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I beg pardon, but I have to strongly disagree with above post.

Posted By: Nope on 2005-12-05
In Reply to: panic attacks since 1997 - Stacie

If your heart is pounding, if you cannot catch a breath, if your vision is blurred, if you no longer recognize your surroundings (even for a few seconds), if you feel like you are going to die.......yes, you may well be experiencing a panic attack. Or you may not.

There have been too many times that people diagnosed themselves with a "panic attack", not even knowing what that is, and ended up dying with a heart attack or stroke. As in dead.

This is simply because of ignorance.

Once again, the first thing you do is to make sure the symptoms you have are not physical. And, you go from there.

If, once diagnosed as actually having panic attacks, with no physical reasons, then you learn to deal with it. You learn to "feel" it coming. You may be happily shopping in a mall or whatever, and suddenly feel like you cannot breathe. There is not a breath to be taken in. Your heart pounds. Your vision goes. Your extremities are not responding at all. You feel you are dying right there, right then. My first impulse was always to run, but I felt my body would not cooperate. It did. It always has......because it was panic attacks, and not a heart attack or stroke, etc.

So, you sit down. You pull your car off the road. You stop frying chicken. You take yourself out of harm's way, in other words. You learn to deal with it.

But, if you do not know for sure that this is what is occurring, you're a fool to treat it as anything less than some kind of breakdown in one of your systems. Cuz that's what it feels like. And, anyone who treats that particular feeling without seeking medical advice is a fool.

Any other advice is ludicrous.


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I strongly disagree. I dated an engineer; most ingenous, humorous, generous
man I ever had the pleasure to meet. Being smart is smart, he has the Yummie!Wow factor too.
You disagree with a post saying clinic work different?
Basically I said the 4s are a lot different than clinic and harder. Was not telling her everyone made the numbers I do but just saying it took me a long time to get the terminology, etc. under my belt.
I would strongly discourage anyone from
getting into this field.  I'm trying to get out after 8 years.  By the time you get your schooling, find a company that places newbies into a position, and get up to speed --- your newborn will be in school.  Don't bother, enjoy the baby and find something else.
I strongly agree.
now full-time and in this business for 19+.  I only used daycare when my first was small and I worked on-site.  Other than that, they were home with me.  They are both in school now, but it can be done.  Amanda is making a broad statement with no facts to back it up.  Many o' Moms have done this job at home without day care and faired very, very well, myself included! 
I would strongly consider putting that
comment into the report.  They certainly can't think any less of you and maybe seeing it in print will make them realize the harshness of their words as well as their own stupidity for assuming you are the only MT who types for them.  Some dictators have no clue or class.
Sarah, I'd strongly recommend training SM
in a medical program in a community colleage, bypassing all the MT schools, and not aiming specifically for MT training. It seems likely that many those of us doing this work in future won't be doing THIS work precisely, i.e., transcription, but rather filling whatever future medical/clerical need evolves. It also seems likely that good-paying jobs will require a higher level of knowledge in future as mechanical dexerity (i.e., keyboard speed) becomes much, much less important. For that reason, going for at least a 2-year degree with a good medical knowledge base is recommended so you do end up with a decent-paying job as change progresses.

If at that point you wanted to do at-home medical clerical and wished to start with MT, if at all possible it would be best to begin by getting a salaried position in a medical office or hospital to carry you while you developed experience. The learning curve is very long and flat, and much of the angst displayed on these forums comes from people who still aren't making a living on a production basis after months and months of investment.

BTW, I read a newspaper article this morning suggesting that the current fiscal crisis could actually precipatate an overhaul of the medical system, forced by a desperate need to save money for patient care. I'm wondering if most of these nice long verbal reports could something the bureaucrats decided could be slashed. As I mentioned before on this forum, England went to the EMR, with doctors poking at the 1, 2, and 3, and A, B, C, and D, a long time ago.
Strongly dislike Emdat. It is not transcriptionist friendly.

It gives a great report to the doctor and the companies like it....the only shortcomings directly involve the lowest on the pay scale, the transcriptionists.


If the company is using the program fully it is not too bad, but when they won't even instruct the docs to do their part then you might as well forget about maintaining your line count.  It's sad.


I bed your pardon.

Beg your pardon...
Been an MT 20+ years, been an MTSO, got tired of pounding the pavement and putting up with MTs who didn't show up or had such poor quality. Sold the company. Went to work for another company. Moved into management. Get along great with those reporting to me - I've been in their shoes and work alongside them to support them as much as possible.


p.s. pardon the typos nm
nm
No, pardon me, I forgot something.
x
Begging pardon!
It is NOT the only way for them to compete.  That is total and utter BS!!  It is just a better way for them to satisfy their GREED!
Beg your pardon. Not T. Someone who knows who works for them
and no am not management
Pardon my ignorance but sm
When did they start using flash drives and how? Most of mine don't know how to use the computer! Please share. Sorry for your problem, sounds like the office manager is gloating over this - it's their problem, not yours. Charge them for the lines find out how computer literate the staff is. They usually pay peanuts and get monkeys!
Pardon me, and not to sound like an old crank...
but I think the current spectacles for preschool graduations, kindergarten graduation, 6th grade graduation, or even 8th grade graduations have just gotten out of hand.  Formal dress for a 5-year-old finishing kindergarten?  We've just gotten carried away making huge productions for children out of normal everyday stuff.  No wonder they act the way they do sometimes.  Some kids expect fireworks for every move they make in this life.  I'm not that old and we didn't do jack diddly squat for any of the above occasions... Even 8th grade, it was just "have a nice summer and see you next year."  I just personally think we should save the big hooplas for something that is actually a culmination of a lot of persistent work.  High school, college, etc.  But kindergarten? 
well, one posted close to that...pardon me...nm
xxxx
Pardon my stupidity, but what is an MTSO?
x
You're bedding my pardon? Oh my!

Lots of food (pardon the pun) for thought! THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE!!
Thanks!
I beg your pardon. Some of us who work as IC put in more hours daily than employees!!
Heck, most of us take pride in our work and can run circles around your QA with accuracy! Please, you are way off base.

I agree there are some "fly by night" ICs who just don't care about QA or TAT, but that is not the majority. You can not make a generalized statement for all of us IC MTs. I am respected and paid very well by my Hospital for my accuracy and speed and knowledge!
I beg your pardon. I have elderly relatives in nursing homes who are constantly in and out of
hospitals.  The elderly especially need our reports to be ACCURATE, as nobody gives a hoot to "talk" about them, let alone doctors getting to actually know and remember patients. EVERYTHING about their acute care in hospitals is taken FROM THE PAPER MEDICAL RECORD, and also when they get bumped back to the nursing home.  The caretakers take ALL info from the transfer sheet.  Reality check for those who need help most - elderly who cannot rattle off their histories themselves.
Pardon me, but your ignorance and obvious lack of class are showing.
x
Maybe I misunderstood the OP's concern. Pardon if my response doesn't pertain. nm
x
I am not feeling well today so pardon if I am making mistakes. I just think that it is time to stop
defending the illegal activities of this company. I know I defended them for many years.
Should just post all their open positions in one post and only be allowed to post one of those a day
nm
I disagree
Edix/Spheris pays a bonus based on production and QA. The MQ office I worked for didn't give a rats bottom about QA, it was LINES LINES LINES and they paid production bonuses. My company expects the lines with NO bonus, NO shift differential, NO weekend differential, and NO OT. What you download you are expected to do, doesn't matter if it's 200 reports, you better have them done.
I have to disagree with you.
I think that people actually like it. That is the thing. I care a lot if the people are fat and ugly. It is such a weird concept to me. Being extremely thin and beautiful, I can't stand that. I mean, what is the harm in getting plastic surgery or gastric bypass? It will be a very hard thing for me to do.
I would have to disagree with you...
I have lived in California for most of my life and now for the last 6 years have lived in New England.  Yes, it's expensive but not  nearly as expensive as California, especially Southern California.  For instance, a small tract house with 1200 square feet and no yard whatsoever, lined up like sardines  in a can, will run you about 450,000.  We have a 4 bdrm 3ba, in ground pool,1.4 acres, 2,300 sq ft house worth 300,000.  The reason most of theNortheast is so expensive is the high tax burden, with the exception of New Hampshire,which has the lowest tax burden of all 50 states. One thing that is horribly expensive is college tuition, even community college is ridiculous compared to California.
I disagree with you. SM

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.


I disagree... (sm)
I believe Silent Type is a totally family based, oriented firm and found them most pleasant to work for before starting my own business.
I disagree
I have been an MT for a fair few years. One of the reasons I chose this career was because of the "bright" outlook. I believed that there really was a shortage of MTs in this country and jobs aplenty. Plenty of MTSOs are hiring, but trying to get my own account has been like pulling teeth. I have had to move out of my city, then out of my state, and now am calling surrounding states looking for work. I have excellent qualifications and reasonable rates, and I can tell you, nobody is interested.
I disagree (sm)

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.


I have to disagree with
I worked set hours at home with an infant that I was nursing...yes I did! When he needed a change or to be nursed, I took the few minutes, changed him, latched him on, and continued working. It's hard, but not downright impossible. We are women, we can do anything we set our minds to. Good luck to the OP!!!
Disagree - that's all!
x
I have to disagree
My live-in BF's exwife used to do the online game instead and he hated it. No time with him or daughter. He is now pretty much doing the same thing to me with his model airplanes and helicopters. When he works on them and deals with them he does it and nothing else. He is very single minded. If not flying it is working on them, surfing the net for them, talking about them, etc. I have just about had it as well. He says that at least he does not go out to bars and drink. Well if you are not spending time with me and kids and not helping me do things around the house so that I am tired and stressed it is all the same to me. I have been there on both and just because they are not cheating, drinking, drugging, etc does not mean it is okay. If you need attention and help you need it no matter what their reasoning is or hobby is in this case. You have to balance your time. I say what if all I did was play my games or shop or go to the bookstore and had no time for anyone or house work. I have to balance it so that we all function relatively well. It should be equal play time for both of you and equal other stuff too.
I disagree
It involved her when her husband decided to share the info with her. AND they involved him when they brought him into their little THANG. Don't for a minute think it is innocent, or else she would have called his wife to ask where he was at. I think if the OPs husband doesn't set his friend straight about not wanting to be involved in this crap then he is not beyond suspicion. JMO.

And, do you want some unwritten code making a fool out of YOU if your man should decide to start doing the same and his friends (your friends also) know about it!?!?!?!?!?! Come on.

Sorry disagree
Your creditors have the RIGHT to not work with a credit counseling agency.  I tried this route also before Chapter 13 and several chose not to work with them.  Most of the major ones do but some do not.  This is a profitable business that is paying your bills for you working out a credit plan for you and if you miss ONE payment they have the right to drop you and many will.   They also monitor the usage or your credit card use, etc.   Again, there are always two sides to everything but some of my creditors did chose not to work with the agency.  I was told by one of the biggest Credit Counseling Agencies that though most "do work with them, some chose not to and they do not have to as you are the one that agreed to pay back the debt not the credit counseling agency."  But they do have to accept a Chapter 13 order.   So again, look at all the facts and make your choice.   The biggest agency I talked to was the higest for their fees and really did not save me much with my payment but the interest and late fees stopped.  Also if they negotiate a plan to reduce the balance due -- beware that if a credit card compay writes off any amount of the debt -- say that they will settle for 50% of the $10,000 that you owe, then they will issue you a 1099C - cancellation of debt - for the $5,000 that you are not paying and you will have to include that as income on your taxes for the year.  So there are several pitfalls with some of these agencies, just ask the right questions and do some research.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.   Patti
I would have to disagree with you
I just took a job that offered me 7.5 cents per line to start. I just finished my online training for MT at the beginning of August. It can happen, although I applied to every company I could find. I did the legwork and now the offers are rolling in.
disagree
depends on the companies ethics, method of counting, etc. I can do mooocho lines on escription platform but suck on any other platform.
I disagree with others, I think 12 is low
Some MTs make that from a service so you can imagine what the service is charging and they are paying it. With picking up, delivering, printing? 12 cpl is selling yourself way short IMO. Not to mention bringing down the rates overall for others. I would not do it for less than 14 cpl. And if they won't pay that, work for a service that will pay you 10 or 11 cpl, without all the headaches.
I disagree with you
You are very opinionated.
I disagree. sm
I've been in both situations - one punitive, and one that rewards MTs extra efforts. Reward is far more motivating than punishment. Punitive management styles just make employees tense, demoralized, and even more apt to make further mistakes. If it goes on long enough, they become resentful and angry. Ultimately they leave. The way to keep good employees, and to turn marginal ones into better ones, is to reward them for a job well done.
I disagree

...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


I would have to disagree.

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. 


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.


I disagree.
For example, Medquist requires 150 lines per hour for full time with benefits, which is a 1200 line 8-hour day, and that includes ASR. There are high producers who are hitting those numbers, but they are the minority, especially now. Your numbers are great and certainly what I aim for, but may be daunting to someone just getting started if they think that is the norm.

I'm getting paid!
http://boostyourincometoday.blogspot.com/
I have to disagree with you a little on this one...sm
I don't think our profession was "dumbed-down" by people who can't (or won't) do ESLs. It has been dumbed down by the big companies who make the rules and know nothing about actual transcription.

If the companies would tell the clients they need to make their doctors dictate clearly, this would be a moot point. The companies need to come down on the clients and the clients need to come down on their doctors. Dictation not clearly dictated is 99.9% of the problem in any of the transcription I have seen or done in my 17+ years of doing this... both MT and QA.

If you can't understand the doctor due to a heavy accent, background noise, poor quality equipment, or whatever, you can't transcribe an accurate report.

I have seen a lot of changes in the technology of our profession over the years and by all rights we should be making tons more money because of the advances that have improved our production... but why is it our wages continue to go down?

Part of the problem is companies not paying higher line rates, cutting out headers, footers, cc's, etc., but I think the biggest problem of all is how sloppy dictation has been allowed to get by all the doctors, but mostly because of all of the ESL doctors we have these days. It used to be that you had one or two on a large account and now I can honestly say that I bet I transcribe probably 80-90% ESLs and many different nationalities.

Yes, we all need to learn how to do some ESLs, but for crying out loud, the companies need to make it a little easier for us to learn them! And just for good measure...since I'm blithering away for nothing anyway...(teehee)... why do WE have to learn them?... why don't they have to LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH?

Sorry if I offended anyone... I'm just tired of not hearing a clear-speaking doctor, whether it be a language barrier, a mushmouth, dictating in a busy hallway full of barking dogs, whatever... I'm just sick of it. It didn't used to be this way. Doctor's used to be polite when they dictated and it showed in their reports.
have to disagree again
I have no help from anyone.. There is no husband in my home to help with my children. I only have on in school, and then still have an 18 month old who is at home full time. I dont believe in allowing others to raise my children, when i am home and perfectly capable of caring for them. Some days, my youngest will sit on the floor by my desk and "work" with me, using an old keyboard i have.

Some days, my children are content to watch TV in the other room, some days they arent. It is a matter of what you as an individual are willing to do in order to make things work, that is all.
And I disagree with you

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. 


Sorry disagree

#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.


You can disagree...but
you obviously did not read my post. The *first* thing I said was to get medical attention. Regardless of what you may think, I am very fond of depression myself. I was diagnosed with clinical depression (yes, the kind where you don't get out of bed) at 17 and have struggled with it since. I am 26. I have also been diagnosed with OCD. Trust me, I know depression. I have been off an on antidepressants since 17, at which time, they saved my life, literally.
There are other aspects to depression, though. If you are not willing to take the steps to get help and take control of your life...then it will contine to get worse.
The main point I wanted to address in my post was a person needs to take care of themselves...take care of the basics. That is a daily choice, although a very difficult one to achieve with depression, BUT not impossible.
My advice:
1. Get seen by a doctor.
2. Get a job.
3. Make the daily choices necessary get the first two things done.