MTSO versus national

• MTSO versus national - dls
  • Are you the same person who posted that you typed for a group of docs - and wanted to know if you were acute care or clini
  • MTSO stands for Medical Transcription - sm

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If a MTSO advertises that the MT works in MS Word and sends dictation by FTP, does this usually mean there will be no demographic/doctor database and the demographics will not be autopopulated?

I got into a mess with a small company (got out real quickly too).  I was required to print out daily email copies of the doctors' office patient schedules (which were barely legible) and type in all information.  I spent more time hunting for the correct patient through pages and pages of these schedules.  Then I had about 25 pages worth of doctor's names that I would have to go through to find the attending, referring, etc.  A total waste of time as I didn’t get paid for that. 

I wish MTSO would give more information as to what platform they use (if any).  Proprietary software is such a generic, totally useless description.  Would they buy a new car that listed, "Car has gasoline operated motor?" 

And for Pete's sakes, why so secretive about the pay?  Give a ballpark figure.  Just say, pay is between 7-12 cpl depending on skill, testing, etc. Tell me if you pay for spaces, headers, etc.  It would save them time because I wouldn’t even apply for a 7 cpl job. 

Before I spend an hour or two testing, I need more information from a company to be sure it is compatible for my needs.  If the MTSO would spend a little time on their website detailing their platform, how they send/receive files, pay rates,  how line rate is determined (spaces/no spaces) employee/IC/SE status, minimal line count, whether work pools consist of 100s of doctors, or smaller pools with 25-50 doctors etc.   Having all this information on their website would save them time and the MTs time.   Phoenix Medcom has a really good layout describing pretty much everything an MT would want to know before testing with them.  I am just tired of testing with a company and then finding out the job wasn’t exactly suited to my needs. 

I am checking into other options for transcription.  Can anyone tell me how to compare all of these types of lines & also payment per word?  I know companies use different scales, so I wondered how they compare.  I have been paid on a 65 character line with spaces, but I may be making a change in the future - don't want to get burned.

Thank you in advance!

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.

If you still want to stay in MTing, which is a dying job, go to a hospital and apply to do radiology.  They sometimes hire people just out of transcription schools.

But don't work at home thinking you will make any money at all - even with 20 years of experience - the nationals have wrecked that. 

Be under the umbrella of protection at a hospital.  That way when your computer breaks, the weather is bad, you are sick, there is no work - you will not be without a paycheck. 

The nationals are selling a line of BULL.  Gradually they have taken what used to be our built-it benefits------------> and moved it over to their pockets and called it their PROFIT.  They are not brilliant - but they are unethical thieves.

It seems you may have worked for one national, have you tried any others?  There are a few good ones.  I found a great one, but am keeping my fingers crossed because every time I find one, they start growing and changing (for the worst, in my opinion). 

Unfortunately, it seems to be the trend in our profession.  It could be we will all be out of jobs one day, just all at once in a heartbeat. 

Like the age of automation, didn't people lose jobs and become 'displaced' like all at once? 

I hate to say this, really, because I respect your feelings, but a lot of us lately are running out of work with our nationals.  Complete flipside - I have been running out almost daily, even on 3, 4 accounts.  I just ran out now and am waiting to get some work because I really need the money...

There seem to be no easy answers.  We are all at the mercy of our employers and whatever they decide to do.  Seems there are no laws for people like us...we are like slave labor. 

I hope you find your answers, and I think your Sparkle paper towels are giving some great advice!  (smile)

accounts does your national have you on...just curious.

I started with one and now am up to three and they're trying to shove two more accounts on me for a total of five. Simply hate it...would love to have just one primary account again with just one back-up.

As soon as I pick up momentum on the account I'm on at the moment, I get switched over to help out on another.

And yes...I have complained to them already...just wondering if this is the norm nowadays.

Only ONE out of plenty I am sure do I like because she is communicative, will email you your qa'd reports if you want, and will even call you at home if you request.....I have NEVER met another QA person like her and I nominated her for QA of the month (year if they offered that but they do not - *lol*)

To me, it's all about COMMUNICATION!! 

but privately, which is my main source of income,  (4 MDs), having them for a long time, I do about 300-400 LPH with a 68-72 character line in a DOS program with ShortCuts expansion program.

I used to type 250-300 LPH for the national before they went on DQS 3 years ago.  That's been sliced in half.

best of luck to you!!!!! 

I have even tried a small MTSO and they didn't want to pay squat either.  I had no trouble at all with the dictators, but they still only wanted to pay 7 cpl as an IC and wanted to run my life, quick turnaround, yada, yada, yada.  I would have been better off taking the morning shift at Bob Evans restaurant or better yet, the Dunkin Donuts (Indian-run) would probably pay me better than that.  I say try your best to gain an account on your own even if it is only just one.  You are better off with a small MTSO, but.....they lose accounts too even faster than the nationals, so then what?  Put your efforts into finding an account on your own.  There have been some suggestions on this board regarding such and someone was even going to hire a business consultant to get her business going.  The other option is, if possible, try an on-site job especially at a hospital even if that is only to network.  Make sure all of your friends know that you are a medical Transcriptionist with a great worth ethic.  Word gets around and you would be surprised what can fall into your lap.  Good luck.  I do not like the way the nationals or even small MTSOs operate as far as pay and how they treat you especially when you are an IC. 

Just curious because I did hear of 1 co that wouldn't let you check your counts, and it seemed to be causing a lot of issues with the MTs of course.  It ranged from some MTs feeling they were cheated out of lines to other MTs just wanting to know where they stood as far as their progress for the day. 

The thing is, I can't remember the name of that company for the life of me.  I thought maybe if I heard it, it would sound familiar if it was the same company. 

Ok - maybe I am having a brain fart - the dictation says the guy smokes 1 "ppd"  (pack per day) should i do ppd or PPD??  It is verbatim.

HELP!

The RMT (Registered Medical Transcriptionist) credential that is for those MTs who have just recently graduated or have been working but do not have the required 2 years of acute care experience to write the CMT (Certified Medical Transcriptionst) exam. 

You can find information about the CMT and RMT exams and credentials at http://www.aamt.org/scriptcontent/creddesig.cfm.

With my local I know exactly what I'm in for and how long it's going to take me.  With my national, I can work hard at it and do the extra or just meet the requirement.

My local has picked up a ton of accounts so I may be able to find a national that doesn't have a "schedule requirement," i.e. 3 hours 4 days a week and one weekend day.

With my local, I can say, "Hey kids, not much work, let's go get ice cream?"  They like that, but they hate "Mom's gotta burn the midnight oil."

It's a trade off. I'm not complaining.  I burned my nylons in the fireplace last October and I don't miss them! 

A client approached me AFTER both HE and I had quit working for this one particular MTSO...I worked for him, she found out and tried to sue ME for $20K.

I sent her back a play $20K bill and told her that was about as much as her "lawsuit" was worth. Never heard another word from her.

I got hired FT with a local large hospital today, working from HOME. I was PT with them and got the go ahead today that I am now FT. Yeaaaaa! 

Just had to share.

Saying Good-bye to Nat'l that I work PT for. That will be nice. WIll only have 2 jobs instead of 3!

you need to basically double your production in order to break even with what you earned before by transcribing.  And they're doing VR with the better dictators so only the worst dictators are left.  And yes, they overhire, as well.

I'll never go with a national again.  Was the worst experience I ever had.  Give me a smaller company any day.  They seem to treat people better. 

Can someone refer me to a website or something so I can get certified.  Finished my course with a college and they don't of course deal with the National Certification.  Anyone out there done the certification part.  Please help.  Thanks