I have an extremely good platform,
Posted By: MTer on 2009-06-11
In Reply to: I am not flaming, but, please, how can you do this, - ()
and like I said read extremely fast and just easy. My VR is apparently not like others on here because very few errors and we have to catch them, cannot just do half. One will not be able to do the basic amount for work on VR IF they do not have a good platform and are not fast. I always go fast forward on audio 8 hours a day. That is the way I work.
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I'd go back to IE6. I had IE7 and it was extremely buggy especially with the platform for my emp
It froze up all the time. Would shut down and give me that annoyting "send error report" message and I finally said this is for the birds and went back to IE6. Personally, I don't see what was so great about IE7 versus 6, but then again I don't understand why Microsoft feels we need a new OS every other year!
Mo Money, MO Money!
Good platform
Much better than some other platforms out there. Once you get used to it, it will go very smoothly.
EXText itself is a good enough platform, but all
What the MTSO sets EXText up to pay MT's for lines is what determines how many lines you can get, and also as you said, the dictators. You can only get as many lines as the MTSO allows you to get with EXText. They control those ropes -- tell the platform how to pay and for what to pay on each report from each facility that you transcribe for. That is the way MTSO makes their money.
My VR platform is sooooo good that
some reports are almost 100% correct, very little editing required. I have noticed, though, it gets he and she mixed up and also does not know its numbering so usually watch those carefully. I am so custom to editing now that I see words everywhere that someone should have "edited."
Webchart MD -- is it a good platform?
Hi there,
Can anyone tell me if WebchartMD is an efficient platform? I'm thinking about subcontracting with someone who uses it but would love to know beforehand if it's a good platform before I commit.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Peacebug
MS Word platform--who are the good companies?
I have been applying for and training for jobs for weeks now. I have been accepted by a number of top companies, but I have found their word Expanders to be a big problem. I have trained on a couple of sites already and ended up turning them down because of this.
By now I have thousands of entries into MS Word/Smartype, and if I have to start with a new Expander without the ability to import my words, phrases, templates, etc., from Smartype, I just cannot afford the time for the learning curve.
The technical aspect of transcription has always been my weak point, so this is perhaps a bigger issue with me than it would be with others.
Right now I am willing to take even a mediocre line rate, providing it is an employee position with benefits and it is in MS Word so I would have some hope of making a living.
Is there any hope for me? Does anybody have any good companies to recommend who work in MS Word?
We are at the point of losing our house and land. This is serious!
iChart...is this a good or bad platform to work on?
Any info appreciated. I have never worked on this platform. TIA
I would like some information about the ExText platform, good or bad. Thank you. nm
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An excellent platform and a good line rate with plenty of work -
Then leave me alone and let me do my thing! :-)
Emdat platform?? Good, bad or ugly? Any info is appreciated. Thanks in advance. NM
/
MTSO with platform versus no platform (big message)
If a MTSO advertises that the MT works in MS Word and sends dictation by FTP, does this usually mean there will be no demographic/doctor database and the demographics will not be autopopulated?
I got into a mess with a small company (got out real quickly too). I was required to print out daily email copies of the doctors' office patient schedules (which were barely legible) and type in all information. I spent more time hunting for the correct patient through pages and pages of these schedules. Then I had about 25 pages worth of doctor's names that I would have to go through to find the attending, referring, etc. A total waste of time as I didn’t get paid for that.
I wish MTSO would give more information as to what platform they use (if any). Proprietary software is such a generic, totally useless description. Would they buy a new car that listed, "Car has gasoline operated motor?"
And for Pete's sakes, why so secretive about the pay? Give a ballpark figure. Just say, pay is between 7-12 cpl depending on skill, testing, etc. Tell me if you pay for spaces, headers, etc. It would save them time because I wouldn’t even apply for a 7 cpl job.
Before I spend an hour or two testing, I need more information from a company to be sure it is compatible for my needs. If the MTSO would spend a little time on their website detailing their platform, how they send/receive files, pay rates, how line rate is determined (spaces/no spaces) employee/IC/SE status, minimal line count, whether work pools consist of 100s of doctors, or smaller pools with 25-50 doctors etc. Having all this information on their website would save them time and the MTs time. Phoenix Medcom has a really good layout describing pretty much everything an MT would want to know before testing with them. I am just tired of testing with a company and then finding out the job wasn’t exactly suited to my needs. 
Platform versus non-platform (templates)?
I've been working for MTSOs for years now, using their templates which sometimes cause productivity problems (macro issues, etc). I'm wondering if productivity is increased when working on a structured platform, such as one that a national company provides for its transcriptionists? I've never used a platform, but it would seem that all one needs to do is straight type onto the screen and the platform program takes care of margins, page breaks, etc?
Any thoughts (as well as companies who are hiring who use platforms) would be appreciated. Thanks
Extremely helpful - thank you!!! nm
nm
It was extremely perverted.
Be grateful they took it off. I would repost whatever you had to say.
this is extremely sad. I started on with MQ
0.0775 cpl. You're only going to get desperate newbies with that pay. If you want an "experienced" MT as you say, pay them what their experience is worth.
They are extremely close.
From what I know of both companies, oddly enough it is MQ catching up to changing its operations to par with Spheris with the new Rewards Plan.
However, while Spheris has already had their compensation/benefits package settled for a while, they seem to be aggressively pursuing purchasing other companies and increasing their offshore entities.
MQ seems to be focusing on it's US clientele.
MQ has ASR and if Spheris has it, I haven't heard of it yet. I would imagine ASR came in with a recent purchase if Spheris has much in the way of it right now.
You are welcome.
ok now I see it - extremely annoying. NM
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I am extremely careful
Geesh, June. I am extremely careful, and my girls have been told not to open the door unless they know the person on the other side. You know children do not always listen. I had been down the hall using the bathroom, and my 13yo thought the 16yo had stepped outside and locked herself out. Since it was a soft knock and a familiar one, she thought she knew who was on the other side. When she realized it wasn't who she thought it was, she shut the door right away and came and told me there was a man in our garage. We've lived here for 10 years, and this is the first time anyone other than family has knocked on that door. There isn't a lot of crime in our area, and we leave our garage door most of the time. We never have any problems. I know...there's always a first time....never say never and all that...but I am careful.
A couple of weeks ago, religious solicitors walked up to our door. I was working, and my 16yo opened the door to them because they were women. Not anyone she knew, but she opened the door because she didn't find women to be intimidating. That's why I say children don't always listen to what you say.
After those Missouri boys were abducted in rural areas, I've talked to my girls again about being careful, beiing aware and watching out for each other.
My hubby thinks I'm paranoid. I'm the type to keep my doors locked at all times, day or night, and he thinks it's silly because we're in a rural area and probably fine. When I dispute the point with stories from the news, his rebuttal is that a locked door will not keep out someone who wants in. Maybe not...but they'll be a lot more noisy trying to get past that locked door than they would an unlocked door.
It works extremely well for me. sm
I am in a very, very rural area as stated; all woods. I was also told it works as good as your cell works. Our cells are "patchy" in this area, but are fine in our home and we have all metal roof too, which usually causes outages but not in our case. I was constantly frustrated with Wildblue and no signals on bright sunny days even. Like I said, in 3 months I have not had one problem with losing a signal and I am on the net 24/7 almost literally, lol. I know in my case, they gave a 30-day refund in case it didn't work out for you. So I would say give it a try first and if it doesn't pick up well for you, then look into HughesNet. The wireless was the BEST move I have made period and I am extremely happy. I did call tech suport on it when first setting up and the hold was very minimal and tech was very helpful. I was fixed and up and running within 5 mins with AT&T. Now I will say my first bill was also about $170 as they bill in advance so I had to pay first month and then 2nd month, but to get started all I paid was for the USB thing itself. Oh, if you do go with wireless, don't get the "cards", get a USB one that way you can change it from different computers and be mobile with it rather than just working in 1 computer. Say if you have laptop and desktop you would switch the USB between computers and if you got a "card" it would only work in one of the computers, the one which you bought it for.
Anybody else notice extremely low IC pay?
I have always worked as an IC acute care transcriptionist. My line rates have always exceeded what an MT can make as an employee, which is only logical because as an IC, you have to pay your own taxes, no benefits, etc. I always peruse job listings on this and other boards, just to see what's out there. Lately, I have noticed a disturbing trend. It seems like most MT companies/MTSOs are only offering .08/line for IC. Unless that is for a gross line (and goodness knows gross lines are a thing of the past), that is outrageous!! When you consider that an IC has to pay approximately 15% of his/her income in self-employment taxes alone, that means a net rate of about .068/line! While .08/line for employee status is still low (in my opinion), at least social security and medicaid taxes are paid, and there are usually benefits, PTO, etc.
If I were an MTSO, I would be embarrassed to offer .08/line to any quality IC MT. For a newbie, sure. But for any MT worth his/her salt, .08/line for IC is an insult.
I know that competition with overseas firms makes it seem necessary for American transcription companies to lower their MT pay in order to be competitive. However, American MTSOs will never be able to compete solely on price; overseas transcription companies will always be able to do it cheaper. It is a slippery slope that has already lead to the failure of many American transcribing firms. The question for American transcription companies should not be can we do it cheaper, but can we do it better??
In today's market, American MTSOs need to stand their ground and quit underselling themselves and undervaluing the value of their American transcription workforce. American MTSOs need to start marketing themselves differently, stressing quality, accuracy, dependability, security, and good old fashioned patriotism. I don't care how low the overseas companies can bid a job. There is no way they can compete with the quality and accuracy of American transcriptionists. I myself have worked for an MTSO who lost a contract to a firm in India, only to have them beg her to take them back a few months later because the quality of the overseas work was so horrible. I am quite sure this is not an isolated incident.
While there are always going to be hospitals that will try to get by on the cheap, there are also hospitals and doctor's offices who realize that they get what they pay for and will put quality first. If you compare transcription services to cars, overseas work is the Hyundai while American transcriptionists are the Cadillac. Cadillac would never slash its prices to compete with the cheaper imports. They know that they have to cater to their own market, people with more discriminating tastes.
I am fortunate enough to work for a company that realizes the value of its services and takes the stronger, wiser stance. They are not after contracts at any cost. They will pass up work if they have to bid ridiculously low just to get it. And guess what? Any bid that only allows you to offer your IC transcriptionists .08/line IS TOO LOW!! And any quality MT is not going to stick around at those rates.
I find it is extremely so! sm
THe other thing is, unless you are ultra fast or so wonderful you are in high demand, you won't make a living at it. I know some cake decorators and it is high pressure. I could make and decorate 3 cakes in a day, of the 2 or 3 layer variety, but they wanted 10 or 12 just the decorated part. I found that daunting myself.
I can only make one of my signature cakes a year (heart shaped cake covered with handmade, real buttercreme roses...think about 150 to 200 roses) about once a year and I need to have time off of work to recuperate anymore. My hands ache and ache!
I get extremely car sick
I posted on the gab board and while I was typing this message moved, so am copying my reply here too in case the other message gets lost -
I get extremely motion sick in a car. I cannot read at all. I can't even read maps to help husband in areas we don't know (can't tell you how many arguments we still have over this and it's been 25 years), and if there are a lot of road signs I can't read them, therefore I would imagine that if you can't read due to motion sickness typing would be hard, because as an MT I am always reading what I type to make sure there are no typo's or I don't hit a wrong key. A couple years ago we took a drive to the Mendocino coast in California. Lots and lots of curves. I thought maybe I had grown out of it (motion sickness), but my DH had to keep pulling over. I was so sick it was awful.
If you take a product like dramamine it will make you drowsy (I should know cos I'm the Queen of Dramamine) Taken enough of it at different times and I end up sleeping through the trip if I take it. I'm not sure if they have any non-drowsy. A lady did tell me once that I should eat a little carbohydrate before I travel and that might help. Again, a big "might" and I don't want to take that chance.
I think the biggest problem with typing while a vehicle is moving is the constant movement of the keyboard. If you go over a bump or hit a rock or swerve, your sure to hit a wrong key. I'm not sure I know of any employer who would allow this. I'd be more apt to be looking at the scenery rather than concentrate on what I'm typing.
You are EXTREMELY lucky...
I can't remember the last time I even took a day off, let alone a week or weeks. I've often put in way more hours in a week than you say you work regularly and still have never come close to the kind of money you're making.
You would need to be extremely fast on your
computer in order to straight type 3000 lines per day. I never did that many and said before, used to have people seek me out in the office as they would hear me typing fast and they wanted to watch me. Straight probably for me never got over 2500 if that. Having said that, had 2 bosses at different times and would be willing to say both probably consistently got that per day. Your speed, I would think, would have to be around 150 to 160 or higher. Can you do that?
Ugh - how extremely nauseating and immature -
nm
I don't think that's " a big IF." That is an extremely sturdy structure. sm
It has a drainage system in the lower levels so it's not like it's going to fill up like an aquarium. It also has an extensive generator system, so it's not going to turn into a giant greenhouse effect. They did not direct people there "to contain the bodies."
Either you started at an extremely low line
rate to begin with or you are blowing smoke. I personally don't believe a word you say.
If you are so extremely thin and beautiful,
then why are you on this site. Are you a transcriptionist. If you are as beautiful and thin as you say you are, I doubt very seriously that you'd be typing for a living.
That was extremely rude & uncalled for.
Noone deserves to be harrassed or "kicked' when they're down!!
I have tried one- extremely hard on my knees
xx
Thought this was extremely old news
nm
Yes...extremely low volume since just after Christmas! nm
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This is extremely dangerous reasoning. SM
It isn't what the "suits" are saying, it is what they are doing. These are two totally different and separate entities. My God, are you so complacent that you cannot even take a look around and see the face of the future? No one is telling anyone to not just "be happy." A little foresight and present thinking is imperative, not only in the MT world but in many other areas of business, especially IT. It's all going over to Asia and it's all same-same there.
Extremely well put Witch...regardless of personal..
religious beliefs..we could ALL learn to be better "people" from how the Amish treat their fellow humas.
Um, in this country!?!? lol Extremely common.
Poor grammar is everywhere, unfortunately, and ya can't fix what they don't know. ;)
not absurd, just extremely exceptional,
nm
That was an extremely eloquent post!
.
Extremely welcome, Anon. Just passing it on like much came from others. nm
x
extremely tired, oh yeah.
It took a while to finally get it into a routine. I also have two small kids 5 and 7 at home. Once you find your happy medium and get in a groove it really is not that bad. Also being an IC at home helps my scheduled stay flexible so I still get to attend ball games or school functions. If you have to take on a second job, start small and work your way up taking on a little more at a time that way you don't get too overwhelmed. Plus being an IC you get to set your pay, working for a national only gives you what they offer, which all to often is not even close to what a MT is worth. Hope this helps and good luck.
If you have only been on QA for no more than 1 day then you either have extremely easy accounts....s
Or you are one heck of a MT. If that is the case whoever you work for should hold on to you. I just don't think it is common unless it is a certain specialty you are just real familiar with.
Their software is extremely slow, the slowest
I have ever worked on. And their server is down a great deal of the time. If you need to make money, pay your bills, and feed yourself, Axolotl is not the place to work.
Just an extremely simple Word macro SM
I'll try and explain it. I'm no Word genius, I PROMISE.
You get in a document you're typing.
Macros
Record new macro
I made mine a keyboard macro, you name it, assign it (mine happens to be alt. alt period)
Then you go:
Edit
Find
. (period space space is what that is supposed to be)
Replace . (period space)
Replace all.
In the parentheses is the keys I pushed. I don't know how else to explain it but it's the alt Key and the period Key.
There's bound to be a "real" way to do it, but I just bumbled through this way.
Not to mention extremely dangerous for your pets - sm
especially the flea collars, shampoos, etc. Totally agree. Awful products. Should be banned completely.
extremely annoying LOL I just did one today where the doc kept using the first name or the middle
None of which was spelled. Wish they would make up their minds sometimes. It would be funny (I was getting a little giggle out of it at the time I typed it) if it weren't so frustrasting at the same time. Have a good one! :)
No, because I've never lost anyone extremely close to
me, huh? You assume so much.
I do know how it feels to lose someone before their time, traumatically, lose my world...so don't come here telling me I don't know anything of what she is feeling! How can you sit here and tell me not to judge and then judge me?
Am I harsh? Probably so, but I have good reason to feel the way I do about her. I know we all make mistakes. I've made plenty myself. That doesn't make me change my mind on some of the things she did. Call it what you want. I don't really care.
I did however say that I feel bad for her. I don't think anyone should have to go through losing a child.
Management is ridiculous, extremely unprofessional s/m
in my opinion. There are many places out there that are better than this one. The manager is rude and has no idea how to manage or motivate. As for the accounts, I had a ton of ESL, but ESL doesn't bother me at all, so I can't help you there.
Wish I were a candidate for LASIK. My eyes are extremely dry.
My point is that it would be extremely irresponsible for her to have more kids in that situation. nm
n
exact same thing, like excruciating to extremely grrr
x
Ditto that. Some of us are just extremely lucky and are there at the right moment. The rest of us...
s
FLmt, it's extremely doable. Copy the positives! nm
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