I consider myself a good MT, can I give you my side?
Posted By: sm on 2007-04-19
In Reply to: Are there any good MTs left?? - Frustrated
I have 15 years experience and a pretty impressive resume. I was called and sent a test file of 30 minutes - told to pick 2-3 files to test. The sound quality was great, the dictator was a dream. I was told I would be needed full-time, absolutely no part-time permitted, I would have the same dictator if at all possible, would get work late evening/early morning and was due back the next afternoon, was given a low but decent line rate, was expected to do a lot of work and give 5 days notice if I needed time off and work to start w/i several days. Well, the work did not start for 2 weeks (new clinic getting up and running), the dictators were unorganized, the template was horrible - a nightmare for a typist/awkward to say the least, the line count was w/o spaces, the sound quality was poor, the work came late morning or afternoon and due that night, rarely got the same dictator, template and headers/footers changed several times, patient list, if provided, was in difficult format, work emailed and sometimes only half received, voice files were distorted, AND if I got work - only got 45 minutes to 60 minutes daily maybe 3 days a week and then a ton on Friday afternoon due early Monday morning..... This is not the job I applied for!!! Thankfully I did not give notice at my other company and have had a back-up job all along - the new company is very nice but just not cutting it in my book - it was all about what they wanted/needed and to heck with what they said was going to happen - reality was quite different and quite disappointing. I do not consider 60 minutes full-time and I work mornings best - not a swing-shift. I'm not hungry enough to jump through more hoops for them at this point.
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good to see the 'other side of the coin' too...hmmm
what if people stopped editing all these reports.
seriously, think about it. the overseas MT would have been nothing without us. we have taught them and are teaching them, we are making them stronger every day by editing their work.
now think about that, what if we refused to edit any more work from overseas, is that an option? these companies who outsource overseas would fall on their faces, wouldn't they?
Why not mention the other side? That MQ payes BONUSES FOR GOOD QA scores!
Whine, whine, whine, but those who are GOOD get $$ for good QA scores! Improve your skills, make more $$, and whine less!
He/she needs to PAY them well, give good
the quality and production will improve, & turnover will go down. Doctors keep raising prices to US, so why are we so squeamish about raising our prices to THEM?
Raise MTs pay & benefits. Sometimes you have to SPEND money to MAKE money.
good for a while, until your wrists give out.
nm
What you pay a good tax guy to give you suggestions and help with taxes is
:)
How long do you give a new job before you decide it's not a good fit for you? sm
(Also posted on Company Board)
My saga follows. Please go to the bottom of post for my question :)
I've been with my current company as a PT emp. for 2 1/2 months. Everything about them seems to be quite fair, not great, but very fair. I'm still on hourly pay of a whopping $8.50 till I get my production up. Therein lies the problem, I cannot EVER see getting my line count up with the inordinately excessive number of ESLs on my acct. It's just ridiculous. All I'm asking is to actually TRANSCRIBE for a living, instead of rewinding and relistening 1000 freakin' times a day.
I've never gotten the feeling that I'm being taken advantage of or given the crap work, I just believe I'm on a very high percentage ESL account. I don't mind doing ESLs, I really don't. I just want more understandable drs thrown into the mix.
This is my first job after graduating and I was lucky enough to be hired for acute care. I'd like to continue in acute care. I just want to be able to PRODUCE, improve and ENJOY my job. I want to be doing MT work for many years to come.
I'd just like some opinions from those of you with more experience about what you might do in my situation.
Also, how long do you give a job before you decide it's not a good fit for you? Am I giving up too quickly?
That's good to hear. Maybe I should give it a chance and see if I like it.
A good tax guy can help with taxes and give ideas on deductions. His fee is a
:}
I wanted to thank all those who give me good advice last week. SM
And for listening to me boo hoo about being laid off or dissolved as the suits at the hospital like to call it. Anyway, I have officially accepted a QA Editor position with a service and I'm actually in a more positive frame of mind than I was last week.
I got my laptop all set up and ready to go with a laptop stand for plenty of ventilation, I put off buying any kind of wav player and just downloaded ExpressScribe for the time being, and I didn't saturate the market with my resume, but picked only a few places to apply based on suggestions and information you all gave me here. And I did all of this because you ladies gave me such good advice.
I just wanted to say what a great place this is and it is very, VERY wonderful to have a place to network, socialize, fellowship, or just plain gab with colleagues and friends. 
Give your keyboard a good upside down shake
Seriously...mine gets filled with all sorts of unspeakable oogies like cat hair, crumbs, and lord knows what else (thankfully I haven't spied anything that moves--yet!) and sometimes the keys (namely the shift/control/alt keys) stick. These are the ones that will mess up control+function capabilities. If that doesn't work, reboot. If that doesn't work, call tech support just in case someone fiddled with preferences or something like that.
Another handy thing to have is one of those "cans of air" that you can blow out your keyboard with on occasion.
Good luck!
What I think is so sad is that people may give up good jobs to go there to find out these things all
to late. The newbies can learn and use MQ and move on which they do but of course the clients suffer then with all the people learning on them but this is what MQ causes and when they lose clients with poor quality or people that just throw out work then they caused their own problems. You cant keep good MTs with no work I dont care what incentives you offer because they mean nothing with no work ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I wish people would understand that when MQ hires them.
I spend a good deal of time tweaking the ones in there so ummm, may give it a shot lol
dd
The girl was 13, the rapist a distant relative they took in. Give money, give food and your time, b
you don't put your family at risk by taking in strangers. That's just plain foolish. There were over 3300 registered sex offenders in NO. Where are they now. In your community? Perhaps in your house? Good luck.
oh our lovely government does give illegals medicaid, foodstamps, and housing so in term we give tha
i have been through some rough times lately and had to apply for some help. there are signs, big signs, all over our offices saying "YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE LEGAL TO GET HELP". so we and our government do give them our benefits whether they are legal here or not. now that is messed up. i am helping to support them so they can take away my jobs and i can't even support my kids and yes i get benefits, wow $75 a month in food stamps which lasts not even a week in a household of 6. don't get me wrong, i am thankful for any help at the moment, but i get penalized for trying to work my tail off and still can't survive.
there was recently an article in our local newspaper where one of our local school districts tried to charge $1000 a year for each illegal student enrolled. it was bulked and the illegals got a lawyer to sue for discrimination. the school district merely stated that they had to HIRE extra teachers that could speak the foreign language just to teach these children and were trying to offset some of the expenses. ridicilous!! so again our taxpayers money is paying to educate illegals as well.
Aw come one give her a break. She said she was sorry and is willing to refund. Give her a chance to
do what is right. If she fails to do what is right, then go about this in an adult way and not act like such a child. "you suck" That is so immature.
She is responding to you and you are eating her alive. Why would she put herself out there to be treated like this if she didnt mean it.
I am really astonished at how people can act on here. Would you treat people like this in person? If you do, I cant imagine you having very many friends.
Remember we are all "HUMAN."
A simple google search will give you your answer...I'd give you the answer,
but how would that help you learn to research on your own...and I'm in a rush to get to the next post. 
Tell him you'll give him your macros if he'll give you his Lexus, his ski cabin, and (nm)
;p
From the other side
I know how you feel but one day before you know it there'll be no slamming doors, no one talking (or fighting) outside your office door, no one interrupting you, the dishes will be done and the house neat with nothing else needing to be done. Send 'em over to me for a couple of hours. I used to couldn't wait for some peace and quiet but it really isn't all that great after all. Sign me....missing the young 'uns.
On my Mom's side
a cousin actually got a call from the Jerry Springer show wanting her, her husband, and live in YOUNG boyfriend to be on a show. NO KIDDING!!!!
Think of yourself on the other side.....sm
Then, make your decision.
Send the cards, by all means, but don't court work with it. Do the soliciting after the holidays, as you had originally planned. I betcha some of those folks will remember the wonderful holiday card from you!
I think you already know this or you would not have put up this post asking advice. Right?
Enjoy the holidays, wish others to do the same, and then attack! LOL
On the plus side...
I think Paula's hair is better than ever...thank goodness. That's all I have to say about her. ;o)
On the other side of never ..
where else?
Another side.....sm
Although I do agree with everyone that has already posted about this field, I do have quite the opposite story. I worked for the government for years when I started having my family. Worked out okay with my first child because I worked nights and hubby worked days and she was always with one of us (which is always an option you could consider). But when I got pregnancy with my second child, I knew something had to change and I knew I had to make close to the same money I was currently bringing in to keep the household going. I took a course from At-Home professions (not recommended). I took this course at home through my pregnancy while still working. I was then hired by a local clinic to do their notes at home, which I did for awhile as I continued to work nights. I had the baby and while on maternity leave, I started really sending out the resumes and doing followup calls. I then landed my first "real" job as a medical Transcriptionist from my home office. After a couple months, I felt secure in putting in my notice with current employer and the rest is history! I have been doing it ever since, 14 years now, in my home office. I do have to say though that if it wasn't for Sandy, the transcription manager, I would not be where I am today. Through her patience and guidance, I learned more from her than I did my course, so I was one of the lucky ones at that time. If you are really serious about giving this a shot, I would recommend Career Step or M-Tec for you schooling choices. You can take these courses at home. Companies will hire you to work at home right out of your schooling from these two schools. Be prepared to work hard...there is a lot to learn, but it CAN be done. I still learn something new every day 14 years later, but I am so thankful I was and still am able to be here for all three of my children. Not always easy, but very doable!!! I average about $18 an hour. Just another side to consider. Best wishes to you and congratulations on your new baby! Enjoy:)
Way to go...see in side.
Ctrl Alt Up arrow right side up
Ctrl Alt Right arrow 90 degrees
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Alternate key combination(Ctrl Shift R)
see in side
Only thing I can think of is if they are thinking you have dial up, because you could not be connected to internet and phone line at same time. Unless they are paying for the line and they want a separate bill.
You have your regular phone line, if you have one for your every day calls and for work calling. Your c-phone connects to phone line so you would have to have a phone line available to you for transcribing continuously. If you plan any contact with the outside world you would want to have a second line.
I have 2 lines but use one for my computer and the other for calls. When I use my C-phone, I use the computer line too so my house line is still open. I have phone line and c-phone plugged into a dual jack then to the computer so I never have to plug/unplug it.
People say I call you all the time but your phone is always busy. Normally these are folks I don't want calling me. If they new me they knew to call the correct number! So, maybe they just want you to have a dedicated line. If it is local see if they will pay it. Hopefully that was not too confusing.
I am on your side!
I am not a slouch MT, but I have seen a great deal of them. Then they come on this board and anonymously pick away and ridicule. My idea of a perfect world: Hospitals would have to have their transcription departments on site. Then there would be no outsourcing, no offshoring, and those who aren't so sure of what they are doing could ASK someone who DOES know what they are doing, like QA lady, and the report would be correct the first time and everyone would be happy except those in India who call themselves transcriptionists and I personally could care less if they are happy or not.
From the other side...
From the other point of view, I struggle with this issue a lot. I have a certain mental illness (I'm actively being treated and am as well medicated as I ever have been) and I know that sometimes when I start to slip and my anxiety and paranoia get really bad, I am just convinced I am going to die. Every little ache, pain, twinge, sneeze...I'm sure it is a sign of something fatal. Somewhere in my head I know I am being irrational, but my brain takes off without me. The fear is almost paralyzing at times.
I'm not trying to be dramatic. I'm just saying how it is for me personally. And I wanted to point out that not everyone with this problem is just doing it for attention. Some people really are ill.
Side to side.
aaaaaaaaaaaaa
I know an RN that did this on the side
She makes the rules up as she goes along, gives her MTs incorrect information that goes against AAMT BOS. Unfortunately she hires alot of newbies and these girls are being trained incorrectly. She would NEVER survive doing a hospital account and only has clinical transcription. Her company is so out of date they still use tapes. It's like working in Mayberry, RFD!
other side of it
I thought of that after I posted the first time. You're right - it depends on if the VR system is coming from the hospital or the MTSO. Sometimes the hospital is not aware and the MTSO is just taking a bigger profit by shorting the MT. I would say sometimes it is the MTSO just trying to get bigger profits by forcing MTs into VR and sometimes they feel compelled into it because the client says reduce your rates or lose the account to someone else.
Whose side are you on?!
Bashing an MT with a legit gripe and comparing it with a $5.75/hour unskilled labor job?!
The reason MY JOB is so difficult is because doctors have a sense of entitlement to make an MTs workday a living h---, and thanks to brown-nosers like you they CONTINUE to make nearly impossible demands.
Another thing, you sound like an impossible demanding customer thinking everyone should kiss your foot in the McD's line
However, there's a flip side
The company I work for actually lost a large hospital account because THEY wanted to go to VR and we wouldn't!
The down side to homeschooling
I have personally seen kids that have been home schooled and become "out of touch" with society. These kids ultimately end up having "culture shock" when they are out in the real world and around lots of people.
I know of several kids that were home schooled and when the parents decided it was too much and they sent them back to school the kids were "THRILLED!" During the home schooling process, the kids became disengaged from friends and became loners.
Again, this is my own personal experience that I have witnessed through friends.
DON'T FLAME ME this is just what I have witnessed first hand!!!!!
Side Dish
Any suggestions for a side dish to go with spinach lasagna?
Who needs to use the other side of the brain?
Life is complicated enough for us guys! 
on the lighter side of Man
and after spending 3 days in a log cabin out in the middle of nowhere with my family for Christmas, I was reminded once again of that old saying "girls rule while boys drool"! It was a beautiful Christmas with all the extended family ,but being the only girl out of 11 boys, I am an expert 
as a side thought (sm)
remember to say "I love you." Also a hug goes a long way! Our kids do the ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww mom and dad when they catch us in a hug. It's not a bad hug or anything, just an I love you hug. We think it's funny, but I'd rather them remember their younger days of mom and dad hugging than not. I don't have those memories of my parents because they didn't show affection.
Oops, going off down memory lane there.
I don't know...sometimes the story is different from the other side...sm
I have in-laws in their 90's. They live about 3 miles from DH and myself, and 8 miles from their daughter. They have another son, who lives about 2.5 hours from here, apparently they moved that far away because MIL always expected that son to come over every weekend if they lived closer.
So my husband cuts the grass, cleans the gutter, shovels the snow. Even though they can't walk outside the house in the winter because they are so old, they are right on the phone the minute he walks in the door at 4:00 p.m., "nicely wondering" when he can come up to shovel the walks?
Last year, he came home with some talk about how I was supposed to go up at 10:00 to check the post office box. Seems they had some meds that were coming in the mail and if they weren't in the mail that day, they had to call the doctor and run into the drugstore to get some. These are people who can't think out of the box. I mean, the ONLY option was for me to go up there at 10:00 to look in the darn box. They couldn't call the mail order pharmacy, they couldn't call Cheryl, the postmistress to see if it came, they couldn't ask the neighbor who was going there anyway to see if it was in - no the only thing was for me to go up there at 10:00 to check the box. So I called sister in law and asked what this was about. She asked me to go up and check the box at 10:00 (not even asking if I was available - I mean what if I was having a tooth extracted at 10:00?) and when I told her I couldn't, boy did she unload on me! About 20 years worth of resentment came spilling out. Get this, sister in law doesn't work or have kids but boy she sure doesn't like changing her schedule to take care of her own mom and dad. She's got too much to do so I'm supposed to do it? Even with a business, and 2 school age kids? She ended up calling me a "selfish b****" and formally declared "World War III." She then told my mother in law she couldn't "babysit" my kids anymore (what's to babysit with a 10 year old comes over to watch tv?) and did other nasty things. So, according to her, I'm doing nothing and I SHOULD help, but that's not my take on the situation. If these people have three grown children, two of which do not even work (the big brother is retired) and the three of them can't handle it? Sheesh. Not saying that's your situation but there might be some of the same stuff in there...
on the flip side....
Howver, tonight I have spent the longest time on a very long dictation for the absolute worst dictator. Not dreamy--a nightmare! Although I was dreaming of stranguling him through the internet connection--ah if only. Oh, my nerves are on edge now and he was the last one it looks like for the night. What a horrible way to end the night. Maybe a few more will filter in so I can forget him.
I would go for the money and keep the side job because---
things change really fast in MT these days. In either job, you could be out of work within the next year. I'd start stashing some cash.
No, they are on the other side of the country
xx
if you get sound out of one side sm
of earphones. Does anyone have any suggestions. I tried other earphones and the same thing. I check volume etc.
TIA
wow! what side of the bed did you get up on today..sm
meeeoooowwww!!! ppfffttt!! pull in your claws. geez she isn't trying to take YOUR job away!
side-swiped
It must feel like being side-swiped. Unfortunately between the venture capitalists running things for some companies behind the scenes and the number crunchers you never know what they're up to. Let me know if you're interested in a better company. Thanks.
The other side of the coin. sm
I started out in an ortho office as a medical assistant for which I went to school for one year. That program included transcription, but I was a total amateur coming out of that course. At all of it.....front office, back office, MT, insurance filing, all of it. Had it not been for the gals in that office teaching me as we went along, I would never had made it.
The MT there was on her own with four docs and they then added a PA not long after I came onboard. She often had to have someone come in part time to catch up. She mentored me and because I was going from job to job and not always transcribing, it took quite a while, but she almost made it her mission to make sure I became proficient. The next time she took a week long vacation, I filled her slot. This was about 6 months into my job there.
God bless that woman. I can still type ortho all around and it all started not with that course, but with that gal.
Give the girl a chance. It won't take long to see if she's going to be able to swing it or not.
Good luck.
get up on the wrong side of the bed??
x
the flip side
Be thankful you have the information to verify the correct age. :)
If you can't see the right side of report
Not sure if this is what you mean. If you are typing and cannot see the right side of the report you have typed, try holding down control and at the same time use your scroll button on your mouse. This will make the print appear smaller, does not affect the font at all, and you will be able to see the entire report.
And then there is the flip side - if you have a
It is really hard to find good MTs. I keep my company very small for that exact reason. But sometimes even when an MT is really good, they can be lacking in the work ethic department. I'm talking about MTs who do excellent work. They have just a couple of very clear, very easy doctors assigned to them, a great line rate (10 cpl), and all they have to do is make sure they get whatever those doctors dictate get done. And sometimes they do great. Other times they come up with 101 excuses about why they couldn't get the work back on time. Or they slack off all week and promise to catch up on the weekend, and then they don't. Oh, but the same MTs are always asking if they can get another doctor assigned to them, if they can get a raise, if they will be first in line for new accounts coming along. To which I say: Get a clue! Do the work you are assigned and do it on time and THEN ask me about raises and more work. I don't particularly like having to either assign the work that doesn't get done to another MT on the weekend or having to do it myself on the weekend to get caught up because some MT who has a gravy account won't even keep up with that.
Please, don't anyone email asking for work, as I am not hiring and if I were in a position to I would come here first and ask for help. I'm just venting because I don't understand having such an easy account and doing excellent work and then on the other hand slacking off and letting it get behind, and then having the nerve to ask for more work/more money. If I am going to have to type it myself on the weekend, I might as well get rid of said MT and type the gravy account myself during the week!
one side of headphones
I had this happen using dictaphone and tapes. I bought several sets of stereo earbuds and only one side would work.
one side working
Probably true that it may be time for a new one, but I have a relatively new one and it does the same thing. I disconnect the ear piece completely and reattach it. Sometimes it just comes a little loose and needs to be shoved tighter into place. It just looses its connection.
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