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I was "let go" for not meeting production. Tough to do when there is NO WORK!!! EVER!!!!

Posted By: LOL on 2008-07-15
In Reply to: treated badly and pentalized - working hard




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Betcha they would sure fire someone for not meeting production! nm
X
Hmm. I'm making 0.095/hr., but the work is tough
That's because the daily minimum # of lines required to maintain employment takes not 8 hours to complete, but more like 12-13 hours per day, 6 1/2 days per week.
As Dr. Phil says, "Let's get back to common sense."
If you see red flags, hear bells and whistles, or alarms going off in your head..listen to it. If your already hearing the excuses as to why they aren't getting paid on time, why be one of those waiting on your check...It is kind of like seeing a train coming down the track right towards you and somehow you convince yourself you can dodge it. I'm sure others have tried before you. Excuses will never pay your bills. Listen to your gut, go with common sense and the rest works out. Just my opinion...
work production
In my experience it's any work that has repetitive information, normals/macros etc that you can insert into the reports over and over again.  A lot of my docs have pretty much the same physical exam for example, so I'm not retyping it over and over again.
No way I would work and put my production in anyones hands! sm
Your production should be verifable to you at all times period. Wouldn't trust company nor the hospital as I have been cheated before. Cannot verify, cannot work in my book. Look for another job.
We are nothing to them. The fact we work on production never enters their minds.
:{
I would not work without my production software, including spellcheck sm
I think it's great that you were able to do this work in the conditions that you did. But times have changed and we have technology to make us more accurate and more productive, so why not use them??

I have several pieces of software that I use, and if I was offered a job that wouldn't allow me to use any one of them, I would flat out refuse it. i have found the combination that works best for me, and if they can't be flexible to get the best work out of me as possible, then I don't need to work for them!!


I work for an agency, type for a major hospital - no hourly wage - just production. nm
x
AAMT meeting (SM)
Approximately how many attended this year. I wanted to go to Hawaii but couldn't afford it, but we sure had a ball last year in Atlanta. I live on the east coast, so will try to make next year's meeting in Boston.
The meeting today
First, please accept my thanks for listening and advising. The office manager is very nice, but I ended up taking all three flashdrives and making lists of the patients dictated. I made her a list from the schedules of who is not dictated. And this should be the end of all the hullamaboo in not knowing what is up. Some of the files on the flashdrive are blank, and that may be who is missing. Thank you so much.
meeting from online
Not exactly the same thing, but I met my husband online.. His little smiley face was lite up and I liked what he had said in his profile so we began chatting. Actually asked me to meet for a drink that evening.. I did,, in a casino where I lived. Obviously well populated area,, all i had to do was yell SECURITY, if there was a problem, LOL..My advise if you meet anyone from online you never, ever, ever bring them to your home.. You meet them in a public place with a lot of other people around. Agree with poster, never let on you live alone, or where you live until/if you ever feel comfory with that. We met that night and have been inseparable since..
Did anything become of that meeting? How did they respond to you?nm
nm
meeting people on myspace

Oh boy that's such a tough question!  Have they talked on the phone and corresponded for a while?  I'd never meet anybody that I hadn't at least talked to on the phone for a good amount of time and gotten to know alot about them personally first.  It's hard to say though for sure.  A chaperone is a good idea but she may not be cool with that.  I guess just keep really good dibs on here while she's gone if you can.  She is 19 and I hate to say but she is an adult and if people get on her butt about it she may go just to spite everybody.  What a tough call!


I get upset when people say people who are on the internet are all pedophiles and crooks.  That's just simply not true.  I'm on the net and I know for sure I'm a normal human being!  I met my best friend online about 4 years ago.  We talked online and on the phone and corresponded back and forth for an entire year before we even thought of meeting.  Now she's my best friend and even buying a house here and I see her ALL THE TIME so sometimes it can be a great thing.  Or maybe I just got extremely lucky!


AAMT Boston meeting

Hi everyone.  Going to Boston meeting.  Of course, many of you may know AAMT going through lots of changes and unfortunately is losing membership.  Have been asked to bring list of problems/complaints regarding association and things MTs would like to see change in order to bring about a better organization to truly support the MTs. 


If you are interested, please please send me any thoughts you may have, and any solutions you may have.  It may not make a difference in the end, but all I can say is we tried. 


Thank you to all interested.


Hi, Lisa. Just wondering how the meeting
Hope everything went well!
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?


I justed attended a meeting and this was addressed
There are now computers that will be performing surgery. The medical field is changing in ways that are not good, according to the speaker, in that the younger physicians coming into the field are not comparable to physicians of yesterday, generally speaking. He thought it was a good direction, this computerized physician. He also did state that insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies have much to say about what goes on in the medical field (they have power/money).
Call the doctor and request a meeting of all three..
The doctor, wife and you and let him know this needs to happen before they leave as you are in a crunch.  It sounds like he respects you.  If you can get that arranged come right out and explain that the work is already done and needs paid for since you were given no advance warning.  Look her square in the eye and ask questions.  Ask for partial payment....keep the line open.  If it becomes obvious that she wants you gone then bring that up in his presence for verification and so he knows it was not you who jumped ship.   Just my 2 cents.........
Saw post today about meeting typing
These can be horrific. The problem is not the typing--if you could straight type you'd be able to calculate it closely. These recordings require you to set up some way to identify the speakers in maybe a QA format. The challenge is to pick out voices, which normally groups who want this stuff transcribed want that done. You may have to code the speakers if you weren't given their names. And, it's maybe not that tough if it's one person moderating and calling responders by name--you can maybe get a good flow that way, but the roughest is when they "open the panel" for questions or cross-talk. I have done these and believe me it's nothing like MT. If I ever do these again I'm going with my hourly rate--I've found most larger companies don't really care what you quote, they need to get it done and this is very hard work. And, I never had an easy time getting other transcriptionists to help out. Tough, tough. But, some people make a good living typing focus groups, meetings, etc. Just have to find the format and not do it for charity. My thoughts. Best of luck to you. By the way, I've always tried to fool myself into thinking I can type 1 hour of recording in less than 3 hours--hardly ever.
Any MTs going to Honolulu next month for the AAMT annual meeting?

Are there any MTs who can afford to go?  Are there any hospitals or MT companies who will pay for their MTs to attend the meeting in Honolulu? 


Do you suppose next year's meeting might be in Bangalore or Bombay?


Did anyone attend the AAMT annual meeting in Honolulu? sm
If so, how was it?  Was it well attended?  Were the speakers good? 
No offense, but your attending the meeting in Boston won't make
heads so far up overseas companies butts, there is no way they are going to change.  AAMT might as well go the way of the Do-Do where the US is concerned.  I heard that they were changing their name anyway.  Why should any US MTs give a rats butt what AAMT thinks or does.  The only membership they will have in the future will be offshore.  I think it's high time for a new organization, one that doesn't suck up to offshore companies the way AAMT and MTIA does.  Of course, my view will be taken as protectionism, which is absurd when my whole view is that jobs are being taken away from American workers and American's privacy is in jeapordy when dictated files get funneled overseas. 
what is an IEP? my child has dyslexia and i have a meeting tomorrow morning at the school. sm
we moved to a new school at middle semester last year. prior school had awesome dyslexia program. now the program is all a "tape" that they watch. no extra time to finish assignments, nothing. she went from A's and B's to failing since our move. how can i force this school to obtain a true dyslexia teacher to work with my child and surely other children that need help?
Wow, that is a tough job, but it can be done
Thank you for caring AND for having that cat fixed. He sounds like a great pet! Making him an indoor cat is going to be difficult, but here is what I have done...Make sure he has something high he can sit on, preferably by the window. Get stuff to detract him - my cats like those cardboard scratching things REAL WELL - they aren't expensive and they last a long time. My cats also like catnip (which I put on the scratching thing) little balls of yarn or sparkly stuff that they can bat around the house (usually at night when I'm trying to sleep). I know all cats are different and it may take awhile (but not as long as your think) and be very frustrating, but you can do it. You have a lot of love in your heart. Extra attention and extra treats when he wants to go out. Good luck to you!!! Come back and tell us how it works out.
Boy that is tough

Avrage would have to be between 10 and 15 but in some of mine in a 30 minute tape I get over 1000 lines as there are a lot of consults and letter.  But in acute care gotta be close to 10 to 15 depending on how many times they cough, huh, clear their throat and start over.  Then sometimes on a 10 minute dictation I get only 50 lines.  But I would feel safe saying an averge is 10 to 15 lines.


This is a tough one...sm
since the ports still work with your printer, then it has to be something with your foot pedal. Some foot pedals do not come with software, but mine came with the software for the digital player. perhaps, if that is the same with yours, you would have to uninstall your digital player, reboot, reinstall, reboot, and then try the foot pedal again. for some reason, your computer is not recognizing the footpedal any longer. I really don't think it is a port problem anymore because of the printer working from it. wow! I feel bad for you. the reason why I think it might be the software for your digital player is that NO foot pedal works. if it was just the footpedal itself, one of the others should work. does that make sense? my software for my digital player has to be able to recognize the foot pedal in order for it to work, so that would be my next suggestion is to uninstall and reinstall...don't forget to reboot. my son says reboot is your best friend. keep us advised. but I would be on the phone to the local computer guru for a housecall right about now. good luck.
Even if he's tough, if you keep getting him
often, you should be able to train your ear or make normals to help you. Do keep a notebook where you list his favorite drugs. When I was learning a Korean doctor, if I got her first thing, there were certain words she'd say that could stop me in my tracks. I wrote them on a board, a phonic spelling and then the word she meant. It cracked me up, but it also helped me in the early morning before I had my ears on.
It is a tough one for me. sm

I have a toddler who wakes early.  I usually get to bed around 2-3am, sleep till 6am, then when daughter takes her nap from 1-3pm I just lay down and nap with her.  I've been known to nap on the couch too while my daughter plays in the living room.  Everything is kid proof and I just put up the baby gate so she has to stay in the room and she can easily wake me if she needs to. 


I'm luckily usually pretty good with 4-6 hours of sleep though so it isn't so bad.  It is hard some days when the neighbors all decide to mow lawn exactly at the time we usually take a nap. 


I know it can be tough, but
don't live paycheck to paycheck .  I've learned the hard way that if 2-3 days will kill your budget and/or cause you not to pay your creditors, then it's time to rethink your pay, how you manage money, and/or your career.  I had to rethink all three and am resolving the issues so that even if my employer pays me a week late - which is illegal anyway - it won't kill my budget.  Doing a little extra work on the side helps too.
That is a tough one....sm
He should have more consideration for you than that. That is really inconsiderate. I was under the impression that it was the office's responsibility to load the reports on the computer and all that. Which I have never done tapes that is just what I assumed. I would charge him extra for that. Figure what you are worth per hour and however long it takes you to do this figure how much that would be. If 30 minutes half of what you are worth an hour. As far as turning around, no, gas is too high for all that. As far as waiting you have other things to do I am sure. Maybe he should spell out the doctor's names so you don't have to go back and correct them. I would wait in his office if he didn't take too long I guess. But he is expecting a little much. I think maybe I would mail a letter with updated price changes and say something like due to the time it is taking out of my day to do other work I am going to be charging a fee for loading work on the computer and such. It may only be a $5-10 fee but let them know there will be a charge. Let them know you will wait in the office for a certain amount of time. Say 15-20 minutes. If he doesn't come in by then you have to go because you have other work to do.
That would be tough...
You would have to do about 3300 lines per day, which means that 471 lph is the slowest you could do to meet $100 in 7 hours.  VR is really unpredictable in what you have to change.  I know there are MTs out there who can edit really fast.  I would not say it "can't" be done.  I would just say that it would be hard to do. 
I buy it too, though will so much ESL out there it must be tough, and you must type a lot! -sm
If you only work 5 days a week that is 14 hours a day w/o breaks, so say a min. of 15 hours with breaks.  Whew!  I presume its just you and no family though as that is no life to lead if you have a family.  When I was working more I typed about 7 hours during the day and another 3-5 at night and that was too much and I hardly made anything due to ESL, etc. I was lucky to do 800 lines in a day with that.  Now though I am only doing some PT work and working 2-6 hours a day depending on the day/night of the week (and doing 3-6 hours over the weekend too) and how Jenny is feeling, doctor appts, etc. So my paychecks are weeny ($250-$350) right now but hope that one day I can at least break 10,000 lines per pay.....nice to know what can be acheived if you have all the right factors fall together.
No. If I have had a particularly tough ESL, I might relisten to
that paragraph but never a whole report.
Tough situation
I really think that what she is doing is wrong and like you said dishones and not loyal to your company. I would definitely bring it to your managers attention.
thats a tough call but he seems to be

attached to his routine which clearly centers around kids and your home.  You could try taking him with you, see how he does but let a neighbor from your neighborhood now know that if he shows up back there to call you.


All the ideas are great, he may prefer the old hood but may be fine n the new.  Cats are so finicky but mine transitioned from the old home to an apt just fine.  Good luck, you have a heart of gold!


Tough choice, for sure.
Are you married? If so, does your husband's income pay the bills? If that is the case, then I would tell you without hesitation to go to Andrews. The mentorship might be a good option if you feel confident they will teach you enough to make you employable at other companies and not just their own. An Andrews education would ensure you employability with many different companies and would secure your future in a way that mentorship may not. Again, this depends on the company doing the mentoring and I have no information on this particular company so I can't speak to that. I do know that Andrews graduates are work-ready and that Andrews will help facilitate job placement as well. (I have no affiliation with Andrews, for the record. I am an MTSO that hires and fires and just know from experience that Andrews graduates are always well-trained.)

If you simply cannot afford to give up the job you have now and you can't work the mentorship around your current job, you still might be able to study with Andrews and work that around your current job since I believe with Andrews, you can work at your own pace. M-Tec is another good school that I believe also allows you to work at your own pace.

Good luck to you!
Psych can be tough.
Would they give you a training period in psych, a few months at least? Psych is no breeze, you would definitely need references, and some internet sites. It will take some getting used to. But it can be fun!
Tough decision
I have been an MT for just over 20 years. I don't think I would ever consider QA. Knowing the poor quality of many (not all) of the MTs these days keeps me from even considering it. Knowing that the reports that I personaly end up sending to QA are the worst of the worst, I would think that is what other seasoned MTs are sending.....which means YES you are getting nothing but garbage coming your way. Inexperienced MT work *plus* don't-give-a-crap-except-for-my-line-count MT work *plus* really tough stuff from experienced MTs *equals* NOT FOR ME!!!

When I get ready to sit down and work I HOPE there are some good dictators in my future.....being QA I could almost bet I'm going to have a crappy day. I for one could not take that day in and day out. Plus the money is so much better in MT. I am going to try ASR soon, so a mixture of ME and MT. We'll see how I like that. Good luck with your decision.

Another thought would be that I might consider QAing for a hospital that has their employees at home, NOT a national company. Like the university hospital where I used to work. If I knew the quality of the MTs was up there, and that the MT supervisor tries his/her best to get onto the horrible dictators.

Best of luck with your decision.
I agree that it is going to be tough too--sm
I would also opt for a different location for your work space, particularly if hubby is going to have his parents visit, knowing that you are working or want to work. That alone is disrespectful, but that is another discussion. Anyway, try to choose an area that is away from all the talking, visiting, etc. or just have a particular area that is out of the way only when there is company. Otherwise, you DO have to get tough. My own mother happened not to like the kind of hours I was working and began calling me three times a day to *take a break*. I had to get tough and tell her not to. It hurt her feelings, yes, but sometimes you have to do that in order to earn a living. She got over it and now respects my wishes. just my thoughts.
This is such a tough question...sm
Yes, in a way I guess we should be responsible for our aging parents, however, I believe there comes a point when other options are necessary. When your parents raised and took care of you, they had options of other family members or daycare or babysitters to get some time away. When caring for aging and sick parents options to get away are very slim. My in laws are currently in this situation. They are taking care of my mother in laws mother (husbands grandma). She had a stroke and is bedridden. They have a nurse during the day while they go to work, but after work, all night, and all weekends, it is their responsibility to be with her and care for her. They have to do everything in shifts because they cannot leave her. They are missing so much of life and their grandchildren. All they do is take care of her. While part of me does think that is an admirable thing to do, the other part has to question do you give up your life to take care of an aging sick parent? She could go on like this for the next 10 years.. or more. I just think that maybe there comes a point when you should look for other options too. It is a tough question.
Wow, very tough situation.
If the relationship means a lot to you, maybe you can try talking with the husband and explain that he made you very uncomfortable and you really want to remain her friend and you would prefer that he make himself otherwise occupied or act like a gentleman when you go to visit. Explain to him that's the reason you are avoiding her. If he has any decency, he will respect that. If that is not an option....if she contacts you again, you should just tell her. Basically if the frienship is going to be over anyway, and you feel awkward about her wondering why, why not? You don't have to go into detail. Just say, you know, I never told you but years ago your husband made a pass at me and now that I'm newly single it is making me uncomfortable. If she doesn't believe you say I didn't think you would and that is why I never told you. That's it. That's what I would do. But that's me. Good luck!
I'm sure that is tough to find someone
bogged down by the end of the week.  I wish I had a C-phone, I could probably help you.  I work for a company on-line that I pick right up on new accounts with simply a sample report of any specialty.  These types of MTs are hard to come by because they are usually the ones with many years of experience and as the poster states they are usually so busy themselves.  I agree it sounds like you need someone willing to take off running say maybe even Thursday or Friday night to have the work back to you at least by Sunday evening.  My experience, like yours, is you are better off starting with a clean slate Monday a.m.  By Wednesday you are beating feet to stay within TAT if you have a lot of accounts.  I'll keep my eye out for a C-phone.  I've often wondered if it isn't better to have one on hand for these types of accounts.  I still transcribe tapes with pick-up and delivery of printed reports, so I know where you're coming from, believe me.  
It's tough to balance it all.
I've got a very full life, too. DH puts in a lot of hours at his job, but he doesn't see that I put in just as many. When he takes a break at work, he gets to sit down somewhere and actually eat or drink a Starbucks coffee. I have to make my own coffee, drop a kid off, pick a kid up or swap out a load of laundry during my "breaks" just to keep up. He does put in long hours at his job, and he's too tired to help out with household chores. He doesn't have time to get his errands done during the day either because he's got a demanding job. The kids do help out around here, too, but they have really full schedules with school, sports, jobs and friends. We've got pets contributing to the mess. Even my relatives call during the day for help with stuff. Cooking, grocery shopping, errands, bills and finances all fall on me to do. It's a load of bunk. I told DH I wasn't going to do MT full-time any more because of everything else I do around here. Why should I make as much money (or more) than he does, work just as many hours, and do EVERYTHING else that is expected of me? I even got hired part-time at an MT job, but they're trying to creep the hours up on me again. Plus, I have a second part-time job that's pretty demanding and just not worth what they pay me. I've got people demanding of me from sunrise to sunset, and I'm sick of it all! I'd like to sit on my backside and watch a TV program or movie for a change. I'd like to be have time to pursue my hobbies.

You (we) gotta get mean! JUST SAY NO to all the people badgering you all the time. Don't answer the phone or the door. Use caller ID and put a "do not disturb" note on the door. Lock or close your office door if you have one. Stay focused. Set work goals for yourself. I type at least 30 minutes of dictation before taking a break to go swap out laundry and stretch, then I get back to it. Assess your life and see what you can cut back on or streamline. Make a list of daily chores that take less than 5 minutes to do, and do those throughout the day. Delegate, ask for help.
It's a very tough market right now...sm.
I have 8 years experience and have been testing left and right for the last 3 months. I have passed several tests only to hear about the company being put on a hiring freeze and I am added to their waiting list. I have also tested and done very well and not heard anything back. I finally made the decision that I am going to go to nursing school but right now is not a good time either (my husband has been out of work since April of 2008). He finished his degree and STILL cannot find a job.

Keep faith..it will come through. Maybe instead of having to drive into town, you could send your resume to all the local doctors, dentists, veterinarians, eye doctors, anyone who maybe has been thinking they are too busy to do their own notes. I have heard that this has worked for many people. It is always worth the effort. If you are a good general Transcriptionist too, don't just stop at medical. Send you resume to insurance businesses, lawyers, whatever might be there.

Good Luck and God Bless.
Tough situation. Have you searched the ads and

applied with the companies who have been advertising ER accounts?  I know I just saw 1 this past month or so.  I do believe there is a good place for you; it'll just take digging and time.  I would absolutely refuse to do so many different unless in the same field.  Right now I have probably 15 different docs but all in the same field so it is not bad.


I have no idea how anyone makes 50K+ unless they are tied to the computer day and night....not my choice or my life.


Good luck and I hope you find some sort of resolution to this.



Agree with this! Only become a nurse if YOU want to do it. It's a tough job. nm
s
That is a tough situation ONLY because you know the account so well. sm

WOW!  I think I would put up with A LOT if I had an account that was easy to me, but then again give it to me and treat me that way and see what I would do...From my experience, it is hard to come by good accounts.  That is the problem.  These MTSOs know that if you are lucky enough to get a good account or if you are familiar with an account, then you won't want to lose it, therefore treating you like doggy-doo.  It is a total shame the way this industry has taken into shape. 


If it were me, I would just suck it up IF it is easy money, and go along and ignore them.  Hey, at least you are at home and you can say bad things to them or make mean, funny gestures at them...lol.....without them knowing...


 


Tough call with no contract, but
dictation you have in your possession until the previous balance is paid.  Sometimes offices do not even realize they have done this.  I have waited to be paid as well.  If this is a pick-up/drop-off whereas you go into the office, I would mention amongst those office workers that your mortgage company is really on your back because you haven't received your paycheck.  I know that sounds really cheesy, but it works.  The physician will definitely not want his/her office staff thinking he/she does not pay their staff.  Puts a "stink" through the office.  Now, you have to be classy about this when you are there though, real tactful, and even sort of make a joke about it.  Laugh, laugh, laugh... while saying the mortgage company just does not want to hear it.  But it does sound like you have already given notice, so I guess it will not matter for future endeavors.  JMO.  This is why contracts are so important because I do not really think you can even take the doc to small claims court to recoup because of the lack of a contract.  If they desire your future services, then you need to draft a contract. 
That's tough, I think I'd try it thinking I could get another job back in MT if I had to.
It really sounds like too good an opportunity to not at least give it a try. If it doesn't work out, it would still be a great experience I think.
nope...makes it tough.
`
Iam sorry to hear that, Pauline. I know it is tough right now. sm
I am sorry this happened to you.