HELP - Advice needed for my friend ASAP - sm

My friend and her boyfriend of 5 years recently obtained custody of the boyfriend's now 7-year old daughter.   You talk about a handful of trouble, that's exactly what has been packaged into this mini sized monster child.

Bear with me because this will be quite lengthy.  I  will call the girl by her nickname, Tater.

Tater was 5 when my friend (S) and her boyfriend (D) started with the custody proceedings.  Every time Tater would come for visitations, she was full of these wild stories that were quite alarming to S and D.  She would come and tell them how her mom walks around the house naked all the time with all of these different boyfriends, how one of those boyfriends held a pillow over her (Tater) face one time, and how Tater and her baby brother were often left alone for hours at a time and sometimes overnight while her mom was out "getting drunk" with her boyfriends.

Naturally, S and D were really upset by these stories and so they got an attorney and really pushed for custody.  They got custody in March 2005 and their life has been a living hell since she has come to live with them. 

Less than a day or so after she moved in, she started telling them how one of her mom's boyfriends "did things to her" so S and D were once again in an emotional fit because they thought someone had molested Tater.   They called a psychologist and the police.  Had her evaluated, everything.  Even had Tater talk to a detective that works child abuse cases.  His findings and the psychologist's findings were the same.  She had not been abused and, in fact, had a severe problem with delineating fact from fantasy. 

Tater now sees the psychologist once per week.  The goal of the treatment was originally to get Tater to understand the difference between telling stories and the truth, along with dealing with the fact that her mother now has absolutely no contact with her.  It's been rough for S and D as well as Tater. 

Things went well for a short time, then school started 3 weeks ago.  Since starting school, S and D have been called to the school numerous times because Tater has either said that she couldn't do her homework because her daddy was "all drunk", that when S dropped her off at school she was "drinking wine from a bottle in the car" (it was green tea in a glass bottle,) and that they don't allow her to talk to her mother, which is not true. Her mother has supervised visitation but chooses to opt out. 

She has told her aunt and uncle that S killed her cat on purpose when it was actually her aunt who accidentally ran over the cat but Tater didn't know that.  She told one of the neighbors that her mommy had her (Tater) picture taken once and was in a naughty magazine because her mom got money for it and Tater would get it when she was old enough.  OMG yet?  Yeah!  This kid is something else.

She also made a little boy cry in class by rudely saying how he was so stupid and slow during outloud reading time.

S and D have tried all of the things the psychologist have recommended, taking her toys, taking her TV, radio, making her write apologies and hand deliver them, and sit directly behind the bus driver (for even more trouble on the bus.)

She also missed the bus home purposely last week because she was going to go to a friend's house.  Her grandmother had to come all the way into town (they live about 10 miles out) to get her.   When D and S questioned her about what she was doing, she screamed at them that it was "HER LIFE" and she could do what she wanted if she felt like it.  Remember folks, this kid turned 7 last month!

Now, a few minutes ago, S called me in tears.  She got another call from the school because Tater had told some of the boys that another boy was threatening her and making her scared (which was a lie) so she wanted them to do something about it.  These 3 little boys proceeded to gang up on the other boy and he was hurt.  Not seriously but that he was hurt is bad enough.  These 3 boys and Tater are now suspended.  These are first graders and this is a very small town.

S and D are ready to snap.  I don't know what else to tell her.  The psychologist told S and D that she was afraid that Tater had multiple personality disorder but couldn't make that diagnosis on a definitive basis because, as of yet, there are no clear cut documented cases in children of this age.  They usually don't start developing these tendencies until they are in their mid to late teens. 

I have looked online for any kind of research or specialists that can deal with this but it's very difficult to find information even on pre-adolescents that are out of control. 

I am asking for your help.  If anyone knows of a professional or group that can help S and D with Tater, PLEASE post here ASAP.  At this point, I'm very concerned about THEIR well being. This kid is a serious danger.  There is much more but I think I have told you enough already.   We are in Washington State too, just in case anyone has any ideas where to go for help.

Thank you so very much if any of you can help.

• HELP - Advice needed for my friend ASAP - sm - Oh Dear!
  • The kid needs some stability, not being pushed from - 2 cents
  • sm - WA
    • Thanks for the input - sm - Oh Dear!
  • Thanks to everyone for the advice and offer of prayer - sm - Oh Dear!
  • I briefly talked to my uncle, who is psychiatrist, about Tater. His recommendation was to take her - Sugar
  • I'd give this monster back to her mother - and life goes on
    • Wow! You really think that is going to help anything? - Oh Dear!
    • The responsible thing to do... - SM
    • love and responsibility are sure left out of your assessment. - nm
  • Tater - Dianean
    • email me - Dianean
      • Thanks, Sent you email. - nm - Oh Dear!
  • From what I've learned from... - SM
    • That's the problem I have with - sm - Oh Dear!
      • maybe, if neglected, - sm
  • advice /oh dear - Nanna23
  • Short note..more tomorrow - WA
    • Thanks - sm - Oh Dear!
      • OH DEAR! - GRAPENUT
  • Sounds pretty sad. - MTMommy
    • It is very sad - sm - Oh Dear!
      • Even more sad is the fact that there doesn't seem to be - sm - Oh Dear!
  • Forgot one other important piece of information - sm - Oh Dear!
    • I am so sorry for your friend and this situation sm - Karen S.
      • would the local - sm
        • She has been referred in the past - sm - Oh Dear!

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I can get directly back to a certain point in the text instead of having to relisten to the report again and try to find it?  I need to make some corrections in this HUGE report and it's going to take forever unless there's a trick to finding the specific point on the report.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!  

 I was offered a home-based MT job as a direct employee of the hospital with an extremely good per-line-rate.   But yes, it was too good to be true!  Apparently on further consideration, the administrator now says it is too costly (technically) for home set-up; mentioned something about the Lanier DVI desktop and how costly etc. etc.  and some other MT has the license (?what's that about?); also mentioned "Cquence" transcription software program.   They already have 5 other off-site MTs.   Anybody out there with opinions and/or constructive advice...please.  

I am an IC MT.  My MTSO continually loses files that I have already sent her.  I am paid only for what I type per line, not doing secretarial work.  Just today she said that she needed me to resend EVERYTHING I have done for her since October 15.  That's going in, in separate emails so I don't crash her computer, and sending separate emails with each day's work.  I just spent over an hour doing this.

Saying anything will get her irate, because she doesn't understand the concept of IC versus employee paid by the hour. But does anyone have a good sample email for how I would basically say, "I spent an hour on this.  I bill out at $25 an hour, so further resending of previously sent work will be billed at this rate."

That will probably get me fired.  Any better way to put it?

Thank you for posting this and thanks to all for your words of encouragement. I thought about giving up also but I paid too much money for my course to give up.

It was good to read that others failed before they succeeded.

Thanks again.

Pam

This is, I know, an old and overdone question BUT...Please, please other than coffee, protein, water, energy drinks, herbs, and Provigil, please does anybody have a way in which I can stay awake in between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. during my shift? My shift is second oddly going into third.  I am fine when I do third shift going into overnight and early morning.  But, it is absolutely the worst struggle between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.  I would gladly give my highest paycheck to the person who can help me stay awake at that time. That is if I could LOL. Appreciating your replies.

Problems on this job have me seriously considering making a move if there's no improvement soon.  Last night I started to polish up a resume, and realized I'm not sure what to do with references.  I am not ready to tell my current employer that I am investigating my options, and I would rather not have them called for references until I'm in discussion with a company that looks like a good fit for me.

So what to do on the resume?  "Available upon request"?  I have a number of reference letters from when I was an IC that I can attach, if I really need to have references on the resume itself.  Do you think many companies actually followup on references before they interview?  Any thoughts/experience are appreciated!

I have been working with a national company for 5 years and have enjoyed it but a friend called me recently stating she had a doctor who is despirate for a new MT and she recommended me.  I talked to the doc. today and she is very interested.  I have a meeting with the office manager next week to work out the details.  I have a few questions and would appreciate your advice:

1.  Doc. did not know what type of dictation system they use, but it sounded like a C-phone or DVI system.  Currently I do everything on line, is there a way to dial into a C-phone system through my computor's modem?  I know that this is probably wishful thinking, but it can't hurt to ask. 

2.  Do you draw up a contract?

3.  Are there any questions you would recommend I ask (we have already discussed pay and vaccation/sick time as well as turn around on the reports)?

I am a bit nervous about striking out on my own but the company I work for made a lot of changes last January and it just is not working well for me anymore.  

Thanks for your help,

Mariah

I guess I've been lucky to work with some wonderful MTSO's in the past! I've been an MT for over 10 years, but am just now looking for new work and have not worked for big, national companies before. I posted the other day about testing with companies, and I did and got 2 job offers. Yea!...you'd think.  Ha! 

I thought I'd get offered a decent wage, for starters. Two companies offered me positions, one at 6.25 cpl and the other at 5.5 cpl. Both of them say they go up, the more lines you have. Unless they go up...like double...forget it! At least one of them additionally charges a fee if I don't make my anticipated line count during the payperiod (and I had to make my schedule a month in advance), as well as a bi-weekly service fee for using their software.

Is this what I have to look forward to????? I guess my head has been in the sand, because I had no idea this is what people's contracts had in them. No wonder no one is making any money. Honestly, is this standard? Sorry if I seem so out of touch.

I worked as an IC for a company with questionable business practices and who treated me like a dish rag for about 8 months this past year and when I finally could not take any more, I quit.  In the end I was stiffed for about $1900 in pay but I pretty much knew it was pointless to even try to get my money and decided to leave it in the past. 

Well now, they have just sent me tax papers, evidently they never got my signed forms or lost them or whatever.  My question is do I really have to fill them out and send them back, or should I hold out for my back pay, or what?  I really don't feel like I should do anything for them even though I know that it is wrong.  Does anyone know if I can get in trouble for not returning this form?

TIA,

Still angry MT

Hi, I'm trying to start my own small local MT business, and I'm just wondering if anyone knows what contracts/HIPAA paperwork should be signed between Drs. and myself.  I'm clueless on where to begin!

Thnx,

Rachel

My dictionary is doing something strange.  Before, when I had a misspelled word it would bring up a yellow box with other words (listed a, b, c and so on) and I could choose the correct word.  It suddenly stopped doing that one day!  Now I have to either figure out how to really spell it (I'm a horrible speller) or look it up rather than have the program drag up similar words.

Any ideas how I fix this?  It's really bothering me and slowing me way, way down.  I even re-formatted the dictionary.

THANK YOU!!!

WordZXpressed in Georgia, are they any good, what do they pay, etc.?  Any info.Alice

here's the instructions I have been given with name of company, etc. deleted

Accessing test dictation:  Using your internet browser , open our site: (name has been changed to yadayadayada for privacy purposes)   

ftp://yadayadayada.com/medical/  

This does NOT work as a link; you must type in the address yourself in your browser or copy and paste the address into your browser.    

You will either be prompted to log in  

User name:  yadayadayada Password:    yadayadayada 

You will see many folders.  Double click on the testing folder.

 please download "testnotes.zip"   

To download, simply double-click on the file in question and it will take it over to your hard drive.`  You will first need to "unzip" these files using Winzip. 

Okay, I've done all of the above but now how do I get it to play like these instructions in bold say I can.

Once unzipped, these files can be played with any .wav file player.  Your computer's sound card will have software which will allow you to play the file.

malvayocism?

Haven't been doing surgery for a while and cannot remember the rule for tract/track.  Couldn't find it in the AAMT BOS either.  Thanks!!

EX:  I probed this area with a Q-tip and found that she, indeed, has a sinus tract/track leading to a cavity below the healed skin.

My Instant Text "unloaded" itself while I was working last night.  I immediately tried to call support and e-mailed them, am still waiting to get ahold of them and the clock is ticking.  I turned my computer off and on and it stil does the same thing.  When I try to load the program, a box pops up saying it is loading glossaries and then the box disappears and Instant Text is not loaded.  Should I uninstall and reinstall it?  I have made copies of my glossaries to a floppy.  Any ideas would be appreciated.  I can't get into the program at all to see if I accidentally set something wrong.

Dictator says what sounds like olapectic as a medication. 

Please help asap.

Voice files are now transferred from clinic I work for via email (unencrypted) and are then sent back via Winzip and email. 

We need new method to be compliant, as well as to eliminate "many missing" files it seems when sending through email. Clinic now uses Olympus equipment and does not want to use email any longer.  Checked into secure FTP site and will not work well with the Olympus system they have.  Any suggestions on what to do here????

I have been an MT for over 10 years.  I also am getting burnt out, tired of my job, day in day.  However, I do love transcription and make excellent money at it, have grossed over $50,000 per year the last 5 years.  I decided to go back to nursing school and am very happy with my choice.  However, over these 10 years of transcription I have had my ups and downs.  My biggest issue with being at home working is lack of socialization, being home day in and day out with just the kids and the animals really gets to a person, sure hubby is home at night and thinks working from home is the easy life, thus the return to school and boy has my overall enjoyment of life changed once I realized I was the problem, not everyone else and I needed to find myself again.

Anyway, my biggest advice to you three-fold:

1.  Get into counseling for yourself, find out who you are and what your needs are, whether or not you think you need to, I sense you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone other than your family to talk to that can be nonjudgmental to your feelings and needs.

2.  If you're only making $100 after you pay preschool you can either keep doing it and be miserable, or quit because you are lucky enough to have a husband who can support the family without your income. (See how fast his mind changes just by losing the income you do have as to whether your job means anything.)  Or look for a different company or office that you like more and are more productive if you really want to do transcription (lots of fish in the sea as far as companies).

3.  Find a local "mom's" group where you can get out and socialize.  MOPS (mother's of preschoolers) is an excellent one that is nationwide, they have a website.  Also Mom2Mom is in a lot of areas.  They provide a once a week time for moms with kids the same age to get together, socialize, (some offer spirtual guidance some don't) and each week a different mom takes a turn watching everyone else's children at the facility that hosts it so the other moms can talk about things they have in common.  Every stay-at-home and work-from-home mom needs to socialize with adults, without their kids, or they will have a nervous breakdown eventually no matter how much they love their kids.

Sorry so long but it does get better but you have to take the first step at making yourself happy.

I work at a clinic part-time typing into EMR's as well as running my own company.  But now they are loading Stedman's spell check and work expanders onto Word so that I can type in word and then transfer the info over to the electronic chart.  I type faster in word.  They found that it is faster for the doc to dictate rather than type into the chart and not only that, insurances were questioning the "standardization" of the chart notes.   Too similar.  So I do make sure that even though I use expanders, and macros, I do make some minor changes to "standard exams" so it does not all look the same, but this is with the approval of the docs.  But they can see at least 4-6 additonal patients and dictate all the notes rather than type then and are able go home at 5 o'clock instead of 7.   Also the TAT is 48 hours and not weeks as the docs would never finish the notes.   So we will still be here just typing under a different format.