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If you have been working for a hospital and SM

Posted By: Cece on 2008-10-13
In Reply to:

never a national before, to be really blunt and I don't really want to be, but you won't know what hit you. You will be truly stunned at how underhanded big business is. You think you know, but you don't, until it happens to you.

I wish I had something positive to say. If I did, I might say simply to find another line of work. When you go to work for Spheris or any other national company, you are in for a shock.


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    working IN A HOSPITAL is different than working at home.
    Someone can steal you identity from the internet if they want to. Why would you go to the time and trouble to jeopardize a job that requires some level of skill to steal someone's identity or medical records? You could get a job as a retail clerk and get info easier than going through the testing required to become an MT.
    Usually only if working for a VA Hospital but
    it really depends on the company. I don't think many do background checks otherwise. What they look for is schooling and experience and work history.
    MT working at home for hospital
    I just recently was sent home from a local hospital where I work. I make $15.80/hour, no incentive, and we are required to type a minimum of 1200 lines per 8-hour shift.
    18 cpl straight from a hospital working at home. nm
    x
    IC working for a small rural hospital
    I have worked for a small rural hospital as an IC for 9 years, this year I asked for a raise.  Hospital thought about going to a national until they found out how much they charged.  They contract their transcription themselves.
    Question about working on Hospital accounts
    I have over 5 years of experience unfortunately it is all clinic experience. Are there any companies that will hire a Transcriptionist with this much experience but not in the Acute Care field? I really would like to start doing those types of transcription. Any advice would be appreciated.

    Thank you.
    Now that I'm back working directly for the hospital
    nm
    Key words: Utah and Hospital. Different from working at home and different SM
    from working in a state that has low tolerance for drinking.
    Try working inhouse at a local clinic or hospital.
    That's what many MTs end up having to do to get their foot in the door & gain experience. IMO, that's the best way to start anyway since you have experienced people nearby to ask for help because those first few months can be very difficult. Good luck!

    P.S. Agree with the other posters below that you need to specify you have your certificate in MT, not referring to yourself as a Certified MT which is a completely different thing and can only be obtained after a few years of experience & testing with AHDI. However, that brings up another topic... many MTs choose not to become certified now that AHDI has sold us out & encourages offshoring of our work. I've been doing this nearly 20 years and only once have ever been asked if I had my CMT, so it's pretty much irrelevant anyway. As long as you have experience & test well, that's what they care about.
    If you are working at an hourly rate in a hospital setting, then you are
    going to be in for a shock when you go to production rates. Most of the in-house positions were farmed out years ago. If you were lucky to secure an in-house position for this long, consider yourself blessed.
    $15,000.... Hospital employee, telecommuting from home, working less than full-time.
    c
    I'm a hospital employee, working local at home, so I get a raise every year.
    x
    I have 13 years experience and just started a hospital job working from home making $16 an hour

    and with a really good incentive plan.  I live in the Kansas City area.  $10 seems like a low starting point even with only two years experience which is the usual benchmark for hospital MT jobs. 


    It's been my experience that the low end of the pay scale for hospital employed MTs was around $12 an hour.  Also, it's been my experience that the pay offered is usually based on years of experience and how well you perform on the transcription test.


    I would say if their pay is that low, they should at least be making it up with incentive and it doesn't sound like they are.


    JMO


    Depends on what kind of hospital? Large urban hospital or small community hospital? SM

    Also, is it a large teaching hospital? If so you have to consider there will be A LOT of different residents dictating, usually a lot of ESLs at teaching hospitals, and the residents rotate out and new ones rotate in every summer. So you can't expect to get the same dictators and build up your macros because the dictators change all the time.


    I would say 9 cpl would be a pretty good offer for a small to medium community hospital where you will be doing the same dictators on a daily basis.  But for bigger, urban or teaching hospitals I would want at least 12 to 15 cpl. 


    Or after a boring weekend when working at a hospital someone asks "How was your weekend?" and

    You get more working the evening or night shifts and working w/o benefits. And producing like a mad
    ,
    Ditto....granted I am not working much these days, but am currently trying out a new way of working
    when I do work which seems to be helping.  I am timing myself and keeping a log of how long it takes to to type however many minutes.  I am averaging anywhere from 13-18 minutes of dictation an hour now doing this.  Granted the time fluctuates between who I am typing, and if I have to look up names, addresses, etc., just depends on the division I am doing at the time.  But work that used to take me 3 hours to do is now taking me under 2 hours, I am also trying to put in more macros as I go along, which slows me down initially but pays off in the long run of course.  I was working "all the time" before but took forever to get done since I was not applying myself. This new "attitude" has helped me a lot.  My goal, in the Fall, is to do 90 minutes a day consistently at 6 hours, and then maybe get up to 120 minutes a day at 8 hours, still while having at least half of the day free (do 60 minutes at night, and the other 60 by Noon).  Thereby doing 1200-1400 lines a day.  I have never really buckled down and done more than 8000 lines per pay period, so it will be a nice change.  Maybe you can do something like that and have a specific knock off time as was suggested below. 
    Working holidays? Out shopping in stores where someone IS working

    that holiday you refuse to work?  Grocery stores, food joints & seems any store is open on holidays and you expect them to be fully staffed, so why shouldn't we?


    Yes, I took off for the first time on Christmas day, in 18 years and it was great, but I worked Christmas eve and this whole past weekend.


    Someone has to do it!


    Hospital. I wish I'd never left my hospital job.
    They'll only take me back if I start off working nights and weekends again at the bottom of the totem pole.
    If you work for a hospital - how come no one from the hospital
    called you?? Were they in the dark, as well?? How sad, that no one in your hospital communicates with the at home staff.
    Somehow working at home translates into not really working
    My in-laws are the worst. Whenever they plan something last minute and my husband says that I had to work, they say, "but she works at home!". When I one time mentioned I had a "schedule" and basically punch a clock and work full time, I don't think they believed me. They will sometimes call mid-day during the week if they are in the area to see if I want to go for lunch, etc! The best is, my husband doesn't make all that much money, so where is it coming from, the money fairy? I am ready to strangle someone! So I know how you feel and I'm sorry it upset you. You are not alone.
    I daydream about NOT working while I'm working.

    There are so many other things I need and want to get done.  I've been working way too hard lately, and summer is just slipping by again.  Well, I'm outty.


    hospital MT
    Call the hospital.  You can offer a better deal to them.  Most MTSOs charge the hospitals a lot more than what they pay out for the actual work done.  I work for a hospital.  I asked for a raise after 10 years, they baulked, started looking at outsourcing.  They changed their mind really quick when they found out how much they would charge them.  (four times what they paid me).
    Hey, if you don't want that hospital job can I
    have it? Just kidding (only because it's probably not where I live in central Florida). Started working at home for the kids over 10 years ago, but they are all grown now and I realize I don't know anyone because I hardly ever leave the house!!
    hospital job
    My situation too. Son out of the house now. Still know all the people at the hospital as I worked there for 10+ years and still do side typing for one of the units there that were not taken over when they outsourced!   So seriously considering it....Sorry, its in PA!
    I think they did that to us at the hospital

    but no O/T.  But you could get on there and do BONUS MINUTES at 6/cents a line all you wanted.


    I always felt like that should have been illegal.  If I'm working, then I'm working.  If I'm an hourly employee - then anytime I'm working!!!!! I should be an employee and thus paid HOURLY WAGES.  But they got away with it.  Sort of a hybrid deal.


    They screw us any way they can.


      (good little screws all in a row)


     (Medical Records Supervisor yucking it up drinking coffee, practicing snapping her whip)


    (Me at the end of the day saying WHY AM I HERE?????)


    Hospital pay
    I make about $15 per hour at my hospital job in Washington state and have recently quit that to work out of my home. However, I have not yet found any home job that even comes close to that when being paid based on lines.
    hospital pay
    i make 21/h. living in the hawaiians islands, thats actually pretty good
    hospital pay
    my main job is at the hospital and i would never leave it especially with all the benefits and good pay. ic has its benefits when it comes to tax time, but as far as job security and being a single mom, i choose to stay at a guaranteed $20/h. too many people are unhappy with the problems of security in this line of work and i dont want that to happen to me.
    Hospital pay
    Out here in Oregon, all hospitals pay from 14 to 19 plus benefits.  Am considering going with Kaiser after the first of the year and having my I/C's run my business.  Have one doctor retiring after the first and deciding whether to do all my own accounts and make $40K doing 30 hours per week without benefitis enjoying life and not saving much or going with Kaiser at 18.50 per hour with benefits and having the I/C's doing 80% of my work and I will type parttime on the weekends.  Have only 10 more years to work.   Have been offered work at Kaiser, Providence and Good Samaritan Hospitals so the work is out there. 
    Hospital pay

    At least with the hospitals out here in the west, they always have posted salary ranges and you can usually always exept with decent experience to start in the middle somewhere and reach the top in 5 years.  Worked in HR in a large hospital for a bit.  They always post the salary ranges here with positions and with that you go in with a bit of knowledge.   I never did see one start at the top though.  Good luck. 


     


    Hospital job
    Let us know how things go.  I would fear that they see MT as just "typing" and would give you so many secretary duties that the MT part would be pushed to the back burner. 
    TAKE THE HOSPITAL JOB - sm
    national services lose accounts all the time whether it is nonrenewal of contract or fired, or whatever, your pay is never the same from week to week with a service, you may have extra transcriptionists on your account all of a sudden, work load varies, etc.

    With the hospital work, you know your doctors, you have guaranteed hours and work and even down time (some services don't offer that), overtime, benefits, etc. Some hospitals even offer reimbursement on college courses - CAN AN MTSO SERVICE OFFER THAT?? Some hospitals have family leave time for 12 weeks of maternity!! Can an MTSO service offer that?

    Take the hospital job!
    Take the hospital job...
    Those are only real "for sure" MT jobs out there anymore.   I worked for years for a service but since  I took my at-home hospital job, I feel like somebody for the first time in the eyes of my employer.  We are all local, so we have staff meetings and come into the department for different things, yearly reviews, parties, etc.  We're all in touch via e-mail  and know each other face-to-face too. I get paid by the house, have a set schedule, and can earn incentive pay too.  I have paid holidays, benefits, and am a hospital employee except work at home.  I love it, would never EVER go back to clawing for lines at a service who barely knows my name.
    Hospital Job
    One thing you have to be careful of -- are there witches in that hospital who will send you the "worst" work or not send it at all and keep it for themselves? Be sure - I know one hospital who "punishes" the work at homes because they're afraid their dept. will be outsourced completely. Be careful who you deal with. Don't like MTSO's so I started my own, but family sickness and my own illness forced me to retire (temporarily, I hope). When offered work at home from a hospital, I had to say no and glad I did, another person said yes and just sits there waiting, and waiting, while the in-house people make the bucks and if they do send, it's all stuff they don't want to do. Be careful and good luck!!
    HOSPITAL JOB ALL THE WAY!!! the Way (sm)

    That's good pay and bennies to boot!!! I would die for that.


    I worked for a hospital as an IC for many years at home. That's the only way the hospital bigwigs would allow it, not employee status.  Never ran out of work except in the first few weeks in a new year. Never had "just the junk" as some suggested. I did the same work as everyone else. I tried to get my employee status back (which I was once) but no luck. I was at home. Some rule about that, but I was happy.


    I'd go back to my hospital in a flash. My buddies want me back. The boss wants me back. For some reason, they still won't give me employee status. That sucks. ('scuse my French).


    Don't even THINK about what to do, DO IT. You'll never be sorry.


     


    Hospital

    I work full-time from home for a local hospital and am paid per hour.  I also work an IC on a part-time basis.  I would say if you need the benefits and steady paycheck and can handle working possibly rotating weekends and holidays, yes.  The only good thing with working with some nationals is having the flexibility with your schedule but you will NOT make a steady income.  You will constantly run of out work, loose money and find yourself clocking in and out all day long just to make 8 hours.  With a hospital, you know that the work will be there everyday and if you have downtime, you will still get paid.  Also, having that security in knowing that you can speak to management face to face or over the phone. Go for the hospital, because I know a lot of MTs wished they could have that opportunity.  Go luck to you!!!


    hospital
    security, benefits,local, communication, "real people" versus "phone people"
    take less money and have these advantages, the days of making a lot by working on production are over
    Good Luck!
    Thank you both, will look into it and ask at the hospital too.
    //
    hospital IC
    I contract with a local hospital.  I worked there for a little less than 2 years and as I had a sickly child and wanted to be closer to home, we agreed to my working at home as an IC.  My hours are pretty flexible although if I do not work I do not get paid.  And they do have someone as a back up for me when I am unable to work.  Still, I would not want to go back to work 8-5 at the hospital.  This has allowed me to be there for my children's activities and be home when they are sick.
    new hospital......
    The MTSO I work for does basically the same thing. Except they don't pay us by the hour, by production. Just about any place you work will do this.

    As long as you work your assigned hours, it should not be a problem. Turn off the phone or let it go to voice mail (if it's family call back on break). Just work as if you were in an office, and there will be no problems. Don't try to do your laundry and cook dinner while you're working - it will kill your line count.

    If you are getting an hourly wage plus incentive and hospital benefits, you are at the top of the heap - if you quit, let me know where you are and I will relocate and take the job!
    My hospital wants them done like this...
    If doses are given and there are more than 5 medicines listed, they want it in number format (even if 1, 2, etc., is not said). If there are less than 5, paragraph form. If there are no dosages at all, no matter how many meds are listed, paragraph form.

    I'm sure you will get a lot of different answers on this though. :)
    HOSPITAL PAY
    Not true. Many hospitals pay more. I make 50,000 yr at my hospital. I am full-time. I get same benefits as those who walk through the doors every day. I am not penalized if I don't meet the required line count each day. We have a week to reach our line counts and then we are not penalized. They know how hard we work. We never have to worry about losing our insurance because of "meeting quotas", and they provide all equip and pay the internet bill as well.
    hospital pay

    I'm thinking of taking a position at a local hospital. I would be picking up dictations and taking the reports back the next day. What would be an acceptable line rate? It would be a mix of both ESL and non-ESL. Any input would be appreciated.


    Hospital MT
    I know exactly what you mean.  They opened the Surgery Center here about a year ago, and our workload has also decreased.  And, because some of the girls in the office talk too much and are not doing 160 lph, we get no overtime as it is being sent to a service company instead!  We have two hospitals nearby that sold the department out and went strictly with the service company and one is sending their work to India!  Unfortunately, a lot of us need the benefits, which we will no longer get if this happens to us. 
    Hospital Job
    Would 9 cpl be considered good pay for an in-house employee hospital position?  No hourly pay, just pay on production.  Benefits available such as PTO, paid training, health/dental insurance.  Have option of working from home.  Is it worth considering?
    Hospital Job
    It is a smallish/medium hospital with few ESLs.
    hospital QA
    I work for a hospital. We do verbatim, but use BOS as well to a degree. We have to use our judgement. If you know it is wrong and it changes the patient care then it should be flagged for QA. Better safe than sorry. Their job to take care of it as far as I'm concerned.
    I second getting on with hospital/doc
    You will earn more money in a hospital or doctor's office for the first few years, and will probably have better benefits such as insurance, too.
    I am used to the ESL...I came from a hospital that
    was 80% ESL. You can't get away from ESL and I think 50% is about average.
    I was just in the hospital...sm
    First in the ER, then I was admitted, and many of the nurses and technicians I interacted with had cell phones *on* them.  I didn't see a bunch of signs saying 'no cell phones' which kind of surprised me.  I was thinking maybe it's not such a big deal anymore... ?  (They had me on an EKG the whole time because I was tachy.)