It's a very tough market right now...sm.
Posted By: MTmoM on 2009-06-23
In Reply to: Just needing a vent. - Frustrated!
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.
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the market will pay what the market will bear...sm
just the fact that jobs are posted for this pay means people are taking it. You have to remember - we are in a global marketplace now. We are competing against people from India, Thailand, Cambodia for these jobs. If the Mexicans could figure it out, we would be competing against them too. It's like washing dishes. Washing dishes isn't easy. Why does washing dishes only pay $5.50 an hour? Because they can find people to wash dishes for $5.50 an hour. Not only that, but MT work was getting cost prohibitive for a lot of people. That's why some other really, really smart people said, "let's find a way to make computers do this! Then we can sell the programs so docs can buy programs instead of paying MT's." Then some other really really smart people said, "let's not even have docs dictate. Let's have them point and click!" And so MT's are also competing against VR and EMR.
You may say ..."If a company offers me 7 to 9 cpl, I let them know that it is an insult to expect an experienced, highly skilled Transcriptionist to be offered such low pay and I refuse to work for them." But if your current job goes bye-bye, and you're scrambling out in the market and that's all that's out there....well, you get the picture. If you want the job, you take the job for that pay. Otherwise, yes, it's get a job at WallyWorld. Your choice.
Now you know the local job market and my
home situation better than I do. For your information, I make more working parttime at home doing MT than I would working fulltime for any of the local advertising agencies. Plus, I don't have to travel or put my kids in daycare.  Thank you so much for your concern about my employment situation, though. And please, get off your 
In the market for a new computer -
I will not buy MS Vista - I hear it's a nightmare. TIA
When you market your services with a
business name and a business license, it shows the doctors or hospitals that you are representing yourself as a professional business and are not just a homemaker or housewife trying to make a few extra bucks. They will treat you with more respect and take you more seriously, and in turn will be willing to pay you a fair rate as a respectable businesswoman. Think about any business in your community or town. They all first procure a business name and a business license before they open their doors. You may be working from home, but you can will present yourself in this fashion. I would also suggest obtaining a P.O. Box to use as your business address instead of using your home address. Believe me, this works. I have been running a successful small MT business from home for over 20 years now, and I support my entire family on my earnings.
job market update
If your skills are excellent and your experience and references speak well of you, then I believe the job market is pretty good.
But!!!!
You have to look carefully at the prospective jobs.
Please, I beg of you, for the good of ALL OF US, please please please do not take a job for less than 8.5 cpl! Please!
Money Market accounts
MM accounts do have checks, but you are limited to the number of checks that you can write per month - no more than 3 checks to a third party. Rates are usually tiered based on your balance - the more you have deposited, the more interest you will earn.
Start here:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/rate/mmmf_home.asp
Are you worried about possible MT job market glut then? I am...
nm
My family went to a flea market that is mostly run and
attended by Hispanics. There were several vendors selling leather goods, such as wallets, belts, shoes, etc. DH needed a new wallet so he picked one he liked and opened it up only to find a tag that said "MADE IN INDIA." (He didn't buy it.) We didn't look at any of the other leather goods, but found it very ironic that the Hispanics are now importing their "handmade" goods from India.
yeah, in today's job market, the
middle class is supposed to be happy we even have a job. Forget any idea of getting any appreciation for hardwork, reliability, knowledge, or any of that good stuff, just be "happy" to be working... in my next life, maybe!
So what? 8 cpl is what the market will bear. If you don't want 8, don't take a job that pays
x
Instead, if I had $345, I'd put it in a money-market acct. - sm
and watch it grow, rather than putting it towards a bunch of fake 'certification' letters after my name, and seeing that money fly away and earn me nothing.
Sixe of MTSO Market
Does anyone know the size of the MTSO market (how many service providers, how many software co's etc. or a good source for this info?
Going back on the market -- any advice?
Hi y'all,
Three weeks ago I began a new job doing acute care at a local hospital (part of CHS). On Friday they told us that our work would be outsourced beginning in April.... Previously I worked at another local hospital for 9 years transcribing Rad and ER notes, echos, etc. I left there because I need expensive orthognathic surgery and their insurance plan has a blanket exclusion against it. Plus I wanted to brush up on my "big four" skills.
Now I am looking for work. Boy have things changed! I really prefer to work for a hospital or start up my own company again but would work for a service as a last resort. After reading the informative posts here, I have begun compiling a list of "good" and "bad" services so I can avoid certain ones.
Does anyone here have any advice for me? Not general advice about job hunting, but more specific advice about the services -- what to watch out for, etc. I have never done editing/VRT, but apparently that pays less anyway so I don't think I will be doing that.
Thanks.
Really? Hmmmm...you wouldn't know the stock market if it bit you.
Run a stock analysis on MQ under any search engine. Yahoo stock analysts are the ones I use personally. There are advisories and analyses of MQ and Philips in the data base EVERY DAY. There have been "hold" advisories, "sell" advisories, and "buy" advisories any given day. Sorry to disappoint your disillusioned mind. Obviously NASDAQ and regular trade is better, but they are STILL in the ball game, sorry to disappoint you. And you SHOULD be happy at that if you care about the 1000s of MQ employees who have stocks, etc. But, gee, sounds like you're just a disgruntled werker!
Does anyone know any basics on money market accounts?
nm
If you're an overseas vendor here's how to market....sm
Go by medical offices and talk to them in your native tongue. They just LOVE hearing it. When visiting in places like Florida be sure to ask about the last snow storm they had last winter - that's very impressive! In the northern states talk about the warm sunny 70 degrees in February in their state and ask if they're ready for that this year.
Be sure to take brochures showing the fabulous quality of work you do. Be sure you include impressive sentences such as: "Dr. Jones said he would eat ketchup with the patient to review his lab work." After all they don't find it cute to type it like it was dictated.... "Dr. Jones said he would catch up with the patient to review his lab work."
Lastly don't forget to give them laminated card including all 25 digits they will have to use to call your native country. Be sure they're aware that all of your employees in your native country have new names.... Ben, Mary, Thomas and Amy are of course popular choices. Potential clients like getting a warm fuzzy feeling by talking to "Mary" who has a very heavy accent to the point that they can't understand her talking. But hey - she has an American name (woo-hoo!) so all is forgiven!
Be sure to investigate the housing market in your area
In my area as well as most of the U.S., the housing prices are SKY HIGH! Some say there is sure to be an 'adjustment' (downward) of housing prices in the near future. If the prices have skyrocketed in your area also, you might want to take a wait and see attitude for a year or two and see what happens? Just a thought.
I don't know your circumstances, and there may be reasons you need to buy a house right now, but a waiting period would also give you a chance to straighten up or clean up whatever is wrong with the credit.
I feel sad for my two sons, (one of whom is a store manager, but single income), as I don't see any possibility of either of them being able to buy a house at the outrageous prices nowdays.
My husband and I got lucky (MANY years ago) and bought our first house from an elderly fellow who carried the contract himself and gave us a STEAL of a price! He assumed we would default like all the other renters had and he would repossess the house. Ha Ha, not so with us!
Hey, maybe you could try advertising for a house with owner financing. Might be easier to qualify. Good luck!
This is not a new market. Is being done with all offshore companies I have ever worked for. nm
:+
you should be setting your rates according to what the market will bear...
not what you feel like getting. If you like the account, you're familiar with it and able to make good money off of it, you might want to stay at the rate you are at. As a service owner, I used to plan to hire at 7 but bring everyone eventually up to 10 cpl by 0.5 increases every six months. I also used to be able to raise the rates from the hospital, clinic or physician office every 2 years. Nowadays if I bid on a new account, I am regularly outbid at 11 cpl, with 24 TAT. I have discussed it with my IC MT's. If they want a raise, I can try to negotiate a raise from the hospital...but it jeopardizes our account. Every time you raise your rates, it's a signal for them to start shopping around. So I would say, based on what the market will bear, don't expect to be getting raises. Ever. 
Never heard of RMT. In my experience, CMT is worthless in the job market.
x
It's called competition in a buyer's market (sm)
or vendor's (hospital's) market, not low-balling.
Here are two free market listings. You can google search for
freelance writing or editing market/job listings, too.
Writers Write market database
http://www.writerswrite.com/paying/
Writers Weekly market listing
http://www.writersweekly.com/markets_and_jobs/003118_11302005.html
Yeah, but are these other companies trying to put stores in every market in the country?
I think that is what makes Wal-Mart so "evil" and scares me so badly. Soon we won't have ANYONE left to buy our goods from because they force all the other competitors out of business (particularly the small business owners) and then we are FORCED to buy everything from overseas countries/Wal-Mart.
Various analysts are predicting the housing market will collapse soon. sm
Cannot be sustained at the level it is presently at.
No I don't think so. Everytime I see postings about the MT market failing it gets pegged as "n
that's what I think OP is referring to, postings about the dismal future of MT.
You are in a global market now Darlene. If she doesn't do it, someone overseas will.
x
You're asking for part of their market! It'll be a competition
You go ahead though. Keep us all informed.
In the market for a new ergonomic keyboard. I would love some suggestions!!! What are you using??
Right now I'm looking at the Comfort Keyboard ($289) and Ergoflex ($179) that are on e-bay. If you haven't seen them, they basically look like a regular keyboard, just in two halves. I've also been looking at the Microsoft Curve Comfort and the Logitech Wave. I HATE the big, bulky ergonomic split keyboards like the Microsoft Elite. I cannot use them at all. I also tried the Kinesis Classic and after a month, couldn't get used to it either.
Right now I'm using the A-tech AntiRSI keyboard. It's okay, nothing great.
I would appreciate ANY suggestions. Price really is a factor even though the ones I listed are outrageous. I'd rather not spend a ton, but will if I have to.
THANKS!!
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.
Does anyone have any good ideas for back and hip pain from sitting all day? Anything on the market?
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!
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.
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
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