Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I agree. And in addition to not making much

Posted By: difference moneywise, (S/M) on 2009-05-07
In Reply to: Don't Bother - typin happy

who has the TIME to pursue all that studying, class-and test-taking, and meeting-attending? I sure don't! As it is, I spend way too much time at this job, scrambling to make enough lines at low pay to pay my bills.

And I've never been much of a 'studier', either. (I'm more of a 'doer'). Which is why learning from books has never been that beneficial to me - it's too much information all at once, most of which I won't use within a short enough period of time that I'll remember what I learned. (AKA: 'use it or lose it'). However, I learn every day on the job, and that knowledge is more likely to stick, because I'm actively using that piece of information on the report or account I'm working on at the time.

You're right about AHDI not being for American MTs. It's all about making the big bucks.... for THEMSELVES! And when has their 'success' in business ever trickled down to the MT? How about NEVER?

If nothing else, the CMT requirement that some MTSO's have, or their affiliation with AHDI, are good reasons to avoid working for those companies. If an employer is in bed with AHDI, chances are their MT's are never going to see anything but higher workloads and ever-declining pay, not to mention speech recognition editing, and bottom-of-the-barrel ESL trancription jobs. Think of the large, more successful MTSO's we all know and work for. How many of them have passed rewards down to their MT's after having a successful business year? No, instead they hire MORE management, or give current management more money, or go out and buy themselves a small MT company. The workers never come out ahead.

'Back in the day', I once worked on-site for a couple of great small MT companies who gave cash bonuses to top producers each month, and when they had a good business year (which was usually always, back then), the MTs got such unheard-of things as BONUSES, and even RAISES! Imagine that!




Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

Agree completely.....money making scheme....
xx
sure i was. i'm making fun of the people who are making a case for background checks, etc
to do medical transcription at home as if they may do something AWFUL with the info they receive. So if you want an invasion of privacy let's REALLY invade it and make sure fat chicks don't transcribe because they are so busy eating they can't get the work done, they mess up the keyboard with food and if they are provided health insurance they will raise the rates for the company sky high because their health risks are higher than others. Then there are the psychological issues overweight people bring to the table. After we eliminate fat people, we can go on to eliminate diabetic people who may have low blood sugar while typing and go into a spell and type the wrong thing. I could go on and on through the process of elimination. How about prescribed medications that may cloud your thinking? So you take Ambien to sleep but you have an Ambien groggy hangover when you are transcribing? Should they transcribe. How about your teens are on your last nerves and you take a Xanax? Should you be allowed to transcribe?
RE: Addition
Just added onto my house (my office) and did some remodeling throughout the whole house.  Just hired construction company and told them what I wanted.  I live in a small town though, may be different than where you are.  Not so many codes and all.
Yes, I have even seen it q1h prn in addition
to qid for rescue relief.
d~
In addition,
As far as costs, you would have the initial cost of the C-phone if the company does not provide it (check Ebay, also sometimes used ones on the classified board here) and the monthly cost of the unlimited long distance.

If you only have one phone line at home, this will tie up your line as busy while you are working, so depending on your situation you might want to add additional phone line (although if you have a cell phone, this wouldn't be necessary)

Can't help much regarding the unlimited long distance, but I believe it runs from $25-50 per month. Be careful though on choosing your plan and make sure it is truly unlimited (some have limits even though they are called unlimited). I have seen some horror stories on this board about people getting huge bills for hundreds of dollars when the companies found out they were using the plan for working. If you post a question specifically regarding unlimited long distance, maybe some others can give some input as to what companies are good for this, ones to avoid, etc.
In addition
You should be able to toggle between windows (the one you are working in and Goolgle) by using alt-tab. If you have several open, just hold alt down and keep clicking tab until you get to the window you want. :)
in process of new addition
VINYL/congolium (spelling?) all the way. We had ceramic tile and it was a light color, stains, slippy but most of all COLD. We love the congolium flooring (nice vinyl) we put in and are doing it on our new addition.
In addition to posts below,
read the Word Board here.  You can learn what MTs hear and what the actual words are.  There are other word boards but am not allowed to post the sites.  Google to find others.  And keep applying to anywhere and everywhere that will let you test. 
in addition to prev ?
what if they dictate one med as per day and the next one daily?  What is the correct way to do this?
Speaking of remodeling, has anyone ever done an addition?
We'll be adding 350 square feet to our home and moving some interior walls around.  I was looking at some of the home design computer software on eBay because I can't figure out what I want to do with the kitchen and entryway.  Anybody have experience with doing this kind of project yourself?  We do have pros to do estimates, give advice and finish the hard stuff, but I don't want to mess this up.  Any thoughts?
MT in addition to other health care job?

I know that there are MTs out there that are MTs along with another HC job, but have never heard anything specific.


I am about to start MT school but in about 2-3 years the opportunity for me to go to school to become an RRT will present itself (it might not again for another 5 yrs past that point).  It (being an RRT) is something I have wanted to do for a while, but only as PRN or part time work because of the shifts, the ages of my kids and my dh's work schedule (out of town a lot and weird hours).  Because of that, I figure I could work as an IC (obviously 20hrs/wk or less) during RRT school and nights and weekends when I am not at my RRT job. We move every couple of years and IC work (for a national at home) could also serve as a steady income source while I find another RRT position (which could conceivably take a while considering my limitations regarding work hours outside my home). 


Since I obviously do neither job right now, I don't know how realistic my expectations of this are.  Does anyone juggle these two jobs?  I know its most likely nurses that do this, but I welcome anyone's comments.


I definitely plan on going to MT school, because its available now, the work will be there, and being an MT is an excellent fit for me. Just trying to plan ahead - I know dh will want to know if I am giving up plans to go to RRT school because of this.


Thanks.


They should definitely ask. I have a lap top in addition to my work computer and it is for the..sm
kids and anyone else who wants to use my computer.  I'm not saying I'd never let anyone use my computer, but I'd have to trust them because this is my livelihood.
In addition, we have queued the ad to be removed
but it usually takes a few days for it to remove. 
ADDITION TO PREV. POST

I forgot to mention that the company does not pay footers and headers so I was told to use the number 24" instead of 26 and multiply that by the number of reports i do in a day; 24 is the number they use because they say 24 lines is the number of average lines for the reports I do, which is Urgent Care.  We use Dictaphone ExText and we used to be able to look at our "statistics" for the day now when I try to access that feature it says " You do not have access to this feature."  Any comments or opinions would be appreciated.  I smell something fishy here.


trying to run scandisk on ME addition. It keeps restarting. sm
A message pops up that says "ScanDisk has restarted 10 times because Windows or another program has been writing to this drive.  Quitting some program may enable Scandisk to finish sooner." I do not have any other windows opened. I vaguely remember before having to go in and turn stuff off that is running in the background (this is an older computer I have not used in awhile) in order to get the scandisk run without it restarting. I cannot remember how to do this. Any ideas?
I've heard all of that, in addition
to being sworn at and called every name in the book.  An egotistical neurosurgeon who was famous for throwing his instruments all over the op room and abusing the nurses/techs, decided to spew his venom on the MTs one day.  I gathered everyone around and we all listened and laughed and said what a jack@ss.  Then my boss called the HIM director.  About 2 weeks later Dr. Wonderful was not working there any longer.  I don't think it was just our complaint, but cummulative transgressions by this jerkwad.
In addition to your credit card receipt you should

get a printout of your payment and if they don't offer it, ask for it.   Be sure to check right away that they are showing you paid and if you have a receipt your payment was put in the system, which should eliminate this issue in the future. 


Billing an insurance company will give the insurance company a good laugh and will probably create further problems. 


Well that stinks, my vet just built an addition onto the "house" she was using - sm
It is now basically 2 houses connected with a wide hallway. She has 1 partner, who she has had for the last few years, and has not changed her services/prices at all. She now does have a $25 visit fee but you only have to pay it once a year, if you are regular customer she won't charge you for it everytime you come in. She does not charge for putting an pet to sleep either, as long as you are a regular (She knows us pretty well, I was there a lot with my old dog). She is very helpful to me, recently boarded our 16-y/o schipperke though she has not had her shots this year (my normal kennel would not take her since she was not current on her shots -- was due in 9/05) but as she is on her last legs I see no point in getting her vaccines. The dog is deaf and blind, having kidney failure very slowly but seems happy and my DH can't bring himself to put her to sleep yet. Our vet agrees with us on this point too.
I would like to know the answer to that question also, in addition to attempting to
comprehend the madness behind the motives of some posters who feel it is more therapeutic to mock than become masters of medical transcription.  The latter is the purposes........Isn' it??!!!
the Valium in addition to lowering the Oxycontin as I stated
in my prior email. The Oxy is what you want to wean slowly 1/2 tab a day until the last few days do it 2 days in a row, then 1 day in a row, then every other day, then every 3rd day, then off. That is a little clearer and it does work and you won't have any side effects at all with the 2.5 mg or 5 mg of Valium once or twice a day. Then get yourself off the Valium the same way but you would not have been on it too long to just go off, but always best to wean.
In addition to "port" settings, also try different ports or USB connections sm
on your computer. Mine would not work in the USB plugs in the front of my PC. Mine also would not work on laptop if I was going through a USB adapter to allow more USB outlets. I had to plug it directly into a USB port on the laptop. Mess around with it, updating your settings and doing the wizard each time. Also, reboot and see if it works. If not, try another port/setting.
In addition to the Soft Flex gloves I recommend...sm
an ergonomic keyboard (the old Microsoft Elite PS-2 is my favorite and I have three stockpiled); but, the thing that has made the most difference for me has been typing with my keyboard in my lap. I have rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthitis in my hands, as well as CTS. Transcribing with my keyboard in my lap has been a miracle for me.
In addition to maintaining a certain level of production, my service - sm
also requires that we stay below a certain percentage of reports that are sent to QA, and if we go above that percentage we lose our benefits eligibility.

On the surface, that seems reasonable. However, our service has a no-blank policy, for one, which means that ANY blank in any report is automatically routed to QA, no matter the reason. They also come up with all sorts of other reasons that we should route things through QA, the majority of which are out of the control of a competent MT, and those are counted against us, too.

So, essentially, we're penalized for errors and omissions made by others.

Isn't that special?
She probably cares because as long as she is on 100% QA, she is receiving a lower wage, in addition
to holding up her eligibility for benefits (if she is entitled to them).
welcome; i printed it out and have it hanging beside my desk. current AAMT BOS, electronic addition
:
Keep busy out of the house in addition to your job. Volunteer. Take a class. Walk a dog. Be open
s
You realize by doing that they're making more money & you're making less? You should reconsid

Agree, agree, agree! Just listen to Benny Hinn..

he speaks perfect English, especially when asking for money!  Also, in my opinion, blanks should be left in the doc's dictation if not able to be transcribed, maybe then they will know that are NOT understood.  With QA fixing them, what need is there for them to care if we understand them or not? 


making up.....

I suggest you have your father read my post and explain it to you.  Apparently you have poor comprehension skills.  Talk about ignorance.


My point was NEW immigrants who come here not to become American.  Obviously, this is not apply to all NEW immigrants, because as we know, many of them bust their butts to become American in every way including service in the military.  My point was that so many of the NEW immigrants, meaning those from the last 25-30 years, come with different aspirations than previous groups.  This is documented by social scientists who have been studying this very point for a couple of decades.  Look up some articles in any journal of American sociology or political science and you will find research on this subject.  


 I am perfectly aware of New Spain and New France and even that Russia once owned parts what is now Washington state and Oregon.  Do the people in Northwest US demand to have legal papers printed in Russian because 400 years ago, Russia settled that land?   Are you aware of the language controversy in Quebec, Canada?  We don't need that in this country and having English as our accepted common language has helped prevent some of the fighting and death that results from people coming to blows over language.  Language is the root of "the Troubles" as the Irish call their 100 years of conflict with England.  England passed a law making English the official language and forbad Gaelic in public places, including schools.  Look how that has worked for them.   In the U.S., it has worked because it has been understood as a custom and new immigrants were proud to learn English, because it was a mark of American citizenship.


You need a history lesson - New Spain was SOLD to the U.S. government  and New France was sold to the U.S. government by their respective kings because France and Spain needed money to finance their wars with each other.   So, Spain left voluntarily.


BTW, my brother wrote my parents in English during WWII and his letters were confiscated - is there a group that will protest such actions again Irish-German Americans? 


Wnat to see what ignorace looks like?  Got a mirror?


I am making......
17.00 per hour with a home-based hospital job (you have to be local to the hospita) PLUS a generous incentive with a "quite easy to attain" minimum line count and then 8 cents a line after the minimum is met.  Plus I have all the benefits of being an employee (which I am) including paid vacation and benefits.  I've been the national route and I didn't find any of them to be paying well, plus I was always running out of work.  We are swamped all the time and NEVER run out at the hospital.  If we do run out, which has never happened, we can go into the department and shred paper or something.  I wish more hospitals would go back to having a department.  That's where you'll find your dignity IMHO.
You were making LESS than THIS????

unless u r making $25/hr

not impressed one bit


you can make $12.50 an hour being a secretary and be dumb as


dirt.


you can make $12.50 an hour doing data entry and not know one


word of medicine or the other junk we have to know and be responsible


for and get grief from QA about.


you can make $12.50 an hour doing a lot of things and not have to


put up with the junk MTs are having to put up with now.


 


IT is making me
My eyes keep moving up, down, up, down. I'm getting a headache. How long does it take to adjust to this?
No, making way more. nm
x
Making more now
I worked for a hospital for 5 years and then we moved... tried another national who didn't pay much, and then started with OSi and am making more than I ever have (including 25 years of secretarial work)! I've read so many negative posts here about OSi, but I think those who have complaints tend to voice them more than those who don't. I'm very happy with them as far as money, schedule, and flexibility. I know from reading previous posts that many will assume I'm part of management just trying to give them a plug. No, I'm not part of OSi management. Just a very happy transcriptionist.
Men Making More LOL
That is because they choose wisely and don't accept just anything. I am female and quite often make more than most women. Having been in the MT business for only 3-4 yrs I am constantly amazed at the rates offered and accepted, and the lack of understanding at the complexity and enormity of education required to do this job. When someone offers me a low salary I tell them what I think of it and just go on to the next company. I have always known why there aren't a lot of men in MT work - the salary. In places where typing pays decent $$$ there are tons and tons of men.
making the big $$$
I was actually referring to the above posts that state they are making $50 to $60K per year.
Making $100,000/yr?
Is that really possible without having your own service?
ya know, when I'm making

70k a year, I can have the 850 square foot bedroom if I want. In fact, my home is a mere 2200 square foot, on 5 acres in the country, only worth $450,000 but I paid off the mortgage in full in 7 years, by- yep, you guessed it-- working my MTSO.  I have no debts. I own 4 cars. I have money stuffed in my 401k. The point was made in an earlier post by our beloved Patti, who chooses to live in 1000 square feet - and also put 15K in her retirement account and takes home 50K. When Patti mentioned her home was 1000 square feet, some ignorant troll said  (now say this in a high falsetto) "shocked! my bedroom is 850 square feet! How can you possibly live in only 1000 square feet."  Jealous, no. Anyone who wants to own, maintain, clean their 850 square foot bedroom can be my guest. Me - I go for a little smaller but still nice, with more freedom and lifestyle. That's why I put in my 5-10 hours a week running my service while you're working full time. LOL!


What we SHOULD be making, and what most of us ARE making (sm)
are two different things. We SHOULD be getting from 12-18 cents per line. In reality, most of us are somewhere between 7 and 9 cents a line.
I'm making nowhere near that much
I'm either working for the wrong companies or am really slow, my best is 200 lines an hour, which translates to at best 18 bucks an hour, Wish I was faster I guess
What I would like to know..... IF they are indeed making that much then.... sm
how are they doing it? VR? Would love to know the secret. Those of you claiming to make a ton of money, please do share how you do it. Have been doing this for 15+ years and I am seeing a quick decline in pay and seeing these companies getting away with making the lines harder to get with how they calculate them. This profession quickly going downhill.
More than what she is making, I'm sure.
x
If you are making 9.5....

I would ask for at least 11.  If you have been there that long, why not?  I always ask for more than i really want cause you can negotiate.  If you end up with 10.5 that is still a good rate. 


For ESL's I want 11, but I don't get snippy if i have some here and there.  I do one now exclusively and he can be a big pain but i can understand him fine and ESLs are great for making normals because in my experience they repeat A LOT. 


The going rates around here seems to be 8 cpl with many companies...you are doing good at what you have but there is nothing wrong with levering your experience and services for more money.  You have proven yourself already to these people.  If they turn you down you can start looking elsewhere but only do so if you are taking a step up. 


 


I was making 16/hr when i was QA n/m
x
Making changes

Alright folks let's move this off the word help board because it's become a different discussion.  First of all, I personally believe that we should type what doctors say, everything they say and not change a thing.  So if they say Synthroid 100 mg, leave it.  If they say There was changes.  Leave it.  However, our companies and many hospitals don't agree. 


If you were to try to get a job editing books at a publlishing house you would need a degree in English and you'd get paid a whole heck of a lot more than we do.  But we do the same job, fixing the English of doctors, having perfect punctuation, correcting verb tenses.  Not to mention the medical side, knowing all the drug dosages, correct lab values (yeah we get marked off for those too).  I love it when I have to leave something blank like I just did "H&H 13/4/38"  ???


IMHO we don't get paid enough to do all we have to do.  We are not just typists.  My friend is a nurse and when I told her everything we have to know she told me we could all be nurses!  This is because I carried on a conversation with her about cardiac cath, CABG and people who have IV dye allergies and the compliance issues with Mucomyst.  She was shocked.


We get no respect from many doctors.  I actually had a PCP that I went to when I was sick say that because I was an MT I knew too much about medicine in a really condescending voice.  Had another say then what do you suggest when he tried to tell me he'd done all the possible tests.  Corrected another to his face. 


So call me whatever you want but if I hear the doctor say something that is inappropriate in the same manner that Potassium 132 is inappropriate or Synthroid 100 mg is inappropriate, I'm going to leave a blank.  Maybe the doctor is mad or frustrated but the medical record is a legal document that the patient can get access to anytime they want.  So when the doctor calls a patient a land whale or says she's f-ing pregnant again or is a retard or is an SOB (and I don't mean short of breath), IMO I am covering their butt by giving them a chance to rethink what they say before they put it in a legal document.


VR and making only 10.00 a day!
No work this entire week at Sten-Tel.  What is up?  A job here and there but that is VR and I am making like 10.00 a day...this is total bullcrap.  So glad I am training for a new company starting tomorrow. 
Well you could have put down what you are making???? - sm
But with that said I do $375 to $450 a week.
I will say what I'm making

I make close to 3,000 dollars a month typing....I'm not sure if anyone thinks that's a lot, but I feel very fortunate to be making this kind of money.  I have been doing this for a little over 20 years.


I hope this helps!


It is entirely possible to be making that
much money. I make close to 50K, but also work FT and as an IC at another facility, and luckily I work for 2 companies that actually appreciate their employees and pay a decent cpl.
I am currently making
about 52K, but I work 50+ hours a week.