far as I know a surviving spouse has not to pay taxes on her inheritance.
But in this case maybe you have go pay taxes on the dividends you get. But only if the interests you get exceed $ 1500.--/yearly.
That's what I know, but better to check with an expert.
reply to Linda
To Linda. I was wondering about that and was going to reply and say something did not seem right. Things just became a little confused here as you say. I am for U.S. jobs and I think you are to. That feels better!
I found out a long time ago that there are two kinds of editing.. one is editing MTs work (like QA)
and the other is editing as in VR. I have done VR editing, but when I put down this as experience on a resume, I was asked by the HR person if this meant that I had "edited" other MTs work. I think there is a lot of confusion out there and I wish they would just keep that as QA instead of calling it editing. Just be clear in what you want to edit as most companies that expect you to "edit" other MTs in a QA position do require you have a lot of experience. If you just going for VR editing, which is what Transcend has available and there are a few companies out there doing VR, none of which I think really require much experience as it is easy to learn. Hope I made some sense and it can be pretty confusing on how companies use the term "editing" thus it effects their expectations as far as experience goes.
more on paul (and linda) inside...
http://www.newveg.av.org/paul.htm
Way to go Linda! Awesome gift!
:-)
Agree that Linda was a class act, but...
She wasn't from that Eastman family.
As "Aunt Linda" would say...oh buruther.
I am an excellent Transcriptionist with 7 years of experience and 9 years in the field of medicine who has been described by the bosses who initially trained me as "a natural" and can't find a job paying me what I made as a summer student worker the day after I graduated high school. I have done practically every type of transcription there is...and done it well, mind you...but since I cannot work every weekend or odd shifts (I do have to take care of my kid and just because I am working at home, doesn't mean I can take care of my child...cook dinner, clean, read stories, etc., and work at the same time)I am jobless and the only offers seem to be 7 or 8 cpl for third shift Sunday through Thursday. This is why there are no "qualified" MT's in the industry, as you put it. Because we are treated like garbage. Who in their right mind would become an MT if they are halfway intelligent anymore? I'm out as soon as I can find something else (I'll resort to being a receptionist at this point), and you know what, its the industry's loss...not mine.
I read a biography on Linda a few months ago...sm
Basically, she said she was sitting in a club one time and a man started talking to her and they introduced themselves. He asked if she was from the Kodak Eastmans. She said that's what the press said, but it wasn't true. He told her he was glad to hear her say that because he WAS a Kodak Eastman and he had been hating her for years thinking she was going around telling everyone she was one of them.
It was an excellent book, BTW.
CONGRATS to WINNER Linda L. of Satsuma, FL on winning the 3 lb. box of
/
no biggie, Linda was class act, Heather N_O_T
When the GROWN-UP kids (in their 30s) don't like the second wife, something is not right in Glocamora. While I wasn't all that fond of Linda, she was a CLASS act and was the daughter of Eastman-Kodak fame. Everyone remember the Brownie Cameras from the 1940s-1950s? That was Linda's family as I remember it or the Eastman's hooked up with the Kodak family right around then or in the very very early 60s. My short-term memory isn't that good (isn't that the first to go after the eyes start? *lol*) but my long-term is on target most times. *lol*
Must be a trend
We are having roast with potatoes and carrots too. Cooked in the crock pot all day. Wouldn't know what to do without it!! It's just so hard sitting here all day having to smell it. My tummy has been growling...can't wait to eat!!
Trend
I also use Trend. I just bought a new computer with Vista and it came with the computer. So far it's working great.
transcriptions have a skill also
as far as looking up addresses go!
Seems to be the trend in this business
Sliding downhill bit by bit. I hope you find a solution too :(
Anyone else notice the trend.
I'm just amazed when I look at the Job Seeker's board and every job has at least 400 or even up to 1000 views. Are that may people really looking for jobs. I think most of us are just not happy where we are and are always looking for greener pastures, but what I am finding..there aren't any..This professional has gone way down. Between the line rate and less-than-average benefits, why do we want to waste our times with the frustration. At this point, I think I can make more at Star Bucks and I hear they offer great benefits including medical insurance. I'd rather make a latte than put up with this stress...At least, those customers are appreciative of their coffee!!!
You can go to Trend housecall and run
free and it works. You don't have to buy anything. Last year when I had a horrible tough virus I was able to get around the virus disabling on my system using the online scanner. It will clean and correct what it can. Those viruses it can't, it will give you to the tool (for any worm or trojan viruses). After you do that and you're clean, get your virus protection on there ASAP. Here's the link ...
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
There's a shortage of US MT's because the skill is becoming obsolete
Schools don't even encourage anyone to get into this field anymore because they don't want to have someone take a course and then be out of work in a few years when this skill goes the same direction that shorthand did several decades back.
Like someone said on the Company board, education is the key. Don't allow yourself to be a one-trick pony and learn how to do something else while you can.
MTs with less skill s/b paid less with that money going to the best
I can do xxxx but it makes me sick when the slackers get the exact same pay as me. Please don't give me the xxxx story that I can make more by being more efficient.
This is all part of transcription and the skill
I have had in all of my years of experience many types of dictators. I can honestly say that I have had ESL dictators that were better than your run of the mill American dictators. We are a melting pot, and what's funny to me is that so many make comments about an MTSO sending ESL dicators offshore, yet we have Mexican, Chinese, and Indian restaurants that we eat from and love the food. I think we need to somehow learn to embrace the ESL dictators. I had an ESL that was the most lovely physician. He knew that his dictation was difficult and was always willing to answer questions and would take the extra time to explain why he stated this or that. 
Upping the skill ante.
You might go online and look at Oak Horizons. They have an excellent reputation and are affordable. Also check VO-Technical schools for grammar as they are less expensive but adequate and junior colleges in your area. Good luck and good for you in improving your quality.
reversing OUTSOURCE trend ?
that I will not make the money that the hospital pays me. But is it true - that outsourcing is being reversed? I'd love to hear that ... so many more options for decent employment would come our way.
THanks !
Trend Net from http://www.newegg.com!
nm
I too believe it is a trend, basically to cut costs. As far as MQ, SM
I don't work for them, but honestly, from reading posts, seems like they were just bought out by a mad scientist who thinks up ways to drive people crazy. Sort of a game of how far can we drive people before they crack.
Thanks, I have Trend Micro. I'll try that.
Just supposedly it might not work with some programs. Has anyone had trouble with Trend Micro having problems with certain software or programs?
Failing national skill test
This is to Vicki. Please do not be discouraged. The MAJORITY of the companies out there (most of them advertising here) actually DO NOT want experienced MT's. They are looking for the stay-at-home mom (not critizing, wish I could be one) that do not actually have to carry an active part in family income. If you are experienced you would actually produce (imagine that-isn't that why we are working cpl?) and that would cost them money. Where a newbie makes the minimal amount for a time and that makes them happy. Not to say that they would not be on the newbie's butt to produce 98%+ etc.
I have 30 years experience, and I have failed tests from a national company. I have kept myself updated over the years and extremely computer literate, and had been in charge of staffing before they recently outsourced our workflow to India, so it is not a case of not accepting the "new ways" of doing things. Many of the "new" AAMT guidelines are grossly incorrect according to the major hospital system that I represent.
Just my say. Thank you.
It's not deep at all. It's a trend and I am glad to see it go away with Jude Law's
movies miserably failing at the box office. There's nothing deep about that. Just the facts maam.
is the new trend to not put spaces after a number and the measurment--sm
6cm? I got QA back stating that the space I entered 6 cm was incorrect.
Trend Micro is the only security software I use.
.
If I had just one other skill that allowed me to pay for my modest lifestyle, I'd utilize it.
Maybe it is the 20 yrs in this business. I now have tinnitus, am absolutely sure that sitting for 8-10 hours a day is having a detrimental effect on my health, am more anxiety ridden now that there is very little job security and I am a sole operation here in my little world, have arm and hand fatigue (it's a freakin miracle I do not have CTS yet). I just really do not enjoy doing this as I used to. I have to really force myself to stay focused and am really really trying to find some joy in it by realizing other people have tedious jobs just as I do that they must also dislike.
B.S. in HIM, no MT school, OTJ training for that skill, but the HIM classes for the knowledge. nm
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It depends on your skill level, your speed, your ability to do the
nm
Yes! We're talking critical skill developement here! nmx
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Trend? Lets go back to the 60s, Rock Hudson...
Epitome of masculinity by your standards and he turned out to be as gay as a song bird! Talk about girly...so you never know, Toby Keith maybe hiding a few secrets too!
just hope he doesn't start a new trend--ewww!
I can't stand it if I accidentally forget to put mine on. I can usually tell pretty quickly if I do. Just not comfortable to me (or anyone else around probably).
I have Trend Micro PC-cillin and have never gotten a warning for this site nm
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