Meant 8.86 cents, not lines
Posted By: 38 years and counting on 2009-01-09
In Reply to: Tax example, not advice - 38 years and counting
Sorry about the editing. I meant 8.86 cents, not lines. Good luck.
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4-5 cents a lines?????
How very very sad what is happening to hard working, very skilled MTs. Sad for those who felt they HAVE to accept 4-5 cebts/hr. Get out you calculators and figure out your hourly etc etc. Once they can no longer get MTs for that $, the rates will need to go back up.
Uhm, at 16K lines it goes up 2 cents -- see message
At least that's what my paper says.
what is the .065 cents per gross line equivalent to in 65 character lines?
Would it be about 8 cpl 65 characters or higher?
Paid hourly, req'd 1000 lines, anything over 1101 was 0.04 cents a line
//
I'll bet she meant that's how long the lines are before it returns. nm
x
I hope you are joking or you meant 600 lines per hour.
x
At 200 lines a day for 6 cents, you are making $1.20 a day or 0.15 hour for an 8 hour day!!!--cm
Did you mean 2,000? Even then you would only be making $1.50 if you work 8 hours a day.
12 cents. I'd love to make 12 cents. sm
a line as an employee. 17 years acute care experiencing doing all work types and I only make 9 cpl plus incentives.
Sorry, 'MT way too long,' my post was not meant for you, it was meant for Wow! Sorry!!...nm
nm
8 cents versus 9 cents
Wait a minute....9/55 is to 8/65....would not 9/55 be significantly higher pay than 8/64 (spaces are not counted in either case)?
8 cents a line. Should be 10 cents for over 10 yrs exp but
b
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.
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.
Maybe it is cents a day. nm
You do mean 7.25 cents, right? . . .
 Otherwise, you are working way too cheap. Those darned decimals!
My 2 cents
They also say that the end of the world will be preceded by natural disasters. Think about it, we have had the Tsunami and now Katrina - perhaps the end of the world is approaching, however I do not ponder these thoughts. Only God knows why, when, and how.
My personal opinion is that all will be fine. With hundreds of thousands of reports being done daily, albeit transcribers or machines, editing will still need to be done. Also, in my opinion, there are a lot of old-fashioned doctors out there who will never go for VR.
6 cents!!!!!!
People who work for this crap money are the ones helping to ruin the transcription industry!!!
my 2 cents too!
You should take your computer to a computer shop and have it looked at. There are ways to have it locked up, I have my in lockdown mode and no one can get in except my son, he is the one that locked it down, (CSE), so take it somewhere and have it done or they will continue to hack you! Good luck.
My 2 cents
I think the touch is somewhat better than the original MS "Natural" model. Seems to be quiet, no clacking. However, the letter "i" is giving me fits for whatever reason, although this is my first night using it. Space bar feels a bit funny too.
The function keys are a bit smaller and hard to read if you're in the bifocal set like me. The zoom feature is pretty neat, as is the calculator function.
I think I will eventually get the hang of it and I do find it to be comfortable. I'm not a big fan of MS hardware, having once spent $$$ on a trackball that I could never quite get to work and didn't like the lack of product support, but this thing is a winner.
Well ....my 2 cents......
If I wanted to work mandatory OT... I sure the heck would not be working at home!
My 2 cents sm
Grr...sometimes I get a little cranky when it seems I am the only one who doesn't return the 25 minute blah, blah, blah progress notes that are behind TAT because everyone else skips them. However, with my company this is recognized and rewarded. I will get the cherries routed to me by my supe and have been told that once my minimun daily line count is met, I may cherry pick to my heart's content.
I chose not to cherry pick because I think it's important to maintain my own integrity. Why waste precious energy on on another person's lack of value for their own integrity? What goes around comes around, in some way or another.
I'm going to go have a cherry ;)
My two cents
Unfortunately, most platforms do not have a built in feature in which to provide feedback to MTs. It is standard to have to use a software other than the platform to provide feedback.
I suggest you speak with your supervisor about your concerns of low production. If he/she cannot offer any suggestions that may improve your level of productivity I'd start looking elsewhere. Please keep in mind that if you decide to seek another QA position you will likely have the same problem.
My 2 cents....
I have no problem with saying Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanzaa, Seasons Greetings, or Happy National Potato Week.... Whatever floats your boat. But when saying ANY of those is BANNED, I have a problem. Can you imagine if we only banned saying Happy Hanukkah? That would never happen. So why is it okay to ban Merry Christmas? Americans wouldn't know a theocracy if it ran over them. Everybody needs to relax. The only theocracy we might ever see is if we go soft on fighting these Islamofascists who seek to destroy us.
My 2 cents
Well, I think speech recognition is definitely growing, but I think 3 to 5 years is exaggerated. When I worked in house, quite a few rad MTs got laid off because of VR, but they still had to keep a few for the difficut ESLs. I work for a hospital at home now. This is a large teaching hospital and they still hand-write the majority of their reports (H&Ps, consults, etc.). They are working on dictating these in the future, but I just can't at all see things turning totally to VR in 3 to 5 years. I think there will always be hospitals who want to have MTs, plus there are a lot of private doctors out there and clinics who need MTs. Yes, I think the demand for MTs in general may decrease, but in my opinion there will always be some demand. I suggest to broaden your experiences and don't limit yourself to one work type or specialty. The more experience and versatility you have, the more marketable you will be in the future.
just my 2 cents.....sm
not a prude here but what I don't like about this show is all these SO-CALLED MEDICAL PEOPLE (characters) having all this unprotected sex.......in the 21st Century....where sexually transmitted diseases have the potential to KILL. And at 10 pm when it is shown on the East Coast, teenagers are watching......*tsk tsk*
just my 2 cents.....
These kind of things are probably better handled if you don't let him think you need his okay for everything...go apply, sign up, and then let him know on these nights and times you will not be at home, that this is a done deal...all the responsibility for the children will be his. He probably will react negatively at first, but what is he going to do? Move out? Now come home?
Also, first check and make sure there is a market for a dental hygienist in your area. My niece has to travel 1 hour to work as a dental hygienist every day, and the local market is very tight. Good luck!
my 2 cents
I don't always send corrections back. It depends on how busy I am, how many blanks you left, whether knowing what the blanks were will make you a better MT, how new you are to us, how new you are to MT, how long you've been on the account, etc. I always respond when someone specifically requests their corrections.
My 2 cents
I am a hospital coder by day, home MT after hours. I have my CCS (certified coding specialist) certificate and have been coding in house for 6 years. I must be honest and say that I make more money transcribing part-time than I do coding full time. MT pays by the line, you write your own check depending on how hard you work. In house coding is not only hard to breat into but usually pays by the hour.
And here's my 2 cents.
Before I would see a chiropractor, I would have anything medical ruled out by a MEDICAL doctor. Like the above poster, I would be very careful about having anyone snap my neck around. People have been injured. Once a doctor has ruled out anything wrong that would require traditional medical treatment, then maybe I would see a reputable well-recommended chiropractor. That being said, there are some warning signs when you do see one. If he has charts in his office showing spots on the body that control things like digestion or renal function, or talks about curing everything from toe fungus to a brain tumor with chiropractic manipulation, then RUN. And finally, if he tells you he needs to see you on a daily basis or every other day basis... Forget it, he's a money grabber. I saw a chiropractor once that was included in my HMO group, and he saw me twice, I felt great afterwards, and that was it. It was just a muscle spasm problem in the lower back. Just proceed carefully.
My 2 cents
I'm not really sure what to tell you here. If you are having a hard time making production, then perhaps you should ask to be moved to another account that is less demanding. I am a newbie myself and I jumped in with both feet. I transcribe for an acute care hospital and I love it. I'm not really sure how you can become bored with it so soon. With acute care there is a very wide variety of reports on a daily basis. I do everything...from ER notes, to OP report, H&Ps, procedure reports, discharge summaries, psych evaluations, hospice notes, death summaries, etc. I would think you would get bored faster by switching to an account where you did the very same thing every day, which is what you would be doing on a psych account. But, that is just my opinion. If you need to do that to get your production up, then by all means, go for it, but having experience in acute care will benefit you in the long run.
2 cents
I posted the second "opinion" and wanted to add that I do not disagree with you at all. I totally believe that acute care is one of the best ways for experience. I just wanted to point out that if this person is overwhelmed, stepping back a notch might be a good way to go. I would like to note that I do not get bored with orthropedics.
Just My Two Cents
I got into MT because I found myself a single mom and needed to work from home. I can't say that I've made much money - we barely get by - but, the staying at home part I do not regret. I've been working for the same group for 5 years and I'm burned out. I haven't had a vacation, don't get sick days, paid vacations, or any benefits for that matter. I'm looking to get out of MT and back into making some money in a "normal job" to pay for college (two in college now) and retirement for myself. I've been very disappointed with the MT world/pay and am looking forward to getting out! Pay versus time spent is just not worth it to me. Being able to work from home was the only plus in my book. Just my two cents.
here's my 2 cents........
Well, first of all, I do understand what you're saying about having a different perspective on things. I've been doing this for 28 years and I definitely believe I have some medical knowledge under my belt and can think for myself about some things. Unfortunately, we also have several pharmacists in our family (in-laws)and they definitely know their medications, they just don't know the other aspects of it, the medical side, the side I see every day. And, you can tell, they don't think for a minute I know anything about the medical field. They ask questions like, "Are you still TYPING?, or "I don't know how you sit there all day TYPING for doctors, they would bore me", as if that's all there is to it. Or the big one: "I have a friend who can type good, maybe you can tell her how to get a job typing for a doctor. so, when I remind them of my degree and all the years of study put into this, that I'm not just a typist, you can see their eyes glaze over, because they just don't get it. But, I do get in my punches when they're talking about "pills" and how to give them or the makeup of them, but look blank when asked about a real-live medical condition and what that is. I just give a very off-handed explanation and let it go..they all sit there looking the other way, as if I just spoke "OUT OF TURN", after all, children should be seen and not heard.
Don't let your mother influence your feelings. If you're concerned for your aunt, see if you can find the doctor or speak to him over the phone and voice your concerns. If you don't, who will?
I don't proclaim to have the knowledge of a doctor or RN (well, at least not an RN with years of experience), but 28 years in this business does give us quite a bit of knowledge under our belts....we're not ignorant. Like a friend said, who is an RN, "How do you think they became doctors or I became an RN? They read, read, and read some more". So, she doesn't blow me off.
Doctors say to participate in your treatment, but it has been my experience they DON'T REALLY want you to know or ask anything, just be a good little patient and do as I say.
I say if you can be in the room when your aunt's doctor comes in or speak to him over the phone, you should ask these questions. Don't worry about what your mother thinks. Just because she doesn't want to admit you may know something about this field, doesn't mean you shouldn't express your concerns to the doctor. Speak up for your aunt.
Now, I'll get down off of my soapbox.
2 cents
In one post you basically itemized partly what you would need to give a lawyer if you were to file for a divorce - division of debts. The only other issues would be division of any assets and custody.
Next I noticed that you referred twice to _your_ son, not _our_ son (indicating to me you feel more invested in the child and not acknowledging his parentage).
Next you have this offer of a house that is trashed to help out your family and you take the stand that you will fight for your house. Having been there and done that, if YOU move into that house, it will be held over your head until you die (not just if you were to ever move out even on good terms). Also his family will become even more intertwined in your marriage than they already shouldn't be.
Others may disagree with what I'm about to say as being underhanded and mean, but I will tell you that if you want to be respected, you have to show you are willing to stand up for yourself. In your case, you have many people to stand up to.
You are mentally prepared to be separated, well, as I have read your posts. Go to that house and clean the bathroom, the kitchen and a bedroom. Find calmness within yourself as you do this. Then offer your husband the key to the house, a truck to move his belongings and invite him to live in it...alone. Don't fight. Load the truck yourself before he wakes up if you have to. Tell him you love him (if that is a sincere emotion) and that in order for the two of you to work out your problems, sometimes being apart can bring a couple together. File a notice in your local paper for 7 days that you are no longer responsible for any of his financial responsibilities. If he won't leave, tell him you will need to call someone to help him. When he is gone, change all the locks.
This is an extreme measure and in my case, I got what I wanted - permanent elimination of the man from my life. Think this over carefully before acting on it because you could lose your family; however, it seems to me - IMHO - that you are already in a place where you are thinking of yourself, your son, and your home as your priority. When my family (meaning his and mine) got overly involved in my marriage, it ended any hope of saving it. Think about how long you can emotionally and financially carry the baggage you currently do.
As I said, just 2 cents...
my 2 cents
Seems like most marrieds who argue - argue over money! I think the disability takes it toll on people - he feeling less like the provider and his parents feeling like they should jump in and "baby" him. My husband was hurt very bad in an accident and things haven't been the same since. I think I can relate! I do agree with the earlier poster who says the tie with the parents isn't good for your marriage. You two should be as one - with the two of you making your own decisions, etc. If you both love each other and want it to work you probably should talk to someone on the outside to get help working things out. It would probably help if you felt appreciated for the load you carry. He may feel so low about his situation that he may not express that to you often enough. If you are a giving person and it sounds like you are, you probably keep giving and now feeling like the parents are showing a lack of trust on your part feels like a stab in the back! Try to find some outside support for yourself - I would suggest a ladies group at a local church. Just getting out and going to a Bible study or coffee and not so much caregiving (son and husband) would be good for you! Remember Marriage is God's Design for Man and Woman and he has the answers! I wish you luck and God's Blessings on your marriage. CB
To My 2 Cents
I respect your opinion, but I gotta tell you -- if I was looking to hire ICs and they gave me that response about meeting my client's TAT, that resume would go into the shredder and I would move on to the next one.
7 cents ??
That is ridiculous!
12 cents
I do not really know what is charged these days - had my own business at one time many years ago but now work for a company as an IC and get 9 cents.
Four cents?
Heck, I'm an IC, and my "boss" started me at 10 cents/line. There were many days (and some even now!) where I was discouraged with the dollar result of my hard work! I think if she had given me 4 cents I would have given up way before I would have realized any progress.
I realize you only get 8, but don't screw them! Take a hit now and know that they'll be making you good money later on.
Just my opinion.
My 2 cents...
That paper is very expensive! When I went into the office every day and brought my work in on sticky paper a few years ago, the office supplied me with the paper, 2 reams at a time. You do not want to absorb the cost of it, believe me. I think the other poster is right, something like $35 or $40 a ream.
8 cents
okay, somebody PLEASE tell me where I can find a clinic job making more than 8 cents per 65-characters. I have six years of experience. I am a single mom with absolutely no help from the dad. I need to find a job that I can work 40 hours a week and have benefits. At 8 cents a line, I am having to work three jobs just to make ends meat. One of these jobs is not in MT as I cant seem to find one job that pays enough. Thanks!
My 2 cents - :)
Look at these articles. It's like the Transcriptionist is just out to suck them dry!
*disclaimer* :) I don't know if these is just some quack magazine or if these are real docs. There are also 2 good articles on there about MTs.
http://tinyurl.com/yvrfbt
http://tinyurl.com/create.php
http://tinyurl.com/2a67be
Just my 2 cents..
I got a large travel bag, specifically for my traveling equipment. It is padded for my laptop and has large pockets for my headset, foot pedals, keyboard, mouse etc..Other than that, I've been places where they strictly have wireless or I have been at some hotels where you have to plug the ethernet in. I am unable to properly use the laptops keyboard and mouse for my work so I pack my own and plug them in and just basically use the laptop's monitor etc.. Before I got the laptop, I had a portable computer that I packed in my suitcase and I bubblewrapped my flat panel monitor..and it made it even to Hawaii a few times. Having the laptop is less hassle as packing the monitor was a pain. Anyway, that is what I do..I'm sure others have their own style. I definitely never want to be tied down to a job.
My 2 cents
Like so many who have posted about QA problems recently, I feel like those who can MT can and should MT.
I often think that some MTs feel like they should have a management career track. If that is the case, why even work in this field? There is no management track, it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time and happening into it, for the majority of QA/team leaders. Once you do it full time for a while, you lose your ability to make enough money being an MT, so you stay in QA. This is why I think that so many of us dislike QA people...so many of them have completely lost touch with what this job is about and we MTs know they aren't capable of doing our job, not anymore (if ever).
I have 12 yrs as an MT this calendar year. I was a team leader/QA/lead 4 yrs ago now. I was paid hourly, about half of what I make as an MT and I working 80 hours a week. I was good at it and I could get more out of my team than anyone else could because I treated my MTs with respect and understanding. Every one of them felt I truly cared about them, and I did. I have heard from several of them since and they tell me I was the best QA person they ever worked with, both for knowledge and for attitude and treatment of MTs.
Would I go back? NO. Would any company I have worked for ask me to do it again? NO. The reason I have been given more than once is that I am an extremely valuable MT and that the company cannot sacrifice an excellent MT (in the top 5 producers of lines consistently) to make a QA person, no matter how wonderful a QA person I would make/have been. I have been told recently that because my knowledge and skill is superior to that of those who edit my blanks, it is more cost effective for the company if I am an MT because so little of my work ever goes to QA for a blank. In essence, I suppose, they are telling me I work cheap. I'd say that was accurate enough, but on the other hand, I am making very good money for PT work here.
I suppose I don't see what it is you think you should be getting. If you want more money, do MT! If you want a raise, do MT and get a better expander, ask me for my glossary and I'll give it to you. Work smarter, not harder. With companies cutting corners they are cutting them in QA even faster than in MT. And, once it all goes to ASR, you'll be cut down to doing what the rest of us do, you won't be management and you'll probably make less money yet.
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