Maybe the are giving you the harder dictators
Posted By: me on 2008-01-08
In Reply to: Seriously need input what to do... - Banshee
because they feel you can handle it? They obviously trust you to take on the harder ones. My advice, stick with it, it will get better with time.
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Basically, harder dictators and harder reports with a lot of formatting with tables, etc. SM
give you extra lines because of the time involved in doing those particular reports. Not so much you get paid more per line, you just get extra line credit. For example:
You have a 100 line report, but it is weighted because of a table that you have to input. Then you would maybe get credit for 130 lines for that report.
by doing the harder dictators you....
get valuable experience and when it comes down to it, YOU are the one who looks good and has more potential for raises and promotions because you can do those and do them well when no one else can. Also, you are the one that they'll see can ultimately do ANY type of report/dictator without hesitation or problems. So let them cherrypick. They're only hurting themselves in the long run. (that is, if you work for a company who actually appreciates it's employees!)
Not always. Tongue stumblers. New dictators. Speedy and lazy dictators.
D
?? Bad dictators are bad dictators regardless of their mother language.
wonder when people will just get over it and do what they can and move on.
I would bet its harder now being a kid than
You almost have to be mean, because mean people get respect and heard. Nice people are easier to stomp on. While your teaching your kid please and thank you, other mommies are teaching theirs to be ruthless and cruel. Truly to the core nice genuine people are so hard to find these days.
It was harder for me when they were that age too - sm
They are 6 & 7 now....though when they are home sick my work goes in the toilet basically. When they were younger ( I started when then were 2 & 3) I basically just worked when they napped and at night, about all you can do. I still get up early a few days a week and work until 11 or so despite them being in school all day (though the last day is June 1, ahhgggg, way too early this year), and will have a more radical plan this summer (i.e. work 3 a.m. to noon is my goal) so I don't have to make sure they are occupied while I work all day and I can actually spend some time with them, granted I will have to take a cat nap at some point, amazing what a 20-minute rest can do for you.
I would definitely be harder but obviously
all of their clients. I would set up an 800 call-in dictation number or a TASP and then wherever the place you move to, look for new clients in that area while keeping the old ones when you move, dialing into the 800 # to dictate (or using a hand-held and uploading, but I personally have never done it that way). I think they feel more comfortable using a service that is local to them; that seems to be their first choice. And then they will go with a national service if there is nothing available locally. I think just concentrate on whatever area you are in, build a rapport with clients in that area and do a good job for them, and then when you move just continue to have them dictating long distance on the 800#. Of course, you will have to set up to send files back electronically and not by delivering because you can't deliver once you move - so just set it up where you send files back through an FTP site or encrypted email or whatever from the beginning.
I tell them it's harder than it looks!
Every one of my neighbor friends who has kids has asked me that question. They see me home all day, know I have a mortgage, car payment, etc, and think they can do it too. I always give them the example of a relative of mine who tried to teach a nurse how to transcribe. The nurse obviously had the terminology, but could not make the leap to hearing something and typing it on a keyboard. The last neighbor who asked (baby due in 2 weeks), I just said "Find yourself an account and I'll help you learn". This was 6 months ago when she first asked and, of course, didn't bother to do that. In other words, they don't want to go to school, don't want to get an account, don't want to do anything other than sit down, starting typing something and get a paycheck in 2 weeks. It seems to be one of the only professions that everyone thinks is easy (and we all know it's NOT!!!).
We do work harder
Than most people at an office, I think. When I worked in an office environment, it was so easy to get caught up with talking to everyone and not really getting as much work done as I should have. Here at home, I HAVE to get my work done if I want to get paid! Most people don't realize that. I think that they believe we just around and eat bonbons all day! Ain't so!
You Know WHY They Work Harder?
Because they actually think they are making good money to "live in wonderful country that is free." They don't pay taxes, they don't pay for health insurance, etc. Not to mention, they don't do a good job, you could turn 'em in and have their butts back in their own country. Fear is a great motivator.
Cost of living keeps going up and wages don't. Why would ol' Joe America keep breaking his back working for peanuts when he KNOWS it's not going to pay the mortgage? There ARE hardworking Americans out there but they have to make a profit and shouldn't have to compete with people who aren't even in this country legally.
I have never seen a harder worker than
my husband and he can do 2500 tops. He used to QA between 4500 and 5000 daily - so he can really move through reports once he learns the doctor, their style of dictation, etc. I'm on my second VR account and I'm embarrassed to tell you what I can do - I think 600 yesterday? I am dead serious. It is a whole 'nother skill....
I'm not giving up
Fortunately, even once I return to work outside the home my child will not be going into daycare. Even if I did MT at home and he wasn't there, my family-my mom would take care of him.
I'm not giving up, i'm just not willing to put all my eggs in one basket right now. I'm sure I will keep my day job, get my MT training and try to find something PT for 3-6 months. It will probably take me longer to find a PT job at home for a newbie, but this way I can get some experience under my belt and still be able to have a stable income. Once I have gained the much need experience, I'm willing to do this FT. I think I will have my mom keep him 4 hours while i'm working and then do 4 or more hours of work while he is asleep or napping. I think this would work better for me.
You will end up giving him away if you don't
You need to train him to accept being in his cage. If you don't do something about this situation, I can betcha you will soon be looking for a home for him. Which would be more humane? Taking the time and energy to retrain him or give him away to strangers? Also, neutering him may help. He is at that age where he is beginning to notice girls, and this may be contributing to the problem. ALso, when you try to find him a new home, it will be easier to give away a neurtered male.
For those giving up MT
what will you do next? Is medical billing the next logical step for MTs, or is that a bad gamble as well?
from what i've heard, its a lot harder
I know they could care less about us, we're just numbers/slaves to them, but why don't they get a little integrity for the business, make us happy for once, in turn improving quality and giving themselves a good name, and pay by the hour while we learn this technology at least. How can any company cut pay across the board like that and get away with it?
From what I have heard, harder to break into than
a
I can assure you that it is no harder to find
good MTs than it is to find a company who treats MTs with respect (you know, not calling somebody stupid because they don't know how to use offline messenger). I don't know how to use offline messenger, either, but I am smart enough to pick up the phone and call if my Internet connection is down for a significant length of time.
scared into trying harder or leaving?
 Why do some QA folks think they can really make you feel this way? It will eventually lead to leaving, I think. I have never QAed or feel qualified, but geez, leave the poor transcriber a little positive feedback to go on. Anyone else share this thought?
scared into trying harder or leaving
Well, it is simple things really, more style than anything. I am not a newbie, I have 5 years under my belt. Gosh, what co. do you work for?
scared into trying harder or leaving
I forgot to add: it is the way the make the feedback, like are you attempting to look anything up... or I can't believe you didn't hear what I heard....ugh!
and yes, the Velveeta is much harder to grate
xx
So sad how I work so much harder now doing the same thing...
x
at home - harder job than public
True, I make more money, but the anxiety is killer. I work harder now than I ever did in a public position. Yes, I am here for my children when they get home from school, but I could not imagine trying to do my job with a baby. Also, as others will probably agree, the money in this field is not what it used to be. Good luck.
I would think they would be lots harder than clinic but
years ago when working in a hospital setting I tried to bypass the ops, scared of them and took other things to be transcribed. My boss did me a favor- she noticed and put me exclusively on ops for months. I love them now, my favs but you would definitely not want to just jump into them if your salary depends on it. They are, I would think, some difficult than what you do now. I would ease gently into them. When I learned, was training and salary did not deviate from one thing to another so good learning experience then for me.
An IC working smarter, not harder, does not
x
The harder I try, the more mistakes I make...
Go over report twice.
You're making it much harder
x
The CD is WAY harder than the actual test.
No sweat.
how is giving you that information
She isn't giving you the whole story on pay...
There are many different account levels. Each level pays a certain rate per line for transcription and per hour for training.
If she's at 6.5 cpl, she's on an account so easy you could do it in your sleep, literally.
Account levels go as high as just over 10 cpl as a base rate.
Spheris wants a certain level of knowledge whether you are new or not. Not all accounts have positions open at all times so you may well have 10 or 15 years experience but if the highest level account with an opening pays 7 cpl then that's what you get hired into. You can always bid off on other positions and even other platforms once you've passed 90 days.
I have 3 accounts...one I rarely type on. I switch myself back and forth on my other 2 accounts. One is easy and the other a little more difficult. While the easy account doesn't pay as much, I can do a lot more work on it with no effort so I make better money on it.
And, 127.5 lines per hour is how they base what you should be doing to get your lines in the minimum hours you can work for your status. Even at 127.5 lines for 20 hours a week as PT, you're making $8.28 an hour. That's NOT minimum wage. I agree, it isn't what I want/need to make (and I make much more than that), but you're statement that "...what you're talking about is not even minimum wage..." is completely wrong.
If you're going to give the story - get it right and give it all.
giving notice
Depends - either wait until you have a new job, if that's what you want; or, just tell them you quit and do they want you to finish out the week or? I guess I don't see the problem. If they wanted to fire you, it would be "bye bye now."
Giving Notice
I feel you should treat them the same way they treated you. Did they try to work with you or did you ask them/tell them their reports weren't your "cup of tea"? Myself, I am very professional, but an MT's job is different than an office job. They're like McDonald's; either they won't even replace you or they probably have 50 resumes to pick from and hire the same day. So my answer is no, don't give notice if they were tacky. I wrote an email and asked for a shipping label form a large company. They finally sent the slip after two requests and are open to hiring me again!! So I feel any more, MTs are a "dime a dozen." If you are ethical enough to sit there and type two more weeks while you could be spending your time finding a decent company to work for ASAP, I think it would be stupid to waste your time on them ... depending on your circumstances of which I know nothing about.
RadGuy, you are giving your age. I was only 11 and had no
:)
Giving up? That's their fault then!
Sorry, but where survival is concerned, you don't "give up". There's always a way. I've scooped dog pens, I've delivered phone books, I've cleaned houses. That's a lame excuse and people like that don't get any pity from me.
I eventually went back to school and am out of debt, own my home and both my kids are college educated, with me being the next to graduate from a major university.
I've been kicked in the butt financially, health-wise (lost my job, got fired because I had cancer and chemo made me "throw up too much"), divorce due to domestic violence.
I never gave up. I will never give up.
Life is YOUR responsibility. If you give up, that's up to you but there's no one to blame but yourself.
Sounds like she is giving you
certainly need it. You might be making $22 an hour, but your are being grossly overpaid if you don't know these things already. These are all standard and basic things any MT should know.
Nevermind - I'm giving it to you anyway! lol
For a REALISTIC but FANTASTIC job, here's what I think:
-- limited ESLs but completely accessible samples (meaning, a secure website that I can go to in the middle of the night when I'm typing and get all the samples I need)
-- Word Expander of my choice on YOUR provided equipment
-- Weekly teleconferences with my entire mgmt team and coworkers to discuss how we did last week, what we see coming up this week, what's on our mind, etc.
-- Base pay commensurate with worktypes: clinic and ER = 0.10 cpl; acute care w/o ops = 0.12 cpl; ops = 0.15 cpl; specialties (neuro, ophth, cardio, path, hem/onc, etc.) = 0.15
-- Production incentives based on that day's lines-per-hour averages; the more you type, the higher the incentive tier
-- Shift differentials of 1 cpl for 2nd shift and 2 cpl for 3rd shift if you work 4 or more hours into the shift
-- Difficulty pay for weighted ESLs and difficult dictators (not all ESLs are bad, some US docs are hideous) up to double lines
-- Weekend incentives of 3 cpl for 1000 lines or more on Sat and Sun
-- REgular QA feedback
-- Qrtly bonuses based on percentage of QA blanks sent and quality on regular QA analysis of my work
-- PTO rates averaged every quarter
-- PTO of 15+ days a year -- commensurate with yrs of svc
-- PAID HOLIDAYS (paid hrly if not worked and double lines if worked)
-- Mentor program -- pair up proven exp'd MTs with newbies and pay the mentors a flat fee per month
-- Let me earn a few extra rewards for top production and really high QA and not missing work and keeping my schedule and good communication
-- A $50 "thank you" during MT week
-- Never promise anything you cannot or will not deliver
How's that?
How about giving us some tips?
I do envy that ability. :)
How about some tips on how to work up to a level like that? I mean, aside from being glued to the chair and shortcuts (the obvious). Do you have to think about each letter as you are typing? How do you type so quickly while avoding typos? Are there exercises one can do to help with this?
Giving notice
I think it is a kindness. After all, they will need to replace you, and possibly need to train somebody for your account. Otherwise they could come up short on turn-around time. However, if they have been extremely unfair with you, I would give 2 weeks and tell them if they did not need 2 week's that I could to leave at any time.
Sooy, but I am not giving out the
name because it is small (at least compared to the mega companies I worked for) and they are not hiring right now. I just want to say maybe it is not that MT is a dying profession, as I see posted on the board here sometimes, and but maybe it is the companies out there causing some of the problems with MTing.
I am glad I stuck it out and did not quit, but searched around until I found the right placement for me.
IMHO these big companies don't care about quality, they just want quantity, and the MTs are just a number. I can't work like that. They are not concerned with patient care.
Giving notice as an IC...
I have been an IC for multiple years at a clinic and wish to resign due to extremely long hours and very little time off. I rather have more time off and a smaller income, rather than no life with more money. I would like to leave on a friendly note too, but I am confused on how to tell them. Do I tell them in a letter or speak to them in person? I also want to give them a few weeks notice. All opinions and advice are welcome.
Thanks again~
thank you for giving me insight on this
I can see now about your point on the certain days there is more work because this company does handle clinic work. I really don't want to sell myself short. I have been looking a year if that tells you anything!! it sounds like they didn't have much to offer somone. She did tell me "her ladies that work for her do not have that much experience." Thank you for listening. I don't feel quite as bad now about marking yet another off my list.
THANKS!!! Giving me the page...
.. number was what I needed.
(((((hug to you))))
I'm not giving my clients away, plus
up tapes twice a week; neither one of them will go digital. You would like the pay on one though; they pay me for blank lines, which is great. I do wish you luck on your search. I didn't say they were "pain in the butts," but just simply stating that 8 cpl not to have to deal with the administrative end can be worth it sometimes. I'm on the East Coast.
Giving myself a raise
I have been working for an office for 2 years now at the same line rate. I would like to increase my per line rate, but want to know how I should go about doing that.
I feel that I do good work for them and need some type of raise since I am an independent contractor and do not get bonuses, etc.
Thanks for your input.
No instead of giving a pay raise,
they would rather hire someone new at the same rate they are paying you now or even a lower rate. They don't care anything about loyalty anymore. It's really sad.
Giving out SS# for new contracts
Is there anyone else, besides me, who's very hesitant on giving out your social security # to new contracts? Am I better off trying to get a Federal Tax ID # and using that instead?
Well, I'm probably guilty of giving
more negative than positive feedback not because I don't appreciate good work but just because things are so busy, I only take the time to point out something if the client points it out to me or if i happen to see something that really is wrong. I try to be fair and not nitpicky and only bring something negative up if it really needs to be addressed.
Honestly, I probably don't make it that obvious when I am thinking an IC anymore, I'll just use them less and someone reliable more. A lot depends on their attitude and willingness to work on problems. If someone asks me, though, I will always be honest with them about how I think they are doing. You should talk to your MTSO and just tell her you're wondering how you are doing, whether there's anything she wants you do to do differently, etc.
I was just giving examples.
I didn't see the posts in question where people were complaining about only making $20/hr. I was just trying to point out that all of us have various issues, and there is no way to know why someone can't make it on $20/hr. It isn't always pure greed. Sometimes I think it is just to easy to judge someone on a forum when we don't have the full story, especially this one where everyone is completely anonymous. We don't know the posters issues and why they are having trouble. Most people don't share their whole life stories on an open forum. Some just want to vent somewhere where others are facing the same issue.
If you want to hear complaining though, you should hear to the millionaires around here complaining that they had to sell their jet or their 3rd vacation home because of the money they are losing in this economy. Poor things! LOL.
Thank you for giving us a voice - sm
It is a good starting point. THANK YOU!! 
Sometimes those giving the tests
deliberately give you a difficult dictator or bad-quality dictation to see what you will do. When in doubt, leave a blank. It's not such a big deal, as you will become familiar with the dictator/account & will have samples to go by. I'm always curious though if I leave a blank and will ask and either say, "oh that's what it was," or "I'd have never gotten than in a million years, what in the world?." Good luck on your test!
Melena or hematochezia. This is harder than you thought, huh? nm
x
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