In defense of kids
Posted By: glory1863 on 2007-08-07
In Reply to: My son tells me, "You need to find a better job." - MSMT
I only have a niece and a nephew, but they tell me the same thing. I was stressed out at the time and probably bit their heads off. On further reflection, they were doing their best to be caring and supportive. They can see what the upheaval at the Q is doing to me, and they're smart enough to know it's not good. As my niece said, You work all the time, you have no money and you're no fun! She's got that right! They both think their aunt could do better and deserves better, as I suspect your children do for you. They still believe in us - that we're smart enough to learn and/or do something else. They're trying to give us the kick in the butt to look beyond the obvious - there are other in-hospital jobs we could learn and do and there are other jobs besides K-Mart (at least where I live) - and to get out there and try for them, as scary a thought as that is. They still have the optimism of the young, and maybe us old folks could use a bit of that right now. At least we know they love us, and that's not a bad thing either.
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thank you for coming to my defense (sm)
Of course I know my financial situation, but we have missed a few payments, have tried to contact the lein holder, but to no avail.
The best defense for a child...
As heart tugging as they are, accurate transcription is sooooo important for any person, there is a lot at stake and your best effort at triple checking what you have typed is our little helping hand at helping those seeking help. Flag ANYTHING you doubt, if you get lost in the "he said, she said," someone else will too and calling attention to those items WILL HELP to ensure the reports are easily read and understood. Keep up the good work, the job we do IS IMPORTANT! Any complaint or abuse is paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, just be sure those you do are the cream to help those who in need.
In defense of Dano....
Further down on this board, someone posted a very rude post that implied that people who didn't think a college degree was important were inferior. Dano requested that the poster not put people down that way. So it's very understandable why she would ask this question.
But you already know that, don't you? You responded to that post by telling her she has issues.
Since you obviously have you own issues concerning your abilities to understand how this board works, the most current posts are at the top, which means the less current posts are at the bottom, which means she posted her request to stop putting down posters BEFORE she asked the above question.
You're even more rude than the *superior feeling* poster who started all this.
Not in defense of errors or anything, but - sm
one reason the QA field has exploded is the low wages. Taking the time to proofread is costly for an MT racing through the day's work in order to make a line count that will even pay her electric bill for that day. We shouldn't have to work that way. It would be easier to take pride in one's work as an MT if we were afforded the luxury of a living wage, so we would slow down a little and produce an even higher-quality document.
Ok, in my husband's defense, he apologized.
Then he made breakfast, lunch, and dinner yesterday for all of us, did the grocery shopping, mowed the lawn, put up a swingset for our little one, fixed our broken outdoor faucet, set up the pool for the kids, gave me a foot massage, cleaned the house, and washed my car. I think I'll keep him....
In her defense, there are far too many men out there that really should come with warning labels. nm
nm
Conversely.... in defense of the MTSOs..
.....where would the MTs be if the MTSOs just quit?
I realize this commentary may raise the ire of some MTs out there, but I believe the long-time MTs and MTSOs will understand what I am saying.
It really isn't as easy at might seem to some managing multiple accounts, turnarounds, IC flexible schedules, covering for the ICs when they want to take off for the afternoon and go shopping or to the park with the kids, doing the QA on the blanks to find that medication or doctor's name that the IC did't feel like spending the time looking up in the resources available, and still meet our contracted turnaround with the client.
The sending of work offshore has drastically reduced the amount clients pay and I can tell you from personal experience that most MTSOs are rolling in the dough, living in fancy houses and driving fancy cars. We are making pennies, just the same as the ICs are. We are not the national corporations and we are not sending work off shore. We are the moderate to small MTSOs that respect the fact that experienced transcriptionists with good work ethics are hard to come by. Most of us pay our ICs based on the average national rate.
You can certainly do the math if you're interested. Average line rate (in our area) is 0.12 per line, 0.14 if we are REALLY lucky. Most want to pay 0.10 or 0.11. Telephone, internet and system costs (with maintenance) cost an average of 0.02 per line. Experienced MT average rate nationwide is 0.08 per line. So, we hire trainees right out of school rather than sending work offshore for 0.04 a line and may the trainees 0.06 a line to learn the accounts we are getting 0.10 for, paying 0.03 for QA on those if we can afford a QA person and giving them incremental increases as they improve, keeping the experienced MTs on the 0.11 accounts, and paying our non-QA-requring MTs 0.09 to 0.095 per line.
Even if a service bills out $2,000,000 (yep, two million dollars) per year, $40,000 isn't a whole bunch of money. Some of us could make that much managing an office for a national. But then who would hire the ICs that want a really flexible work schedule, do not want to do ESL work, will not be available for STATS and want their own primary account to work on when they want to, and have someone else cover when they're out for an afternoon with the kids.
Hmmmm.. seems like there's not much left for the cars and groceries of the MTSO either.
Transcription is a profession, not just a job. If you want 0.11 or 0.12 per line, feel free to go find and manage your own accounts. If you want a "job" with steady hours and steady pay.. I think they're hiring at our local fast food restaurant.
What works for me is I take a women's self defense class . .
twice a week. I get to beat up on a man for an hour. Great fun and stress reliever. Also a kick-boxing class. I just imagine I'm kicking the doctor in the you know what. LOL
Uh yeah, in a debate there's usually defense and an offense. Hence someone is always "on the
defensive." I simply posted my opinion about non-compete clauses and my experience with an untrustworthy service and how I handled it and then I'm called unethical and unprofessional. That kind of puts me on the defensive, dontcha think? Kind of begs me to defend my actions... 
Self Defense, pure and simple. I am leaving this board as of --sm
today because of you and your obnoxious attitude. I know you don't care, but you should, being a *fellow MT*, but everything revolves around you and you always being right. You remind me of KiKi. YOu like to take cheap shots at everybody who does not have the same opinion as you about anything, just as long as you can start an argument and keep it going. You are vicious, rude, crude, and a definite infant. I will pray for you. good bye.
Let the docs use their reports transcribed in India as a defense! LOL
The doc can sit there while the personal injury lawyer shows the jury a grieving family and the messed up report.
US MTs should not accept sweat shop wages or conditions. We are providing a service to them! We are their first defense!:) :) :)
If US MTs stoped working for low wages, the physicians who value patient safety and their livelihood would pay a descent wage. The other ones can try to explain the report being done in India to the personal injury lawyer tearing him apart.
Do little kids like caramel? My big kids won't even eat it! We make the basic Baker's chocolat
s
I never said you shouldn't have kids! Feeling guilty? I asked WHY you had kids.
You clearly stated in your post that you ship the kids off to camp all day, and they're TIRED AT NIGHT!! You know exactly what you said. You said it as a PERK - AS IN GREAT! They're gone all day, it wears them out, and so I shovel dinner in their mouths and off to bed! You can try to paint it any way you want, but YOU SAID IT. Again, I only hope your kids never hear you speak that way or write that way. Shame on you. Why have kids at all? Just another parent who has them, gets rid of them for day AND night, BRAGS ABOUT IT, and then calls ME wicked! Give me a break! Camp is fine - its WHAT YOU SAID AND YOU KNOW IT. Your own words showed your heart. Period.
Kids are demanding and so is MT work. My question is how CAN you do this with kids, rather than how
When you have two young kids, 11 months apart, (like I stated they are now 4 and 5) and have been doing this since they were born with no help from their father and no family around, YES, the kids get neglected. Part time might work but living on one salary, part time, is not an option. How can you possible tell me that anyone with two young kids can stay at home and work a full-time, 8-hour shift, and still give their kids the attention they NEED. I dont care how good you are at multitasking and how great your organizational skills are. It is a very difficult thing to do. And I am offended by your post making it sound as if it is easy to do.
I do agree that it can depend on how well your kids behave and how well they are able to play on their own. But my kids were not able to play well on their own. They needed constant attention.
So please take the time to realize that there are people out there in different situations than your own.
Reading our posts should help you to understand that everyone has a different situation. I believe everyone should have the right to shares their experiences as it might benefit the original poster in her questions and concerns.
I dont think anyone should be bashed for taking the time out to write about their experiences. I dont usually come on here to argue but you really ticked me off with your post. And try reading the post correctly. I said next time around I would have put them in day care. What I DID do with them was set them up to an activity like art or put on a movie for them. Geez.
Stayed "because of the kids?" I say "leave because of the kids"
You're in no position to buy right now. Keep saving, keep paying down your bills, and for heaven's sake get rid of that dead weight of a BF you're living with. You can do better.
So, should I return the $75 (x2 kids) in music cards I got the kids for x-mas...sm
My son has been telling me about free music sites and I was very leary. How do they skirt the law Radguy?
I don't have kids, but my Mom was from the "old school," and still had everyone, kids inclu
call her by her first name. The little neighbor girl next door from the time she could speak called her Aggie (my mom's first name), and they were great buddies until the day my mom pased away.
I don't think there really is much in a name, but more in the respect you are given and the way you are treated. Personally, I kind of cringe inside when someone calls me Ms. Anything or God forbid, "maam" (makes me feel like Methuselah!) ... I'm always just plain Merrie. :-)
But, as someone pointed out, to each his own. If you want to be addressed a certain way, you have that right, and people should respect that. I'm glad you corrected the child ... hope it "sticks." 
Please do not simply give up, kids or no kids!
Talk with a professional. This can be worked through if he really puts forth the effort and you participate. The right counseling can truly make your marriage even better than it was before, if BOTH parties are willing to be honest. Give it a try. Nothing to lose at this point and everything to gain!
No I said thank God I do not have kids
I think the wrong point is being taken here. Yes he does not worry about money and is used to that. I am afraid of not making ends meet if I stop working my day job and I refuse to stop working either MT jobs as we all know it takes a lot of education to make it.
I am my kids mom
My children are lucky to have their mother taking care of them, not a stranger. I work my butt of taking care of my kids and have made many sacrifices to be able to live this life of working PT and being a full time mother. I know that I am my kids mom.
I know that it must be hard for you to look at your kids and tell them that you don't want them to be with you everyday. The sacrifices could be made.
Thank God you have no kids. NM
x
How much can you get done with 2 kids?
I haven't done transcription for a few years and would like to get back in. My question is--if you don't mind me asking--how many lines a week can you get done with kids? Is 1000 reasonable or way out there? I have 5 kids, but 3 of them will be in school during the day and the other two nap...any advice?
For kids
Tacos, as son to work and daughter off too, and me and hubby home made wedding soup, ummm ummm good, and sweet italian sausage on hard rolls, not stale, just good.
28 WF, M, 2 kids. nm
nm
Kids come first for both of us, then each other, I don't think I'd want a man who
and catering to me constantly. I like the fact that he does all the cooking, and most of the grocery shopping and gets me things I like w/o me having to ask him to buy them. I do the same for him. We don't get much alone time but enjoy what time we do get together. My man does a lot other men don't but doesn't act like a doormat either.
Same here... kids come first, then each other. sm
Our kids are still at home, and the kids come first. I've seen lots of other parents who put themselves/each other first, and the kids always seem to be second thoughts to them. That's not how it works in our family. We're all equally important, but the kids' needs come first. If I only have $30 and we all need shoes, the kids get them first. I wouldn't have it any other way.
How old are the kids?nm
We have three kids.
x
DH does his own. So do the kids.
I used to have Mount Everest on the basement floor every single day and then I just got fed up and stopped doing laundry except for my own and household items, i.e., towels, etc. Half of the pile was clean stuff that I had folded and put in the kids' rooms that they just put back in the pile when they "cleaned" their rooms.
It took them a while to adjust, but the youngest was 8 and the older ones were 12 and 17 and I left their stuff in the mountain until they realized that they couild actually work the washing machine AND the dryer. They also know if they put the washer on the extra small cycle for only one pair of pants, one shirt, one pair of socks and one pair of underwear for themselves, and I actually find it, it gets hauled out of the washer and thrown back on the pile wet.
And don't even think about not scraping AND rinsing your plate. You won't get fed.
hee hee 
I
yep and even KIDS..........nm
xx
How many kids do you have?
x
My kids are now in their mid-20's and
we always had them save their money. I'd give them $20 of their paychecks and put the rest in high-interest CD's for them.
My son recently used the money from his childhood savings as a downpayment on his house.
My daughter is using hers to pay off her student loans from college.
They are now very responsible savers/investors.
Teach them young. It's a great learning experience that can be applied to the rest of their lives.
We pay our kids...
to watch the baby, but it works like this. They are 14 and 16 and the "baby" is 4. They watch her for more than 2 hours, they get $6 an hour. Those first 2 hours are considered just being part of our family.
It would be the end of it for me. Not something I would want as an example for the kids, either.
x
Do you have kids?
x
Your kids will be gone before you know it.
sound like an experienced MT and I'm sure if something happens to the job you have, you can find another one with no problem. And there are ALWAYS hospital jobs open. When the time comes that you need it, a job will be there. Don't stress out over it and enjoy the time you have with your family. That time goes by so fast. We really are lucky or blessed or whatever you want to call it to be able to do what so many people would love to do - bring in some income and still stay home with our families. MT has served me well over the years. I never tried to work with little babies or toddlers, but have ever since they got a little older. AND - so many kids are own their own between the time that school is out when a parent gets home. I saw my kids' friends through middle school and high school just run wild after school, cause there was no one to know they weren't home or to even care. I realize my kids would have been running with them if I had been at work - and I'm glad I was at home!
I have kids to think about
I'm a single mom. No way am I dragging my kids around the country constantly for any job.
Yes, I do just like most have kids but
I used to work in an office and do not let them or others interfere with my working. It is called teaching your kids, I believe. Same works for all outsiders I know. Oh, for your info, I mostly was telling the person above how to save on costs (they mentioned about how much more it cost working from home, things you can take off on taxes and the like. I saw nothing wrong with it myself. Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?
Sorry kids?! You are QA?
What do YOUR kids have to do
Not everyone chose this career in order to stay home with their kids. I know I didn't, and I worked inhouse first. I liked the job and mastered it outside the home; then took the opportunty to work at home once I was a good MT, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Don't assume everyone joined this profession merely to sit home with a bunch of rugrats. Some of us actually consider it a career, vs an alternative to paying a sitter, or a supplement to hubby's income. So leave the hubby and kids out of it, many MTs don't have either.
Use the kids for an example...
If you have kids, they do that yearly testing and the classrooms always send out a printed sheet to make sure your child is psychologically and physically ready for the test.
I don't remember all of the tips, but one was to make sure you've had plenty of rest the night before and to eat a good breakfast so being hungry or having low blood sugar at test time doesn't interfere with your processing abilities.
Not a lot, but I think those are 2 pretty good tips. Nothing can be as distracting as an empty tummy or being amped up on adrenaline from lack of sleep or being tired from a sudden drop in blood sugar.
I'm going to tell you just as I always told my daughter. Just do your best, no one can expect any more nor any less from you.
Good luck to you!
You could do it with kids
I have 3 kids at home all day long while I work. I don't recommend MT though. MT34+ is right...its not what it used to be. I'm thinking about medical billing/coding myself. I think they make a little more too, although I would like to work in a hospital to do it.
I did it before I had kids so that when I did (sm)
have them I could stay home. I thought it would be better for me to be established in this field. I have 2 more years and my youngest will be starting school. I have been in this business since 1996. So, in that sense it has been good to us, because I was able to raise my children and not send them to a daycare, which was my dream.
My kids. sm
After my husband died, I wanted to move out of the city and work from home in order to be there for my 3 boys. I was working for a law firm, and I did not like it.
I took an at-home course and moved south. I volunteered at a hospital for 8 weeks in the MT department, and they offered me a job after 6 weeks. I moonlighted to get clients so when JCAHO came in, I got laid off, but I had clients by then. The great thing was that during the night there had been blizzard that came through. I could literally cross the yard and be at the hospital to work, but I was at home enjoying the beauty of the snow.
My kids are grown now, and I feel so lost. The money in MT is drying up, with EMRs and national companies entering the scene. I'm afraid I didn't keep up or at least learn to work for national companies sooner. Now I'm trying to figure out what to do from here. I'm greatful I'm working and being at home, but now I make less than $1000. I used to pull in about $3000 a month.
Went to school for computer repair, but it was not a course to prepare me for A+ certification. Waiting to start a mentor program for acute care transcription.
Sorry for the long post. I'm hopeful things will change, but it's really testing what I'm made of.
The kids are going to bug you any time you're
not focused solely on them. That's why mommies never get to go potty by themselves, talk on the phone, go shopping, read a book, or any of those other fun things that we used to do before children. You're going to need to concentrate on medical billing as much as medical transcription. Plus, I don't know that there's really as much of a market for it. I tried to get into it before I got into MT, but those ads are often bigger scams than the other work at home ads. A lot of the hospitals and clinics don't use medical billing services because it's all been automated through their computer system.
The transcription will get better when your kids get older. If your kids are interrupting you that much, what about hiring a neighborhood teen to "babysit" or entertain them for a few hours? You can pay a younger teen less since you'll be there anyway. Work while the kids are asleep.
Kids at home?
Do your kids stay at home and how old are they? I have three, one that is 9, 4, and 1, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to type this summer. I am considering a sitter once school starts, so I will be all aone during the day. What do you do?
My thoughts exactly. Thank God I don't have kids! nm
LOL!!
Now that was romantic. No wonder you have no kids.
On MT at home with kids...
I haven't read all the responses yet (I'm trying to get some work done tonight, too!), but I thought I'd just add this, in case one of the reasons you are thinking about doing this is to stay home with kids. If not, just ignore this. That's why I am doing it - I quit an office job when I had my second son, stayed home for a few years with both kids, but living on 1 income became increasingly difficult. Now my kids are preschool/school-aged, and I have been doing this for about a year, working 25 hours a week now. The biggest pro is the biggest con - you're home with your kids. Yes, I'm here if they need me, I can drop everything and pick a sick kid up from school, I don't have to pay for child care or feel guilty over child care.
That said, being here and working with head phones on is NOT the same as being here and paying attention to my kids, and boy do they know it! Very often, I find myself feeling so frustrated because no one is ever happy - the kids aren't happy because I'm not with them, my husband's not happy because he has to deal with the kids as soon as he gets home (of course he's also not happy that we don't have more money!), and I'm not happy because it takes me twice as long to get my lines in as it would if everyone would just leave me alone.
Can you tell I'm having a bad day? (I am so ready for school to start back up!) LOL! Some days are much better, and overall this is the best option for me. I can work in whatever clothes I like, take a break, answer the phone, etc. I can work with my cat curled up on my printer and my dog panting at my feet! I definitely don't miss office politics, panty-hose, and commuting. Sometimes I miss the company and the occasional office gossip, though. ;-)
Anyway, just be aware that if you are planning to work at home with kids, it really will take you much longer. I honestly don't know how people with very young children do this - unless they work through naps and early morning or late nights. I do mostly evening and weekend work, with a couple of hours during the day 3 days a week.
Good luck to you! Hope this helps!
Mel 
At least somebody's kids are getting disciplined
Hopefully, they'll expand into more schools now that we've seen what mollycoddling does to kids and the effect that has on the rest of the world.
I spank my kids, sure, but that's for me to do. No
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