I see lots of reason people are staying in the field,
Posted By: but none justifying why they complain - SM on 2007-06-11
In Reply to: If you are complaining of low pay, why?? - Pattie
about the low wages. If everyone is so happy with the satisfaction MT gives, the flexibility, etc., are these the same people complaining of low pay? It almost sounds like it's okay to make a lousy wage in exchange for what it gives. I still don't think Pattie's question has been addressed: Why complain?
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I am glad you cleared up the reason for staying in bed
I was thinking gosh she sure is lazy but then you said RA. I got out of bed this morning so stiff and took 1/2 of a pain pill just so I could start to function and not feel so bad. I am bothered with fibromyalgia but once I get up and get started I don't think I could start to type any other way than what I have done for years.
Kids certainly not the reason for me, I loved the field of medicine
I had started working in hospital settings about 10 years before I ever knew about transcribing. Working at a hospital in another section my boss told me since I typed fast she had a friend who worked in MTing at the hospital, they had an opening and you could make extra money the more you typed, the more you could make. Being as my speed was 130-140, thought perfect job for me. I think loving the actual work rather than just doing to stay home is the main reason I have done as long as I have, no burn out for this person.
if people are anything like our higher education with a degree person, i'm staying in.
really and truly, i have a very intelligent and supportive network of friends and family and i am not a recluse. i just don't mingle well with people who don't think before they talk as in the higher education chick. that's downright scary when you think about it.
Like lots of the women here, I got into MT for that reason (Please sm)
It was the hardest thing I ever did (working at home with the kids). My kids were 3, 5, and 8 at the time (all boys) and needed a lot of my attention. I seemed like I was chained to my computer. I would stumble out of bed and start typing and would be transcribing for hours after they were all asleep (hubby and kids). I was grumpy, tired, and broke. I barely made minimal wage. I was constantly screaming at my kids to be quiet because I couldn't hear my doctors. It was unpleasant for everyone. I finally went in-house to work in 2002 and it was heaven. No more kids (and hubby, and sister, and mother, and neighbor, etc.) constantly interrupting me, no more breaking up fights between my boys, no more paltry paychecks...but I did miss my kids after a couple of weeks on the job. From 2002 on I had part-time jobs at home with Spheris, MQ, and a local lady, but I ended up dropping them all because of the same reasons.
Now (starting yesterday)I'm working from home again full-time. I am worried but my mantra is "school starts on August 29." I figure if I can stick it out until then, I'll be home free! . My kids are older now--7, 9, and 13--but still are VERY high maintenance and are very demanding. I love my boys and I love being a medical transcriptionist--but I am thrilled that there is mandatory schooling for kids! LOL
Good luck to you. It can be done, but it is HARD work.
Take care,
Chickadee
Remember, there's a reason lots of these folks are working at home. nm
it's not because their interpersonal skills were just too good for the traditional office.
There are a lot of people in this field sm
who really are typists. They even refer to themselves that way. It is really abohorent. Just a little while doing QA as a fill in made me aware of this. I got the reports when there were blanks, but you would truly be amazed at what other stuff they were sending through, not flagged. It embarrassed me for our profession and the low hiring standards.
And the reason these people are behind some of the - sm
so-called "MT schools" in this country has less to do with needing more, or better MTs, than it has to do with NEWBIE MT's, who will work for less per line, and sign up to test for that CMT, because they DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER.
Wow, there are lots of people on
132 people on right now. I suppose maybe because so many people don't have any work to do.
Of course it was - too many people still believe we went there for a good reason. nm
x
I had lots of people wanting her, just most
not good homes based on what I required. Tried the lab rescure, but everyone had all they could take and they would help me find her a home, I just had to keep her until then and I just didn't want to get too attached. All the other various rescue groups had reached their limits too and taking her to the pound wasn't an option. Even though I felt she would be adopted quickly because she was so sweet, there is absolutely zero screening and anyone that fills out the paperwork and pays the $$ can get a pet. When we adopted the cats we were fostering there was a grandmother in there dragging her grandson by his upper arm and she balled her fist and threatened to punch him in the face. This was not a home I would want my lab to go to.
I'm not 100% comfortable with the family she went to, but I told them if it didn't work out we wanted her back.
We are going to build a dog lot and dog house in the event we have another stray.
I'm not much help (I can't remember how) except to say lots of people know how SM
to do this. I've long since lost my cheat sheet. Sorry.
Lots of people worked up to it.
They got it going and then used it for maybe 1/2 hour one day. Then used it a bit longer the next and so on, until they were using it exclusively.
Another way is to create a glossary with the stuff in your current Expander so that you get used to using it with familiar phrases. Then you can add to it as you get better. That's what I did. DO use the marker keys though, rather than the spacebar to expand. That takes a bit of getting used to, but it is so worth it later on to be able to get full use of all of IT's features later. :-)
Lots of people are mobile.
Be sure that you're using a secured wireless network/hot spot. Your laptop should have the wireless card already installed, unless you're using an old model. Try Google search for VPN to learn more.
Most importantly--make sure it is allowed by your company!!
Most people don't have that many backups for no reason if they have enough work so I wonder about
your response.
There's always a reason. The question is is whether people are willing to take responsibility.
and what the heck does "variate" mean?
I think part of the reason many people accept -
such low rates *to start* is that they don't realize that very likely, other than maybe gaining a little speed once they're familiar with the software & their accounts, that is all they're going to get. Merit or cost-of-living raises? Nuh-uh.
Yes, I went and it was great. Very informative. Lots of people. sm
I love being able to talk to fellow transcriptionists to share war stories. The place was beautiful and not expensive as most of our meals were provided at the conference.
I think that transcriptionists should stop complaining about everything and start taking action. One of the best ways to do it is to get involved with the 7000 other transcriptionists with the AAMT.
It means lots of people are checking it out....
in other words, a HOT topic!
Lots of people are. Supposedly there is a patch that will
fix issues. Got to MS website for info.
Lots of people think that degrees open many doors.
Degrees close many doors, too. People won't hire you at all because you're overqualified or they think you'll jump ship the moment you find something better. A large percentage of this country is underemployed, and that number gets greater every day. Wages have plummeted because the young 20-somethings will work for peanuts. Why should businesses pay more for older workers when they can get a fresh college grad for next to nothing?
Lots of people wear Rx glasses just for using the computer, nothing else. Ask doc
s
I think lots of people not paying for the years anymore
If that were the case with 30+ years, my per line pay would be more than what I make now. No more pay for experience.
Here's another reason why health care is so high people can't afford it and ...SM
A while back I had to go to the ER for a particularly bad Meniere's episode. I asked for an itemized bill, and you know what they charged me for 4 mg of ondansetron?
$544.
Okay, quit bragging and hire someone then. Lots of people need work. nm
.
Totally not MT related but lots of smart people here for advice, I hope.
My son had a girlfriend some 8 years ago, she ran off with another guy to another state and it really didn't hurt my feelings at all. They had gone through a lot in the less than a year that they were together including my son helping her cope with a rape trauma that she had been through. I wish truly I could remember the number of months between the rape and her leaving, but I felt it was a short time. That really doesn't matter, but 5 years ago this girl sent an e-mail telling us our son was the possible father of her child "you do the math" but she "really thinks the other guy is the father." My son called her and she was going to send paperwork but never did. Now jump forward to yesterday, my son gets notified via phone that she's looking for him, that she has his daughter, and we're really not sure what to do. The girl does not know where we or my son lives but knows the general area. I'm afraid she'll just show up on my doorstep one day but my son doesn't live here anymore, he's a man with a life of his own. What would you do? Does anyone know the legality of all this?
No, out east ... lots of rude people running the show, it seems ... sigh. nm
Ctrl + F9 adds the field brackets - F11 jumps to the field.
xx
BBQ, slaw, cornbread, ham, casseroles, lots of veggies, chicken pastry, lots of desserts!! BIG fami
.
Lots of inexpensive decorations at Big Lots. Had a party last year.
s
LOTS and LOTS of video tapes and DVDs.
x
Not me. I'm staying. NM
..
Staying with IC definitely. Thanks.
I make 700.00 a week 4 days a week at my IC job. I turned the job down. Thanks again.
STAYING AWAY FROM TRANS.
A. I strongly discouraged anyone I meet who has signed up for any kind of program at the community colleges or elsewhere who wants to learn transcription. It's really distressing to see people pay their hard earned money for training in a field that is virtually in the toilet. I find myself making 1/2 of what I was making 10 years ago as an MT with no benefits and 50% more grief.
In staying with this man for as long as you have,
having his children, and allowing him to verbally and emotionally abuse those children, you're setting the example to your children that this is how a relationship works. Now that your 16 y.o. daughter is reaching the age where she will begin dating, she has learned from home life that men call women names and expect women to clean up after them. She's going to wind up in some lousy dysfunctional relationships herself. Where is her bioDad? I'll bet he wouldn't be happy to hear from her how stepfather dearest treats her. Is he a positive role model in her life? Probably not, or he wouldn't be your ex. Teach her to have respect for herself and never tolerate mistreatment.
Anyway, off the soapbox now. You go, go quickly, and never look back. Get out of there!
I am staying at the Stratosphere
for the first time in May. We had booked the Stardust, but its being torn down to build a new hotel :( Stardust was our favorite. I have also stayed at Fitzgerald's downtown a couple years ago and it was really reasonable and nice, no complaints, but it is downtown.
Those situations different than STAYING in bad
Robbery or scamming are an in and out situation that you have little control over. Staying in a bad job is usually a long term situation that you CAN control. It is hard to change jobs. However, the longer you put off starting the process, the longer you are allowing yourself to stay in a bad situation. It is sad to think you would give someone else such control over your life that you let yourself be abused. And the only one that can change something like that is YOU. The buck stops with you when it comes to who has control of your life.
Staying in MT for the "perks" - sm
Is not a good enough reason to do this job. period, end of story.
The money is out there, but you have to look for it and you really have to want it. You are looking for "everything" and you cannot have it - it's just not possible or reasonable. You have to like the job to make it worth your while or to push yourself to achieve what you are looking for. Chances are, you are probably make good money doing editing at 5cpl, but its your lack of desire that takes you so long to get the job done thus driving down your hourly wage. You're in love with staying home and getting a paycheck and not the job.
If you do not like your job, your performance is going to suffer no matter what field you are in and when your performance suffers, so does your wage especially in a production based job like this.
staying away from message boards
Two years into MT I found message boards. I had some small complaints about my job and was kind of in a love/hate stage of my relationship with MT. Reading the boards with people complaining so much really put me more in that frame of mind to the point where I started hating my company and hating transcription in general. When I left the job I had at the time and started a new one I vowed no more message boards because I felt they had poisoned my attitude, which was easily influenced at that time. I stayed completely off message boards for the next five years and now am back (obviously), but that gave me enough time to get more established with my company and actually know and like my career enough that reading a lot of MT complaints doesn't bother me now.
It'll flame. I'm staying out of it.
staying home w/teenagers
 Can not agree with you more. Where my preteen & teen hated that I was at home all the time, their friends loved it...duh, guess which mom was there to haul them around before they got their drivers lisc. Still think they should be 30 before they can drive
Just ignore this poster! Obviously staying on
subject and reading comprehension must not be a strong point in their skills list! Of course we all care more about children. This poster just doesn't know how to stay on topic and obviously wants a fight.
what are your ideas on staying focused??
When I am on my game I can do 250 to 300 lines per hour, but then after a couple of hours I start dropping to less than 150 lines per hour. How do you stay focused? I have tried working different shifts, split shifts, etc., but I just do not seem to be able to stay focused. I have no small children at home, so that is not a problem. I am in my own office space, but I just seem to start drifting after about an hour and then that is it. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Help staying awake and productive
I have real problems staying awake, focused and productive. I am alone all day, I think I get enough sleep, and I keep the TV on in the other room for another voice, but I get bored and can't keep my concentration and then I start web surfing and my productivity goes in the hopper. Any suggestions on staying awake and focused? 
If the meeting consists of her staying
and listening to dictation, yes, it should be paid and she as an IC should set the amount she should be paid.
I pick-up and deliver, and that's in my line charge. I also do that at my convenience, not theirs. A real office is fine with that and understands the meaning of IC. Lisa is a vendor like any other contractor.
If I had to sit and listen and sort patient lists, etc. and spend more than 5-10 minutes tops at an office, then I would charge for that time spent at that office sorting through their mess.
Let's face it. The office is a mess and Lisa is their scape goat. Since now they know she's bending over backwards, they will take advantage.
Again, Lisa should not spend her time sorting out their mess. Furthermore, if they can't figure out what to give her and "don't have time", then Lisa's response should be that she doesn't have the time either unless she charges them for that time.
It just sounds like a real mess of a deal. I can't wait to hear if they actually pay her at all!
Okay, I'll shut up now! Just the fact that she's posting again is hysterical. I guess I'll keep my mouth shut after saying from the last thread regarding this "I told ya'' so."
You all thought "oh just this one time." Why do you think the other girl quit? Hello? Can you say doormat?
Staying at home with the kids, yeh, right
Your message just said it all. That is why the field is looked down on so much now. Staying at home and go broke, no one really cares anymore. I had heard it all now. You get asked reasonable questions and you say in a little wifey-mamma talk, "can't we all just stay at home with Junior." I guess it will be important when the employer starts charging you just to work, will it still be that important. Get real.
if you live among trashy people, low income people, people w/o goals or direction,
content to just get by, you by default become a part of a group. "people" have decided to group trailer people as trash. that is because there are enough people in that group to earn the title and even if you aren't trash, you are categorized by others. did i think i was trash in lower class neighborhood surrounded by people who drank and fought all weekend? no but i knew i wasn't staying and did not try to pretend that all the fools in the neighborhood were just nice folks who ended up where they were because high horse snobs deemed their neighborhood low class. people for the most part live exactly where they belong because they don't want to educate themselves, they don't mind "trash" around them and they don't want to be bothered trying just a bit hard to extract themselves from that world. they justify everything to themselves i guess saying everyone who doesn't like their lifestyle is a snob and the comedians (Jeff Foxworthy/Chris Rock, etc) who make fun of them are just ill-informed.
As for me, I fought hard to get out and don't even want to look back. It amazes me people stay for generations.
does anyone have a problem staying awake while typing?
even when I dont feel tired, I sit down to type and my eyes start dropping. HELP. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!
Reasons for staying, not as simple as just quitting!
Well, for me, I stay because of reasons already mentioned on this board - fear of unknown, dread of getting stuck with an even worse company (it could happen), but also very realistic reasons - my research into other MTSOs, taking tests, and gathering info has yielded no good news - I would be taking at minimum a 2 cents/line pay cut from my current pay at MQ but yet if I stay with MQ, my pay is likely to go down anyway (yet some part of me keeps hoping, probably naively, that I will not experience this). Not a single company I contacted would offer me my current pay or even talk about that I could hope to reach it at some point in the future. So, you tell me, with my 20 years of experience, does anyone really think it's that easy to just go to another company and purposefully take a pay cut - yet knowing the one you have been with for 8 yrs is likely gonna give you one anyway - can you see the dilemma of trying to figure it out???? Add in that I know of MTs who got fed up with MQ long ago, moved on to other large MT services, "better" ones, only to have it bought out by MQ!!
Have you read these boards and found any company that sounds ideal, one that would make you feel secure enough to know it will be better, one that you would jump ship for? At another time, this may have been possible, but our industry is changing and fast, and pay across the board is going down. A friend of mine keeps saying "the writing is on the wall."
So, for those of you question why we stay - first, be glad you are okay with your job, with MQ or not - and also remember for most of us, life isn't black or white. It just ain't that simple! I.e, Job/Company Sucks does not always equal Quit and Find A Better Job! If you are tired of hearing the complaints and frustration and your experience with MQ is just great, count your blessings. Remember, there are lots of other postings on this board to read unrelated to MQ complaints, so why waste your time telling those of us who are trying to figure out what to do that we should hurry up and do it. If we sound like broken records while we commiserate, are validated by one another, and are all trying to figure it out, well, geez, quit listening to the record. I'm sure it gets old for you all if your MQ experience is a good one.
Sorry for the rambling thoughts, but thanks for listening.
Atlanta sure enough is. Folks need places to go. A lot are staying
x
How? I've done pretty well staying out of debt, but
I'd like to get some money set aside for retirement and pay off my home. Any advice you can give?
Why does not driving equate to staying home? (nm)
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