MedQuist - Lisa
Posted By: sm on 2006-05-20
In Reply to:
With your experience, I would have to say it depends on cpl they are willing to offer you. I know of many companies that are generous in cpl due to the number of years of experience. I agree with earlier posting about it depending on if you get a good supervisor. The raises are not much to be desired, you will have to fight for one in the far, far future. Again, with your experience, don't settle for anything less than what you feel is fair. Worse case scenario, if you don't like the job, move on to another company until you find a job you do like. I don't think anyone can answer this ? for you.
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Thanks, Lisa! (sm)
I was pretty sure it wasn't illegal, since I signed all this paperwork and they did a credit check and everything to issue me the overdraft protection insurance, but it's nice to hear it from someone "in the know". Thanks for the reply!
On a Halloween sugar high, back from Trick or Treating with the kiddos, back to work and hoping I actually get paid for it....
(Sending out about 12 resumes tomorrow....)
Yes, you can Lisa if you look :o]
For instance if you have applied to a smaller company and they've filled the spots, you can offer assistance in the future with a backlog or to cover vacations. Keeps ya' networked, plus gives you some extra cash. If I had anything that I needed help with that is what I would do. I don't see anything wrong with advertising for temp/vacation help. Why not? Sounds like a way to meet quality transcriptionists that you can count on. The other ideas posted here are good, too, but if you need a vacation then you just need a vacation. Taking work on vacation just doesn't seem like much fun to me. I wish more people would network in this fashion, but I think there are people out there that might try to steal your accounts, so you might want to be very careful. JMO. Thankfully, I have not had that happen. 
Hi Lisa
I do not think that this is the trend, but have seen a few companies who are doing this. In a way, it makes sense because then you are getting paid for airtime and all the BS like conversations with staff, etc. that you would normally have to listen to and not get paid for. Most folks that I've seen post here on the subject would not do it for less than $1.00 per minute, but it really is about how long it takes you to type it (obviously) and how much your time is worth to you. Since a general figure of how long it takes to type 60 minutes of dictation, from what I've heard and experienced, is about 3-4 hours, at 0.67 cpm that would work out to about 10.05 to 13.40 per hour of typing time. Of course, I've had work that I could fly through, and then I've had work that would take longer than the norm, so like everything in this biz, it all depends. Hope that wasn't TMI, since you asked only about the trend thing :)
I also hope you are not talking about losing the account with the flashdrives, as I know that would be really disappointing after what you have done for them.
Have a great night, and a Happy New Year!
Lisa - subcontractor
There have been people here who would like just a little extra. If you get the account and once you are settled, why don't you put your need on the board. You might find some bites. Some people like to do a little extra. Of course if it is something digital you could even go away from your state. Just a thought. I happen to enjoy helping others when on vacation. It has worked for me in the past as well when I needed a vacation .
I would love to help if I can, Lisa....sm
I love to help newer MTs, because back when I first became an IC, I was so shaky, I had my first two babies at home, my husband was gone most of the time for work, and this ANGEL that I met on another message board happened to see one of my questions and since she lived in my state and my area, and she had been doing MT for many years, we hooked up....she was so wise, and so helpful, and we became really good friends until she had to move to Italy with her husband. Also, if you are doing IC independently, I found so much info from my local SBA (Small Business Administration), they will actually let you know the laws of the state regarding setting up business, tax laws, tips, and they will just mentor you along in growing a business. Anyway, please feel free to e-mail me anytime, I will help if I possibly can! You'll be great!
Lisa - your 1st post was so optimistic....sm
Lisa: Your first post was upbeat and optimistic/positive. Then in walked the panners of MQ.....outside of a few clear realistic posts. Now, this current post of yours saying something to the effect of *now MQ isn't lookin too good* is indicative that you HAVE, indeed, let the panners influence you.
Again, hopefully you'll get a GREAT supervisor....(not a given) - the supervisors can make it or break it for you...hopefully you get one with NO POWER OR EGO problems!! I always said, the day my PS leaves, I'm gone!! *lol* Good luck to you whichever way you choose!
To Lisa - Going Rate in Area
I would try Career Builders and look for on-site MT jobs in your area and see what the hourly rate is and try to figure how many lines you would do in an hour for this account. I'm no expert, but that is probably what I would do. It seems strange to me though that the Nationals pay pretty much the same line rate to their MT's, yet they are all over the US. Will you have to pick-up/drop-off tapes? Do you have to print? If yes to these two questions, bid in the middle to higher range. If it is all digital and you only have to e-mail the reports back to the office, then maybe consider the low to mid range. I'm on the East Coast, and the cpl ranges from 10-15 cpl (65 characters with spaces) or anywhere from $13-17 per hour. I hear though in some other states such as Texas, the going hourly rate is $9-12 per hour, so this would reduce the cpl rate. I guess it would depend on the type of program you are using. I only use Word and the line count built in. I do not have a separate line counter. I hope Patti has ideas, and she very well may. I think she said she's in Oregon, so that would be considered West coast, so I'd be anxious to hear what her opinions are on the average rate. She's pretty knowledgable and from her posts "plays fair". With all that being said, I think either 13 cpl or 15 cpl depending on the program and method of retrieving dictation and sending back reports once they are transcribed. Hope this helps! I tend to get real chatty! Sorry! 
I hope it was okay to e-mail you Lisa.
NM
Lisa/MT Student (see mssg)
I don't think you would have to pay to place an ad. See if there is a "Letters to the Editor" section. If not, it might have to be done the way the doctors do it: Their papers are submitted to JAMA for consideration of publication. Even though we MTs are not doctors, it is their work that we are transcribing. And sometimes (if we're lucky) we even get to transcribe those papers that they are submitting for publication! I don't think there is a single doctor or medical professor out there that would want their JAMA submission, book manuscript, etc. transcribed by an ESL MT.
Lisa, the truth of the matter is ...
that there *are* actually MT's out there who are still happy in their jobs and who make good money still in this profession. In truth, I still love the *type* of work that I do; it's the rest of what's going on that I'm sick of as well as the downward trend in pay. What we're commenting on here is the *overall* mood, feel, and status of the industry right now ... and my personal belief is that it's not going to get better.
I say hold true to your dream. If you really want to be an MT keep looking for that company that's going to be a good fit for you. It's going to be hard with you being a newbie, but it's still possible. Don't put all your eggs in this one basket though as some of us have done. Keep a back-up job in another industry so that as things continue to degrade on the MT side you'll have a soft cushion to fall back on. Keep reading the boards with an open and critical mind and decide for yourself if the common challenges that you see MT's as a whole facing are of an ilk that you can tolerate.
I hope this helps.
Hi, Lisa. Have you added macros to SM
your Expander yet for many of the common VR changes--such as for backspacing over a comma, adding a period, and capping the first word of the new sentence? How do you drop common words like, say, "she" into a sentence on the run? I hit "k" and in it goes, but I'm off scanning the next line by then and don't actually see it. Do you constantly use your program's function for jumping the cursor to the point of dictation and vice versa (assuming it has one)? This is a big speeder-upper.
And a reality that's hard for some to run into: Editing skills and talents are different than transcribing skills and talents. Reading fast and accurate becomes big. Punctuating fast on the run was always desirable, but it's more significant now as the ability to simply get the letters on paper becomes less so. Are you one of those this work suits or one it doesn't? If yes, keep working on speed. If not, move on sooner rather than later.
Hi, Lisa. Just wondering how the meeting
Hope everything went well!
Hmmm, interesting theory on Lisa. Maybe so, huh?
x
Hey Lisa - I'm from Lyons - give me a shout!
X
Lisa B - my rates and a long message
Again, I am from the old school, old way of counting and have had my accounts for many, many years - some 18 years. I do the simplest and easiest for me which is just doing gross lines per Word -- which I know counts the spaces but that is how these accounts were started and when I inherited some of them was told to count top to bottom -- but with that in mind -- I keep my rates a little lower. I am from .11 to 12.5 cpl. The lowest is for my Psych accounts as they give me 3-5 days turn around and we insert a lot of templates. The others are internal medicine, surgery, surgical oncology, Plastic/Hand surgery and Dermatology. I do pick up delivery, print, envelopes, cut apart chart notes but I average $35 to $45 and sometimes over $50 an hour (depends on how many Op's and consults that I have) and cannot see raising my prices. So I am happy and content. My pick up and deliveries take me an hour each day (depending on how much I visit with the office staff and docs) and I usually stop at the store or something but it gets me out of the house and I really do not mind that at all. I figure this into my work day to get my average hourly rate and am still happy with it. I will probably raise my rates at the end of 2007 but it has been two years. So with all of that said -- again it depends on your variables -- pick up and delivery, printing, etc. But for a ballpark figure I would go for 12 cpl for digital and 12.5 to 13 for pick up and delivery knowing that it will take 3 to 6 months to get your average up there while getting to know your docs, etc. I have used Sylcount for another account and to me that was too cumbersome. I tell my accounts the simpler, less time consuming we keep it the more savings I can pass onto you. And yes, they do appreciate me, pay on time, Birthday cards are received, Christmas bonuses received, included in staff parties if I want and the doctors actually talk to me and treat me as a person with a name and joke with me. Nobody can really answer this question for you as only you know what the account entails, your experience and what you want to make. You can always raise in a year or after doing it for a while. Good luck, e-mail me if you need any other additional info. Patti
That's why this is a great Site! Congrats Lisa!
Way to go Lisa
The 1st giveaway had 92 entries with Lisa I. of CA as the winner.
Directly after announcing the first winner, the second hunt began. There is indeed an I FOUND IT message posted and will be awarded over the weekend.
GOOD LUCK!
Lisa, you make a very good point. sm
I guess I should have been a little more specific. If ALL MTs were to go on "strike" and not accept the low wages these MTSO's are offering, they eventually would HAVE to offer a decent wage we can live on. But, the other side of the coin is, if the MTS WOULD STRIKE, then the MTSO's would no doubt just hire those non-U.S. MTs anyway, because that is the reason in the first place they are paying so little. The U.S. MTs have no support, that's for sure. (and I apologize for the misspelling of a word in my previous post.)
N-n-noooooooooooo!!! Not Kev! Did you see how crushed Lisa Tucker looked
because she didn't get the boot? As she walked over to the host, she looked very unhappy. Then as soon as she went by Ryan she put on a weak smile to walk back over to the other contestants. She wants to go home.
Congratulations! Lisa I. of California on winning the first dinner!
Email to admin@mtstars.com with your full mailing address and your choice of restaurant and we will send out your gift card immediately.
Thank you for playing MTStars Fall Scavenger Hunt!
Administrator
MTStars
CONGRATS to Lisa R. of Wolcott, NY on winning the $10 gift certificate
/
MedQuist NE
Would appreciate specifics about why people say to stay away from the northeast offices of MedQuist. What region is a good one?
Quit last job and would appreciate any info about a good company.
Thank you
Medquist.com
It was enlightening to read your Imail - Email?? I'm just as confused as you are. - and I was ready to throw in the towel(or something). I have been doing this almost 12 years also. The changes being made are baffling - but since it has been a great 12 years so far, maybe a few more months will be best at this point. I am old enough to know that change can be painful at times. Since I love this work and feel as though I accomplish something in the process I am going to stay with it, thanks to you. To make things worse, I have been on vacation for a while. Who knows what's going on since I left. May need to take a course in transcription. Oh, oh I started the sentence wrong, didn't I. - Is that 1 point off or 2 (or is it two?) Good grief!!
RSVP and have a good day.
Medquist
I'm not surprised. Getting a raise is like pulling teeth out of a lion's mouth - it just doesn't happen easily at all. You have to beg for a raise at MQ and even when you do ask, you either get ignored or put off.
QA for MedQuist
I am considering becoming a QA for MedQuist instead of a transcriptionist for them. does anybody have any experience doing this for MedQuist and, if so, any advice? Should I do it? Is it profitable?
thanks,
QA for MedQuist
i really would rather not say, i'm just wondering myself if anybody had experience in this position.
MedQuist...
Radiology (I know, I know - they're awful and foul and terrible and bad and icky according to others so I'll go ahead and flame myself here:          )....but it sure works as a company for me!
not according to MedQuist
If the doc says cc, they want cc. I learned this after converting to mL for about two weeks.
As I have said before - I am busy UNlearning everything I learned in school....oh well.
MedQuist
Dear Duck, Dear MQMT, and Dear MQ Slave:
I would like you to collectively pull your heads out of the 14 feet of sand that they are in and do a search on this MTStars website about the r-e-a-l-i-t-i-e-s of MedQuist. Your comments are would be hilarious if they were not so sad and profoundly ignorant. Do the search. Then, gosh, you might know what the fuss is all about, goobers.
More on Medquist
 'Wondering why everyone hates MedQuist. I have worked for them for six years and I haven't had any problems.
medquist
I'm not management, just wondering.
Medquist
I don't have my HEAD IN 14 FEET OF SAND. I have seen some changes. I'm not ignorant. That's why I got a full-time job at a hospital that will allow me to work at home and kept MQ as part-time. I just don't believe/take as gospel everything that folks say
GO medquist
Did they give you any reason why they fired you?
medquist
Hey I just wanted to offer my sympathies. I worked in a hospital office for MQ and we got paid by the report. Then mq hired people at home who would dial in whenever they wanted to and type the short work and leave the long ones for us. What a nightmare it was. I felt like I was going to have a breakdown and the woman sitting next to me was wearing a holter monitor, ha ha. Anyway, good luck, I'm looking to.
MedQuist - changes
I have been with Medquist 5 years as a subcontactor. Times they are a changin....I would like to know what some of the other girls are doing and is this change for the better? I am very confused about the whole deal. I have always enjoyed working for MedQuist and would like to stay on, but I am a bit concerned. Is this standard in the way of the way transcription companies work. MedQuist is the only large company I have worked for other than the hospital of course and for myself.
MedQuist
I am going to try it for a few months as well and see what happens. I worked hard this year training on op notes and a very hard account. I am just now starting to get my production back up to par and nothing to where I need to be. I would hate to leave all that. Plus, Medquist provides my equipment and I would also like to try out the 401K. I have no investments either other than some dolls and collectibles that I have been buying over the years and I can't live on that. Let me know how you do? Not that I have been making any incentive pay lately anyway, but it sounds like it will be very difficult to do so. My base rate stayed the same, but it is low due to the fact that my production has been down, so I need to get that up. If I understand right, you can discuss increases with your supervisor and then produce so much for two consecutive pay periods and go from there. I am on the highest tier, but low base rate because of my production in June, July, and August. I need to concentrate on getting that up and trying for 1500 lines a day that would provide a little incentive I guess, but hard on the neck and shoulders.
MEDQUIST CHANGES
I strongly advise anyone working for Medquist to actually sit down and do the math on the new incentive plan. I have been through it forward and backward and come up with the same result, less money for the same amount of work.
Please explain what I am doing wrong. I used this formula.
I based 1200 lines a day for 12 days (average pay period in a bi-monthly pay period. On the old incentive plan, this many lines would put you at an extra 1.5 cents per line. The new plan give syou only your base pay for this. If you go over 1200 lines a day then you make added incentive ONLY FOR THE LINES OVER THE 1200, not for the entire 1200. The base pay was only 1/2 cent a line more. So there is the benefit to this?
I would realy appreciate an explanation as to why my figuring is incorrect.
Medquist
I heard something about Medquist going to 1 office. Does anyone know more?
Medquist
I am just starting with MQ and am happy to hear that someone is happy with them. Are you still? I've been reading all negative things..
dqs-Medquist
Iwork for the California office and they have recently done an update. One of the things changed was the ability to regulate the speed of dictation. A big help to me.
MedQuist.
nm
MT for MedQuist
I actually posted to the board for general questions, so I don't know how my question ended up on this board. I would be working as an MT. I have been an independent MT for 3 years now, so I know it will be a change. I was just wondering how it is to work for Medquist as an MT, i.e., plenty of steady work, great communication, etc.?
Medquist
Do you work there? Just wondering since last week I was speaking to my production supervisor who told me that eventually they would be completely ASR. The majority of the work I was getting was ASR. It is getting there, slowly but surely. Why don't you ask somebody there. Some people can't see the truth if it hits them in the forehead.
Medquist
Anyone out there work for Medquist and can give me some info on the pros/cons of working for them? Or...suggest a company to work for.
No, it is not w/ Medquist. It is w/ a smaller co. nm
/
I said MediSCRIPT, not MedQUIST..nm
xs
MedQuist I-mail
What's the deal with changing the way we get our e-mail?? I got the memo about opening a browser and typing
mail.medquistmail.com
but I can't get that to work any way, shape, or form. My helpful CSC said "Call Atlanta." I have been on hold for over 1/2 hour, listening to their hideous Muzak. Can anyone tell me how to access my e-mail???
Medquist I-Mail
Geez - sure glad I checked the boards tonight - I'm lost. I've received no memo regarding a change in I-Mail but sure was wondering why I hadn't received anything since 6/20. Did you get a memo via "slow mail" or through your I-Mail & when did you get it - today? I checked my I-Mail earlier this evening before coming on here & still had nothing. Thanks to you guys - guess I'd better hop onto Medquist.com & find out what's going on. Talk about "good communication!" Personally, I never wanted to use I-Mail because of having to access it through IE, have had trouble off and on with access working then all of a sudden not working (occurring before this incident) & really hate the thought of trying to figure something else out in order to get an e-mail from Medquist. Anyhow - thanks for the heads up - I'll check out Medquist.com & see if I can figure out what I have to do this time - then will inquire as to why I didn't receive notification of such.
Medquist.com - QNet
Well, continuing from my message above - maybe I've been let go & they haven't told me yet - not kidding. I have received no memo regarding change in I-Mail, so, per your message, went to Medquist.com, QNet, then your message said to follow the links - what links?? I-Mail only took me to my I-Mail registration site- nothing new, changed, or new information. Tried a couple of other sites & got absolutely no where!! Geez - I only thought I was lost - now I'm totally baffled & don't know where to go from here! Guess I could try voicemail, but, there again not sure who or whom I should call as personnel changes have been made & I have no clue who to contact nor extension to call! Hopefully, getting in touch with who I think is and/or was my MT Supervisor will get me some help, although voicemail received today was from one of the new supervisors - my new supervisor? I, again, have no clue. Any other suggestions anyone?! As all of my "familiar" leadership & support over the last 12 yrs has now disappeared, I'm just about ready to call it quits myself. A fiasco & confusion such as this, which in the overall picture is minute, would never have occurred to begin with under their leadership. I truly believe I'm not the only one who has no clue as to what is going on simply regarding I-Mail, which makes me wonder who knows what is going on with anything. Getting too scary for me with no one knowing, or admitting to anything, & communication diminishing to nil. I'm done trying things tonight (well,this a.m.). Will await getting a "memo" (i.e. still nothing), and go from there !!!
Medquist mail
I accidentally deleted my e-mail telling me how to check my mail under mail.medquistmail.com. When I try that address, I dead-end. Anybody have a step-by-step that works or is the system down?
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