Question on new account just obtained.....
Posted By: Zajicek on 2006-04-01
In Reply to:
Hi all, just wanted to get some opinions here. I have transcribed for 13 years for an acute care hospital and they moved us to home about eight years ago. I have started acquiring some side accounts on my own and doing well. I just took on a new account with a child and adolescent psychiatrist and marriage and family counselor. They are paying me 10 cents a line on a 60 character line (I make 11 cents at the hospital account). They want me to save a copy onto a CD and also print a paper copy. They are supplying CD's and paper. This is a fairly busy practice and already just into ten minutes or so worth of typing I have nine progress notes. My question is should I ask them to also supply the ink cartridge for the printer? Most of the other side accounts I have had just have me save onto a disk and that's it. I wasn't really sure if it was appropriate or not to ask for the ink to be supplied too. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
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My pay went up 1 cent a line when I obtained my CMT credential.
x 26 pay periods a year. Nothing to sneeze at and definitely worth the effort.
clarify - you don't have your card? or you never obtained a number? NM
x
What is the difference between an acute care account and a multispecialty account??..nm
nm
I've never had a problem switching from account to account.
The problem I had was being switched too soon. If I don't get one account spec solidly in my memory with QA feedback on mistakes before starting another, I get confused. The other problem I had with former jobs was inconsistent QA. One person tells you one thing, another person tells you another.
Lately, I don't have a problem with it. Right now, my binder has 8 account specs (some I've never had to use) and I'm picking up a new weekend job for a while. The terminology and report formats stay basically the same. It's just all those little preferences. LOL
what is your account and specialty on the account?
no one is watching. tell us all about osi.
Look, if I were on an account that
kept me sending more blanks to QA than was allowed to qualify for an incentive program, I would ask for another account or get with a different company.
I've bid off accounts before; I've also changed employers because of this problem.
I've been there. It's not what I wanted so I fished until I got the catch I wanted.
As well, if your dictators are dictating on cell phones, that can be a real source of contention with HIPAA guidelines and they should be reported. I report that when I run across it; I also tell my supervisor I won't do that physician again if he is dictating on a cell phone. I've never been given a problem with that.
Second account........sm
Does your company base full-time status on line count or on hours? If line count, it doesn't matter if you do the work in less than 8 hours. You're still holding up your side of the bargain and you have every right to refuse to work on a crappy second account. Just tell them you've decided that your one account is enough and keep your second job. Same goes for the post below stating co-worker is avoiding taking on second account. Unfair? I give her credit. She's a survivor. We're not the ones who started the game. But many of us are quickly learning how to play.
If your account uses the BOS ...>>>
you use numerals for all numbers (and the old way is to spell out numbers UNDER 10). The BOS says to use numerals for ordinals; 10th, 2nd, etc. BUT, many accounts have their own preferences, so why don't you check to see what yours wants?
My own account
My own accounts been doing them for over 4 years, it is just one office person that says anything. I think that she was having a bad day last week and we about went on a minor screaming match with each other not only over this but some other things. So will let things calm down, check and double check to see if I can figure things out but without showing me, I am in the dark like I explained to her. When nothing comes back you think all is great.
I don't do any of that. I have each account in a SM
separate folder on Word and I just click on the appropriate folder. I do 4 hospitals in one state and two more, plus a local.
I never have gotten anything mixed up that I know of.
Take the account and run!
You really need to ask?
I don't know anything about the account
I am considering an IC position and want to know what is an average rate. I have 9 years experience as an MT and have only wored in a hospital.
Keep that account @ .12 cpl
Keep that account (tell them you will meet or beat the competition). Don't say another word, just keep sending out advertising brochures, etc., until another higher rate really needs you, then tell these cheapskates that your accountant has informed you that not only are you losing money but it isn't fair to those others who do not question your charges nor would they ask you to "cut your rate." I've been in this situation and it has made me very depressed but that's the way these others work, they will undercut you for 1/4 cent, done to me by "friends". Just go along to get along and then you have every right to be the "dumper" instead of the "dumpee." Treat them like a bad boyfriend, until a better one comes along. Had this done to me many times and my only regret is that I let it affect me financially, I used to take the "moral high road" and now I take the "me" high road. If they are thinking only of their wallet, then you should as well if you need the money. Hope this makes sense. Most likely it isn't the docs, just someone in the office trying to say, "See, I saved you some money, so how about a raise?" Don't let them spoil your business accounts receivable, just hang in there and smile a lot.
You must be the OM at this PIA account. (nt)
I am getting .08 on one account and ..sm
.085 for the other acount I work on.
One account, can get only...
250-300 because they are obnoxious. The other account, can get sometimes over 500 lph.
Usually, each account has a
prescribed method of formatting and if you work for a service you should get all of the specifications for formatting in a document when you start working a new account. Inhouse, asking the manager will get you the information you need. It is purely a subjective matter with each and every account; however, AAMT and ASTM are working on best practices in dictation and these of course would include a standardized formatting for all medical records .. making it eaiser for all of us to do our jobs and then ultimately find information in a chart.
I have been on my account
with 15 doctors for the past two years, but I am sure someone else had it before I did. We are about to get a new one in August, as well. I am sure you have just about everyone else beat though.
Pay Pal Account
I have a dumb question regarding my pay pal account. My new employer pays through Pay Pal. I do have an account that I've used only for ebay transactions. She's asking for my account number. I can't find any information in my account as to what my account number is? Does anyone know what that would be? Does she want my bank account number associated with my Pay Pal account? Sorry, I told you this was a dumb question. TIA.
I have a second account sm
You should never work for only 1 company. I learned this the hard way. It's always good to have a backup.
Come take my account
First I get "Mrs. Ed" who talks just like Mister Ed and now I've got a dictator that sounds just like Granny from Looney Tunes. Gives me a little laugh now and then, guess you gotta look at the little things in life, or you'll become a looney tune! :) I pray next week is better for you.
If you want an account,
go out and honestly bid for it.....don't "steal" it from your MTSO!!!!! That is just wrong. Bidding on accounts that you don't know the MTSO is a different story. When you take an account from the MTSO you are an IC for, that is "stealing" and you'll get yours when you get to the pearly gates...if you get there!
Nothing really if you want to keep your account. sm
sometimes as an IC and in business, you must compromise. Looks like they are dictating the way they pay. Hey, it would be worse, you could invoice and not be paid for 60 days or longer. So, you will just have to adjust.
own account
I took a small account a few months ago. 3 docs, I do 2 and 1 has his own MT. She is an employee but we cover for each other for vacations. It is lucky they have that other person and they are flexible when I go away (rarely). Some accounts might expect you to find your own coverage. I have had problems with them not paying on time. It's not their fault, they have a large institutional accounting office over them. But MT is my only income so it has been a problem. Make sure you have a cushion in your checking account or whatever that you can live off of if you don't get paid for a while.
Another option might be an IC position if you can find the right one. I also have an outside contractor position with a local hospital that has employees, but I charge them like a service and they make no demands on my time.
Something to consider is how much time you will spend doing administrative things like billing, recordkeeping, marketing, answering emails, picking up tapes if applicable, traveling for interviews or training if you will be working on their system. I find that stuff eats up a lot of my time.
You might want to consider a 30-day trial period in case you dont like them. My account turned out to have a crappy dial-in system, they expected me to fax every report 1-4 times, and they eat up my time with emails and phone calls - each doc has his own secretary and they have another MT and they all tend to call me for things they don't need to bother me with like I'm an employee. Instead of telling them to find one person to deal with me we agreed I would charge by the hour instead. I have no problem telling a secretary who calls me at 7p I will take down the info and call her back during business hours unless it is an emergency. It is hard to anticipate those things hence the trial period.
New account
Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to convince a doctor's office that they need transcription done when they haven't had it done in the past. This is my first big meeting on my own and I am nervous about what to say. I have other accounts, but I never had to convince them because they were already using transcription. Any suggestions would be helpful and appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Looking for your own account?
It has come to my attention that Travelers Insurance worker comp claims in some states are off shoring their transcription.
Contact your local offices and offer your services. I also know the pay is comparable to ours - (I have been contacted by an off shore agent to handle this for them ) - imagine work off shored only to be sent back to us to handle.
I will be starting with Charlotte NC. - Who is with me?
If you have an account
where you get the same doctors who repeat the same things you can make a template and not have to type anything or just edit a little. Around 15 years ago, I had a great job with a chiropractor who would do a 5-page report and all we had to do was change right/left and some range of motion measurements. Easily made $45-$50 an hour with him as part-time employees. Some people are also really good with Expanders like Instant Text. It really depends on your account. I have a huge hospital, too many dictators, too many bad dictators.
I would do what the account wants, sm
they are the ones signing my paycheck.
Do you really think every health care provider or facility is compliant?
Using it currently on one account.....
don't know what version it is, but it does not use Word. It offers a spell check at the end of the report when you come to send it. It does not highlight misspelled words while you are typing. There is no word expander/macro program with it, but I use SpeedType with no problem.
All in all it is simple, I have no footers/headers to worry about. I navigate through the demographic screen using ENTER/TAB/arrow keys. With the help of SpeedType I have to enter the dictator's name (4-letter code), MR #, date, pick the exam from a drop-down list and then type the report. F12 brings up Spell Check only if there is an error, sends the report, and files it. After a few reports you can get the rhythm down and move right along.
I have more than one account.
By more than one account, I mean I work for more than one person or company. I learned my lesson years ago when I got a $35 check at Christmas.
my account
I don't think my account now is any better or any worse than any others. I have been doing this for over 15 years and basically 2000 lines a day has been my average for the last 9 years and during that time, I have worked in house for 1 hospital and for 4 different agencies.
I just make good use of a lot of word Expanders and sit down and work and not answer the phones and talk to people and watch TV, etc.
Already there and above......own account(s). nm
x
Can you ask to be put on another account? Do they
xx
have account one day not the other
I would like someone else's opinion on this situation. I started with a company last June that I won't name. They sold out to another company in August. I did clinic. I had a general surgery doctor I did transcription for. But for some reason it seemed like the work I got was leftovers someone else couldn't do or something because I would get schedules for the doctor showing patient's names and he was seeing alot of patient's but I am being told no work today or something like that. Someone had to be doing the work, right? Then when they sell out to another company I get put on acute care, which I have never done. (I dont think I mentioned that I was a newbie when hired, first job) I get on there and it is this huge hospital with a lot of ESLs. Very hard. Well I dont think it was an appropriate account for a newbie. Great experience but a little too difficult to start out with. So then a couple months later they say do you want to help on the clinic account you had before? Well when they put me on acute care I was led to believe they no longer had that clinic account. Now I see they do. So obviously they lied to me. Well I start getting clinic a few days a week, which I love because that is what I am used to. Then I get it everyday. Now they send me the work and yesterday took it back and obviously gave it to someone else. If they had the work and I didn't do it someone had to. Then I tell the supervisor I would really prefer the clinic work. She says I will keep that in mind. Then today which is a day we always get clinic work no clinic work again. I can do hospital, yeah, but I get half the lines. I know I should just take what I am given but why not give me the account or don't. Not you have it one week. Not the next. I am new at this but aren't you supposed to get an account exclusively or is it just one MT do it one week another the next? It is constantly switching around. I feel like I am used when no one else is available to do the work. But they don't tell me you are just backup on this account. They lead me to believe that it is my account. But someone else is obviously doing the work and I am getting what they cant do.
Sorry - own account
I would not do it for that amount if it is your account. I would say around 12 as I do 12.5 with pick up and delivery and printing.
you probably need to ask what the account wants on that one.
and is they says it doesn't matter...then it does not matter.
IC account
 Boy this sounds just like an account I used to have. I would go pick up the tapes- “Oh the Dr did not dictate” or “ Oh the Dr took the tape home”. They never gave me a list with names. I was always searching my database for the last names, etc. They did stress tests and never marked the names down so when the machine was running and the Dr would say the name, I would get the first or last name, once again, I would have to search my database. I did this for about two years and asked about 5X please list everyone that comes in, etc on the list. They would do it for a day and quit, so I just left the name blank and did not care any longer. Obviously, they did not care to get me the information. Oh yeah, I ever called the Dr 2x and asked her to please help me out and talk to them. It lasted 2 days. For the tapes, I go so sick of driving and wasting gas, I called 15 minutes before they would leave to make sure there was a tape. I did this for 3 years and decided enough is enough. I gave my all to the job and did not give 1%. It was not worth it. Some offices have no consideration of the transcriptionist. They think this is not a "Job"-guess again-It is a job where we barely make money and then they are taking what profit we do make- I would try talking to the Dr and calling before hand.
Is that a MI account?
ic, 10cpl, California acct, live elsewhere.
put it this way - it's you or the account. NM
and transcriptionists are dime a dozen out there.
I have my own account(s). nm
x
If you want to keep this account sm
You need to transcribe the report and immediately forget it. Wipe it from your memory. Don't mention a single thing to a family member - don't even breathe a single ounce of information - that would be in violation of HIPAA. I would not even tell your family you are doing the hospital - that may make them suspicioius and start asking you questions waiting to get a reaction.
Once you get used to the account...
I don't think that'll be difficult, especially if you plan on actually working FT hours.
To put it in perspective, some FT with nationals are required to get 6000 week to be considered FT.
You may not get that at first, but if you work on the same account with the same dictators, you'll get up to that quite quickly.
new account
I have been on my account for a very long time, so it is frustrating to see people not following the specs because they are very simple. I think I need a new account at a new company. I think there are just too many new MTs fresh out of school in this company, and really believe this is now affecting me and what I can earn.
I do that account (sm)
I actually love the account. After MQ threw us all into the national work pool, I craved just one account and that's what DR promised with the Florida account.
There are really only a few not so great things, IMO:
1. Pay is only 8 cents per line, 9 cents after 6000/week for only lines over 6000.
2. System is not superstable, but downtime is paid if there is no work or MT cannot work due to system failure on their end.
3. Yes, lots of ESLs, but you get to know them and they use a platform where you can search for other dictations by that dictator or on the patient you're doing (like if you can't understand a med and another report might have it). There are many good dictators too.
3. 3 to 11:30 shift, I think, is all that is available, but don't quote me on that. And have to work Tues - Fri OR Sun - Thurs.
Sound quality is fine, not any worse than any other place considering cell phones, etc. are out of any MTSO's control.
21 vacation days.
Good support from my experience.
If you want any other info, please feel free to email me.
bad account
Been there--but it was a huge teaching hospital and some residents were terrible, especially cursing throughout dictation. I can understand falling asleep after being up probably 48 hours, etc., but others would talk sex to others in background, etc. I reported one of the worst to my director and let her listen (in-house). She reported to his chief-of-staff and he was verbally reprimanded, then, of course, cursed all MTs on his next dictation, said we wouldn't have a blankety-blank job if it weren't for him. I feel for you.
Well, soon the account
will go to India where they won't question anything and it will no longer be a problem because they do the work so cheaply....
Is this your own account?
Maybe QA who usually does another account
is filling in, or the QA for your new account has been helping on another account and getting confused. We are only human. Also, if it is a new account it's going to take some time to iron out all the little details. Rarely does a hospital not have exceptions to their rules.
I work at the same company as you but my account is very consistent with its QA.
I have been on a VR account........... sm
for well over 6 months and I have seen no improvement in the quality of the VR. I have almost 20 years experience and am very careful to be consistent in making corrections so the VR will learn it, but so far it is no better. So I don't think that it is completely dependent on the skills of the MT.
What I do believe is that it is a way for MTSOs to charge the client the same but pay the MT less for doing work that is more tedious and time consuming than straight transcription.
new account
Hello.
I have just received word that I have a new account transcribing for a Hematology/Oncology clinic.
For any of you currently (or not currently) working in this area, could you please pass on your favorite references, both text and online?
Would so so so much appreciate it!
Theresa
They said Drs. not dictating on this account
nm
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