Patti or other MTSOs...
Posted By: wc on 2006-01-31
In Reply to:
Hi,
Need to get my own account/s instead of relying solely on the national (guess who). Getting a client in my area is probably the easy part. The hard part is the logistics of software, paper, etc. Not having dealt with this stuff working with a national, it is the *simple* things that are a mystery to me (and others, I suppose). I hate to even inquire about transcribing for someone, not knowing what equipment I will need, what software, kinds of paper. I am sure I would come across as an idiot (like right now, maybe?)
OKay, well, I looked online at Dictaphone and it looks like there are mini, micro, and standard cassette units (not to mention digital online programs), so I guess you WOULD have to find out which the client prefers before investing in one, and I know you can get them on EBay, but what else? Does the software come with the transcriber? I don't suppose you can type them out in Word? I suppose one can buy a medical spellchecker. Then you need paper if you are going to print them out...what kind? Anything else? There are so many variables. I suppose I should first contact the two MTSOs that I know locally and ask for overflow work. That way, they could help me learn about this stuff.
No slamming, please. Very sensitive tonight as I just received a call from my Supervisor, very nicely hinting that I need to bring my line count up but, as we talked and now, hours later, I have *no jobs* on my screen. Pretty hard to get that line count up with no jobs!
Thanks for any tutoring and/or advice. 
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Hey Patti and MQA and other MTSOs..bringing thread to top
Hi again,
Just to let you gals know, I got up the nerve at the last minute, partially because of the posters to my thread about starting my own business, to quickly print up a resume and cover letter along with a sample ortho report and take them to my physical therapy appointment. (They may need an at-home transcriptionist.) The office manager was not in yesterday, but my PT gave me a little info about how the process works. Unfortunately, we were interrupted when she was about to tell me what they dictate IN TO, but she mentioned that she thought that was going to change. On my way out, however, when she was flipping through my chart to see when I should come in next, I asked her if they received the transcription via floppy disk or CD, and she told me, *No, paper.* Yes, they still use *sticky paper*! Too bad we got interrupted earlier. I have a feeling they transmit the dictation via the internet or phone lines, then the Transcriptionist delivers the finished work to the office.
Anyway, my PT says it is slow right now. (Indeed, there were only 2 patients in the office at the time with 4 PTs.) But she thought if things picked up and the sole remaining MT got overwhelmed, there might be a chance of picking up the overflow, which would be just peachy for me.
More questions...(now, why did I, at first, capitalize the Q in question????) I may as well start preparing as much as I can now in case I DO snag a job....
1. Can anyone or everyone recommend a good medical spell checker that interfaces with Word?
2. What about an Expander to work with Word? I know some use Instant Text, but at least one says she uses the Word Autocorrect feature. (I think.) Does the Word autocorrect hold a bunch....can you put whole reports into it...large capacity?
3. You all mentioned that the docs usually supply their letterhead and to use plain copy paper for subsequent pages. Does the MTSO usually supply the paper or the docs? Same question with sticky paper...that sounds expensive!
4. Any other inexpensive tips you gals can think of that can be gotten ready now besides the main transcriber? (Would want to wait on that to see which type the office uses.)
Now that I have the ball rolling, I am also going to contact the two MTSOs that I know locally and ask if they have any overflow. Might also send a sample psych report to my shrink and see if he can spread the word. Scary stuff, but you gals really helped! Thanks so much for all the encouragement!! 
Patti, weren't you one of the MTSOs complaining
a couple of weeks back that there's really no big money in this biz anymore and it wasn't worth the time/effort put in when all is said and done? Or maybe you're having a good week this week? : )
Yup ... smaller MTSOs, local MTSOs (sm)
local doctor's offices or clinics! Don't get discouraged!! :)
MTSOs
You are not wrong but in my opinion, you are giving them too much credit. The reason why they don't do what you ask is because most of them are not concerned with making your life easier; rather, they are more concerned with figuring out more ways to cheat you and to make your life more difficult. Then when you get disgusted and quit, they will just get somebody else in a very short time to replace you because you are very expendable. And it goes on and on in the same vicious cycle.
MTSOs
You know, there has to be a market between the dastardly corporate MTSOs and small transcription companies. It seems to me that if a talented, aggressive MT with a good business sense could find a way to create a "team" approach to the transcription business, perhaps one could find that niche and sell "team transcription" to good accounts that the MTSOs screw up and have cheated. After all, you have to believe that with the scandals in the transcription corporations - over billing, sending work over seas without informing the client, a lot of trust is lost by some of these unsatisfied accounts. I say, find a way to market to those clients in a "team group" and find the right price, somewhere a little lower than the MTSO charges and go after those accounts aggressively in a group. There is a market there you know.
more than most other MTSOs pay.
it is not kosher to share on public forums what a company pays.
I would not think many MTSOs would want to
x
No, it's not just the MTSOs (sm)
The actual doctors don't want to pay more than minimum wage for transcription either. As an independent, I've had doctors balk at 12 cpl (which is BELOW what the MTSOs are getting, believe me) and I've lost business because I wouldn't take $6 an hour or what equated to 7 cents a line.
So where am I at? Making peanuts working for MTSOs who are getting 15+ cents per line as a middleman for these same kinds of physician while I'm making a paltry 7-8 cpl. It's a no-win situation.
Help for new MTSOs? sm
I have questions about proposals, equipment, and what to charge in order to get started. Are there any web sites out there to help me in this? I have books that I have read, but they go over the basics of start-up MT services.
You should run this by the MTSOs and
see what they think.
This is why the MTSOs have gone so low
single mom, does not want to work away from home. I bet they love reading postings like yours. They have women where they want them, just lower the rates because these people are saying they cannot leave the house.
Patti, I'm a big fan of yours
I always make a point of reading your posts. You should do some sort of column. The networks do pay well for transcription. They can afford to only charge $20 per transcript because they sell hundreds of them. Keep in mind that the Transcriptionist is producing a product that they mass produce and make a huge profit on.
hi patti ...
I'm in lower Westchester County, NY, about 1/2 hour north of NYC. Do you know of a good, reputable MT company that I can contact?
Thanks ...
Joanne
Thanks Patti
I'll ask about it again this evening if there is still no check in my mail box when I get home. At least I am not doing this full-time. I have an outside FT job and I do this in the evenings for supplemental income, but I still need it as I am on my own. I have learned my lesson about not signing a contract again that states I get paid when the client pays them, never again. I've started sending out resumes, might as well get ready to move on.
thanks again Patti...
I was just doing the math for the 3$ per page with sample copies in Word, and it wasn't adding up (many more lines on a page than I had anticipated. I thought a page would only have 30 lines or so...not!) You all are GREAT. All this advice is helping tremendously.
Patti, you are right...
I used to have my own accounts and at my highest, I made $60,000. I have gone to remote only and my income has dropped significantly. I just wanted to give my input and back you up, you are absolutely right!
To Patti
Hello Patti
I definitely agree that this can be done. I believe back 3-4 years ago, you might have been the one who inspired me to get my own accounts and even offered me wonderful technical information. I am not sure though. Anyway, I am offering you my support. I make about $30/hr, but I only work about 7 hours a week as an MT. I have great dictators, use expanders, and charge 0.13 cents per line. The other MTs in the area charge about 0.15 cents per line, and the one that I asked said she made $45,000 last year working part time. It can be done. Good for you. Keep up the good work! 
Patti - sm
Their fee is $40 a month, which I didn't think was too bad. The total I will be paying them is almost what I am paying now. The difference will be the interest rates and time it takes to pay them off. My husband is really upset that we are going to do this, but as I said before, I don't see any other way. I am keeping one credit card with a low limit for emergencies, travel, etc. and the rest of them will be history!! When I get out of this mess, it will never happen again. Again, I appreciate your info.
Patti....
you don't need to explain yourself to Tikki (aka Kikki) or anyone else on this board. You took a bashing about the cookies and now about tapes, and money for gas, and on and on and on and on.
You are obviously a very successful and talented MTSO/MT/WOMAN. I admire you. May you continue to have good fortune shine down on you.
Patti, maybe if you... sm
explain to her that not capping a brand name drug would be like you lower casing her name (or the doc's name). Maybe that would help. =)
Hi Patti!
Boy Patti
You've been one busy little MT today posting left and right under all these different names of yours about your 1,000 sq foot mansion on the water and your hefty checking account of $20K a year! Okay, it's gorgeous, the most beautiful home we've all ever seen and could ever imagine having and with a yearly income like you've got, well who needs to win the lottery? LOLLOLLOL.
Patti - sm
Could/would you be willing to post a picture of the views?
And we wish you the same Patti.
May you one day realize your life is worth living and trying to impress people on newsboards with what little you have is not necessary to make your life whole or meaningful.
Prayers and blessings be with you honey.
Thank you Patti ---- nm
.
I do like Patti. sm
I have created a simple macro to do it for me as my accounts have rather small margins that need to be changed to get 65 characters/spaces in a line. My macro highlights the whole document, changes the margins to 1 and 0.9, and then changes the font to courier 12, very quickly.
I like Patti too.
LOL
Thanks Patti! NM
:)
Thanks Patti ...
Your reply is so encouraging--I thought that sounded a little "squirrely." In my opinion, this office mgr has been misleading me ever since I started work there, and really was not too disappointed in leaving, even though I liked the other people very much!
I know you did, Patti--sm
and I appreciated it. At that point in time, there were only a few that did support me and most of the ones that did not believe me really were pretty nasty about the whole thing. I really detest being called a liar when I know I am not. I know how hard you work too, and you are so smart about taxes and all, and you really help out so many people on this board. You are a really great person! You have had your days with some of these people criticising your ways of doing things too in the past, so believe me, I know what it feels like. I so envy you! Take care, and have a great evening. (I was able to do 58000 gross lines this month--37000 the past two weeks, so we are pretty comparable)! :^)
To Patti
I know you are busy and I don't want to interrupt you, but you are so knowledgeable about tax questions and I thought maybe you could help me, somehow. If you could possibly email me, I would really appreciate it, as I do not want to divulge personal tax info on this site. thanks so much. When you have time, of course. 
WOW Patti
That is an awesome line daily line count! Is that consistent, every day or nearly every day? Do you use shortcut software? How have you been able to escape wrist, neck, shoulder stuff?
To Patti
I want to go out on my own but don't quite know where to begin. Please e-mail me. TIA.
We really need to know if Patti follows BOS?
If so, then Hayseed is correct. If not, then she may or may not use a dash as she so desires. Same rule would apply, I guess, for the comma.... LOL 
Thanks Patti!
Thank you Patti
Thanks Patti
I will only be typing short letters to referring docs. I have listened to some of types and you are right about the meds. I had trouble with some of the topical creams.
Thanks Again
Patti
Patti,
I have had the same account(oncology) for five years. I would also like to pick up other accounts; however, this doctor keeps me sooo busy it is almost impossible to transcribe for someone else. I have picked up dermatology account, but only 26-30 letters per month.
I am going on vacation in June for about three days and worried sick about coming back from vacation and having to type over 200 notes!! This doctor sees over 75 patients a day and also has a Saturday clinic (40-50 patients). Any suggestions????
Thanks Patti!
Hello Patti
The medications is what I am having a hard time with as the doctor tends to mumble and speaks very fast. His notes are very short, no OP notes.
What usual drug pages are you referring to - Is this a list that you have started?
Hi Patti--sm
Congrats on attempting digital!! I think you will like it once you get used to it.
Anyway, whether you transfer a file through e-mail or FTP, you will still retain a copy of it on your computer until you decide to delete it. Once you have the file on your computer, you can transfer a copy to any of your ICs and still keep the original for yourself. Your ICs can go to the FTP and download also, but they have to be set up with the FTP site to do that. It is kind of like *permission*. They have to have a user ID and password, just like you will have, to be able to access the file.
I wish you all kinds of luck! ks.
Thanks Patti
So, there is NO WAY to do any kind of short cuts???
Thanks
Thank you Patti....
I appreciate a response coming from another Transcriptionist trying to keep everybody happy.
Patti
too funny! I have a keyboard like that. When I worked in-house I went through three or four keyboards because the letters were gone. The IT people hated to work on my computer because they did not know where the letters were.
Patti is right
It is easier to use plain good quality paper for everything and not waste time switching paper. It is so much more efficient to print the letterhead and some print jobs you can load and walk away without directing documents to bins and sheetfeeders and even can generate the envelopes all at the same time. One client I have I do this for. They thought they didn't want it until it started and now they are sold. Just raise your rates to pay for the extra expense and by all means use only laser. You can even pick up a used HP laser at some printer repair places refurbished. I have one new one and an old HP workhorse that cost me little and keeps on going and going and going day in and day out. About once a year I get it cleaned and serviced for less than $100.00 and it is so much faster than ink jet and I too only buy about two or three cartridges a year. Take advantage of their request and make it work for you too!
Thanks Patti. I'm definitely going to
check out transcriptiongear.com and am in the process of doing more research on this but trying to do this quickly so I don't lose this opportunity. Thanks again for the info!
Hi Patti...
Thanks for responding, for the advice, and tips.
I see where you guys just talked about this and I got a lot of info. there as well.
Thanks.
Thanks patti! (sm)
I can't wait to run these ideas and things past our big boss. Hope it helps them.
When MTSOs overhire, this is what happens:
There are actually MTs who work to support their family or supplement their income to meet the customary lifestyle. When MTSOs overhire, leaving the MT with very little work, I have observed this - Jobs are done hurriedly. When extra foot work is required (due to discrepancy in report, incomplete info provided, etc.), the MT who is desperately trying to meet their bills will skip the job or disregard the need to research and go on to the next job. This is extremely dangerous for everyone concerned. At times, it is weeks before the incomplete report is realized.
I do not fault the MT entirely. When the MTSO overhires, they are setting themselves up for this. I do believe 98% of us want to do a really good job, especially those who have been at this for years. But, I have noticed this more and more, and it will, MTSOs, come back and bite YOU.
When you have a dependable employee who can be counted on for production of a certain amount of work, provide that to them.
MTSO - When you get a new account and hire top shelf MTs initially to get the ball rolling and make a splashing impression, do not replace them with lower rate MTs afterwards - it is obvious when the company is hiring nonstop and they already have MTs sitting at home idle for hours at a time. And this creates, MTSO, the "disgruntled employee" who may make every attempt to ruin your reputation each time they can.
I have just come home after being in house for a few years and after three months, I see this happening with my company and, according to the board, it is widespread. It is an issue that needs addressed before someone, namely the patient, is hurt by it.
Unfortunately MTSOs now do good if....sm
they collect 15 cpl. With the pressures from overseas vendors the pricing has dropped to 12-14 cpl. In the "old" days (prior to say 5 years ago) the going rate was 20-25 cpl and of course companies could afford to pay 10-12 cpl easily.
Wellll, I don't know about MTSOs, but JLG -- Please SM
was helping with our hospital transcription.
We got paid $1.50 a minute if we did 2500 minutes a month ($1.75 a minute for all minutes over 2500).
JLG got $3.25 a minute. I saw the bill. I saw it with my own eyes. I nearly fell over. And to boot, it was horrible transcription, FULL of ridiculous errors, blanks. And we had to convert the text files. It was such a bunged up mess.
I lost all my trust at all in the hospital since they were paying us HALF of what they paid a service. I even contacted JLG to see if I could hired to work on MY hospital's account. They were going to pay me 7 cpl. What a joke.
Any Medikin using MTSOs out there?
I am in the process of opening my own mid-sized transcription company. I am still in the process of deciding what TASP to go with as I do not want the hassle of maintaining my own equipment. I have been looking at Medikin's website and am very impressed with what they have to offer for the price. If anyone is currently using or has used them in the past, could you please post your experience here.
Good MTSOs are even
more difficult to find than good MTs. Many of them have negative attitudes and expect indentured servitude in exchange for peanut wages. Many of them have limited, at best, technical or MT knowledge. We get tired of the ranting emails that don't even apply to us from a PMSing or menopausal females. Disorganized, poor communication skills, cheap, selfish, zero management skills, lack of a formal education, lousy platform, personal life issues conflicting with job performance. You'd be able to find good MTs if you were a good MTSO.
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