I suspect we will see stories like these more and more on both sides soon
Posted By: xcopper3 on 2007-12-28
In Reply to: well wake up and smell the coffee... - shortage here of people entering the field..sm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071228/ap_on_re_as/japan_ambulance_death
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So tell us about her. What type of dog? Funny stories? Sweet stories? Just like when a human pas
sharing of memories can help. I have two dogs, one is 9 and the other 10. I actually cry thinking that something might happen to them, so I cannot imagine how you feel but I do know that "talking" about it can be very healing.
Look at both sides.
You will hear about declining wages, outsourcing, etc. But lower on this page, you see many making between 13 at the lowest, up to $25 per hour, and working at home, no transportion expenses with 3 dollar a gallon gas where I live, traffic, car wear and tear, lunches out, ordering in, office gossip, politics, dress codes, dry cleaners, and so forth.
I have done this job for 25 years now and it is the only job I have done. I absolutely love it. I still make a good living. Just be careful with the employer that you go with. Some pay better than others and are more honest.
As with everything, every story has two sides. sm
Of course, Teri is not able to tell hers. But others were. I think Teri's family was treated abdominably, as well. I do not think he is genuine and I do not think what he did, he did from love. Putting myself in Teri's family's place, I can't say that I think I would have reacted any differently. I'm not sure why Michael chose to resurface. Most of the furor had died down.
Frustrating on both sides
You are absolutely correct about the hyphens - if the linked words form an adjective followed by a noun, they are hyphenated. I know it's frustrating to have undereducated QA people, and as a QA person, it's equally frustrating to have people who absolutely never hyphenate, put a comma after every 2 words (or none at all), etc. I really really hate when MTs start a sentence with "patient comes in......" when the doctor clearly states "THE patient....".....that drives me insane! I had a report the other night where I had to add "the" 27 times! It's amazing how many people do not understand proper punctuation usage, adjectives, verbs, etc. I certainly wish I had more like you who know where they go!
Here is a thought because I try to see all sides. Maybe
its not you, you dont know this? Also, maybe the email is to cover their butts, as no one can say they were not warned of this issue. Just a thought. No picking on you at all. I too have wondered the same as you a time or 2 about broad emails on certain issues with my company.
I have been on both sides and recently sm
I had a team and their QA to oversee. The "recruiter" would hire anyone she knew who could type. This was a teaching hospital, very large, very difficult and a challenge to those of us with plenty of experience. I could not fire an MT and if I told the MT manager that this so and so could not do the job, I was told to TEACH HER to do it and in the mean time, fix her reports.
I did have some MTs who wanted to learn, had had a bit of experience, and were anxious to progress. I spent a lot of time on them because they took to suggestions and they worked hard. The ones who not MTs, hadn't studied and were clueless, I had the option of assigning them very little work, which is what I did and I did out of self-preservation. There are only 24 hrs in a day and I was working 20 of them!
I have two jobs right now and QA at one I know very well, having worked with her for years. She only sends back a corrected a report in its entirety. The blanks she filled in are changed to a red font. I can see it, I can learn and I keep every one of her reports in a special folder in my email. I am trying to learn 3 doctors who chased away several other MTs on this account. One has a speech impediment and talks very very fast, one has an accent and talks too fast in the face of it and the third is a speed dictator who doesn't think that words need to be pronounced to be understood. The rest of the physicians don't present a problem. It has been difficult because I have had these 3 doctors about twice each and not enough to tackle the learning curve YET. In any case, this QA is patient and she never ever offers personal comments of a derogatory nature.
The other company I work for, I think that QA is nonexistent, other than when they are throwing their weight around. I had one particular report, an I&D of a sebaceous cyst. The doctor followed with this "cheesy material" which is what I transcribed. They called me on the phone to tell me that the doctor "never would have said that" and I said I'd stake my reputation as an MT that he did! She said, well...you're still wrong. Ummm no, I am not. That is lack of experience, knowledge or even a decent ear. No wonder we are on the verge of losing the account, yet again.
Now, I worked for a company where the QA person treated everyone like they were about 2 yrs old. I had her call me names like $toopid, moronic, an imbecile and whenever she used a word of 3 syllables, told me to look it up since I was not bright enough to understand what she was talking about. The owner, when I complained, said that is just how she is, but that she is so good at what she does... I said look, she represents your company and what you stand for. If this is all you have to offer, I am leaving, and I did.
SOME QA gals seem to have a chip on their shoulders. I am of the opinion that those who can do this job, do it and those who are knowledgeable, but can't do the job, do QA. I know several QA people who have CTS and can't type anymore, so they QA and I think that is a bit different.
It is widely understood that the very best MTs are not QA people, they are still MTs. I could not, would not take a 50% or better pay cut to be a QA person. I am far too fast and too capable for that. Neither company I work for presently would ever put me on QA because I am extremely valuable as an MT. Transcribing is my stock and trade and I can't see giving that up for anyone.
Remember as well, there are reasons that we work at home, and I am talking psychological reasons. I can't stand office politics and I don't like people. I am told I don't play well with others, and this is a correct assessment. Others have their issues too, and some of these issues creep up with QAs who seem to need some therapy and help dealing with people. This seems to attract people with a decided need to be the biggest fish in the smallest pond and throw their fins about to get attention.
So nice to hear both sides of
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR OPINIONS! BOTH SIDES MATTER TO NEWBIES!
Christy
you talk out of both sides of your mouth--sm
on one hand you say compassion is another term for "enabling," and lending a helping hand to someone emotionally is only making them a victim. Now you say you have compassion and sympathy for others. yeah right.
not taking sides here but some people are
forced to take early retirement in order to keep their pensions, 401K, etc because BIG BUSINESSES are cutting older/more experienced/or employees with lots of time with the company in order to hire younger/less experienced (I.e. CHEAPER) employees which saves lots of $$$ for the company.
I just hope you never have to be in a situation where you are forced to retire but cannot afford it.
good communication; trust on both sides; and --sm
not doing everything possible under the sun to cut the transcriptionists line counts at every turn. I get REALLY irritated with that. I need to make a living too.
I am sitting here splitting my sides after reading your
comedy post. I absolutely love those dirty jokes and can hardly wait until my better half gets home to read to him. He will love also. Thanks for a perfect end to this otherwise dull day.
I would suspect...
...that a certain CEO is hoping Brandi won't start telling us about the old days in detail. Then again, maybe he would! Dang, I'm still laughing over one story in particular. He was sure a gas at the parties I attended at WebMedX!
Also, I suspect the pay isn't all that SM
great (remember, the amount the client is paying is there), if about 1/2 goes to the service then that leaves a little less than 9 cpl. It's okay money, but I also think this is IC work and if so, it's not that great a deal.
I don't know for a fact the service is taking 1/2; I am assuming that--they have overhead to pay for.
Yes, you have ADD, but I suspect you know that.
Actually, probably ADHD. I should know - I have it as well! Nice meeting you! As for the class, it has to be the same company that I suffered and friznazzled in for all of 4 hours, with a raging fever, droning in and out of consciousness - not from the fever, but from the Barbie on my end. Sounded like Mrs. Rogers on speed. And she kept attempting comedy - to which all my dutiful bunny classmates laughed and laughed. Except... they did so by clicking a LAUGH icon, or they would hit the CLAP icon. I was so looking for the VOMIT icon, but, alas, there was none. I couldn't take it, and after 4 hours, I hit the EXIT DOOR icon really quickly, heard it slam shut, saw my name disappear, and that was the end of my career at THAT company. Ended before it started. Took me a LONG TIME to saw off the ball and chain that they had included in with the computer - the one to chain myself to the desk. I sawed it off, signed back on and hit the CLAPPING icon. I was free...Do you think I'd be on their infamous REHIRE list??
Thanks, but I suspect
that since the company I now work for has their own Voice Monitor I doubt I would be able to transfer reports to a system like Gear Player.
You're still missing the point. She needs to hear ALL sides.
Like I said somewhere way down below somewhere, many of us have done it successfully, but TIMES HAVE CHANGED. She needs to hear ALL sides, and she needs to know what she will be up against if she decides to pursue MT training.
I fully support stay-at-home moms. I was one myself. Still at home most of the time with pre-teens and a college student. I'm thankful every day that I did not have to put them in daycare. I applaude those who make that decision and make it work. My kids are well adjusted, secure, and all-around good kids. I will never regret my decision to go to school to be an MT so I could "work from home."
BUT IT DOESN'T WORK WELL FOR EVERYONE. The OP needs to hear the good along with the not-so-good.
As far as MT being an "at-home career," I've been an at-home MT, in-office MT, at-home editor, in-office editor, QA manager, QA consultant, and a college MT instructor. There are many avenues in this career; not all of them are at home, and there are advantages and disadvantages to all situations. I've seen it from a lot of different perspectives. My personal experience with MT has been great. But I've seen (and have personally known) many whose experiences weren't so grand. I've also had students who were talented, motivated and truly gifted for the profession of MT who spent thousands upon thousands of dollars, not to mention the hours of work, to earn a certificate with the hopes of working from home immediately after graduation so they could stay at home with their young kids who were suddenly faced with the harsh reality that the jobs were going to India, and most, if not all, MTSOs require 2 years of experience and won't even consider a new grad. As I stated previously, there ARE exceptions to this, but there are FEW exceptions. That's a fact that needs no debate. Granted, motivation, hard work and perseverance do pay off, and the motivation to stay at home with one's baby is the strongest motivation I can think of.
But still--again--stick to the original question and lighten up on those who don't see the world as you see it. There are many, many perspectives and she will benefit from hearing all of them.
GIVE YOUR ROOMS A LIFE OF THEIR OWN--TO REFLECT ALL SIDES OF YOU
Just as a side note, I "created" moods out of my rooms. Guests call my living room "the happy room" because it is colorful and cheerul (right down to the orange border). My dining room they call "the serious room". I gave it an exotic theme.
When redorating, think of a theme, and they apply all color and shapes and sizes according to that theme. My them for the living is "60's", I even bought some black light posters. I made my own pillow covers, seat covers and curtains, sewing them by hand. I used ribbon for the curtain looks and this same ribbon (yellow and orange) I used to hang all of my pictures.
This room has absolutely no color match to the next room which is the dining room. So the other person said you should tie in your rooms, that was out with the 80's. CREATE moods in your rooms. Give your room a life and style and character of its own. Your home can be as diverse as you are. Why not show all sides of you throughout your home. It is fun and it is a place you can LIVE in!!!
Puhleeze! MTSO's lie out both sides of their mouths when trying to hire an MT! SM
I should feel bad because I found out that they had been blowing smoke up my, err... blowing smoke after I received the equipment?
There are many, MANY factors contributing to falling line rates these days. Let's see, there is the outsourcing overseas to India and Pakistan paying those poor people 2 cpl to type our work! Then there are the uneducated, careless American MTs who produce poor quality work and don't have a clue or even care! Then there are the fly-by-night MT schools who promise $50,000 a year or better working from home when you finish their program, effectively turning medical transcription into a get rick quick scheme and producing some of the most under qualified MTs out there which brings us back full circle to the uneducated, careless American MT. It's a viscious circle.
So get off your high horse and get back to work. I don't feel guilty about screwing an MTSO that is already sticking it to someone else even as we speak!
I suspect you are the honest one
I was skeptical above when I read the responses to "How much have you made so far with the year half over". Awfully amazing how much money they claim (maybe overestimate) they make -- equivalent of full-time income with how much time they take off for their kids or "life". There was an allusion to the truth about the MT who said she is a second paycheck to her husband MBA. But I suspect you are the honest one, stating that it isn't the money. It certainly isn't the virtually non-existent benefits.
Since you have been there that long, I would suspect that... sm
you have power from your longevity that they feel threatened by. The administrator may feel glad that you are leaving so they can finally gain more personal control.
This does not mean you should feel bad, though. Change is good, so you have everything to gain, but so do they. I would not begrudge them the feeling, though. I always try to wish the best for those that I leave behind.
Thanks again for the link. I suspect I will be using-sm
this in the near future, because now I want to make it capitalize afer a ":" and I find that it will not capitalize after a number, such as in L1. I really appreciate your help. All of this little stuff can really slow down production, not to mention make you want to pull your hair out. :^)
thanks so much!
$13/hr is ridiculously low. I suspect SM
it's some program where they get you cheaply, sharpen your skills by giving feedback on your work (mentoring) and then turn you loose. Industry standard is around 150 lines per hour. If you did that, that's a little over 8.5 cpl. BUT if you type 175 lines an hour for $13/hr, you are typing for a little under 7.5 cpl. As you get better and more used to the dictators under this "training program," you will actually be working for less money, see?
If you suspect something dangerous, then
for heaven's sake go and visit a doctor.
Why do you suspect a pulmonary embolism? I dounbt tht you wiklk be able to cough it up. Are you producing some blood when coughing?
It might just be some mucus or phlegm that you cannot lodged in you lungs.
Does your cough produce blood?
Here are the symptoms tht indicate a pulmonary embolism
(blood clot in the lungs):
Google:
'Pulmonary embolism symptoms can vary greatly, depending on how much of your lung is involved, the size of the clot and your overall health — especially the presence or absence of underlying lung disease or heart disease.
Common signs and symptoms include:
Sudden shortness of breath, either when you're active or at rest.
Chest pain that often mimics a heart attack. The pain can occur anywhere in your chest and may radiate to your shoulder, arm, neck or jaw. It may be sharp and stabbing or aching and dull and may become worse when you breathe deeply (pleurisy), cough, eat, bend or stoop. The pain will get worse with exertion but won't go away when you rest.
A cough that produces bloody or blood-streaked sputum.
Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia).
Other signs and symptoms that can occur with pulmonary embolism include:
Wheezing
Leg swelling
Clammy or bluish-colored skin
Excessive sweating
Anxiety
Weak pulse
Lightheadedness or fainting (syncope)
Fever'
If you do not have these symptoms, take an aspirin, drink hot tea with lemon juice and honey, you might just have a cold.
I bet others have better stories than me even!
x
Thanks for your stories! sm
They were very encouraging. I applied with my old company. I doubt they'll take me back, but it's worth a try!
Two different stories on this.
One daughter is a pharmacy tech at a big hospital in Mpls does very well, been there 10 or so years. The other daughter did it at Walgreens for a over minimum wage but that was in Mpls, too, and you make more at everything up there. Neither one ever spent money on a course. But the fomer is certified, she learned it on the job. The former also has a GED. I applied at the 'greens and never heard a peep back, guess they want 16-year-olds they can pay minimum wage. This is the south where you don't get a job of any kind unless you're somebody's cousin.
Are you married? Do you have any reason to suspect
that your spouse might be monitoring your activity on the Internet?
http://www.download.com/008-Remote-Key-Logger/3000-2162_4-10325865.html
This site has a scanner that will detect it. Spyware Doctor.
http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/?ref=google_th
Run the scanner to see if the keylogger is installed on your computer or your work server. If nothing else, you don't want anyone getting your personal information or the medical records you are typing.
I am not sure if Lavasoft's AdAware or Spybot Search and Destroy will remove this keylogger, but both are free to download.
Just found out that the suspect's ex wife--sm
is providing an alibi for him, saying that he was with her in Alabama at the time of JonBenets death and that he only knew certain things about the case because he did alot of research on it, as well as another case in California. Why would he confess to it, if he did not do it? and why would she, the ex, defend him?
Suspect - Jon Benet Case
From what I saw on the news, he confessed to things that the public was never told about and that only the police knew. Also, I was happy to hear that before Patsy Ramsey died she actually knew this person was a suspect so she could also find some peace.
I suspect that with the name change they will also lose a lot
l
When VR gets worse over time, I suspect it has to do with
new MTs, Indian MTs, and those MTs who don't really give a crap about "training" VR. When it's not "trained" correctly, it just gets worse. IMO, there's no way to uniformly constantly train it, or for the physicians to ever put forth the proper effort needed to make VR work. It's a losing battle & the only purpose it's serving right now is to severely cut our pay & decrease patient safety. VR needs to go away.
These were great stories. Thanks!
dd
These are some great stories....thank you...nm
.
My husband is a CPA, and I can tell you stories!
You need to a find a good accountant to set you up and show you the ropes. My husband usually takes new businesses and sets them up with Quicken and provides lots and lots of help as far as payroll taxes, deductions and of course, the business and personal tax returns that you file. This is NOT a do-it-yourself job! He has been brought in to sort through disasters and clean up DIY messes, and it's horrible. Lots and lots of money gets spent on those sorts of things.
All these stories! My goodness
I switch back and forth each and every day I am working. The place I work for is a teaching hospital, therefore we have interns and those are never on VR. What is hard between working both ways? Another story that really just does not make sense.
I suspect it's another newbie doing a test tape to get a job
"D-dimer"
"Parenchyma"
"Acidosis"
Any first year terminology student wouldn't have to ask about these elementary MT words. It's a cheater trying to pass a test she is in no way qualified to be taking.
Call your insurance co and tell them what you suspect..its up to them to verify.
nm
I suspect employers are being forced to care. SM
Since it's a new platform, it's a new problem that probably a lot of companies are just waking up to. My sympathies for people who find themselves effectively "forced" to use it as it apparently is now.
With serious compatibility issues with common brands of the Expanders that have become vital to so many of us, at this point I would not apply to a company using it, and I suspect few other good experienced transcriptionists reading about it would either. This seems such a grave flaw that it will have to be repaired, or this platform will end up a dead end used by only a few institutions.
How about contacting the company that developed the platform directly for answers and fixes? Also the developer of your own expander, who must be well aware of the issues Chartscript raises for them. The ShortHand tech guy (not my own MTSO techs!) fixed me up promptly when I was put on eScription and developed glitches. Best wishes with this.
my addy for doxie stories
please write to me at frgill2@hotmail.com if you want - like to keep in touch with all the humorous things/pictures, etc that are doxie related.
thanks
fran
I love reading stories like this!
It makes me realize that I CAN do it! I'm a new MT, so I'm going to get a couple of years experience first. Then I'm going to go out and get my own accounts. Thank you. Keep posting positive things--it's so helpful!
I don't know, I found quite a few of these stories on searching.....
Here's another:
http://blog.imperfectparent.com/tag/oregon/
Oh, the stories I could tell on the Post Office.
The short story is that since the rates were raised the service has declined. My PM, an acquaintence through my kids' school, doesn't even want to hear my voice on the other end of the line because he knows that something else is messed up.
You got some great responses! These stories
Humans do make mistakes.
Don't feel bad. It may not be the last your mistake either, brain burps can happen at any time. No reflection on you or your skills -- it just happens.
Great stories people!! I read all of them and I been laughing my buttocks off!! 
Hey, Brandi! I remember your stories about those days...
lol! Too funny. Yah, you Transquickers certainly did live on the wild side. I'm sure some still do!
Our stories sound so similiar...listen to this
My daughter was in preschool last year, 3 mornings a week. I would hear the same thing about her all the time. At the end of the year, they wanted her to go to the "junior kindergarten" which the school offered. Looking at the curriculum, it was basically full day preschool, 5 days a week (and since it was a private school, it ran about $310 a month!). Her teacher pulled me aside when I was picking her up one day, just about a year ago, and said that there was no way she was ready for kindergarten. She said she was too "in her own world." She wasn't ready to sit and listen, was immature, etc., etc. I, too, came home and cried. We thought about home school at that point, but I know that I am not disciplined enough for that, just didn't have the time to work and do it as well as seek out social situations for her at the same time. So we just said forget it...we put her in the public school kindergarten. I figured I'd just get calls and notes home from the teacher, until they finally pulled her out when they realized she wasn't ready. So, guess what? No notes, no calls. First teacher conference...she was doing very well. She would ask the teacher a lot of questions that she already knew the answer to, but she was sitting at her table, participating etc. Last teacher conference in March, the teacher said she was just doing amazing. She was an angel and a joy in the class. She does her work, she participates, she gets along with the other kids. On her testing, as far as letters sounds, counting, etc., she's far ahead of where she should be. Again, I went home and cried..because I was so proud and so happy...and yes, I felt that the humiliation of a year ago (that teacher pulled me aside with many other parents around) had been vindicated. Good luck to you. It is going to be okay..really. 
News stories do have to obtain permission to
My DS has much experience in this field.
Have you considered writing short stories?
Thank you for sharing your vacation!
Real-Life MT Stories Wanted!
Real-Life MT Stories Wanted! Diane Fusco, a veteran MT and freelance writer, is compiling stories for a book about what she wished she knew as a beginning MT. Newbies, old-timers and everyone in between are encouraged to tell her the pros and cons of being an MT. No real names will be used. No payment but I will give you a copy of the book if I use your story. Thanks for reading this! Email Diane at Karelia30[at]aol.com
I would never have... too many horror stories from friends/instructors that did! nm
s
After reading all the horror stories on this board - sm
about the flaky way so many MTSO's operate, I think only the newest of the newbies would interview for a position without also interviewing ABOUT the position. It's a 2-way street, you know. If an MT is asking you questions up front, rather than waiting to find out AFTER hiring on with you that the job's not a good fit, that would waste time and money for both of you. It sounds like she looks before she leaps, and that she has a good head on her shoulders. She's obviously interviewing for more than one position, and doesn't want to go any further until she's also checked with a few more job possibilities. Judging by what you wrote in your post, my guess is she's experienced, and doesn't want to get the runaround at a poorly-run or fly-by-night operation.
I've heard other horror stories by adoptees.
Their families telling them they're lucky they got adopted and that they should be more grateful and what not. I swear, people should have to get a license before they become parents. I'll be the first to tell you I was not the best parent in the world, but at least I made sure my daughters knew they were wanted and loved - even during those rare times when they weren't! LOL.
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