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




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I did work three jobs for quite a long time. Then it dawned on me that

Posted By: Becky on 2005-08-08
In Reply to: getting a third job! - dusty

(1) I was always tired (2) I was never finished working (3) It wasn't worth it.


I quit EDiX, and I quit my hospital job, and I've never looked back. I usually have what money I need. I work about 5 hours a day plus a small weekend job recently that's no more than 10 op notes.




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

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


Other related messages found in our database

I currently have 2 jobs and have had for a long time....sm
I work days from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. then work the night job from 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. I have off Sundays, but work Monday through Saturday. It is gets very old, but I am the breadwinner in my family and am trying to get debt free by the end of the year except for the house and if I have to work like this to accomplish it then so be it. I have tried 3 jobs before, but that just gets to confusing, as all three companies had different account specs and style rules and such and I got to where I could not remember which was which. Good luck to you.
Anyone work two jobs at the same time?
I only have dial-up and it is so so slow and now the company I work for has "updated" their system which has made my downloading even slower and can only download two jobs at a time.. so now I have to sit and wait for the next job to come through.  The hours at my present job are becoming less and less flexible too and most places I have inquired about want you to put in an 8 hours shift.  My situation is that I was getting my line requirements in in about 4 1/2 hours, but now with the so slow system, I fear I will be sitting and waiting for work and I just can't stand not being productive... after all I'm not being paid to sit.  Was thinking about taking another position, working 5 minutes on one computer, switching to another and working 5 more minutes while my work downloads on the first, and back and forth.   Anyone else do this?   Can it be done?  or am I just taking on more than I can handle?    This downtime really is killing me, not just $$$, but psychologically too... I'm a Type A and I just want to Git Er done.  Any suggestions? 
I work 2 part-time IC jobs..sm
I feel like I have more stability that way just incase I want to leave one job or run out of work I always have a back-up.
I work 2 full time IC jobs. nm
;
I work 2 full time jobs..
I work from 8:00 - 4:30 then get home and start working about 6 pm. until 12-1 a.m. It's tough to do, but can be done if you are determined enough. I've been doing for almost one year now. The bad thing is I work salary during day hours, and paid cpl at night, so nothing is overtime pay for me. Would be easier to have one job with overtime allowed. We girls just do what we gotta do, don't we?
I work two part-time jobs
and that seems to keep it more interesting for me. I work on two different platforms. One is a small hospital where I am an IC, and the other is an MTSO where my account is a huge hospital. I think having to juggle the two jobs, supervisors, etc., keeps me more distracted. But, yeah, it can get really boring at times.

I quit for 2 years a few years ago because I was seriously burned out and felt brain dead, but when I started looking for work again could not stand the thought of going to an office, so here I am again.
I work 2 full time IC jobs and made just under 50K. nm

;


I'm a long-time Monrovian. Wouldn't work anywhere else. nm
nm
I work and do not have time to read such long posts, do you?..nm
nm
supposed to be, after people lose their jobs, they are forced to take part-time, lower-paying jobs..
with little to no benefits. service jobs. where are you going to work in a few years, when Medical Transcription is replaced by technology? McDonald's, Walmart? you really going to like that?
I found out a long time ago that there are two kinds of editing.. one is editing MTs work (like QA)
and the other is editing as in VR. I have done VR editing, but when I put down this as experience on a resume, I was asked by the HR person if this meant that I had "edited" other MTs work. I think there is a lot of confusion out there and I wish they would just keep that as QA instead of calling it editing. Just be clear in what you want to edit as most companies that expect you to "edit" other MTs in a QA position do require you have a lot of experience. If you just going for VR editing, which is what Transcend has available and there are a few companies out there doing VR, none of which I think really require much experience as it is easy to learn. Hope I made some sense and it can be pretty confusing on how companies use the term "editing" thus it effects their expectations as far as experience goes.
Too bad it hasn't dawned on her that paying you
Major 'duh' for her.
It's been a long, long time since I've used a C-phone, sm
but I do think jobs can be paused.
I had a problem with this for a long, long time sm
I have always worked days, like from 6-3. Over the last few years, it didn't matter how much sleep I got, I became real groggy between 7 and 11. Really shoots the day. Talked to my doctor and he said my blood pressure pills were the culprit but he refused to change me to another brand or dosage since I have multiple aneurysms (2 in the brain). My BP has been stable for a long time and he wants to "keep it on the low side". I tried taking them before I went to bed instead of early in the morning, but then I had headaches all day. So, I am changing to a night shift for a few months so I can sleep when those pills kick in and so far it is working pretty good. I stay mostly awake during my shift and die when I hit the bed from 6 am to 10 am, then I lay down again later in the afternoon for 2-3 hours. I still get 6-7 hours of sleep, it's just split up during the day, plus I am mostly awake now when I sit down to type. I don't have to deal with the heat in my office, either. It tends to warm up real fast in here with the south sun on the house and 2 pc's running all day, even with the air conditioner on.
Way back when, a long, long time
ago and in a galaxy far, far away, I had my own accounts also and some years cleared $75,000.  Yes it can be done, but you need to have your own accounts.  Also lots of delivery, and other duties involved.  I work for a large national now and make much less, but I got tired of accountants, having to deal with hardware problems, deadlines, driving deliveries, printing, printers, etc.  So I decided to simplify my taxes and stay home and just type.  Don't have to worry about computers either, because the company will just send me a new one. 
I've been doing this a long, long time...

I used to make $70,000 and up a year and did so for most of the late 80s and 90s (one girl used to make six figures a year working 7 days a week!)  Because we were making more money than the supervisors and Medical Records Directors in hospitals, they began to switch to transcription services which were sprouting up all over the place.  Plus AAMT came into existence and even though in the beginning it claimed it was to fight for transcriptionists (although assured us it was NOT a union), they eventually morphed into an organization that was more management friendly.  They developed the "guidelines" and the 65-char line.  That was the beginning of the end for those high-end wages.  Then all those mickey mouse transcription schools popped up, and now outsourcing overseas.  YES, we're complaining. 


Been in this biz a long, long time, 30+ years and....sm
I love/loved MTing. However, things have changed so much during these years. The job definitely gets easier; don't have to look up much, can decipher ESLs much easier, in other words, you get pretty comfortable with things and you have confidence in yourself. The more experience you have the easier the job, but....

I actually made more money 10 years ago!! We didn't have speech recognition and you actually got paid for headers/footers, demographics, carbon copies, etc., you got paid for what you did fairly; today, I am not so sure.

You will feel burned out at times, but that passes and you find you like your job again.

Good luck to you!!
How long does it take for you to download/upload jobs?
I am wondering if I have a slow connection or if it is DocQScribe uploading/downloading jobs too slow.  I have wireless internet because it is the only service available in my area besides dial up.  Would love to hear some feedback on this.  Thanks
Whatcha wanna bet these not so long lived jobs are the same few companies?
:P
The most jobs at 1 time were
4 but 3 were doing MTing. I eventually got down to 2 and those hrs were 5-2, took a nap and then 5-10 and worked those for several years. Eventually though it caught up with me and I got a really bad case of vertigo and neurologist suggested I might be working too much. Good money (actually these were like 2 full time jobs) but after quitting now is heaven to only work part-time and loving this.
Actually I think it's time for you to change jobs
You're a perfect example of what happens when a person has been out of social circulation for years. You're terminally hateful, angry, and certifiably insane. I actually feel sorry for you.  
Two full-time jobs here
It bites!!! I'm exhausted.
working two jobs at same time
Okay, this may be a strange question - but here goes...  Does anybody work two different jobs, are clocked in at the same time with both?   For instance, two different companies, two different computers, clock in with both jobs at the same time, do a couple of documents with one, go to other job and do a couple of jobs, and so on...? 
If you are productive at both jobs and are able to both at the same time, why...
is it criminal? 
Two jobs, 1 full-time, 1 IC (nm)
x
Where are all the part-time IC jobs?
It seems like most companies are only hiring 3rd shift, acute care, full-time employees right now. The few places that do hire PT don't pay diddly. Come on now, $.06-.075 cpl for someone with 10+ years of experience? Did the medical transcription market totally tank in the past year since I last tried to find a job? Where did all the good accounts go?
I work 7 days a week because I work 3 jobs.
Workaholic here who would seek counseling if I had the time. hahaha
Anybody working two full time jobs
Due to the lack of work (on a regular basis) with my current full time at-home job, I'm considering taking another full time job...7am to 3pm then 3pm to 11pm. I don't know what else to do. I can't afford to go days without meeting minimum line count because there is no work.

Am I nuts to try this?
My children don't have part-time jobs
For my kids, their job is to be excellent students and sons/daughters. As a parent, I pay for their financial obligations, and as long as they fulfill their end of the bargain (do exceptional in school and be respectful, successful, and good children), they will not be expected to have part-time jobs. They do volunteer work, however, so they do know the value of hard work. They are just not paid monetarily for it.

Plus, with as busy as they are (Boy Scouts, many sports, afterschool study groups, volunteer work, acting workshops, etc.), they simply don't have time to hold down a job.
It appears that each time you changed jobs, you went (sm)
down another rung on the ladder. Nurse, insurance rater, now MT. The next step is probably burger-flipper at McDonald's.
Take the time slowly to go thru some jobs and figure out
s
Only if you hold down 3 full-time jobs, and never

A long, long time ago, I was going thru
a really bad time emotionally and physically. I was suffering, and my transcribing suffered. I assure you - if you are to the point of not paying your rent, literally, and needing food stamps, there is something else going on in your life than current transcription rates. We are all in this industry and many are thriving, most getting along comfortably. If you are literally to the point of food stamps, you honestly would be a fool to continue. I blamed it on my job, on my line rate, on everything but the honest truth that I was ill and was NOT working as I should or could. It is a really sad thing that you keep spreading this propaganda that MTs in our culture are doomed and now destined for food stamps. Food stamps are not something to toss around lightly, as you would know if you ever had to use them. Please let's not be quite so dramatic. Again, if you are really in those dire straits, you really need to face that MTing is not the fit for you, personally, and do something about it rather than blame our industry. You dwell on the past, but we can't do that. While you may have made other wages 20 years ago, may I remind you that we were pounding away on IBM Selectrics using layers of paper and bottles of white out, going crazy trying to rewind tapes over and over to get that dang word, with no idea what an Expander was. Technology is fantastic. Things have changed, but things are still great in this industry, and in this world. Those who change and can adapt will be fine, but you need to recognize that most of us are not ready for food stamps.  
IC sets their own hours. As long as the work is done by the deadline, you decide when to work.

I have started many jobs with the undertanding that I already have time off scheduled. sm

Most companies who need MTs need them on a chronic basis.  If they find a "good hire" they will usually work with your upcoming time off or let you start after your time off.  I would be looking.  More people look at the first of the year because of benefits, so you might get a jump on them.


 


But can't a company say I need these jobs by X time? And then the IC can accept or decline?
:+
I have 2 jobs. One is full time at a hospital, the other is for a urologist in AZ. sm
The urologist in AZ doesn't dictate every single day, so I usually can spread him out over the week. I work 8 hours at my full time job and then if there is work to do from AZ, I usually type until about 10 or 11 o'clock at night. If it all gets done fine. If not he doesn't worry. He is happy wiht 48 hr TAT. But since he is so good to me, I really try to get it back within 24 hours. I break his Friday dictation into chunks over the weekend. So with everything factored in, between the two, I usually type anywhere from 8-12 hours a day. But not 7 days a week.
Working 2 full-time jobs (for a year now), and boy am I tired!!
.
I can do 1200 lines in 5 hours so with 2 full time jobs
I work on average of 9-10 hours a day.  When I sit down to work, I do not do anything but work.  I do not surf the net, etc.   Also, I am single and I live for my weekends so during the week I work hard.  I also have 2 kids so most of my work is done during their day at school and after they are in bed for the night.  I have a ton of short cuts in my Expander program too.  If I type something twice, I come up with a short cut for it.  Its not that hard.  I would try the one full time and one part time and see how your time is first and if it is okay, then I would bump it up gradually.  You don't want to burn yourself out but if you can do it and you have good accounts, go for it!!!!
Two jobs don't equal one when it comes to making money and not wasting time. sm
Recommend looking for one good job.
long time - nm
nm
long-time MT
I MUST do it this way. I don't trust myself otherwise. I've transcribed on typewriters, etc., and I just don't trust my eyes anymore. I'd rather take the cut in pay than trust my own document to be error-free. I also must read the report OUT LOUD to myself, otherwise I just don't catch the mistakes (grammar, etc.). We're talking some 4 and 5 page reports/documents the docs are transcribing, so I have to heavy proof myself. It's just that way anymore. I'd rather do that than some VR machine doing my job!
Yup, and have been for a long time (not me). nm
x
Did take a long time to get used to it? sm

And, I must confess to a bit of stupidity ....... the description talks about foot switches or whatever -- what's that about? 


Thanks for sharing! 


Now that was a long time ago

wow that's a long time on QA (m)
My daughter was a newbie, went to work for a company and does only private offices. She was off QA in a very short time.

I think you could ask when you might be off QA but if they want to QA you, let 'em. Who cares?
THANK YOU! A long time ago I
somehow shrunk my font using the internet, but had no idea how. It stayed that way. I can barely read certain pages. It is now fixed. Thanks! :)
I have been at this a long time

I try to encourage new MTs to learn as much as they can from their experiences.  The reason that companies do not hire new MTs is because they worry about production and having to utilize their QA staff.  I know it is a catch 22, but that is why it is best to try to work on-site for at least a year to gain some experience.  Most companies require a certain line count each and every day, which can be tough on a new MT that has to research and look things up.  I'm with you, not against you, and wish you all the best.  With anything, take the good advice and leave the bad advice alone. 


That is how it was for a long time, then someone
came up with this and we all got scr#wed. That's where the pay cuts started. Then came the slave labor competition (overseas workers who can't speak English to save their lives but apparently good enough to type our medical records! But ever read any? LOL) and speech recognition (so easy even a computer or data entry person can do it! Again, ever read any?). Bottom line is this is no longer considered a profession and nobody gives a rat's behind about the quality of medical reports as long as they're done quickly and inexpensively. But I guess that's what happens when a bunch of suits are in charge that wouldn't know a salpingo oophorectomy from a slapping pooperectomy (stole that one from an ASR Editor on this board - HA!) It's pretty scary, isn't it?
A long time ago I did

I was working for an attorney and he wanted me to get into court reporting so I would be able to travel with him as his private court reporter in his cases. I checked around and there was only 1 school in my state. It was a 3 year course and cost $10,000. Of course, I had to say no, as I couldn't afford it.


I had also checked at our county courthouse for transcribing the tapes and they showed me the ins and outs. For a job there, I didn't need schooling, just the smarts, was told that type of job is solid once you get in the door, but not to depend on it (waiting), as nobody quits. They retire...and the girls I talked to were my age, so that bummed me out, too. Gave up that idea, too.


MT was my 3rd choice. It's okay, but too stressful anymore.


 


That's what i use too (v. long time MT)
x