No wonder we're being replaced
Posted By: CrabbyMcNasty on 2007-10-30
In Reply to:
Perhaps I'm just having a bad moment because I'm in the midst of a job hop, but I'm venting/ranting just a bit. On another board, a newbie MT writes a solitary paragraph, and in that one paragraph there are three errors, one a grammatical error, one a spelling error, and one misuse of a word that spellcheck would not have caught. If we can't show that we have an edge that VR doesn't, no wonder we're being eased out.
For the record, you ACCEPT not except a position. You PURSUE other offers, not persue. And when listing a grouping of people, English is polite and let's the other people go first- so it's my family and me, not me and my family.
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No, they're not. Fan is getting ready to die. Disconnect it and have it replaced. nm
.
As far as being replaced by VR
pitching it to the larger institutions. These so-called American companies are just as much to blame for facilities/physicians going with VR. If you really think about it, the national can pitch VR at a pretty low rate since they have editors/QA to do it for 3 cpl and at the most what 5 cpl. If you are doing VR, you are probably just as much part of the problem. Of course as an independent you probably could not handle an account for a hospital by yourself, so you would have to hire MTs, hence a company comes to form. Larger companies have more capital and can market their product (platforms). It is not just India taking this market over, it is the large American companies as well taking the pie from the little guy. You also see posts of people gaining their own accounts still, so this tells me that not all physicians feed into the larger national/India deal. Look at Diskriter, just as one example, they are practically begging people to come and work for them. Look on any job board, VR/editing is what these companies are seeking, but they unfortunately only want to pay 5 cpl at the most, which is very sad. Money maker if I've ever seen one. Makes ya' wonder.... 
Not when it's replaced by
VR or some off-shore worker.
I have never replaced my headset -
When I worked in someone else's office, rarely but occasionally a headset would/might break. However, since being at home doing same work 10 years, I have never had to replace my headset (the one that came with a transcriber years ago); however, I have had to replace several transcribers over the MANY, MANY years and think I'm on my 3rd one now......finally got a Lanier (they are the best in my opinion for transcriber machines).
Er, I mean WE replaced our Linksys
with a Netgear router.
My first post wasn't very clear.
I think she should have replaced the semicolon with a
comma and should have taken out the other comma you have in there.
Not totally replaced...only for Katrina
nm
Perhaps they meant replaced as in these companies
apparently have the mistaken belief they will be able to replace experienced, knowledgeable, skilled MTs with minimal wage proofers some day. I hope to be around to watch that catastrophe.
So ideally, how often should a keyboard be replaced?
I'm on of those who eats and drinks at my computer :)
I never considered this as a regular expense, maybe I wouldn't have shelled out for a wireless keyboard. Don't they have those vacuum/brush thingies that can clean keyboards?
Netgear replaced our Linksys.
The same thing was happening to me when I had Linksys, so DH replaced it with this Netgear one has never had the problem.
The cable company said the router was causing the problem.
Staff will be reduced and equipment not replaced
Care provider will attempt to maintain their income and will attempt this by reducing staff/overhead (that includes transcription by the way).
The medicare/medicaid patient should have copays that are reasonable.
Reasonable is the key word here. But there is a sense of urgency that is taking place due to the state of Social Security and the aging baby boomers who are beginning to retire, who will due to good medical care for a lifetime, perhaps live for 20 plus years on Medicare benefits.
Don't give anyone your MACROS... You ultimately will be replaced... sad... (sm)
but that's how docs work, at least some of them.
The electronic medical record has replaced MTs at my job..it's all over!
My job has been scanning all the medical records over to electronic medium and the doctors are now taking laptops in the exam room with them and typing in all the info, so basically, my job will be obselete once this transition is over. 
Our boss has been doing a comparison of the clinics who now have the electronic medical record--those docs went from dictating thousands of lines in a weekly period to less than 50!!! Of course this is a tremendous difference and it's "lights out" for us MTs. We've got about a good year before it's all done.
Have any of you been affected by this new technology?
P.S. I didn't care so much anyhow...I hate this industry and this job, so I've been looking for other employment anyhow.
I always thought that the reason CR wasn't replaced -sm
by tapes/videotape, recordings, etc. long ago, was that there was some major legal reason for having an actual live person there that could SEE and HEAR each participant in the case do the court reporting, and the same for depositions. Something about the veracity of the resulting printed document generated by a live CR, as opposed to one generated by a machine (that could be tampered with.)
I am so paranoid of being replaced with a lower wage employee.
dd
On a positive note, with dictators like these humans will never be replaced. sm
No VR program will ever perfect the ability to cut/paste, or add necessary punctuation to reports. There will always be a need for editors. Of course, it still doesn't alleviate the frustration of having to deal with either one, ASR or horrific dictators.
Can anywone recommend a good vacuum cleaner? My old one broke and has to be replaced. Thanks. NM
nm
I had a lot of trouble with static in my C-phone. I replaced the phone cord and that made a big
difference. Also, have you tried a different headset? Also someone told me one time that there is a microphone under your volume control on the right corner of the C-phone. It's a tiny hole. If you break off a Q-tip and stick that into the hole that will squelch a lot of background noise and that worked as well. As far as getting your C-phone service, I heard that Dictaphone is "sunsetting" C-phones at the end of this year. Meaning, they aren't going to service them anymore as they are considered an obsolete technology. So, I would contact Dictaphone and see what your options are.
I know very little about Lanier equipment. I've not used it as extensively as Dictaphone. Is there a local appliance repair place in your area? You might ask one of those places to take a look at your equipment and see what they think. Kinda scary, cause they could do more harm than good, but maybe worth a shot.
Not much help, I know. But I thought I would share what tiny bit of obscure knowledge I do have. 
For Pete's sake, you're not terminating a pregnancy, you're just typing a report after the
It's already been done before you even hear about it, and NOTHING changes regardless of whether you or someone else types it. Sheesh.
It's not funny when you're on a board where language is one skill you're selling.
.
Hope you're gonna have a glass of wine while you're relaxing
in your spa goodies. Congrats!
Well, you're all complaining that accounts are current and work is low, so, gee, maybe they're
focusing on WORK, as in CLIENT and transcribing, as maybe half of you should be focusing on!!
If you're experienced, try for 9cpl or higher, and you're lucky to get that! nm
s
Skip it. No one cares. Either you're good on the test or you're not.
x
You're probably right. Plus we're losing our percentage of good people by .... (sm)
allowing every loser from every 3rd world country on the planet to just stroll on into our country, some legally, most illegally, and take advantage of the social services all us hard working little gerbils pay for by having money taken out of our pay every month. But I don't think we're all lazy. Just the ones on permanent welfare driving around town in brand-new Cadillac Escalades. Saw one just today on the Bayshore Fwy. Brand-new black Escalade with expensive spinner wheels, with 5 or 6 Mexicans in it. Well, who knows - maybe they stole it and it was on its way to a chop-shop. Smart-and-hungry people aren't always hard-working and honest.
You're not going to find a word expander for free. You're going to have to pay
g
You're forgetting all the stuff you can't buy when you're UNEMPLOYED!
Unemployed people have a hard time buying anything, including cheaply made offshore products. How many will have to end up depending on public assistance? That means more tax dollars being eaten up - besides the taxes NOT being collected from the overseas workers. In the long run, are you really enjoying a lower price?
If you're on the job, ask for samples to do it how they want it. If you're testing, separate o
s
You're not losing it, you're burned out on your main job.
I feel for you... I am having my own "version" ;-) of these kinds of struggles. Lots of recent changes at the admin level have made my job do a 180, going from a really great one to a really crappy one.
For me, it's a struggle to get through the day with a shred of motivation. I get distracted in the way you discuss as well.
I just try to make my environment as comfortable as possible and make the best of it while I decide what the best way is to deal with the burnout... I figure if I can't change my inner brain workings so that I still like this job, I need to find another one, or this feeling will possibly get worse!
I hope it works out for you. Wish I had some better advice for you, but this really does look like burnout and extreme job dissatisfaction to me. We all wear it differently. Try to be good to yourself while you figure out a solution.
Don't know what you're complaint you're making with this post. sm
You stated in your original post that you don't want to work weekends or odd shifts. What is your definition of an odd shift? Second shift? Third shift? Sounds like you want to work M-F on days. Sounds kind of rigid to me.
Personally I like second shift, so everyone working days means more work for me!
You're not under a rock, you're just like me... an adult with more to
s
It's not because you're beautiful, it's because you're an IDIOT!
Does that make it any clearer for you??
YOU'RE A SACK OF CRAP!! YOU'RE NOT
THE ADMINISTRATOR. WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE IDIOTS???
 
Honey you're not being a shrew, you're being a
I don't get it when husbands and wives *allow* the other to have money that THEY work for...just don't get it. Go buy the flippin' keyboard and tell him to take a hike! (To put it sweetly!)
Why is it the only expander you're permitted to use? How would any know what you're using?
xx
They think they're smart to accept it, but they're
m
If they're withholding taxes, you're not an IC.
As an IC, you should already be paying taxes. That said, the only benefit having them withhold FICA is that your Social Security/Medicare share will be less. Social Security is 15%; if you're an employee, you pay 7.5% and your employer pays 7.5%. As an IC, you pay 15%. Doing the math, 0.0925 would be your 0.10 minus 7.5%--the 0.0924 is just a tad less than you're making now.
We're out here (good MTs) but we're busy! sm
I don't recall ever taking an employment test where I wasn't offered a job. My MTSO does not even look at my work unless I happen to have a question or a blank, which happens maybe once in every 30 or so reports with an ESL. If you find a really good MT, how much training would be involved? Certainly you would save time in the long run once they're trained and you don't have to check all their work.
If you're one of the MTDesk clan then you're ok
wersdffa
You're right if you're single it's tough.
I am an IC as well, but I have a husband with benefits and makes a fair buck. I am fortunate after 20 years to able to work from home. I worked on site for 17 years with a "chocolate cake" the day I left. Nothing more... The loyalty in any profession is gone, gone, and gone again.
Most companies want new employees/ICs that will take low pay and that won't cost much in the way of paying vacation time.
I do take every Friday off and try only to get on to check e-mail, etc.
However, I wouldn't trade being here for my kids at this point.
There are headaches no matter what profession you are in. It seems if it isn't one thing it's another.
Raises? Out of the question in this profession since most are afraid they will lose the account including myself. I also underbid my last account because I wanted the account so bad. I should be charging more.
It is a neverending cycle really.
But, I still enjoy the work, so I guess that's the difference. It does take will power to sit and type. Some people need that boss hanging around to keep the production up and the incentive of a nice paycheck is just not good enough.
Good luck with your new job! Sounds great!
If you're new, good - if you're not a newbie, not so hot
Would need to know how long you have been an MT. For a newbie, this is a pretty good rate of speed.
However, if you have anything over a couple years of experience, then this is not too hot.
Also, what are the dictators like? Is it a "United Nations" account??
If you ARE capable of 200 lph or more and you can't seem to get it, then the problem has got to be with the platform you are using. In my experience, the platform into which you transcribe can make or break your paycheck - so if the platform stinks, then I hate to tell you, but there is no way you will be able to improve your line rate. I have quit jobs because of awful platforms more than once.
You realize by doing that they're making more money & you're making less? You should reconsid
It's just what you're comfortable with and what you're used to.
I give a minimum of $100 for acquaintances and raise the bar from there to good friends, relatives, immediate family getting the largest gift.
that's because they're the big guys and you're only the
x
No, you're not missing anything, but you're really not seeing
anything either. InterFix designs and sets up software specifically to facilitate an easy conversion to overseas transcription.
You're both right and you're both wrong.
There are too many variables to give an accurate--or even estimated--count. Using a standard 1-inch margin, you may have short lines and lots of paragraphs and get a lower count. If no paragraphs and it's a full page of text from margin to margin, you get your higher count. You can't possibly use an average count because of variables, which is why no one can commit to a pat answer.
It says that's why you're QA and we're MT, simple enough?
Yes, of course, you're right.
You're absolutely right. Your E-mail shows such aspirational maturity -- I'm sure you were the class valedictorian, always the studious, respectful child. You have limitless options. That's how you ended up at MQ like the rest of us.
You're welcome SM
I know exactly what you mean. I've worked for some of the largest teaching hospitals who had staff and resident lists nearly a foot thick but that was in the "old" days when pay was better and computers hadn't been heard of yet. These modern days if a company can't provide their physician list in the data base where I can search with just a letter or 2, then I'm not going to work for them. I suspect that lots of your company's MTs object to nonproductive time looking up tons of names and addresses and whether you realize it or not, you're on the clean up committee, getting those jobs when they are thrown back into the pool. You might try talking it over with your supervisor and offering to continue doing the throw backs provided you're paid to do so. I did that once when all I was getting day in and day out was the most horrible of horrible dictators. Much to my surprise they agreed to compensate me appropriately. Granted, the pickings for really good companies are slim but they are out there, you just have to find the right one. Most will tell you anything you want to hear until you're hired, which is why I suggested keeping the old job until you've tried the new one on for size.
Hope this helps!
You're welcome!
You're right. They do.
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