It slows down every August and January on both ER accounts that I have. This time sm
Posted By: ER MT2 on 2007-08-14
In Reply to: Question for seasoned ER MTs....sm - ER-MT
of year is the worst. I forget about it every year until it happens again. It usually picks up again at the end of August and then is really busy until the end of the year. It slows down a bit (not much) in the beginning of January and then is really, really busy until mid to late July into August.
I have been doing this for 13 years and the only year ever that it did not happen to me was last summer. Not sure why, but both hospitals stayed busy the entire 2006.
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I'm hoping to go part-time January 1, at least for several months.
I am just so burned out I'm not getting the lines I need, my house isn't getting cleaned, I don't seem to have any leisure time, etc. I'm hoping that going part-time will be enough of a break that when I am working I'll be better focused and can actually produce the minimum lines that I need.
Time off from own accounts
Most of my accounts have been with my for over six years and so they are pretty understanding when I take some time off and I let them decide if they want to hold the tapes or I can have one of my friends who also has their own business do my accounts. 95% of the time they decide to hold the tapes which is good and bad. I don't lose any money but I am quite busy when I get back. I don't take a lot of "long periods -- more than 2-3 days with a weekend" off and take more short times off, Th, Fr, Sa Su etc. I did go to San Francisco last year and took my nephew for his graduation and did take Friday through Weds off but came back to the tapes. The docs did do some of the notes themselves. But that was their choice. I do not have any children or a husband so I that helps out. But you more or less gotta form some networking with other small MTSO's in the area to cover for each other. I am also lucky that my largest account, surgeons, are not in every day so I can usually take time off and only miss one of their days. That helps. But most of the time your accounts will work with you. But that is the downside of having your own accounts.
It is time to seek you own accounts to be paid what you are worth! nm
x
and using the keyboard SLOWs me up.....nm
xx
Wireless slows me down
Those wireless keyboards are a pain to me. Never had good luck with them. Was always putting in new batteries and even then they were stubborn and didn't work. My wireless keyboard in the keyboard graveyard now.
I like non-ego keyboards that plug in and have a fast, silent touch and use a rubber wrist rest. No egos for me. Feel retarded with my hands all spread eagle using them. Each to his own. I know they are popular. Supposed to be good for wrists.
I buy the real cheapo keyboards at Walmart, Logitech for $10 or so and they are the best for me anyway. The more they cost, the worse they work in my experience. 
I know if my nails are too long it slows me
.
I agree that McAfee slows down the system, but
only when the scanning is in process, especially when starting. But I doubt that McAfee and Norton are less safe than a free download.
This has no logic.
I subscribe McAfee already for years and I NEVER got a virus.
Sounds like my old job, pain in the butt, all that crap slows you
Clinic is generally easier, but you can get longer reports with acute care generally. Kind of a toss-up I think. I get slowed down most when I have to look up the doctor's name and addresses when I do letters. Doing a bunch of clinic notes/evaluations tonight where they supply a patient list and all the doctors names and addresses.....saves me tons of time....but that is a rarity. Oh well, good luck.
Hmmmm Never even considered it. Leaving the keyboard always slows me down
nm
I think August 9th -
.
Will be 29 in August here.. nm
x
end of January great, too
I went at the end of January and had maybe a 15-minute wait max on the most popular rides, practically no wait on all the others. The weather was clear and high 60s, so not bad. I can't imagine what a mess it must be in the summer.
January 31, 2007
:
This is how it was told to me in January
They said at social security I could start drawing my money in 01/2009 - that is the year of my 66th birthday but I turn 66 in March. Now what they said is I could get 2 checks in January- why wait? Well, the wait for me is I get more money by waiting 2 more months and that is the rest of your life money- it can go up some because social security gives raises (unlike our jobs now). I reach 66 in the year 2009 but not 66 years of age until March, 2009. Does that make it more understandable- remember it is the government talking!
I think I bought it in January. nm
nm
Not till August 30 here
w
This August will be 35 years. sm
More recently multispecialty clinic, previous to that hospital.
I'll probably wait until January...
and see what havoc is wreaked on my pay - but at this point there is just so much wreaking already...
Yes, I wish it were January 1st. I feel obligated
to invite people I do not really want to spend time with here for Thanksgiving and Christmas because otherwise they would have nowhere to go and would sit home alone. Guess it's not good to invite people and then resent it, but I do. And the cooking is left mainly up to me because the others are too old/incapacitated or too worthless to help.
We were slow the first week of January but
now we're being dumped on and can't seem to get to back in control. I've worked almost everyday just trying to stay close to TAT.
I have just missed this first 1 for the year, January.
NM
Not until August 31st! Heeeeelp!! :)
Heart cath in August - $14K+ !!! nm
x
August 28th :-( no message
.
Houston...August 16th. NM
NM
I don't know the particular MD, but I had plastic surgery in August. sm
What I did was talk to nurses. Nurses are a wealth of info, and they really know the docs. In my talking to nurses, I even found a few who had chosen the surgeon for themselves. I'm not shy, so I'll tell you that I had breast reduction surgery. Aside from my talking to nurses who worked in anesthesia, surgery, and oncology departments, I also spent a good amount of time with the doc. I made sure he was board certified, asked lots of detailed questions, and he also showed me photos of previous patients and the results of the surgery. He showed me photos of both good and bad results, which was a really good thing. There are risks to any surgery, and it's good to actually see what can go wrong.
It took a while, but it really paid off on the end. My surgeon and I communicated well, and I'm very happy with the results of my surgery.
I just did the same thing back in August - sm
upgraded my "old" phone and bought a new flip phone for $20 at Dollar General (they wanted $50 on-line for the same phone. Called and had my minutes transfered, now all calls are 1 "unit" a call no matter where I am (was most 2 on my old one as I was usually roaming when I used it). I also got the double minutes for life plan, so all I have to do now is the yearly connection fee ($99), still a lot cheaper than buying and signing up for a 2-year contract anywhere else. The only difference I see with my new phone is it does not work as well as the old one did (it seems to work in more areas); but it works very well at home (the old one barely worked here if at all), just cuts out around the kids school and south of there (very remote there). Great phone to have for anyone who only uses it for emergencies or quick calls like, "oh, do we need milk, I am at the store." type stuff.
4th quarter taxes are due on January 15th
x
How's your work load going Monday, January 9?
Just wondering if we are all in the same boat, sinking because of India oursourcing.
Good for you--I left the field in January
after 16 years. I now work as an Editor outside of the medical field. I'm still home-based, and my journalism degrees are put to good use. I hate to see what has happened in this profession, and follow the developments. However, I did not feel encouraged about my future in transcription, and felt that it was best to get out ASAP. I'm relieved to be out of it, and encourage anyone considering a career change to follow their intuition and explore their options.
Your transcription experience will put you ahead of the game in nursing school. Best wishes to you, and congratulations for taking action.
Yes! I saw it in Philadelphia in January - it was absolutely incredible!
d
I asked in early August to change
accounts and was told NO. I also have a very difficult account with mostly ESL docs and residents, who ask you to go back and correct a million things or stay on there saying umm, umm, umm.
Would love to switch accounts or offices - something. I don't want to quit.
Well I DID have bleeding with my ectopic pregnancy in August, so it is possible.
An early ultrasound at the hospital was incorrectly read at the hospital as intrauterine, but when my OB/GYN did another ultrasound, it was ectopic.
Sept 5 - have a calm August up ahead - sm
the last 2 months have been nuts with Dr. appts (eye, dentist, oncologist, regular checkups); only have 2 scheduled this month, yeah, and only 1 weekend trip. Try to do some local stuff in the remaining month we have though if we don't fry first. Hit 100 today here in VA (NE of Richmond); it's 99 now and 5:30 p.m. NUTS!!!
I have the feeling they may eliminate SE because they are starting this new plan in January. Quite
frankly, I am surprised you do okay with Amherst. I sit looking at a no work sign many days and it gets a little tiresome. I have already been looking at other companies because I have felt for a long time with the lawsuits and millions going out MQ is not the place to be anymore. Too much baggage and may Spheris is in the picture especially if they drop SE I think that may well be true.
40 degrees in August? Where do you live? Even Alaska is warm now.
x
Here in Cherokee County Alabama August 8 is first student day.
My DH works at the local school and he has been getting ready.
I dont remember exactly whether it was by Qmail or what mail but it is starting January 1. I was
concerned about that because usually when they change any kind of employee status or SE status it is in the beginning of a tax year. I am worried about the SE status for that reason. But it is January 1.
internest is not updated fast enough? I book you buy in January was put together mid last year..how
nm
How about zillions of accounts. MQ has these accounts so overloaded even the new hires dont have any
work. I would love to read some of these reports and then they expect perfect QA and no blanks. Did they lose their minds completely.
You have to work in their Harrison office. I contacted them in August, but I live across the
s
In North Alabama, school starts back August 4th. We get out the end of May.
:O)
No actually I plan to suck everything out of them at my line rate this year and then quit in January
when they start the new pay plan. Yep, that is exactly what I plan to do. Yep, I have it all planned out. This sick sick lady has it all planned out. The best of MQ is over.
Other than the reduction in ASR starting Oct 1 the rest of the deal doesnt start until January 1 so
we all have time to move on if it does not suit us.
I filed for an extension and paid nothing until August 15th. No penalty for that, just interest. nm
x
Started yesterday, August 1st...balance calender year in Tennessee..nm
=
August 24th. Can't wait for those bigger paychecks I'll get when I have fewer interuptions!
The accounts are old and she keeps her accounts TRUSTING she hired the right MTs
who if in doubt will ask questions regarding reports. No one can find all mistakes in all reports and that is human to have a report with perhaps a typo. You think anyone reads through all the reports of a national company before they get to the hospital? Not a chance. Some random QA is supposed to correct all mistakes? Not hardly. Doctors/dictators make mistakes too. We all do. So do QA people. So the thing is this person hires good people who are trustworthy, the hospital likes the way she does their account and life goes on quite nicely w/o hovering editors/QA people. BTW, who QAs the QA people on your accounts. Ever wonder?
Not all accounts are good accounts. One
That should not be the case. Sounds like you need new accountant with strong knowledge of IC deduction. We save a several thousand on what we pay in taxes based on what I can deduct as at home IC, $2000 off the top for what I pay my child to help with office chores, as an example. The measly 7.xx% I pay that an employer would pay is well worth my independence in being my own boss.
Has anyone on this board's work slowed down this January. MT work that is.
Got several friends with slow-down of work but they are MQMTs Wondered how the rest of the MT world is doing.
Not anymore. For some time now, I've been working 32 hours and am considered full time to receive
p
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