I've been thinking of getting my own accts but

• Own accounts - Patti
  • I've been thinking of getting my own accts but - honey
  • Very Helpful - LinK
    • Thank you - Patti
      • don't count on raising rates yearly as an MTSO. - that's a great way to lose accts...
        • I wouldn't raise rates either...sm - MTSO also
        • see message - Patti

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I know you must be really conflicted but I really wouldn't be confrontive towards her (your mileage may vary).  If you get confrontive, you just validate the continuation of the issue and help to keep it going.  It is HER issue to be friends with that person, not yours.  You say your marriage is the strongest that it has ever been.   If that is so, then I hope you can share your feelings of betrayal with your husband.  See, if you confront her, you are going to be pushing for HIM or HER to take sides and maybe he needs your strength to find his feet and be able to pull towards you instead of towards her.  I have always thought that in laws (and own family, actually) should only know a limited amount about your personsal relationship with your spose for this very reason.  They feel they need to fix it and with all her "advice" it sounds like she was maybe trying to fix your faults and blame you for making your husband want to stray.

Take away her power over your relationship.  Work it out with your husband.  It wasn't until I got to the point where I really did not care AT ALL what my MIL thought about me that she started respecting me and treating me better (still didn't stop her from gossiping behind my back!); however, when she tried to give advice, I would cut her off at the knees and refuse to be a part in it.  When she tried to manipulate, I suddenly found things to end the conversation, leave, get off the phone, ask if she needed help with cleaning her bathroom with my nose curled up, whatever it took to send the message I had no interest in giving her any power over me.  Sometimes she wouldn't talk to me for 2 or 3 months at a time, and those were blessed months  

Walk off that anger, clean out the bathrooms and talk WITH your spouse.

There is a big difference between old-timers and newbies.

Those of us who have been doing this for a while got into the field because the work interested us and matched our natural skill (grammar nerds and liked to type and naturally curious and would research stuff in big medical books just because we were intrigued) set well.

It seems like the newbs get into this TO WORK FROM HOME.  Doesn't matter what the work is, they just want to work from home.  I hear newbs say things like, "I don't like English," or "I'm not good at punctuation." (!!)  This is the job, people!!

I actually knew a woman who was going back to school to be an MT.  She was deaf (literally--had bilateral hearing aids), had a back injury that made it so she wouldn't be able to sit for long periods, and couldn't string together a sentence on paper if her life depended on it.  What are these people thinking??!!  Mercifully, she dropped out after receiving marks in the 30s and 40s on her first several tests.

I've only been in this biz for about 13 years, but now that my last one is off to school, I'm also thinking about a career change.  I live in a very rural area as well, so I understand completely what you mean about people thinking $8 an hour is a good wage. 

One thing I'd like to suggest is looking into a state job.  We have 2 state prisons in my area (about a 20-minute commute) and both hire medical transcriptionists as well as medical records personnel.  These jobs generally start out at about $12 to $15 an hour plus state benefits, which in my state are the best bennies anywhere.  The jobs that require coding certification pay even more.  I would highly recommend that you look on the internet for state civil service jobs in your state.  You'd be surprised at the opportunities in the medical field. 

I'm considering this option myself but want to wait until next fall, after I have the summer to spend with my kids (and so I don't start out "in the hole" because of babysitting expenses) and to have time to look into getting my coding cert.  I graduated from a business school with an Associate's in medical secretarial and did a lot of coding prior to working from home.  I used to do billing for a very large rehab facility, so I don't think it will be too hard to brush up on my skills.

Anyway, good luck and let me know if this (a state job) pans out for you.  Most people have no idea these kinds of jobs are even out there (I didn't).

The work has dried up.   Again I won't make a full paycheck.  Others are saying the same thing.  I think you may be right.  Especially if you are an employee.  But wasn't that their plan from the start?

I can't imagine what this package is they are sending out. 

Unless they are going to offer to provide equipment, sufficient work/or a plan to give me lines (like on-call pay) for sitting with nothing to do IN WRITING, and a raise of 5 cents a line, the package will probably go in the round file right here beside me.

I was told not to ask for any other accts, we have to do with what we have for now---that the work is low nationwide for MQ--and here you are telling me that you are getting new accts

Again is this MQ lies--if you have new accts and work--send it to the NE--we need it

Been at it for almost 20 years too.  Lots of templates, shortcuts, etc.  Depends on who I'm transcribing.  With some ESLs I would only make about $7 an hour if I had to do them all day.  My average is right around $17.  With some of my local work (on tapes) my templates are so huge, and I'm so used to what they are going to say, I've made $23.  But that's onlywith certain dictators.  It all varies and some dictators are sooooooo bad, you just lose money.

For example, if I had the $23 dollar an hour guy from my local and then did the $7 ESL from my national and combined 8 hours of work for both, I'm down to $15 an hour.  If I get stupid dicators all day from both sides, sometimes I can only average $12.  I guess it's the luck of the draw, if you know what I mean.

I have been an MT for 8 yrs and have been thinking about getting my own accounts locally.  It would be much more efficient to avoid trips to dr's offices for pick-up/delivery, so my main question is what is a good alternate way to do this?  I have seen email mentioned, but can the work be transferred securely this way...is it emailed as an attachment so that work is done on another platform that has expanders/shortcuts integrated...what platform/program to use??  What equipment do I need...what equipment does the dr need for dictation...do I provide it or does doc?  I have so many questions about the logistics of working this out...detailed info would be greatly appreciated.

What to charge? ....I know this is controversial...was thinking .14 cpl (65 character), 12 font, ? margins.  Recommend higher or lower rate? (region=major city in AZ)

Marketing:  How to introduce service in marketing material...should I include price in the material or just say something like "reasonable" or "competitive"?

I welcome any input you may have, especially on the issue of specifics how to receive/deliver work, platform/equipment needed.

Thanks

I have the need to go out and find some more private accounts. The one I have is too erratic to depend on, and I fear will dry up shortly.

What information should I put in the brochure? Do I just say "experienced" or list the local places I work for and have worked for?

Bright color paper to bring attention to my services or good business quality?

Send to the office or the office manager ?

I have so many questions. Does anyone have any good suggestions, or even samples you might be willing to share with me? I have always gotten work by word of mouth. All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

used DocQscribe, but I have used Meditech, Cerner, Vianeta, the Precyse platform (I can't remember the name), Dolbey, and  Lanier platform I think was called Cequence (?). 

Out of all the different platforms I have typed on, I have liked EXText the best.  In my opinion, it's very user friendly, easy to learn, and I really like ESP which is the built in abbreviation expander.  Plus it is very easy to create your own normals which I love.  My fingers literally never leave the keyboard because there are macro keys for everything.  You can use your mouse if you prefer or learn the function macros.  I love it.  I think I'm more productive on EXText than with any other platform.

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

Thnx,

Rachel

:I