It does make one wonder how long this is going to go on or is this just the norm now? Terribly sad
Posted By: hvlmt on 2006-10-22
In Reply to: I need to gripe or vent - please don't kick me off board - mfras
I lost my QA job 3 weeks ago because a US company bought the offshore company my original company was using and now brought in their own QA people. Apparently they hope to get these MTs off QA here real soon.... I just gotta laugh... I've been QAing the work for over 2 years and it is the same mistakes day in and day out... they just don't get it and don't care to 'get it'... they get paid no matter what so what is the incentive to learn? These MTs actually argued with me about contractions, etc., like I had no idea what I was doing.... I know you are venting and I hear you and totally understand... it's a sad place MT has gotten to over the last 5-7 years or so in my mind
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What do you make of this? Sorry so long
Hi All:
I am a little upset about something and needed to vent. First off, I have been with the same company for 12-1/2 years. I was recently promoted to shift manager about 3 months ago. My indian nation tribe decided to build a very large casino across the interstate where we currently are. I had actually put in for a transfer to the new facility, but the general manager of the one I currently work offered me this position. This woman is very critical of people, quick to judge and a very emotional type of woman. I accepted the position because the start out pay was not bad. I would have full benefits at the end of 3 months, which consists of the company paying 100% of my insurance, for my dependents it will cost 25.00 a month.
Well, my mother had been in ICU from May 20 until August 23, which she ended up being taken 2 hours a way from home to an extended-care facility. So, about every 3 weeks or so, I like to have off on a weekend to be able to go down and see her. I have been arranging my time off with the assistant general manager, mainly because she is easy to talk to and most people feel comfortable coming to her when there are any problems, and she KNOWS what she is doing.
I had spoken to the assistant GM 2 weeks ago about me taking off this weekend to go visit my mother. She arranged it to where I could do that. Well, Sunday I became ill with a cold and I called the assistant GM at 6 am and asked her if there was anyone who could cover my shift, there was. On Tuesday, I had to call in because my son was running 103.4 temperature. I didn't use any of my vacation time or sick time for these days, but was planning to fill out the paperwork to do this when I returned yesterday.
When I arrived yesterday, assistant GM, pulled me to the side to let me know that the GM told her to tell me that I was not going to have off this weekend, that the days I called in could be my 2 days off for this week. Actually, it worked out well since I have been ill and my son has been ill, but it is the principle of it. She did it out of spite. Even the assistant GM thinks that. So, I will work 9 days straight in order to have off on next weekend. She also told the assistant GM that if anyone needs any special time off that they have to go through her to get it. She (GM) does not work her fully scheduled hours during the week--in fact, she was just off for a week and a half for her daughter's wedding about 2 weeks ago.
I have not done MT since June, and I have really been thinking about quitting the casino and finding another MT job, but I feel trapped mainly because of the good benefits I get at my current job. I make 28157.00 salary, and my benefits will start on the 24th of this month. Not to mention the fact the length of time I have been there.
Also, during the time the new casino opened and was moving to the new facility, she did not have a shift manager for 3rd shift, so I was working 12 to 16 hour shifts to cover until they got one, which was about a month and a half ago. Because I am on salary, I got no overtime for it. Plus, she knows nothing about the electronic gaming of the casino games, just the bingo.
Thanks for listening,
Paulette
How long to make decent $$$??
This may seem like a stupid question to all of you "veterans" out there, but how long until a "newbie" can expect to make a decent wage in this business? I have only been employed for about 5 mos, so I am trying to cut myself some slack, but minimum wage is hard to swallow. I do reports from a pool of doctors so I can't seem to utilize the full benefits of expanders, and on my best day, I can type about 110-125 lph. Again, I know I just started, but I can't keep making this kind of wage forever. Are there tricks I am missing? Any insight would really be appreciated!! Thanks in advance!!
your welcome! make them sound like chipmunks as long as you still are 100% sm
accurate on what they are saying and if you have done this particular doc for 2-3 years i am sure you will be able to understand. start out at 120%, work there for a few days, increase to 150% and so on. i bypass all the wasted time with hmm, hmm, flip the page, hmm, etc. simply by speeding up the dictation and my fingers fly right along with their words. just FYI, don't immediately jump it too fast where you will spend more time slowing it back down to figure out a word here and there as that defeats your purpose and is more time consuming. adjust the speed periodically where you are comfortable hearing 99% of the words with 100% accuracy and build on that speed.
Even if your kid did something terribly wrong?
Let's just say that your kid dropped an M80 or cherry bomb in the toilet at the school and blew up the plumbing. What if he got spanked for it? Would you go in there punching people and suing the school district over it? My Dad did that when he was a kid. And the Catholic nuns spanked his butt good. Then Grandma let him have it when he got home. He was a straight A student, and lettered in basketball and football. I don't know why he did it. Probably thought it would just make a mess of water on the floor. The point is that he did wrong, he knew he did wrong, and Grandma didn't protect him from the nuns for fear that his tender psyche would be damaged.
Agree, it is terribly sad. nm
x
How long does it take to make decent line count?
I am considering joining an outsourcing company. Can you tell me how long it took you, as an experienced transcriptionist, to get up to snuff that you were making a decent wage? And what is your average rate per hour when paid by the line of 65 cpl?
I think hitting escape at the end does it, or make other shortcuts for the long
s
Don't know, but would think the sound would be terribly distorted even if you could. nm
s
Betrayed, but not terribly surprised (sm)
That Cyndy Lauper song "Money Changes Everything" is going through my head.
too terribly true. I'm working with a few of those. (NM)
Something is terribly wrong with this picture.
The person/doctor dictating does not fill in or even dictate the required demographic fields. However, I am expected to do MR# searches, patient name searches, doctor searches, prior report searches, whatever it takes, to find out this information before I can even start transcribing the reports. It might not be so bad but I work for two very large accounts and the number of doctors I transcribe for are too numerous to count. It's no wonder I never make my quota. Oh, yeah, did I mention I have more mumblers than clear speaking doctors, also to add to the problem.
This is a joke. I'm an IC and make a whopping $0.07 line. Yippee. Think I'l go work at Walmart.
I think it's terribly irresponsible of the doctors, but ultimately it's THEM who is responsibl
x
I look at the jobs posted and tons of MTs are applying. I am employed but not terribly pleased with
prefer OPs and have done MT work for about 16 years. I have worked for MQ for 11 years for the Univ. of Pa. which they lost and now I am working for a small company in Michigan with just tons and tons of crap work. I would like an IC job with OPs if possible.
Not the norm
Well, you are not the norm. All you have to do is turn on the TV to see that. Jeeez, wake up.
But isn't that the norm everywhere now?
xx
is this the norm ?
I began p/t IC work for a local MT company and they're driving me crazy. THey look at every single word I type and send me HARD COPIES in the mail of my corrections, format changes, etc.
I have 15 years of MT experience - so this is crazy! It's all illegible - and I'm starting to go crazy! They pointed out "40mg" instead of "40 mg" ... all little stuff like that. Is this what I'll have to look forward to ? Thanks, MT-NY
I'm sure that's far from the norm
Michael Moore has been pretty good at twisting facts in the past. Not saying it didn't happen, just saying I'm sure it's not the norm in our country. I'll still take the USA any day.
8 cpl is the norm?
So, can I assume 8 cpl is about average? If I take a typical 48000 character file, there's about $3.80 difference. That looks small, but mulitply that by at least 2 times a day, 5-6 days a week, and in the long run it would make a big difference for me.
You are right, it is not the norm at first, but including myself and many others that I know
personally, we do make around 100 or more per day working for a national. It is very possible! You just gottah look.
I still don't understand how someone can have so many years experience, be on the same system, and make less than 175 lines per hour. I don't understand.
Maybe they are not typing fast enough or know enough terms, is all I can think of.
I've switched jobs in the past few months and started off slow, but now up to approximately 200 lph - came from a job where I did 350 lph on WP5.1 and now on an internet platform. I don't kill myself everyday working either.
It is about the norm around here in my neck of the USA. nm
x
I would say it absolutely is the norm for
Rad to be paid by the report. I have only worked for 1 company by line and didn't stay long. The company I work for now I get $1.50 a report. The lowest I have been paid is $1.10 a report. Unless the account is heavy in MRIs, CTs, etc. there is no way I would work for line.
If you have been doing this for over 12 years then I would say you are cheating yourself out of some good money. I average 180-200 reports a day, or $2700 a pay period -- can you say the same?
That is the norm from what I have experienced - sm
this gives the bride and groom time for pictures, etc. between the wedding and the reception. Every wedding I have ever been too, it's been about 90 minutes between the 2 events. Unless the reception is at the same place as the wedding, I'd expect some sort of gap between the two.
Have no idea if this is the norm or not but -sm
it seems like a sensible thing to do. I had to fast starting 24-hours before the colonoscopy, but I could drink certain things and have certain colored ice-pops/water ice (up until midnight), then about 15 hours before the procedure had to take 4 Duculax, then 2 hours later start drinking a 1/2 gallon of NuLYTELY (yuck, totally gross). Needless to say I am very glad I don't have to do it again for 10 years! I'm only 40 so I am 10 years too early for it as it is....but unfortunately had to have it done.
this is not the norm, dump them
Really now... nobody checks my work.
98% is the norm for accuracy
and most companies have their own QA system of assigning point deductions per error divided by line count. If you have a way to review your reports after they go through QA you should be able to see what your percentage is. If not, ask QA.
I have worked for a lot (too many) of companies, and this is the norm. nm
nm
The norm is 3:1 or even 4:1. Personally, I transcribe 2:1. nm
x
No, it is NOT the norm. You shouldn't be docked for that! QA
s
If the account specifies that is different. If they don't specify isn't 2 then the norm? nm
nm
Anything more than a week for a norm delivery is too much, sm
C-section - I would say 2 weeks max. Anything more than this is "milking it."
I wish I was that fast!---the norm is 3 to 5 minutes - sm
per dictated minute. I only do the 2:1 ratio when I am doing edits.
Not the norm, organic baby greens
with tofu, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, organic corn pasta salad with tofu dill dressing
Timed test the norm for IC job hunting?
I had a response to a job that had a specified time frame for testing. It had to be done withing 2hrs of getting the passcoded from them via email. I got the email 30 after they sent it and it took forever to do it becuase you couldn't use express scribe/foot pedal. I had to go between word and media player.....and in doing so went over the 2hr limit. Is this normal for them to do this?
What will happen to us when Electronic Medical Redords become the norm?
I would love to hear everyones 2 cents about Electronic Medical Records....How soon will this be a problem for us? What will we do after they are in most doctors exam rooms?
Let me know what you guys think...Do MT's have a future? or did I just go thru schooling for nothing ...
Well, it seems the norm to me! I've tested with at least 4 co's in the past few years and
the tests were not dictations that I do on an everyday basis. I know they pick and choose carefully what they will test you on because there are always kinks in there where the doc either stumbles, mumbles, or you know you would have to be a genius to figure out what they are saying.
Those credentials for teachers in public school are NOT the norm...
At my daughter's school when she was in 3rd grade she showed me her final spelling test. The list contained the words: You, me, and two, among other similar ones. My daughter was in the gifted program, and those were her final spelling words in preparation for 4th grade!! We do NOT have public school teachers with PhD degrees in anything. They're lucky they have a Bachelor's. I have a Bachelor's and consider myself quite capable of teaching. Believe me - all schools are NOT created equal.
I wish you were the norm! Can't find 8.5 cpl for experience out here anymore. You're VERY luck
,
I hate Instant Text. It is expensive, long long learning
curve, and too much distraction for me.
How long should I wait after applying for a position before I follow-up. It has been as long as two
without hearing from some. Just wondering if I should send an e-mail to follow-up to see if they received my resume or not. I don't want to offend anyone but feel two weeks should be long enough for someone to at least acknowledge my resume and that I have applied for a position. Right now I would accept anything even a note saying no thanks. Any advice would be appreciated. I haven't had to apply for a job for the past 10 years so I am a bit rusty at this. Thanks again for any advice.
You're probably doing nothing wrong, employee status seems to be the norm with IC status primaril
SE status instead of IC? For me,SE status is heaven -with part of taxes paid and flexibility in my schedule. Have you ever applied to MDI-MD? They only accept qualified, experienced MTs and stress quality in their transcription. From what I read of your qualifications, it sure would be worth contacting them.
Per "see mssgs" comment regarding age discrimination later on in this discussion, I'm 64 - no problem getting hired at a line rate higher than average. Age is not a factor with MDI-MD - knowledge and quality is !!!
Congrats! How long have you been a MLS and how long did you study for the test!
Please see message. I have three daughters with long, long hair.
I also have long hair down to my waist and my three girls have hair that long too. My daughter brought them home from school last year. I was devestated and grossed out!!!! I have never had to deal with lice. Anyway, we did the treatments and two of my girls broke out in a severe rash with the OTC stuff. Their little heads were so sore!! I thought I was being meticulous with eggs, only to find them hatching again down the road. A nurse at the pediatricians office suggested I try oil to suffocate them since my girls were allergic to the lice solution. I bought a huge bottle of veggie oil and dumped it on all three heads, plus my own. I then wrapped the heads in platic wrap and then a towel. I left this on for 30 minutes. It takes a while to wash out the oil, but we never, ever had the lice or eggs again!!! If you try this, make sure you put on an old shirt and put a towel around your shoulders. Obviously we were desperate, but we all have such long hair and very thick hair so I was willing to try anything. And I figured there was no chemicals involved so that was pretty safe. And it sure did help my littles ones since their scalps were pretty raw from the solution. Hope this helps and Good luck!
It's been a long, long time since I've used a C-phone, sm
but I do think jobs can be paused.
I had a problem with this for a long, long time sm
I have always worked days, like from 6-3. Over the last few years, it didn't matter how much sleep I got, I became real groggy between 7 and 11. Really shoots the day. Talked to my doctor and he said my blood pressure pills were the culprit but he refused to change me to another brand or dosage since I have multiple aneurysms (2 in the brain). My BP has been stable for a long time and he wants to "keep it on the low side". I tried taking them before I went to bed instead of early in the morning, but then I had headaches all day. So, I am changing to a night shift for a few months so I can sleep when those pills kick in and so far it is working pretty good. I stay mostly awake during my shift and die when I hit the bed from 6 am to 10 am, then I lay down again later in the afternoon for 2-3 hours. I still get 6-7 hours of sleep, it's just split up during the day, plus I am mostly awake now when I sit down to type. I don't have to deal with the heat in my office, either. It tends to warm up real fast in here with the south sun on the house and 2 pc's running all day, even with the air conditioner on.
Way back when, a long, long time
ago and in a galaxy far, far away, I had my own accounts also and some years cleared $75,000. Yes it can be done, but you need to have your own accounts. Also lots of delivery, and other duties involved. I work for a large national now and make much less, but I got tired of accountants, having to deal with hardware problems, deadlines, driving deliveries, printing, printers, etc. So I decided to simplify my taxes and stay home and just type. Don't have to worry about computers either, because the company will just send me a new one.
Long, long files. Seemed like they'd never end! I'd never go back to VA again. nm
s
I've been doing this a long, long time...
I used to make $70,000 and up a year and did so for most of the late 80s and 90s (one girl used to make six figures a year working 7 days a week!) Because we were making more money than the supervisors and Medical Records Directors in hospitals, they began to switch to transcription services which were sprouting up all over the place. Plus AAMT came into existence and even though in the beginning it claimed it was to fight for transcriptionists (although assured us it was NOT a union), they eventually morphed into an organization that was more management friendly. They developed the "guidelines" and the 65-char line. That was the beginning of the end for those high-end wages. Then all those mickey mouse transcription schools popped up, and now outsourcing overseas. YES, we're complaining.
Been in this biz a long, long time, 30+ years and....sm
I love/loved MTing. However, things have changed so much during these years. The job definitely gets easier; don't have to look up much, can decipher ESLs much easier, in other words, you get pretty comfortable with things and you have confidence in yourself. The more experience you have the easier the job, but....
I actually made more money 10 years ago!! We didn't have speech recognition and you actually got paid for headers/footers, demographics, carbon copies, etc., you got paid for what you did fairly; today, I am not so sure.
You will feel burned out at times, but that passes and you find you like your job again.
Good luck to you!!
You spending 3K in gasoline to make 4K plus all that time on the road?That doesn't make sense Pat
The norm is 1 minute = 10 lines; 10 min = 100 lines - sm
granted this varies per dictator. More lines if a fast talker, less if a slow talker.
How nice that the world revolves around what you make and no one else could possibly make more. sm
Marla in So. California pays 11 cpl for a 55 ccl, Oracle pays 9-1/2 cpl, MDI-MD 11 cpl, JLG 10 cpl for gross line, etc.
Of course, these are rates negotiated and paid to qualified MTs.
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