I'll try to answer
Posted By: your questions on 2006-07-13
In Reply to: Does she have other children who can help - THoughts
Her brother lives over 3000 miles a way and doesn't have enough room in his home, plus his wife would forbid it. All her parents have is around $1450/month in Medicare of which about one half goes to medical expenses not covered by Medicare (i.e. Walgreens incontinence supplies), her father's cigarettes (he refuses to even cut back to under 8 cartons a month), and outstanding medical bills that are being paid off slowly (she handles that). She tried to find transportion but all that's available is out-of-pocket at $25 one way, she she has to do it and it's costing her money. They don't qualify for nursing care.
She's just at a point that she's ready to have herself admitted to a psych unit permanently, just to get away from them both. She hasn't loved either one of them for years, and is now slowly growing to hate them both for doing this to her ("Would you make us live in the street?").
My heart goes out to her. We talk on the phone ever day.
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I'll try to answer
I have absolutely no idea. On the surface of it, it seems like companies have ways to reduce our line count and therefore what we are paid. I can't think of another reason.
I know from using Sylcount that it will count out just slightly higher than Word. I have use MTWorld and it is the same way. Slight being 10 to 50 characters and I have not found a reason for that discrepancy either.
I am not aware if Word counts punctuation as part of the characters or characters with spaces count. I have a feeling that they don't, but I have not seen anything about it, frankly, just a sense of it.
I am about to launch into a job where we are using ExText and the idea that it is not accurate worries me since the pay is on 37 characters strict, no spaces and I have my trepidations about this to start with because the pay is 6 cents for that and up to 6.5 for a differential. I can't really figure out whether that is good or bad.
I don't think you'll ever get an accurate answer
There are so many individual factors that can be good or bad for one person and not another. You'll see good and bad on every single company out there, because you just can't please everyone! But, what I do to try to keep it in perspective is just try to avoid the companies which you see the most "bad" comments about.
That may not be really accurate though, now that I think about it, because I worked for Spheris for many years and I was very happy with them. And, you know, I'm sure, that Spheris gets slammed big-time on this board. So, to each his own, I suppose!
No problem--I'll answer it!
Because where we live, it is a very cold climate and I'm not crazy about having to take a doggie outside to go to the bathroom. I've had other dogs in my life who never went outside either, and they just used their little potty pads to do their business. It may sound 'gross' to some, but if they are small dogs like my min-dach is, they don't "go" very much, so as soon as they do, you just throw away the potty pad and put out another and you're done and you never had to leave your house. I realize it sounds a bit "lazy" on my part.
Another reason would be that I have had inside dogs before who did go out into the yard and then brought FLEAS back into my house. That was a nightmare not to mention expensive. I realize there is medicine you can give your dog to keep them from getting fleas, but it is expensive and I'm not crazy about the chemical part of the medicine.
Then, another reason why I don't really want my dog to go outside.....Dachsunds are known to love to dig outdoors in the dirt/grass. Yuck.
I just want him to stay in the house with me and never go outside! :)
I don't think you'll get a good answer from the info...
you provided. It varies too much from location to location.
I've seen some MTs on here that say inhouse in their area make less than $10 an hour. Our local starts newbies (providing they pass the tests) at $16.79 an hour.
Since the poster below didn't really answer your questions, I'll try...
While I agree that things are being done to try to do away with transcription eventually, I think that hope is a long way off. Here goes:
1. A lot of work is being outsourced to places like India because they can do the work much, much cheaper than a US MT. Some hospitals won't all their work to be outsources, but the thought on this board generally seems to be that most don't care or don't know.
2. In order to work at home directly after school, it is highly recommended that you only attend one of the top schools. Two of them are Andrews and M-TEC.
3. Most companies, if you are an employee (not independent contractor) will provide you with all the equipment you need. You will have to have an internet connection and pay for that yourself most likely.
4. I believe the average you can expect to start is in the 6 to 8 cents a line range. How much you make depends on many other things, though. If you studied very hard and have a knack for MT you will do much better.
Hope that helps a little. But just remember...yes, working at home is a nice benefit for some, but there is a con for every pro to doing this.
It'll be the most expensive magazine subscription you'll ever get! No point in joining. nm
s
I'll go! I'll go!! I won't take hormones and will be ready to defend your honor :) n/m
.
No. It'll be the most expensive magazine subscription you'll ever get, and it's unnecessary
s
You'll get used to it. It is keeping the right leg propped up at the same time that'll be the
When I broke my ankle, I was just grateful it wasn't the hands. Without our hands we'd be totally screwed.
I broke my right ankle slipping on ice and was lucky to have gloves on because the palm of the glove was totally torn up and my hand was okay.
Good luck and be sure to do your exercises when it is time.
A simple google search will give you your answer...I'd give you the answer,
but how would that help you learn to research on your own...and I'm in a rush to get to the next post. 
It'll happen. You'll find your fit.
You might have to kiss a few frogs first, though.
Oh she'll spice it up alright, she'll be
placing hidden cameras in the other ladies' dressing rooms! LOL!
continue your goal; he'll/they'll get used to it/over it
nm
I'll vent and I'll sign my name sm
I have two IC contracts right now. I recently went back to a job I had quit earlier in the year to work for the other company I am still working for.
The newer job has 80% ESLs. I transcribe OP notes primarily and I can fill in other work types as the opportunity arises. I am frustrated with this particular situation. After 6 months, I am making less money and working longer hours. I am past the learning curve and I should be doing better, at least in the number of hours I am spending doing the job. We have run out of work for 24 hrs at a time at least 5 or 6 times since December 1, and in November it was more than that. I have a friend who worked for this company as well and she was having similar difficulties. The only thing that we can figure is that they are shorting us line count some way, because after 6 months at it, it should be easier/faster/more money, but it is less and less every single pay period. It is not a nice thing to accuse a company of doing, but it SEEMS that way to us. I am fed up with being expected to type every single OP note that comes in 24/7 and meeting the 6 hr TAT for them on weekends, evenings, holidays, wee hours of the morning...
I took back a job I held for 2-1/2 yrs. The team leader has changed and this gal thinks that I should be on call 24/7 for whenever she has work. I might have some at 7 a.m., or perhaps not until 6 p.m. or later. I can't plan my personal life and between these two IC situations, I find that I am not eating on a daily basis, not showering on a daily basis and not sleeping more than 3 or 4 hours at a time. I have lost weight and I don't feel very well. I woke up today with a rip roaring head cold (my first in nearly 8 yrs) and it has already moved to bronchitis and I am expecting pneumonia by the weekend because I develop it very easily. I already have deep pain in my back.
Yes, I should call in sick tomorrow, but I really can't take the fallout. The job I took back I am covering for another gal who wanted vacation over the holidays and if I have to call in sick, the team leader will call me and pitch a fit about how this is my responsibility. It IS my responsibility, I did say I would do it, and I will do it, despite being quite ill. In the past, when I worked for this company, they would not allow me to call in sick for a "cold" without a doctor's note. I worked through many illnesses with them and only called in sick when I developed West Nile Fever and while I was sick for over a month, I only called for my last 12 reports one day when I could no longer see the computer screen because my head hurt.
The problem is that yes, many MTs lack work ethic. They don't take their responsibility seriously. This is not a work as you please career, not even for an IC. I can see the MTSO's point of view, I truly can. Like finding experienced, reliable and capable MTs, for the MTs who are these things, finding a company will treat you like a human being is equally difficult. I sit here, feeling lousy and like I am an utter slave labor with no consideration whatsoever. I know that my work needs to be done, but when I am this sick it is better that someone else do it for the sake of the work, for accuracy and for speed of getting it out. I know that I am needed, but to be the MT these companies need me to be, I also need to look after my own health.
I will also mention that when I have asked for vacation, I have been approved for the time, but the MTSO queues up my work and calls me then I am not on the system getting it done. I have told them I had been approved for time off, but the MTSO didn't schedule anyone to cover for me and I am told to get on work, vacation or no, if I want to keep my job.
Thus, I work 24/7/365 and have for years. I work sick, I work when I am in pain (I have an AI disorder), I work exhausted from staying up all night covering for others who are allowed to call in sick and have vacations when I can't have either. I work having no health insurance and not being able to afford the $125 a month to buy some with a high copay so I can see a doctor. I work without breaks for breakfast, lunch or dinner and I sometimes come close to having an accident because if I leave my desk to go to the little girls' room I get nasty calls about where I am at and what I am doing.
Many MTs are mistreated, and I am one of them.
Tell him you'll give him your macros if he'll give you his Lexus, his ski cabin, and (nm)
;p
Control. I'll still get OT though. And you'll
still sit and complain!
I'll join you on that one, I'll be 58
@@@@
Answer
Yes, of course I'm half afraid if I leave him I won't find someone else and half afraid that I will!! I'm old enough and had enough good and bad times with men that I really don't think it would be the end of the world if I lived the rest of my life alone. It's maybe what I would not choose but it might have some positives in the long run. At least that's what I tell myself when I'm feeling good, during the middle of the night is another story....
Break-ups are tough. How do you stay on course. You get lonely, you miss him, you doubt your judgment, you want to try again, you tell yourself maybe you were too hard on him......
I think I should go to a counselor, it's just that it's quite expensive and as I said, I'll be paying for it out of pocket. I think they will tell me pretty much what you have.
It sounds like things have worked out for you. I thank you for your insight and help.
Answer
The payperiod I average 16,000 lines is a bimonthly payperiod. It runs 1st through the 15th and 16th through end of the month. It is WAY more than the minimum requirement. I am EXPECTED (with that employer) to do a minimum of 6000 lines per payperiod but the incentive is just too good to pass up.
See my post below if you want to know more. Or ask me. I'm not hiding anything. I'll tell you straight up what works for me.
Yea.. I used to think that. Now, for me, the answer is, no.
but again, you should go for it. You might love the challenge and have a really great team that will help you not have to roast over the flames. Its always possible!
Godspeed my friend, do it if you want to. It really might be the best thing you ever did! Or not, but either way, you will know for sure!
I can only answer for myself. sm
I never applied for a supervisor's job. When the super quit because of stress I was asked (no begged) to take the job (in the office) until a qualified supervisor could be hired. Time dragged on until I finally had to say either a supervisor was hired in 2 weeks or I would be quitting in two weeks. I never enjoyed being "the boss," don't know why...I just didn't. Another thing.....I abolutely HATE being told lies. I was told by an MT that she couldn't cover her 3rd shift assignment (guess who did cover it) because her grandmother had died...that was the 6th time AFTER I started counting, no telling how many grandmother's she had all told. I guess some people enjoy being the boss for one reason or another.
my first answer is, of course, neither but (sm)
if I HAD to choose, I guess I'd say A...rather give it to some poor children than some rich b****. 
a better answer would have been
leaving off the "jerk" comment, and recommend that people contact the MQ office they are affiliated with to see what that particular office wants them to do.
Anyone doing DQS...please answer this for me.
When I need to enter a NEW HEADING, I type it in, then it brings up a new box that says "type in new heading"...I finish typing it, hit OK or whatever, and it puts the new heading in my report.
BUT...it doesn't KEEP The new heading! ARG! It stays on the drop down list of headings for THAT REPORT ONLY but then when I do a new report, the new heading never shows up.
What am I doing wrong? Help!! 
answer
I don't quite understand what you mean by the style they prefer, I worked there 4+ years, it is either feast or famine, not a very honest bunch. You can make money for short periods of time until they over hire and run the account out of work and make promises to you they won't keep. They don't have very good communication and rarely return calls or emails. Their platform is not too bad, seen better, but easy to use. I would like clarification though by what you mean by the style they prefer?
the answer is
New blood who don't ask for much, job a low line rate and glad to have a job. They don't see that the experienced workers will soon all be gone.
Got my answer!!!
I have been asking for months, "WHERE ARE ALL THE DOCTORS I CAN UNDERSTAND, I CAN'T MAKE MINIMUM LINE COUNT ANY MORE". I do not do ASR but my account is on it and I have been screaming for months that I can't even use my expansions anymore, that I have used for years. They are going to hear from me again. They respond to me like I am crazy, well I know now that they know why!!!
THANKS!!!
Well, what is your answer, I'm
Where did O'Reilly get his stats?
HOUSEHOLD INCOME DOWN, POVERTY UP:
MORE THAN 1 MILLION FELL OF MIDDLE CLASS IN 2004
Before President Bush took office, under Democratic leadership, income was on the rise, jobs were expanding, and the economy was booming. Today, the Census Bureau announced that real household income has decreased in 2004, falling for the fourth consecutive year. Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, household income has declined nearly $1,700. Over 1.1 million people fell out of the middle class into poverty in 2004, an increase of 5.4 million people living in poverty since Bush took office. Despite this, Republicans still have no plan to help struggling middle class families. Democrats are fighting to create jobs and keep good paying jobs here at home.
HOUSEHOLD INCOME DROPPED SINCE BUSH TOOK OFFICE
Household Income Declined by Nearly $1,700 Under Bush. For the second consecutive year, median household income declined: income dropped last year by $93 -- down to $44,389. In real terms, median household income has declined by $1,669 since 2000. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table A-1]
African Americans And Latino Household Incomes Have Declined by More Than $2,000 Under Bush. Real median household income did not increase between 2003 and 2004 for African Americans and Latinos. African American households had the lowest median income, at $30,134--down by $2,273 since Bush took office. Median income for Hispanic households was $34,241 in 2004--down by $2,141 since Bush took office. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table A-1]
Average Earnings by Women Declined by About $330 in Real Dollars During the Past Year. The median earnings of women declined over the past year, from $31,550 to $31,223. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table A-2]
1.1 MILLION PEOPLE FELL OUT OF THE
MIDDLE CLASS AND INTO POVERTY IN 2004
Number of People Living in Poverty Increased by 1.1 Million in 2004. Approximately 1.1 million people fell out of the middle class into poverty in 2004, an increase of 5.4 million people living in poverty since Bush took office in 2001. The poverty rate has increased from 12.5 to 12.7 percent over the past year, increasing for the fourth consecutive year. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table B-1]
Nearly 1 in 5 American Children Lived in Poverty During 2004. 13 million children lived in poverty in 2004, an increase of about 1.4 million since the beginning of the Bush Administration. This comes on the heels of a 730,000 increase in the number of children living in poverty in 2003. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table B-2 ]
Disproportionately High Number of African Americans and Latinos Live in Poverty. Nearly 25 percent of all African Americans (9 million) lived in poverty in 2004, an increase of over 250,000 over the past two years. Nearly 22 percent (9.1 million) of Latinos lived in poverty, an increase of almost 500,000 over the past two years. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table 3]
1.9 Million More Americans Enrolled in Medicaid in 2004. As 1.1 million Americans dropped out of the middle class and into poverty in 2004, the enrollment rate in Medicaid increased from 12.4 percent of the population in 2003 to 12.9 percent in 2004. Without the safety net of Medicaid and SCHIP for people who dropped into poverty, the health insurance numbers would be even worse. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05, page 16 ]
NEARLY 46 MILLION AMERICANS LACK HEALTH INSURANCE: NUMBER OF UNINSURED INCREASED BY SIX MILLION SINCE 2001
Today, the Census Bureau announced that the number of people without health insurance nationwide increased to 45.8 million, the fourth consecutive annual increase. A total of 800,000 Americans became uninsured last year - many because fewer employers offer health insurance to their workers. As a consequence, American families are paying higher and higher health insurance premium - which are expected to double under Bush's tenure by 2006. Yet, Bush and Congressional Republicans lack a real plan to address the problem.
ONE IN 7 AMERICANS LACK HEALTH INSURANCE
Nearly 46 Million Americans Are Uninsured--Increasing for the Fourth Year in a Row. The number of Americans lacking health insurance increased by 800,000 last year--and by 6 million since Bush took office in 2001. Today, a total of 45.8 million people are uninsured--roughly one in seven Americans. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table HI-4]
Answer
No, I don't work for that office. Mine is out of Baltimore and I have to admit that I have really really liked most of the folks I have had contact with. My current supervisor is wonderful!!! Pretty much always have lots of work available. My only complaint is my secondary account is not so hot (but LOVE my primary) and have never had a raise in 8 years (hmmmph), but other than that I'm quite happy.
We have a cabin up north where DSL is not available, only dial-up, so I work on a laptop and take it with me when we go up there. Very nice.
Answer
Yes, obviously if I am to purchase a home, all the expenses that come with home ownership are coming out of my income alone. I do not pay anything currently except the phone bill, some groceries, ins for car, and gas, and I have lots extra that I spend frivously that obviously needs to stop.
answer to ?
What type of exam, nuclear medicine or US?
My answer
I have heard a doctor say this like "subsonometer" and it is just the way they talk and they mean subcentimeter. This is what I have experienced anyways.
Here is the answer.
Where you have to fill in all of these numbers before you can even start typing.
Answer (SM)
I am not the only Moderator. I'm not sure why your "apology" post was deleted.
If a post is deleted and there are replies attached to it, all are deleted. We cannot stop attached posts from being deleted.
Moderator
Answer me this...
Does your mortgage company - the telephone company - the phone company - the cable company, etc. discount your bill if you pay on time or do they add a late fee if they don't receive your payment on time?
I don't agree you should reward a company to do something they should normally do - something that's considered a basic in good business - paying on time. 
Answer (SM)
It will be best if you e-mail the Administrator directly; she can help you with the chat problem. Her e-mail is admin@mtstars.com.
Moderator
Answer...
These earphones do reduce a lot of the noise and seem to bring the doc's voice into focus. They'd be worth a shot I bet. I paid $50 at Transcription Gear. They have a 30 day money back guarantee. Good luck!
Answer : )
No, you don't. It is all run through your internet connection. You have to have either a cable or DSL internet connection in order to use it.
Boy oh boy, can I answer this one.
I am currently researching keyboards, too. I got an Ergo Flex something. It was three separate units mounted on a metal base. I THOUGHT I would be able to take units off base and put back on if I wanted but once those things are off, they are off for good. It didn't matter though. I had my brother rig up a dowel for each arm chair and then fix the keyboard pieces onto those dowels. Then I ace wrapped dowels to arms ( and that was much steadier than I expected) and off I went. The problem was the units were fixed on the end of the dowels and they need to be on a swivel of some sort to allow for fine tuning the positioning. Also, the units are a faily smallish keyboard, smaller than what I am using and that was an issue. I also found that kicked back in the chair and comfy, I was almost too comfy. It seemed to slow me down. True, all of these things alone wiill slow you down, but I think even with practice, I wouldn't be as fast. I finally put them away as it was taking up alot of time and line count.
Now for the second issue. As far as keyboards that separate completely or are connected at the top. If you have a bit of a protruberant belly (as my doctor so gently puts it, lol) as I do, the kind that separate completely would be better. Also, I think being able to have the units at shoulder width would be better. I am currently using a Gold Touch which I love because it does separate an okay amount for me and like that it tents up, keeping my hands in a more neutral, hand-shake position. I think a big comfort issue is having your hands in a hand-shake position as opposed to having to turn them flat down as for a flat keyboard.
answer...sm
Yes, I actually nursed my baby while typing...I just latched him on (he was a small infant at the time) and held him in my lap while I typed. It's really not that hard once you get the baby latched on and in a comfy position for you both. This was 7 years ago and thank goodness, no more of that! But, I did what I had to do to nurse my son and also make money! 
Your answer sm
Thanks for answering my post. This is the first time I had the guts to tell anyone my story. I was worried I would talk someone out of a mastectomy who needed one but I think it's important to "question" and get other opinions. I hope I am doing the right thing. I think I am by at least promoting the fact that we do have "choices" and we should utilize them. I do hope those who can't afford a mammogram will use all the resources they have to push for the "right" to have one. I sure hope that day comes for everyone, instead of waiting until it's too late. Thanks for your kind words. Sometimes this board can be "unforgiving" and I really don't need or want that kind of feedback. Just sharing my story. Hope it helps someone one day.
ah, that is your answer then
It is definitely a compatibility issue where ST is not "handshaking" properly with Word. Even if you use Word independently of ExText but have ExText on your computer, it can cause compatibility issues. You may need to get ShortHand and pull all your abbreviations over into it.
I know you probably won't want to answer this, but
could you let me know the company you are with? Thanks if you do.
Answer
Two reasons:
1. We have an Equipment board and Technical board for these types of posts.
2. The thread was instigating the promotion of competitive websites.
If you leave a Reply By E-Mail option available and I am removing your post, I will e-mail you why.
Goldbird
That was the best answer...
in response to this whole section that I have seen. I don't think it could have possibly been said better. Best of luck to you and your family
Thanks for the answer, but....
Even you see two possible boards. Isn't this some indication that there are so many ill-defined boards that it is easy to be confused. Virtually every question that is not general would have to be technical, and what is general vs. main? Isn't software equipment? If not, why not call the forum hardware? Couldn't put my question there. That's three possibilities. I could go on, but the point is too obvious.
It seems to me there should be a more polite response than just deleting a post so arbitrarily.
answer
I don't know if it is steel mesh, but it is a mesh, that has not sagged over the 7 years I have used it. I bought mine off ebay sight unsean for about $400 cheaper. I did go to a store though looking for an office chair originally and of course they had the aeron at the front of the store and I tried it out, big mistage, as no other chair in the store compared, that is when I looked for it on Ebay and bought it that way. I can't say enough good about this chair, I really don't think you will be making a mistake to get one any way you can. Good luck.
I appreciate your answer. NM
Thanks
Do you know answer, please. nm
x
Here is your answer....
If transcription is sent to the Phillippines (and yes it goes there too) at 6 cents/line (which is what I was quoted to have them do my work - though I won't send it to them - I was just curious about what they charge), and they have 3-tiers of editing; as an MTSO I get 12 cents/line, I would stand to profit 6 cents/line. Compare that rate to the rate MTs expect to get of 10-11 cents/line, and there is your answer. No matter who does the work (US versus offshore) MTSOs still need to have editing, right? So why not pay for the line rate as cheap as you can since the work has to be edited whether US or offshore MTs transcribe it? As a small MTSO, all the editing is done by me as nothing gets to my client without going through me first, so there would be my profit. I think these companies also truly believe that eventually India and Philippines will get MT down...makes you wonder, huh? Large Nationals are probably only having to pay 3-4 cents/line for offshore work, and they pay editors 3-4 cents/line, and suppose they are making at least 12 cents/line on their accounts (I expect they get more than that though), there is still a profit for them of 4-6 cents/line. It is a heck of a lot cheaper for them to outsource offshore than to pay US MTs 9-10-11 cents/line which is what we are worth, right?
YOUR ANSWER
Dear Unhappy Camper,
If you will email me at my email address, dove003@comcast.net, I would like to tell you the solution to your problem.
First, please, can you tell me what part of the USA you live in?
Linda ');>![](https://forum.mtstars.com/smileys/smile.gif")
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