Secrets of Highly Successful MTs? Please share!
Posted By: RSG on 2007-09-10
In Reply to:
I'd really be interested to learn if there are any tips you 40k&up folks could share with those of us who are... more financially challenged. What is your schedule like? Do you log off every time you get up to get a cup of coffee, etc? Obviously you don't spend your work days on message boards; do you have any tips for how to Stay Focused?
Sorry if I sound ignorant; I have been doing this for many many years and still struggle with the same self-discipline issues I had way back when. I'd love to hear from those who have actually made good money at this how they did it. Thanks!
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Anybody willing to share your productivity secrets? I've been following the discussion below SM
about MTs who earn $50,000 or more. A lot of the MTs are saying they have really honed their abbreviation Expanders and I was wondering if anyone would care to share exactly what they do with their expanding programs that increases their lines so drastically.
In all honesty, I can type around 200 lph without using any kind of Expander and that's with me sitting and typing nonstop for 8 full hours (and we all know with kids, 8 uninterrupted hours is merely a dream). With my abbreviation expander, I've increased my production drastically, but since I never really type 8 full hours a day, I'll never really know just how drastically. I know that I can do 1700 to 2000 lines a day and only be "timed in" for eight hours. How much of the eight hours I actually type, I really can't say.
I was just wondering what kind of secrets others have to tweak their expanding programs. I mean, instead of doubting those ladies who are making the big bucks, we should be picking their brains. I've been doing this a long time too and I started out transcribing standard size cassettes on a typewriter (yes, a typewriter!). My first abbreviation expander was PRD+ that I used with Word Perfect 5.1 on a DOS based system. I thought I was in heaven!
So I say KUDOS to those ladies who are successful at what they do and I want to know just how you do it so I can do it too. Oh, my paychecks are pretty okay, but who couldn't use more money?
Congrats, girl, and get your share of any money that you share before he wipes you out. nm
s
secrets
 No secrets. My own accounts. I have been doing them for 4+ years, surgical oncologists and know what they are going to say before they say it. Have been told by many on this board that my line rate is too low but I make a very comfortable living, they pay on time and as you can see I get decent line counts. Got that many lines due to consult/letters out of a 45 minute tape -- 42 pages. Talks fast, Boston accident but like I said I know him pretty well by now. Downside is thaty don't like anyone else to do their dictation so when I am gone or under pressure from another account, this is one I cannot sub out so the tapes are sitting there waiting for me. Have a good day. Try for your own small acounts, you can do it.
IC pay - no secrets here
I pay my IC's 8 to 9 cpl depending on which account, psych is less since there is a long TAT. Just starting out and training I pay 8 and then up to 9. Mine are tapes though but I do the pickup and delivery, printing and so on. I just deliver the tape to my IC's and they type away. They average 200 to 300 lines per hour. I charge my clients 10.5 to 12.5 again depending on account. I have psych, derm, surgical, surgical oncology, plastic surgery, hand surgery and internal medicine. No secrets here.
Trade secrets would be -
Trade secrets are kind of like information pertaining to a particular company - for instance, their proprietory software and how it works, or maybe naming specific accounts and how much they charge, things of that nature.
Whats your secrets?
I need all the help I can get....thanks
You're definitely missing some secrets.
The very first day I did transcription, no schooling, no previous experience, I did 667 lines.
You're definitely not working very smart. Are you using an expander/macros? Are you spending a lot of time surfing the net? I don't work hard and have very difficult accounts, not a fast typist, and don't even use as many expansions as I should and I did 800 lines in 4 hours this morning.
there R so many myths,mysteries/secrets...SM
There are so many myths, mysteries, and secrets surrounding the powerful history of the Holy Land - who is to really say what the truth is...
This is just a rhetorical statement and requires no answer.....just food for thought...
YOU ARE RIGHT - But define "trade secrets."
x
Share, share, I've been looking for some time...sm
sending out resumes gallor, have great experience, but they sound like clones of each other in what they offer, yet what they want is it all!!! I'm so discouraged, in the depression boat myself! They want you to commit to FT, new equip, DSL, on and on!!!
This CAN be successful! This is the best way - (sm)
there is, through a "viral" internet e-mail campaign, to let everyone in this country know what's been happening to their personal records. I signed it and sent it to every single person on my email list.
I think periodically you should renew this post so that it doesn't fall down to the bottom of the page.
If we all keep pushing on this, as a coalition of many thousands of MTs in the US, we can bring this to the attention of the lawmakers in this country, and hopefully get this practice to STOP.
Successful, nah, not now
I years ago made a decent living in this business but the salary has fell so much that it is not what it was once. I work part-time now because I only want to work that much - do not plan on retirement because I want to be able to work and double dip from social security and get full pay so that ought to be nice- like in the past when I really had to work 2 jobs to make the really big $$$$. I am really glad I am at a time in my life where no kids to bring up, only the monthly bills (not home nor car) as hubby pays for those so have it fairly easy. I could never raise children on the salary most are earning now.
I am a successful MT with ADD sm
I manage it. Some days I have I can't sit still-itis and it is VERY DIFFICULT. I have compensated by being extremely fast, detail oriented in shorter spans and I simply let myself take breaks. I have to work at not taking internet surfing breaks, but if I can manage that, I get a lot of lines. This week I have 7500 at one job and 2000 at another. I don't work more than about 1-1/2 hours without getting up at least once, and no, I only have one 16-18 hour day each week. The rest are 10 and under.
Yes, happy and successful. :-)
I don't know what to tell you except Walmart is successful and some of
the supermarkets are going down because of it. The people who are shopping there are not uneducated people and it is in high-end financial growing part of town. I only shopped in a Walmart Superstore once and it was packed in the middle of the day. In spite of all the bad publicity, Walmart keeps growing and people like shopping there.
My sister was successful sm
She went to Curves and lost about 20 pounds (didn't have much to lose). She loved it. They have an eating plan that she went on and she liked that too. If you're not used to doing exercise, this is the place to start. If you already exercise, it might be too slow for you. Can you do a trial? Good luck!!
I am not sure you would say I was "highly successful," but...
I do all the stuff the others do. I use the platform Expander and I will take a day every few weeks and really pay attention like for the first hour of the morning that day and enter Expanders for EVERYTHING that looks like it will work...single words, phrases, endings, etc. If you transcribe every day, you sometimes overlook words and phrases you could be adding to your expander so you can type faster.
I also don't do the mundane during work hours. I dont answer the phone unless it is my kids. I don't "throw in a load of laundry." I don't answer the doorbell. I limit my net surfing. Few email readings...maybe a quick look at lunch. I work 4 tens and never take lunch. I break only to stretch, get coffee, make a salad, answer my kids' phone calls.
I also do a power hour, usually mid afternoon when I start to fade. One hour of typing as hard and fast as I can. Believe me, that hour flies.
Also, I know it is an old trick but worth mentioning. Any easy words commonly transposed I put in my expander teh for the, ND for and, etc., so you do not have to wait for a spell checker to do it at the end. I also add on. tp = the patient; tpss = the patient states; tpsd = the patient stated and so on.
Hope that helps...nothing new but it does work...
Need to hear from successful MTs at Webmedx
I heard about their incentive program. It is really that good? Can you make a lot of $$ there? Do they run out of work?
If you have been successful at encouraging your child
My son, almost 19, has wanted to be in law enforcement since he was about 5. Lately, though, his motivation has been waning. Of course, he has a girlfriend, who incidentally *hates to work*. We really want him to consider joining the Air Force, get his college and training, finish his tour, and come home to work at the sheriff's department (I know, I'm probably dreaming right...). If you've been successful at encouraging your child this way, please share your experience and advice. 
So what is it that you do that you're so successful at, & how much do you make? (nm)
x
Have you tried Accupuncture. I have a friend and this was successful for her.
I personally do not have experience with this, but it has helped a friend of mine.
As you probably know, you may be experiencing some rebound headaches from the RX you are taking.
My own personal opinion and experience, I would try weaning off everything and start from scratch to see what helps and what doesn't. You may even have seasonal allergies contributing to your headaches.
I have done this and it was successful - however, I did it under the guidance of my MD.
Maybe it is time to see your primary care physician and see if you agrees with this approach.
What traits do successful supervisors have?
I want to know what I can do to become the best supervisor possible. Personally, I have had only one great supervisor in all my years and what I found is that she displayed, fairness, objectivity, a sense of humor, consistency. Can you tell me what your idea of the perfect supervisor is?
ASR isn't successful? Its like 100% a complete success! Are you kidding?
MQs speech rec technology is sweeping the industry. Just run a Google, dear poster, and get your facts even remotely straight before you post! Radiology speech rec is a HUGE success, as well as their acute care. What planet have you been living on? It needed perfecting, and, well....Its nearly there! Post facts if you must - much better than completely false ignorant claims.
To be SUCCESSFUL at MT, you'll need more than 1 class in transcribing. sm
However, you are off to a good start having had A&P and terminology and being a coder. Unfortunately, personal experience and family history don't give you all that much preparation for a career in MT, nor does just working in a medical office. But, if you are a successful coder, you do have a better base to build on. Coding and MT are very different, but you do have exposure and familiarity with more medical terms than the average person would. To be truly prepared for a career in MT, and I stress that it is a career, I have to suggest a full MT program, preferably one that includes a practicum/internship in its curriculum. If you continue to work in a medical office, I would look into who currently does their transcription, and see if you can practice on old tapes that they may have, see how you do on your first attempt at transcribing. Of course you won't be great right away, but it will at least give you a realistic vision into the actual work.
and you resent successful white people
,
Yes, spotted off and on through 2 successful pregnancies plus had ectopics...sm
would have to say spotting is NOT a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. The bleeding from an ectopic is all internal. You will have stomach pains, pain around your rectum or worse if it actually ruptures. But an ectopic is pretty easy to see on an ultrasound so if you have concerns about that, just get an ultrasound and have them track quantitative HCG's, as they are...
Best of luck and try not to worry, though I know I worried myself sick 
OSI and their mentoring program, maybe? Can anyone comment on how successful it is? nm
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Anyone successful with full screen monitor sm
hooked connected to a laptop and how did you get it to work. I have been trying to get my monitor and laptop to interact with one another, but no such look. Can anyone help me with this? I do not think I can look at this laptop screen all day. Thanks!!
worse yet, Spheris most successful in India for 10 yr.
x
they are jealous and hateful of anyone, family or friends who are successful.
They think they don't have to work too hard or follow the rules of society. Sometimes they embellish the truth or tell lies of ommission to have people feel sorry for them. There are lots of signs relative to how other people think that this person is way off base. Sometimes all they do is want to sleep. Other times they are on the phone for hours at a time. Something is off.
We will only be successful in unionizing when everyone realizes all American MTs are being short SM
changed. My attitude should be everybody's attitude. We should ALL feel fed up with the way we are treated. We are the work horses in this industry. Without us, MTSOs don't get paid, and at the hospitals, the charts won't be complete, coders can't code, billers can't bill, and nobody makes any money.
If we continue to accept the status quo, we can count on making less money. It's about time for everyone to be outraged and turn our backs on those MTSOs that don't offer a fair wage or who outsource our jobs to third world countries!
I need the money just as much as the next MT, but I made my sacrifices to get the job I have now. I worked in the office (oh the horror), paid for daycare (even more horror), and commuted into the city every day because I refused to take another sucky job with an MTSO paying 8 cpl and giving me the bottom of the barrel to type. I FINALLY found a decent paying job that allows me to work from home, gives me decent dictators, offers me benefits, and doesn't cheat me out of lines. More importantly, they treat me with respect and appreciate the job I do.
So don't tell me my attitude is wrong. You're attitude is wrong. You simply want to stir the pot, but not make a real difference. Sure I put my family above everything else and sure I worry about my pocketbook before I worry about yours, but you know what, I cared enough about my profession to say I'm not going to put up with it anymore. I cared enough about my profession that I worked in the office rather than take a wage that was a slap in the face to my years of experience. I cared enough about my profession to hold out until I found the one good job.
And now I care enough about my profession to say to you are worth every penny of the 7 cpl you're probably earning and 7 cents won't even get you a piece of bubble gum. Most of here are worth much much more.
I think most MTx are highly
their jobs. I really believe to be a good MT, you have to be very smart. We don't get the recognition we deserve!.
Most of the country despises and resents successful white people
x
I would highly doubt that considering
you had been "riding" your horse all day. That stench will carry for awhile!
Highly recommend M-TEC!!
I had job offers right out of school with a number of companies. Their training was right on. The support you get from them is terrific. I have also personally met both Kathy and Susan who, in addition to being great instructors, are also very nice ladies! Go for it and be prepared to work hard! :-)
I highly recommend
you quit leaching and GET YOUR OWN ACCOUNTS, this way you'll get what you feel you're worth, okay? I know you expect this and expect that, and there are posters here who think what you're asking for is totally within line and shame on ANY MTSOs who won't accommodate YOU! To that end I say, E-MAIL THEM and fill out a job application, and have THEM pay you the executive wages you expect. Yeah, like they're really going to. Gheesh! And don't worry, I wouldn't hire you on a bet. I'm looking to and intend to make money, not lose it on a SC who's got delusions of grandeur!
I highly recommend WW
I do WW on line and love it. However, some people really need the meeting support to stay on track. I lost all my weight on line, about 40 pounds, with the last 10 by joining local meetings for three months just so I could achieve "Lifetime Status", which I did. You never have to pay for any meetings after reaching your goal/Lifetime unless you go over your goal by 2# and you must weigh-in at least once a month. By achieving lifetime, you get a discount for your on-line subscription/E-tools. E-tools and the support of the forums keeps me on track and accountable so far. I have maintained for a couple months now after achieving my goal.
I don't see it as a "diet" either. It a change of lifestyle. I eat differently and do not plan to go back to my unhealthy eating style. You can eat anything you want too as long as you plan for it and/or account for it in your weekly points. Believe me, I feel if you have the desire and stick to the program, WW can work! :) My cholesterol levels are all WNL for the first time in many, many years too. :D
Best wishes.
You think? Highly doubt it.
These people are getting promoted. LOL
I, of course, was being highly sarcastic.
Wow. No sense of humor? Seems this place can do that to some.
Cheers, luv, cheers.
Yah it proves how HIGHLY intelligent she is.
was for adults? You go girl? What are you 17? Sounds like something my daughter says.
For you happy highly productive MQ MTs
 Help those of us who are struggling by giving us some pointers on what you are doing to be so successful and happy. I am very discouraged. I do not want to have to start over with a new company. I have 15 years experience, 8 of those with MQ. Since DQS, I cannot get quota. Never had a problem before, so I am not understanding.
Please give me any suggestions that might increase my productivity. And before all the comments of "stay off the board" begin - I am not working today. I do have some self discipline.
Feel flattered they think highly of you. That is the
a
I highly doubt that is the reason.
I mean, how many people truly observe that holiday and think I need to get all the work done that I can now because it is Veteran's day in 2 days. It's not like there is a Veteran's day meal like Thanksgiving or presents like Thanksgiving.
Of course she didn't. I highly doubt
Some people just can't stand for this board to be quiet, so they either post a dumb POLL question or some other nonsense. Now they've resorted to posting outright lies. This is totally absurd. I guess the next post will be that they are letting inmates process checks for banks at night...or work at day care centers. Sheesh! The people on this board never cease to amaze me.
I understand what you are saying, but this is a highly skilled sm
field, not "washing dishes" or even "working at Wallyworld." Yes, there is VR and other things out there making this our jobs easier and in very rare cases, null and void, but this industry STILL requires skilled MTs who will pick up what VR and computers just cannot do.
I do VR on a regular basis and there are so many gross errors it isn't even funny. I would say 50% of any given document contains error that would be a detriment to direct patient care.
I received a newsletter recently from my company that stated this industry is growing and that the industry is having a very difficult time finding experienced, good MTs to do all of the work given to any given company. That, to me, was very, very positive in the way of where our jobs will be in 10 years.
I don't see in 10 years VR or foreigners taking our jobs. In 30 to 50, maybe, but not anytime soon.
So, a company offering 7 cpl to an experienced MT is a disgrace (especially if they take it). On new grads, I think 4 cpl is just fine because I also taught MT at a local college and there was no way that any of my students (graduates) could do this from home without a mentor/QA, etc., full-time for at least a year until they could be on their own. They would make way too many mistakes.
It's a sad day when a highly educated doctor can't
I'm talking epistaxis here, ok...not that hard of a word. She won't even put forth the effort to pronounce words correctly, especially medications, which in my opinion is downright dangerous. I wouldn't want her for my doctor...way to dangerous of a dictator. BTW, I never, ever guess on a medication, even if I am confident about what she MEANS to say...so always end up sending hers to proofing...okay, I'll get off my  now...good day all!!!
I use IT. I highly recommend you have it installed.
date element in Meditech is F6, I think. Press F keys all the way. Then, try alt and the F keys all the way down and then control and F keys to see what their functions are. You can jot them down on paper and make it into a toolbar by taping it to the keyboard. Now that I think of it, if you have a Help Desk, they may have a copy of the F key functions to send you.
And also, you will need a speed typing engine which will be well worth the money.
25+ years ago, I'd have recommended it highly - sm
-- as it was recommended to me. It was an excellent fit for about 10-12 years, but then when managed healthcare came on scene, it not only ruined medical care as we once knew it, but also our livelihoods. Wish I'd followed my OTHER friend's advice, and become a court reporter. She's still working, still not outsourced to India, and she makes good money -- working about 3-4 days a week. Put her kids through college, etc.
Woulda', coulda', SHOULDA!
:(
I highly doubt it. Not these days.
x
Caffeine is also highly addictive
I love the stuff!!!! Caffeine doesn't necessarily make you feel better, though, it just makes you feel less bad. That's something I read somewhere that always struck a chord with me. I'm not fit to speak to until I've had at least a hit of caffeine in the morning and don't even start on the headaches I'll get if for some reason I go a day or two without it.
Do you take vitamins on a regular basis? Despite the so called research that says that vitamins don't really do that much, I have found that if I go for several days without taking my supplements then I get really draggy and have a horrible time focusing. If I remember to take them, then I do pretty well and have a much easier time focusing and getting work done.
Unlike right now when I should get started working and am playing on this board. 
almost forgot...........I highly doubt sm
Who told you anyone is scared to come up against me? I am no one to "come up" against! I don't put myself up on that pedestal. Seems to me you are the one doing that.
You need to LIGHTEN UP LIZZIE! Say something intelligent about the profession will ya?
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