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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Of course it's a business! Anything that's run for the purpose of earning a profit is a busine

Posted By: What do you think it is, a humanitarian effort? on 2005-07-31
In Reply to: Treating private health information like a trade is wrong any way you look at it. - It's business you say? sm

What galaxy are you on?




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    for every business, it's profit, profit, profit. That's why it's business and not non-for-p
    x
    Uhm, but that is the purpose of BUSINESS...
    ...these companies don't exist just to give us poor MTs jobs. GEEZ.

    Keeping the client happy keeps BUSINESS, sis.

    You don't like it? GET ANOTHER JOB. GEEZ.

    The purpose of QA is not to fix your mistakes DEAR..the purpose is to get your quality up so we don&
    look at your work. It gets sent directly to the client and we do an occasional audit. If you don't want to deal with editors then listen to what they say and pull your damn score up and you won't have to worry about it all. The comments left are feedback. Why the hell should we just "give you the answer" we need to explain it to you so you do not make the same mistake. Sounds to me like you editor is probably pulling her hair out with you. If you can't cut it, get out of the business!
    For profit versus not for profit organizations
    Does anyone know if there is a difference (in salary or benefits) between being employed by a not-for-profit versus a for-profit hospital or medical center?
    earning ENOUGH as an IC

    Hello all ... I'm considering leaving my hospital job to work from home f/t.  But if i work for a national, as an IC, it seems I'll be luck to make $20 an hour.  I'd have to work like a dog, all day long, to earn $150 bucks.   And of course that has no benefits in that wage !


    My ques is - how do you guys who work f/t from home for transcription services - do it ?  How do you make enough $$ to pay all the bills, and then some?  do you work p/t and do this as a supplement ?


    It just seems it will be very, very hard to make what I earn now at the hospital.  Thanks! JoJo - New Jersey


    earning enough
    You won't earn enough - look at these boards and see how many people can't pay their bills and how many people have left MT.

    Stay at the hospital! I just recently - 3 weeks ago - went back to a hospital job after 10 years as an IC and/or MTSO employee. There is no comparison between the two.

    ALso, the trend now is for hospitals to start hiring their own MTs, at least for part of the work. They are reversing the outsourcing trend that started back in the 1980s.

    I think you'll be sorry if you leave your hospital job.
    CMT/earning potential
    50, 52K?  That sounds great to me---as someone who doesn't transcribe anymore, am thinking I'm in the wrong end of the biz.  I have two hourly jobs, one FT and one PT as QA/editor from home and making 54.  Would much rather work one job...hmmm...I would certainly go back to transcription w/the right employer and the only obstacle to my earning potential being myself.  More info on types of companies you work for...??
    How about earning via writing

    See link below titled "Sample page." Sign up for free and start writing and earning. Read the FAQ on that site to learn about how. Also, visit the forums section and see how others are earning just expressing their thoughts, writing on topics they like.


    Isn't that called profit
    They charge the hospital more than they pay us.... yes.....don't understand what is supposed to be bad about that.  It's called profit.  As far as calculating the lines differently for the MT versus how they count them for the hospital for billing, there is nothing illegal about that and there is nothing that says they have to calculate the lines the same way.
    MTSO's profit

    Do you know how hard it is to land an account that will pay you 14 to 16 cpl so that you can pay an MT 10 to 12 cpl.  It is very hard, if you think it is so easy then I suggest you try to get your own accounts and deal with all the headaches.  Keeping only 3 to 4 cpl per line to run the business, deal with all that stress, overhead, etc. is barely worth it to me.  Even with the larger companies, by the time that they pay the MT, the QA, the overhead, the benefits, I know you think all the MTSO's get rich but the medium to smaller MTSO's have a small profit margin.  Again, I suggest that you try to land your own accounts if you are so unhappy with the pay.  Also if you can do 200 to 300 lines per hour, $14 to $24 an hour isn't really that bad of pay to be able to work at home.   Yea I know years ago we got paid more but then years ago we actually TYPED more as we did not have the expanders, the computers, templates, etc.  Anyway, I do agree that  7 cpl is a little low for very experienced MT's but for some of those that I have had apply, it is too much.  Anway, flame me all you want, I don't know what the answer is as but maybe if enough MT's were to get their own accounts and take them away from the larger companies, they could make more, charge a little less than the larger companies.  Hey also what happened to that gal that was on line that was going to have the backer to start her own company and asked for all the input and was going to pay the great wages and benefits, have the perfect schedule for the MT's, etc.  Did she find out that it was not as easy as she thought?  I would like an update from her if possible.


    Patti 


    No, profit is they charge the company say 15 cpl and pay
    transcriptionists 8 cpl.... the difference is PROFIT... If they pay a Transcriptionist for 75 amount of lines and charge the company for 100, that is STEALING
    If 13 is the lowest you can go and still make a profit,
    Whether someone else can afford to charge 11 cents is not relevant. Don't fixate on thta. You need to calcualate all your expenses (both direct and indirect), add to that a profit you can be happy with, and that's your price plain and simple. If your client accepts it, that's great. If not, it's out of your hands, and you start looking for a new client.
    My husband also has profit sharing
    In his case, he has the potential to receive a monthly bonus, which is based on how well this office does sales-wise according to what was projected. This bonus is issued through the regular payroll and is unrelated to the profit sharing, which is a part of the retirement plan (though separate from 401K) and is like a yearly bonus, I think perhaps based on company profitability for the prior fiscal year, so receives it in July, but we are not issued a check for this "bonus" and it is added into the 401K account. When we receive statements, there is a total amount that includes both the 401K and the profit sharing, but it is also broken down as to how much is in each account. I believe he had to work for the company for five years to be 100% vested and I do not think that he was vested at all prior to the five-year anniversary date, though I have worked for a company previously where an employee was gradually vested in increments annually (20% each year or something like that), where if you left the company after, say, three years you would be 60% vested and entitled to 60% of the funds in your profit sharing account, but any time after five years of employment would be 100% vested and, thus, entitled to 100% of the funds allocated to profit sharing.
    estimate on company's profit
    The company owner (who got the contracts for us, and we subcontracted from her), charged 2 cents more per line. In other words, if the transcription company paid the MT 9 cents per line for transcribing an account, the transcription company would charge the doctor 11 cents per line. That was in the year 2006 BEFORE we went digital, when we used the minitapes. I don't know whether digital requires more or less overhead.
    If they make it that difficult to figure out what you are earning, then I would tell them NO.
    These companies that cannot seem to want you to know what you are earning are hiding something. Say no. If they can figure out how to use a 65-character line with spaces, tell them to call you.
    Too, the MTSO is not earning extra from the client
    The gains come from their paying out less to QA.
    Not talking taxes but fact you will be earning
    x
    No, it is only income if you are a reseller and are making a profit.

    I had a long discussion with the IRS on this topic because I sold everything that wasn't nailed down in our house.  If I had paid taxes on that money, it would have been double taxation because I paid taxes when I first earned the money that bought the item to begin with.  I bought the items, used them for a while, then sold the items as if it was a "yard sale".  I did not make a profit.  I merely resold used items that belonged to me.  I had receipts on most of it to prove that I didn't sell for more than what I paid.


    It is different if you're selling on ebay as a business, in which case you would have to do a cost of goods sold, inventory, profit/loss, schedule C, and all those other fun things.


    Yes, you can make a profit if you pick up and deliver.
    You charge them a line rate that includes your cost for doing the tapes, printing, etc. A business person should know how to successfully sit down and figure up their expenses and how to charge a rate that will provide a profit, regardless of how the dictation is supplied. If the client wants delivery, I am glad to do it and charge them a fee for said delivery based on the cost of gas, vehicle maintenance, etc. They either are willing to pay the fee for the delivery or they decide digital doesn't look all that bad after all. Either way, I win. I also do not go to their office every day. I go twice a week and that's fine with them and doesn't bother me since I'm running other errands then anyway.

    I would not dump a client that I've had for years simply because they are afraid of technology. I charge them accordingly for tapes because I consider that out of the normal way I do business and make sure I turn a profit, but I certainly wouldn't dump them. In fact, in some ways, their reluctance to move forward with new technology can be viewed as a positive thing because at least I never have to worry about losing them to speech recognition since they won't even pick up a phone to call in dictation. ;)

    Yes, I have a call-in system, I have digital handhelds that I supply to clients, and I am well versed in digital dictation. I prefer my clients to use the digital services I offer, absolutely, but I do have some old clients that I've had for years that just don't want to make the switch. Not about to drop a $30K a year client over it, though. I know that eventually, they will come around and try the digital way of life. Until then, I'll gladly collect the delivery fees. :)
    Their claim to be 'not-for-profit' cracks me up.
    They're making $$ hand over fist at those seminars. Love the photo of the race horses at the top. Bet more than a few of them own some. Oh - and most companies with an LLC behind them are in other countries. Like India and China, to name a couple.
    Great. Now more will flock to CS in hopes of earning $40,000+ a year.
    http://www.careerstep.com/blog/?p=31

    Why do they keep perpetuating this myth of making this kind of money with MT? New grads of CS are getting offers of 4-6 cpl for straight transcription and 1-3 cpl for VR. There is no way anyone is making $32 an hour at those rates.
    There is a purpose for everything
    God is good!  Congratulations!!!  I hope and pray each day that I can get out of this industry soon!!  My hubbie is starting a business and I just pray that it will lead to us having our own business and then GOOD BYE to transcription industry!!  It was a blessing starting out but man alive it is getting on my last nerve now, definately not my calling. 
    Ah, what's your purpose in this? If it gives you a
    others down (others whom did NOTHING to you, BTW), then I want no part of it. Way to class it up.

    Hope you have a nice life free of bitterness. I wash my hands of such negativity.
    That was my purpose in

    That was my purpose in posting this, the fact that he is bringing attention to it.  I think it is great that he cares about our medical records and I hope he can bring some attention to the importance of how and where and by whom they are done, making the public aware. 


    isn't it the posting by the visitors here that determine the web site's profit?
    just a curious question.
    I've never come close to earning $20 in years of doing this. Troubles with every company, usually
    s
    Longevity as an MT doesn't mean a higher wage. Lots of us out here still earning less
    s
    Ummm 10.00 per month compared to earning 800.00. No not free, but might as well be. BUT look aroun
    server software IS free BTW: I find my solution EXTREMELY simple!!
    Why in the world would someone do that on purpose? I am 5Ɔ" and an

    E, was a C in 7th grade.   I have a sister who is a AA and one who is B, both older.  They want more, I want less.   Insurance won't pay for reduction.  Of course mine don't like as nice as hers, but I mine aren't man-made either. 


    What's your purpose posting this?
    Why to show off in that way, making others suspect that you are lying?
    Don't wonder if you get nasty replies.
    What's your purpose posting this?
    Why to show off in that way, making others suspect that you are lying?
    Don't wonder if you get nasty replies.
    The Purpose Driven Life...
    I have felt very overwhelmed too over the past several months, and my DH gave me a book for Christmas that is the most wonderful gift he's ever given me...."The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. It is written to be read at the rate of one chapter a day, so it is very managable in our busy schedules.

    Anyway, this book has made a huge impact on my outlook on life already, and I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND it to anyone who is questioning their purpose in life. It is a wonderful book, and if you can't afford to purchase it, you probably get it from the library.


    Find something fulfilling to do - something with a purpose (sm)
    What if you got a job helping those less fortunate than you? Many people were born with mental and physical disabilities and you could use your abilities to help them. Apply for a job at a home for the mentally retarded or for the elderly - do something that makes you feel good in your heart - where you know at the end of the day that you made a difference in someone else's life. That will make you feel wonderful!

    If not something like that, and you just need some variety, work for a temp agency so that you can keep learning one job after another and moving on.

    Right now you are living in oppressed conditions. Anyone would get depressed being alone in the dark day after day. I do believe in depression - anyone who does not is jut unaware. Get yourself out of that apartment! Go for a walk. Make a point to smile at at least 5 people who look unhappy - force yourself to smile. Read up on the internet about how lack of UV rays causes seasonal affective disorder - read about how forcing yourself to do things like smile, cause endorphins to be released in your body and make you feel better. Use your brilliant mind to figure your way out of the maze you are in - you will have to look to new ways of thinking,and new ways of living.
    forgot to mention other purpose was sm
    I had XP home edition on my PC and they needed Professional edition for their platform MedRite, so was using their PC.
    If you click a link by accident or on purpose sm
    that message can open a trojan on your PC that will access your ebay information.  Happened to me once and some yo-yo hijacked my EBay account and ran up $3000.00 worth of charges in about 2 hours. My account got suspended for suspicious activity and I was notified by EBay of the problem.  Lucky for me, they found out who did it and cancelled all the charges. I had to go to the EBay chat with customer service and repair the damage. Took about an hour.  Now I change my password everytime I get a message that's fake and send everything to spoof@ebay.  It really does help.  So, if you do get a note about suspicious activity, then go to Ebay and see if you can log in.  If not, then the email is from them. 
    The sole purpose of AAMT was and is to make..

    money.  With some online schools pushing their credibility to newbies, enough have fallen for "it" that they still rake in plenty.  The original idea was, no doubt, a good one.  Somewhere along the way, the working MT was forgotten.  AAMT in no way represents the best interests of the working MT.  The idea they are pushing now of making CMT credentialing mandatory is a joke and certainly not in the best interest of hundreds of thousands of working American MTs.


    Hey, I'll send anyone a test (for a mere $50 fee), and I will *allow* them to use the prestigious ND after their name if they pass. 


    Oh, what does NS stand for, you ask?  NO DUMMY


    I guess I don't understand the purpose of a time stamp
    being put throughout a document? Can someone explain why this would be needed?
    why would you want both services? if you keep your vonage, it would defeat the purpose of buying th

    NM


    purpose of gallbladder is to squirt bile into digestive system
    which helps emulsify fat. Doesn't seem to have anything to do with weight loss or not. I've never seen frequent notes that state, as a condition associated with gallbladder disease, that "patient is unable to lose weight." In fact, being fat is one of the 5 F's associated with gallbladder disease - Fat, Female, Fair, Forty and Fertile.
    Unfortunately it is legal..so yes it is business and they will continue with bad business practices
    x
    Of course you can, but there is a board for that purpose. Feel free to post on the Comedy Stop.
    /
    I made my business your business by posting and...
    I totally respect everyone's opinions. It is easier for others on the outside looking in. That's why I pushed the "post reply" button yesterday. I trust my fellow MTs and I know the more I read from you all, the more confident I am becoming. I just need that final push, not from him though. I also wanted to let you all know that the physical abuse while I was pregnant was documented by my doctor and the hospital. I only wish I had known then that it is a felony to abuse a pregnant woman. I also photographed my face from a couple of weeks ago and told several people in my circle. I had such high hopes for us. Now...not so much. I'm not saying that I won't try to get him to church, but I realize that God can only do so much for someone who isn't listening. j
    Business is business. Internet forums are
    .
    For a business ad?! A business that deals
    ''Transcriptsis'' x2

    ''with good track record''

    ''serve our clients of all sizes'' (I know what they mean, but I just think the wording is funny)

    ''strive to achieve highest possible quality'' (once again, they never met an 'article' that they didn't hate)

    ''all departments including H&P...'' (or a comma, for that matter)

    Is that really any of your business?
    I would think that it would be very wrong of you to spread the information you found on Google while searching for the patient's name. Are you 100% certain that it is the exact same person you are transcribing? Even seemingly oddball names can be duplicated and how would you look spreading around gossip? Even if it is court-documented, it really is not your story to tell, IMO. I would love to know who is telling you to put it on the news. That is about the craziest thing I've heard in a while, although quite good for a laugh.
    MT business
    It depends on how large a business you want.  There are still some small accounts, (10,000 to 18,000 lines) per month that are still on tape that you can get.  Also the digital is not that hard but I will not pay for anyone to transfer my files, I can do that.   I do not have a phone in system but if someone were to ask I would probably start out with the ones that charge so much per minute and use their system until I knew for sure the account was staying.   Where are you located, have you networked with anyone in the area?  Are you set up for tapes as well as digital?  If you start out alone, you have no back-up, you have to do everything.  When you hire I/C's sometimes they are dependable and sometimes not.   You will not earn much off of them if you want to keep your accounts.   You will not be able to charge as high as the larger companies nor go after the larger accounts at first.   It is a fine line as to having enough help and enough work and that is why you hear the complaints all the time, "We have run out of work" as you have no control over how much or when a doctor dictates or if he takes time off.  But would I give it up, probably not as the money is good to me.   You can E-mail me with any specific questions, I have been doing my own small MTSO for over 20 years.   Been through it all, ups, downs, good times, bad times, and everyting in between.   My accounts have been with me from 6 years to 20 years so I feel that they are pretty stable. 
    Well I am sorry that you are using this business as sm
    your excuse, but hospitals pay their people for holidays and if by chance you have to work them, they pay you time and a half.

    I do not know why a business owner cannot take these things into consideration when setting up a business. This is a business just like any other business and if you have employees, those employees need to be given the same consideration as any other business. IC status is different, but I find using the nature of this business as an excuse just a little weak.

    A good business head would enable you to provide benefits for your employees and if you have already made up your mind it does not, then I think probably it is because maybe you need someone else to do that figuring for you.

    I am not being mean in saying these things, but even small business owners I know are able to work it out that a holiday is a holiday (whether you have to work it or not) and an employee needs to be compensated in some manner. To me, there is no excuse for not doing so.
    new business
    My opinion would be to let them either work at home or at the company.  I prefer to work at home, but some people may not.  As far the pay issue--when I started doing transcription I made .06 cpl and I think that is a fair rate.  Hope I helped
    This is really none of my business, and I know that,
    but the more I read of your story, the more absurd it becomes to even think of staying with this man.  I'm truly sorry.  I know how hard it is to leave, as I had to that in my former life, and believe me I wanted my marriage to last "til death do us part," but that ain't always possible.  I too TRUST in the Lord with ALL of MY HEART and SOUL, and as I said, sometimes it just ain't possible.  The Lord will guide you through this.  Guess it is just that as an outsider it is easier to see the forest for the trees.
    Been there on business
    I used to work retail management and my company had a resort there. I have been there several times to meetings and we always had some time to do things. I always enjoyed it and would like to go some day just for pleasure. There is lots to do there.
    New business
    I have a small transcription company that kind of fell into my lap, luckily.  It has been a year now, we have five girls and are doing a really good job with one large account.  I had tons of experience as a transcriptionist, but never as a business manager, so I took my time.  Now I am looking to get more work.  Anybody have any thoughts as to how to reel them in?