I beg to differ with your comment
Posted By: anon on 2009-03-14
In Reply to: I'm afraid I have to agree with others who have said.... sm - ChuckM
When I worked in house MANY years ago, doc dictated in the "allergies" section that the patient was allergies to pencillin -- I then got to the "medication" section and lo and behold the patient was on GUESS what? PENICILLIN -- I went upstairs, pulled her chart looked through it and sure enough, the patient WAS allergic to penicillin -- I pointed out to the charge nurse who IMMEDIATELY called the doc and doc later came down and thanked me for saving the patient's life -- so yes, in a SMALL way we DO count!!!!
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I beg to differ
When you do those awful dictators, do them consistently time after time, the supervisors see this. Therefore, they assign you those jobs, knowing you will get them out. They know its not good for the company to have newbies, lazies, greedies, getting these reports, because they will either guess and make tons of mistakes, or bypass them anyways. So they figure, give em to the gals who can do them! Therefore, they look good to their boss, everything is nice and tidy on their end, and we're all happy.
Except those of us stuck with the horrible dictators. No matter how good you are at them, if you get them over n over n over, it will reflect on the amount of lines you do because it takes time to not only decipher what they are saying, but also research on that one word which he "might" be saying but your not sure. The cherrypickers and whiners and lazies are the smart ones, they're making the $$$$
I beg to differ
It that your reasoning behind your accusations of who Barney is and who she isn't.
That is pathetic.
It seems as though Barney has not responded lately and you know what, I don't blame her. I am outta here as well. Good day!
Beg to differ!
This board DOES allow this company to advertise here, although it admitted to offshoring once it got caught. There are ads here all the time posted by this company.
Is is this the email you are talking about from Mr. R?
"Whether we think offshore labor is right or wrong, it has become a fact we cannot escape from. XXX will not actively pursue offshore labor contracts, but we have made the decision to experiment with using some offshore labor to save this large XXX client from going elsewhere. We believe this is the best decision for our employees assigned to this account and the company because this account is growing and we can assign the offshore part to the future increases and not have to reassign any XXX MTs. XXX is committed to continue using US MTs for the majority of their work and we will continue to resist going offshore."
I do have to differ
My doggie DOES go to the bathroom in his crate. I had always read that dogs won't go in their crate, but this one DOES and he just lays in it until we get get home. That's why I stopped putting him into the crate, because every time we would leave him in it and then get home, he'd have to have a bath because he had "whizzed" all over the crate. He's a little pill, but I love him so! :)
I beg to differ
I also was in court reporting school 15 years ago, and even I know that the court reporting machines automatically translate the ShortHand into English, so what you are saying about having to retranscribe it into English, you must be mistaken, and not to be mean, but I can't imagine going through a 3 year course that has an 85% drop out rate passing the exam and then saying you were burned out, unbelievable, but then I am not you, so I can't really know.
I beg to differ here about...
My dad and my husband's dad both make an excellent living driving a truck. My parents raised 4 kids on a trucker's pay, and we lived very well. Now, as far as couples trucking, I don't think I could do that, just because I wouldn't like being stuck in a truck with my husband for days on end....although I love him passionately...enough is enough, know what I mean???
Good luck, though, with whatever you choose to do! 
I beg to differ -
The labor board will get involved in certain situations, check your local office. Also, there are many other government offices that will support a independent contractor - and non payment of services, considered theft of services - I ask that you review the news regarding A&B fuel in PA, and look into what is happening with D&L Typing. The Transcriptionist is a business owner, independently just as a plumber, electrician, or other service professional - time that the transcription companies start remembering that. And time we start to treat ourselves that way too.
Beg to differ
I was paid by the minute of dictation - it's actually the fairest system - depending on of course the rate per minute...
Sorry but I beg to differ on this on
Phillychick was not bragging. Simply stating the way she lives. There are those of us out there who choose not to live beyond our means. Just because some of us do not have to work our fingers to the bone to pay the bills does not mean that we are bringing this industry down.
I have 3 teenagers at home presently so I do understand how tough it has gotten just to buy the everyday necessities, but what we consider necessities has also changed with the economy.
If you cannot make a living doing MT, then you need to get a job that you can make a living at, plain and simple. It amazes me the bitterness that I hear come through this board regarding this profession. If its not right for you then find what is and stop blaming the rest of us who have made a go of it, and succeeded.
Ah, beg to differ
What you saw was very one-sided and probably paid for by WalMart. I was not a bad employee. Never missed a day of work, always on time, good reviews, etc. They pay minimum wage, always changing your schedule around so you do not get enough hours to qualify for benifits, poor management, when you ask for a raise they make things very difficult to get you to quit, etc. Employee discount was 10% where I worked. The worst employer I have ever worked for and thank God I was only there long enough to graduate from school to do MT.
I beg to differ
I would like to know where one of those jobs is.
I beg to differ.
I do operative notes only but for every single account in the company. I never know where the next report is coming from. Good dictators, great dictators, mediocre dictators, awful and absolutely horrid dictators.
Again, really sound experience and lots of investment in my expansions combined with a positive attitude allows me to be productive, steadily, even though I am working on so many different hospitals and dictators.
Everyone will have good days and bad days in this work but it happens with all other jobs, too.
Please don't try think and try to make others think that everyone in this line of work fits into that limited box. It isn't true.
I bet to differ
When I worked in house in several facilities our desks were lined up directly in front of the charts. If the clerks were making a floor run, we had to answer the phones and pull charts, etc. I've never seen a facility where the MT department was totally separate, except for one hospital. They didn't have the room so they put all the MTs in a storage closet.
I beg to differ, OSi DOES offshore.
Or, trying to kid, it is a very well known fact that OSi offshores.
I beg to differ with you. An MT transcribes,
she/he should not have to translate/decipher what a rude person is trying to say. Doctors should realize, just as the MT does, how important that medical record is and that their dictation of that medical record is vitally important. Maybe they should be taught dictation and manners and grammar, etc.
I'm sorry, but I beg to differ -- my company would never
try to pull a fast one -- and, if that's the case, then there are tons of other companies out there doing the same thing, I see them every day on the Job Seeker's Board both here and on MT Daily.
I beg to differ Hayseed
Ebonics is a term coined, originally intended and sometimes used for the language of all people of African ancestry, or for that of Black North American and West African people, emphasizing the African roots of the former; since 1996 it has been largely used to refer to African American Vernacular English (distinctively nonstandard Black United States English), emphasizing the independence of the latter from (standard) English.
The original poster most definitely was referring to a particular race here in her commentary.
You missed the point entirely.
Beg to differ on Heinz
Kerry's wife has no involvement in Heinz Int'l. Never has. Neither did her late husband, who worked for his father's company for a short time just after college. He inherited the Heinz fortune, as did she when he died. She does, however, have much involvement in the philanthropic organization with the Heinz name, also not related to Heinz Int'l. This information can be found and is public to those who wish to find it. A lot of people have been blathering for years about how Heinz "outsources," etc, ad nauseum without actually checking the facts. Heinz Int'l is a multinational company. Not the same as "outsourcing" by a long shot.
Beg to differ - Schedule C with your sm
business expenses - 100% deductible.
I beg to differ-EMR will take our jobs
I beg to differ but I know from firsthand experience that EMR can take our jobs. I lost a really good acct about a year ago that went to EMR, yes it was clinic work but I still talk to the doctor and staff and he said the whole hospital is on it and they have no transcriptionists at all. They even sent me a clipping of a story that was in their local news about it. Also my own doctor and the hospital system that was my main account when I was MTSO has been using EMR without transcriptionists for 3 years. I've seen it in my doctor's office, the ER and my friend is a manager of a hospital department and says they had to let the transcriptionists go. Sorry but hospital work can be done with EMR. Also just because EMR starts with transcription does not mean it will stay there. I have a friend in Texas who is going through that right now...they are phasing her out. So girls be afraid, be very afraid.
I beg to differ - I love my company!!
I beg to differ - not all kids need medication....sm
Many with ADD/ADHD can learn just fine without medication as long as you break the tasks into smaller segments and implement visual aides.
No drug is completely safe. They all have chemicals in them. Ritalin, which you mentioned, caused my nephew to have growth retardation while he was on it and it was only after he came off that stuff that he started growing.
It's not the media afraid of drugging kids. There are many of us out there that don't believe that drugging a child is the correct answer. Sure there are kids that really need it if they can't stay focused at all, but asking a child to stay focused for an hour or more without a break when they're say 7 years old is extreme, especially if they're able to learn the same information if it's broken down into 3 20 minute sessions in the day.
Kids are now being pushed to learn more at a rate that for some of them taxes where their maturity levels are, and this can aggravate things like ADD/ADHD, especially when they don't have the recess breaks at school to give them a diversion from the classroom for a while. I'm glad that in my state some of the school systems have started mandating recess again - and those schools test scores have improved.
Beg to differ with the adding of words
to report if not necessary. That is commonly known as "line padding," especially adding "the patient" when it is not said. I know MTs who have been let go for doings things like that.
I beg to differ. That is what the companies want you to believe. Not all clients are paying Less!
The companies are lining their pockets more and more. AccuStat-Carolinas is not a "good" company to work for anyway. Read the archives!
I beg to differ. I work 35-40 hours a week
FT and have an IC job I work maybe 3 evenings a week for 3-4 hours. I easily make over 50K a year. There are good jobs out there that pay wages one can live on.
Accounts, companies, platforms differ...sm
To my mind, the only true barometer of compensation (aside from benefits) is one single number: What do you make, on average, per hour of labor? By "on average", I mean, for instance, as measured over a period of time such as a week or more.
Think about it: This one number takes into account all of the variances that we see between accounts, companies and platforms when it comes to nonproductive "clerical" demands, dictator variances, quirky site specifics, technical level of the content, sound quality, the usability of the platform, and even work availability.
I've found that those who wish to be paid by the hour are often being overburdened by nonproduction requirements, challenging site specifics (for instance, in one case, over 100 different worktypes with the need to listen to the first part of the report before you knew which template to choose!), or by platforms that are not "transcription-friendly", while those who are happy with production pay are more fortunate in one or more of these regards.
It is so difficult to compare the variables among accounts, companies and platforms individually that you need a single number like this to bring things into focus. That means that an essential question to ask any prospective employer is this:
"On average, how much are people in your company who have my level of experience earning per hour once they learn your system?"
You'll get one of three answers:
1. One that sounds knowledgeable and frank.
2. One that sounds "hedged" or questionable. Probe further. "How sure are you of that number?"...etc.
3. "I don't know." I would run very far and very fast from any company that is so poorly managed that they do not know how their production numbers relate to hours of employee transcription time. Such companies are likely to overhire and to make errors in creating their client teams, and they don't have a handle on the basic business metrics that apply to this industry.
QA comment
I just wanted to say a few things from the world of QA. There are some MTs who get dictators the likes of which I just cannot even describe as far as ESLs. Oh my. My heart just bleeds for you all - I mean it. I don't know how you do it, the dictators are that awful. But most of you MTs who get these language-murdering dictators struggle and persevere thru usually endless reports. It IS noticed, though you might think its not. Not that peon QA people can do anything for you, but I do notice and applaud you. And I DO mention names of these MTs to account managers on a regular basis, praising their effort on these impossible dictations. Don't know if it helps, but I like to believe it does! On the flip side, there are other MTs who are just a disgrace to our profession - they're not learning or new (we can tell). They are simply lazy and sloppy, making the most horrendous careless STUPID mistakes one can even imagine. Sometimes my mouth just hits my desk in horror. And I just shake my head and wade in and fix the entire report myself - that's what I'm there for, right? And for those who take offense that some mistakes are stupid - well, there are some that are stupid! No questions are stupid, but mistakes sure can be! I wish all of you could see firsthand what is out there as far as the quality of MTs. I know you would be amazed at the disparity between MTs. And we ALL makes mistakes, yes, but its how you handle them that counts. I try to be so kind and respectful to all with my corrections, even the lazy sloppy ones. So many MTs are so sweet and write back and thank me for the help, which is totally not expected, while the lazy ones write back screaming at the injustices of their errors! Or they call the president of the company screaming in indignation! Its a shame - I could give dozens of examples of absolutely incredible lazy not-thinking mistakes, but I would never want to embarass someone who I probably QA'd and who might read my post. I never want to hurt a soul, but really wish some MTs would just think while they were transcribing. Some MTs do try so hard - and with all the odds stacked against them by the dictators from outer space! Just my rambling thoughts at the start of a long night shift in QA-land!
Comment
Please also check borderline personality disorder on the internet. True bipolar has fairly long periods of either mania or depression and cycles. Bipolar is more ongoing pervasive personality of poor coping skills and conflicted interpersonal interactions.
My advice is to realize there is probably nothing you can do to help them or change them other than altering the way YOU deal with THEM for the good of your own mental health!
Comment
Not sure why you needed the computer as I am assuming you already had a computer and the equipment? Most computers with fairly new Windows system would work okay. I personally feel the rental fee is kind of a bad idea in the long run at $48.00 a month. Sounds like you may need a phone line again unless you can get wireless. You'll have to talk to tech, I guess.
As far as learning and training, are you on DQS?
comment
With any job anymore be it MT or something such as an engineer, there is no such thing anymore as job security. I myself am 27 having 7 years experience as an MT. I actually got started in MT after my first year of college as I wanted something part-time . . so much for that:) Do I moan and groan sometimes about work, sure, we all do either if you are an MT or not, but at this point in my career I am confident that if I do not feel that I am getting enough work to provide myself with a wonderful life and not just getting along that I can submit my resume with confidence that I will find something to suit my needs.
can you say what the comment was?
I think it was the comment
that you type fast that got everyone's goat. Being an MT is just not that simple and hardly something to just learn on the sly for some "extra money." By the way, most of us at-home MTs actually started out in the workforce and got enough experience to BE ABLE to work from home, not the other way around.
Thanks for the comment but this is...
exactly what I mean. It is like there are those in this field that think just because you can pick on an error "clarity" vs "clearity" it makes you better then the next. I will admit I am not the best speller or and expert in grammer but I am not DUMB and no one should be made to fell that way. Especially if I am looking to the QA for guidance.
COMMENT
Hayseed, Aren't you the gal who did 1700 lines in 6 hours or something like that? In that case, it's likely you wouldn't have any problem making their quota. But, how about that hourly rate? Will they be saving money by putting you on hourly, will you be making more money than when you were doing MT work? Ask for all the details in writing, would be my advice. Ask them to also state, in writing, if you can return to MT if you don't like QA. Congratulations and good luck!!
Comment
This is a good solution; it puts it in their face, so to speak. I've heard that people have to hear or see something an average of 3 times before it sinks in. If they receive no feedback, they think everything is okay or totally horrible, depending on their own point of view (this is for all people in all aspects of life; I suspect that doctors will just assume that everything is okay). If they receive negative feedback with a smile, they tend to believe that improvement is optional. A more dramatic, serious approach is necessary.
Comment
My situation may be a little bit different from yours, but you are not alone, and ER reports seems to be the main star.
I don't have any answers, but I'm kind of in the same boat with you. I have been working on an account that has all worktypes. I begin working very early in the morning, when I might be the only one working on this account. The ER reports supposedly have top priority, right after the stat reports. My problem is that lately I've noticed that once I complete all stat reports and am getting to the good stuff--the ER reports, whoever is managing the queue changes the priority of the more difficult OP reports and consultations, so that they float to the top of the queue, above the ER reports. This maneuver would sometimes make sense, but the account specs are such that the ER reports have top priority.
So, then, it takes several more hours to get to the ER reports, at which time there are so many workers on board that I end up getting 1 or 2 ER reports. I've lately gone from making over $22/hour to a mere $7/hr. I feel like I've been messed with, simply because I really got used to the account the way it used to be and now someone has come along and purposely made it more difficult for me. I have the option of signing off, changing my hours, or going elsewhere. I do have another interview pending after successfully completing the testing at another company. I know that the grass is not always greener, but there is a limit to what type of treatment that I will tolerate.
Comment
I agree with you.
This situation seems to be the end result of long years of MTs trying to do their best, while plugging along and accepting the treatment of the facilities, that filtered down to them through the MTSOs, who may or may not be addressing the issues of bad dictators with the facilities, for fear of losing the contracts. I believe, it is the job of those who have direct contact with the doctors (i.e., those at the facility in the HIM dept). According to what I have observed, they are not doing this job, and are either clueless, don't care, or enjoy this special power of oppressing the workforce from afar. It also seems that they are not required to properly train their dictating clinicians. Some of them are very active, however, in checking reports for proper comma use and such details, and do not hesitate to contact the MTSO to complain when the MT left out a comma, or failed to select the proper date of service on the header, failed to read the doc's mind and did not realize that when he/she coughed in a certain way, it was a clue that he/she wanted a copy sent to Dr. Joe Doe, etc. Of course, they actually do not pay for headers and footers and they do not provide the MT with enough information to fill in all the details on the header and footer.
I have an egg timer. I spend exactly 3 minutes trying to figure out a blank or the correct name for a doctor that requires a courtesy copy, etc. If I cannot accomplish this in 3 minutes, given the lists that I have been provided or internet resources, the report gets a blank and it is sent to the QA department to figure it out. Each report gets a grand total of 5 minutes for multiple look ups of blanks that are the fault of the dictator or due to me not having enough information to fill in headers, footers, consulting doctors, etc. If it is my fault because I do not know the terminology, and the word was dictated clearly, I will take more time researching. If the MTSO wants to address the issues of poor quality dictators/dictations with the facility, that is their choice.
If I were to have my own accounts, I would hope to have a deep pool to draw from so that I could include sanctions for such difficulties in my contract with the option of discontinuing service to those who proved to be so difficult. However, I do not wish to be a dreamer, and don't think such deep pools exist, at least not in my part of the country, so I haven't even tried this option of having my own accounts.
Comment
I"m not sure I understand your comment, and I am not here to debate, but the account that I work on has plenty of difficult dictators, as well as plenty of easier dictators, comparatively. My point was that you cannot depend on what type of report you will get at any given moment; there is no picking and choosing and the next in line might just change due to major shuffling. It is not predictable by worktype either. Whether there is plenty of work depends on how many MTs are working at the time, whatever jobs have been added to the pool, etc. There is often no work during third shift.
Comment
Don't let the naive and trusting cause you frustration. It will be their loss in the end. Per the well-known phrase--The only way for evil to prevail is when people do nothing or continue to choose to remain blind and trust and support those who have proven themselves to not be worthy of trust.
Comment
Unfortunately, the "come around" part does not happen automatically; action is required in order to stimulate a reaction. I admit to being part of the movement to treat doctors as regular human beings and requiring them to respect us as human beings, as well.
If you don't want to comment so be it...sm
You don't know me, I don't know you. I didn't see the harm.
wry comment
Maybe TravelinMT was just "wryly" commenting. How did I know she had been out of work? If so, why wasn't she commiserating with me, instead? Why did she even bother to read the post or comment at all? I was simply asking for advice, not trying to step on anyone's toes. I am in no way feeling sorry for myself. I am actually working, but will probably be out of a job in several months, so am searching now. I was simply asking about the possibilities of finding work.
I appreciate all the helpful posts, though.
I basically wanted to find out if anyone thought I could still find a job, period. And, if after a month, I should be feeling worried? It is amazing to me how many companies do not respond to resumes sent, so is hard to know where a person stands.
Thanks to all of you who gave me actual advice and encouragement. It is much appreciated.
Wry Comment
Geeze, you have two choices in this life, you can cry in your own misery or you can choose to make it better. I choose to fight, no one owes me a thing in this life. I have a son with a chronic disease and cancer, I am a single parent, I have often worked 3 and 4 jobs at one time. That is how I fight, I do what I need to do to make life the best it can be. AND WHO ARE YOU to decide or question whether or not I should read or answer a post? (The last time I looked this was a open forum on the internet.) That question goes both ways, Why did you post such a stupid question? You asked a question, I gave you an honest answer, Look in India because that is where the majority of our good jobs have gone. I have worked at more than one facility as a consultant knowing/seeing the writing on the wall as their on-site transcription gets out-sourced with promises to the employees that they will be working at home and the next thing they know the hospital says sorry, you have just been laid off. Life is tough for everyone. Suck it up and get over it. If you don't fight to make your life the best that it can be, no one will do it for you. Be grateful you are still working and have time to look, so if it takes you a while at least you still have a paycheck coming in.
Has any one else been mad from a QA comment?
I am just irate. The first e-mail I opened today was from QA telling me "don't guess". Boy that sent me through the roof  . I don't guess at anything, and it really bothers me that someone would accuse me of doing so. Has anyone else ever had that happen to them? How did you handle it? I want to call the person and scream at them, but know I can't do that. I just find it extremely insulting to be accused of guessing on a report, that is like the worst possible insult for an MT. 
as a spin-off on your comment
i just found out that Joran had a black eye from that night, supposedly from a fight with some guys. My theory is that he tried to force himself on Natalie, she fought, ended up dead and dear daddy the wanna-be judge helped dispose of her via his connections; i don't believe we'll ever find the body. Hope i'm wrong. I don't buy the just-a-kid idea. If it was an accident, he's had the opportunity to say so, make it right and deal with it. but no, him and dad are obviously in-the-know but not saying.
as far as the prejudice -- i think we all have it in some form to some degree or another, be it for color, obese folks, hill-folk, uneducated, religious, etc etc. Hopefully we will eventually all grow past it and see another soul, as God does.
Yes, media seems to have bias, but it is a reflection of the real world bias too. We've come a long way maybe, but it changes person by person, and it doesn't happen quickly.
Why the name calling? You are sad. The comment sm
was made because he was for spheris and the outsouring they do, and yes they don't advertise jobs here because they outsoure. You are the one that needs to do some soul seardhing and grow up.
Yeah, I have a comment
It's called work baby. Every company has this. Every job you have to do something you don't like. My job, not at MQ, I have to take junk, work on other accounts, type bad doctors. That's what you have to do in this line of work. It's everywhere not just MQ. At least you have work. There are some MTs that havent had work for a long time and have no money coming in. Have a good attitude and so what if you have to work a little longer to make a little more $. You have to do that sometimes, it's life.
now what good do you think that comment did. really.
Now THAT comment would have offended me!
nm
I don't understand your comment
Most parents do the best they can, but no one deserves what happened to those parents. How sad for the 2 little ones and how sad for the boy's parents too. I can only imagine their grief.
We all would like to feel safe in the way we bring up our kids and no doubt we all do the right thing, so nothing could ever happen to us, right?
What an absurd comment.
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