Lost account of 28 years to Dictaphone because hospital believes it will eliminate all transcription
Posted By: Karen on 2007-10-20
In Reply to:
Curious if any of you are working for Dictaphone or Infomatics and doing an account out of Miami with mainly ESL dictators? I was convinced I would not lose the account after a few days with VR. However Dictaphone is not using VR right away and will transcribe reports the regular way until they have a database. I am certain this hospital will never be done by VR. I posted a job on here about a year ago offering 18 cents per line to help with this account and not one person accepted after hearing the ESL doctors we have. They are that bad. Anyone else have this happen to them? Losing to Dictaphone And we have had to do most of the work for over a month since they supposedly took over because their system is not working.
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I've lost a local account today that I have had for five years......
I cannot believe that this happened to me today. I went into one of my doctor's offices this afternoon to pick up his tape for today. I was given a tape and told that his wife, who is the office manager, wanted to see me in her office. I thought nothing of it because she sometimes has extra things that she wants me to type up for her and we talk quite often also.
She tells me that she just has not gotten around to talking with me yet, but "tomorrow we will start dictating through a company over the internet". I was blown away! She said she wanted to give me a break and that if it does not work out she will let me know. The whole time she was tell me this she was writing me a check as I had just turned in an invoice.
My first inclination was to throw that #@%$ tape at her and say "do it yourself", but I knew that wasn't the "professional thing" to do. I was thinking how could she do this to me, not even a 24 hour notice. She handed the check to me, I snatched it and walked out.
I have had this account for five years exactly (began August 1, 2000). I have never took a day off, never raised my rates, never asked anything of them, and my work has always been the best possible quality. I have been the most dependable person they have could had. I have passed up other accounts because of them, and I always put them first. Thank goodness I have other accounts to fall back on. In our town, there is only one other transcriptionist besides myself, and we both have more work than we can handle most of the time.
Just thought I'd remind all those other MTs out there that no matter how good we are and no matter how much we try to please everyone we are still not appreciated. I will never be fooled again. No one will ever receive the attention from me that I gave them. 
In 5 years there won't be any transcription departments in any hospital. All will be outsourced.
Same thing happened to me and if those HIM hags who control our destiny think it's a good thing they are so WRONG. Life has been hard since having to work at a service, and I refused to work for the Monster MTSO that took my job as a matter of principle. I think we should all write to Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Amy Klobuchar (the MT in MN can write to her), etc., and express our strong needs to have MT jobs and American information STAY in America with American MTs.
No, I lost an account to EMR
and of hospitals around here that have gone to EMR, no Transcriptionist is needed.
With VR and EMR, the VR automatically puts their dictation into the patient's record. They could care less how it looks, their idea is to save money.
Lost my account
 I am so upset. I have worked on the same account for 2 years now, ever since I started medical transcription. My computer has been giving me issues now on and off for about a month. This week I have not been able to work because of computer issues. I have spent $800 since December on computers having them upgraded and antivirus and more memory. It is constantly acting up for the last week and they had to reassign my work this week. They just called me and informed me they took my account and gave it to a MT who doesn't have computer issues. Like I chose for my computer to go on the fritz. So now I am a backup MT. I am so hurt that I had the bad luck to have computer issues for the last week and they take my work. How can I help that? I can't. Oh well. I think it is time to get another job.
We had an account that went overseas that when we lost it
one of hte people said they'd be back. Hasn't happened yet and it's been over a year. I always wished they would.
This is true......I lost an account to EMR like this
and I'm almost positive the same thing is happening to my account that I do now. It is definitely spreading as more of the younger generation of doctors comes into the field. To me, this is more of a threat than work going overseas (I definitely don't like that either but I found that most clients that do that at least come back; EMR physicians do not).
Me too.. Lost major account
to EMR.. basically put me out of business. I could have "stayed-on" in house doing limited transcription and scanning for 1/2 the money. System was not very friendly to transcription, had to constantly switch screens, etc. would have really lost $$$ if I was paid by the line. Either way hourly/cpl, less money for me. I decided to just stay home and go with national. Hopefully I can hold out for the next 5 or so years, or else I guess I'm off to Walmart!
I stood up for myself and probably lost an account - oh well
This is only the second month that I have had this account but they thought that their bill was a little "high" as the doctor does not feel that he should pay for any lines that I have in a template or if the physical is mainly normal and so I have a normal template, etc. I told them to try to find somone else that was cheaper that gave them the service that I did, with the TAT and quality. This is a doctor that loves to rib off insurance companies and morally I have been debating about doing this account but felt someone had to do it. But I told the NP/OM that with the time I spend in delivery and pick-up, paper, etc. I need to make this much per hour and that is about what I make. This is the first time in a long time I have really stuck up for myself. She said that their last Transcriptionist had been charging $5 a page and I said fine I would compare that with my lines but it would be with 1" margins all the way around and a 12 courier font to define "a page" and low and behold it came out about the same as with my line count. Anyway I am sure that they will begin to look elsewhere and that is fine, I wasn't looking for an account when this one came my way and so somewhere else there is something else. But it made me feel good to stand up for myself and believe in my skills.
Update - lost the account
Well they said today that they were going to investigate other avenues, appreciated my work but did not appreciate that I corrected her when she did not correctly spell Crohn's disease. She is a PA and knows how to spell so then why did she specifically spell it incorrectly -- anyway am glad as their were a little shady. She saw the patients, dictated as the doctor, and charged out MD prices instead of PA so am glad I am out of it. But God gave it to me over Christmas, I was able to pay off one credit card and so it worked out. Will enjoy the 6 to 8 free hours per week now. Just thought I would let you all know how it came out.
Patti
I lost a clinic account
to EMR. I had lunch with an old friend who is an ER nurse in Colorado and the ER changed over to EMR recently. So far that is the only department in her hospital, but she expects the entire hospital will eventually.
This is the touch screen type of thing. She says there is a computer at every station or bed. When they chart, it also generates the billing so more revenue is captured.
I would be worried if I was younger, but should be okay until retirement hopefully??
I know personally I have already lost 1 big account because of the new system and please sm
talked to my own physician yesterday about it. He said they have to be on-line within the next 2 years. I love my work from home MT job but I'm thinking of going back to school for nursing. Just checking if it has affected anyone else yet and if so, what are your long term plans?
my friend from the other hospital that just lost her job
was telling me that the outsource service they used got paid for reports that were typed by the transcriptionists in her hospital, even after they were told not to transcribe them. And they still got paid for them.
depends on location, I know someone who lost a local account - sm
in Woodbridge, VA, was charging .12 a line (60 character line), got underbid and lost it after having had it for years. Now in order to get more but look less, she bids at .10 a line but a 50 char. line....comes out to .13 if a 65 cpl. You can't get much over .10 around here on your own which really stinks, or do some fancy accounting which in this case works.
Yeap, lost huge account to EMR, most CA doctors are now using it
After I lost my accounts, I went to doctors' offices all over Orange County, and most are now using EMR or going EMR. I lost a huge account with several clinics. They loaded up all of my templates, and off they went. Good luck.
I surely lost out on that, worked from home for a hospital
for 2+ years and required to come in house for meetings and never, never paid for my gas nor my time down and just asked to make it up. After that we got outsourced to a company and guess what again? Meetings at their place and again no pay!! I bet others who see this probably have had the same thing happen to them. Your place exceptional.
58, AHP/self-taught, trained at hospital 5 years, now with 2 of my own accounts for 10 years, employ
Also worn out 2 keyboards in 4 years. I will never retire. DH will come home some day from work and I'll be slumped over my keyboard. I put in 14 hours a day 7 days a week.
..or when the doc dictates "prior report LOST by XXX Transcription Service...AGAIN." sm
I work for a national MT company, we do hospitals all over the country, I work from home. I have NO control over where the chart goes once I send it in, I'd bet the original chart was never dictated and hence never 'lost' by us....but in the case that it may have been, THEY HAVE THE PHONE NUMBER of the company to call them, they have specific contacts at the company for issues such as this...I CAN'T HELP YOU WITH THIS, especially when all they're doing is bitching at me on a voice file. Funny, it's always the same couple of docs complaining of lost dictations. Curious that it's JUST THEM. ;-)
Hospital account since 1994
nn
Hospital account since 1991. nm
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Hospital account (National company). nm
*
275-310 lph - one account-large teaching hospital
xx
Hmm. My account (huge teaching hospital) has it, and
I still think the healthcare game is in for a huge shakeup in the not-too-distant future. Quality and confidentiality of medical records will be part of the picture when it finally all gets examined under the new government's microscope. And I don't think they're going to like what they see one bit. If the general population finds out how shoddy their records (and affected health care) are, you better believe some U-no-wat is gonna hit the fan.
Remembering those lost 4 years ago
I just wanted to take a moment to remember those lost in the planes, the WTC, and the Pentagon 4 years ago including Laurie Neira, one of our own, who MT'd for YOG.
I lost my brother 17 years ago and still cry every day.
I know it wasn't my father, but the loss is still great! I understand. The pain will never go away, it will just dull. You need to remember that you must go on and live with his memory and love in your heart! It really does get a little easier as time does heal a bit, but it will never go away.
There are times now that I can get through the day without a tear, but one song on the radio or one look into his daughter's eyes and the wells start overflowing.
I, by no means, am depressed. Actually I am a very happy person; however, that does not mean you take a minute to think about someone you have lost and shed a tear or two, wipe them away, and go on with your day and life.
Just know, he is with you and it will get better. One day you will wake up and smile just knowing he is looking down on you! Then, you will be able to start to heal and the pain won't be as great.
the service that works on our hospital account definitely pads
Many of us inhouse have tried to point it out to the supervisors, i.e. tons of spaces after a header, three or four spaces after a period, using spaces instead of tab button, for god sakes, spelling out milligrams and computerized axial tomography and every single abbreviated term that you can imagine and stuff like that. they even make their blanks verrrrryyyyy long!
Thank goodness the contract with them is going to be coming to an end by March. It just burns us that we get monitored for it, and the outside service does not. They also do not get penalized for mistakes either.
work for hospital account - use lots of expanders - nm
x
I was hit by all 3 that summer, I lost power, I lost work, I lost savings...but..sm
NEVER did my employer in any way imply or threaten or dare even mention that my job was in jeopardy because I could not work immediately following a trifecta of natural disasters! My jaw agape is not at your concern about working, but at your concern that you would lose your job because of it. Companies have to have a heart in some situations. You're one MT, your company won't go under without you working for a week or 2 or 3.
I couldn't agree more. Lost my mom 13 years ago sm
this coming August. I miss her the most on Mother's Day.
Hospital transcription
A customer of mine called me the other day to let me know about a diagnostic imaging opening at a hospital and she told me the benefits are around 300.00 for child and spouse added. I would rather pay something like that than to have to put up with this woman. The pay starts out for bottom line 10.06 an hour, maxing out at 15.09 an hour. I am really thinking about getting into coding too.
Thank you all again for listening to me.
Paulette
New to hospital transcription
Hi,
I was wanting to get some advice from some people who have done hospital transcription before. I am new to it. I have done clinic transcription for 9 years mainly family practice and the doctors that I have done have been for the most part really easy going and are not too particular about grammar and so forth, but I have just gotten an IC position for a local hospital and was wondering how difficult it is. I have always heard that it is really hard to do. How much difference is there between hospital and clinic transcription and what is it that makes it so much more difficult. Any advice would be gladly appreciated. I am really nervous and I need this job and I want to be able to do it. Thanks in advance.
Average 1950-2200 a day, one hospital account, 90% op reports. nm
nm
You have been going 5 times a week for 2 years and have not lost weight? So..
it's basically more than $300/year for social hour? I've been going for 2 months faithfully and didn't lose an ounce until I went back on Atkins this week. It's nowhere near enough of a workout.
As someone who lost their husband almost 2 years ago, I can tell you that no amount of money could
ever replace my best friend and husband. Yes, I have tried the dating thing, but to tell the truth here, it's not the same and I don't think anyone could ever replace the father my children lost at such an early age.
By the way. he had just turned 34 when he died, so I suppose you might want to give your hubby a big hug tonight for thinking of your future without him, especially when we truly do not see ourselves leaving this world so soon.
Hugs to you and yours!!!
No more radiology transcription at my hospital
The medical center I worked for did away with radiology transcriptionists a few years back. They came up with "canned" reports and VR and have ZERO radiology transcriptionists. They also cut back on their xray lab/medical record clerks by installing a PAC (sp?) system as well.
Yes, it does. My hosp is typing in MOX, we lost Word many years ago due to cost.
Good luck!
Do you work in a hospital or a Transcription Service
Office? It is a hospital there should be a manager that you can go to or an administrator. Production is key in hospital work, and it is important you have the quiet you need to produce.
On-call transcription in a small hospital
I work for a very small rural hospital with only two full-time transcriptionists and one part-time transcriptionist. We have recently been told that the administration of our hospital is entertaining the idea of on-call Transcriptionist for uncovered hours. We already work alternating Saturdays (day shift only). I wanted to know if any other hospitals out there do on-call transcription (Not from home and not outsourced). They want us to physically drive in and be in the office to do this transcription. Any information at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
How do I find out if a local hospital's transcription is done in-house or not?
Can someone please give me some advice? I am trying to find out if one of our local hospitals has in-house transcription or what company they use for their transcription. I called the MR Dept. and the lady acted like she did not want to tell me anything. She said some was done in-house but most of it was done electronically and would not elaborate as to what company they used. How can I go about finding out who does their transcription for them. I never see any actual job opening in the MR Dept. or for transcription for them, so I am assuming they outsource most to a transcription company.
I would like to get on with the hospital or possibly the company who handles their transcription.
I have been considering working locally instead of for a national or switching to another company from the company I currently work for. Since losing my initial primary account and having to switch to another account, my income has declined and it doesn't appear to be getting any better. Not sure why, it is not from my lack of working. I just can't seem to make the counts on this new account as I could on my previous account. I now do some editing on top of my transcription due to time restraints I cannot put in any more hours than I already do. Thanks for the input. My husband recently started working at this particular hospital. I am hoping he will be able to find out for me but no luck yet.
Take at home transcription job or unit secretary job at hospital?
I've been an MT for 12 years and have worked at home doing MT for 10 years. Recently got replaced by EMR so had to find work elsewhere. I took a job at a local hospital as a unit secretary working 3-11 now I have been offered a job with a national transcription company. I'm not sure if I should go back to transcribing since the line count/money making potential has me worried. I've been assured that I will never run out of work but I'm worried that I will actually be working longer than the 8 hour shift in order to make the amount of money I need. I would love to be back home with my kids typing again as I miss not seeing them as much as I used to and they want me to be home. I am just not sure if I should stay in a job at the hospital which has a guaranteed amount of money per pay period since I'm being paid by the hour and not by the line where my paycheck can vary. Any thoughts/suggestions/opinions, recommendations out there? Any and all would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!!
What companies provide computers? Hospital is outsourcing all transcription and I am out of a job..
in about two months. I lost my computer and reference books in a house fire and can't afford to replace the computer until I get my tax refund back or until my homeowners insurance co. gets their act together which ever comes first! 
This is the second time I've lost an in-house hospital transcription job to outsourcing and have decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em and so I want to go back to working at home. What are the best companies to work for that provide equipment and are fair regarding line counts (i.e. count spaces and don't short MT's on lines) and have balanced accounts (accounts that have a fair ESL to EFL dictator ratio) to work on?
I have 13 years experience as an MT and I am desparately looking for a company to call home for as long as they will have me! I worked at home for a couple of years, but never could find that perfect fit. My new year's resolution is find a job I love working from home, and forget all about last year!
Thanks!
I have had the same account for six years - sm
One of the doctors hates using tapes ... so he decided that he would dictate over the internet. Guess what? He hated it.
Then he decided that the whole office should use a transcription service. Guess what? He found out with each transcription service that if you wanted a stat letter done it cost him about $35!! $35 for a two page letter!! And he was angry because none of the companies would print the letters. They wanted to send them back by email and have his staff print them out! They also charged various line rates for various letters, which was totally ridiculous.
I charge $5.00/page to transcribe the doctors letters, they fed ex me my tapes no matter where I am (and they pay for the fed ex). Guess what? I'm still more cost effective than the transcription services. I manage a same day to 48 hour turnaround time. My bill averages around $600-800 month and I have never worked more than 20 hours a month for the group.
Don't fret it. I have found over the years that doctors will always try to find a cheaper alternative to getting things done, but I have never ever been let go because of bad transcription, and whenever this has happened, I can guarantee you this .... they will call you back!!! I can almost promise you that!
My doctors have come to rely on the fact that they have been able to call me on my cell phone and ask me if I could call them back before the end of the day because they have a stat letter that needs to be done. I tell them what time I will call, transcribe the letter, email it to them, or print it from where I am and mail it to where it needs to go. Now keep in mind that they don't do this all the time, but I would probably say on the average of about 4-5 times a day. They will never find that with a transcription service.
I have never raised my rates. I take my time off around the main doctor's schedule. I have even tried to find a replacement a couple of times for them for when I really needed the time off - and it all comes back to this - I am a perfect fit for my doctors, and they now know that.
So cheer up. You'll be surprised - they will call you back.
The key here is 1 account for many, many years.
How many dictators? I made that good before DQS, and of course, MQ lost the accounts. Now on an account that you never get the same dictator twice in a shift. Makes it extremely difficult. Happy for you, hope it continues.
I had my own account years ago
transcribing for an office of 4 docs. They all admitted they were were terrible at grammar and such and it was my job to make them look good on paper, but they were paying me very well for this at $25 an hour. Just a few years ago another account I had with 2 docs it was the same thing at 15 cents per line. Unfortunately, all these accounts went to an MTSO at less than half of what they paid me.
Now I am with one of the major companies as employee and it is the same as you are saying, QA inconsistent and always getting dinged for fixing things and dinged if you don't, at slave wages compared to what it used to be.
Keep applying at jobs is my opinion. Find out where your local hospital transcription is done
dd
Yeah, QT. Same account for 4 years. nm
nm
3 years for hospital sm
but it was from home and they don't really know me.... i've been working IC from home for over 12 years and so it's not likely I will go to a hospital at this point to work
7 years, last 5 at the same hospital. nm.
x
Been undercut, after 4 years, losing account, I am sure.
I am a small MTSO and have had this physician group for 4 years since I started my service. I have always charged them just a flat rate per 65 character line, which in the North East I feel is reasonable - 14 cents per line. Never charged them extra for reprinting reports they have lost (which have been many over the years) and I always did the printing and delivering daily for them. Now some other vendor comes in and says they only charge 11 cents per line. This group comes back to me and says that their "final offer is 12 cents per line".... I told them, no way....MY final offer is 13 cents and NO PRINTING! Did I do the right thing?
Same for me, I made more 10 years ago. It depends so much on account, SM
work type(for me), and expanders. I find it hard to stay motivated when report after report is ESL and a work type I can't make money on. The above poster likes radiology, I like OPs. It is easier to stay motivated when you have that.
I've had a Hotmail account for years
They are updating it to "Windows Live Hotmail" which is much more like Outlook Express. You have 2 gigs of free storage space if you need it. I only use a fraction of that - it is the address I use when I'm ordering something online so I won't get tons of spam in my "regular" email.
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