Oh, lucky you if you get ANY lines to transcribe --
Posted By: MQ MT on 2005-07-26
In Reply to: Well, they said I could expect OT immediately..?? - New MQMT
Accounts are SO LOW, especially at the end of pay periods that you can hardly survive with MQ anymore. Used to be a wonderful company to work for a few years ago . . . work is gradually disappearing, and you will be switched from one account to another to get EVEN the REQUIRED lines!!
Just you wait and see . . . .
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
How many lines per week do you transcribe?
Do you think shooting for 9000 lines a week is way over the top? I need to work as much as I can and I am thinking I may commit to 9000 lines a week (can do that over 5, 6 or 7 days or however I want) - but I'm afraid of burnout. I have been an MT many years and in my younger days I did that much on a consistent basis; just not so sure I can keep up that pace anymore. Just wondering how much others are doing.
Absolutely. If I need someone to transcribe 500 lines between the hours of
8 am and 5 pm, it's up to you to take on that contract as an IC or not. But if you agree to do it, it's your responsibility. You don't have to accept the position as my IC if you can't or don't want to provide what I need.
thread is Who can transcribe 5000 lines/day (sm)
and it's about halfway down the page.
The poster used the name "See job ad by T. Olyphant!!"
I just type 250-275 lines per hour and transcribe about 6 to 6.5 hours a day.
I am a seasoned MT who back in the day 2000 lines was nothing to achieve. I sat for 8 straight hours, barring potty breaks and 30-minute lunch. But now that I am pushing 50, I can hardly stay in the chair 2 hours at a time. I have set my goal at 1600 lines per day as that is what my employer pays 9.5 cpl for. If I drop below that, my cpl drops also. In addition, I have a backup up IC position with another company (to compensate when I run out of work on my FT job) that pays 10 cpl. I type 2 hours on that account (usually at night) and get 600 lines per day. Fabulous account, fabulous "internet software" everything is right at your fingertips, and they count spaces, headers and footers. Actually both jobs count spaces.
My advice to anyone wanting to get more lines- first and foremost priorty is check out the software the company uses. If it is not user-friendly... forget it. There was this one company who paid 10 cpl, and I could hardly get 500 lines in a 2-hour period. They said they counted spaces, but it was hard to tell, and they surely did not count footers or headers.
Aaahhhh, now I get it. Gross lines vs. Character lines. I guess I've just been conditioned to
think in terms of character lines. One of the perils of working as an IC for somebody who defines what a line is versus owning your own company and defining it yourself. After working for someone else for 15 years, maybe it's time to bust out on my own.
That is a lot of work/lines for 2 people. I do 3000 lines per day sm
if you times that by 30 days that only comes to 90K lines a month, that is working 7 days a week including weekends. I don't think 2 people can handle that.
900 lines is below 1100 lines, where the bonus starts.
x
Gross lines include all lines containing
printable characters, so a full line and a line with one word on it are charged equally. Straight lines are basically the same as gross lines, but with this method of counting the blank lines are counted as well (again, equally). I have only had one company pay this way, and they are a middle man. I would think the charge would be about the same as for gross lines, and that not too many offices will want their lines counted this way (the one I worked on was probably inherited from someone who had counted the lines that way, so just continued).
The norm is 1 minute = 10 lines; 10 min = 100 lines - sm
granted this varies per dictator. More lines if a fast talker, less if a slow talker.
I went from 2400 lines to 1800 lines
a day when I switched from clinic (through an MTSO) to hospital work. Not only was the clinic work easier with more macros (and less providers to learn, 12 vs 300+), but I was typing in straight Word (as opposed to Softmed/Chart Script). So you see, it really varies depending upon the type of work as well as the platform used. That said, I am so much happier typing the 1800 lines per day (I make over $15 per hour plus an incentive for any lines in excess of 1200 per day) plus a great health package/benefits, AND approximately 5 weeks of paid time off per year. In my opinion, hospitals really are the best employers WHEN they appreciate the work we do.
My advice for you is not to judge a job by any one criterion but rather the entire picture. The 'extra's can really add up.
Good luck in your job!
Which is the one where they are sc*&ing us the standard lines or the qualified lines? SM
Mine show up as STD when I pull up my transcription log. But I see now there is STD/QT.... So which is the one where they are ripping us off, standard or qualified? Need to know. I am about to switch companies and I will not do if they are actually taking lines from me. Thanks guys.
I think I was lucky....
 I was raised in the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains, of course this was a very, very long time ago in an ancient and far off place! We had no neighbors except for maybe about 10 miles away or so. Nearest town was 25 to 30 miles. We raised, trained and showed the most beautiful show horses. Of course my daddy always kept a couple of "not so good ones" around for my brother and me".
You know back then, when I reached the age of 10 and my brother reached 12, momma would let us take off on those horses for an entire day, (all the time), to go on up further into the mountains and enjoy life!! However, she would get really angry if we tried to ride within sight of a "populated region"; we did that once and got in big trouble!!
Since I've grown up and had my one and only child, my son....to be quite honest, I don't know how she could have lived through all our adventures. I would have had at least three heart attacks and two strokes.
I agree there is more media coverage, HOWEVER, there are a lot more people, and a lot more people brought up with lesser values than in the past. We also allowing many illegals into this country to our detriment. I was "fondled" by my grandfather when I was around 8 years old, in the dark broom closet of his house", but I never told my mother because she loved her father so dearly. I did not let it jade my outlook on life, however, I did become more aware and was ever so watchful raising my son. As far as I'm concerned, things ARE worse and it is not just because of more media coverage....what we have here is a major decline in the moral values of the human race. We can thank parents of those perpetrators and the ACLU for that and probably a few others.
***LUCKY****
ha ha ha ha
you are lucky to have such a job...
In the last 8 years, working for 3 nationals, I have never had the option of only working 3 hours/day. When I first started at MQ, years ago now, I was statutory and was able to do that (when I made what I wanted, I would stop for the day, and it was okay with them as long as I met my minimum lines), but it was not long after they began with the mandatory requirement of a dedicated amount of hours.
From then on in I have always had to commit to the hours, even when working for no benefits and whether part- or full-time...and the hours are tracked, with threats to accompany them (especially when I worked with PS) if I went under at all, ever, period.
Normals are also a thing of the past for me since the last few years...and same account? Consider yourself triply lucky - I have to work on 5, 6 accounts, and more, to make sure I get my minimum hours and lines. This is with a 99-100% quality, good work record and ethics, 8+ years of hospital experience etc, etc (like most ladies here).
You are truly lucky. Would you even consider mentioning your employer? Could it be home-based from a national, or from a hospital, or do you have your own company?
You may be lucky sm
The Phoenix office was terrible to work for, sitting around waiting all day for a report or 2. They would occasionally farm us out to the Dallas office but their accounts were pretty terrible, at least the ones I worked on. Good luck with your venture.
You will be lucky if SS
in the MT field. They will chew you up and spit you. Get out, there are more companies that will hire you that are much better.
Lucky You!
I'm jealous as all get-out! I'd love to do that. I'm an MT student, as well as a scoping student. Currently, I work as a land secretary, typing up oil/gas leases, agreements, etc.
Lucky you!
I sent out about 220 nice brochures and did not get one line of work out of it. And I have a lot of experience!
Really pissed now and wondering if I should waste my time soliciting a different area. 
Lucky You! Wish we were all that lucky!
NM
And also you are lucky to be
x
Lucky you!
Spheris and Medquist have not yet set up camp in your area, swooping in and taking every last crumb of work. Then you have the decision of whether to work for them for pennies or have no work.
And if you are lucky enough to be one of their favorites at that point, they might even send you some decent dictators.
Lucky you. sm
Did you have a nickname?
You'd consider yourself lucky!
I have always paid the very highest possible line rate I can to the MTs here and gross count at that plus all the freebies, too! But again, guess what? I can't pay it to my SCs if the doc's refuse to pay a reasonable line rate. AND THEY ARE. And I'm FAR from the only MTSO who's experiencing this tight-wad phenomenon. Don't blame me for it! I come from the school that you get what you pay for and you pay a little bit better than the average bear; i.e.. waving the carrot so to speak, so that you get top notch work/performance. I understand that, and you probably understand that, but guess what? The docs apparently don't understand that, nor do they care. So what about THAT don't you understand!? Do you expect MTSOs to go in the red just for the opportunity for you or another SC to work? 
LUCKY!
nm
I don't know if I was just lucky, or
what, but I really didn't have a lot of trouble potty training my son. I wouldn't stress too much about him being 3 1/2 and still not there. My son was about that age when he finally got it. The big thing for me was that I just didn't *push* him. I didn't make a HUGE deal out of it. I did use pull-ups, but I didn't get upset if he had an accident, and it was like one day it all sort of came together. It may sound strange, but it's true. He stopped wetting his pants, and even stopped wetting the bed. And from that point on he has never had an accident. If you are home with him during the day and it's just you and him and the only way he will use the potty is to be naked, then let him be naked...maybe that way he will learn to be comfortable with it. All I know is that I didn't try to force it on my son (not saying that you are), and it really just sort of happened naturally. Good luck!
Lucky Ones
Wow, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I was able to stay in bed until 10:00 while my older daughter watched my younger one and my husband went shopping for my Mother's Day/birthday dinner. I also got a beautiful card from my daughters and a concert ticket that I had been wanting. My husband did miss my birthday a few years ago and giving him the silent treatment worked, the next day I got flowers. Hopefully, they'll be more considerate of you if you let them know how you feel.
lucky you! Do tell - where to ?
Haven't had a "getaway" in 2 years !
lucky you!!!!!!!
:)
All of the above. I'm lucky too.
I'm lucky too - have a sm
really awful ESL that says "thank you, Bye, bye" when he finishes! Really cute.
I'd say you were lucky - in an old job - sm
I had over 300+ different doctors (acute care from a pool). Now I do not do the same doctor every day but do anywhere from 1-9 different doctors in a day; from a group of about 30 doctors (there are more than that though). Some days I only get 1, others 3 or 4, depends on what comes in. I used to keep a notebook and make tabs for each new doctor I did, one to remember format, two to remember any unfamiliar terminology and their style. You might want to do something like that until you get comfortable. I have not used my notebooks for several years now, but once a blue moon I get stuck on a word and just look in my notebook to find it. Makes things a lot easier when you are having trouble.
I am lucky
Mine are gross lines so take some off but have longer lines also. But there are days I can hit over 4000 but these accounts have been with me for many years. I can sometimes type what they are going to say before they say it. I have never had carpal tunnel or wrist problems since starting doing this full-time 18+ years ago. Do not have neck, shoulder or back problems. Now a days I work my two 8 hour days and my two 6 hour days and one 4 hour day. But again, after doing an account for 5 to 15 years, you know them inside and out, up and down. I am one of the lucky ones, don't like to flaunt it and wish everyone could have the accounts and office staff that I have. I count my blessings every day.
Lucky
I have been with this doctor for five years. I must admit I get paid decent $, but had to ask for raise. No benefits, no holidays, no vacation, and did not even get invited to Christmas Party. Maybe it is time to move on!
I have been really lucky with
doctor's wives. I can't think of one who wasn't as nice as could be, but then I've been blessed with some pretty kind doctors, too.
Lucky you!
Wow!! My student loan didn't get discharged and it was originally 1992 but because I consolidated in 1999---ARGH!!!
You were lucky....sm
At the hospital where I had my Csec they would not tie my tubes, because it was a Catholic hosp. Talk about discrimination! Otherwise I would have had it done in a split second.
Men, indeed!
lucky you - if only the one I had
last night was that courteous. If you read my post, you would know that I was complaining about the dictator that was ESL that was not courteous enough to make himself clear.
geez - I thought this board was a place to vent a little without condemnation. Guess I was wrong - and here I thought I lived in America!
I was lucky sm
I found her by opening the phone book in a city that I was only living in for 10 months. I called her, she needed someone, she tested me, the rest was history. Then I moved and eventually she got a system where I could type for her from where I am. I made the mistake of letting that job go when I was making more for a major company but we've kept in touch and I will hopefully be going back to work for here in the next month or two. They are out there but it is probably a lot of luck in finding them.
Oh you are so lucky....
To still get paid even with no work!! I wish I could. But I have a backup job now so when I don't have work I will have a backup.
sometimes you can get lucky too
i found a brand new K. Advantage on ebay and requested they make it buy it now, and got it for 175. My first one i paid full price for; then i decided i'd better have a spare. there's many keyboards out there, but i studied the technology behind the kinesis and what i learned plus my experience, says it is very good on the arms/wrists/nerves. Maybe some of us will last longer in this business because of it. It does take a while to get used to, but well worth the effort i think. been using one several years now.
thats where I consider myself lucky ...sm
My primary account is pretty good, with very few ESL doctors, and with a low minimum requirement, it makes things much, much easier
Question versus gross lines versus 65-character lines....
I have always charged or been paid by 65 or 60 character lines or per letter or space typed, but have never been paid or charged per gross line.
What is the advantage of this? If I were to charge 11 cents per 65-character line including spaces, what does this figure out to for an average line rate and how do you do this calculation?
I'm wondering if it is financially beneficial for me to bill by gross line or to keep it the way I have it. I do know some accounts will only pay per 65-character line, as this was the deal my first own account I recently acquired. They were adamant on a 65-character line, but didn't specify with or without spaces and I personally would never not charge for spaces.
Thanks for explaining this. I appreciate it and hope everyone has a speedy day.
Lucky NY'er
Lucky you in NY. I was born and raised in NYC and Long Island and hopefully within the next year I will be going back to NY (I now live in CA). It is so hot here today. This is the 17th day of triple digits. We broke the record today for the longest heat wave. Right now it is 106 degrees.
You are a very lucky person..
CONGRATULATIONS! LUCKY YOU
I worked as an IC for for my local hospital for years just waiting for the opportunity to sign on as employee, which I was before my mom became ill. I was overlooked for those years and the last straw came a couple months ago when they hired another outsider.  I was good at the job, transcribing almost 2 hours a day and rarely did any work came back for changes. They haven't been able to keep up since..
I get calls all the time begging me to come back...as an IC...nope, can't do it. I've got a full time employee status job now. Sure, the money was good as an IC, but I need benefits, like holidays and vacations, pension, and savings plan. I'm no spring chicken. Would I go back if offered employee status? Maybe, as I really miss them, but not at the rate of a new employee either. I would want the rate that I should have gotten if I was an employee all that time. Am I being selfish? Or "ungrateful" as someone put it?
Lucky so far. See my message below.
I know what you mean but I have been lucky this break - sm
First day of break we left for Disney on a Make-A-Wish trip for my daughter who has/had a Wilms tumor (03/2005). So we had 6 days of fun there at a wonderful place called Give the Kids the World Village....only children with cancer, recovering from cancer, etc., stay there, great place. So back from that, had Christmas at home then I took them to see my dad (saw their other grandparents on Christmas day) and we are leaving from his house this morning. So they have been kept pretty busy and have had a blast. Granted my paycheck will be pretty poor (took off for Disney of course) and worked very minimally while at my dads. Key is to keep them busy and not bored I guess. Of course I have to get until Tuesday now at home but with all the gifts from Christmas, etc. I think they will be able to entertain themselves for a while....plus they usually pester my DH before me....but I have a very light work schedule for the weekend ( a whole 30 minutes of work, I think--haven't checked yet though) and don't work again until Tuesday. So I am enjoying it since next week won't be so leisure filled. Try to enjoy some, just make a little less for 2 weeks, then jump back in the grind!
You are definitely lucky as you actually have some work to do at MDI-MD!!! nm
nm
Lucky neighbor....
My ex-neighbor also experienced this and was lucky enough to live (very high mortality rate). She delivered her baby OK but then all her problems began. She swelled up like a balloon and had an emergency hysterectomy (thinking she had internal bleeding) before being airlifted to a bigger hospital. After over six months in the hospital and rehab, she is fine with no brain damage, but she suffers from bilateral foot drop and sometimes wears braces. She is one very lucky lady!!!
That's the kind of QA I'm lucky enough to
They are very good about giving a thumbs up on how well you are doing at the same time gently correcting your mistakes.
You are lucky, at least your doctor is looking out for you - sm
I was T-boned in Oct., sore, stiff neck and upper back, got "there is nothing you can do"...x-ray showed inflammation...got the "time will take care of it", no come back and see me in a month and lets see if it is any better, nothing. A month later and no improvement I started seeing a chiropractor. It has made a big difference. I don't wake up stiff and sore every day now, though stress and excess work do affect my back more now than it did which I can date to the accident. I was actually told to use ice though, 20 minutes on, and hour off as much as I could handle to reduce the inflammation, it helped quite a bit too. I had been doing heat, hot showers, heating pad, and it did me no good at all, which had never been the case in the past the few times I had hurt my back. I am sure a few days rest can't hurt though I kept working but not as much as it hurt too much to do so and stiffened up quickly the more I sat, felt tons better to move about. But I have gotten better slowly, still have good and bad days but not like before. I now go the chiropractor 2 x a month, today she wanted to see if I want to go to 1 x a month but I feel better with the 2 and think I will keep it that way.
|
