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I agree about the scripted responses.

Posted By: techie MT on 2005-11-02
In Reply to: interesting perspective on outsourcing tech support - Snow Bunny

I won't even call tech support for any hardware or software issues. I go straight to the online technical databases and search until I find the answer.

I'm the unofficial tech support person for my family and friends. Five people have contacted me in the past week with computer issues. I've got two extra computers sitting in my living room right now until I have time to fix them. One has viruses and spyware, and the other needs a bigger hard drive installed and data transferred. Nobody else wants to deal with ESL tech people reading scripts to them. Time to start charging my family and friends! LOL

Offshoring has really driven wages down for technical people. Between that and the market being saturated with too many qualified people competing for too few jobs, that's why I got out.

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interesting perspective on outsourcing tech support - Snow Bunny
- I agree about the scripted responses. - techie MT
- tech support and state of IT in USA - MTness

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It would help--an you may get more responses--sm
if you indicate what the med is used for. check out this site--

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/Uses/0,3915,6355%7CTeargen,00.html

also a Google search could lead you in the right direction, rather than sit and wait for a response here.

Thanks for your responses (sm)
I will probably go ahead and get Shorthand. I know DQS has a built in Expander but it's empty when you first start and that cuts into production time. Today is the first day I'm doing live work (3 jobs only thank goodness) just to keep up on what we were taught in training until the hospitals I do are switched. Wish me luck. I think DQS will be better in the long run as it has some really nice features, it's just I've become spoiled with using the same system for years and years. Change can be very scarry, but if it stimulates my brain and keeps me from getting Alzheimers sooner, hey, I'm all for it. Thanks again.

Thanks so much for your responses
This has really helped me make my decision. I guess I just needed a little shove.

Thanks to all for your responses! nm
nm

I would like to see more responses (SM)
I would like to see more responses and more specifics to this excellent poll. This is a very good idea. I have always wanted to know this information. There are only a few responses here. I see no reason why the responders cannot be more specific about the MTSO company through which they contract. Please let us continue this thread for awhile longer.

Thank you all very much for your responses. sm

And thank you for your condolences as well. She, at this point, has decided not to attend the church ceremony but feels she can deal with a period of time at the visiting hours. This is agreeable to everyone.

Thank you all again.

No, nothing else. I think the responses have said it all.
x

RE QA responses
If that's the tone they use when they give you feedback, IMHO, that's VERY unprofessional. I'd certainly go to whoever heads up the QA department to get answers, and also perhaps to resolve the way you're being communicated with.

thanks for the responses
My contract has agreed upon hours not lines per se. I agreed to work a split schedule between mornings and afternoons in my time zone, no weekends. I have no minimum production or maximum production. I just wanted to be sure that I could say "No" once in awhile without being terminated on the spot. I have years of in hospital experience and also over 6 at home as an employee so I am definitely an asset I don't think they would let go lightly. Its not the owners sending out messages to work the weekends but the girl in charge of managing the daily workload who is sending mass emails to all the MTs asking for more help. I think I'll just start ignoring these when I want to and volunteer when I need the extra cash!

Thanks for all the responses...

Thank you for responding. It is nice to get feedback from other's point of view.

I agree with the poster that said that some large families have entitlement issues, and I think this is what is going on with this mom. My kids don't usually have a problem sharing, but the amount of requests coming from this family is completely out of control.

Just as an update on this, I decided not to talk to this mom about it. I discovered a few very alarming things this weekend, and I may need to contact Child Protective Services. For example, on Sunday she locked the kids outside in the late evening while she went grocery shopping because she didn't want the kids to mess up her house. (Their ages are 12, 10, 8, 7, and 5). The oldest was spending the night at a friends, and the youngest 4 were locked outside. She left at 8:30 pm and didn't get back for over an hour.

The 5-year-old is also running the neighborhood by himself a great deal. Last night, I found him outside after midnight and had to walk him home.

I am also discovering that, although she has food in the house, she is not always feeding the kids. For now, I have decided to keep a journal of what is going on for about a month and decide then if I need to report this.

thank you for all the responses...sm
My hubbie has been through the psychology testing, etc. so that insurance would pay for the operation, plus we did the sit down with the dietician, who showed us exactly what was going on. The program also has monthly support meetings and the doctor has extensive experience in this type of surgery, so we feel very confident in his abilities. It is just a big step and we are just trying to make sure we have checked into everything before we proceed. Thank you again everyone.

Thanks for the responses.
I'm very interested to hear anyone's story. Reply by email if you feel it's too personal a subject for the forum. I am interested in hearing the good, the bad, and the ugly of both the foster system and the private agencies.

I've been reading the adoption websites for tips and such, but I feel like people mostly give the sugar-coated versions once the adoption is done, especially if they're endorsing a particular agency.

I do appreciate the comment about being told you're better off going out of the country. I'm sorry that happened to you, and I've heard that story more than once. It's a shame.

Thanks for the responses...
I really appreciate it--it is a "scary" thing to think about changing platforms!

Thank you for the responses. :O) NM
NM

Thanks for all your responses. sm

It's just that commas, hyphens, paragraphs, etc., are not a matter of choice. There is a right way and a wrong way. I agree with the comment that the doctors don't care. I know that's true or it wouldn't happen so much. I'm certainly no expert, but some of the stuff I proof is just ridiculous. Thanks again for your comments.

Thanks for the responses. sm
Thanks for the responses, and thanks for not flaming me. It's a quandary, isn't it? Sadly, I know it is true that for every MT who has had enough and says, "I'm not working for this rate anymore," there's another MT to take her place--and at a cheap rate. I do want to say though that I am a firm believer in the saying, "You get what you pay for." The nationals might be saving money upfront by hiring "cheap" MTs, but in the end they might not be saving as much as they think. An MT with 15 or 20 years (or more!) of experience is worth her weight in gold.

Something tells me that even though the situation may be grim at times in the MT world, it is not as grim as it appears. I think it behooves the large nationals for MTs to always believe that "the end is near." People in situations that appear desperate will do desperate things.

Stick to your guns and keep trying, and I will do the same. You are all worth your weight in gold, and if you keep going for it, you'll get it! You're a great bunch of people!

I appreciate all the responses. We don't
I usually do about 170 to 175 minutes of dictation a day. I work on operative notes, electrophysiology dictation and all the cardiology reports from our heart care center.

Someone else replied about using expanders. I use those a good deal now.

We are being outsourced. I won't have any choice other than apply with a company of my choice.

I believe I'm an excellent producer but without any real experience in the production scene, I'm just trying to get a feel for what I can expect.

Thanks so much!

Thanks for all the responses
It made me feel better to know that lots of others are on the same page.

Thanks all for your responses ... nm

Thanks for the responses!
I didn't take the job, but I appareciate the input!!

my responses -
My statement of "I know we don't get paid what we are worth" is just that - we should be making more money, but at this point when I have friends that everyday are losing their jobs, getting laid off for weeks at a time, cannot pay their bills, losing their homes, their cars, cannot feed their children properly, I feel very lucky that I am in a job that I can still do all of the above - albeit making less than I feel I should be making.

I know we are heading into uncharted territory with transcription, don't know from day to day what is coming next, but at the same time, I have been doing this now for 18 years and there have been very few of those changes actually occur and I have worked at lots of different places.

I don't know why you are so down on me because I am happy with what I have and wish everybody else would just give up the griping about it all the time. If they are not making the money they want to make, if they are not happy, then they do not have to continue on in this profession - that's my whole point!

Thanks for the responses

I have been jumping around a bit lately trying to find a fit. It seems company has it's pluses but there's one big negative I can't live with. One company paid 9 cents gross lines and mostly templates - sounds like heaven, right? But there was so much red tape you had to go through to get one report done. And an invoice for 2 weeks took 2 hours to complete for a full-time person! That's what I mean about procedural problems.

I'm at a place now that's only 8 cents/65-line but the work is easy. The problem though is very poor sound quality. You just can't seem to win in this field anymore even as an an MTSO because the technological changes keep coming. This is why I left 4.5 years ago - that and burn out. Now I need to make some money but geesh - it's taking me forever each day to make very little. I really think my time in this field has passed but I will continue to work at least through the summer until my kids are back in school so I can go back to school.

I don't mean to be so negative or discouraging - I know this can be an awesome job at certain times in your life. It was for me for a lot of years.

Thank you for the responses.
I may have to bypass this job though. H is against it. He is not telling me what to do, he is just telling me that he is concerned about me being too tired all the time and neglectful to myself. I haven't turned in any paperwork to them yet and they already sent me a computer. I don't know how that is going to sound when I say I changed my mind and I am sending all this back.

Thanks for all your responses-have been IC for 8 yrs and never
paid quarterly taxes, but my refund is getting smaller and smaller and if I don't want to end up paying soon I figure I better start paying quarterly!

We once got 700 responses to an ad for 5 openings. sm
We had three people returning calls (we were small with only 20 MTs at the time).

Sometimes, the only factor is time. Did you try calling again? The squeaky wheel and all that. I think it is a good sign if a company is busy. You probably will have plenty of work!

Yes, and I believe the responses were to throw the bum out
if he gets even the tiniest bit annoying. We also can't forget the comments about having a man support us, not having to work and being told what to do.

Human responses?
?

I appreciate all responses, let me clairfy a bit. sm

My son is 15. He is very intelligent and very popular with his peers that he has been in the same top 10 in the state school system with since he was 5.

He has made honors without any help from the very beginning. He reads it, he knows it and he gets it right. He was adding subtracting and spelling before starting school with no pushing - it just came naturally to him from being read to and having an older sister play school with him. He has won multiple awards for his writing, as well. He was "invited" to test for the the gifted program in 1st grade and horribly failed the requirements because, he later admitted, he didn't want to go to the gifted program. He has no drug or alcohol issues and has never been in trouble with the law.

Bottom line is that he is depressed and suffering from acute anxiety attacks. He has also has health problems which are not major to most, but at his age seem catastrophic. He had major surgery on his left ear a year ago, leaving him deaf in that ear. He has missed a lot of school. He has been seeing a counselor weekly. He is slipping from honors now with 2 high C's, one in Latin and the other in Science.

His birthday was yesterday and, as I was driving him to school, I noticed he was crying. He just cried and cried and was wiping his eyes with his shirtsleeve. I turned around and brought him home. I asked him what was wrong and, in typical 15-year-old fashion he said, "nothing." An hour later, he said, "I need help." I called his family doctor and made an appointment and he has agreed to go on medication if need be. He's just so unhappy. I told him to take a few days off to regroup. He also told me that he doesn't like his counselor but agrees to go to someone else.

I haven't told him that I was thinking about homeschooling and he has never brought it up. He does have a few close friends that homeschool and go to the high school for foreign language classes though and the thought just entered my mind.

That is why I posted the question. If, after he sees the doctor, and we can start on a plan to make him feel better, I might make the suggestion to him. I just needed some information, that is all.

I hope I didn't open a heated debate here.

Thanks

Thanks all for your responses. All help is truly appreciated!
We're just gonna ride it out. It's been 9 hours and he's still going. I did get him to agree to try to nibble a cracker and DH is bring home ginger ale and Gatorade was recommended by the NP, so we'll try that and maybe a popsicle and dry toast. Thanks for all the help. Say a prayer for us as we ride this out and pray I don't get it after him.

National responses
Don't feel bad, I was led to a test site that I wasn't ready to go to, since I was updating my equipment. They also snuck in some crazy anatomy chart and did not specify whether they wanted bone, joint, muscle, etc., and when I got to the end of the written (without transcribing, mind you) they said I didn't pass the test! I've been doing this forever, so glad I am not involved with these knuckleheads!!! Another told me I was "outstanding" and that I would "here" from them.

You all have been SO helpful. Thank you for the responses! (sm)
I just needed to know if I was out of line or what, and you all have given me excellent feedback and suggestions. Thanks so much, I appreciate your time!

C-phone responses

Thanks to all who responded to my question about C-phones. It was most helpful! Not sure if I want to go that route or not; the long distance phone charges seem excessive to me and since I am only on a contingent basis and have already invested in a wav pedal, etc. not sure if I want to invest any more dollars.

Responses to applications?
When I did recruiting oftentimes I would not respond. If I have 99 applications, 75 of them substandard...well, truth be told I'm not going to take up my valuable time responding to the people who don't cut it. My attention is on the 24 who just might. After all, it's all about being paid on who I hire, not who I don't.

Because there are so many responses to this post,
I am not going to remove it. But, please make this type of post on the Ask the Dr. board in the future.

Thank you both for your responses, especially for the heads-up, lw.

I have been hesitant as well, not only here, but at other MT sites also.

Are the other MT sites particular about who views the resumes as well?

Are offshore companies allowed to view them?

TIA

Thanks for your responses. BTW, I do have both hypertension
and diabetes, but both are very well controlled with medications at this time. I was diagnosed a year or so ago.

I just thought my finger tingling was from possible carpal tunnel. Could this be a more serious problem? I recently had a Doppler ultrasound of my carotids (just as a safety measure) which came back normal.

I know, ask my doctor. I will be going in for medication refills next month and will discuss my new symptoms with him then.

Thanks again!!

The responses I get and usually positive.
The most common is, "Oh, I know someone who does that. She makes a lot of money!"

Thanks for the responses. It turned out to be a bad box (the little one). nm
nm

I have had the same problem, no responses...sm
I feel bad for your situation, but am glad it is not just me.....was starting to second guess myself as an MT. Before I always had responses almost right away as you said, but absolutely nothing now.

Thank you for the responses. I am having modifications
to my system done soon to update the RAM since it is an older computer. Thanks!

Thank you for responses. I feel better now
At first, it seemed a bit like "Big Brother" coming a bit too close to my personal life. I guess I will do it to since I want to be cooperative and save money as well.

Thank you everyone for these helpful responses. nm
xx

Clever responses, but
I'm serious. As far as the video, you wouldn't have to have your face in it; just your hands, keyboard, and mouse.

Might be kind of fun!

Also, in writing ... is there ever much of a delay in movement, or is there a constant flurry of hand, finger, arm movement?

I am just wondering what I am doing so differently to be doing less than half of what I would like to be doing.

Clever responses
I worked with a girl like that too. I found out she did not ever take her eyes off the keyboard - not best quality.

Thanks for all the responses! - no mess.
:)

Your responses were wonderful, thank you so much for your help! nm
-

By the number of responses...

this must not be a very common practice anymore....which in itself actually sheds some light.

Thanks!

RE: Responses to corrections. One sure..sm
way, I have found, to get a response is to cc your response (double check your response for 100% correctness, first, though) to their supervisor or management. (They have no qualms about doing this to us when chewing us out, but they're too busy, i.e, too good, to answer our e-mails) So now they know mgmt. is in on it, they feel challenged and have to prove they're right, nevertheless. Wanna bet they'll respond?

No responses ... a bad sign?
Yikes, I was hoping for some encouragement. Am I correct in thinking it's a bad sign no one has responded? (Please tell me I am wrong!)

I appreciate the candid responses - sm
Well darn! I guess CMA is not all I thought it might be. I actually did see at one school I looked at where an entry level job after completing the course might be MT (in addition to a few other careers). Guess that was the clue there, huh? So the research continues for me...Thanks for the input!