Not necessarily. There are lots of other factors
Posted By: me on 2008-01-03
In Reply to: If you had figured correctly, you would not GET a big return - Hold what you got
involved that could contribute to a large return, such as losses in the stock market, medical expenses, etc. Generally speaking though it is because you have claimed too many dependents or claimed single when you are married, but there are lots of people who are not able to save money so a little extra each month contributes to a large refund later and then they have the funds to pay off debt or do home repairs, pay college tuition, etc. Now if they put a little away in savings they'd have more to show at the end of the year, but with interest rates so low it wouldn't be a significant amount.
This situation might not be ideal for you, but it may be for someone else. It is their money, it doesn't affect my paycheck or my tax return so I figure it is none of my business.
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There are lots of factors involved. Do you
use an expander/macros, are you able to be disciplined and work and not up and down or on-line frequently, do you have good quality sound files, do you have good dictators, how does the company count lines, etc. Most companies require 1200 lpd for FT, so use that figure as a minimum and do the math.
There are lots of factors involved.
How easy is the platform, how are lines counted, do you have reference books or do you use Google to do all your research? Do you have lots of normals/macros, do you use an expander, do you spend too much time on-line or are you up and down frequently?
I make $40,000/year working 5 to 6 hour days/5 days a week. I have an easy platform, lots of macros, an expander, multiple reference books. I do work for a national, but I am also an employee and get paid by gross line, so my $40,000+/year is better than an IC making $40,000/year.
I guess I was blessed. In my entire 20+ year carrier I've only worked for 3 companies and each one has been better than the previous one.
Is $40,000 what you think you s/b be making based on the TV commercials say you can make or is that what you need to be making? If you don't need that much money to live on then don't worry about it. You have to look at pros and cons of what you are doing versus working in an office and you might come out even by the time you factor in clothing, food, gas, etc. (I'm assuming you work at home.)
Lots of other factors too. They might need MTs with specific specialties or high-speed only or FT o
It seems to go in waves. Lots of radiology jobs, then none. Lots of operative note jobs, then none. Lots of oncology jobs, then none. Then lots of openings again.
I just got high-speed in my subdivision; I think this will open a lot of doors for me that were not open previously. Dial-up only hurt me pretty bad in terms of who would hire me. Could not get flat fee long distance either, so I was a recruiter's nightmare. I was ready to move. Now I can get both through Comcast. Doing the happy dance in MN!!!
so many factors to consider
I had to do this when my last child was born and it was very difficult. I think so much depends though on what kind of a baby you have. Unfortunately, my last one was very needy, cried a lot, and wanted to be held a great deal which meant that I basically was unable to work at all when he was awake. He didn't take good naps either, so I ended up doing all of my work late at night and early morning hours and needless to say, there was little time for sleep. I did it almost the first year of his life and I was one tired puppy.
I'm told from friends who have done it though that it can be done and particularly if you have a good baby who sleeps for long periods of time. Good luck to you!
As you said, it depends on a lot of factors.
I can get 200-250 lph with two of my dictators. There are others that I only get 125 lph due to the platform. I'd say anywhere from 8-16 hours for me.
There are several factors involved
I believe the average line rate is anywhere from 100 to 200 lines an hour. The software platform you are using, what type of report you are typing, whether you have templates you can use, whether you have an expander, all factor into this. If you type letters only and have no expanders, for example, expect the lower range. Those with many standard templates and heavy use of Expanders can expect to type much more than that.
The other poster is correct in that a lot of the national companies expect 150 lines an hour.
Depends on 2 factors.
1. Your line rate. As a recruiter, if you are on a clinic account, you'd be paid between 0.06 and 0.07 cpl. Acute care, 0.07 and 0.075....maybe.
2. Your production.
After that, it's entirely in your hands.
this depends on many factors.....sm
Privately if one is typing in a DOS program with very familiar MDs/work, you can do 300-400 LPH. If, however, one works for a national transcription company, you can slash that about in half if you have to type through the internet and use all the F keys and the alt-cont-shift keys and all that stuff which slows one down tremendously.
Just my nickel's worth. *S* And I know this because I do 400 LPH privately and about 175 LPH for a national.
A lot of factors come in per page.
I've been paid $3.00 per page and made out very well, but I didn't have to search for addresses or correct their language due to poor grammar. These were very smart docs. The reports were very short. The docs just told me to use my own discretion and expertise in regards to format, so I made them as simple as possible = less keystrokes. Hope this helps. Margins play a factor. She is probably better off charging per line.
Pay will depend on many factors
My first year as an MT, I made $20k and that was at 6.5 cents per line. There are tons of jobs out there were you can likely quickly move up and earn more money.
The job will take dedication and the money will not just fall into your lap the first year or two but you can make a good living as an MT. The choice is yours!!!!
Depends on so many factors
This can vary a lot. If you do acute care with many different dictators and lots of difficulty factors and all work types, it will slow you down no matter what. On the other hand, you could get a lot of normals and easy dictators for the most part who you are familiar with and rack up the lines. So many variables to consider. It's a toss of the dice really.
It is according to various factors, report
types, dictators, etc. If I am on op notes all day, yes I could do that.
BBQ, slaw, cornbread, ham, casseroles, lots of veggies, chicken pastry, lots of desserts!! BIG fami
.
Factors impacting income
When you have your own accounts and do the same things daily you can make more. There is no "middleman" to take away from your earnings if you do this, so obviously you make more. When you work for a service you make less. You can make almost as much if you have the same dictators every day and concentrate on production, don't allow interruptions and are willing to type more for less.
Lots of inexpensive decorations at Big Lots. Had a party last year.
s
Speed results from multiple factors....
1. Experience: As you yourself suggest, time "in the driver's seat" will play a big role as you find yourself doing fewer and fewer "look-ups" - whether for terminology, physician names, etc.
2. Self-monitoring. Just keeping close tabs on your production will help. Try playing a little game with yourself to do just a bit better this hour than you did the last hour.
3. Make full use of your expander. WARNING: Many people actually overuse their Expanders and wind up with a jillion shortcuts that they rarely use or can't even remember. Create shortcuts when they make a difference, and use a good naming system.
4. Set up the proper auto backspace for your footpedal that will allow you to establish a rhythm in which what you are transcribing is "bracketed" by the next little bit and the previous little bit of dictation. In other words, you are always slightly listening ahead, transcribing and (when you lift your foot up and back down) reviewing the last bit. This "cycle" keeps what you are transcribing in context with what has gone before and what is coming next.
5. Pay CLOSE attention to the "story" being told - in other words, the context of what you are transcribing. Context is the transcriptionist's best friend as far as resolving ambiguous or difficult words and phrases, alerting you to omitted dictation, and alerting you to possible errors in what thought you had just heard.
6. Proofread as you go to minimize proofreading after the report is completed.
7. Spend only a reasonable amount of time on lookups, especially early in the report. You will often hear the confusing word or phrase more clearly later...provided you remember the blank you had earlier!
8. Discover "the zone". The zone is a mental state in which you are utterly focused on the dictation, almost like a trance state. Human beings are NOT MULTI-TASKERS! You cannot think about a million other things while you're transcribing and hope to achieve either quality or quantity. When you transcribe, transcribe and forget your personal problems. When you're dealing with your personal life, forget transcription.
9. Relative to #8, try to crate a physical space for transcription in which you are dealing with minimal outside distractions.
10. Use a GOOD PROFESSIONAL HEADSET. Most transcription companies distribute garbage earphones. Try a good noise cancelling headset such as the Kensingtons sold on Amazon.com for about $30...and don't let the price fool you. They're great.
BONUS TIP - POWER SESSIONS: If your scheduling permits, you will be more productive in four 2-hour sessions separated by a significant break period than in fewer longer ones.
I discovered power sessions when I was transcribing and attending college. It happened one semester that I had a class in the AM, one in the afternoon and one in the evening - that's the only times they were offered. So, I transcribed early AM, mid-AM, early afternoon and early evening, 2 hours each. I was never so productive in my life. Why? Less fatigue factor and a fresher mind. I really whomped the daylights out of the work for 2 hours at a crack, and then I got up and went to class, completely concentrating on something else. Then, on returning for another power session, it's almost like starting a new day.
The point is, 15- and even 30-minute breaks do not give you this fresh-start advantage.
A number of the people I supervise have improved their productivity dramatically simply by implementing the secret of power sessions.
Good luck!
LOTS and LOTS of video tapes and DVDs.
x
Not necessarily! If she's an IC, she's just like SM
the electric company - no "payday" but waiting for the bills to be paid that they mailed out.
Not necessarily
Let's say the MT types 200 lines per hour at 8 cpl, that would be 16.00 an hour. If you can do VR at 400 lines per hour (I currently edit at 500 lph), at 4 cpl, you would make the exact same thing without the wear and tear on the hands.
I was mainly curious as to why so many openings and if people were leaving.
Not necessarily. (see m)
This only counts if you deduct a portion of the mortgage or monthly maintenance or common charge payment. If you are just buying equipment like computers and office supplies it has nothing to do with your house. Even deducting a portion of the utilities has nothing to do with selling your house.
Please consult an accountant for the most accurate information for your situation!
not necessarily
A lot of us use those types of emails because spammers cruise the hiring sites as do the foreign MT companies. Every time I place an ad, even though I put continental US only, I get loaded up with emails from India, Pakistan, etc. I don't want that mess in my regular email so I use yahoo or hotmail.
Not necessarily
Gross lines are not a good way to go if everything is typed in - say - Times New Roman 12, and the client wants the left and right margins set at - say - one inch each. You would have a LOT of characters per line, so if that is the case, you might come out ahead and better by charging for a 50 or 55 character line instead of a gross line. What do you think?
Not necessarily.
I have been job hunting recently. I have now accepted a position, but I was offered better pay as an employee than what I was offered as an IC. I obviously took the employee position because of the better pay and the tax advantage, not to mention the benefits and continuing education that was offered. I love the flexibility that being a subcontractor gives me, but not at 6.5 cpl!
But.... are they getting what they pay for??? not necessarily
I would take an MT with 20 plus years of hard and fast experience over a paper tested MT any day.
not necessarily....
I had a 3-doctor specialty practice on the west coast and I was the only one that did them. I only charged 12 cents a line for 7 years and just lost the account two months ago to women that underbid me by 2 cents. depends on what clinic or hospital... im struggling right now with my hospital account to get enough lines during the day.... What may be the case is they wont give her that much.
Not necessarily. - sm
I know that if you use ADP for your payroll for lack of a better word, depending on how many people ICs you have an opportunity to be included in their benefits program. At least this was how it was a couple of years ago.
that's not necessarily true
My mother told me I had a bottomless pit for a stomach when I was growing up. I was constantly eating, especially junk food. That was pretty much the way it was straight through high school. Then again, I was kind hyper as a kid. I wouldn't sit still for anything.
I think weight problems are rooted more in lack of exercise than food intake. In my day, we were always outside playing. Now, kids spend their lives vegetating in front of TVs and video games.
It has always been and will always be an issue of burning more calories than you consume.
'Tain't necessarily so
If the docs spoke clearly and in orderly fashion, it would still require an extensive knowledge of medical language, procedures, and of course grammar, to do this job. It would just make that knowledge more important.
P.S. I would suggest kindergarten, not high school, for most of them.
You do not necessarily need to take coding....
courses, although they would be helpful. I have been a Cancer Registrar as well as a Coder and am now doing transcription at home. I have an RHIT (certification after two-year degree in Health Information) from AHIMA. I actually have a hospital pursuing me to take a Cancer Registry position and am trying to decide what to do. You do not have to have a degree to be a Cancer Registrar, although it does seem that most places aren't as willing to train as they used to be, but some do. It does help to have a background in Coding, but again it is not necessary. AHIMA (American Health Information Association) just started an online Cancer Registry self-study program that will most certainly get you going in the right direction. Also, Santa Barbara Community College in CA has an online degree and certificate program for Cancer Registry as well. I hear it is an excellent program. You will take the necessary basic courses like pathophysiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology, oh and computer basics before beginning the core courses. I would definitely look into that. Also, study the NCRA website (National Cancer Registry Association). You will find tons of information on the profession there, as well as credentialing information. (www.ncra-usa.org). Cancer Registry is an extremely rewarding profession in my opinion, although the salaries have not caught up to the complexity of the position. Registrars may start as low as 30k in some areas, with an average being in the high 30-mid 40k. Of course, managers and program coordinator will make more. I don't know where the other poster got 100k from, but that is totally off the map for working in hospitals. Now maybe doing consulting after getting many years under your belt, but still that is a stretch...maybe 70-80k. I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you have to the best of my ability. Blessings! 
You won't necessarily lose your job,
but you will get the absolute worst dictators and dictation possible. All the good stuff goes offshore and we get what's left. And make sure the account you're offered pays for headers and footers to make up for them not paying for spaces. No all accounts pay for headers and footers, and that really makes a difference.
It's not necessarily being a martyr (sm)
The way I see it, it's payback time for the ones who brought you into the world. My mother was there for me as a child, of course. She was also there for me as an adult. There were several times when I went to her for help and she was always there. I saw the sacrifices she made for me, to help me without batting an eye. In her dying months, she needed help getting to appointments 3 times a week. She was afraid to stay in the hospital at night by herself -- me and some of my siblings took turns being there for her, holding her hand and trying to sooth her when she was in so much pain. I cringe to think of the lack of TLC she would have received had we said she belonged in a nursing home. I couldn't imagine letting her lie in agony alone, nor die alone. As much stress as I went through at the time, in looking back, I would have done it all again. You do that for the ones you love, unconditionally.
Not necessarily true
I have been doing medical transcription officially for 18 years, and unofficially much longer than that - I'm second-generation, with a mother who taught me as a teenager to transcribe for her at-home business.
I have managed several departments in hospitals with 600+ beds; managed small MTSOs, much of that in my 20s with less than 10 yrs of experience. I now own my own company - I'm 36.
My experience with most seasoned MTs was positive - never once did anyone question if I had enough experience to be the manager or do their QA. I made mistakes sometimes, which they didn't hesitate to point out to me. The difference is how the manager deals with that - I am one who happily admits that I am not all-knowing or all-seeing, and certainly not perfect.
The reality is that sometimes a "superstar" MT makes a terrible manager. The manager's job is to keep the big picture in view, not be the most knowledgeable MT in the department.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion - but sm, by having such a narrow view of who is "qualified" to be your supervisor, you could miss out on a truly inspired and empowering leader/supervisor.
At least you've got your own business and don't have to worry about that at this point in your life....
Not necessarily true. (see m)
It is possible to get student loans discharged in a Chapter 7 filing. It is not the norm, they say it is very difficult, but it is not impossible. It can be done.
not related necessarily
but I need a part-time job and would love to find one in DQS. Actually, at this point, would like to find anything I can do. Would it be too much to ask to e-mail me with any leads? TIA.
that's no necessarily true....
I just started here with this impending pay rate change. You can't honestly say that you are satisfied with these new issues. I've enjoyed being with the Q for the last 12 years, and have rolled with the changes, but honestly this pay adjustment is too much. They are going to lose a lot of quality MT/MEs over this.
It doesn't have to be necessarily
It has to do with being flexible and knowing that one client prefers things one way and another client prefers things another way. Not all clients follow BOS and not all clients follow by the book format. I have a physician that likes Tinel sign instead of Tinel's sign, so that's how he gets it. I think when you've been at one place for so long, you tend to get used to dictators, but you also can gain experience with new dictators as they come about. I had new dictators any given time and have been through many systems from a typewriter to digital to now online. You have to be flexible that is what I have learned.
I don't think this was necessarily the reason sm
It sounds like they expect you to sit around all day and wait for a job or dare I say TWO to come in. I think they wanted you at the beck and call. Not funny and isn't like you work solely for the joy.
I have not had a contract terminated for getting another job. I have had a company insist that I put them first, which for a full time, I think goes without saying. Moonlighting is moonlighting. I did have someone refuse to offer me a contract part time because of the people I was working for full time, saying they were a direct competitor. The full time has about 400 MTs and this small company who refused me had about 35 MTs. I don't think they were in serious competition, but I suppose that is their call.
I think you are better off without them, but you didn't deserve to be treated that way. They sound unprofessional and inconsiderate. I wish you better luck with your new company. Change can be good...sometimes VERY good.
May not necessarily be outsourcing.
I know of one company that is offering 4 cpl for transcription and 2 cpl for editing to new grads of CS. There was naother company that hired new grads only paying 1.25 cpl editing. So if the companies are getting 7 cpl then use a VR Editor and then get an MT editor to work for 1 or 2 cpl, they are still making a nice profit with US MTs.
it's not necessarily a bad idea, but...(sm)
I think anything identifying the MT should be removed before sending the fax out. Everyone can potentially benefit from seeing others' mistakes from an FYI standpoint, but intentionally identifying the MT who made the mistake serves no purpose at all.
not necessarily tips but...
I do use IT as my Expander - love it. I'm not one who briefs everything, but it save me a ton of time and worth every penny 10 fold. Another must have is the Stedman's spellchecker dictionary.
I wish I had the secret to staying focused. Like many, I lollygag, waste time on the internet surfing, get distracted by household obligations, etc. Honestly, if I would do a straight 8 hours of working, I'd probably make 20-30k more a year. I tend to work a chunk in the morning to mid afternoon and then a few hours at night.
The main thing is to find a company that gives you the opportunity to make money. Find a couple specialties you like and are good at. Find work in those areas. Best if you can find work where you don't have more than a moderate handful of doctors where you can really build speed. If a company isn't paying you for every keystroke you type - get out.
Go beyond what everybody else does to look for opportunities. As it's been said before, the best companies don't advertise. There are a lot of people happy with several companies that do advertise on these boards, but I believe that the smaller companies are the best.
Track your lines. You should be able to type 250-300 lines an hour without too much problem if you are working in a productive environment. If you can only do 150 lines in an hour, then stop and say what is slowing me down. Is it constantly looking up words? It is the platform? Is it extra things you do other than typing that your company requires? If the problem is something you can't alter, i.e. company requirements or platform, start seeking other work.
I don't know that you necessarily HAVE to have a master's. sm
I had never heard of the existence of such a major the first time I went to college 15 years ago or I would have gone for it then, but I have since come across schools that offer it as a bachelor's degree. The prgoram I'm in is an online degree program from a university in another state than I live.
I don't have a straight answer for you on what the demand is for someone with this training. A lot of jobs ask for broad qualifications...like, "a degree in English, communications, or related field," so I figure that's me, LOL. It's probably something where you have to have an idea of WHAT you want to do and then find a way to get there, rather than to wait for an opening to appear.
36 hits doesn't necessarily mean anything.
If there were 30,000 hits on Google, I'd think it legitimate. However, 30 hits could mean that there are 30 misspellings or 30 idiots out there making up words. Or it could be a real word. Normo is a combining form; however, reflexic is not in any of my dictionaries. (Merriam, Taber's, Dorland's, Stedman's) If the account's verbatim, use it. Otherwise, tag it.
Not necessarily...metabolism slowing...
as we get older is a much more likely culprit. At 50, our metabolism is on average 50% lower than at age 16. That is why when we are young we can lose weight easily and rapidly, but as we age it's a tremendous struggle. Exercise is the key, as it not only burns calories but revs up the metabolism for hours following.
Not necessarily - I make 12 cpl for a company. nm
x
This doesn't necessarily work for others, but ...
when I feel upset, overwhelmed, or down about my situation, I try to think of how worse others may have it. For instance, maybe your husband is facing 6 weeks of recovery from surgery... but somewhere out there somebody's husband has been delivered a grim prognosis and would give anything for a 6 week "recovery."
You say you're an orphan... But looking on the positive side you do have a husband and children (however trying they may be at times), and someday they will have spouses and children and your family will be ever larger. That's a good thing.
Again, not to diminish your problems in any way, just trying to share how I sometimes help myself through tough times, by reminding myself that things can actually be much much worse.
Not necessarily. She was in the south where christianity came first
in the white man and black man's eyes no matter the color of skin. Was racism wrong? Darn tootin. But, had Rosa Parks been aetheist, buddhist, mormon or any other religion she would have gotten NOWHERE.
No necessarily so...I don't hear back often
and I have many years experience in MT, including recruting, management, have my CMT, etc. I think they are threatened maybe I will take their job!
NOT necessarily does post belong on GAB BD
The Main Board and the Gab Board are definitely for discussion of a movie and/or healthcare.....The GAB board is not for any subject (so they have said here at MTStars) relating to MT work......or politics and religion.....Think the Main Board is also not for politics and religion posts also.....
But Administration could clarify this for us here..........and have in the past numerous times.
Assault is not necessarily rape
nm
Not necessarily. Supply & demand...
If prices are stable, quality will begin to count again. It's simply a cost vs benefit analysis. Just like some US MTs stink on the quality scale, I hear some Indian MTs are quite good. When the cost is stable enough that docs can't "settle" for poor quality (which many of them really don't care - it's just another requirement they must fulfill), then they'll look for quality again. Those of them who are quality MTs, will be able to compete, and with the increased competition based primarily on quality, the substandard MTs will go away, both Indian and US, but with cost being the sole driving factor, it's my belief that the quality of the average US MT is no longer much better that the average Indian MT.
Shhh, there, there, now. You won't necessarily lose the account.
Stop fretting over it. This is not the first or the last time that someone has accidentally erased an untyped tape. Being honest with the physician is the best thing you can do. Yeah, you might lose the account, but probably not. I mean, are these guys normally jerks about stuff? Or are they decent, hardworking, nice guys? You might offer to type the tapes for free for their trouble in having to redictate. Good customer service. Good luck, and let us know how it goes. Just don't let it ruin your weekend.
I once dumped a full cup of coffee all over my desk. I ruined files, folders, tapes, and pictures. I cried about it. When I told my client what had happened, he laughed because he had done the same thing.
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