Thanks for clarifying the compensation plan. sm.
Posted By: MTgal on 2005-07-12
In Reply to: MQ new pay plan - This is what i've heard...
If it is just a matter of maintaining 98% accuracy with QA, then there is no problem. My concerns were with changes in the structure of the payment method to the MT, MedQuist's interpretation of a line count, what constitutes a line, as MedQuist is no longer adhering AAMT's line count standard, etc. All of this would directly affect the MT. Thanks again for all of your responses.
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- MQ new pay plan - This is what i've heard...
- Thanks for clarifying the compensation plan. sm. - MTgal
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Workers'/Worker's Compensation or Workmen's Compensation
?
You're confusing the new QA plan with the new pay plan. New pay plan is still completely under wr
Shhhhhhhhhhh....
thanks for clarifying...
Since this seems to be perfectly okay with the gov't, what needs to be done is putting them out of business. Just inform people, find alternatives for meat, i've never seen anything like this and trust me I savor my steak and I love making stews and chicken soup. Knowing this, i'm going to have those images in my mind, so this reached at least one person. Another way to inform people and change their stance, if they're not all that animal friendly, is to show them the sick animals they still use for consumption or the dirty living conditions. Its not good for our health, the growth hormones and filth, it has to be doing something to us that we haven't seen the long term effects of or are just blind to. Just be informed and get these people out of business.
Okay, thank you for clarifying that...
I guess I am not sure what answer you are searching for. Do I think you are well compensated? Only you can answer that question. As I said before, as an MT with 5' years experience, I think 26k is just about normal. I guess I am not understanding how much money you were hoping to make when you decided to become an MT. I think it is great that you have a 2-year degree, but unfortunately it is not valued in this industry. I wish that it were, as I think it would bring a lot more credibility, but it just is not valued. If you feel that MT is not offering you what you hoped it would, maybe working toward your accounting degree is your best bet... and I'm sure you can use some of your past college credit toward that degree. Good luck  .
clarifying this - okay, the mistakes that come through
are not grammar or nitpicky mistakes, but these are mistakes with lab values, especially ones that were clearly dictated. These are mistakes with drugs and dosages (THIS SEEMS TO BE THE OUTSOURCE COMPANIES BIGGEST PROBLEM). There are TONS of times that reports come back with extra sentences and things typed in the reports that were NEVER said.
I could even go on to say certain types of mistakes, but then I think the company would know who they are and I would get in trouble.
All I'm saying is, supposedly this company "tests" transcriptionists, which obviously they do not. The QA department of the company just doesn't give a crap and gets paid for doing literally nothing (I want that job for this company when I quit the hospital) and the so called "supervisor" of the outsource company wants a copy of all mistakes, but never does a darn thing about it. So basically she must have a stack of reports that go as high as her ceiling that she has probably used for toilet paper, because she sure as crap isn't doing anything else about them.
So this is not about grammar or certification or piddly little things, but major mistakes and tons of blanks on a hospital account that has but only a few ESLs and some really easy dictation. This is about an outsource company that is quite well known that gets paid for crap.
wow! I feel better again.
Thanks for clarifying Patti....
I did not mean to be unprofessional about it, but I just know that it has worked for me in the past. BUT, I have not really waited months before receiving a paycheck. I'm glad you have the knowledge. I respect you for that and especially the fact that you are willing to help out, as I know you have a lot of experience in these matters. I guess since my experience is more of a friendly atmosphere at the office where I have had a problem, it really seemed to work for me, and no one really took offense. I probably should have stated that a little better. I certainly am a professional when it comes to these matters, but I guess I just have a different type of relationship with the gals in the particular office where I can joke, and they joke back (been with them 10+ years). I'm also glad to know you can pursue in court if need be with no contract. I also keep invoices and documents (reports) on file. Thanks for all of your advice, as I am always looking for your posts to learn new things. 
Thank you for clarifying. Drives me nuts
when people just read the first 2-3 lines and think they have the story. Although, sadly in the end would agree that he probably would not be the best motivational speaker - but I would have said that before his probs began - he just does not seem right for that kind of organization - but those are my personal feelings only. Thanks again
I am talking about the QA plan I dont know what the new pay plan is.
:
compensation
Hourly charge.
Editing Compensation
I'm an Editor located in the Midwest. I edit radiology as well as most other specialties. I am paid by the line and average well over $20/hour depending on the day and the difficulty of the account; however, I am an IC, so therefore have no benefits. I also provide extensive feedback and assist with training and testing of transcription applicants. I am paid separately for the training and testing responsibilities. I personally believe that paying by the hour is the best way to compensate an editor. Paying by the line rewards speed, not accuracy.
I think your compensation would be based on the...sm.
following: Your level of experience, the time that you are able to commit to transcribing each day, your use of expanders, your baseline typing skills, your ability to utilize the software package utilized by the company, your ability to adapt, and you ability to negotiate your line rate.
I would ask for some compensation for the "try
aa
Unemployment compensation?
Is is possible to apply for unemployment, at least a partial check, since we are supposed to "produce" so many lines a pay period and the work is never ever there. We promise them so why should they not pay? Anyone ever done this and is it possible? 
Workers Compensation
Have any of you who are employees of a national company ever had to file for WC due to hands that just won't work anymore? I need to get carpal tunnel surgery but can't afford to make zero dollars while I'm off. I don't want to start accumulating medical bills or alert my company until I've done my research.
Workers Compensation
I did workers' compensation claims in my pre MT life. If MD says it is work related, should be no problem being covered. Depending on what state you live in, there is probably a waiting period that you would not be paid for until you are off for a certain number of days. State laws dictates the % you are paid of your average weekly wage based on a minimum and maximum rate. Do not wait too long to get your CTS taken care of. You could cause more problems with your hands if you wait too long.
Workers' Compensation and the ER
I thought the correct order of things would be for him to be seen regardless of where or how it happened, and the Workers' Compensation part handled after the fact. What would they have done if he'd been hurt more severely? I thought they'd (WC) reimburse whatever out-of-pocket expenses you have once the insurance claim is settled. The boss was definitely trying to set him up, which is disgusting. The funny part is that he actually gave your husband ammunition for an even more complicated lawsuit, should it come to that.
Pathology Compensation
Can anyone tell me what the average compensation is for transcribing the gross only for pathology, by report, not lines? Thanks so much for your assistance.
If you really are an IC, you set your rate of compensation.
The prospective client can then either pay what you're asking or find someone who is more in line with what they can afford or are willing to pay.
As long as I'm an IC and setting my own rate, VBC is not my line standard and I would not agree with any statement that it is the standard of the future.
IC Workers Compensation
Having come from being a workers compensation claim represenatative in my prior life, unfortunately you do need to carry your own coverage as an IC. 
VR compensation/2 wk period
It seems that we have to make that high productivity in voice recognition for two weeks straight. If for even ONE day in the two weeks, your productivity was not as high, it bumps your average back down to making way less money. For example, let's say you work hard to edit 350 lines (voice recog.) per hour for 6 or 7 days, but one day your productivity was only their minimum of 150 lines per hour- that reduces your two-week average. What am I missing? What are you doing to keep productivity really high for that two week average?
VR compensation/2 wk period
No, I have not been able to achieve 350 lines per hour with voice recognition, or anywhere near it. But at 150 lines per hour at 4 cents per line for editing voice recognition, that is $6.00 a hour pay, and so the minimum wage requirement kicks in, as I am an employee, and I make $6.55 per hour for 150 lines per hour. So, how do I double or triple my voice recognition editing production per 2-week period, to at LEAST 300 lines average per hour (or even more if possible) so I can make more money?
Geee compensation is wonderful!!
You should be eligible for unemployment compensation.
``
Compensation for Medical Transcriptionists
I just came across this on the AHDI site, what used to be AAMT, in an article with the above title: "It is a concern of AHDI that medical transcription professionals are often viewed by their employers and the clients they serve as keyboard specialists who have a familiarity with medical terminology which enables them to transcribe dictated reports for an originator's signature. In contrast, it is the view of AHDI that keyboarding and transcription should not be confused. Medical transcription involves translation from oral to written in order to generate a record of a patient's healthcare documentation. AHDI views medical transcription as a medical language specialty which requires medical knowledge and understanding, sound judgment, deductive reasoning, and the ability to detect inconsistencies in medical dictation." You can read the rest here:
http://www.ahdionline.org/scriptcontent/rjobcomp.cfm
Are they actually going to fight for better wages, or is this just a ploy to get people to join?
Just sounds like more rules, what about compensation, PTO, raises across
does workman's compensation cover us for carpal tunnel? nm
x
On-call requires on-call compensation by law
This field gets more disgustingly grotesque daily.
I plan to..
I knew they did that at the hospital I worked for at home but never imagined it would be done through an internet based company...that is ridiculous!!!!
Don't plan to either
THAT IS CRAZY!!!!! Those people should not even be allowed to have such access.
How is everyone doing with MQ's new QA plan?
nm
What plan?
What QA? WTF?
So WHAT'S THE PLAN?
That's the question. Plain and simple.
WE KNOW!! What IS the new QA plan?!?! nm
..
MQ new pay plan
It is based on a combination of your line count and QA scores, maintaining 98% or better. I've heard "mention" of it since I'm trying to get on full time, at the moment I am an IC. What he told me is you will get raises every six months if you produce a certain amount and maintain a good QA score. For example, right now you are required to do 12,000 lines per pay period. If you maintain above average, lets say you're right around 14,000 average for six months while maintaining 98% QA, your higher pay is locked in for the next six months. So its a combo of the two. He was very vague, didnt say how much, if it were half cent, a quarter cent or whatever, but he seemed to be thrilled to death about it. Now I noticed on this board that someone keeps posting about the new MQ pay plan and have we heard of it. Just spill the beans if you have more accurate information please? Thanks.
Regarding the MQ new pay plan for SE that is to come out, does anyone know or at least think that
this pay plan will reduce the line rate of those that have been with MQ for many years and have worked up to a higher base line rate. I wonder if we will all be moved to a base rate at the same level and then have a tier. Does that mean it will be starting over for those of us with higher line rates now.
New SE/Pay Plan- LM
I want to offer my congratulations also & wish you the very best. I'm sorry you've received so many negative comments, but, maybe a little history should have been included to possibly offer some insight as to where some of the
"long-term" statutories are coming from & why they now possibly feel insecure because of the new plan that has been offered to you.
Around 1999, at "my" office, at-home employees had a minimum production of 12,000 lines/pay period 65- character line that they had to meet. At home statutory employees had a minimum of 4,000 65-character lines each pay period; 10,000 lines or more a bonus of $50; $10 for each 1,000 lines over 10,000; 11,000, $60; 15,000, $100.
The new incentive pay plan for a statutory employee has obviously raised the standards beyond what was at one time expected of their
"employees." Medquist is obviously raising the ante quite higher & those that only wanted a "part-time" job with flexibility with fewer hours & minimum lines are going to find this new minimum impossible to meet unless they work full-time. This, coupled with the fact that many are making 6-8 cents/hr & have been there for years, is going to cause tremendous resentment on their part.
I believe most statutory transcriptionists who have been with Medquist for years will feel this is their way to effectively "weed out" part-time statutories and, in fact, gain full-time "statutory employees" while still offering no benefits. Many, many transcriptionists chose Medquist because they had the flexibility to work a few hours a week, pick up maybe 4,000 lines/pay period - just enough to help them through their rough times while caring for their elderly parents, etc. I now see this as impossible for many & part-time work for them nonexistent! Their income, no matter the amount, probably helped fill a void that was absolutely neccessary due to their circumstances. Medquist, as far as my knowledge, was the only National to offer this flexibility in earnings for a statutory at-home employee.
Mind you, I may be wrong in my perception, but I feel this is why you've gotten the negative responses that should be directed to Medquist & not to you!!
Just thought a little background from my perspective might help you understand why you've been bombarded, albeit unjustly.
Again, wishing you the best!
new pay plan
You will be offered squat diddly. I have 20 years exp, am a CMT for many years, also asked for a pay raise and told I'm already above the highest level for an MT, (.875)so raise declined. Instead, they reduced by base rate to .0700 or ASR reports, so that is your answer. Don't get too excited
new pmt plan
I'm confused. I will have been with MQ 6 years this Nov, and I do Nuc Med, Uro, Cardio, Pulmo, Neuro, Psych, Ortho, Specs Rad, Onco, you name it. Does that mean I'll get a 100% rate increase from my base? Yea, right. PA'LEEZE.
I'll be sure to mention all my specialities and the fact that I have been a MT for 18 years now. Sure that'll make a big difference.
new pay plan
This letter of 9/2/05 states nothing really! I thought our pay rates were already supposed to be based on skill and experience. Daily incentive pay? I'd like to see the bookkeeping program they wrote for that one! Evening and night premium pay - nothing new (they just didn't want us to know about it). What is the difference in an MT/ME, an ME who does QA and QA? Already looking for another job in a totally different field!
new pay plan
How do you know you are a level 3? I did not know that MQ even had "levels." Is there a way I can tell on the F9 statistics page? Also, what is the difference in an MT, ME, QA/ME, and QA? How does one become an ME. I am still a lowly MT.
what do you mean, new plan, they don't pay
for that stuff NOW
Yes, I know of plan sm
1-1/2 years ago we did massive home improvements and racked up about $25,000 in debt. It is on 2 no interest credit cards and I have it paid down by about 1/2 by putting every extra penny towards it. When I seen something I might want to buy, I just remind myself how good it is going to feel when I get this debt paid off. I can't wait until the time that my money is mine again. I am working 2 MT/ED jobs, which is getting tough, but you do whatcha gotta do. Btw, we are putting out DD through commumity college and also have 15 yo son.
Yes, you need to plan for it - sm
If you are married, you can have you husband either take less exceptions (thereby having more taxes taken out), or have additional taken out on top of what he normally has taken for his taxes. My DH takes less exemptions and is taxed as "single but married" and instead of 4 exemptions we do 1 or 2 (forget which it is). Or if you are not married, then you need to do estimated SE tax payments, either quarterly via the mail with a little booklet they will send you ; or via this electronic system I mentioned above. Go to irs.gov to check it out. Someone else mentioned it here a while ago and that is what put me onto it. If you don't pay anything throughout the year and owe (which you probably will), it is said that they will assess penalities against you. I have never owed so I don't know about that. Remember to right off anything and everything pertaining to your job on your Sch. C, I usually have about $2K in write-offs a year, though I do not write off my home office, but everything else pertaining to it, electric, phone, internet, heat, office supplies, etc. Have fun.
Well, here is my plan
if India takes over the MT world to the degree that I cannot make a good living MTing in America then I will become a legal Transcriptionist specializing in medical malpractice lawsuits. BECAUSE when all of the crappy work these Indians are putting out become major medical errors (unfortunate for the patient, I know) then I will be ready to be a part of the action plan that does something about it!!!!!!!!
They let you set up a plan?
The rep I got said that I owed too much to do that (roughly $4000.) I got on their website and found that unless you owe over $10,000, they have to work out a plan if you can get it paid within 3 years. I guess I'll have to keep trying to get a person with halfway decent manners....if that's possible with the IRS!!!
Which plan?
I am told that DSL is coming very soon to my neighborhood and I am wondering which plan I should go with. Verizon has 2 DSL plans. One is the "Starter Plan" and it is 768Kbps/128Kbps and the other plan is "Power Plan" it is 3 Mbps/768Kbps. OK this might as well be in another language because I really do not know what these numbers mean. I am going to be doing VR/SR MT work so would the "starter plan" be good enough for VR/SR work?
Thanks
Your plan is my plan
I explained to my doctor everything that you said in your post. That I could do a better service for THEM if the dictation was digital. Then a tape broke and he had to redictate 4 patients. Then I got a little behind and I told them I'd be typing right behind his dictation if it was digital. A day or 2 later, I brought it up again and not only was he in agreement but he bought the 2 recorders they need and some software, all told more than $700. Take a typed tape in there, pull its guts out and tell them that this could happen tomorrow! but would never happen with digital. If you have to, go buy one, put it in his hand with some very simple instructions and let him play with it. Then gently remind him/her that tapes are an old, unreliable technology. :-) I want about 25 accounts this way. My wrists hurt and I probably need to stop typing in the next 2-3 years so its my plan to build a small company that I can run/edit/shmooze the doc's offices....
OUTSOURCING PLAN...
Okay, here is the plan. For all of these hospitals with heavy ESL dictation loads, outsource these yourselves to India, Pakistan, Trinidad or where ever they speak that English as an unknown language. It won't matter if it is correct as typing those documents is just a best guess scenario anyway. Leave all of the English as a First Language (EFL) here in the US for those of us to type as we have been working long and hard to gain our experience and deserve to have decent work. If a hospital has a lot of ESLs that they have brought stateside to staff their hospitals as hospitalists as they work cheaper then it should be their responsibility to give them English classes and monitor their progress until they can speak English clearly, concisely, and accurately. The solution to this problem with ESLs is in our HANDS and we know it. The large companies and hospital clients need to take note before it is too late and we are all retired. You need us more than we need you.
OUTSOURCING PLAN...
And it is you and your "oh so thankful to have a job" kind that have gotten those of us that are MTs and will never be MLSs into this ESL cesspool by allowing it to happen. Anything for money, right??
OUTSOURCING PLAN...
Sure, my world is called Affirmative Reaction, taking back what was ours by right of being an MT before the almighty dollar spoke and we allowed our hospitals to actively solicit these ESLs, bring them stateside, pay for their malpractice coverage, and employ them as hospitalists, and now we are stuck with a language barrier that, in all other fields, requires a certified translator but now that we have been awarded the title of MLS we are supposed to type an accurate medical document while listening to an ESL's attempt to speak English?? This is your world now, I have done my time, and you are welcomed to all the ESLs you can handle or rather fool yourself into believing that you can do so very accurately.
OUTSOURCING PLAN...
Okay, this string is not a question of what our ancestors did, it is to get those of you that are new to the MT business to realize that if we don't do something about this outsourcing of medical transcription, your "oh so wonderful jobs" may be forfeit. Look at IBM, laying off over 13K stateside and hiring 14K in India. Any Capitol One sending all of its customer service to Manila--that's right, your credit information. Think money has anything to do with that?? Open your eyes, your job is slipping through your fingers...
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