Home versus in-house
Posted By: Mamakat on 2006-04-30
In Reply to: Positives and Negatives of working at home versus inhouse. - Just another MT
Let me answer before I read everyone else's responses. I worked at home and for awhile it was great, but I had kids underfoot, that didn't work out. So back to inhouse. It's nice having a regular paycheck and not having to worry about taxes, they're taken out. Also health insurance is a big concern. But I'm sick of the nitpicking and being treated like a child. I hate being spied on and I hate office politics. People are in close proximity when I'm transcribing and there is a lot of loud talking in the small room. Plus when the other people are crabby, it casts a dark shadow on the whole day.
I may soon have no choice but to work at home again, as my place of employment is rumored to be upgrading and at all other facilities owned by this company, that has meant shipping our work overseas. I don't dread returning home though. Just got a brand-new Dell computer, found and loaded my Instant Type and imported my PRD files. I will switch to my husband's insurance which is a kind I'm not crazy about but it's better than nothing. I have a tax guy now and I'll stay on top of taxes with my estimated quarterles. And there's a company I've been working for on and off for years that treats me like gold and will take me on anytime!
I'm the type of person who doesn't like being constantly monitored by an authority figure, particularly an ignorant one! It may soon be time to get out of the in-house and back to my home! We'll see. For now, I'm in-house. But maybe soon, I won't be.
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Home versus Hospital - sm
Speaking as one who was a unit secretary for many, many years, and now an MT working from home, I personally would NEVER, ever go back...but, the benefits of working in-house are much better than most MT companies offer. AND, your point of steady paycheck is a valid one. This is something you would have to sit down and write all the pros and cons, with your feelings included, to make a decision based on what is best for you. Good luck.
...up to you to see if you can make more per line at home versus going
s
Positives and Negatives of working at home versus inhouse.
When I first went home to work, I did think it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I got so tired of being stuck to my desk all day long and being asked to work overtime with no overtime pay. No incentives anymore either. The money is the biggest issue here and benefits at a good price. .... So I decided to go back in house. and believe that I found a great place to work.
Of course, there will be the usual bad side of working an inhouse job... dressing up.... which I honestly miss.. but maybe not every day, paying for gas to drive to work... but it's actually only 10 minutes away, the cafeteria--enough said :D... plus I bring my lunch and have always done so..., office politics--which I have found exist at home or inhouse...., dept meetings--which I have found exist with at home jobs also... of course they are "account" not department meetings and communication! which is a really important thing and was the straw that broke this camel's back--got sick of sending emails to a myriad of people from the top to the bottom and getting no response back... or responses days later...
Can anyone add any other positives/negatives?
The pay will be worth it all no matter what, but I was curious to see what other things there are to consider. 
Please no flames.
Thanks in advance.
Home vs in house
The perfect solution is working at home for a doctor's office or hospital and being paid by the hour instead of the line. It's so irritating to have to be online in for a certain time period, having NO work and making NO money. At least hourly you're guaranteed income. JMHO.
Home Office vs In-House
What about transcription done in-house in an office or dept. where there is high traffic from MDs to janitors?
My dog watches me type and horror of all horrors, I usually have the dictation on speaker phone.
6 at home and 1 in house (first job) in 6 years
x
stay home or go in house....
I got offered a job in a small neurology office starting at $17/hr with a raise in a few months. No working weekends or holidays and lots of vacation days. Low stress.
I currently work at home for a pretty decent company with a pretty decent line rate, but am starting to feel pressure to produce more...my average pay at home is between $13 and $15 an hour. It also adds stress when there is little to know work available and I am having to alter my schedule to "make up" time.
So, I would be making a bit more money, but I will have to have child care for the summers and for after school, so I don't know if it is worth it.
Can someone give me some insight as to whether they were faced with this decision...what they decided and why? I would really appreciate it.
Stay home or go in-house?
Help! What do I do? I currently work for a pretty good national company and I get to stay home and work in my PJs, but then... we ran out of work for a few days and I panicked. I applied for an in-house position doing radiology, which I have never done before. I am fairly certain they will offer me the position to work 24 to 32 hours, with many more hours if I want them. It pays about 18.50 per hour during the week and 19.39 on the weekends, which I will work one weekend day. So now what???
Do I give up the comfort of my home for a guaranteed paycheck and work in a cubical typing radiology notes for 8 hours a day? UGH! Tough to have such choices in this economy.
Any insight or thoughts on this? I do have young children, but they spend a lot of time at grandma's while I work anyway.
I've worked in-house and at home ....
I find that even when you're in-house, with the nature of the job, there's no time for chit-chat. When I worked in-house we had production minimums and there was incentive to earn if you produced, so who has time to talk? I'm with you. I'm happy being here in my comfy clothing without all that aggravation. Let is snow, I don't have to drive in it!
Along the same line, does anyone do coding at home or only in house? Does it pay well? nm
s
My 3 sons are eating me outta house and home too! :) NM
d
Majority of the jobs seem to be in-house. Never could find an at-home job that way. nm
s
Answer is get out of the house. Gym, dances, Home Depot.
zz
"close" your home office before you sell your house...sm
then you don't have to do anything with the tax depreciation, etc.
Love in house, hate nationals at home nm
xxx
Is coding offered at home or only in-house? Gotta be better than doing this...nm
s
And I disagree with that. I've worked home and in-house,
Everyone is different and some people don't rely on jobs to provide social interaction. When it comes to my job, I prefer being at home working independently without a lot of interruptions and enjoy the freedom of working from home. If I were stuck in an office with rigid hours, then I'd be resentful. Personally, I loathe being stuck in an office full of catty backstabbers and love the solitude of home. When I want to socialize, I call one of my friends.
You also have to be able to let QA remarks roll off your back a little, but that only works if you don't have the threat of being docked or terminated as a result of those QA remarks. Find an MTSO that doesn't hold those things over your head (yes, they do exist).
I do think the key IS where you work, but not home versus office - it's finding a company that values MTs, not sees them as mere production machines. They are few and far between, but they're out there. I lived through my share of bad apples in this biz before finding the good ones, so I speak from experience.
When I took a business trip one time, I came home to an immaculate house.
Then during the next few weeks, I couldn't find certain things like clothes, dishes, and items I kept on the counters. DH had decided to put all the dirty stuff out in the garage where the babysitter couldn't see it because he was embarrased by the mess he and the kids had made. There was mold and mildew on everything because he taped it inside boxes or stuffed it inside coolers, and he forgot to tell me about it.
"close" your home office before you sell your house and you will have no problem..nm
x
we are not talking about a house in the assoc. The original poster lives in a regular home.
So they cannot tell someone else what color to paint their house.
My sons are born again too and their wives can't leave the house, home school the kids, no tv,
and if my DIL wanted to work, it is out of the question. One of my sons just believes in having babies and having babies. They now have 5. I divorced his dad and apparently his dad taught them this is the American way. I just feel so bad for both my sons' wives. They both are born again and both live their life that way.
At home, Melitta or any kind of hazelnut. Out of house, Green Mountain from the gas stationso or
s
65 character line versus gross lines versus pay by word
I am checking into other options for transcription. Can anyone tell me how to compare all of these types of lines & also payment per word? I know companies use different scales, so I wondered how they compare. I have been paid on a 65 character line with spaces, but I may be making a change in the future - don't want to get burned.
Thank you in advance!
Question versus gross lines versus 65-character lines....
I have always charged or been paid by 65 or 60 character lines or per letter or space typed, but have never been paid or charged per gross line.
What is the advantage of this? If I were to charge 11 cents per 65-character line including spaces, what does this figure out to for an average line rate and how do you do this calculation?
I'm wondering if it is financially beneficial for me to bill by gross line or to keep it the way I have it. I do know some accounts will only pay per 65-character line, as this was the deal my first own account I recently acquired. They were adamant on a 65-character line, but didn't specify with or without spaces and I personally would never not charge for spaces.
Thanks for explaining this. I appreciate it and hope everyone has a speedy day.
My kids have suffered greatly from me working at home with them home. SM
I have been working at home as an MT since my two kids were born. They are now 4 and 5. In the first few years, I had no help whatsoever. Their father was a bum who didnt work or take care of them while I worked. Your children get neglected while you work basically. And babies and young children desperately need your attention while they are home with you.
My kids have so many behavioral problems right now because of their neglect. I would try to set them up with things to occupy themselves, like coloring or a movie, etc.
I finally put them in day care and things have improved, but there are still a lot of issues because of the damage that was done. They still try to seek attention by doing bad things and they dont listen to me because they are so used to me letting them get away with a lot of stuff because I was too busy typing to discipline them in their early years.
If I could do it all over again, I would definitely have put them into day care from the very beginning.
My advice would be to seek PT care for your baby. Maybe you can do some work around her schedule a little when she is home, like when she takes a nap, and then bang out a bunch of work while she is in day care.
I enjoy being alone at home, but I've got one home sick from school already.
One on one with a kid is nice, too.
This summer has been absolutely crazy. I haven't had a moment to myself for three months because all of my kids were home traipsing their friends through the house and yard. My husband switched his work schedule, too, so he's around more than usual. However, I like not having to do two loads of dishes and four loads of laundry a day. There are no toys or clutter dragged out everywhere. I can clean the house first thing in the morning, and it stays clean until everyone gets home at night.
I even got to relax with a cup of coffee and watch TV for half an hour this morning, something I liked for a change instead of cartoons or kids' movies. I signed up for an online class that I've been wanting to take. I can exercise without being interrupted. Yesterday, I went to the mall and spent all my saved up gift cards. I got some clothes, books, bath stuff, and a new coffee mug. My work gets done a lot faster, too. Call me nuts, but I've never had the luxury of being alone in the house for 14 years. It's kinda nice. I love my family with all my heart, but I love having a few hours to myself each week, too.
Except now the cat and dogs have been acting weird since the kids went back to school. They must think that I need someone or something to clean up after and correct behavior on. They're getting into everything and racing around the house behind me.
my take is that she worked inhouse, not at home, and now wants to find out how to work at home. nm
x
Forget "per line." Your take-home pay should be taking home SM
roughly what it was before. If it is not, is it because your current pay rate for editing (which in many companies keeps changing as the VR system is developed) is too low or is it because your talents and skills are more for speed typing than speed editing?
If the first, discuss it with higherups, and go get a new job if you don't get the response you need. My last MTSO was secretly refiguring how production was counted to pay us less. I can accept hard reality, it was the secrecy that burned. Sometimes, though, it's just that the learning curves of individual editors and that of the system aren't in sync, and you end up temporarily making less.
If the second, though, recognize it as soon as possible and change to straight transcription work, in your company or a new one, for as long as you can find it.
As for why we aren't paid more for a higher skill, that's just the way the labor supply ball bounces. Best wishes.
I think she means she has wireless TO her home, not IN her home..nm
x
hospital at-home -vs- national at home
I have an interview today with a hospital...work in-house for 3 months, then go home, paid on production. I don't know as of yet what they pay production, so my question is to anyone who works for a hospital at home AND has also worked for a national at home...
Which would be the best to choose? The hospital offers great benefits, but the national I work for now also has benefits, not as good as the hospital, though. Any input would be most appreciated!
PPD versus ppd
Ok - maybe I am having a brain fart - the dictation says the guy smokes 1 "ppd" (pack per day) should i do ppd or PPD?? It is verbatim.
HELP!
x versus X
I need to know if it should be x or X. IE 8 mm X 7 mm.
CMA versus CNA
Medical Assistants ARE allowed to give medications and injections, and have been taught properly by their MA schooling how to do this. CNA is all patient care, changing beds, changing clothes, bathing, taking vitals (maybe), but no giving of medications. They were not schooled in this and legally should not be doing it...and that is probably universal through all states. That was what I was taught when taking my MA courses. LPNs can, FNPs can, RNs can, PAs can, but not CNAs. Totally different area of care.
RMT versus CMT - sm
The RMT (Registered Medical Transcriptionist) credential that is for those MTs who have just recently graduated or have been working but do not have the required 2 years of acute care experience to write the CMT (Certified Medical Transcriptionst) exam.
You can find information about the CMT and RMT exams and credentials at http://www.aamt.org/scriptcontent/creddesig.cfm.
RE: cc versus ml
We were told cc was on the "Do not use" list, according to
Joint Commission for a couple of years now.
CVA versus CVA
One is an infarct in the heart, the other is an infract in the brain, but I agree with other posts. Many times it will be dictated in the body of the report and you can determine the exact differentiation between the two. However, if you absolutely cannot do this, you cannot guess in a diagnosis and have to simply leave it as CVA, or possibly defer it to QA, in which they probably cannot determine it any more than you can, and they would probably leave it as CVA.
MT versus MLS
How about the MTSO Company who now refers to their MTs as Medical Language Specialists. Does anybody believe they get more money for being an MLS instead of just a plain ole MT?
MT versus becoming RN
Hi all.
I did a search in my area to look at RN salaries. I know working from home I can make $52,000 with some effort. The having to pay my own taxes is offset by not having to drive to/from work. Just curious of any of you have decided to go to school to be an R.N. My husband thinks it would be a good idea, but since I have been at home for over 10 years, it would take some convincing! |
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Base Salary |
$59,036 |
70.4% |
|
Bonuses |
$150 |
0.2% |
|
Social Security |
$4,528 |
5.4% |
|
401k / 403b |
$3,670 |
4.4% |
|
Disability |
$947 |
1.1% |
|
Healthcare |
$5,328 |
6.4% |
|
Pension |
$2,486 |
3.0% |
|
Time Off |
$7,740 |
9.2% |
|
Total |
$83,883 |
100% |
Well, I'm not sure that you really want an answer of HOW to do it versus
just defending yourself, which is fine, by the way. Well, if you want an opinion on your situation, you see the problem yourself. You admit that you didn't discipline them and let them always have their way, which you feel is responsible for today's behavioral problems. Chances are they would have the same problems were they not with you 24/7 cause its your parenting skills that are at issue. Know what I mean? No, being an MT at home and raising your kids is NOT equivalent to what you, yourself, admit you did. You can't sit and type and let children run the house free will. You have to use your head and multitask, as the other poster said! Plan your days, plan activities, have a schedule for them, etc. Not trying to be mean, but that's really obvious, isn't it? You realize it now. Why not say something encouraging, like, Gee, I'm sure it can be done, but not the way I did it. I messed up. Rather, you post your negative experience which YOU caused and act like it can have no other outcome. It can. I have 3 kids, and all 3 different personalities. My oldest and first was the most demanding. I basically set up a Little Tykes playground for her in my office, and STILL she didn't want me to "type", as she grew to call it. Constant battle of wills, but guess who prevailed? Me! I'm the parent! She grew to understand that she would have her fun time AFTER my work - i.e. going to the park, movies, etc. My second child was an angel and would just sit on the floor playing with fuzz if that's all there was. My third child was a boy, and enough said there! I had no help whatsoever - unless you can include a bunch of negative relatives who mocked me rather than offer a hand in help, but it CAN BE DONE, and we were SO happy together. It is SO worth the effort - these are your children - your legacy - your LIFE. If they aren't your life, then my words are falling on deaf ears. I work around the clock - still do - typing hours here and there to have MY FAMILY as my #1 Priority. All my employers have always understood that and been more than willing to work with me. Also, I had stayed away from working for some companies that demand a set schedule because I refuse to work a set 8 hours shift with kids. Know what? Every single company said they would let me do "my own thing" on hiring, so while everyone else complains about having to work a straight 8 hour shift, I didn't have to! It can be done, even with the strictest companies! They respect where our hearts are, if its with our kids! Again, sorry for what sounds like a horrible experience for you and your kids, but you, yourself, admit it was your own fault. You are not the majority, though, again, the posters on this board are definitely anti-kids, so you've found your niche in that regard, so to speak! And, also, now that your kids have behavioral problems, severe, I believe, per YOUR words -- is the solution going to come from an outside source? From a stranger? Or from you? It doesn't sound to me like its working now. Only YOU can really fix your mistake and change your kids. As long as they're still with you, no matter how old, there is hope. But passing them off to the school system, or counsellors, or some "expert" is probably not gonna be too successful. Ground Zero is Mom, good or bad, positive or negative.
melena versus whatever
You are correct - and heaven help us all (including the patients) if that's the kind of QA you're getting on your job. Just to get more confused, check out "melanosis coli" which refers to dark pigmented lesion in the colon - NOT to bleeding or melena.
IC versus employee
 I have been an IC/MTSO both married and divorced for the past 15 years. I feel that I bring home "more" of a dollar than if I were making the same amount as an employee. I do have quite a few write offs as I do have a real "office" in the home, I take my depreciation on the house as I feel when and if I sell prior to dying, will deal with it then. I do deliver and pick up so have mileage. I save for my vacations and time off. I have the flexibility to take time off during the day if needed --work at night true but I CHOSE it not someone else. When married I just had my husband over withhold a little more and did not need to worry about the "tax bite" on April 15th. I planned and planned so I knew what he had to over withold. But again, when I make over $50K and end up paying SS on only $15K or so, it is well worth it to me. I did take a small "in-clinic" employee status this year to get out of the house as with no hubby - thank the Lord, and no kids it gets me out and I take out more of my taxes that way. But when I did not do that, I just took 5 to 10% out of each check and put it in a special account and it was more than enough to cover my taxes. Truly look at your paychecks as "employees" and see what you really bring home but everyone thinks that because your "employer" pays those taxes FOR you, you are not really paying them. So you just have to do the same. And you have to add the two salaries together even as an employee so that also hurts. But again, I feel being self employed or IC is the only way to go. Even when on vacation I stop in a local transcription company or a couple of clinics or hospital and talk to them about providing services so I can count part of it as a write off. Also look for seminars in cities you want to visit. I go to Vegas every year for the "electronic show" to see what is new for my company. Again, if you look carefully at deductions and plan, plan, plan it is better - at least to me - financially to be an IC. Patti -- e-mail me if you wish
IC versus employee...
Am thinking about going from employee to IC - what is involved with being an IC? Taxes, etc...would appreciate any advice from IC's. TIA
how did they come up with 40mg versus 40 mg?....
i was taught not to do it that way. i understand that every company has "their own departmental specs" or "preference" if you may, but that is a little bit to much for me.
MTs versus RHITs
From my experience with RHITs, the resentments and hostility was and is because our profession is based on production. While the RHIT has traditionally had a fixed salary, we as MTs are paid mostly by production. I cannot tell you the amount of hostility and resentment from RHITs because of this issue. Now, I'm not saying all RHITs are bad people, but whenever an RHIT can see an MT was able to make more money, well, that had to stop! The attitude from RHITs was that we were typists. No clue as to the intricate details our work demands of us. I can tell you from experience when Edix was formed, those RHITs that were the managers in the beginning could not wait to whip those transcriptionists into line! They wanted their foot on every transcriptionist's neck to show them whose boss!! Same old, same old!!
Subcontracting versus IC
At some point this becomes about who makes more/does better. Right?
8 cpl IC versus employee
No I mean money wise what is the difference once you take out the taxes. 8 cpl as an IC is less money than 8 cpl as an employee when the employee pays half your social security
IC versus employee
I was following you until you said "my regular scheduled hours". Um, if you are IC, you shouldn't have scheduled hours, only a set amount of production within a specified time period (say 2000 lines in 24 hours). I'd say you are already crossing that IRS rule of who has control without even considering the OT issue.
But, to answer your question, they can ask for help and you can say yes or no, but you are not under any obligation to do it. As the other poster did point out, preference might be given to someone else at a later time, but IMHO, not working "every weekend" is acceptable. You can give yourself permission to take some time off. No, they do not have to pay you overtime, but you could ask for incentive pay for the work you provide on days you are not already comitted to (they will probably tell you no).
cpl WITH versus cpl WITHOUT spaces
I really don't want to open a can of worms about poor pay, but I am really trying to compare these two options. I need to make a decision about which company to go with. Since I have no idea which has the better platform or better dictators I'm pretty much flying blind. The obvious difference is that one pays for spaces and one doesn't (I didn't know there were still companies that DIDN'T pay for spaces). Both are part-time IC.
Company 1 -- 7.6 cpl with spaces, no headers or footers
Company 2 -- 9 cpl with headers and footers, no spaces
Any insight would be very welcomed.
IC versus Employee
I am trying to figure out if going from employee status to IC is worth it. Anyone have any opinions?
ic versus employee
Hate to burst your bubble to but you are better off with your own accounts. Most of the nationals out there want strict hours and a requirement of how many lines you are going to do. Some do pay a little extra for holidays and weekends but not always and most you will get stuck working on weekends as well.
MTs versus MTSO
I don't know what MTs you hire, but I have always given 100% to my jobs. Right now I type an average of 2000 lines a day, 98% accuracy, willing to change my schedule so I can get work...........but its been the MTSO that have let me down. Right now I am struggling to get work becuase they have overhired AGAIN and this has happened with every MTSO service I have worked for. (4 to 5 in the last 4 years). Finally I am returning to a local hospital where I don't have to worry about running out of work.
By the way, I am not saying there aren't sorry MTs out there........I am just not one of them. I work my butt off, 1.) Because I like the challenge of transcription and 2.) Because of a little thing called bills, responsibility, and family. 3.) Satisfaction and the end of a long day.
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