I'd have to disagree.

I am my own team.  I am not part of anyone's team because if I was, then I'd get the benefits "the team" gets.  With that said, yes I will charge for faxing and taking the time to do things other than typing.  And, NO, in 10 years, the physicians I type for ask no questions as they charge fees for their different services as well, filling out workers' comp forms, etc. 

So I encourage transcriptionists to charge as such.  If you price your line rate high, they will outsource to a large company that they can pay less, so this may work for you, but not necessarily is the norm.  JMO.

• IC, do you write your own rate increase letters? - Annie Rhue
  • Rate increase... - AllieCat
  • IC Rate Increase - LUV BEING MY OWN BOSS
    • Pricing - Lillybelle
      • Nickel and dime accounts/misc charges - Patti
        • I'd have to disagree. - LUV BEING MY OWN BOSS
      • Other - Lillybelle
  • I think - Snuggs (sm)
    • Hey Snuggs, I'm wondering...sm - Annie Rhue
      • Average it out - by doing a line count
      • Location does make a difference . . . - Snuggs (sm)

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As the other poster said -- if they're all that concerned, they need to (a) watch who they hire (b) provide the equipment.

No way on this earth I'd grant that kind of access to my computer. They'll have to find another way to calm their fears.

My husband loves it when I tell him I pretend that he's naked.

I mean, wow, lighten up.  I doubt ilovejackbauer is some kind of pedophile so I'm sure it was just a harmless suggestion. This world has gotten way too sensitive.

...if you Google "new hires" every instance that comes up seems to related to new employees. This was also heard spoken by the Human Resources department.

Diane

an IC work a set schedule.  Unfortunately with this OP being an employee, she must adhere to the strict work schedule.  As an IC, you are not required to work set hours, and if you are being told to do that, then you are an employee and not an IC.  Someone on this particular board posted a link to a court action suit brought against a company classifying an employee as an IC, but was in the wrong because that is considered control due to the fact the work was required back in 24 hours.  Believe it or not, but I read it myself on this board. 

Think about it as a plumber.  When the IC plumber comes to your house, gives you an estimate, do you say to him, now I want this work completed at such and such a time (strict schedule)?  No, the plumber tells you I'll be there between the hours of 9 and 5, and the work can be completed in such and such amount of time given there is no unforeseen problems, etc.  

Now with MT, the usual TAT is 24 hours, but as an IC, you should be able to transcribe that work within that amount of time, but not work a set schedule even if that means typing for 15 minutes, take an hour break, and then type for 15 minutes.

I am soooooo glad the company I work (only one) as I have my own accounts, knows the true meaning of IC.  A lot of these MTSO's do not know the true meaning. 

Furthermore, the accounts I have on my own do not require 24-hour TAT, so that is also something an MTSO will play on when in all honesty they actually have 48 hours or even 72 hours to complete the work.  I'm there, I'm doing it, and I know it to be true!  My accounts are happy with 48 hour TAT.  I QA my own work, which is also another problem in this field.  If there were not so many chiefs making demands, I think the Indians could have more time to do their "hunting" for their bounty!      24-hour TAT should be for STAT requests only. 

My two IM's prior to using my company, did use a call in system for several years but after coming to me he told me he would never go back as there was no comparison as to quality, TAT and their satisfaction,  I have talked to them several times about digital as I am set up to do digital and do it for overflow to an old MTs that I used to work for, but they prefer the tapes.  So be it.  If it makes them happy, that is fine for me.  They are stand alone doctors, and they do not like the large companies.   I know that they have been called, e-mailed, etc. but they chose to stay with me.  Like I said, I am not cocky, I appreciate and count my blessing but if they chose to stay with tapes that is fine.  They need the chart notes back on sticky paper anyway so I would continue to deliver and the office staff is overworked enough and would not put it onto them to print the notes.  I actually like getting out and delivering and talking to them.   My surgical oncologists do not even have a computer in the office to do the scheduling, they use an old fashion appointment book and write in their schedules.  And I have talked with them about digital but they like it.  Only have 5 more years before I retire so we will see what they do.   And my price is fair, they pay on time, never a bounced check so we go on as such. 

#1 - I have a back up computer,  transcriber, printer, you just plan for this.  You have to be ready for all and everything.   I have been down only one day for computer problems in the past 3 years and that was because one acount I send out via internet, Comcast was down for 12 hours.  But if I am, I make it up over the next few days, the work is still there to do.

#2 - When I am sick my accounts are very understanding and though it does not happen often it does but no problem.  Work is there the next day.  And they do not rush me to get it back.

#3 - My docs provide me with free care and samples of prescriptions.  Saves a lot on my high deductible.  Plus my insurance premiums are paid through my company. Deductible.    

#4 - I contrbute off the top to my retirement fund. 

#5 - I do depreciate my house as I know I will be in it for two years past retirement.

#6 - Holiday/vacation/sick -- I average those into my cpl and charge that. And I charge a reasonable rate to my clients.  They have all been with me for over 10 to 18 years.  Suppose they could leave suddenly but then your hospital based job could be gone in a flash also, that is life. 

#7 - Again I pay less than 10% to taxes and that is with 15% for social security.  And I make good money, I would LOOSE money to work inhouse in a hospital and I have figured it out when offered a job.  I would not have the lifestyle that I have now and I am single supporting myself with a house payment, etc. 

So to each their own, like I said.

Have you known anyone that has taken either one of these courses? They're not easy, by any means.  And all we are trying to say is that they DO better prepare you for MT and they DO get your foot in the door a HECK of a lot easier than going to a "local" college! If you already have a job lined up and someone to mentor you after you go to the "local" college, then more power to you! But if you don't, you just wasted money there! Good luck trying to find one of these MT companies to hire you w/o experience! You may get a lucky break from a small company, but "may" is the key word here! And most people do not want to wait forever, hoping they will get hired from someone! And no, getting that "piece of paper" does not make you a great MT, but the education that it took to get that paper is far more than any community college will teach you! You say you are a good MT, and no one is saying you aren't.  But you were probably hired way back when, when companies didn't require a lot of schooling! That doesn't really fly nowadays. So please, stop trying to discourage newbies here! Let them decide for theirself.  By the way, "online" schooling is the way of the future, and many people are getting jobs from their degrees from UOP or wherever else!

I worked for a small company for about 3 years.  The woman that owned the company pretty much cut and pasted her contracts together from various websites.  With all that legal mumbo-jumbo no one ever questioned her and she held it over her MT's heads as far as "sticking to the contract."  Don't let these companies intimidate you into thinking you don't have a leg to stand on.  It's all B.S. - contracts are broken all the time, especially when you begin to question the company's integrity and business ethics, which is why I was fired.

She could give no reason (work-wise) why she fired me so I'm going through unemployment. Her contract said "MT is responsible for social security, unemployment, etc." but like I said this was cut and pasted from websites.  Yes it's time consuming and can be a pain in the ______ BUT when possible we need to do something about these companies. 

I could have gotten unemployment but wanted to work instead so right there tells you the contract is questionable.  As my friend chef Ramsey would say "shut her down."  She should be out of business in about a year, the other girls are slowly finding other work and some are considering taking legal action. 

You can get free legal consultation and I suggest you use it.  Go to as many lawyers as you can (1st hour free) and gather all your info. 

My experience was very similar to the person you responded to - the people that had been there the longest did the least work for the most money.  Of the top 3 in longevity - the lead worker spent the majority of her time playing politics, reading her personal email, and refusing to impart any of her superior knowledge in fear someone might dethrone her.  Another had tried to cut it at home, and came crying back - she couldn't handle any ESL, and the docs there were very easy.  The third was so insecure (after more than 10 years on the job!) she even asked the newbies for advice on the simplest things, and after numerous doctor complaints about her work - made this statement "how could my reports be full of errors when I use spell check"?  Ever hear of the Peter Principle - it was in full force there.

I love production - I work hard and get paid way more than I ever could in-house.  The only thing I don't like about it is all the freebies they expect - unpaid emails, unpaid downtime, things like that should be factored in if its part of the job, IMHO.

For my own personal choice, I detest daycares.  However, I was forced to use them with my older child because we could not make it financially without me working.  I tried working nights, but that didn't work because I didn't sleep at all.  I cut back to parttime after my second child, only working during school hours.  I hated every moment I was apart from my kids.  After my third child, there was not a chance I would put my kids in daycare again.  I did put my child into preschool three half days a week to prepare for kindergarten, and I did work outside the home those three half days.  However, I don't agree with 50-60 hours of daycare or more per week.

The part I disagree with is the manner in which you are spreading your message.  You come across as young, naive, and judgmental.  A large percentage of this country does not have it as good as you do.  What are you going to do if your husband loses his job some day?  And can't find another one right away?  Are you going to go on welfare, or are you going to put your kid in daycare so you can work while your husband either job searches or does odd jobs?  What if he is forced to take a cut in wages or else his company shuts down entirely?  These things have all happened to my family.  Fortunately, you must be an MT if you're on this board.  However, I don't agree with working fulltime at home with young children either.  And Dr. Laura isn't as wonderful as she tells everyone she is.  She's judgmental, too, which is not a ticket to heaven.

Why don't you just agree to disagree, and drop it?  You have no right to tell people what they should or shouldn't do with their own children.  There's a woman in our neighborhood who doesn't use daycare for her kids because she wouldn't make any money at all.  You'd think her kids would be well-behaved and her house would be clean, but she sits on her fat arse watching TV all day long and smoking cigarettes.  Is she a wonderful mother for staying home with her children?  NO!  She doesn't discipline at all.  Her kids would spend all day and night here if they could, but I've got my own kids, house and job to take care of.  There are good parents and there are bad parents.  Having to use daycare does not make you a bad parent, and staying home with your kids doesn't make you a good parent.

Only because I have a neighbor in her 50s, she's tall, still thin, not a wrinkle, so obviously she has kept herself up.  Its not about age, but about wearing the right clothes for the right shape.  She wears tanks, and also long form fitting dresses, very stylish and i've also seen her wear shorts.  I hope to look so good when i'm in my 50s.  Of course if she were out of shape, dying her hair the wrong shade and wore black eye liner, it would be a whole different story.  50 is supposedly the new 30.  But if you have as great of a figure as you did in your 20s as you do in 50s, show a little of it off, we don't die once we reach the age of 40! 

   First, if someone does not like her acting style or anything else about her, they are certainly entitled to their opinion.  I think through chance or intent I have seen  every thing released to date that she has done - Hackers, Girl Interrupted, Gia, Beyond Borders to name a few.   She steps up to every different role and continues to grow.     She is 30 years old and has been speaking more intelligently in interviews for years than a lot of 40 and 50 year old actors and actresses.  She is putting herself out there and putting herself in harm's way as does anyone who puts their face, famous or otherwise, on a cause.

     Many of the humanitarian roles she has assumed now are ones she has been asked to do.   Since practically birth, and particularly since her teen years, everything she has done has been under a microscope.    Now, everything she does is under a different kind of microscope and I think she is doing an admirable job of walking the line.  No question she has a wild spirit -  didn't most of us have some wild at 20 and 30?  She is now formally representing the US and I cannot begin to imagine how stressful it must be to have to say the right thing to everyone every time and still try to achieve the objective.  She has looks, brains, money and could be doing anything including sitting around whining about any number of trivial pursuits.    Is she an actress who wants to be a philanthropist, or a humanitarian at heart who wants to act?  I don't know, but I for one enjoy the entertainment and only wish I had all her gifts so that I could go out and make that kind of a difference.   For the record, in my mind there are no similarities between Princess Diana and Angelina, other than perhaps the eye of the world being on them at any given time.  Diana's circumstances were forced and tragic and I believe her unbelievable heart and empathy were borne mostly of her pain.  She did not strive professionally to be an actress.   As a member of the royal family, she was both expected and required to be involved in some charitable works or humanitarian efforts.  What she became is a reflection of her true heart, I think, and I admire her very much in that regard.   If a single child does not die of thirst and hunger on a floor of dirt because of Angelina Jolie or Princess Diana, I think the world is already a better place.    

College is  NOT for everybody.  Schools are clogged with people who have no intention or ability to complete a college education.  We used to realize that.  In Europe they have 2 tracks in high school... a college track and a vocational track.   For some people, learning a trade is what works for them.  My BIL barely graduated from high school, but is a construction foreman which he learned on-the-job as an apprentice and worked his way up.  Same with my other BIL.  He unfortunately didn't finish high school, but signed on at a shipyard as an apprentice, has taken all kinds of training as an electrician, and  now makes almost 50,000.  College is fine, but it's NOT necessarily for everybody.

It would take them too long to train other people to jump on right away. So, let them place an ad on here or anywhere else, let them hire newbies.  How long would it take to train them on the platform used, the client profile, etc. In the meantime, the work is just piling up. Just imagine the QA!!!  You think they are going to have management do transcription when half of them don't know the difference between "there" and "their". I don't think so.