I do believe as stated in this discussion
Posted By: More to say on 2006-07-13
In Reply to: think of your own children if you have any....sm - casey
that we should care for them. I just want to respond to some things said. Yes, our parents have decades to prepare. But my parents worked very hard and were extremely smart with their money and had a good savings when my Dad became ill. However, to put him in a nursing home is thousands of dollars a month. His insurance paid 0 for it and Medicare only paid 20 days. For him to stay it would have drained every pain fast (and it did) and then he would get state aid of course. If you can at all help it, a nursing home is NOT where you want to put a loved one. Some are great if you can afford them, but even the ones you think are good can be very remiss in care. Trust me, I've seen it. They're grossly understaffed and some employees should not be in that field, enough said. I don't and didn't at ANY time feel caring for my Dad was a burden. I did feel it was my responsibility. He's a member of my family. If my brother or sister became ill and had no family to care for them, I would certainly feel it's my responsible to at the very least help them get care but for certain to make sure they're cared for. I can't say how a person should feel towards an abusive parent since thankfully I have no experience in that. No, I wouldn't want to 'burden' my children with caring for me when I'm old. But if I raise them right and I happen to need care, I would hope they would feel privileged and blessed like I did, to help make sure I get what I need.
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Trying to keep this discussion near the top... SM
not because I am egocentric and feel I need to be at the top, but because I just don't want to have to scroll down and look for it every time I have something to add. So, it's not arrogance, it's convenience. Also I would just like to add that I posted my "credentials" so to speak because I was asked to defend my position with what made me qualified to talk about poor MTs.
Anyway, I don't know if I could be classified as an old-timer as I've not had to transcribe on manual typewriters from belts, but I did start out in transcription in the late 80s, right before the internet boom. So I did start out in an office with other MTs who could lend me an ear and give me advice, but most of them were old-timers who felt lost when the internet did hit and changed our profession forever. So all of my computer skills, internet skills, and researching skills are self-taught out of necessity. Because I took the time and made the effort to hone my internet and research skills, I moved up the transcription food chain and moved passed a lot of the old-timers who trained me. I guess I just have no patience for "old-timers" who wear their years of experience like a badge of honor, but then use those same years as an excuse for not using the internet efficiently.
I am more than willing to educate or mentor an MT, whatever it takes, but the MT has to want and accept constructive criticism gracefully instead huffing and puffing about how mean and evil QA is. Most of the time MTs ignore their feedback and make the same mistake again and again. I can quote chapter and verse out of the BOS to an MT trying to illustrate why they are wrong and it will not matter. They see "QA" on an email in their inbox and automatically hit delete without a passing glance.
I am not the enemy in this war called transcription. MTs and QA should be allies against offshoring and we should be trying to elevate our status in health information chain, but we can't be allies and we can't accomplish anything if MTs are constantly paranoid that QA is "out to get them." The sad truth is that eventually we QA people are going to have no other options except unemployment or educating the Indian MTs and ironically the Indian MTs will welcome any feedback that will help them get more work from American MTs.
To all those who posted that I have a big head and have launched personal attacks, I would say you the ones who are arrogant and big headed if you can't just accept that you are wrong sometimes and you can always learn something new and maybe you can learn that something new from me, the QA person who has proven her skills, passed a harder employment test, to get the QA job I have today.
You can call me names and insult me, but the truth hurts and obviously those who are defensive have reason to be.
Well, we were having this discussion about VR in -
the past, maybe 10 years ago, and it never amounted to much of a threat. Considering the amount of trouble I have (and the mistakes I make) just using the touch-screen in the supermarket self-checkout line, I wonder how it will work with your average, technology-challenged doctor.
I also have to wonder - how would such reports be QA'ed? I assume they'd go straight to a medical record, & with no voice file to check against, or worse yet, the doc doing his OWN proofing, I feel I could look into a crystal ball and say, 'I see lawsuits!'
;D
LOL same discussion on another board but it was regarding a SM
wildlife cam and people didn't want others posting about it - is the same thing as saying "I demand you entertain me by posting what *I* want to hear about."
this isn't a religious discussion...sm
I didn't ask for *religious* advice, I simply asked for opinions...that's not religious...I know what God thinks about this subject...
"House" discussion!!!
 What are everybody's thoughts on the show tonight regarding House and Stacy. Do you think he told her no because:
A: He feels he is not good enough for her.
B: He does not want to hurt Mark after Mark came to see him.
C: He feeds off his misery and can't give that up.
What a great show, great lines tonight.
See the recent discussion
on page 2 or 3 of the company board.
My involvement in this discussion ...
... was not meant to be inflammatory. I arrived on this site out of interest and was naturally drawn to this thread, however, I was not prepared to stand by while some of the posters spoke about Third World countries and denigrated our physicians and specialists - would you? I responded to an intelligent post by Dinosaur, I had no idea it would get as out of hand as this. The fact of the matter is our specialists do not outsource, they definitely do not send offshore. The work I do is for specialists for whom I physically worked for many years ago, the work I do offshore is not for any US companies, it is directly for physicians and specialists that have come to me via my website. I have had all of my clients for the past six years. Yes, I work for a lower rate of pay than you do, but I can assure you the cost of living is not cheap here; I need to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week and I am grateful for the work that I have and I really do value my clients. I turn the work around within 1 – 12 hours, they never have to wait for work. I am at the end of a line, all day, every day, should they need any urgent reports done. All I am saying is, do not underestimate people who live elsewhere in the world and their needs and willingness to work as hard as you do.
A.
Interesting discussion about it
Over at MT Chat. One of the posters somehow found all the old info about the site ownership.
we had this discussion a while back -
The problem is, you are not increasing your pay, you are increasing your production. Of course they don't care how much you type because they are making money off all your lines - they want you to be productive - they don't care who produces. What you type is just something somebody else does not have to type.
Anyway, good luck - and I hope you make what you need to make. I for one have not had enough any work for 2 months and am sitting here from morning until night downloading jobs and typing them as they come in.
So far, I am a month behind on my rent and I don't know where the money is going to come from for it next month, because I am not making enough to pay it even if I don't pay anything else.
So, is the company in the discussion below
that is going to VR and dropping the rate from 10cpl to 3cpl MDI-MD? I am dying to know what they are going to be paying for VR. If they are dropping the rate that much, with their stellar reputation for caring about their transcriptionists, perhaps all hope is lost.
Can somebody please spill the beans!
Check discussion below (sm)
about the microsoft ergo keyboard with the "zoom" key. Hope that helps!
I wasn't even talking about that discussion down there
because someone besides BusyMT was doing the same thing to other people, telling them what to do and how to feel. Then this person was being overly dramatic and defensive whenever anyone responded to her, no matter how rational or emotion-free our posts were. If it's not PMS, a full moon, or a hangover, what is it then? Jealousy? Bitterness? Just because some of us CHOOSE this profession and can make decent money at it, why does this person have to attack us personally? And WHY do the moderators let her get away with it? If you hate this profession so much, find your heart's desire and go for it. I promise you that there is something out there that will make you happy. You just need to find it. Flaming people anonymously on a message board is NOT your happy spot.
Isn't this considered a policitical discussion?
Along with daycare, mothers working, breastfeeding in public, cosleeping, religion, politics, and all those other hot topics that are just going to flame anyways?
To discussion of Katrina victims
Everyone is playing the blame game. It doesn't matter who did what or did not do now. What matters now is to go on with life and reach in our hearts (Although some of you do not seem to have one) and give to the less fortunate. This disaster will not only effect those in the coastal areas. This will effect the whole United States and the world in some form or another. Louisiana had a population estimated at 4 million. More than a 1/4 of that population is without homes. Can you imagine the indignity they indure living in shelters? As a Louisiana resident, I would like to point out that the victims in the media are not the only victims. They are the poorest of poor. They do have many families and individuals that are displaced, living with relative, hotel rooms, no jobs. Other states have taken in many of the victims but there are small rural communities and cities all over Louisiana itself that have taken in these people. In the small high school in my community, enrollment went up by 200 students almost doubling the student body. The small Catholic school my son attends took in over 40 students. Grocery stores running out of food because the extra people and trucks being delayed. The list of changes and difficulties go on.
Like 9/11, this disaster will forever change America. Not all of the changes will be bad although it seems that way now. This is the time people should stick together and focus on the good things that are happening, not the few people that take advantage of the situation or the people who have no souls and think of themselves. Take an active roll in helping these people, you are not only helping them, you are also helping yourself and the whole country. I have visited the shelters and I have close friends who have actually gone to help with the rescue. Again, this did not just happen to the gulf coast.
I will continue to say an extra prayer for all victims, and especially those of you who seem not to have a heart or soul where others are concerned.
I had a similar discussion yesterday.
"Oh, you should get a job at the school district. They need cafeteria workers and it would work great with your kids' schedules."
I don't think so! They pay $7 an hour to feed and clean up after other peoples' munchkins! If I *ever* decided to work outside the home again, it'd be something that uses my education and pays way more. Hubby butted in and said that I make at least three times what they do in a year by working at home. That started the, "Oh, really? I've always thought about doing that. Where do you work?"
It all started with a discussion about bankruptcy or something like that.
With this new board format, the name and email automatically get carried over to your next posts. Honestly, it doesn't matter to me what name someone uses. Sometimes you have to let people on these boards know your areas of expertise or else they'll keep on arguing even when they know nothing about the topic of discussion. I happen to like fbm (former bank manager) because she's real and knows what she's talking about.
Bringing up hurricane discussion
Just for some other information. When Hurricane Rita hit in Texas, i.e. Jasper, Beaumont area, these people were not prepared. They were not prepared because hurricanes do not come in that far inland. The Jasper area is one of the areas where most hurricane victims evacuate too. There are people in that area that are still without power including elderly people and children. Most of the surrounding areas (Pineland, Rosevine, Hemphill) are retirement areas. These are also low income areas as well. These people definitely would not have expected the hurricane to effect them in the way that it did, but it did.
Also, people in Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas were effected from it as well. Again, a hurricane never has come close to these areas and these areas are also where evacuees come. During the time we had evacuees from Galveston, Beaumont, Houston, and still the ones we had from Louisiana drained the resources that we did have here (not saying anything negative by this – just a statement). None of the businesses could get trucks in to deliver gas, food, ice, water, etc. When we did get gas delivered, the lines were so long that people were waiting 9-10 hours to get gas and of course by the time most got up there, it was gone again. This went on for several days. Even the Wal-Mart here and in Nacogdoches was only able to be open a few hours a day and for the first few days after the hurricane because of the amount of extra people in these areas, they finally had to limit the number of people they were allowing in the store at a time.
Some of you say, people should be prepared. I do agree and especially more so if you live in a coastal area. However, these people affected in the areas I mentioned above do not live on the coast; however, were heavily impacted by this natural disaster. You are saying these people don't deserver help?! Well let me tell you this. When we had a lot of LA evacuees here, FEMA stepped in and for a lot (not all of course) they received $2000.00 for help with housing, another $600.00 for food, and there $400.00 for something else (honestly do not remember what it was).
However, my mother and father-in-law who are elderly went 14 days without power, lost everything in the freezer and refrigerator, and they are also raising 2 of their grandchildren (both young teenagers). They were unable to get FEMA to help with anything.
I guess the point is this. Before spouting off about who needs to do what or who the government does or does not need to help (or where you tax monies go), you might want to think about the fact that this was a natural disaster and therefore, no one can ever really be prepared for one. I hope none of you ever have to deal with anything like this. It is not a pretty site in this area right now. Clean up is still going on. There are still trees down on houses and cars. How would you feel if this were you?
By the way, yes I do feel that my family was very lucky to come through it unscathed; however, some were not so lucky.
Just my 2 cents.
It is but there is nothing wrong with Christmas discussion here.
/
Discussion boards!! (can't resist, lol)
 and other distracting Internet surfing, neglected art projects on the desk behind me, sunny outside, new powder on ski hill, new German Shepherd pup....
There was a discussion not long ago that they outsource
I was checking into them, but when I read all the controversy over their outsourcing (one person said the owner was from India, I believe), I changed my mind. I can't remember what all was said, but maybe you can go back about a month or so ago and find the conversation. Good luck with your search!
Whenever I bid an account, I have a frank discussion about TAT...
really only ER and X-ray need dictation back within 24 hours. For the rest of 'em, it's just a convenience. I explain as a small MTSO I don't want to be the one telling the MT who is sick with the flu that she HAS to get it done. None of my clients have ever complained about their TAT, which range anywhere from 24-48 to 1 week.
Yes. Leave discussion of other websites off this one, please. (NM)
Goldbird
I didn't really mean to start that discussion
In my rather limited experience all nationals pay pretty poorly. Honestly, 9 cpl is pretty good for a clinic account at a national. I just didn't know how much of a difference the spaces make in the long run, nor do I have any idea how much paying for headers and footers will add (and those aren't typed).
This whole discussion has turned to blanks, but -
it's about so much more than that. That was only a fer-instance. What my rant is REALLY about is that we are an educated and skilled specialty in the world of white-collar business. I can't understand why our country has allowed a decent-paying job to be trashed by outsourcing.
We lose money, so we end up paying less taxes. The big corporations are given a tax-break by offshoring, so they pay less taxes. The offshore workers pay no taxes. So where is the benefit if I finally give up and go on the dole in order to survive. One more taxpayer bites the dust. If we ALL go, the poor little wealthy darlings of the upper class will start having to pay their fair share and more, if there is no longer a middle class whatsoever.
Speech recognition discussion
In reading the news release posted below about Nuance buying escription, I was wondering how different SR platforms are working for us MTs. I do ASR on DQS and have found that on my main account the ASR is pretty good, so I don't have to make tons of changes.
I tend to like doing the speech recognition and here is why I think that is so in my case:
If I get my primary account it recognizes pretty well and I don't get much junk to have to change.
Also, I can usually turn the speed to the fastest whereas straight transcription is usually about the halfway point for me, so I think I am getting it done faster.
Another thing is that I never did get into the habit of really tweaking my Expander the way a lot of other MTs have. I have seen some say they put anything that takes more than 3 characters into an expander. I am getting better about this but not to that degree, so I think SR is faster for me.
I think I have some carpal tunnel issues starting up so I can't transcribe for as long a stretch as I can edit.
All that being said, about 25% of my work still comes through as straight transcription and it is a good thing because that significantly affects my hourly rate for the better, so I am not losing lots of $, although I have lost some. 
So my question is two-fold: If you do SR, what system are you using? What has things specifically have made it better/worse for you?
Per discussion below...don't question, just type.
If they want to pray...type it.
If they want to swear...type it.
Who are we to question what goes in the medical record.
OP also stated.....
"obviously upper middle class"....so that does definitely have a bearing on the response made. There are so many variables here as well as trying to compare almost apples and oranges. I'm very sorry that happened to the little girl, but they knew she had been already for for 14 hours; they don't even know where Holloway is; she was in a foreign country when she disappearing and said foreign country is not sharing any information. There is a big difference between these two cases.
With all that being said, I do absolutely agree on one thing; there has been way too much coverage on Natalee Holloway. I don't believe they will ever find her. It was much too easy to throw her weighted body into the ocean or, maybe she was sent into South America to be used as "whatever they wish to make her do". I haven't heard any reports on incoming or outgoing flights from Aruba during that night have you? All it takes is a little single engine plane to do the job.
What I stated before was---
I don't object to people breaking into food stores for water or food, but why do they need to steal TV sets, break into people's homes to steal jewelry, guns, etc. That is STEALING, folks, like it or not. Why do they need to steal TV sets now when there is no power to begin with??? If they were just taking items that they needed to survive, that's one thing, but to take advantage of a horrible situation is reverting to the law of the jungle. The fact that these IDIOTS are SHOOTING AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO HELP THEM IS A CRIMINAL ACT! As I have said many times before on this board-- a situation like this brings out the best in some people and the worst in others! The ones who are doing all the looting, shooting, rapes, etc. already had that mentality and are just using this as an excuse. They are not helping anybody by doing this, including themselves.
Yes, it should be stated that 500 lph
Not many people can crank out 500 lph and if they do, it's because the account has many normals and templates. That's rare, especially in acute care.
Even if you could transcribe 500 lph, 6 cpl is still WAY TOO LOW. Do not accept that rate of pay unless you feel that's all your work is worth.
Who stated they took the AHP
I am actually a graduate from one of the top 3 schools, never had any problems finding a job after school. It is a disappointing field to get into, people expect you to work like a worker in a sweat shop. I especially feel bad for people who have been in this business for many, many years, have the CMT credential and don't get the pay they deserve. In all actuality, it doesn't matter where you got your training or your credientials, you still don't get paid what you are worth.
However, I am glad I researched the schools 3 years ago before getting sucked into one of the diploma mills.
As stated below...
...the pedal you currently have should be compatible to play .wav files.
I had one the other day that stated
Patient was given an insect at 150 mg per hour for 12 hours. Yuk!
Did anyone hear the discussion on radio last night about (sm)
If this evolves as planned, there will be no typing at all by 2010. 
Oh, not this discussion again. I haven't had a credit card
account in over 10 years now, and I do just fine. That includes reserving hotel rooms and rental cars, buying plane tickets. I live on a cash basis within my means. Nobody needs a credit card.
If I were you, I'd take the hospital job, but ONLY after a very clear and frank discussion w/
the woman who has been refusing to hire you for the last few years. Why would she hire you NOW and not then? Is there a problem you or she need to address? But frankly, you could take a LOT less at the hospital, when you figure in, ON PAPER YOU SHOULD DO THIS, but figure in the 2-3 months down time every year, and the $600 a month in insurance. If you are over 45, you should count, too, on having niggling health problems coming up, and you could need paid time off AND non-cancellable health insurance for that.
If you and the hiring lady can iron out the wrinkles, I'd much prefer the hospital.
Is this for a conference, round-table discussion, or what? nm
s
Discussion re padding counts. Anyone remember where it was?
nm
LOL, we just had this discussion thru e-mail at my company yesterday!...sm
Sometimes they get so confused down thru the list, that I am no longer sure what number we are on. Number next would be great, we can count! I always thought they said the numbers to keep track of what diagnosis, medication, etc they were on. Guess not?? 
It's Transolutions, as stated above.
/
Excuse me, but as has been stated
very different. I'm happy that you have a good one, but we don't all get bonuses...even if we have excellent QA. So how 'bout gettin' off the high horse and jumping to conclusions when you may not have all the FACTS?
As I stated right at the beginning....
If it were ME, I would be blaming myself. Each and everyone of us are responsible, one way or another, as to what happens in our lives. Too many people over the past so many years find it much easier to place the blame elsewhere. That is one of the problems with our society. I was "accused" of being an over-protective parent as my child grew up, but guess what, he never, ever even came close to an incident such as that, or close to being kidnapped or any of the other things going on in the world; didn't fall down steps; wasn't involved as a passenger in a car accident, wasn't around drug users or "bad" people, because I PAID ATTENTION...I didn't allow accidents. Accidents are only LACK OF ATTENTION and lack of common foresight!
Also, my "over-protectiveness" did not in any way inhibit my child's growth. He is a Gunnery Sargeant in the Marine Corps and handles great responsibility well and has the foresight and the attention needed to prevent accidents!
As for the driver of that car, I'm not trying to "take their side"....I'm just saying we don't know what the circumstances were....my goodness, we have all run over something in the road at one time or another and when the weather is inclement or it is dark, sometimes you don't know what it is. I would certainly hope that if they knew it was a child, of if they find out through newscoverage that they ran over a child, that they will come forward. I'm sure that at least 99.9999% of people out there will not willfully run over anyone. Perhaps he/she looked down at the dashboard or the left rear window for just that one second and felt a thump as he car moved on. Probably wondered what it was but had no idea whatsoever that it was a child....why would any driver in their right mind think that a 2 year old was out on the highway at 2:00 AM or midnight or whenever it was????? 
as stated below, sounds like
office mangers padding their own pockets, NOT MQ policy... I would take it all the way to corporate
You have just stated my feelings exactly. nm
xx
The letter I got clearly stated that you can opt out
of ASR and do strictly MT. I was told when I trained on DEP that at some point there would be a reduction for those doing ME. I see no reason to bail, as my office, at least, was up front with me. It's unfortunate if some offices were not.
It would be x3 or 3 times if stated
that way.
That was NOT how you stated, read
I am glad I don't do you line counts either, but I can bet they are not 2500 in 8 hours!!!
spaces are usually stated -- with or without
it's no trick at all
if they say just 65 characters, i would think spaces are not paid
yes, you could call them and that is what you should do
No I meant what I stated.
Taxes and other deductions come out of the $730/750 a week.
The monetary value of company provided health insurance, PTO, STD, LTD, life insurance, retirement, company matched income tax, etc., adds about another 30% plus value to my base pay.
not one name nor team name was stated....nm
.
She stated they were using them in emails,
x
Thanks for replies. As stated, sm
I do plan to ask the MTSO about it. I just wondered if it was more commonplace with smaller-sized MTSOs. Patti, that makes sense - the MTSO is in a small town, so maybe they are used to working on trust.
I've seen a lot of MTs not getting paid lately, and I have been burned in the distant past by a few, myself. I did receive a reply on here about the co., but then I thought, shoot, it could've even been the MTSO answering for all I know!
Thanks. I appreciate the opinions. No, I'm not brainless and I would never make a final decision based solely on opinions on a message board. Only wanted information since I don't have past experience with small MTSOs and how they usually operate. Once I said yes, I'd work for them, I received work right away, same day. I knew they were swamped and figured we'd do contracts later once things settled. Only worked a couple files here and there, then the big project issue came up and I thought hmmmm.... is this wise? LOL Probably being overly paranoid, but it's hard not to be with so many MTs being stiffed and usually by what seem to be smaller companies. Thanks again!
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