It is because, stamps, cost of checks, envelops, staff time
Posted By: darlene on 2009-04-29
In Reply to: Here is what she said - Penny
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Time Code Stamps
Hello All,
For any of you who have had to time code transcripts:
Would it be helpful to have an MS Word application that prints an automated time code stamp? I ask because a programmer friend of mine and I have discussed writing a program to do this, and I'm wondering how useful it would be to you all.
This is how we envision it working: First, you complete the transcript. Then you open the Time Code Stamper in Word, and start going through the audio again. Suppose you want to put a stamp every 15 seconds. When you press a certain keystroke combination (ctrl-shift-f1, for instance), the program inserts a time code stamp in the format you specify. Then you fast-forward the audio to the next 30-second increment. When you find the correct place in the transcript for the next time stamp, you put you cursor on the spot and execute the Time Code Stamper program again. It will automatically increment the time by 30 seconds (or whatever increment you specify) and print the stamp. If you make a mistake, you can click on the menu and manually set the correct time.
I tested this out once with a very simple version of the program, placing time codes in a transcript every 15 seconds, and I was able to complete the whole document in about a quarter of the audio time (e.g., 5 minutes to complete 20 minutes of audio). The few errors I made I was able to fix very quickly and move on.
Like I said, we haven’t actually built a full version of this program yet, I just wanted to get some feedback from the people who could actually be using it. We’re thinking of selling it for $29 or so. What do you think?
If this particular program would not be helpful for you, do you all have any requests for Word formatting programs that would help you? We’re trying to think of different widgets that would be of use to transcriptionists.
Thanks,
Dan Edge
i.am.dan.edge@gmail.com
If you don't write bad checks and pay your debts on time it is a non-issue.nm
Who in the heck spends time chitter chattering w/ office staff?
I deliver and it's not daily but every other day and I definitely do NOT disrupt workflow and I do not chitter chatter with the office staff. In fact, most times I go in at night when the staff is gone because I have a key. It's clear that your perception and reality are two completely different things.
Lifelong friendship -- that's a good one! Where in the world did you come up with the idea that MTs would want to be lifelong friends with the office staff?!? I work at home to avoid all that office politics crap and gossip. Why would I want to pop in daily to listen to that junk? LOL
Seriously -- I hope people don't actually take all your advice because you don't even address the important issues. You only want to try to make everyone feel smaller and less important than you feel you are.
when an account goes out of turn around time, what does that cost
the company? does the client not have to pay or is there a lowered price for being out of TAT? the reason i ask is i am on an account that seems way out of TAT and it seems if they offer a bonus to get the account done, it would be better than being out of TAT and losing money on it. anybody know how TAT affects the nationals financially and why when things are falling behind they don't offer bonuses to catch up.
thanks to anyone who may have any answers on this.
I had stamps years ago and (sm)
had to dump them and get a "card" instead. The next time I tried to use the card, I was told they only used stamps. The next time I tried to use the card at the store I got it at, I was told they no longer honored them. I gave up!
Food stamps?
I am not saying that you should stay in any job that is not financially viable - food stamps is something that I would not encourage. I am only saying that I read alot of these blogs and it just seems that sometimes people forget that in any profession, this one or another, there are pros ands cons. I worked in a medical office and with an insurance company prior to medical transcription, and I would do this any day, benefits or not. I also have several nurse friends that make less than I do, with a 4-year degree. And their schedules are ridiculous. I am only saying I make great money, and have the flexibility that I desire.
Again, I am not encouraging anyone to stay in a profession where food stamps is the only option!!! Besides it would be hard to type if you didn't have a house for a computer and I imagine if you are on food stamps, DSL cable line is out as well!!! (LOL)
NE-MT
do you provide food stamps?
Hmmmm...they stopped with the stamps here
x
Stamps go up tomorrow to 39cents. nm
s
Are you sure you have to have kids to get food stamps? (sm)
I am not sure of that. I do think you should contact United Way and local churches and see if you can get some help. At the very least you need food and you should be able to get that from a church somewhere. It doesn't matter if you are of that religion or not and it does not matter if you have children or not. The church is there to help everyone without judgement.
I went to Subway today and didn't get my stamps. sm
I could not believe it. I asked if I could have my Subway stamps and the clerk said they no longer give them out.
Why? Because somebody sold a whole roll of the stamps on ebay.
Former employee? Gee ya think?
I knew I should not have bought that roll of 37-cent stamps!
This is all my fault.
Most families struggle. This is when you make too much for food stamps, but need help and sm
besides, volunteering in your community is a GOOD THING. You can volunteer, pay for the box and give to a family who is in need. Many, many people did that. An older person who is on a fixed income and who can't get food stamps would likely welcome a box on a monthly basis. This time of year, all the food banks around the country are in need because it is not a holiday, so few give and the need is greater every month. It doesn't have to be for your family.
If you call qualifying for food stamps & section 8 housing
As for working at home, it may be more comfortable, but not when your butt is planted in the same chair at your desk for 12-16 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the rest of the world goes on without you. Not a perk, in my book.
Glo and staff at MTS. (sm)
Just wanted to thank you for your ultra-quick response to my plight of not being able to get to your job bank this morning!! Found it w/your help, was ready when the phone call came in and got an offer!! Yahoo!! Thanks again - you are the best!
Bad checks
When I worked in a small vet.clinic, we would get bad checks from people who I am sure made a living off of bad checks. If you don't want to be embarrassed, don't write the bad check in the first place. I take great care to maintain my good credit, there is no reason not to be financially responsible for your actions. I have no sympathy for people who think they can get something for nothing and don't have to follow the rules of society like the rest of us. The clinic I worked at wrote off hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in bad debt every year. In the long run, that is costing me and you more in higher rates because those costs are ultimately passed onto the rest of us. So their name is on a wall, big deal. They are still getting the goods or services for free while the rest of us have to pay.
MQ checks
Well, based on my base rate, I figured I must have transcribed about 600 lines (or 39,000 characters)that they did not pay me for. I want to find out what this is for exactly,what time period it covers, etc. Does this letter, in essence, acknowledge wrongdoing on their part? Should we all run to join one of the numerous law suits taking place right now? (Change that to class action law suits!)
about the checks from MQ...
...mine was for $14 and some odd cents - now the question is, they actually took out all taxes and it comes to $3.63.
Pardon me for not knowing the law, but I always thought you could not take out taxes under a certain dollar amount. Anyone know if that is a law, or at the employer's discretion?
I appreciate the moneys owed; however, there is no 'real' explanation. Since I no longer work for MQ, and the check is only for $3+ dollars, I think I will hold on to it and wait to see what is going on.
Thanks.
MQ Checks
My question regarding checks is. . was there an actual discrepancy and if so, does it also apply to other companies using the same platform (which is owned by MQ) including DSG & Accuscribe of SC. . .should we be expecting "reimbursement" from them as well???
SS pay checks
Do you have direct deposit or do you get your check by mail? My direct deposit was on time and I got my pay stub a few days later. Did you try sending the email to human resources?
pay checks
This is extremely sad.. I am an MTSO but I still transcribe...I always pay my MTs everyother week, even if it means going into a line of credit. Everyone does not do this, though...since you are so hardworking, you should find someone else who would pay you on time..
checks?
Well I don't have that problem as I stated to a few of the other comments. I do not use "checks".
How do you pay if not checks??
Even with direct deposit there is a check statement that shows what that person made, so that should be proof. At least with my direct deposits I get a statement showing what was deposited. Anyone can make out a 1099 and that is not proof that you paid that person. You have to have some type of paper path that shows this person was paid. If she says that she did not get it, then you need to go back to your bank and ask where it went. Even an electronic check or transfer shows in your statement. Am not sure what kind of business you are running but without a paper trail, the IRS would love you.
If you MUST have QA on staff, they should all have guidelines, be it BOS
or AMA, whatever you choose. I've been seeing ads for QA personnel and they don't have to have been MTs. I don't get that.
As I've said before here, I work for an MTSO who believes if you have to have QA personnel, you've hired the wrong MTs. I tend to agree with her.
We get up in the morning, do our work and send it in. If there's something we don't understand, we put a note on the log for the doctor or the hospital - because we're all experienced enough that we either know what we're hearing or know how to find it.
office staff at MQ
that's exactly what I've seen. I had one of the guys at 1888# tell me when I said that MQs priority is with the clients 150% and the MT's concerns are at the bottom of the list and his response was well, they do pay our salaries -- those techs don't have a clue what we do
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office staff at MQ
LOL, you reminded me at one time, about 9 years ago that we had THE tech support guy in our office pinch hitting also as the CSR. on the overnight and weekend shift, just when you would need someone with a brain...forget calling when you had question on how an account wanted a format, etc
That's why all QA staff should cc their feedback to the
entire QA staff! QA needs to be on the same page. By cc'ing the QA staff (blindly of course), QA can get on the correct page. That way, if one QA has a question, bat it back and forth to determine the answer. QA people have a good rapport with each other for the most part and are very accepting of the correct way a company does things. If someone challenges something, then we just find the correct answer and that is that! Also, the QA staff I most recently worked with had an updated frequently most common errors and the correct answers that they passed out to the MT staff and it included the reasons for the correct response. It does work.
Poll for QA staff
1. Are you paid by line, report or hour or salaried?
2. What are your production requirements?
3. Do you get incentives or bonuses beyond your base pay?
4. How do you provide feedback? (Directly to MTs, to a supervisor, etc.)
My answers:
1. Hourly ($19)
2. 12 reports/hour
3. No.
4. Directly to MTs.
monitoring staff
We need this done for a lady in our department. She works at home, goofs off, and starts late. She gets to stop working, and I get called in on my day off without on-call pay. From now on I'm not answering the phone!!!!
Yes the people on DQS will get checks only.
:
These MQ checks must be a joke.
 According to my taxes last year my salary, which had remained at a very stable figure for the past 6-7 years, suddenly decreased almost $11,000 dollars in 2004 after beginning DQS at the beginning of the year. There is no way in hell that this check for $140 bucks is going to make me happy. How convenient that there are no dates on the letter indicating what the time frame is on this "incorrect compensation." Love the general "Dear Medical Transcriptionist" - cannot even humanize us by putting our name. Such jerks. I am furious! 
MQ checks & lawsuit
Let's not forget, the checks can not be 100% reimbursement for all lines jipped out of, they only cover an error on DEP, a LOT of the issues with the atty's go back to 1998, before DEP was even a thought process, so it really can not be for the cheated lines totally.
I go by who signs my checks...*l*..nm
x
Credit checks
I totally agree. One's credit is personal bussiness and should not be a deciding factor of one's employment. I had several jobs fall through because of credit problems that I did not cause. My Identity was stolen some 15 years ago and I also had a child abducted. I have spent the last 10 years searching for both, my child and my life. I can live without my life, however without my girl I am finding each and every passing day harder and harder to live. MY credit score is now in the upper 600's (took 6 years to fix) which is not great but heading in the right way.
So to all you EMPLOYER'S, LET ONE WITHOUT SIN THROW THE FIRST STONE
Are your checks being mailed? If so,
check the date it was postmarked. Check with your company and see when they mail your checks, then count the days it took to receive it. If it is taking too long, complain to the Post Office!!!
We are having a problem with our checks. My husband's checks get mailed on a Friday, but he may not receive them until a week or later, if he receives them at all!!! As of today, he is missing another check that was mailed 12/31. Four checks have been lost in the mail since they put the new rates into effect. Of course, his company stops payment on them, costing them more money, and then re-issues another check. He used to get them a day or 2 after they were mailed before the new rates. This puts us in a bind, too. His checks come from 45 miles away.
I finally went on line and placed 2 complaints, as I was missing 2 checks during the past few months, too. Mine come from 11 miles away.All our mail goes to a central post office, 50 miles away and that is one of my complaints I placed. Three days for a letter to go from my home town to my home town is ridiculous.
So, it may not be your company's fault, but the good ole post office.
background checks
If the company uses the information found in background check so verify identity, its okay, but if they do it to check for convictions of certain crimes, I think they should not use crimes that were not computer-related against individuals. If you got arrested for shoplifting when you were a teenages, I dont think it should be used against you 30 years later. Is there anyone out there who has ever gotten let go because of information on thier background check that involved a conviction??
Are they separate checks (sm)
totalling 12,000+. You'd have to check the court system, but that may actually be over the amount for small claims court and you'd have to go to the next level. Has she made ANY attempt to pay any of it? Do you have any "demands" for payment in writing? If not, I think I'd get that in the mail today. You need to establish a papertrail. Formal demand asking for payment in a set period of time by cash or money order. Send it cert mail with return receipt.
bounced checks
What steps would you take if you had three bounced pay checks?
They don't issue checks.
They just said that they do not issue checks. They said that other MTs are paid with the prepaid visa cards and everything works out for them ok. I asked for names of these MTs but they did not give them to me. That is why I asked on here if anyone knew anything about these cards. I don't trust giving out my bank account numbers for direct deposit or I would do that.
The rod should be a guide, a staff, not a weapon.
Please reaad the following if you think spanking is okay.
Spanking can cause a sensitive child grave psychological damage. You probably won't even see it, and the child may never tell anyone or even recognize what it is. Please, please, if you insist on spanking your child, at least give that child an outlet for the anger that follows. When I child is forced to feel anger/shame directed at the person(s) they depend on above all others, and then to suppress that anger, it can cause significant, lifelong problems in his/her ability to have healthy relationships.
Another reason to reconsider spanking is the prevalence in today's society of spanking being related to sex - it's all over the place, and unless your kids watch no TV, no movies, read no magazines, and have no access to computers, they are eventually going to come across this. It can be very confusing, very upsetting.
From: http://www.stophitting.com/religion/faithMaterial.php
All of the biblical quotations advocating corporal punishment of children are taken from the book of Proverbs in the King James Version of the Bible. They were written by King Solomon, and presumably reflected his parenting beliefs with respect to his own son.
Proverbs 13:24
"He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes (diligently)."
Proverbs 19:18
"Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying."
Proverbs 22:15
"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."
Proverbs 23:13
"Withhold no correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."
Proverbs 23:14
"Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell (Shoel)."
Proverbs 29:15
"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."
The Bible itself records the negative effect of Solomon's parenting style on his son, Rehoboam. He became a widely hated ruler after his father's death and had to leave to avoid assassination by his own people.
What would Jesus do?
If you take the Bible seriously, you have to notice Jesus' attitude toward children. It was wise, loving, and filled with compassion. Even when anxious adults wanted to shoo the children away, Jesus rebuked the adults. "Of such," he said, "is the kingdom of heaven." Given this attitude, it's hard to conceive of Jesus hitting a child on any occasion or for any reason. It's simply not consistent with what he taught. If Jesus wouldn't hit a child, why would we? SpankOut Day is dedicated to exploring alternate means of discipline. We believe that Jesus would approve. A simple slogan for Christians to consider might be this: the next time you are tempted to hit a child, ask yourself "What would Jesus do?" Then go and do likewise.
Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Sagendorf, Senior Pastor
Bexley United Methodist Church, Bexley, Ohio
Wisdom from the Talmud
Many people who strike their children do so not because they are evil or mean, but because they believe they are doing God's will. They often cite the phrase in Proverbs: "He who spares the rod hates his son." The problem is that pulling one line out of the Bible ignores the rest of the text. Much of the Book of Proverbs is filled with good counsel on how to be a better person. In Chapter 22 we are taught, "Train a child in the way he should behave, and even when he is old, he will not depart from it." Isn't it possible that the rod Proverbs refers to is to be used to point to lessons on the wall? When we fail to properly educate our children, we not only spoil them, we show them the opposite of love. We must use the rod to point out right from wrong, not to beat our children into submission the way slaves have been beaten throughout history. Even the Talmud says, "If you must strike a child, do so only with a shoelace." When taken in its entirety, Judaism can hardly sanction the use of violence against children. Even the famous sentence in Deuteronomy to stone to death the stubborn and rebellious son, was, according to the Talmud, never carried out. Instead, while discipline was and still is crucial for raising healthy children, striking a child need never occur. The mix of discipline and love is the recipe for a good future for our sons and daughters. The Talmud suggests: "A child should be pushed aside with the left hand, and drawn closer with the right hand."
Rabbi Larry Kaplan
Temple Israel, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
The Law or the Spirit?
In the book Spare the Child, Philip Greven suggests that our readiness as fathers to strike our sons explains why we men grow up so ready not only to tolerate but to perpetrate violence in our culture. A boy picks up his moral cues from Dad: "Dad hits me when he doesn't like what I have done. Therefore, men resolve differences by violence. If Dad did it, it's OK. I can hit people myself, especially when I think they've done wrong and therefore deserve it." Often a boy who has been spanked won't respond later to love, but only to more spanking. The Law, that is, has supplanted the Spirit within him. God's story of Israel says clearly that a son lost in the Law can be restored to appreciate and respond to a relationship with the Father only though crucifixion. In this case, that might mean the father's dying to his pride and asking the child's forgiveness, then begging Jesus to show him whatever brokenness in himself has led him to resort to the Law and how to become hospitable again to his Spirit's rule.
Reverend Gordon Dalbey, Santa Barbara, CA
Author of Fight Like a Man and leader in the Christian men's movement
Quoted with permission from Fight Like a Man
Also see: http://www.nospank.net/toc.htm
No, I am not qualified as Chief of Staff
but I do my job well and I think that is what matters. I took the time to learn what I needed to learn (on-the-job training) and I am very much qualified to work as a medical transcriptionist.
Try Piedmont - they have inhouse staff nm
x
They expect so much from MTs but the other office staff
is paid well and make mistakes (x-ray techs, scheduling, etc), be paid full benefits.
What is UP with that?
Cranky staff is not your imagination.
The attitude you describe seems to be prevalent. It is as if we were a necessary evil rather than support staff. I think personally it is due to the amount of time needed to keep the paperwork in order. Everyone hates paperwork (even if it is electronically) and we produce a ton of it.
Also, in my view, physicians and care providers absolutely hate to make errors given their jobs are so important and the likelihood of a lawsuit keeps them paying very high premiums. We MTs tend to be one of the few who can say that an error has been made. It can irritate some doctors though I have met a few who are very thankful for it.
In the 20 plus years I have been in the medical field, there has been a change due to pressure from insurance companies also, plus the change in patient complaints as the population ages. This may add to frustration as the bottom line is not only finding relief for the patient but making sure treatment is approved by insurances. This can only get worse from where I sit as cuts are coming with Medicare and Medicaid payments.
Suggest she and the other office staff take a pay cut, too.
p
Re office staff to print
No, the office staff are not allowed access to the 2 PCs and they still work with a handwritten appointment book as well as only fax facilities and no internet at work... this is the reason I have to cut & paste WP doc into Word and e-mail to doc's home e-mail so wife can e-mail the report. This is really a mess I have myself in... and Im starting to throw tantrums now! I corrected him yesterday morning on a mistake he corrected me and now its spite on his side to pay me back because how dare I take a printout from physician website with the correct spelling and show him his mistake - my reports gets marked like a school teacher grading it big circles with messages "I spelt this for you a few months ago, you should know it by now!!!" etc
I type things like this a lot. Staff are always
calling in chaplains, pastors, etc., to comfort the patient and/or family. I don't understand why it is even questioned. Whatever the doctor dictates is transcribed (except major cussing, but even that is if the patient is being quoted). We are not here to determine what does or does not go into a report. We just transcribe it as dictated.
How about QA staff from previous jobs?
Do you know any other transcriptionists? Those are the only two I can think of for you. I have always been IC and have had individual doctors to give, also, if that applies to you. Good luck.
Go search bar and put in the word Staff
It will bring up a post(s) regarding the EMR system posted on Jan 12.
Put the word -- staff -- in the search bar. It should come up medical records staff being replaced by EMR
I sent it to 2 staff writers for the Associated Press plus...
Forbes Magazine, 60 Minutes, USA Today, Washington Post, NY Times, and a couple of others. The Editor who e mailed me did not know I was an MT but that's okay - you investigate one offshored industry, you investigate them all. I asked him to check into any credible sources he had. You may have noticed in my letter it constantly said, "See what you can find out."
talked to an atty about the MQ checks
Nope, go ahead and cash them as I already have. If they had anything to do with ANY kind of settlement, it would clearly have to say so. It just says adjustment, period. He also said that since the class actions go over many different platforms dating back before the days of DQS, no way it could be a settlement.
Go shopping he told me, it does not state anywhere it's a settelment. He says just like any other legal document, "by signing the below or cashing this, you are giving up your right to yada yada yada.
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