My idea on what the U.S. should do about offshoring work of ALL kinds... (s/m)
Posted By: My 2 cents worth! on 2006-05-30
In Reply to:
I can understand U.S. companies wanting to cut costs and make a profit, and that of course is why they offshore. Even though it's at a huge cost to American workers. Which of course ultimately hurts the overall economy, because displaced workers have much less money to spend on goods & services, etc.
Offshoring isn't likely to be outlawed (though I sure wish it were, especially when it comes to sensitive records, such as financial and medical records!) But don't you think that if the U.S. is going to allow companies to send work offshore, those companies should have to pay a pretty hefty TAX for that privilege?
Here in Calif., our infrastructure such as roads, bridges, school system, fire and police departments, etc. is crumbling, and always needs more money. So of course they continue to raise taxes on us working-class people - the same ones whose jobs are going offshore! They get a little from the Lottery, and a little more from Indian casinos, who are paying the state for the privilege of running gambling casinos in a state where gambling casinos aren't legal! There is a tax on liquor and tobacco. All of those things aren't really good for people, and should be taxed.
Well, offshoring work away from hard-working, middle-class Americans isn't good for people, either! So don't you think companies should be encouraged to keep their work onshore by a TAX that would not only help each state in this country pay for things, but also remove the huge profits those companies make by taking good jobs away from Americans? Maybe that money could even be used to save our failing Social Security system. 
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Speaking of offshoring MT work, who does not directly send work offshore?
Just curious. Has anyone got a list of companies who do not send work offshore? Precyse? MQ? Spheris?
I found out a long time ago that there are two kinds of editing.. one is editing MTs work (like QA)
and the other is editing as in VR. I have done VR editing, but when I put down this as experience on a resume, I was asked by the HR person if this meant that I had "edited" other MTs work. I think there is a lot of confusion out there and I wish they would just keep that as QA instead of calling it editing. Just be clear in what you want to edit as most companies that expect you to "edit" other MTs in a QA position do require you have a lot of experience. If you just going for VR editing, which is what Transcend has available and there are a few companies out there doing VR, none of which I think really require much experience as it is easy to learn. Hope I made some sense and it can be pretty confusing on how companies use the term "editing" thus it effects their expectations as far as experience goes.
I will never work for another company that supports offshoring to overseas countries
As posted above, I have worked for a foreign company. The company had some US MTs working for them and IMO, they were using us to cover up. I think we should personally stick together and stop the nonsense of our US reports going overseas. I do have one question for those who support the Indian companies and any company that offshore overseas...where is your medical information going? Have you thought for one minute that maybe your own SSN and address, etc, might be going overseas?
That's the right idea. Work for yourself! NM
nm
Great idea except you wouldn't get any work done!--nm
x
Offshoring to India...Offshoring.
nm
I think the amount of work sent to QA is is very bad idea to limit that. I can understand QA reviews
but to limit the amount of work to QA to get a bonus which is my understanding will cause people to not send things to QA when the dicator makes an obvious error and you dont want to chance correcting it. There are extremely bad dictators and depending on where they are dictating the noise can be horrendous on the phone lines or cells or whatever they are doing. My goodness, you have an attitude.
That's an idea -- does it matter that my cell phone won't work from the house??
It rings but then cuts you off as soon as you answer. I think we are too far from a tower.
There are all kinds of
posts on this board that have absolutely nothing to do with transcription. What is your point? Are you new to this board? Have you not ever read all the posts about everyting from Big Brother to underwear?
We could really do without some kinds
nm
2 kinds of VR
There are 2 kinds of speech recognition. Front-end, like Dragon Dictate, depends on the dictator stopping and correcting his mistakes as he goes. This is what your client should be using. Back-end speech recognition, like what InfraWare or eScription uses, recognizes that correction should occur after the fact by a qualified MT. Those systems provide the Editor with a first draft where the text is tied to the type for easy editing. Your client is confused - not you. Dragon Dictate was not meant to be used this way.
That is why there are all kinds of people
in this world. Different strokes for, well you know the rest. There are lots of fish in the sea. Where 1 don’t work, another 1 will. I could go on and on but I think you might get my idea.
Why not first try with other kinds of transcription
If you are a good transcriptionists there are companies that hire "general" transcriptists to do all kinds of work--interviews, insurance interviews, focus groups, etc. I would start here and learn the process of applying for work, testing, and all that. This is a big part to learn when applying for online work. Some of these services also do medical transcription and you could back in that way. Just Google words like insurance transcription, focus group transcription, business transcription and you will be surprised what you will find. Don't just sit and wait for medical. These companies would give you great training and exposure to working on web platforms and QA and that kind of thing. You have every shot in the world to do this as a starting point. Most services like this want some experience and may start you low but you've got to start somewhere. Then you can start filling up your resume to show you at least have worked for some services. In the meantime you can poke around trying to test/apply with some MTSOs. Are there any services in your area you could sub for? Best of luck.
Here's a link where you can find all kinds of help
with IT as well as other programs. I have found lots of tips and tricks there to help increase my productivity.
There are all kinds of ways to prevent
a pregnancy, not the least is abstinence. Why people are so irresponsible is beyond me and then an innocent life will suffer because of her stupidity.
You go OP! Thank goodness those kinds of people...
weren't the ones we needed to depend on in the past 250 yrs. Where would we be now? My ex-husband earns a VERY GOOD salary from the training he received in the Army. He has no college degree, just his military training, which is highly specialized and has provided him with a good income for many years.
I prefer pie here, too. Always have birthday pie, usually two kinds.
:+
Been in this biz for over 15 years, and I've seen all kinds...
a doc who used to snort cocaine in and out of surgery - a pain management doc who used to sell OxyContin on the side to his friends and friends' associates and was just lately sentenced to a prison term - another doctor who was just thrown in jail for one year and fined bucco bucks plus lost his licence to practice medicine for hitting on women patients. Another one who was a drunkard and would operate on his patients in a stupor. All except for three docs have been arrogant, pompous, money-hungry know-it-alls who run totally dysfunctional offices and hire totally dysfunctional employees, seemingly not caring one iota about their patients with the exception of how much he can bill off of them. They dictate like they're half in the bag and could give a fig. The only thing of major concern to the, it obviously appears, is what five-star cruise line they're going to take their family on vacation for two months out of the year. LOL!
We brew different kinds at home....sm
I love grinding my coffee and mixing flavors. our favorites to mix are hazelnut and irish creme. My husband & I go to Starbucks once a week and usually get the caramel frappuccino as a treat - love that stuff!
Takes all kinds in this world I guess.
Bite me.
Probably echoing the others, but this mother of 3 has been though all kinds of these things.
I'd advise not to buy a vehicle for her. You're just setting yourself up for more problems once you put wheels and more freedom into her mix of things. She's not going to be a happy camper but you've got to stand your ground with her. Bring the secrets to the forefront and try to gain her understanding about your feelings and what this does to you. Hopefully it's not to late to get her attention and understanding. In the meantime, you certainly don't want to add to your frustration by putting a car in the mix, it will mean the worst for you (that's just my opinion though). What you do totally is up to you, but she needs you to be strong to possibly save her from herself.
These kinds of posts never cease to amaze me (sm)
Your company didn't have to send you anything. A card is a gift -- which is optional. Since when should a recipient of a gift get to dictate what the gift is or is not?
Also, I don't think you mentioned the size of your company. Consider that not only is your attitude about the whole thing probably way off, but also you're not being realistic to think a company would have time to send each employee an individualized message.
They remembered you. They took time to send SOMETHING. Be glad and grateful. Did you send them anything?
transcriptiongear.com has all kinds of gadgets. Check
s
Not MT specific, but try half.com. I buy all kinds of books from there all the time. nm
/
If you'd done a little checking on this board, you'd see that all kinds of topics are discusse
b
transcriptiongear.com carries all kinds of phones/accessories, too. nm
s
I've had mine on here with many kinds of software. Don't think it will be a problem. nm
s
there are all kinds of spelling/grammar mistakes here all the time
This is somewhere that we can let our hair down and let our fingers "loose". If most of us transcribed the way we type here, the doctors would almost be better off hand-writing their reports!
All kinds of cool stuff gets under the nails. Ask forensic scientists.
on workers who have direct patient care - they must have their own nails.
How many are herbal supps. and other nonRx stuff? Several kinds of eye drops, too? Do
.
Radio Shack carries all kinds of adapters and gizmos, too. nm
s
Offshoring
Just remember YOUR elected representives allowed this offshoring to happen. Nothing illegal thanks to the politicians is happening when work is shipped offshore while allowing Americans to lose jobs while increasing taxes.
This is all the fault of the greed and power of the politicians and the corporations. It's not about an Indian worker who has been offered a job and can't lose their accent to please the consumer.
As far as contacting you in a few years when our jobs are overseas, they are shipping them out daily. Where have you been? Check OSI, Precyse, etc. They all offshore some outright and some undercover.
I don't have problems with the workers. I have problems with the government allowing this to happen and the corporations who cut costs while cutting quality by shipping work out of our country.
Keep you eye on your enemy and it is some Indian who is trying to keep a job to make a living.
To those against offshoring...
Have you noticed that anywhere you call, whether it be the phone company, the gas company, the insurance company, you get someone foreign on the phone. Oh yes and do not forget Microsoft and other computer related companies. I realize this cuz i get so damn mad because i can't understand what they are saying to me and they don't understand what i am saying to them. Now I noticed the post below about Earthlink and I am wondering...all of you who are against this..what are you going to do about the fact that the computer company that creates most of the software you use has places in other countries..your gas company..you insurance company, etc. etc. etc.? I, too, do not agree with offshoring, but I do not think there is REALLY anything we can do about it. Not working for companies that do it, yes thats a start, but what are you going to do about the rest of reality and everyday living? Just curious to opinions on this. I am not flaming..just concerned.
Offshoring - don't be too sure.
Look at history....work will be outsourced whether we like it or not. What happened to the steel, printing, shipping, automotive, and many other manufacturing efforts is happening to transcription. While we may produce a better product, if it can be produced cheaper somewhere else it will be. Sometimes MTSO's are forced to look at other avenues because they can't hire and maintain TATs. Clients want their costs reduced when it is already at rock bottom. Transcriptionists want higher pay and the profit margin isn't there to allow this. The transcription business has changed and will continue to change. After all....the only constant in life is change. The offshore MT is hungry and willing to give up just about anything to put food on the table. They probably don't argue, call in sick, complain or quit without notice. They don't bad mouth their employer. They just want to work...much like American workers decades ago. Take heed. I'm in the same boat and don't want to see it happen, but there are many factors that result in change. Transcriptionists are by nature not an organized group. We are mostly solitary and therefore have no voice or at least not one loud enough to be heard. We're all on production. We don't have time for such things. There is no large group lobbying for us. There isn't enough money in transcription anymore to have lobbyists and that is how...regardless of our protests...change happens...silently. People in India and other countries will learn to transcribe. It's only a matter of time. For myself, I am just going to try to do the very best job I can every single day and hope it is appreciated and know that I am not adding to the problem. Actually....I need to get back to work.
A - As soon as I tell them my pay has gone down about 40% since the offshoring (sm)
they are no longer interested in entering this field. In fact, their mouths about drop to the floor.
Having another American MT is not going to save another American job. They will send their work offshore if you are living next door and can do a 4-hour turnaround, just because the price is lower.
I'm getting out also, only doing part-time now and probably won't be doing part-time much longer.
offshoring
Don't know about this company, but there are companies that offshore and lie about it. Know this for a fact. I work for one.
OSi Offshoring - sm
If you are an employee of OSI, you should be able to access that article from the employee web page, try going back to about April or so...it should still be there, where it was originally posted. Read it for yourself and maybe then you'll believe it.
Offshoring
Ah, thanks for clearing that up for me. All this happened before I started. New employees are probably not aware of it, like me.
I probably got myself on the $hit-li$t now, but that's okay for something I did today to see any reaction. It wouldn't be the first time I've been on the list and probably won't be the last.
I will stay, though, as I really do like working for them...and I like the work..
OSi Offshoring
Ah, thanks for clearing that up for me. All this happened before I started. New employees are probably not aware of it, like me. This breaks my heart.
I probably got myself on the $hit-li$t now, for something I did today to see if there was any reaction, but that's okay. It wouldn't be the first time I've been on a list and probably won't be the last.
I will stay, though, as I really do like working for them. I like the work, and really don't have much of a choice anymore.
I think if these companies are going to offshore, they should send the work from the ESL's that can't speak English correctly. That work should be easy for the offshore companies for them to do. 
Offshoring
I just wonder who these big businesses think is going to buy their products/services when all the jobs are in foreign countries. Not only that, when there are no jobs, or only minimum wage jobs, who's going to pay the big fat salaries of our idiot politicians? Heard on Lou Dobbs the other night that while the minimum wage remains stagnant, the senate voted themselves a hefty $30,000 raise!!!! Doncha wish we MTs could "vote" ourselves that kind of raise? Or maybe we're not so greedy and we'd settle for a fraction of that.
Offshoring
Is there any way you can share as there are others of us who suspect this also and maybe it's the same company. If not, that's understandable too.
Offshoring
Keystrokes does not!
MQ OFFSHORING
I need some Positive Proof that offshoring is occurring.. .will help in our hospital's fight against outsourcing all of us.. thanks
Offshoring
There was an article on the internet quite some time ago where a MQ bigwig admitted to MQ offshoring. I have posted on here before regarding offshoring, tell all your family and friends that when they go to the doctor, they need to tell him/her they do not want ANY part of the their medical record being offshored, including transcription. You have that right as a patient. My family and friends know. Unfortunately, none of us have been to the doc lately.
offshoring
I agree. I am also wondering where they are making out on this deal. I have lost 5 Docs due to outsourcing to India. They are not making out in the end. They just think they are. It is such a shame that the US Transcriptionist is the one that are suffering because they do not know what they are doing. Maybe they should have asked one of us to do the math and we could have showed them that they are not making out. Also, you have to take in consideration that all these people's(patient) records are going over to another country. I bet they would have something to say about that. It is such a shame that someone thought they were going to save a buck and did not do the math, and now we are the ones that are being hurt.
 
Offshoring
I too have been affected by offshoring, and whether we see some advantage or not, it is here to stay, and will eventuallly grasp more than half our work in this country. In my experience, I too am amazed at how much doctors will put up with this poor quality work. I personally know of, and have seen large medical offices, radiologists, large clinics, send their work to India, and put up with their error rate as if it were an acceptable part of the equation. BUT, if an American Transcriptionist put out an inferior report, we would most certainly get that pointed out immediately. I watch with amazement at how much those clients are willing to put up with all because they are paying 6 to 8 cents a line. AMAZING. I know of one radiologist who sent his work to India three years ago, kept one transcriptionist in his office to edit. Three years later, she is still marking all the reports in red ink. She has confronted him with the red-marked reports under his nose, and told him how much he is really paying for the reports as she spends her whole day editing. He won't look at her in the eyes, ignores her comments as if she were not in the room, and goes about his business - three years later! I have been told by CFO's that this is only a transition period, that eventually, the Indians will get it right, and it will be worth the hassles, as this makes "good business sense." We all need to realize that right now is the time to be smart and start training in some other field because even if it takes the Indians 10 years to "get it right," this offshoring has dropped the American wage to a paltry low.
No Offshoring
This may have been asked in the past, but I am pretty new to the board. What nationals do not offshore their transcription? I am currently an in-house transcriptionists, but I am looking to do some at-home transcription on the side. I do not want to support any nationals that offshore. We need to keep our jobs in the US!!!!!
Offshoring
Yes post a list, and I for one will write..as that will be so helpful.. can you post addresses also?
because that is offshoring
and nobody wants that.
Say something against offshoring and see how
x
offshoring
Excellent letter. You've inspired to start writing my senator too.
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