Suggestion for those working for a service (sm)
Posted By: Me on 2007-11-21
In Reply to:
Unless you are quite computer savvy, it does not pay to just blindly follow advice you may see from MTs who are also computer gurus as to configuring your computer for efficiency. These so-called efficient programs are not always easily compatible with the platforms services use. Always call your company's IT help department and ask before making a change.
For instance, my company uses ExText, and I was not too smart to switch over Mozilla Foxfire. I'm sure it is a great program for independent MTs who can set up whole systems with their eyes closed, but it has caused some headaches for me in my fairly computer ignorant state.
Then when my computer got slow I figured it was a virus, so I downloaded this "highly recommended" software, PC Doctor. Again, I'm sure it's an excellent program, but it disabled all sorts of things on my computer that I need. And it wasn't even a free program. Grr. My IT person told me they use a free program. Wish I'd done that one instead.
And to think I do these things to speed my computer up! I'm such an id-iot.
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suggestion for those who work for a service
I had problems earlier this week when I had to reinstall my Java and ended up with a weird word processing program that also attached itself from Sun and also when I STOOPIDLY downloaded a Bittorrent file and of course could not "remove" either through the usual way and of course, it caused my system to almost have a nervous breakdown and after hours of "trying to figure it out myself", I ended up calling a remote techinical service.
The name of the service is HiWired and I used them in the past about 3 years ago when I was having problems with my desktop. The initial person that I spoke to told me the charge would be $73 and I told her that would be okay. The tech installed AVG Free on my puter and told me about the horrors of the bit torrent files etc. He also installed another free antispyware program on my machine and in all, spent about 2 to 2 and a half hours the other night working on the machine. When everything was back to normal, I checked my account and sure enough, $73 was all that I was charged -- NOTHING was added to the bill like some places that will "give you a rate" but the more work that is done, then the bill goes up."
Also, the wonderful thing about HiWired is that they are based in MA, they work 24/7 and all their techs are AMERICAN technicans.
Sorry for the long post.
Working for more than one service.
Thanks for all the input. I appreciate the help. I don't like to put all my eggs in one basket.
Working for a private service
I just started working for a small independent service and was wondering if I could have some input. I am getting paid .13 a line and the service takes 25% of my gross earnings. Is this normal? Or is the percentage too high?
If you are talking about working for a service
it is about par
She's talking about an IC, not working for a service.
I am talking about working for a service
no message.
working as a customer service rep from home....sm
taking phone calls like orders for things, etc., showed very pregnant woman with little kids with phone headset working on computer . Raved about flexibility, own hours, fit her schedule, blah, blah.... Had to be able to work alone, etc., all the work ethics we have to have, and good typist. Full time, they said pays VERY well, with emphasis on the "very." I think this woman was making 12-15 an hour, can't remember exactly. Said there were about 10,000 women doing it and it is the up and coming thing. Check out the GMA website... I think it was "Women at Work"...... something like that.
To me working on a holiday is a premium service and the IC should be compensated anything
above and beyond the call of duty. I have charged more per line when working a holiday only when it has been specifically requested that I work the holiday. If I decide to work on a holiday just because I want to catch up or I have free time, I won't charge extra for that.
But if the client asks me to work a holiday because they need coverage, then I will charge a little more per line, usually just a couple of cents more per line. I don't understand why anyone wouldn't "dream" of doing this. I've known computer technicians, electricians, plumbers etc. who charge more for after hours calls and holiday calls. Why should we be any different?
Made 11-12 cents a line working for a service in 1989
sucks
Just read whole thread. Yes. Working for a service is okay because line rates
actually have gone down. Just make sure they pay for spaces, headers, footers.
What service pays sick time, not working, vacations, etc.?
Where? I have never gotten paid for any of these, especially sudden illnesses, or I would be rich!
We have decided to add this to our current service not have a new service. It will be easier to sm
keep track of and will just be a different department.
It looks like we will work out details over the next 6 months, talking with community college program directors as well as a few of the distance-learning course leaders to work on the recruiting end.
We will train current staff to mentor if they would like to do so and want to work in the office.
We are still working on production requirements, goals to set, pay, benefits and other fine details but we have 6 months to get it all in place with three months to pull it together after that with a tentative start date of 09/01/06. We need to build the building as well, although that is already at the blueprint stage in a spot next to our current office.
We did not want to cause flames and bashing by listing the company name as there are always so many negative people on this site, but we are national with over 200 transcriptionists, located outside of Chicago (40 miles west) and have the best team of transcriptionists around!
We will have an "official" announcement after the first of the new year.
Thank you for all of your feedback and suggestions!
My telephone service is VOIP, but it s through my cable service, along with my cable internet. .
We have had VOIP for about a year now and I love it. I really can't tell a difference in traditional service, except the price. One of the best calls of my life was to Bellsouth to cancel our service!
I am not asking for a service, I AM the service looking for recorders
nm
You get more working the evening or night shifts and working w/o benefits. And producing like a mad
,
Suggestion
I wouldn't be surprised if I've worked for the same company you work for. I refuse to spend hours looking for something that may be near, if not impossible, to find. The company and the dictator must have some responsibility for names and demographic information. IMHO we are paid to know what goes in between the demographics and the signature. You have 2 choices here: 1) Move on to another company that understands the concept of medical transcription or 2) If the problem is difficult dictators, take the time to learn them and become proficient in doing them. Once you've mastered that, you'll be surprised that your production will actually increase as most of them have a pretty limited vocabular and they are likely to say the same thing over and over. Save a copy of everything you can like the ROS and PE in a macro or your word expander and each time you do them you will pick up a word or 2 until pretty soon you'll have the whole thing down pat and can just edit it for any changes. Of course if you're lucky your QA will send you a copy of the report with the filled in blanks but don't necessarily expect it even if you ask for it.
Hang in there. You can control your paycheck, you just have to be willing to do whatever it takes even if it means finding another employer.
Just a suggestion....try going to
 Universal Studios.....My sister lives in that area and always gives us season tickets to the different attractions. When my son was younger, we would go to all those great places. My preference has always been Universal Studios. Great rides and attractions and the time spent waiting in line is WAY less. You did say the Daytona 500 right? Isn't that in February or March? During that time of year just be prepared for massive crowds. Hope you have fun. I've included my email; I'll have my sis check out some places for you.
Suggestion for you
Have you ever tried a keyboard skin? They are made specifically for your make and model keyboard and I love mine. I would probably have about 20 lbs. of cat hair stuck under my keys if it weren't for mine. They also quiet the "click" of the keyboard, which I like. They are very popular in police cars-- guess it keeps the coffee and donut crumbs out!
Just a suggestion
Try Horizon Bank, they work with people with lower credit scores
my suggestion
Which is not Holy Grail
ANESTHESIA: Intravenous sedation in the form of 50 mg of Demerol and 75 mcg of fentanyl
Another suggestion
If you haven't already, I would certainly check all my Internet connection settings as this could make a difference if something is checked/not checked within your own settings.
Personally, I would first start by checking in Outlook Express, click on Tools, Options, Connection, Change,
Connections, Settings, Properties, Options, go down to Redialing Options, Idle Time Before Hanging Up, and choose Never in the drop down box. If this is not checked, perhaps this might make a difference.
Let us know what you find out, ok? :) Best of luck.
here's a suggestion
Since you already have one good account and have had that account for a number of years, perhaps you could put a 'bug' in their ear that you are looking for more work? I know doctors talk and sometimes I've landed accounts just by word of mouth from people I'm already working for. In other words, the doc hears another doc talking about needing an MT, etc., and then your name gets thrown out. Otherwise, it usually does just seem like you have to be in the right place at the right time. Don't give up!
Another suggestion, if I may? sm
emptyMT offers some great suggsetions! And, you can always use the old standby......a Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. There are always lots of guys around those and they're also very, very helpful!
Good luck, hon!
whose suggestion? .....sm
all we have to do is convert our massive growth of corn in this country into fuel.......and then we wouldn't have to tear up the Pacific NW-Alaska territories and then we wouldn't be so DANGED DEPENDENT on the MIDDLE EAST for oil.......
I also think Canada has a ton of oil and they are our friends - we should be doing far more oil business with Canada - where our dollar is better than theirs - and give them more business than we do now.
CORN is a surplus in this country........and can continue to be.
Another suggestion
Since you have little ones (boy, do I remember those days!), have you considered setting your schedule to accommodate their needs? Maybe you could try working early mornings and late evenings when they are asleep or when your spouse could watch them for you while you work?
Another suggestion
Where we work, they just expand the initials list to three characters adding a numeral after our initials when someone else had our initials already. For example, if your initials were HH, and someone else already had those, you would become HH2. Just another idea, it works for my company.
Thank you for your suggestion, but
why would I need to start a blog when this is the only place I post and I have every right to post here? If you'll notice, over 450 people have read this. I am a medical Transcriptionist and I will post whatever I want here. Everyone else does and you've never suggested they start a blog.
Thanks for the suggestion!
z
suggestion
Cymed is an outstanding company with beaucoup work and great people. Jobs are usually 300-400 lines long.
They've an 800 number which I don't have with me.
Just a suggestion
Perhaps American MTs should get together and form another association for Transcriptionist that is truly American or that is for MTs in the United States. USMT Association.
Suggestion
Ask your dr. for some samples of Sudal. They're chewables so even my 12 yr old takes them. It only takes one to dry you up.
I have a suggestion...sm
Just say NO to men with baggage. LOL!
Suggestion
How about selling the house and splitting the profit, sell the car, cancel the credit cards and depending on whether there is anything charged on them, split the bills. Get something in writing signed by a notary stating who is going to pay for what and hopefully if you ever have to fight him for his part of the deal a judge will side with your decisions, because he signed his promise in front of a notary. I went through a very easy divorce in a similar manner. The notary is just and idea, not legal advice and I dont know if it would even stand up in court, but its one idea.
thanks for suggestion.......I
went out tonight to Wal-Mart and bought new speakers called Altec Lansing, and they are powerful for their small size! It has both volume and tone controls, which most do not have! I always use my headset, which was not the problem, it was that 1 of my old speakers just quit working, so I could hardly hear the dictations, so you see, it DOES make a difference if your speakers really sound good or not.
my suggestion is
He'll live longer.
Another suggestion
When you first get over the causeway onto Jekyl Island, granted they have older hotels and condos, but when you go further in you will find very nice accomodations. Jekyl is more of a secluded family vacation spot. St. Simons is much more expensive, more restaurants, etc. They are both very nice, just depends on what you are looking for. As for beaches, Jekyl is where to go. I know, I live here.
Here is my suggestion - sm
Take emotion out of your decision and make your decision based on professionalism. Business is business and has no room for emotion.
If this could jeopardize your paycheck and account, than deal with it in a professional manner.
Good luck in your decision.
here's a suggestion - have someone ELSE do
yes - one more suggestion I have....*L*
go either to download dot com or cnet dot com and get the 1.4 newest free version of SPYBOT. Then run it a couple of times - it may catch things that your virus scanner isn't getting on that one laptop. It's easy to install and I've been using it for years. *S*
Just a suggestion...
Maybe call the Salvation Army? They could probably at least point her in the right direction, anyway. Sorry to hear this!
Suggestion--sm
Sometimes we use patient name and date, and doctor initials...i.e., DoeJohn0108.jd
just a thought.
It was just a suggestion
It works for me. There is a time after you hit return and the next job appears, so I use that dead space for pressing my lever. Whatever works for you, works. The only time it really wastes is when I have to stop and reload the money counter, but that only happens about 6 to 7 times per shift.
suggestion
I don't know about a key board, but I know my ergonomic/split keyboard is a lifesaver in keeping my wrists at a more natural angle.
When, my arthritis flares, I take 1 cup hot drinkable water and add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon honey and drink it down 3 times a day. It honestly helps with arthritis. Or, I will take 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and put in grape juice which also helps.
That was my suggestion
Google it!
By the way, it's a good idea to turn your Google cookies off - I strongly suspect Google is just another 'arm' of Big Brother...
Just a suggestion...
Other than the previous explaination, which sounds perfectly logical to me, I would say maybe it has something to do with your original document template that comes up when you first start work. I would also think that you could Bold the report from top to bottom and then hit ALT O, F and then ALT C and change/format the color. You can go into the default button on that same screen mode and make sure all reports are set up like that.
I use several normals or canned text for numerous doctors. I save them under Autotext and I label them by doctors names. For instance, one account that does a lot of PNs and the Dr numbers are like 75, 6, 29. I label them Dr75, dr6, dr29. After you type your sample one, you would bold the entire report and then Alt I, A and X will take you there and hit return. So, when you open the document and just type dr75 and enterand the report will come up. Sometimes I have to back up and type it again but that's just 4 letters and you don't have to go out and look them up in mydocuments.
If you do like a standard HP or ROS format for each doctor and that doctor uses a particular H&P I put them under that Dr. name plus "p" or "r". (i.e. 8824p for physical and 8824r for review of systems.) If you ever need to change anything you just fix the erro, copy the text and save it back Alt A I and then X and return and then Alt A for add and it will ask about replacing old report. If you don't use autotext you should try it, saves me a lot of time. You can also save them Smithds, smithhp smithop, smithlapchole.
just a suggestion
Depending on what part of the country you are in - I would charge .11-.15 per line - with spaces - .13-.17 without spaces. Sounds like this office is trying to get something for nothing - please think this through and do not sell yourself short. Also be sure and use a word Expander - and you be in charge of calculating the lines - not the office. They will rip you off, it sounds. Do you know this account well? If so, you should be able to clean up if they are willing to pay you what you are worth. I wish you luck.
Another suggestion (sm)
Try installing ExpressScribe and see if it works with that. Only a suggestion, but it would be worth a try.
This is my suggestion
I'm sorry you are having wrist pain, the bugaboo of our industry. I have worked 2 jobs for 15 years, and I forced myself early on to type in the following manner to try to prevent carpal tunnel from occurring: I have the keyboard all the way back on my desk, almost to the level of the monitor. I rest my forearms on my desk, and I do not bend my wrists while typing. In the beginning I had to force it, and now I can't type any other way.
Maybe you can try this just to see if you can do it and if it will work for you. Of course, you can try braces and gloves, but I don't have information on them for you.
Hope you find some relief soon!
I did . . . thanks for the suggestion though.
it is the simplist things :)
just a suggestion
Lucky you to have this opportunity! If it were me, I would charge an hourly rate. Depending on where you live, perhaps $18 to $20 an hour. This is more fair for the physician, actually, and he would probably appreciate the fact that you are not trying to gouge him.
Other suggestions should be considered if made as well.
Let us know what you decide to do!
Suggestion
I have some medical tests scheduled soon and the lady who sets it all up called me to verify my insurance. While on the phone with her, she asked me what I did, so I told her.
She says that she has a friend who has her own MT business and makes a little over $100K per year. (I don't know if she has any employees or not, but the lady on the phone said that her friend "works like a dog" but loves every minute of it.)
Anyway, something she told me that I never would have thought of was to call my family doctor and ask the ladies at the front desk for contact information for their drug representatives. She said that the drug reps go from doctor's office to doctor's office here locally and they have an even better idea of who's needs help and who doesn't.
Just a suggestion...
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