Stating the reality isn't being pessimistic.
Posted By: Optimism is great and if the field were on 2008-12-29
In Reply to: There is a difference between... - MT
wide open and landing accounts with no contacts was an easy thing to do, I'd tell the OP to go for it and good luck. But I know from experience what is true. I have plenty of accounts and ALL of them came my way via connections. First I worked as an MT in a hospital for many years and I left there to start my own business and from my hospital connections accounts came my way. Then my clients referred accounts to me. Not one of my clients has come from advertising or cold calling or sending letters of introduction or flyers. Not one.
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I don't fault you for being pessimistic
because the both the companies and our own so-called professional organization have trodden on us for so long that most MTs really don't think there is any other way.
Fortunately, nothing I have planned requires the "companies" to listen to anything MTs have to say, "whining" or nicely.
And nothing I have planned requires cooperation from the beneficiaries of cherry picking with wonderful accounts and who are happy with their jobs.
The essence of the situation is that services are much more in danger of extinction in this age of technology and the global economy than are domestic MTs. The majority of them are on borrowed time.
The companies don't have the assets that are critical to the future of the profession. The offshore companies and their transcriptionists certainly don't.
The only ones who do are the MTs with the skills to do the work that can't be done by VR or offshore. Those are the only assets that aren't commodoties. Those skills can't be replaced by a software robot, a matchbook-school new graduate, or an offshore wannabe cherrypicking-transcriptionist to do the easy "Queen's English, theatrical elocution" dictation.
The MTs are the ones in possession of the assets that are critical. The skills are the asset, not the job. The job can be sent offshore. The company can fire you from a particular job. But the critical assets are still in the hands of the MTs, who have the power to shape their future by harnassing and directing those assets in a positive way.
That is not what the OP is stating..
If the company is advertising for "shifts" meaning 7 a to 3 p, then that is an employee that they need, not an IC.
ICs choose their own hours; yes they do. Anything dictated by an MTSO for shifts meaning the MT must be accountable for those hours equals EMPLOYEE, not IC.
The OP is absolutely correct. These MTSOs take advantage by instituting a shift or schedule. As an employee, that's great. The reason behind the MTSO doing this is that they feel they can just not hire the employees which cost more money and get away with not paying the taxes. So many MTs fall for this scheme.
This is the whole reason you see posts about companies that hire ICs and then ICs are on here complaining of no/low work and there is nothing they can do about it.
Such a shame not all of us are smart enough to see this racket, which is what it is a "racket."
Kudos to MTSOs who hire employees. Bah Humbug to MTSOs who hire ICs and then dictate the hours or shifts to that IC. When in fact an IC equals self-employed which means I make my own hours.
No. They start out stating how (sm)
great they are to work for. Okay so I decide to try them. Everything goes along fine for about 6 months, then it hits the skids. I have concerns how they suddenly switched my accounts with no word as to why. Then they stop sending work altogether. I emailed the main lady, my supe, and even the CEO of the company all to no avail. I then get a very rude and threatening email from them about how I have ignored them. WHAT?! I did not ignore them, it was the other way around and when I called her on it, she shut up and quick. Unfortunately, I am only one of many who had this experience with this company. They tout themselves as the best to work for, but are far from it. It was about the worst exp I had.
Just stating what I see, sorry if your toes
stepped on. I guess you must not read the others.
Some people just don't like the truth. A lot of the vents are from "supermoms", so impressed about that, who apparently do not feel like they can do it all, otherwise why be so frustrated?? How do I make time for this, how do I take care of the baby and still work. As far as not knowing what it feels to be cared for, as far as my hubby up is concerned he has me on a pedestal. I worked and kept up as many as 6 other people before and I did not go around crying and whining. I did it because at that time it had to be done. Just part of being a working person, just did it, no crying and no whining, part of life. Now hubby pays for the house, my vehicle and says if I want to can quit working whenever I want. Just try to read the posts, ok?
I am stating how I feel about something
and I do not have the same opinion maybe as you or others but it is my opinion. I do not know of anyone who puts themselves in my shoes so don’t know where that goes. Actually have more of an open mind about lots of things, very liberal type person, just do not think this is a really big deal. If you do not have names, addresses, etc. etc. how in the world can you do identify theft. Use your common sense, ok?
for stating that!!! Finally! NM
nm
You could try just stating in a letter
They may or may not decide to keep you. You don't really "ask" as an IC. You "state" as an IC. You will risk them finding cheaper services. So, you need to ask yourself if it is worth losing the account for a few more cents per line. The only other thing you could do is attach an "administrative fee" to each bill and let them know it is for tasks not related to the actual production; this would be a little raise.
The bottom line is that raises are nonexistent as an IC. Normally what quote you've given them in the start of the work is what they expect to pay or they'll find someone cheaper like an offshore company. I wouldn't stir the waters if I was you, but that's just me.
I tried to barter with one account over a raise and the doctor met me halfway. I was being paid per page. I had to drop him though because once I raised the rate, he quit paying me on time. I guess I was last on the list. He switched to me doing handwritten note dictation (no dictation). It was hard on the neck and eyes, so I quit.
Well, I WAS stating my opinion.
nm
not trying to be nasty, just stating sm
a fact. Too many MTs out there without sufficent education and they are suppose to mess around until they "realize" that they don't have the education?
I have seen schools make promises to these people that they can't keep. I have warned people not to put their money into these schools and most don't listen. Have actually had people call after they "finish" school and tell me that they cannot or could not transcribe the tapes given to them on a final examination.
Sure wish folks would listen. This is not a career for folks to walk into hoping to be a "fast learner." I wonder if your doctor is a "fast learner?" This kind of attitude has brought this profession down to nothing more than a typist.
Not angry, just stating facts. Look around.
x
MA passed law stating all residents MUST
or they will be fined $1,000 per year. Poverty level up to 4 times poverty level (for family of four) you will receive free or subsidized care. All other residents must either have health insurance through their employer or individual policy. My question is, what if you just cannot afford it???? There are many reasons some above poverty level cannot afford coverage, such as family history. This law stinks. I'm sure there was heavy insurance company lobbying on this one. Once again the little guy gets  .
lol, just stating the facts ma'am.
x
Maybe a letter stating that on such and such date - sm
your rates will be increased to XYZ. Then maybe institute a % discount if they pay in 5-10 days if you don't already do that, kind of lessen the sting (just make sure you don't make less if they do this). If not a letter than maybe on your next invoice. Good luck.
Just stating a fact, no problems.
SA
not flaming you, just stating facts. sm
no one can clean up enough themselves, but Christ can clean them up. Maybe you would want to discuss on the faith board? I assumed by the tone of your posts over there you were a Christian but I assume not now. Didn't flame, but will pray for you.
I too have been to h*ll and back by the Grace of Christ he brought me out of it.
Just reading your posts on this side of the boards you sound like a miserable sad person. Christ can change that if you let him.
You better get with reality!!
You're looking for a minimum of 10 per line as a subcontractor???? 
Don't you realize that docs are such notorious cheapskates, and the vast majority of MTSOs are charging that amount, perhaps a cent or two more if they're lucky, so how is it YOU expect to be paid a minimum of 10 per line?????
I had to totally laugh out loud when I read your post. I mean, you DO feel it's okay if the MTSO makes a LITTLE bit of profit, don't you? Or do you expect them to sweat blood and tears in this business for their health and give you the whole shebang?
It always irritates me to no end when I read a post such as yours. If you're looking for a full line rate, get it from obtaining your own accounts!! Don't expect an MTSO to give you 99.9% of the pie dear!!! Really, I've had such a belly full of SCs with the attitude of gimme, gimme, gimme I could just scream!!! 
That is a whole different story than stating you "joined" the lawsuit. Its how
so much of the original MQ class action lawsuits got so screwed up information-wise to the rest of us MTs. You were probably one of the originals, proudly claiming you "joined" the lawsuit, while hundreds of us scrambled around trying to figure out what we missed and how to "join". That was the huge fiasco months back. You are misinforming when you state you "joined" anything, cause there is NOTHING to join at this time. Personally, I think its just "pomp" on your part, actig like you're "in the know", and making some kind of martyr stand. There is NOTHING to join, so don't misrepresent it until such time as there IS something to join. Makes the rest of the poor MTs feel worse - MQ gives no info, and then everyone else but them has "joined" a suit. Not defending MQ - just wish folks would not "spin" the truth - same games MQ allegedly likes to play! But you, naturally, feel justified!
He's stating statistics and facts. You're LOL-ing
for lack of any facts, stats or intelligent statements. You are showing your ignorance and lack of education and class, as well as your resentment and jealousy of those who have successful lives because they got off their butts and did something - like go to college and control the direction fo their lives instead of blaming other people for everything.
Typical loser.
I love how stating what I believe to be factual is ignorant- this has nothing
customs or what their religious beliefs or morality is. I am just saying it will most likely be nothing like she expects, certainly nothing like the freedom we have here in the U.S., and she should think long and hard about it. Go in with your eyes open. Boy, the things people take "offense" at on this board is unbelieveable.
It means I saw an email stating this, but it was not addressed to me.
nm
And I was stating facts based on my experience..nm
nm
They at least owed you a call/email stating they would not -
After being in contact with an applicant, having them fill out a form, etc., it's just plain rude to give them no feedback whatsoever. What if an applicant let another job pass by while waiting for this one, thinking it was a better job and that because things had gone well on the phone conversation, that the application process would at least continue. Very unfair to you, and very rude of the employer.
This is not being a bigot! Simply stating fact of
x
Verizon HSI, stating security no longer available
anyone else with Verizon high-speed internet? saying that we now have to pay an introductory rate of $1.99 per month for the first six months for continued security. my computer runs PC tools Spyware doctor and Norton protection center, which I assume was provided by Verizon. Is that what they're talking about discontinuing? anybody ???
Reality and how it is in 2005 and my
being able to "deal" with that is not the problem. What others seem to have a problem with is that they believe they are stuck with that reality for the future. You should only be that lucky. The one thing that is sure for the future for MT is that it is not going to be is static. If you think it can't get worse, think again. It absolutely can. And if you think it can't get better, you are wrong there too.
I didn't say there was a "code of ethics" in any particular company. What I said was that the above-mentioned practice was unethical by higher codes of ethics such as what is right and what is wrong. I don't know of anyone who would argue that the majority of MT services are the epitome of ethical practices or even have ethical codes.
The fight I am referring to? For one, the fight against unethical practices by MT services. The MTs that would unite to fight that? Certainly not all of them, but you would be surprised how few it would take.
I think it is time for MTs to start organizing to form their own destiny, not be pathetic sheep following the heard that AAMT is trying to shepherd us into as they walk us off a cliff, or slaves to the whims of service owners who are used to being able to take advantage of us and get by with it.
The one thing I am sure of is that it isn't a fight I expect to lose.
Negativity and reality......
are 2 different things. We all have difference endurance and tolerances for things. It's like my 30-year-old nephew. He got his girlfriend pregnant when he was 16. They married 3 years later, have had 2 more kids, and are still happily married 11 yrs later. It that the norm for a couple of teenagers? No way. It works out occasionally, but it's definitely the exception and not the rule.
I usually do not like reality shows, but this one I
have to see. I love that show!! I do feel sorry for the wannabe chefs dealing with Chef. I gotta say I am watching tonight, the finale!!
Don't need a reality check
I don't realize that ICs don't have health insurance. Thank you for your tips.
When will the reality shows end?? and...
Who keeps paying for them? Come on America!! How about quality not quantity? Shameful, I think.
How about No Boundaries on Reality TV
Kinda like Survivor only its on every night at 9 through the end of the race. About half way through now.
"Good" reality TV?
Sounds like an oxymoron to me. There are many things I'd rather do than watch boring TV.
sobering reality
I support Sheri Steadman regardless of whether I agree or not. She is to be commended for her efforts.
It's true. Offshoring cannot be reversed. It is here to stay.
I was listening to Coast to Coast last night a late night radio talk show with Art Bell, who had a very interesting discussion about the state of affairs, jobs in this country. The speaker, I believe, a noted physicist, whose name I cannot recall, said that America is going through very painful changes, that countries that are receiving our jobs are experiencing the industrial revolution for the first time, like we once did. He said that the jobs of the future in this country will force us to become more creative. I thought about this for some time. It does not make it any easier for me or any of us. Painful it is.
I think this is ludacrous! In reality, that would
put MORE American MTs out of jobs than is already happening. Then we'd all be heading ot the poor house. Thank you, I love my job no matter what nationality the dictator and I do it well. Quit if you must, I'll keep my job. Thanks.
Reality check
With the deaths of three people that I grew up with on TV, and now with what I hard yesterday from Dr. Phil yesterday he reminded us that if we have 20 years left in our life it -- and that sounds like a long time, but that equals out to only 1040 weeks which then makes you realize as the weeks go by so fasssssssssssssssst that it is not very long and we need to make the best of those weeks as we can. So that made me stop and realize what is really important and what is not and what is worth fighting about and what is not. This may not stay with me but I am going to keep thinking about those weeks instead of years and hopefully it will make me enjoy the weeks that I am here.
Back to reality!!
I did not attack you,  and if you believe I did it's your own insecurities. I'm just telling you how it is. And by the way, I'm not looking to be employed as a SC as I'm an MTSO, dear and have been for many, many moons! Thanks for the offer anyway!
What you expect to receive line-rate-wise is laughable! Now, you ARE aware of the economy and the current climate of the MT profession, are you not? If you're not, allow me to throw a few clues your way in order to help bring you back to reality so that you realize the line rate you expect is WAY out of line:
 India, Pakistan, Canada, VR, EMR, Bush (as in Bush trying to wipe out the middle class/middle-class jobs and so far brilliantly succeeding!), undercutting, and newbies who'll practically work for free, just to name a few!
See, it doesn't matter how many years of experience you have.  You could have 100 plus for all most MTSOs could care. The bottom line is what are the docs paying - now subtract the MTSO costs - now add MTSO profit (yes, surprise - they are entitled to make one!!  ) - and you'll see the line rate you expect is outrageous.
Don't believe me? Then I refer you back to the clues above. Go Google on all of them and find out for yourself!! 
And another one who can't handle reality.
/
I think it's maybe more reality than jealousy
I still don't understand where you came up with 17 cpl but nobody pays that and something smells very fishy here. I would not count on it.
Reality bites
Sorry to hear about your disappointment in a raise in line rate pay, but it is reality. I had my own business for many, many years, and during the last eight years, I could not raise my pay or I would lose my accounts. I went from 14 cents a line in 1991 to 11.5 cents a line in 2005. Every year it was the same old thing - Gee, could you lower your rate, CFO got a brochure from another company willing to do it cheaper, or I was always told it was not in the budget, hospital was losing money, had to cut somewhere. The sad reality is that offshoring has cut our pay to crap because of the competition, if you can call it that. Remembering that the whole medical system is collapsing upon itself in this country with no universal healthcare policy in this country and millions every year losing their medical insurance, the powers that make these decisions in cutting their budgets where it is most obvious - nonrevenue-producing departments. Be creative, diversify, maybe do other types of transcribing added to your business, and perhaps learn something else now. The job of the future will be three part-time jobs. The kids of today know that all too well.
Reality is one thing but
going so far as to criticise and ridicule what someone else is having for dinner is way aobe and over any mark of professionalism. That is the type of negativity that is being referred to here, not what someone has to say about any employers.
It's not a "mentality", it's a reality. SM
WE should "get out" if we don't like the relationship between the two?
How can we produce a high quality report when we are too busy sweating the small stuff or trying to remember all the rules and the exceptions to the rules and wondering which QA tyrant is going to be checking our work today so we can make sure to remember their rules in additiont to everything else. And on top of all that, we have to produce, produce, produce.
Something's gotta give and it can't be the MTs cause we've given enough already! We've given in our pay, we've forfeited our better judgment and our education and intelligence when we've typed verbatim instead what is correct just because we are told to do so. We've given in our time. We've even started losing our jobs to overseas outsourcing even though we produce a better product simply because we think and question the status quo, where as the India MTs do as their told without question for 2 cpl.
Personally, I would like to see reformation in the MT industry. I would like to see uniformity across the board as far as style, format, rules and regs. I would like to see an organization that represents the MT and not the MTSOs. I would like to see QA departments adopt a set of rules and that's that. I would like the MTSO to treat MTs like they have a brain in their heads and can make judgment calls without being penalized for not typing verbatim that incoherent jibberish Dr. Alibaba dictated.
So instead of leaving the industry, I'm staying to effect change. I'm in the midst of going back to school to prepare for my RHIT credentials and by golly, I'm going beat 'em at their own game and change transcription once I move up that ladder.
If you don't like the us vs. them reality, YOU get out. You're probably contributing to the problem as it is!
DH now knows reality of my job, didnt at first.
x
Reality check
I have been in this business for over 30 years -- the BIGGEST issue that is going on is with a "new generation" who has only voted MAYBE 2 times -- and NO, this post is "not political" HOWEVER, what some of what is being proposed is NOT the end of the rainbow -- I JUST had Fox news on, and there is a proposal to "give free housing to the mentally ill, drug addicts, etc" -- we're griping about our life and this is what the PRESS wants to report -- -- we're peons and no one seems to care -- and as an aside including my SO who is sooooooo concerned now with "Teddys" brain tumor and the fact that the press has reported that its connected to his cell phone -- good grief, I lost a mother to cancer, a husband to cancer and a grandfather to a stroke -- bottom line -- we are going to die, when it is our time to do so -- sorry had to vent
Reality check
A good English course may help with your test scores judging from your posts. Even with verbatim accounts, you still need to be proficient with grammer usage and have a good grasp of the English language. All companies look at this, and score on this.You cannot slack on this if you want to be able to keep a job in this industry. When you are new to a company, they will audit (QA) every single report you type for a while, looking at grammer, terminology, etc. Remember, you will be typing for a lot of ESL (English as a Second Language) dictators who do not have a good knowlege of English and you have to be able to recognize and correct their errors.
Verbatim does not mean you do not have to edit. Every verbatim account has its own rules, but many of them require that you correct such things as subject/verb agreement, a versus an, he/she discrepancies, plurals, etc., much of which many ESL dictators (and even English as a First Language dictators) have no concept of. In my opinion, a verbatim account is a bad place for a newbie to start as you will pick up a lot of bad habits that will haunt you later on should you need to work on non-verbatim accounts later on, but just my opinion.
Getting out into the *real world* can be rough at first and a real reality check, but work on your English skills on top of terminology and I am sure you will do fine. I don't know what course you are taking, but there are only a few who truly prepare you for the real world of transcription and that is a shame. Start testing now for companies (many have online testing on their websites) to learn what you need to work on before you finish your course, it is a great tool for newbies.
I wish you the best of luck.
I should mention that I almost in reality
type in ShortHand because of all the Expanders I have, and rarely have to type a complete sentence. Build up your explander list like the poster below suggested and that will make a world of difference.
In reality, I think most of us DO care - a lot - (sm)
but dealing with inconsistent QA that will pick apart a complicated report by a difficult dictator and mark you down for using a semicolon instead of a comma has resulted in taking a lot of that stuff with a grain of salt. Now, if I get a report back where I made an an error in interpreting what the doc said, THAT makes me very unhappy!
Just stating, "I'm a medical language specialist" usually stumps them (nm)
x
Radiology? We were issued letter stating we MUST keep logs.
I could be wrong and in this instance, hope that I am. It costs me about 25 reports a day, I figure, counting MR#, exam #s, job #.
Shoot - just apply at different companies stating your background
& your desire to learn OPs or orthopedics. My only experience was in radiology (10 yrs) & ENT (4 yrs)when I applied at a company to work at home(many,many years ago). I was hired - with no experience other than the above. They started me on DS, then HP & Consults - then "asked" me to try OPs. From then on, after more time spent looking things up than transcribing,with many tears shed, they kept me on OPs solely.
I'm now with another company after 12 yrs,& OPs are my speciality & all that I do.
Just keep applying to any & all companies that meet your criteria with your wishes known. Hopefully, you'll find a company that will let you expand your expertise beyond radiology & give you the opportunity to try such.
I wish you the best. Don't give up. If I could find such a company - so can you. Just keep on trying !!!
Kind of stating the obvious, aren't you? You bet I have a grudge against the... SM
AAMT. Look at the medical transcription industry, what exactly has the AAMT done to improve it? Wages have not gotten better over time, they have gotten worse. That right there is a big indicator that their association has done nothing for medical transcription. They do for themselves.
My grudge aside, I am being supportive to CS by telling her to forget about the AAMT and move forward in her career. She doesn't need the CMT credentials, none of us do.
As far as her problems with studying the weekend before the test, I hate to sound harsh - but if she were truly an experienced MT, one noisy weekend should not have affected her test scores to the point of failing. However, the CMT examination isn't truly a test of medical transcription. It is a test of how well you've memorized the BOS rules and regs.
CS is probably a very good MT and if she were tested on MT skills alone, her in-laws visiting her right before the test wouldn't have made that big of a difference. The fact is she had to memorize the BOS and that is probably where she failed. In my OPINION, that's not really failing.
Hence my initial comments that her only disappointment should be that she shelled out $298 bucks - not because she failed and is out the money, but because she shelled out her money for credentials that mean nothing. In my book, she was wasting her money pass or fail.
Post resume on job board, stating what experience you have.
xx
Do you mean sign a contract stating that you won't work for another company?...sm
If so, I did not have to sign anything saying I would not work elsewhere while working for them.
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