Keep track of your own lines.
Posted By: unlawful on 2009-02-05
In Reply to: I would specifically ask the company - sm
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keep track!!
Me and my husband got into a BAD habit of not writing anything down in our check book. We literally would just look on line and however much money it said we had, that is how much we thought we had!!! Well, it got us into some big trouble. We had never went "in the hole" before, but when we wired some money to someone, they charged us an unknown fee of $50, which ended up costing us almost $300 in fees. Something about they let the "big bills" go through first, so we "bounced" 2 and 3 dollar trips to the gas station. It was ridiculous. I now write everything down and even round up to the nearest dollar.
Track Changes?
I use Word's Track Changes for when I am editing writing. What happens is you can take out the incorrectly-spelled word and replace it with the correct version. In red, it will come up as "deleted: and then the word that was mispelled" so the MT can see both the right and wrong way when you send her back the file. Hope that might help!
track changes?
There is a feature that is called "track changes" and it changes the color of any word that you added or puts a line through a word that you want to remove.
In my Word it is under "Tools" then "track changes" then click on highlight changes.
Good luck.
yes, this thread has gotten way off track
z
Can the ISP track to an address?
I didn't think it could. That would be great though. I feel bad for this person.
I lost track of how many
hospitals (30+), in how many states (12?), and how many doctors (1000s), but depending on the length of dictation I do anywhere from 15 to 40 reports a day. I seldom ever have the same doc the same day, sometimes don't have the same one more than once in a week, month, or even year.
Sounds like your on the right track...
along with internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, and dermatology comes to mind. There may be piddly little office procedures with those (am I the only one who finds abscesses being lanced TOTALLY COOL?!), but they are usually way easy.
Good luck in your goal! 
keeping track
Maybe that is a personal thing if you keep track of who the doc dictates and who he doesn't dictate for. All I know is that they can take it for granted and you can spend lots of time if you're not careful. Could it be a doc in Ravenna?
How convenient for them.....you keep track of
xx
Way to keep track of what you do, without writing
If you go to cnet.com downloads and go to Rayflectar Project Timers. Hard to explain (for me anyway :), but you can program it to keep track of the things you do on your computer, time spent on each document, even time spent surfing the web, checking email etc. Just thought it might come in handy for some.
Fast Track
I wanted to thank all of you for your responses. I don't want to make less than I do now, which is 4 edit/8 typing. It's just that it seems like what we are doing is "softening up" the accounts so they can be transferred overseas. That is very discouraging, especially when you have been on an account for over a year
HELP-ASAP Tract or track (sm)
 Haven't been doing surgery for a while and cannot remember the rule for tract/track. Couldn't find it in the AAMT BOS either. Thanks!!
EX: I probed this area with a Q-tip and found that she, indeed, has a sinus tract/track leading to a cavity below the healed skin.
put on your track shoes, baby! :)
I'll be officially divorced on September 10, 2006, and I can't wait! I was only married for a year and a half. I was absolutely at the end of my rope. I tried everything. Counselors, psychiatrists (for me), drugs, books, websites, EVERYTHING! I hated Fridays b/c it meant spending another two days with my husband. In my opinion, counseling is great, but it ONLY WORKS when the other party is ready to accept responsibility. And usually, sadly, they're just not.
As someone once said, "You don't need a reason to leave someone you can't stand!" I also really like this quote, "My worst day single is better than my best day married!"
Good luck, and remember, you DO deserve someone who treats you well.
PERIOD. ;)
Suggestions for getting back on track?
I have been doing transcription for quite a while now, 14+ years. I am finding that my count is dwindling and it's not due to lack of work. I think I'm just burned out. I love my job, but just can't seem to get it going again. What do you all do to increase your production and get yourself out of a slump other than the obvious word expanders, etc. Any advice you can give me would be really appreciated. My husband is about to kill me because my check is not where it should be.
Sorry, didn't track hours.
Not an employee - just got on the computer and did a few offers whenever I felt like it.
Have you ever thought about keeping track... SM
of the reports you send to QA and then going back later and looking them over? I'm sorry, but when there are 300 jobs in the QA queue, we cannot possibly send feedback on each and every report. Most of us are on production just like you or have production quotas we have to meet just like you. At some point the MT must take responsibility for her work and do her own research. It isn't enough that we get sent reports with 20 or more blanks because a lazy MT didn't feel like do the research, but now we have to make sure we email that same lazy MT and give her the answers that she should have been able to find in the first place?
In my opinion, once an MT leaves 20 blanks or more in report, the QA person is basically transcribing that report. The MT should get docked those lines. I have seen reports with 80 blanks in them --- 80 BLANKS! Tell me that MT isn't just being lazy!
QA is abused by a lot of MTs. They use us to finish their work and give them free lines. They use us to do their research. They are used to be handed free answers on these online word boards -- word boards, I might add, that are usually manned by QA people lending a helping hand. I used to frequent the word boards and offer answers, not anymore. Just try to explain to someone how to find the answer to the question instead of just handing it to them on the word board and you are met with hostility.
I've given up. This us versus them mentality is perpetuated by the MTs not by QA and I'm so tired of hearing it. If you want a better relationship with QA, get better at your job.
keep track of emails; keep producing; it's all you can do.
nm
You want us to have "O" work? They would track that complaint in a heartbeat.
communication and reality.
Talk about your drugs or your dinners. Pass over MQ. We won't mind a bit. Our lives are rough enough already without biting comments.
We are trying to dig out of the quagmire MQ/Philips has put us into. Like I've said, MTing is no longer a profession or can be considered a "real job". At best it is pickup work or sideline extra non-necessary money because one certainly can't depend on the money.
Ever heard of "ghost track" after an ORIF???
A small "ghost track" is seen in the distal tibial shaft.
Thanks!
Sounds like you're on the right track with Weight Watchers (sm)
Do they offer counseling too? I know of two people who did Weight Watchers and they were very successful. Seems like a good, healthy program. I am not overweight myself but my sister is and, like you, has struggled with her weight her whole life. So I know at least second-hand the struggle you're going through. I think maybe if Weight Watchers doesn't offer counseling that it might be a good idea to talk to someone about your feelings and help you sort through them. Best of luck to you and try not to be too hard on yourself. Your son and your husband love you for who you are.
Only if you're using the track changes or compare feature. Once somebody else has the document
x
which is the most common that you use when flagging? do you include the time track?
Given their track record, I woudn't give them a dime
They had their chance, and all they did was take advantage of the people they claim to 'represent'.
It is actually ghost track - area where a screw has once been for fixation of fracture.
dd
I use Word 2003 and on the track changes toolbar there is a while pull-down box on the left.
This gives you your final report without the marks.
The junk faxers aren't leaving correct info so you can track them down.
.
correction: charge by PAGE, and keep track of long-distance of local numbers, as well as fax supplie
.
Aaahhhh, now I get it. Gross lines vs. Character lines. I guess I've just been conditioned to
think in terms of character lines. One of the perils of working as an IC for somebody who defines what a line is versus owning your own company and defining it yourself. After working for someone else for 15 years, maybe it's time to bust out on my own.
That is a lot of work/lines for 2 people. I do 3000 lines per day sm
if you times that by 30 days that only comes to 90K lines a month, that is working 7 days a week including weekends. I don't think 2 people can handle that.
900 lines is below 1100 lines, where the bonus starts.
x
Gross lines include all lines containing
printable characters, so a full line and a line with one word on it are charged equally. Straight lines are basically the same as gross lines, but with this method of counting the blank lines are counted as well (again, equally). I have only had one company pay this way, and they are a middle man. I would think the charge would be about the same as for gross lines, and that not too many offices will want their lines counted this way (the one I worked on was probably inherited from someone who had counted the lines that way, so just continued).
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.
I went from 2400 lines to 1800 lines
a day when I switched from clinic (through an MTSO) to hospital work. Not only was the clinic work easier with more macros (and less providers to learn, 12 vs 300+), but I was typing in straight Word (as opposed to Softmed/Chart Script). So you see, it really varies depending upon the type of work as well as the platform used. That said, I am so much happier typing the 1800 lines per day (I make over $15 per hour plus an incentive for any lines in excess of 1200 per day) plus a great health package/benefits, AND approximately 5 weeks of paid time off per year. In my opinion, hospitals really are the best employers WHEN they appreciate the work we do.
My advice for you is not to judge a job by any one criterion but rather the entire picture. The 'extra's can really add up.
Good luck in your job!
Which is the one where they are sc*&ing us the standard lines or the qualified lines? SM
Mine show up as STD when I pull up my transcription log. But I see now there is STD/QT.... So which is the one where they are ripping us off, standard or qualified? Need to know. I am about to switch companies and I will not do if they are actually taking lines from me. Thanks guys.
I've lost track of how many people who've asked about it to NOT
.
Question versus gross lines versus 65-character lines....
I have always charged or been paid by 65 or 60 character lines or per letter or space typed, but have never been paid or charged per gross line.
What is the advantage of this? If I were to charge 11 cents per 65-character line including spaces, what does this figure out to for an average line rate and how do you do this calculation?
I'm wondering if it is financially beneficial for me to bill by gross line or to keep it the way I have it. I do know some accounts will only pay per 65-character line, as this was the deal my first own account I recently acquired. They were adamant on a 65-character line, but didn't specify with or without spaces and I personally would never not charge for spaces.
Thanks for explaining this. I appreciate it and hope everyone has a speedy day.
Word count: 824 lines. DocuCount count: 897 lines.
I just counted the same file in Word and then in DocuCount, and DocuCount was higher than Word.
Just as an aside.
lines
I always say a good average is around 250-300 lines an hour.
Lines
I have been flamed many times about my production, rate and how much I make. I think it is great for you. But there are those 10 hour days sometimes but I like the fact that I have my own business, and get paid for the hard work. One account that I have is surgeons and with their consults have hit close to 600 lines per hour but with my IM's, and their chart notes can only get up to 350 to 400 or so. It is hard when I switch to my clinic account where I sometimes go in and get paid hourly as I feel like I am not working fast enough on their electronic charts. Again, I have said it many times, it may take a while but if you want to work hard the money is there to be made in this field.
How many lines??
Everyone just wondering how many lines did you do a day when you first started MT? And, how many hours a day?
SS lines, pay,
They are a total rip off. E-mails are plain rude. Cherrypickers like one could not believe. Management does not exist. QA a total joke. Roaming payday. Anyone else who states other is not an MT with the company.
lines...whatever it was.
Well you see, you stated right in your post that you can't possibly cherry pick...so what do you know about what is going on with the rest of us out here who DO have to deal with cherry pickers.
Ma'am, I have 25 years in this business, 15 of it in a nest of the worst cherrypickers you have ever seen, at the largest hospital in my state. I was the supervisor for 5 years and I would have fired somebody on the spot if they'd done that, but they all knew it. Had no problems.
Don't know what you make per line but getting about 666 lines per hour is quite astounding. I'm sure you must be quite happy where you are and with no cherry pickers!
I work for 3 hospitals, doing operative notes. They are assigned to me by someone 6 states away. I go down the list. There's no way to get anything other than what I get. And yes, I am completely happy where I am.
Good for you. I've been an acute care MT for over 30 years and am rated as one of the best as far as QA and quantity and have NEVER, EVER in my life been able to come close to your line count. Maybe you are from another planet and have powers beyond us or maybe you have some special secret you could share. Or maybe, we should just ignore your statement of getting that kind of line count, especially when you are not dealing with cherry pickers. 
I don't deal with cherrypickers because I won't work where there are any. I get that kind of line count every single day, because that is what is assigned to me and I have to do it and turn it in on a deadline.
It is all in where you work and what you are able to put up with. I happen to have the freedom to work where I please and working there pleases me.
It's unfortunate that you have 30 years' experience and you are stuck where you are.
lines
Well it took me a little longer 5 typing and 1.0 delivering but I did 2295 at 0.12 cents a line. So guess I will quit until later this evening. Two surgeons and two IM' and 1 plastic surgeon. Lots of consults, auto corrects but pays off. 13 consults at 3 to 4 pages each.
LINES
I have gotten 500 lines but I should not count as I do clinical notes for two surgeons that do the same consults for most breast CA, hernias, cysts, etc. I just whipped out between the two almost 700 lines in about 75 minutes but I have been doing them for so long and have so much saved that I type perhaps on a general inguinal hernia consult and letter, 30% of the actual consult. Sometimes more. On regular chart notes, I average around 300 to 350 but again have had the same docs for 5 and 7 years. And when you read closely, you will see that is how we do it. But if you are with a national and new docs all the time, I would be luck to get 200 lines an hour. So it is sometimes like comparing oranges to apples as they say.
lines
Working 2-1/2 hours, all ops, mainly ESL, 308 lines which comes out to about $10 an hour. Am I crazy or what?
lines/pay
I've been transcribing 25 years, only 4 months being production paid with a large national, no incentives, no bonuses, no extras for working holidays. I find it terribly depressing when the check comes and you see your gross lines, divide the number of hours you worked--it has been improving each pay, but still not near what I was making previously. I now have been offered a position (not transcription) at a local hospital (where I lost my transcribing job to outsourcing) at $16/hr. An easy job that I'm seriously considering. No holidays, no logging on all hours to find work, great benefits. But I've been working at home 5 years now..... I never realized how the big companies are underpaying good transcriptionists. Thank heavens I have extra accounts that I've been doing on the side for years or I couldn't survive on what I'm bringing in now. Thanks for listening!
lines/pay
If that is true, many not making $10/hr., then yes, I guess I should consider myself lucky. I had no idea others were being paid such a minimal amount - and I never considered that I was "in the dark" about things!
lines
My max after 4 months with the national came out to $13.42/hr. I have extra accounts that I've been doing for years and make $25-$30 an hour on those - letters by specialists which I breeze though, 15-20 extra hours a week, so when I went to the national, pay by the line, what a shocker. Never been paid by the line, even though I was told not to worry with my experience, etc., I would have no trouble with getting good line counts, doesn't seem to be happening. At least it doesn't seem good to me and at this point the in-house hospital job (not transcription) seems more inviting at $16/hr Mon-Fri, no weekends, no holidays, great bennies...Even though my love is transcription my feeling is I'll still have my fingers in it with the extra accounts I have but will feel more stable. Single parent, need the bennies.
lines
Glad to know it is not just me. New to this at home thing - only 4 months with 25 years experience. I struggle to get 1200 lines a day unless I get lucky and get an ER account - which doesn't happen very often.
$13/hr plus .04 over 150 lines/hr
Just went back to the local hospital I used to work for. I usually can easily type 300 lines per hour, so the hourly rate plus incentive is fairly decent.
Lines
I checked this when I first went on DQS. Do a select all on a completed document in DQS, paste it into MS Word, then go to tools, choose word count, look at the characters with spaces total and divide that number by 65. You will find that it matches with DQS.
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