Here's the story - long message
Posted By: Snow Bunny on 2005-08-27
In Reply to: Voice recognition software (sm) - Dianne
I have been using the product off and on for the last 7 years, but mostly since November 2002. Let me offer the short version of what’s involved:
1. You need a computer that has a CPU no less than 2 GHz with no less than 1 MB of memory, and it should not have a Cerelon processor.
2. The system requires a sound card that is not integrated into the motherboard. Here is a link for sound cards that work well with Dragon: http://support.scansoft.com/compatibility/default.asp
3. Don’t use the microphone that comes with the product. You need to order one separately. Here’s a link for quality brands: http://www.emicrophones.com/microphones/product_detail.asp?subcatID=1 (I’ve used both the Andrea-700 and VXI Talk Pro in the past, and they are suitable to the task. I currently I use the Sennheiser MD431 II handheld/desktop microphone (it’s worth every penny).
4. Learn the proper way to dictate: http://www.emicrophones.com/articles/index.asp (check all of the links on this page; Marty has a terrific web site). This can make or break the level of accuracy.
5. I prefer Dragon Medical Suite over the Professional version. You want to have the latest version, which is version 8, since it has the highest level of accuracy (you upgrade further at no charge, but you need version 8 on your system). Previously, you could purchase version 6 or 7 off ebay for $250-300 and then upgrade to version 8 for under $200, but it seems that now the upgrade to version 8 is $450. So, you’re best option is to keep an eye on eBay and pounce when you see a good deal on DNS Medical Suite version 8. However, you *can* get by with DNS Professional if you have enough documents for the program to “read.” They say 30-50 MB is sufficient but I disagree. I do acute care and have close to 500 MB, and keep adding all of the time.
6. Will the product benefit you? I would recommend the product to someone who can say “yes” to any of the following: [a] you have physical problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis; [b] you don't have a great memory and cannot remember thousands of abbreviations, which means you’re typing things out at least 50% of the time (that includes being proficient at SmarType and Instant Text, which *still* boils down to memorization).
7. You need to put the time and effort into preparing and training the product. You cannot just install it and “Away we go!!!” However, if you’re diligent about the training process (which is continual), you can probably average 350-400 lines per hour with 98-99% accuracy after three to four months of training. This product is not for everyone. Some will do better than others. Success or failure lies in the user, not the product.
8. The more you learn about the product, the higher your level of production. That goes for any product. There are three web sites out there which are dedicated to the product and can answer anyone question you’ve got.
9. Is proofing necessary? Yes, no matter how accurate you think the product is. But, the more you train it, the faster the proofing process. With proofing, I average 350 lph. So, if someone did the proofing for me I would probably dictate 450+ lph.
I think I've covered the initial bases on this. If you want to discuss things further, just email me. 
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Please see message. I have three daughters with long, long hair.
I also have long hair down to my waist and my three girls have hair that long too. My daughter brought them home from school last year. I was devestated and grossed out!!!! I have never had to deal with lice. Anyway, we did the treatments and two of my girls broke out in a severe rash with the OTC stuff. Their little heads were so sore!! I thought I was being meticulous with eggs, only to find them hatching again down the road. A nurse at the pediatricians office suggested I try oil to suffocate them since my girls were allergic to the lice solution. I bought a huge bottle of veggie oil and dumped it on all three heads, plus my own. I then wrapped the heads in platic wrap and then a towel. I left this on for 30 minutes. It takes a while to wash out the oil, but we never, ever had the lice or eggs again!!! If you try this, make sure you put on an old shirt and put a towel around your shoulders. Obviously we were desperate, but we all have such long hair and very thick hair so I was willing to try anything. And I figured there was no chemicals involved so that was pretty safe. And it sure did help my littles ones since their scalps were pretty raw from the solution. Hope this helps and Good luck!
A story about homeschooling.....very long
First of all, please know that this post is NOT to say that homeschooling is not as good as public or private school, because that is not my belief at all. I have 2 nieces and 1 nephew on my husband's side of the family who are absolute geniuses because of being homeschooled. I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other about this subject, and I had not even heard of it when my children were young. But this is what happened on the other side of my faily.
My nephews, now ages 14 and 10, were homeschooled by my SIL (my brother's wife). Their 1st son started out in first grade in public school, but they had trouble with the teacher at the very beginning so they pulled him out because they thought the teacher thought the child was not advanced enough to be in first grade. I don't know the whole story because they were always so "private" that they never really shared a lot with us, or maybe just me, I don't really know. Anyway, they decided to homeschool. Honestly, we as the family around them did not feel this was the right thing to do (1) because my SIL was sooo protective, (2) we didn't feel she really had enough education herself to do this (even though I do understand the the cirriculum really "tells" you how to teach, and (3) the fact that there is not a homeschool group close by where we live and my nephew was already showing signs of some kind of social "something" where he didn't interact with other children well - I don't know, just somehow kind of off socially.
Anyway, trying to make a long story somewhat shorter here, they did homeschool hime and his younger brother when he became old enough. Everybody like it well enough, but I could tell that these nephews did not thrive on it nearly as well as my nieces and nephew on the other side of the family, who had really great parents and a really geat support group. Then....my SIL came down with cancer -- melanoma with brain mets -- and for the 14 months or so before she died, the boys used videos and the help of my mother and their other grandmother to continue to homeschool. After their mother died last September, they homeschooled with a friend for the remainder of the calendar year, at which point the friend bailed on them and my brother enrolled them in a Christian school in our area.
Now they are both having MAJOR trouble in school, math particularly. The oldest one has tons of homework and obviously really does not know "how" to study. Sometimes he gets long assignments early and has a few days to work on them, but he "forgets" to start on them, or "forgets" to look at his agenda where he has it written, etc. The kids at school make fun of him and he is almost a complete social misfit - really just because of his personality and, I think, because he has only had 1 or 2 friends all these years, and those were children of a friend of his mother's who has now pretty much dropped out of the family's life so ... poof! - there went those friends. The younger one is having trouble also but not so much socially. But the older one is completely miserable - here he is, beginning his teenage years and no friends at all, his mother gone, living way out in the country where there is not much to do since he "doesn't play anymore" as he puts it, and homework lots of night from 3:30 or 4 p.m. to 10 or 10:30 - plus, on top of it all, he has developed a smart-mouth which is driving his overloaded dad absolutely crazy!
My brother now says that maybe the homeschooling experiment wasn't such a good idea after all. :(
It could be worse...(long story)
I was an in-house MT at a psych facility, both inpatient and outpatient. This also involved telephone and face-to-fact contact with patients.
There was on patient there whom I'll just refer to as S. S had been discharged from inpatient services to outpatient services. She was a very, very ill woman, and she relied very heavily on her therapist to make it through the day. I did NOT like her therapist on a personal level at all. Huge, overblown ego...just one of those guys you get the "creepy" vibe from. Well, he decided that S relied on him too much and that she need to be transferred to another doc for her primary care. Which I understand, truly I do, so this part I don't hold against him.
Holiday season rolls around. S is looking increasingly horrible as the days go by in the process of transitioning to her new doctor. The day before Thanksgiving, she is calling repeatedly, several times an hour trying to reach the therapist that I don't care for. I tape notes on his door, I catch him in the hallway to tell him she doesn't sound 'right,' and is he going to call her. At this point, I know career-wise I'm skidding on thin ice but there's a human LIFE involved so at this point I'm putting my instincts first, career second. He finally tells me he's allowed her to come in for an emergency session.
She comes to pay me after the session and things ARE NOT RIGHT. I can feel it in very fiber of my being clear down into my gut. After she leaves, I tell the guy that something isn't right with her, I can sense it.
An hour later, her calls start up again. She's sounding increasingly upset and just generally on the edge. Again, notes taped to his door, etc. Finally he leisurely strolls into my area for a cup of coffee. I ask about S. His reply? "You sound just like a hysterical woman. This is how patients react when they're transferred away from a doctor they worship, like S does me. Stop worrying about it."
Well, you all see this coming, I'm sure.
Thanksgiving day, S is found at a local hotel, having poured a 500 count bottle of aspirin into a paper bag and eaten them like popcorn. She committed suicide.
When I found out what had happened, I cannot begin to explain the feeling of liability that consumed me. Should I have gone over his head? Should I have screamed and yelled and threatened to quit unless SOMEONE did SOMETHING to save this woman? Should I have yelled out wondering why all of these highly paid specialists didn't see the writing on the wall, as I did, that this woman was about to take her own life and someone had to stop her?
And if I had, would any of them have taken me seriously or just written my concerns and instincts off as he did, "a hysterical woman?" Yeah, imagine my delight at being told THAT.
They had a memorial for S at the hospital for the staff and patients who knew her to attend. The day of that memorial, I became so emotional that I was sent home. I kept thinking it was somehow MY fault, that I should have overstepped all bound and done SOMETHING.
This all culminated in a meeting between the chief of staff, the therapist involved, his supervisor, and ME. I let it all out and I didn't hold back. I told them I would curse forever the day THAT MAN RIGHT THERE shrugged off his professional obligations, left the ball in MY court, and left ME to live with the guilt of that woman's death, all because his overblown ego wouldn't believe that (a) someone other than HE could sense this woman was getting ready to do something horrible and (b) that expressing concern doesn't mean you're 'hysterical', and (c) had he been enough of a human being and less of an ego-driven imbecile, perhaps he too would have seen this woman falling apart right in front of his eyes.
I still live with the guilt of this. I still flash back when I hear a song from that memorial, or when I see someone isn't sound or acting just right. I make it a policy to NEVER allow myself to let personal feelings enter my career.
But truth be told...I really wish I would have committed career suicide that day and saved her. I really do.
RIP S. Wish I'd have done more.
Just left a long comment with the story.
I just left a long comment in the comment section. Any little bit helps at this point. Thank you so much if you are the one in the story or connected to it somehow.
Need advice -long message
Some of you probably know me but I am small MTSO, 2 part-time IC's. One of mine does Psych Eval and I pick up tapes once a week usually, 2-3 tapes on Thurs or Friday. I deliver to her. Do not need the last one back until Weds a.m. I usually ask that if there are two, one back on Monday and one on Tues p.m. So the doc does get them all at once. They have to be out in the mail by Thurs from him, I send them to him and he prints and mails. Well this gal has been doing this account for over a year. She is always rushed and trying to get them done "faster" all the time to make that much more per hour. (I pay 0.8 per gross line with headers and footers counted). So there is usually 350 to 400 lines per account which she does in about an hour since I have set up so many templates. Good money I think. But she rushes so much that there are minor mistakes being made -- wit instead of with, or instead of on, bear essentials instead of bare essentials, not big ones but little. I feel that because he gives us so much time tht these reports should be 100% accurate with the typing and grammer -- am I wrong. I make very little on this account, 25% of the take at maximum. So I told her that if the reports came back PERFECT I would pay her 0.85 cents per line and she really got upset. Said that humans make mistakes, etc. Am I out of line? She really gets defensive on the corrections I send her and so I stopped sending them to her. Yea she used to be a friend. So how to you like to be told that you have errors? I try not to be too stern but when she attaches the incorrect letter to a psych eval that got me the other night. Give me some advice. I mainly just E-mail her back the corrections I have made but evidently I am too "harsh" and demanding too much perfection. Thanks. Patti
Discount - sorry long message
I do offer my docs a 1% discount if they pay within 3 days and especially if their account does go over $1000 I get my check the next day. One of my newest accounts did not apply their discount to their second bill and I was told "You work hard, the work is returned on time, good quality, Dr. C______ is not the easiest person to work for and I did not take off your discount because you deserve every penny of your invoice." He is a dermatologist, has lots of Op notes, good gross line count and he is really not that hard to do, lots of shortcuts but he does have an irritating habit of clearing his throat about every 5th line but you get used to it. But again I have been luck, all accounts pay within 3 days at the longest, never a bounced check and never a question on my line counts. But along my 15 to 18 years of doing this, I have had my share of poor ones but for the past 7-8 years I cannot complain. I have older docs who will probably retire in the next 10 years but then so will I. They are stand alone, 1-2 in a practice and so don't know if they will ever go EMR or even digital but will continue as I have. The accounts are out there you just have to look and perhaps go through several before you find one that appreciates you.
balance...sm (long message)
just wanted to encourage you. i suffer from burnout too (30+ years in this industry would burn out anyone!) =) ...but I have found ways to overcome it.
i would suggest that you NOT change companies. often when we're really stressed, making major changes is the LAST thing we should do.
for me, i find if i lower my MT expectations and quit being as perfectionistic as i want to be, i decrease the stress load. if you have the ESL from h*ll leave the allowed amounts of blanks or let QA deal with them and move on! you have nothing to prove to these difficult dictators...i try not to take it personally that they don't give a rip that they make our job nearly impossible....
i also need to keep my work life and home/personal/creative/school/community/family roles in balance. i work 2 jobs (1 MT, 1 not, go to school--online, and am a single mom raising 2 kids--older now) IT CAN BE DONE! And burnout can be BEAT!
if you need some moral support let me know--i'll give you my email addy.
ALSO, as far as the CTS, for YEARS I've had to wear typing gloves...best ones I've found are "MouseMitts" http://www.mousemitt.com/wrist.html
i have no affiliation with them...just passing on a good product that's saved me from having to have surgery...
hang in there...there is a creative solution to your burnout...
now, back to MT work for me!!!
=)
First, you are not alone. Most of us have been there. We understand. Long message. sm
1. You will never make your husband or his family understand your job. To them you will always have a "work in your spare time" pud job. They aren't capable of understanding, so don't waste your time. Concentrate on helping yourself succeed, for your own satisfaction.
2. Not being judgemental, but it sounds like you either need to look for a new job, or streamline your work process. There are a lot of tips on increasing production from the more experienced MTs, I have learned a lot. Just ask, and you'll receive all kinds of suggestions for building speed.
3. Don't waste time on street names, unknown company names, etc. If you can't find them on one or two good websites, leave a blank or spell them the best you can, depending on the directions for your account. I have one account I blank a doctor's name, one I leave a ? after the best spelling I can get. I check three good websites for doctor's names, maybe four if the hospital is on a state line. I never waste more than 5 minutes looking for things that aren't pertinent to the account (doctor's names are, but the rest aren't).
4. If you are getting 60 minutes of work and it only works out to about 400 lines, you might want to get another account. In my experience, 60 minutes should give you between 500 and 600 lines, depending on what kind of work you're doing. If it is discharge summaries, you may never build up your speed. Sometimes clinic work is faster, you use more canned text. Op reports are good money makers if you have the experience. Use Expanders for everything. Every Expander you put in will make you money in the long run. Also, if the work isn't coming in when it is supposed to, let them know you need it by a certain time. You can't sit at the computer 12 hours a day to do an 8-hour job and maintain a life. It isn't humanly possible.
5. TAKE your days off, do something YOU enjoy occasionally, not always what your family wants. Be good to yourself. This is where burnout comes from. If your husband can afford to pay all the bills, use your money to hire a sitter for your daughter 1-2 days a month, and spend the day with friends. Hire someone to clean your house regularly. Learn to streamline everything you can. Without being selfish, you have to take care of you, no one else is going to.
I too went into medical transcription because I hated working for a company that made bombs. This is much more worthwhile. But it is very hard. You have to approach it as a profession to succeed, and you'll have to do that for yourself, because families rarely understand that sitting at home working is probably the hardest thing you'll ever do, besides raising your children. Best of luck to you.
disagree with you - long message but 50K+ can be made
I disagree. I just picked up another account today. You just need to go where the money is, do a little extra and pick up your own accounts. In the past six months I have picked up two accounts that total an income of close to 1200 a month if not more. This is on top of the accounts that I have that already generate 50K a month. No I do not charge 15 to 17 cpl, no I do not work 60 hours a week and yes the majority of the transcribing I do. I pick uo the single doctors that no one else wants, I pick up and deliver, print, fax, get to know the staff and low and behold I make a good living. With these two accounts I still will be working less than 40 hours even with pick up and deivery and probably closer to 32. I may have my IC's help if they want to pick up more lines than they do with their psych accounts but if not, well I will do it. Again, look for the smaller clinics and go for it, the money is there and sometimes yea you have to put out a little bit of personal contact and customer service but again it is worth it. Though my accounts are not perfect, they are dependable, pay on time, and work with me when I have problems. And these are older doctors who do not want EMR and do not want to type and so we have all decided that we will all retire at the same time. In fact, I cut my thumb the other day trying to cut my new carpet to make if fit and my hand surgeon stiched up my thumb for free. Anyway, to me the money is there but you might not be in your pj's all the time typing and need to get up and out and deliver and pick up. Good luck to all of you. My life is good.
Lisa B - my rates and a long message
Again, I am from the old school, old way of counting and have had my accounts for many, many years - some 18 years. I do the simplest and easiest for me which is just doing gross lines per Word -- which I know counts the spaces but that is how these accounts were started and when I inherited some of them was told to count top to bottom -- but with that in mind -- I keep my rates a little lower. I am from .11 to 12.5 cpl. The lowest is for my Psych accounts as they give me 3-5 days turn around and we insert a lot of templates. The others are internal medicine, surgery, surgical oncology, Plastic/Hand surgery and Dermatology. I do pick up delivery, print, envelopes, cut apart chart notes but I average $35 to $45 and sometimes over $50 an hour (depends on how many Op's and consults that I have) and cannot see raising my prices. So I am happy and content. My pick up and deliveries take me an hour each day (depending on how much I visit with the office staff and docs) and I usually stop at the store or something but it gets me out of the house and I really do not mind that at all. I figure this into my work day to get my average hourly rate and am still happy with it. I will probably raise my rates at the end of 2007 but it has been two years. So with all of that said -- again it depends on your variables -- pick up and delivery, printing, etc. But for a ballpark figure I would go for 12 cpl for digital and 12.5 to 13 for pick up and delivery knowing that it will take 3 to 6 months to get your average up there while getting to know your docs, etc. I have used Sylcount for another account and to me that was too cumbersome. I tell my accounts the simpler, less time consuming we keep it the more savings I can pass onto you. And yes, they do appreciate me, pay on time, Birthday cards are received, Christmas bonuses received, included in staff parties if I want and the doctors actually talk to me and treat me as a person with a name and joke with me. Nobody can really answer this question for you as only you know what the account entails, your experience and what you want to make. You can always raise in a year or after doing it for a while. Good luck, e-mail me if you need any other additional info. Patti
Unlimited long distance in Maine. Please see message.
Hi all! There was a thread not far down on this board about unlimited long distance, and a few companies were mentioned, like Verizon, etc. I found out today that not all of these services are offered in Maine, where I live.
Does anyone know of any unlimited long distance services at reasonable prices in Maine?
ALSO, I know we have AT&T unlimited long distance here in Maine. Does anyone know if AT&T is one of the "good" companies? That is, can I use a C-phone with them and not be penalized?
Thanks so much for any help anyone can give!
see inside for link and article from Bill Gates...lm (long message)
Bill Gates bets $84M on corn power
Investment in ethanol manufacturer by Microsoft founder shakes up industry.
December 13, 2005: 6:41 PM EST
|
NEW YORK (Reuters) - When the richest man in the world invests $84 million in a company, you can be sure Wall Street notices.
That's why Neil Koehler, president and chief executive of Pacific Ethanol Inc. (Research), was looking as if he had won the Powerball jackpot on Tuesday.
"It gave us instant credibility and the equity financing to be very credible and real with our (business) plan," he said of the investment by Bill Gates, the Microsoft Corp. (Research) founder, whose personal fortune of $46.5 billion topped Forbes magazine's list of the world's richest again this year.
"It really differentiated us from the pack," Koehler said. Gates' investment firm, Cascade Investment, agreed last month to buy 5.25 million preferred shares in Pacific Ethanol, a producer of the corn-based fuel hailed by environmentalists as an answer to the earth's dwindling supply of petroleum.
The financing, in which the preferred shares will be converted into common stock, is expected to close in January and will net the Fresno, California-based company $84 million.
The Gates ripple effect
In an interview at Reuters' Times Square offices, Koehler said Gates' investment was a sign that ethanol can be a viable alternative to oil at a time of see-sawing gasoline prices and concerns about global warming and climate change.
"It's all coalescing and, obviously, a smart investor like Bill Gates sees that," said Koehler, who was in New York to attract institutional investors.
Gates' money will help Pacific Ethanol proceed with its plan to initially build five plants on the West Coast to process Midwestern corn into ethanol, he said.
"It's not only had a huge impact on our operations, but it's had a huge ripple effect on the whole industry. It has really caused a stir in the ethanol industry that Bill Gates has stepped up and said: 'I believe in ethanol.'"
The company went public in March and the $84 million will help finance the plant construction.
"This was very much our strategy and they very much synched up and helped us make it more real," he said. "They had decided they wanted to get into ethanol and had looked at many companies before they found us."
Despite the investment, Koehler has not met Gates, who is also known as a philanthropist.
"He's pretty hands-off," he said.
But just the name is enough to attract attention from Wall Street and oil companies, said Koehler.
"With Bill Gates and that whole left-wing, progressive position that he has and the philanthropic thing, it reinforces ethanol's green stamp," he added.
Ethanol versus oil
With crude oil at $50+ per barrel, Koehler sees the market for ethanol-burning vehicles growing. Already, U.S. gasoline contains about 10 percent ethanol and Ford (Research) and General Motors (Research) are developing cars to run on 80 percent ethanol.
With 150 billion gallons of gasoline sold in the United States each year, that represents some 15 billion gallons of ethanol.
"We could do what Brazil's done and have 30, 40 percent of our transportation fuel renewable," he said.
Brazil, which makes ethanol from sugar cane, and the United States are the two largest ethanol-producing countries, he added.
"It's a common fact, we are running out of oil and there is only one commercially-viable liquid fuel alternative," Koehler said.
But historically low gas prices and powerful big oil companies combined to stunt the ethanol industry for years.
"Because of the politics of the oil industry, ethanol has always been viewed as raining on their parade, interfering with their business model," said Koehler.
However, the situation has changed and oil companies now look more favorably on ethanol than other transportation power sources, such as electricity, fuel cells or hydrogen.
In addition, President Bush's energy bill included renewable fuel standards and starting on Jan. 1, it requires a virtual doubling of ethanol fuel use from the current 4 billion gallons to 7-1/2 billion gallons by 2012.
"With $50 oil and up, ethanol is very attractive from a price standpoint," said Koehler.
Ethanol receives a 51 cent per gallon incentive from the U.S. government and today it is selling wholesale for roughly $2 a gallon.
"The actual cost to a refiner is roughly $1.50 and wholesale gasoline is roughly $1.70 or $1.80 today," said Koehler.
And in another sign of the future, he said that, starting next year, the Indy Racing League is converting all Indy racing cars to run on the high-octane alternative.
"Ethanol is racing fuel," he added. |
Venting-why do people keep putting nm and THEN writing a message?? nm means no message - sm
Please put sm if you have a message and NM if there is no message other than your subject line. It makes it easier when reading these messages. thanks so much and have a nice day everyone.
I hate Instant Text. It is expensive, long long learning
curve, and too much distraction for me.
How long should I wait after applying for a position before I follow-up. It has been as long as two
without hearing from some. Just wondering if I should send an e-mail to follow-up to see if they received my resume or not. I don't want to offend anyone but feel two weeks should be long enough for someone to at least acknowledge my resume and that I have applied for a position. Right now I would accept anything even a note saying no thanks. Any advice would be appreciated. I haven't had to apply for a job for the past 10 years so I am a bit rusty at this. Thanks again for any advice.
small message. nm means no message
see?
Flame=200 views, sm=see message, nm=no message
x
Congrats! How long have you been a MLS and how long did you study for the test!
It's been a long, long time since I've used a C-phone, sm
but I do think jobs can be paused.
I had a problem with this for a long, long time sm
I have always worked days, like from 6-3. Over the last few years, it didn't matter how much sleep I got, I became real groggy between 7 and 11. Really shoots the day. Talked to my doctor and he said my blood pressure pills were the culprit but he refused to change me to another brand or dosage since I have multiple aneurysms (2 in the brain). My BP has been stable for a long time and he wants to "keep it on the low side". I tried taking them before I went to bed instead of early in the morning, but then I had headaches all day. So, I am changing to a night shift for a few months so I can sleep when those pills kick in and so far it is working pretty good. I stay mostly awake during my shift and die when I hit the bed from 6 am to 10 am, then I lay down again later in the afternoon for 2-3 hours. I still get 6-7 hours of sleep, it's just split up during the day, plus I am mostly awake now when I sit down to type. I don't have to deal with the heat in my office, either. It tends to warm up real fast in here with the south sun on the house and 2 pc's running all day, even with the air conditioner on.
Way back when, a long, long time
ago and in a galaxy far, far away, I had my own accounts also and some years cleared $75,000. Yes it can be done, but you need to have your own accounts. Also lots of delivery, and other duties involved. I work for a large national now and make much less, but I got tired of accountants, having to deal with hardware problems, deadlines, driving deliveries, printing, printers, etc. So I decided to simplify my taxes and stay home and just type. Don't have to worry about computers either, because the company will just send me a new one.
Long, long files. Seemed like they'd never end! I'd never go back to VA again. nm
s
I've been doing this a long, long time...
I used to make $70,000 and up a year and did so for most of the late 80s and 90s (one girl used to make six figures a year working 7 days a week!) Because we were making more money than the supervisors and Medical Records Directors in hospitals, they began to switch to transcription services which were sprouting up all over the place. Plus AAMT came into existence and even though in the beginning it claimed it was to fight for transcriptionists (although assured us it was NOT a union), they eventually morphed into an organization that was more management friendly. They developed the "guidelines" and the 65-char line. That was the beginning of the end for those high-end wages. Then all those mickey mouse transcription schools popped up, and now outsourcing overseas. YES, we're complaining.
Been in this biz a long, long time, 30+ years and....sm
I love/loved MTing. However, things have changed so much during these years. The job definitely gets easier; don't have to look up much, can decipher ESLs much easier, in other words, you get pretty comfortable with things and you have confidence in yourself. The more experience you have the easier the job, but....
I actually made more money 10 years ago!! We didn't have speech recognition and you actually got paid for headers/footers, demographics, carbon copies, etc., you got paid for what you did fairly; today, I am not so sure.
You will feel burned out at times, but that passes and you find you like your job again.
Good luck to you!!
There was a story in the
21-year-old Mexican illegal whose citizenship was sped up so he could go to join the army because that was his dream. He died in Iraq. Funny, all of a sudden he was welcome in this country.
Yeah, and it's so easy working in the fields picking your vegetables so you don't have to pay more than a couple bucks a pound.
And those Vietnamese freeloaders....working 12 hours a day,7 days a week in their little markets and restaurants. Sheesh!
Okay, here's my story.
My Mom's middle name was Violet. She died in Spring of 2003. This year, guess what tiny little flowers are growing next to her headstone, not planted by me. I looked around to see if there were any nearby, and there was one violet a little ways away, but not 3 or 4 like they were clustered right next to her headstone. I know, the birds are responsible for it, but I really like to think she had something to do with it.
My MQ story
I was hired by MQ in April for clinic work. The clinic account was huge and always behind when I first started. There were constant emails begging for people to work extra and on weekends. Slowly, it started running out of work and they started slowly adding more and more accounts to my pool until I think I was up to around 20 (yes, 20). Most of this work was ER notes. I complained several times. The ER notes were done by some of the worst dictators I've ever heard -- mostly American's, but sounding like they were eating while competing in the world's fastest talker competition. I complained -- several times -- about no work, multiple accounts and the quality of dictators. Finally, I received an insulting email from my supervisor telling me that I should be able to do this work. I promptly replied that I could "do" this work, but that they did not pay me enough for the headache and resigned on the spot. They really complained about everyone sending things to QA and QC, but with most of the accounts I was on, every report went to one or the other. I'm not used to turning in reports filled with blanks and I and was not comfortable with the quality of work I was producing. I'm certainly not the best Transcriptionist in the world, but I'm not the worst either and I actually care about what my work looks like. With MQ I was lucky to make 100 lines an hour. With my current job where I have been almost 2 years I make about 200-250 lines an hour and I also have gotten another part time job working for a local person where I make about 250-300 lines an hour.
I already had a full time transcription job with a smaller company I love and only went with MQ part time for tax purposes. My experience was not a good one. I personally would not work there again nor recommend employment there. On a side note, an MT I used to work for locally went to MQ, she lasted a little over a year. She referred someone who started 2 weeks before me and she lasted a little over 2 months. These MTs left for basically the same reasons. I can say that experiences will vary depending on what office you are at as will pay. An MT I know was hired by a PA office at 7.5 cents a line for acute care (15 years acute care experience). I was hired by the Dallas office at 9.25 a line for clinic (8 years clinic experience). My base was actually 8.25. I had to produce 6,000 lines in a pay period with 1600 of these lines done on the weekend to get the extra penny a line.
It's the same old story...
You can lead a horse to water.... There's planned parenthood, free clinics, and 3 dozen forms of birth control. In a time of more ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy than ever, we have rampant unplanned pregnancies. It boils down to taking responsibility, and you can only do so much. There's a whole lot of partying and "hookin up" going on out there, and when that happens, the birth control goes out the window.
SO WHAT IS THE STORY???
Is it better for us SE people or worse?
"A" story?
Royal Philips announces it will write off $753 million for MedQuist. Spokesman indicates Royal Philips may need to restate earnings.
Philips's Profit Drops 17% On Big Medquist Charge.
There's much more..do your own research!
My story!
Hello I wanted to tell you my story so you know it is not just you. I was thriving at the local hospital I had worked at for over 2 years having working my way into transcription and coding successfully. Then there was a boss that did not like me. I was finally at full time transcription and zooming along at it. The doctors were pleased, the administration was pleased, etc. The jobs were finally staying caught up. Well this woman was very very rude! A lot to tell but the basis was she told me that if I ever planned to work at home I would never make it because my 80-120 radiology jobs a day would not cut it (these were x-rays, CTs, MRIs, mammograms, CT-guidance, needle aspirations). I knew better but she still hurt my feelings by saying that. Nobody else except the combination of myself and two other girls, one old timer and one very new had ever been able to keep things caught up before and after I left either one. I got a work at home job and left there asap. Finally got my first radiology job after having worked at one national for 4 months and one a year. The second had a radiology opening and I am thriving like mad. I would love to find her and let her know a few things. Anyways, the moral is do not give up if you feel you can do it. Every company and every account is different. The first national company, account, and superviser were not for me and I strugged big time. This second company has been pretty good. My acute care was fine I just always loved radiology and am better at it. Some hate it. Keep going until you find your fit and I wish you the best of luck!! Don't let one person and/or company get you down. Keen on keeping on!!
Here's my story.
I worked in a doctor's office for many years and loved it. I would still be there except I now work at home which is better for me because I have children. There are some advertisements for Transcriptionist but like you said, not a lot. It may not hurt to start calling different offices. They have such a hard time finding transcriptionist, they may just be "making do". You could call and say you were interested in filling in when their regular transcriptionist was on vacation. That would get your foot in the door. I got my job the regular old way, I answered an ad. Good luck!
The story was (sm)
Letterman went on and on about wanting to be on Oprah's show. Well, Oprah never called or took his calls. Then she was reported as saying that she doesn't watch Dave's show and doesn't know what he is doing. So Letterman finally laid off and didn't say much more about it because she never called.
So to him it probably was the event of the decade because he has been wanting to see her for so long!
Yes, it was touching.
Let me tell you a story.......
I worked for a very small MTSO, had two great accounts, no problem. This went on for several years, right up to the day she went off, fired several people, and threatened to fire me, also. I took that as my cue to leave said MTSO. I quit.
Several days later, she "needed" certain files that I had transcribed, which had already been sent to her and to the client. I had erased them from my computer. It was then, and still is MY computer. She told me point-blank that I had "no right to erase anything from that computer". Huh?????????
I suggested she contact her attorney, as I had done.
I never heard another word.
If it is your own property (computer), no one any way, any how, any where......can tell you what to do with it. Period.
Stand your ground and leave this company if they insist upon this policy. It is simply not right and it sure as heck is not legal.
Here's another story
A friend of mine had a contract with a local group of doctors and subbed some of her work out occasionally to me and another lady. The other lady didn't have a lot of experience, but had been subbing for her for over a year when all of a sudden she told her she had too many errors in her work and was not giving her any more. The lady got so upset by this that she wrote a letter to the doctor. The doctor in turn was so upset with the MT with the contract and wanted to know why she fired her and was concerned about getting sued and was just very upset that she had not even had a discussion with her or put her on probation or something. Maybe I should contact these docs adn apologize? It's not like I'm trying to get their business, just wanting to let them know I got fired and that I'm truly sorry they were unhappy. This lady doesn't even want to talk to me either by e-mail, messenger or phone. She is taying logged off of her messenger and won't answer e-mails at all. She is just hiding and avoiding this. I am not a confrontational person and have sent a nice e-mail to her, but she will not respond. Unbelievable. Maybe her docs will respond if I send them an apology.
More to the story...
If you want to hear more to the story, there were problems with TAT in the past. The fact of the matter is that when it occurred THIS PARTICULAR TIME, I was not fired on the spot, I was allowed to continue working for another week with geting work in on time, thinking everything was okay, not hearing a word that work would be ending and then at the beginning of the day today, told via e-mail that I was not needed any longer. She probably took that time to train someone else, I'm sure. I think that is so heartless and to not even face up to me or give me the courtesy of a phone call or a warning that my job was in danger. I hope this person can sleep at night.
You know I got a different story from them about
With the owner telling me one thing and the MT supe telling me something different, on the day I was supposed to do my training I emailed and canceled and declined employment with them. There has not been a lot of positives said about them since them. I'm glad I listed to my gut!
Here is my story......sm
I have been working at home for 16 years now, since my son was born. I have dealt with the strong urge to go to work outside of the home, even went on interviews and was offered many jobs; however, in the end, I turned down all of them. Reason: I chose to be a mom first and foremost. Secondly, why should I work out of the home when I can have the best of both worlds right here at home.
Granted, everyone's situation is different. I understand that.
It was my choice to stay home. My children are in their teens now. It is most important, for me, to be home when they get home from school and know exactly what they are up to, what friends they are with, etc. to try and keep them on the straight path to success and not get caught into the "wrong" crowd, which is so easy for teens.
The whole time I have been home, 16 years now, I have not regretted it for one minute. Did I think the grass was greener on the other side - Absolutely. In reality, it is not.
It all depends on what your priorities are and what type of life you will be happy with for you and your family. Only you can answer that from within.
Best of luck to you in whatever you decide. Remember, if it does not work out, there will be other opportunities in the future for whatever it is want to do. When one door closes, another opens.
have/had the same story - here's what I did
After grieving what could have been, moved out of the bedroom for about 3 weeks and refused toh ave relations - only way to get guys' attention. Then told him his inability to share his feelings was like trying to love a cigar-store Indian - if he is not human enough to have feelings, can't love him. He actually went to a counselor on his own. I refused to go with and said until he dealt with his feelings or lack thereof, would do no good to "air out" differences. It's working, believe it or not. The last week he was very attentive to me and working on putting names on feelings and saying them out loud.
Well I can tell you a story........
I did QA for a service. Many MTs were horrendous. No such thing as QA checks or random evaluations, EVER, for years. Then they would give them great raises or worse promote some of these poor quality MTs to QA! I would sit back and watch, with my jaw dropping. Sometimes I even overheard conversations/comments about a particularly bad MT, like *she is excellent* or *she'd be great in QA*, lol. Why, because she simply did a lot of work and had many years in? A few times I tried to get involved and add my opinion but ultimately my advice was not taken so I began to keep my mouth shut and just observe the comedy show going on. It truly floored me. That is when I realized that this industry if full of incompetence and people often get promoted simply based on years in and the amount of work they do (even if it's crap). You have to wonder if before long, nobody in management is truly qualified. In my opinion, this is not just QA...this includes supervisors, managers, and on up. So there you have it. :)
Let me tell you another story
Years ago when I was younger, going to be married, mother shopped in store having birthday celebration, fill out card guessing ? in jar for prizes. She did, gay lady saw, got phone #, called us and made our life a living hello!! Called all hrs of the day, saying "hello honey!" and we kids and mother knew right away. Came home 1 day to find my mother and guy peeking out behind our hallway- detective mother had set up sting to catch this person. It eventually died but so many phone calls, gave us a heck of a time.
I saw that story too, but not on SNL
I read it on the Internet. It was said that they (two spiders, I think) had actually set up a home with a web and everything.
Mind telling us the kind of bugs in your patient's ear (since they really may not be the same patient and you are not giving identifying information)? Just curious.
You could have just given my story.....
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Sad story about our
educational system. I was raised and educated in Australia. They have a great public education system and so expected even better here,
Sadly disappointed when I read correspondence being sent from the schools with misspelt words .. and from a SCHOOL! My young daughter was reprimanded by the teacher for innocently (she was about 6 at the time) correcting her.
Maybe posting this is a mistake. Don't want any "llove it or leave it" responses. I am a citizen and love this country but we need to do much better by our children. They deserve a sound educational system to allow them to survive in this competitive world.
My story
I was working for an endocrinology group and did a little transcription on the side to earn extra money. A couple of years later, I was working as an RN for another doctor when my hubby became ill with a rare disease and needed full-time care. When I resigned my position to care for him, the doctors approached and asked if I'd be interested in doing their transcription at home to earn a paycheck. I jumped on the opportunity and have never looked back.
I will say in the beginning, I earned more than I ever could have as an RN; however, with VR and outsourcing, the wages have steadily dropped in this job to the point that I'm starting to feel a struggle to stay afloat. So, yes, it was easier years ago than it is now.
This is such a sad story
But deep down inside, you must know that you could not have saved her. When people are going to suicide, they will find a way. She made a choice. It was her choice. Yes, the therapist was an egomaniac and didn't listen as well as he should have, but I have a feeling it would not have helped. It may have delayed it by a day or two, but I don't think it would have prevented it.
I'm so sorry you carry this around with you. I hope you find a way to really come to peace with it at some point.
here is my story
I struggle with the same problem, but I also have other factors that are causing my issues. I am battling swollen extremities due to my last trimester of pregnancy, but before the swelling began, I not only typed a lot but also knitted a bunch of stuff for the baby. Then swelling compacted the problem and I am unable to "heal."
My doctor told me to stop doing any activity that is aggravating the situation. Ha-ha. I quit everything but being an MT. I use ice packs a few times a day on my thumb joints, hand and thumb stretches, and range of motion exercises with my hands and thumbs. If it were safe I would take ibuprofen too. I bought some fingerless ergonomic gloves this weekend that keep your wrists in a proper straight position while allowing finger motion. They are for anyone who does any kind of repetitive motion. I think they are helping, but I have only used them for 2 days. They are available in most pharmacies and some craft stores.
Good luck with your thumbs.
My story . . .
I couldn't find a job as an MA. I am still even certified (how does that work). Fast forward . . . I finally got hired - in reception - at a local hospital. As soon as their transcription department had an opening . . . I went for it and got hired. I have been doing it now for 5 years.
Sad story. I wonder why...(sm)
...they didn''t just drop this incompetent MTSO early in the game and go with one that was better rather than suffering through months and months of poor quality (and pay even more for you to fix things)?
She did not say she was an IC - that would be a different story -
That would be filing a schedule C for home business; if you are an employee, you do not file a schedule C, it goes in with your itemized deductions. Two different situations.
sm, see (or short) message, nm is no message.
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