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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

No. It is not worth losing hospital-provided benefits.

Posted By: JMO on 2008-04-18
In Reply to: contract work for hospitals - sammy

You have the best of both worlds. Hang on to it while you can.


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Most MTSO want good MT. Not worth losing one
x
I made $8.00 an hour with no benefits. But it was worth it.

Why was it worth it?


I spent 7 years in a law office (2 of them as a paralegal), moved, couldn't find anything legal and started getting assigned to medical offices through a temp agency.


If it weren't for that old battleax Family Practitioner and his IBM, not to mention his patience to teach me the stuff I had no clue about, I wouldn't be typing this in my pajamas.


You gals seriously make this kind of money? I am losing my job at the hospital
and thought I would never find a job that will pay that kind of money and its 14.50. I thought that was good!!!!! So you are telling me if I worked my tail off being an IC I could make more?? Break it down for me? How many hours a pay period, how many lines, how many cents per line?

I was actually regretting losing this job, but may be it is an opportunity.
Made $5,500/yr. with full benefits at hospital. Rent 175.00. Car 75.00
I think back then we made more than the average secretary and the cost of living (Morgantown, WV) was low. I just remember that I had raises every year, one for performance and another for cost of living raises. My pay went up a few thousand every year with the raises, that much I recall. This was in 1977. West Virginia University Hospital. We had to be there at 8:15, one hour paid lunch, two 15 minute breaks and went home at 3:15. My supervisor sometimes took naps in the employee lounge. She was kick back. I learned how to speed read by researching Dorland's but terminology was not too out of the ordinary from what I recall. People who were ill back then had the usual problems (gallbladder, kidney stones, etc).


That was with full benefits, which are the same benefits as an in-office employee for the QA staff..
However, I hear that their current QA staff are being asked to reach numbers that are out of sight and goals are basically impossible.
Depends on what kind of hospital? Large urban hospital or small community hospital? SM

Also, is it a large teaching hospital? If so you have to consider there will be A LOT of different residents dictating, usually a lot of ESLs at teaching hospitals, and the residents rotate out and new ones rotate in every summer. So you can't expect to get the same dictators and build up your macros because the dictators change all the time.


I would say 9 cpl would be a pretty good offer for a small to medium community hospital where you will be doing the same dictators on a daily basis.  But for bigger, urban or teaching hospitals I would want at least 12 to 15 cpl. 


You have provided that option already. (SM)
When you posted, you filled in your e-mail address in the e-mail field. It activates a Reply By E-Mail option for those who want to e-mail you. Your e-mail address will not be revealed even when they e-mail you. If you reply to the e-mails you receive, then your e-mail address will be revealed by your own reply.

Most likely the modem will be provided by (sm)
the phone company (at least it was for me by Verizon). 
What is there to handle? You provided
It's not your problem if they discovered afterwards they handed you already completed work.  I can't believe you'd even ask the question.
Then quit already. MT has provided

no other job I could do where I could have made the money I am making without a college degree.  Yep, I started out with low pay.  Instead of whining about it, I got a lot of experience under my belt, worked in a hospital for quite a few years and learned MT inside and out, can transcribe any speciality and any type of report, and now I am reaping the benefits.  You reap what you sow.  Complaining never helped anyone get ahead.  Hard work and a willingness to do whatever it takes does.  I am living proof, as are many of my MT colleagues.  I was never one to complain, I just took what was available, worked hard and learned everything I could, and look for the next opportunity that offered more pay and through the years have gone from about $6 an hour to now a whole lot more.  I won't bother to say how much because you'd tell me I'm lying.  Fine with me if you don't believe me, but I now get 15 cpl (own accounts) and can transcribe 300+ lines per hour.  You do the math.  I didn't get here by whining about how bad I had it or how overworked and underpaid I was.  Even at $6 an hour I did my best and worked hard and I have been rewarded for that many times over.  I got valuable experience in those years working for a hospital for not much money.  I learned things I never could have learned working for a service.  Now it's paying off.


Some people are just not cut out to be MTs.  Maybe that's the case with some of you who are complaining.


IC positions offer no benefits, employee positions off full benefits, so if you do not need
benefits, then IC would be best.
Were you being provided with feedback? If not, did you ask? How long did you
work for them? 
If you work for MQ, how come they haven't provided

you with a foot pedal?  Ask and see if they'll send you one.


One day I had to go to my local MQ office to have them look at my computer, and on my way out, they handed me a foot pedal for the "new upcoming platform."


Then when I received my computer rental in the mail a couple of months later, they sent me another foot pedal (same as the first one).  A back up?

And finally, when they trained me for the new platform a couple of months ago, the booklets, some new headphones, and a NEW PEDAL came in a nice box to me!


So anyway, as an owner of three foot pedals free from MQ, give 'em a try. 


absolutely true, provided

You're responsible with your money. But if you're one to spend carelessly, you're going to wish you had a credit card if you need some major car repairs or something of that nature.

So I suppose the real "need" is simply having available cash when you need it (not want it).


Don't get excited. You should have provided it to begin with. nm
x
I would use hyphens in the examples you provided. sm

I would put 32-year-old male, but no hyphen if it's something like *Patient is 32 years old.*  (Same with 11-pound weight loss vs pt has lost 11 pounds.)  I can't quote the rule on this offhand, but whatever the rule is, I personally I think the hyphens make it easier to read/understand. 


Provided bennies were identical?
;lkj
Thanks. My company provided computer has a VPN and I can
goggle with it.
same difference; all company-provided pcs

My employer provided mine because I do QA as well..
I skimmed through it one day and highlighted only 5 sections or parts that would benefit anything...the rest I thought was a big waste of time and paper...
but software/equipment provided by my employer. nt
 
When my mother had cancer, hospice provided me
The hospital may also be a source of information on where you can get forms.  The POA is an actual legal document.  You could try to 'google' for free forms.  You may want to think about a general POA so you can handle her finances, also, in case she becomes totally incapacitated.  It makes a big difference in handling her affairs - without those papers, it makes it a lot harder to handle her affairs for her, including paying her bills and making decisions.  Don't wait - get it done now just in case things get worse.  Good luck and best wishes. 
Check out the modules on this link provided inside.

http://www.typematrix.com/ezr2030/


Despite the information provided, I know firsthand these can be modified with some engineering expertise and/or advice, which I would be happy to provide if you so desire......


 


Link inside provided as food for thought
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/320/RipOff0320581.htm
Depends. Is it strictly transcribing? Is all patient info provided so you don't waste time? Any d

Losing 500 lbs

Thanks for being so blunt.  You're right, I haven't been respecting myself by staying in this situation and I only have myself to blame. Every day I feel more and more drained, physically, mentally and emotionally. It is a very unhealthy situation.  I was stupid and had those rose-colored glasses on when I made a hasty decision to marry him last year. I don't respect anyone who is content with just lounging around watching TV and the like, does not contribute to the responsibilities of the household or to society at large and sucks taxpayer's money dry by being on bogus disability.


Losing Mind
I guess about now after five weeks, I would be losing my mind too, seeing that the father was let go, even though he told those boys, no body, no crime, and the other two boys are let go.  What lawyer father would tell his son no body, no crime and then not wonder what is going on?  Of course, he knows what went down.  Any law abiding father, when he sees that a girl is missing and his son, who was with her the night before asked about no body, no crime would go to the police.  You think Natalees mother is acting like she lost her mind, I would be much worse.  I would be protesting in front of the rich kids house, I would be speaking out every chance I got, shame the police into doing their job, which they obviously are not doing too well.
Losing battle, Huh?
By the way, I have never even had my ears pierced, and now I'm too old to care.
Losing hearing
Does anybody else feel that over time their hearing has deteriorated due to the constant noise from wearing headphones?
Might be growth not losing MTs. xx
xx
losing lines
I work for a company, shall remain nameless but has been on this board, and is now, tons. They STEAL our lines and think we are so dumb and do not realize it. Do not even ask where your lines go, line count different from day to day as to what one has typed the previous day, and you will get no response. The money goes to the CEOs. There was an article today that stated CEOs average pay is 350,000 a year, while their employee salary is 28,000. That BITES big time. We slave, they gain. That is where the money goes.
Losing lines
Soon the only jobs that will not be outsourced will be manual labor jobs. We are losing our jobs constantly to cheaper labor. Imagine how much money these CEOs save by sending our work? That is what sickens me to death. My friend's husband is in manual labor and has to work out of time due to lack of work in his own state. This is a sad, sad world we live in.
Are they losing accts? Do

The work has dried up.   Again I won't make a full paycheck.  Others are saying the same thing.  I think you may be right.  Especially if you are an employee.  But wasn't that their plan from the start?


I can't imagine what this package is they are sending out. 


Unless they are going to offer to provide equipment, sufficient work/or a plan to give me lines (like on-call pay) for sitting with nothing to do IN WRITING, and a raise of 5 cents a line, the package will probably go in the round file right here beside me.


That is so sad. I hate to think about losing our pup

He's 4, but he's still our pup. Just a mutt, but he's a sweetie.


Tell your mom that a bunch of Mainers are sorry for her loss.


Losing faith...

Well every year I think things can't be any worse than the last.  This year dealing with disturbing financial woes, working too much and a rebellious daughter. How do people some people go through all this and still keep their faith in God and life in general.  Sometimes I just want to throw my hands up in the air and just forget it. 


 


Sorry, just got more bad news and here alone working and needed to vent. 


losing weight sm
I lost 105.5 pounds total and have kept it off for a year (gained 10 pounds back with this pregnancy, but I am 32 weeks along).  I had to follow a more structured plan to actually lose weight.  I used the Weight Watchers calculator and books to lose weight, but I did not go to meetings.  I went from 235.5 to 130 on a 5 foot 5 frame.  I don't follow the program now, but I have learned how to eat.  I used to eat because I was bored, tired, etc.  Not anymore! 
Losing a client
You have my empathy.
This happens with the big companies too. The MT is the last to know that client whose account they have worked on will not renew a contract. I worked 60 days in a row on an account to help catch it up not knowing the Co. was losing the account. I felt betrayed because during that time I could have been trained for something else. I was on a C-phone at the time, and others had already been trained on newer systems. Things really can be quite thoughtless/heartless when regarding the MTs feelings. Makes one feel like just a number. Or as they say a "Human Resource" I that that word..... it sounds like an entity that uses-up, wads-up, and then discards. What ever happened to personnel? Once again, you have my empathy.
MTs losing jobs

I'm sorry to hear about you losing your job. One comment said that MTs are losing jobs all over the place. Could someone tell me more about this ... the loss of MT jobs. I'm new and I'm trying to decide whether to train as an MT or not. Thanks for all your help. I am soooooo undecided.


amelia 


losing business
Obviously, you have secure accounts.  I recently have lost 1/3 of my income due to VR, and I am sitting out in the middle of no where where we cannot get DSL.  Wireless may be a possibility, but have been working on this for over a year.  So, yes modern technology is great, but when the rest of your income has been limited with no overtime, and you count on that side job, modern technology hurts.
losing MT jobs

Transcription jobs are becoming very slim in Central Minnesota.  One hospital outsourced to India, and two hospitals send to a service company.  Our hospital may end up going VR which will most likely put half of us out of work too.  Either way you look at it, it is a dying profession.  Like someone said, you have to work twice as many hours to make enough money to live on - so don't talk about those poor poverty stricken people overseas.  Without jobs here, we are going to be all poverty striken as well.  How do we make a house payment and pay our taxes so they can send the money to these countries! 


Possibly losing my job due to VR...

I was told that the clinic I MT for is considering an expensive VR program.  The person that told me works for them too and said that it is about 98% accurate.  She also said it might be something I should consider in order for my IC business to grow.  Hello?  Why would I invest in something I know the medical field would pay for in substitution for hiring an MT?  She told me that this VR program costs about $4,000 but she did not know the product make.  Is there really a VR product that accurate for that amount of money?  If so, then I think it is time for me to get out before I am no longer needed.       


Topic is now losing by 2%
Please go vote so others in this country might be made a little more aware of the problems outsourcing is causing this country!
losing acct

Hello Patty,


I lost an acct about two yrs ago and it hurt, but I wasn't backing down.  The OM of one clinic knew the OM of another clinic I typed for and they mentioned to each other how much they were paying me per line.  The OM from the higher paying clinic called me and asked why I was charging her clinic more.  I told her first of all it wasn't really any of her business, but the other acct I had had for 10 yrs and I billed them 50,000 lines/mth, plus I picked up tapes every day.  Her particular clinic I only had about 6 mth., billed about 3000 - 5000 lines/mth, and didn't get tapes every day.  Needless to say, I never picked up another tape from that clinic, but that's the way it goes sometimes. 


Losing account--please help
Hi...I am an IC who has been doing several doctors from a hospital account by way of picking up tapes.   I just found out yesterday that the hospital account I have been doing has decided to have the doctor dictate into their system and have a MT service do those accounts.   Is there any way I can propose to keep those accounts as what would I need to access their system so that I can still ....I need help fast......and just need to know what to do.  Thank  you anyone that can share some insight into this....... 
Losing account

I am so sorry about your situation.  I just recently lost my hospital job on Monday.  What a way to start a Monday.  They laid me off due to shortage of work.  I have only been there for 5 months.  I do not know what is happening with this industry.  They are always thinking they are going to find it for a cheaper rate and sacrifice quality.  It seems like the Docs do not care anymore and it is a shame because these are people's important documents and it should not be compromised.  I am calling all the Docs that I did at the hospital and see if they are in need of a transcriptionist.  I probably will run into your situation also.


Good Luck. When God closes a door, he opens a window and I believe everything is for a reason. You may not see it but we will down the road.




 


 


 


 


losing account
I wish you didn't have to back through the interviewing again....but you'll be just fine! Who knows, maybe you'll work for the service that the hospital hires! On a side note, how did you find that picture of my boyfriend, Dr. Christian whats-his-name on NipTuck?
Losing account to EMR

So I am losing 2 accounts to EMR December 1. Anyone know exactly HOW the EMR works.  I'm wondering is there still a way for the MT to be involved without losing the account?  I'm sure there are different EMR programs, but has anyone had experience with EMR?? 


 


Are you snoozing and losing?
Maybe you ought to check for the good stuff too!  Just a thought...
You are surely losing a lot
doing this. Why not check as you are doing and spell check at end. It seems like you are shooting yourself in the foot by rereading each report. I never do and just got my quarterly report yesterday and had a 99.9% accuracy.
Yes . . . I know, but I am afraid of losing my job if I do.
nm
losing internet connection off and on

Losing internet connection happened quite a bit for me.  I kept calling Comcast, they said to reboot.  I had a computer tech out to look at the computer and they deleted a bunch of junk and it ended up my cable modem was bad.  It was 3 years old.  I got a new one and it works great now.