Positives and Negatives of working at home versus inhouse.
Posted By: Just another MT on 2006-02-15
In Reply to:
When I first went home to work, I did think it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I got so tired of being stuck to my desk all day long and being asked to work overtime with no overtime pay. No incentives anymore either. The money is the biggest issue here and benefits at a good price. .... So I decided to go back in house. and believe that I found a great place to work.
Of course, there will be the usual bad side of working an inhouse job... dressing up.... which I honestly miss.. but maybe not every day, paying for gas to drive to work... but it's actually only 10 minutes away, the cafeteria--enough said :D... plus I bring my lunch and have always done so..., office politics--which I have found exist at home or inhouse...., dept meetings--which I have found exist with at home jobs also... of course they are "account" not department meetings and communication! which is a really important thing and was the straw that broke this camel's back--got sick of sending emails to a myriad of people from the top to the bottom and getting no response back... or responses days later...
Can anyone add any other positives/negatives?
The pay will be worth it all no matter what, but I was curious to see what other things there are to consider. 
Please no flames.
Thanks in advance.
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Positives not negatives
I read these posts all the time and am saddened to hear that so many are unhappy. I have been blessed to be a Transcriptionist for the last 12-1/2 years. It started out on a fill-in basis, then went to part-time and now I do it full-time out of my house as an IC. My line rates are good and I have always had steady work. I do 3 local clinics and then I also have Internet work. I do feel that there are other benefits to working out of your house than just the pay. I am able to have flexibility in scheduling, see my children off to school, be here when they get home and not have the stress of having to be at a job for 9 hours a day. Not trying to sound holier than though, but perhaps just take some time to think about the positives and not always the negatives.
my take is that she worked inhouse, not at home, and now wants to find out how to work at home. nm
x
i used to but quit it to go inhouse and now am home again without it. sm
i got 2 weeks PTO a year and got paid equivalent to my production for the hourly rate, which at that time was $15.75/hr for my vacation time. had insurance too but can't recall the details. boy, i regret that now as i feel like i am working 24/7 as IC and can't afford to take time off. take off = lose money and get behind. i'm stuck, lol. gotta look for large nationals, acute care, and about 75% ESLs to get it nowadays is what i am seeing. hard choice between clinics/gravy work or PTO/insurance/ESLs/busting tail, lol.
WORKING INHOUSE NOT ALWAYS SO WONDERFUL, EITHER.
I worked in house for the only hospital corporation available in my rural area. I expected to learn a lot. I actually learned very little with regards to transcription. I learned a lot about hospital politics. They had some of the worst dictators there, and the HIM director did not like confrontation. Also, the main task given to me was to accomplish a line rate equal to 1200 per day with spaces, at which time they would set me up to work at home. Unfortunately, I only had 6 months in which to accomplish this. I was flatly told that if I did not accomplish this production rate, I would be fired. Before that happened, I found a job online, and will never return inhouse again. I also have to say that I don't miss driving 300+ miles per week in order to do that inhouse job. Also, I wasn't thrilled with the prospect of the hospital's tech person visiting me ad lib at home.
Now, I can't say that I'm thrilled with this profession. I have the same concerns/complaints as the original poster of this thread. However, comparing inhouse, with inhome, I do believe that I've learned more and gained more valuable experience through the inhome process. Yes, I have worked many hours and more than 1 job at a time. When I research previous jobs by a doctor, I also notice that previous jobs have been submitted with lots of errors in them. I have shared my concerns with my manager and believe that nothing was done. I have also complained about poor dictators and why, oh why, are these doctors still allowed to conduct themselves so poorly? When I worked in the hospital, I noticed that the HIM director let the doctors do whatever they wished because she was afraid to confront them, like they were Gods or something. It is my opinion that this is a major problem in our industry with regards to the people who are the liaison between the MT and the doctor. Somewhere, a doctor has a supervisor, office manager, director, hospital administrator, etc. If a doctor is in private practice, he may care more about the quality of his product. But, if a doctor is affiliated with a hospital or other facility, he might just be doing a job and as long as he/she can get away with it, he/she will be as sloppy as he/she wants to be.
It is also really frustrating to be told that you have to do 150 lines/hour or more, or lose benefits or be fired or whatever. At the same time, it takes time to really produce a good report, given the deficiencies in the dictations. I panicked about this in the beginning, as I was doing about 50 lines per hour. I'm happy to report that it does get better. I also quit the job with the production quota.
Okay, I'll shut up now.
When working inhouse I had a supv
that one time told me in a French term (had to ask for explanation) that meant I did not join in with the others there. Hmm, transcription seems to be like a 1 person job and how can you socalize and still make your incentive. Always got terrible evaluations and on ongoing eval after 10 years there she gave me an acceptable for attendance. I brought to her attention I had not missed 1 day during the entire year and I wanted an excellent for that if nothing else. She said she had not noticed. Yeh, right! The next job so much different. Very good evals but by this time I was very shy of ever getting them again.
i am an inhouse hospital transcriptionist who works at home
I am an in house hospital transcription who works at home. I get 19.00 an hour plus incentive pay which is 7 cents a line after 1,000 lines. and 7.5 cents after 1,500 lines.
Anyone CURRENTLY working inhouse in the Atlanta area that can tell me the going rate of pay? SM
I'm really just interested in people who are actually working NOW and what they're making NOW - not speculation from service managers as to what they think they might be making.
I am considering going back in house for the benefits but if there is just absolutely no comparison to what I make now as far as pay, I don't even want to start wasting my time. Thanks to those who can help!!
I'm the opposite.... the pay is okay, but I hate working inhouse. Mgmt. SUX! n/m
:P
Try working inhouse at a local clinic or hospital.
That's what many MTs end up having to do to get their foot in the door & gain experience. IMO, that's the best way to start anyway since you have experienced people nearby to ask for help because those first few months can be very difficult. Good luck!
P.S. Agree with the other posters below that you need to specify you have your certificate in MT, not referring to yourself as a Certified MT which is a completely different thing and can only be obtained after a few years of experience & testing with AHDI. However, that brings up another topic... many MTs choose not to become certified now that AHDI has sold us out & encourages offshoring of our work. I've been doing this nearly 20 years and only once have ever been asked if I had my CMT, so it's pretty much irrelevant anyway. As long as you have experience & test well, that's what they care about.
Home versus in-house
Let me answer before I read everyone else's responses. I worked at home and for awhile it was great, but I had kids underfoot, that didn't work out. So back to inhouse. It's nice having a regular paycheck and not having to worry about taxes, they're taken out. Also health insurance is a big concern. But I'm sick of the nitpicking and being treated like a child. I hate being spied on and I hate office politics. People are in close proximity when I'm transcribing and there is a lot of loud talking in the small room. Plus when the other people are crabby, it casts a dark shadow on the whole day.
I may soon have no choice but to work at home again, as my place of employment is rumored to be upgrading and at all other facilities owned by this company, that has meant shipping our work overseas. I don't dread returning home though. Just got a brand-new Dell computer, found and loaded my Instant Type and imported my PRD files. I will switch to my husband's insurance which is a kind I'm not crazy about but it's better than nothing. I have a tax guy now and I'll stay on top of taxes with my estimated quarterles. And there's a company I've been working for on and off for years that treats me like gold and will take me on anytime!
I'm the type of person who doesn't like being constantly monitored by an authority figure, particularly an ignorant one! It may soon be time to get out of the in-house and back to my home! We'll see. For now, I'm in-house. But maybe soon, I won't be.
Home versus Hospital - sm
Speaking as one who was a unit secretary for many, many years, and now an MT working from home, I personally would NEVER, ever go back...but, the benefits of working in-house are much better than most MT companies offer. AND, your point of steady paycheck is a valid one. This is something you would have to sit down and write all the pros and cons, with your feelings included, to make a decision based on what is best for you. Good luck.
My kids have suffered greatly from me working at home with them home. SM
I have been working at home as an MT since my two kids were born. They are now 4 and 5. In the first few years, I had no help whatsoever. Their father was a bum who didnt work or take care of them while I worked. Your children get neglected while you work basically. And babies and young children desperately need your attention while they are home with you.
My kids have so many behavioral problems right now because of their neglect. I would try to set them up with things to occupy themselves, like coloring or a movie, etc.
I finally put them in day care and things have improved, but there are still a lot of issues because of the damage that was done. They still try to seek attention by doing bad things and they dont listen to me because they are so used to me letting them get away with a lot of stuff because I was too busy typing to discipline them in their early years.
If I could do it all over again, I would definitely have put them into day care from the very beginning.
My advice would be to seek PT care for your baby. Maybe you can do some work around her schedule a little when she is home, like when she takes a nap, and then bang out a bunch of work while she is in day care.
...up to you to see if you can make more per line at home versus going
s
working IN A HOSPITAL is different than working at home.
Someone can steal you identity from the internet if they want to. Why would you go to the time and trouble to jeopardize a job that requires some level of skill to steal someone's identity or medical records? You could get a job as a retail clerk and get info easier than going through the testing required to become an MT.
Somehow working at home translates into not really working
My in-laws are the worst. Whenever they plan something last minute and my husband says that I had to work, they say, "but she works at home!". When I one time mentioned I had a "schedule" and basically punch a clock and work full time, I don't think they believed me. They will sometimes call mid-day during the week if they are in the area to see if I want to go for lunch, etc! The best is, my husband doesn't make all that much money, so where is it coming from, the money fairy? I am ready to strangle someone! So I know how you feel and I'm sorry it upset you. You are not alone.
Thank you, thank you all--even the negatives (there are always a few here)
The problem I have is that I need my staff to have knowledge of it all. I spent all day yesterday picking different things off different test sites on the internet, different specialties, even some "trick" questions. I am still not finished, but this is a start. I don't want it too long, but I wanted it thorough also. I will continue to work on it though. Thanks for the input, all.
Negatives
1. Working in an office, with clothing restrictions. We cannot wear jeans or sports clothing even though we have no public contact... yet a woman can wear a micro miniskirt or a man can wear a dress.
2. Supervisors constantly changing standards.
3. We have changed from word (with PTDS) to IPR (with INFORMM), and are now switching again to IDX with VR.
4. If there are blanks, we are required to stand up, fetch a trainer to listen to the blank before we are allowed to send up the document with the blank, regardless of the fact that we have years of experience. At times a trainer may not be available.
5. Favortism.
6. Unionized (positive and negative features).
7. We have lost some people because they were singled out and nit picked until they left.
8. Every year there is a new crop of bad dictators when graduation happens and the replacements arrive.
9. If a written reprimand ends up in the file, it will prevent one from transferring departments. This causes problems when a person wants to jump ship for being singled out.
10. Different departments have different difficulty levels. Some are extremely easy to make production quota line counts, whereas others are impossible, yet everyone is held to the same production standards (or risks harrassment for not making rate). So, some are smooth sailing through while others struggle desperately.
11. Very clique-ish.
12. The office is cold or hot, no medium acceptable temp. I can be wrapped up in a down filled blanket with a fleece blanket over my head/hair, and the AC is still on.
13. They may spray for bugs, but they will not enforce a no-food policy. Someone may be harrassed about not a clean enough work space, while another (who is worse) is not spoken to.
14. Did I mention favortism?
15. No smoking policy.
Working from home
 When I get all the nosey/rude comments about working from home, I gave up justifying it and only now say..."It works for me, I don't even have to get dressed and can make a ton of money working from by bedroom, using all the high tech equipment that allows me to do so"..leaves it up for interpretation and usually shut's them up
working from home!
I've been working from home since it was first allowed, can't really remember the exact year, but for sure no later than 1984. My family has always said, "get a real job", "why are you stuck at home, go work at an office where you can be around people", and on and on and on and on, ad infinitum!!! I don't really have "friends" anyway because I've always been a hermit. But guess what, now the only members of my family left alive are my brother and my sister and they STILL say I should get a real job!! I just give them a disgusted look and say "yeah....I really want to have to deal with traffic jams, proper clothing regulations, no smoking rules, break time rules, punching in an out....does that seem to fit my personality???" Of course they say, "well I can see your point". However that does not keep them from saying it again some time later. Guess it is never ending, so just ignore it and laugh at them. That is all it deserves is a good laugh!!! Quite honestly, I think they are jelous.
** 
MT working at home
Ihave to tell you that in order to do MT work you have to really LOVE the job because of the long hours and the amount of research that you need to do on the reports. I am not trying to discourage you, as I was in your position not that long ago, but 'ya gotta love this job. Otherwise, there is no way to succeed. You won't make millions, and chances are you will make a pittance, but if you are enjoying it, then that is the best way to go into this.
I wish you much luck.
Gaile
Working from home --
I thought that could only be done working inhouse. Thanks.
Working at home
To make at least $15.00 an hour at home, a person would need to transcribe 150 lines per hour and be paid .10 cpl. This comes with experience but you have to find the right company.
I am in a small rural hospital and I know our Transcriptionist does not get $15.00 an hour.
working at home
Definitely pros and cons to working at home. I consider myself a sociable person and feel hemmed in sometimes as well, even tho I have hubby, 3 kids and 2 dogs. I have done MT on the outside and it's nice to go and be with others doing the same thing, (it's great to have someone there to do "a listen" when stuck on something difficult) PLUS I also miss company potlucks, birthday celebrations, gossip (he he) and other "officey" stuff. Now that I'm working at home, I try to go out on at least one "date" a week with a friend, either for coffee or lunch or happy hour. Also I volunteer for church and school stuff. Come to think of it, though, I do find myself striking up conversations with complete strangers while shopping in Wal-Mart -- so maybe I DO need to get a life and get out more!!!
Working from home (sm)
Would like "k" to say if she works for a national, etc. I am "downsizing" to home and petrified, don't want people in and out of my home while I'm working, etc., also afraid of getting involved with the "wrong" national. I also would like a flexible schedule. Just a little scared after working 20+ years out of the house.
Anybody working at home, that
x
r u working at home or in their ofc?...sm
Seems to me if they told you 9-5, and yes, I remember your post asked about going home after you finish your work so I presume you do work in their office.....you have to be there from 9 to 5 I would presume. R U being paid hourly or salaried? Either/or, if they told you *work from 9-5* I presume that's exactly what they mean. When you work in an office for someone else, you have no flexibility for the things you were able to be flexible with when you worked from home.
Jes my nickel's worth....
working from home
I wanted to ask if someone knows the first step I need to take to do MT at home ?
Also may I ask what part of the country do you live in ? I am in Colorado. Help
working from home w/ little ones
I am expecting my 3rd child this winter and work at home. I am nervous about being able to work and tend to the baby. My 2 older kids are in school. Any tips or advice would be appreciated. I really do not want to put this child in daycare as it is expensive and I would rather have my child with me if possible.
Working at home
I used to work in clinic a 40 mile drive one way. I did this for almost 10 years. I starting figuring out how long I was on the road and it added up to almost a day a week. No wonder I had weekends to myself, but it did not seem like it as M-F I had lost that extra day, doing nothing but sitting and driving. Not very productive. Have been at home working for the past 6 years. There are pluses and minuses to everything. Sometimes the grass is not always greener on the other side. Weigh the pluses and minuses:)
Working at home
Wow! It sounds like you need to return to the office to work where you will maintain a clear head from your kids and other family.
Good luck!
She is working at home
She is working at home for them as an IC. I agree that she should charge for her time but she has to let them know. She needs to draw up a short contract stating what she services she will provide for what price, TAT, etc. Does not have to be a long drawn out 4 page contract just a simple one pager stating what she provides and what is expected of the account.
However I do not agree with the above poster on not letting your accounts know when you will be unavailable or out of town. You may not have to tell them where you are going but you have a responsibility to let them know you are not available and not simply do not show up. If I did that, my accounts would be looking for someone else fast. They all work with me when I take time off but again, to simply not acceptable. That is like waiting for the cable guy all day long.
Working at home...
Hello all!
I work out of my home for a physcial therapy office - I go every day and pick up tapes and return the paperwork I have completed along with the blank tapes back to the office. I don't have time to chat with the people who work there much, I have known some of them for a few years, but not close. I am not necessarily looking to make friends with any of them, but wondered what others do about connecting with people for social time. I am single, so no husband, kids, etc to fill that void. I love working out of my home very much, but am missing people contact and wondered what others do. I used to have many friends around here (rural Iowa), but most have moved away or gotten married and got busy with their families. Not a lot of choices of places to go to meet new friends - wish there was a way to create a work-at-home group in my area and maybe meet other transcritpionists or just find people who are experiencing the same things of isolation and what comes with working out of ones home. Any ideas or advice from any and all would be appreciated!! Thanks!!
lorlyn
working at home
Well, in word only am I free as a bird - but I have responsibilities, almost like having children of my own since I am the only one of my siblings who watches over my elderly parents - I check on them most every day and if they need help with things or have to be driven to a doctor's appt or other places, I do all that. I have asked other people to help when it was impossible for me to do so, but it is not something I can ask someone else to do on a full time basis. It is my responsibility and since they have always been there for me I feel it only fair I am there for them.
Believe me, I have entertained the idea more than once. Thanks!!
Lori
working from home
At home three years. Started at a hospital 1987, Manager for 12 years at any imaging center, then became pregnant was put on bedrest, out on disability, returned back to work, within two months, pregnant and on disability again. Returned to work, but with childcare for two babies at 380 week, decided to stay home and work evenings at the center. 2004, was asked to type at home by hospital where originally started my career. Loved being home all day with my kids. They would nap 2 hours, I would type, put them to bed, I would type. I made more money than working a 40 hour week and paying for childcare. I would change it for anything. My kids are 5 and 4, and they realize how lucky they are. What I enjoy the most is being able to give my sons a true "summer vacation" by being home.
job working at home
My husband takes my job very seriously, since I make enough to pay all the bills. My daughter works and buys the food. I think my husband is very supportive. He is disabled, so it works out good for us. Thank God he is like he is today, not always was, but today he is.
Working at home.
I only have 1 bedroom and have had to make an office in the dining room. Any tips for focusing and not getting sidetracked? Since working at home, I also find it way too easy to get lazy. I don't understand it. When I worked in an office, we kind of helped each other stay motivated, because if somebody talked too much or made too much noise, they were shushed, like in the library and others said they needed to concentrate. I don't have that at home. I need to work harder.
Is this working from home or
on site? I interviewed for a pathology job because I knew somebody who enjoyed doing it at a different hospital. But when I interviewed I discovered this hospital did things in a very inefficient way and the sound quality was not good. These factors made me decide not to take it, but at a better organized hospital it could be great.
working at home
Glad to see these posts. I am at my wit's end with my mom and thought she was developing dementia. At least once a week she will call and say, "I thought maybe we could go to lunch" or "what are you doing? thought we could get together." Pulling my hair out, getting tired of saying I am working and cannot go out.
Thanks all!
Working from home, non-MT
Yes you can make as much or as little money as you want by working 10-12 hours a week.
My friend Amy made over $1800 her first week working part-time and after 3 months with the company, she brought both her little girls home from daycare. She has a recorded call you can listen to and she goes over the company in detail. The number for the call is 1-712-432-9598.
It's not for everyone but it may just be for you. I love it!
Pray about it and see what the Lord says about it.
Take care,
Robbye
Email: rhoard@swbell.net
www.freedomathometeam.com/rhoard
working at home
I totally agree with you on this subject. I work in house for a HMO which constantly disrespects and belittles their transcriptionists (their company starts with the letter after "J") and us transcriptionists are being replaced with VR. The cattiness and nastiness has taken its toll on me and I am ready to stay home and work. I can say in all honesty that even though the money has been good - the environment is so hostile that no amount of money is worth being treated like garbage. THe union which is supposes to represent us is in cahoots with management and they don't give a rat's patoot what happens to us. I am ready for a change and I feel that working at home is where it truly is at.
Working at home.
I came across this forum surfing the internet. Gosh! I feel so antiquated. I have been doing MT for 12 years for the same doctor. I drive to his office every morning, pick up his tapes, and take the work back the next morning. I know nothing about working in-house, VR, etc. A friend, whose husband is doctor, advised me to take a medical terminology course at our local college. We were working at the same law firm as legal secretaries at that time. After I aced the course, she referred me to a doctor friend of her husband and we have been working together since and we will probably retire together. When I go on vacation, he holds his tapes until I come back as he doesn't want anyone else typing for him. I can take as long as I want to get caught up, but it only takes me a couple of days. I also make decent money. I don't have any of the problems that I have been reading about on this forum. Is there anyone else out there who still picks up tapes?
Working at home
I am curous as to why you want to work at home?
If you have an in-house hourly pay job, with benefits KEEP IT!!
There are so many of us working at home now because we were outsourced and would love to have our old jobs in-house back..
At this point, keep what you have and be grateful!!!
Working at home
I have been working at home with 4 kids for 12+ years now. I even went through 2 babies with that and it could not have been better. It was so nice to have them playing behind you while you actually worked! The only hard part for me is the summertime with them home and wanting attention but it only lasts a few months. My oldest is now going off to college and I know she got me all she needed to make a great transition and be a great person cuz I was here for her when she needed me AND she saw me working and knows she can do it all too!
working at home
I agree with you.
currently working at home see msg
IF I took this job, you have to train in house for 6 or 7 months. Then you have the option of going home or staying in house.
working at home
I think the most important thing we forget because we work at home is it is WORK.
We would never ever expect to be allowed to get up from our desks at a job away from home in an office setting, with the boss in the next room, to deal with an hour-long ordeal from our kids and their ups and downs. We would not be allowed to attend to family and friends calling us to chat at "the office" with the manager close by, so why do we allow ourselves to be pulled in at home? Because we can.
It is very hard but you have to remember that this has to work the right way for you or it is off to the office you go. The kids need to be reminded that too.
I feel quilty sometimes, especially in the summer when my 7-year-old asked me to come play outside at 10:30 in the moring. My father-in-law reminded me that I should not feel guily. If I was not able to be working at home she would be at a sitter's house I would be away for 8 or 9 hours a day. That made more sense than any reasons I had tried to convince myself of.
It is hard to tell the kids you are busy when they see you at the PC but I like the poster how said they lose something in the same amount of money that they caused you to lose,, might have to try that.
Mandy
working away from home
I was wondering what do you need besides laptop to be able to take work with you if going away for holidays?
What internet works best? Would you need one of them wireless air cards if family member does not have internet? I am totally lost.
Any input would be appreciated.
working away from home
Besides your laptop, you will need your footpedal and headset. If you use reference books a lot, I would suggest you take them along, otherwise, most things can be found on the net. You will need an air card if they do not have internet. I do not know which one is best. A friend tried one for a month - might be a good idea then you would only have a one-month fee.
working away from home
I am curious about working with a laptop away from home. I don't have any idea about how to get the programs from the desktop to be on the laptop to make this possible. I also do not want to do anything uncool with the company I work for. How does one get away with this. What do you do? Give me a hint someone please.
LOL. Not everyone working at home
is doing it for the kids. LOL
Working from home
I agree with the poster. I used to get the old "you need to get a real job" bull from my ex-husband and his unintelligent and uneducated wife. Apparently I needed to get a factory job like them to have a "real job". I have since ditched him and found someone who appreciates that I work from home. I also get the people who want to know what I do and how they can get in on it. Also the uneducated ones, when they hear you need to be trained or go to college, they lose all interest.
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