That is What I am asking Obama-here's my letter to him (long)
Posted By: CC on 2009-03-19
In Reply to: As Economy Slumps, Firms Line Up to Hire Skilled Foreign Workers - Tli
Dear President Obama:
How's the new job? Keeping busy? Financial security? I'll bet. Are the American people keeping the mortgage on the White House up to date? Great. Kids have everything they need? Wonderful. The American dream.
Me? I lost another job to offshoring - AGAIN! It's funny, I can't seem to find any concrete figures on just how many U.S. jobs are offshored. There are only estimations by different agencies and economists. The Population Reference Bureau stated in October 2008 that it was nearly impossible to get an accurate scale and scope on this, but they estimated about 30 million U.S. jobs are offshored and increasing as I write this. Nothing about the tax implications. Does the government know? See what you can find out. I imagine definite figures are a difficult task since the companies do not seem to want to fess up about just what percentage they are offshoring. You stated you were going to eliminate big tax cuts on these companies doing the offshoring. When did you say that was going to happen? Mr. President, I don't think they care. Just this last quarter they have increased the offshoring significantly due to that very fact. Is there a Plan B, because jobs are leaving the U.S. faster than you can create them. Did you take that into account in your stimulus package?
Now about we the people and that stimulus package. I read that these big banks who received stimulus payments of about $150 million actually requested 20,000 new visas for foreign workers (up one-third). That is not going to happen, is it? With our own money? See what you can find out. We the people have always stimulated the economy, worked hard, and paid taxes. You know, the American dream. Now our jobs are being given to foreign workers who do none of those things. What gives? What impact does the loss of tax dollars and funding toward social security have on this country? No one seems to know. See what you can find out about that too. These figures must be astonishing. If that is not a drain on the system, then the people in line for unemployment income certainly is. The stimulus money is not going to trickle down to us. You see what they are doing with it. The best stimulus package you could give we the people is to save our jobs NOW so we can return to stimulating the economy. We can not spend what we do not have, right? Wouldn't this go a long way toward economic recovery? See what you can find out.
While you are checking on these astonishing figures, let me give you mine. The pretty simple fact is that my unemployment income is only going to be 50% of what I was making and only for a period of about 6 months. Now you know companies are not hiring, right? That would mean that in approximately 3 months something in my budget is going to have to be cut; food, health insurance, heat, the mortgage. Which would you choose?
We the people look forward to hearing from you on how we can just simply get back to work. No bonuses thank you, just our jobs. You know, the American dream.
Jobless in the USA
P.S. Mr. President, I know this was way before your time but no one told me. Did bin Laden win back in 2001? See what you kind find out about that too.
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GOT A RESPONSE ON THE LETTER TO OBAMA FROM 1 NEWSPAPER - Not Sure What to Do
It is just a small town paper, asking some general questions about outsourcing/offshoring, pay, types of businesses, etc. I told him I could not tell him what I actually do for a living or name my company. Can he find that out?
I also sent the letter to the Washington Post, Fox News, NY Times, Associates Press, 60 Minutes, and USA Today. I inserted in the letter about uncertain figures that by my calculation, the number of jobs offshored would be more or less the equivalent to the total population in 3 states in the U.S.
What will I do if they find out who I am and who I worked for? Can I be sued?
I just sent Bill O'Reilly a copy of letter I sent to President Obama. Anyone who can, email him
while the topic is fresh from his recent show. I do think Bill O'Reilly can at least get this offshoring debate out there, and right now we need publicity and basic facts to reach the viewers.
Please! This is called progress and it was in effect long before Obama came into office.
Try being a freethinker for once and stop following whatever someone else tells you based on supposed "facts."
I do a minimal amount and the letter was about 2 pages long but mostly about ASR.
:
I just double the last letter, i.e. chff to spit out the long
x
another letter that I'll share if anyone wants to copy (long).
President Barack Obama
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Dear President Obama and Secretary of State Rodham Clinton:
Please take the time to read this important letter from an industry that has remained silent for much too long. I speak for a large number of United States medical transcriptionists, many who have made this their career for 20-30+ years. Our job is one we take great pride in, but are often unheard from because we work "behind closed doors." I'm sure you are aware of what our job entails, but I would like to elaborate. The patient's important medical record starts with verbal dictation by the doctor, nurse, etc. The qualified and experienced medical Transcriptionist produces a formal, legible, and information correct medical record based on this verbal dictation, which is of utmost importance for patient care. As a medical transcriptionist, I take great pride in my job and have spent many years perfecting my skills.
We are experiencing an astonishing number of lost jobs, not because the need for our services is down because of reduced medical doctors visits or hospitalizations by our U.S. citizens, but rather because our U.S. citizens' medical records are being sent offshore to other countries whose medical transcriptionists are being paid at a lower rate. Not only are U.S. medical transcriptionists losing jobs at a rapid rate, but we are allowing medical transcription services that advertise as U.S. transcription companies to shuttle the work offshore for a cheaper rate.
President Obama, many articles have addressed the shortage of U.S. medical transcriptionists. This is simply not true. It is a "cop out" to justify the tragedy that is taking place in the U.S. MT industry with sending medical transcription offshore to countries such as India and the Philippines. There are many experienced and qualified U.S. Medical Transcriptionists, so statements indicating a shortage here in the United States are simply unbelievable in my opinion. Unfortunately, the U.S. medical transcriptionists are losing their jobs to offshoring, and little seems to be happening to make changes to put a stop to offshoring of our citizen's personal medical information.
A large majority of our profession is female. Many have devoted their careers to medical transcription and are close to retirement, others are single mothers who have put themselves through school with hard work and training, and are working hard to raise their family with a full time job without relying on governmental assistance, but are losing their jobs because large national medical transcription companies are being allowed to contract with offshore transcriptionists, thus causing our U.S. transcriptionists to be out of work. The pay scale in our profession is currently comparable to what it was 20 years ago. We have not seen a pay scale raise despite the cost of living increase, but we can even settle for this with the economical turmoil at present, just to keep our jobs. Sadly, we cannot even have our jobs because offshore transcriptionists are doing the work cheaper.
I am not sure how many governmental officials are actually aware of what is happening in the U.S. medical transcription industry. I would estimate that twenty some thousand or more U.S. transcriptions are displaced from work, and sadly because no one will take a stance and put a stop to offshoring our U.S. citizen's medical records. Security risks are high with the age of the Internet, but private citizen medical information is being allowed to leave our country where HIPAA laws are not regulated or enforceable.
These two crucial issues of offshoring medical records for transcription in a foreign country need to stop.
1. We are endangering the confidentiality of our own citizens' medical records by sending them to a foreign country where no regulation such as HIPAA is enforceable.
2. The U.S. medical transcription profession is losing jobs at an astonishing rate, not because the need for our services is down, but because offshoring our citizens' medical records overseas is cheaper and thus foreign workers are replacing us. Why is this being allowed to happen without any legislation against such practice that is not only destroying a U.S. profession, but endangering the security of U.S. citizens?
Please take seriously the need to stop offshoring our citizens' medical records. As a medical transcriptionist, our work has always involved the patient as top priority along with the confidentiality of the work we do. There are great risks being taken when this information leaves our country and laws here in the United States are not applicable once this information leaves our borders. I truly believe with the coming age of the Electronic Medical Record, changes must be made now to keep our citizens information in their own country. Each country, in my opinion, should have access only to their own citizens' medical records. Of course, emergency situations will exist if a patient were traveling abroad, in the military, etc. In this age of security issues and the implementation of Homeland Security, please consider where our citizens' medical records are being allowed to go, and unfortunately many times without the patient's knowledge. As a U.S. citizen, if my doctor was obligated to inform me that my medical records would be leaving the country to be transcribed into a report, I would no authorize this to take place, and if necessary would change to a provider who does not contract with a medical transcription service who sends work outside the U.S. The patient deserves to know this is happening.
Please, Mr. President, give U.S. medical transcriptionists the opportunity to get their jobs back and save our profession by supporting our workers first, as well as protecting our citizens' rights to confidential medical information by keeping this information in their own country.
Please work together with the Dept. of Health and Human Services in revising HIPAA laws to restrict the offshoring of medical transcription. Other countries do not place their citizens' security at risk by sending their personal medical information to the United Sates for transcription purposes, so why are we letting this happen? In the process, we are losing a profession that has been so valued here for many years, but we are a profession that has not been heard from much in the past. It is time we speak our minds on this issue, and we hope that you will sincerely consider making major changes to offshoring medical records for transcription.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in this matter.
A concerned U.S. Medical Transcriptionist
If it's a business letter you use a colon. if it's a personal letter you use a comma. nm
:
Obama
Has mentioned numerous times about getting all health records in computer system. I wonder if he is talking about the point and click type? I believe he has mentioned giving funds for getting things going.
Maybe we should write to him to explain it can be done now with our electronic files and that we certianly don't need to use our jobs.? Anyone know how to actually get through to him?
Barack Obama
//
im sorry, you think Obama cares about MTs?
yea, right. im sure all the politicians do, but newsflash Obama as a president is NOT healthy for small businesses
bottom l ine there needs to be a standardized MT industry, but nobody steps up to the plate to create it. The general public has no idea you think? You think they'd like it if their medical records were being done overseas? not so sure most would... they just dont KNOW it. who fights for us anyway?
Obama plan
The company I was working for the past 10 years went digital. It just meant that all records were copied into the computer, including transcribed reports, it had no effect on the transcription department. It only affected those in Medical Records seeing as there was no need to have as many people there anymore to make copies of films, records, etc. I hope this is what he is talking about. There are still alot of companies that have not gone this road and use alot of paper records.
Since Mr. Obama is so wonderful -
By the way, what is Obama's plan to ....sm
address offshoring? I hope he really does do something.
that's why Obama is the most logical choice
x
I've already decided on Obama ----- sm
His opponents and detractors keep saying he's "inexperienced". Yeah, and look what "experienced" politicians have brought to the table in the last few decades.
New ideas are good.
Youth is good.
I think it's time for a new way of doing things in this country, not the same ol'. It's a new world, with new problems (such as the plight of American MTs and other workers), and maybe he'll bring some relief (or at least some new ideas on how to get it) for the dwindling middle class, which has been carrying the weight and finances of this country on its shoulders for too many years.
Time to stop letting our country get s*****d by India, Mexico, Asia, and others. And I think he has the ability to say "no" to these countries without starting a war with them.
Sometimes "inexperience" is a refreshing change.
That's 1 reason why I voted for Obama -
stay in this business is if the tax breaks are ended and the loopholes closed for companies that outsource what used to be good American jobs. Ending offshoring entirely would be nice, but I doubt it'll happen. But it should cost less for companies to hire American workers at a decent, livable wage, than it does to send it offshore. Offshoring should be something they do in a pinch, not as a standard practice. Yeah, so what if they're making more money the way they're doing it now. Doesn't make it right. They're greedy and they're un-American when they put thousands of hard-working American MT's in the poorhouse, or out of a job.
Obama's new task force
Maybe if all of us posted something here about medical transcription jobs being sent overseas, it could help? I'm not exactly sure if this would be the right place, but I think I'm going to write something about it. Have a nice weekend! :)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/strongmiddleclass/
Obama's plan to implement EMR
What do my fellow MTs think about Obama's ambitious plan to implement EMR throughout the US? I had 1 person tell me that means there will not be a need anymore for transcriptionists as physicians/nurses will just input information and create a medical record themselves. Part of me disagrees with this as the work I do is an EMR.
Not just Obama, send to all your representatives
x
Obama GUTTING Our Profession!
BO's "stimulus" (StealFromUs is more like it!) will disseminate tons of taxpayer dollars so that doctors will go completely electronic in their recordkeeping (including transcription, not just billing), and the company of George Bush's first cousin, Jonathan Bush (CEO of Athenahealth), is cashing in. Of course, Bush is ecstatic about what Obama is doing (both parties answer to the same puppetmasters, after all, so at the end of the day Bush and Obama aren't too far apart when it comes to the big picture anyway).
So some of you who are so mesmerized with BO, please explain how gutting our profession will "create jobs." 
This simultaneously destroys our livelihood while ensuring another transfer of wealth from the taxpayers to the elites/their cronies. So what else is new?!
Don't forget that Obama is Cheney's cousin, so they are all more "connected" than you think.
VIDEO ("Obama Turning Doctors Digital):
Athenahealth's home page:
Details:
Obama's healthcare plan
Anudder MT, Obama's plan will cost 1 trillion dollars and will only give health care to 16 million people out of the 46 million he keeps talking about. Out of that 46 million, about 15 million aren't even Americans - they're here illegally - and I don't know about you, but I don't want to pay for their healthcare in addition to my own. YOU may be rich, but I'm not, and if that makes me selfish, so be it.
And FYI, in Massachusetts, their mandatory single payer plan was supposed to cost 125 million but 3 years after implementing it, the cost has risen to 800 million. How do you know when a politician is lying? His lips are moving. And I hate to break it to all the Obama fans, but he lied when he said he wanted to rise above politics as usual. He's a Chicago politician, the worst thug of all.
For your information, I voted for Obama already last week, but..
I don't know what politics has to do with my post. I only posted that I greatly increased my personal line rate per hour with sitting my butt down and actually doing my work and not finding other little things to do.
Yes, there are days when I want to pull my hair out with my ESLs and there are days when everything flows just fine. I am in the same boat as everyone else as an MT. And the things you are mentioning are beyond your control - I was increasing my line count with the one thing that is within my control - staying seated and typing.
The new Obama Plan for Health Records
So, anyone out there --- What do u think this new proposed plan of National Health Records being computerized within 5 years? What would this mean for MTs. CNN says it would require thousands of highly skilled Medical Records experts to get it on board. Any comments? Is this a good sign for those of us in the Health Documentation career field. And could it mean tighter control of records going off shore?
Yes! Today the Obama head economist said...sm
no more tax loopholes for companies that outsource American jobs. Now Congress just has to pass the bill!
Once President-Elect Obama is in office, we'll
in the last 15+ years to make our voices heard. He, too, wants to tax the crap out of companies that offshore American work, which is as it SHOULD BE! Why should America be ENCOURAGING companies to offshore?
India was one of the few (if any) countries in the world who was not happy to see Obama get elected, and precisely because of his views on offshoring , and taxing the companies that do it. He will be getting his ducks in a row and formulating his agenda in the first months of office, and that is the time to be sure that all members of our government who can be reached by phone, letter, or email, should be given specific feedback on how offshoring medical records is hurting US, as well as patients, and the rest of the country.
I hate Instant Text. It is expensive, long long learning
curve, and too much distraction for me.
How long should I wait after applying for a position before I follow-up. It has been as long as two
without hearing from some. Just wondering if I should send an e-mail to follow-up to see if they received my resume or not. I don't want to offend anyone but feel two weeks should be long enough for someone to at least acknowledge my resume and that I have applied for a position. Right now I would accept anything even a note saying no thanks. Any advice would be appreciated. I haven't had to apply for a job for the past 10 years so I am a bit rusty at this. Thanks again for any advice.
Congrats! How long have you been a MLS and how long did you study for the test!
Please see message. I have three daughters with long, long hair.
I also have long hair down to my waist and my three girls have hair that long too. My daughter brought them home from school last year. I was devestated and grossed out!!!! I have never had to deal with lice. Anyway, we did the treatments and two of my girls broke out in a severe rash with the OTC stuff. Their little heads were so sore!! I thought I was being meticulous with eggs, only to find them hatching again down the road. A nurse at the pediatricians office suggested I try oil to suffocate them since my girls were allergic to the lice solution. I bought a huge bottle of veggie oil and dumped it on all three heads, plus my own. I then wrapped the heads in platic wrap and then a towel. I left this on for 30 minutes. It takes a while to wash out the oil, but we never, ever had the lice or eggs again!!! If you try this, make sure you put on an old shirt and put a towel around your shoulders. Obviously we were desperate, but we all have such long hair and very thick hair so I was willing to try anything. And I figured there was no chemicals involved so that was pretty safe. And it sure did help my littles ones since their scalps were pretty raw from the solution. Hope this helps and Good luck!
It's been a long, long time since I've used a C-phone, sm
but I do think jobs can be paused.
I had a problem with this for a long, long time sm
I have always worked days, like from 6-3. Over the last few years, it didn't matter how much sleep I got, I became real groggy between 7 and 11. Really shoots the day. Talked to my doctor and he said my blood pressure pills were the culprit but he refused to change me to another brand or dosage since I have multiple aneurysms (2 in the brain). My BP has been stable for a long time and he wants to "keep it on the low side". I tried taking them before I went to bed instead of early in the morning, but then I had headaches all day. So, I am changing to a night shift for a few months so I can sleep when those pills kick in and so far it is working pretty good. I stay mostly awake during my shift and die when I hit the bed from 6 am to 10 am, then I lay down again later in the afternoon for 2-3 hours. I still get 6-7 hours of sleep, it's just split up during the day, plus I am mostly awake now when I sit down to type. I don't have to deal with the heat in my office, either. It tends to warm up real fast in here with the south sun on the house and 2 pc's running all day, even with the air conditioner on.
Way back when, a long, long time
ago and in a galaxy far, far away, I had my own accounts also and some years cleared $75,000. Yes it can be done, but you need to have your own accounts. Also lots of delivery, and other duties involved. I work for a large national now and make much less, but I got tired of accountants, having to deal with hardware problems, deadlines, driving deliveries, printing, printers, etc. So I decided to simplify my taxes and stay home and just type. Don't have to worry about computers either, because the company will just send me a new one.
Long, long files. Seemed like they'd never end! I'd never go back to VA again. nm
s
I've been doing this a long, long time...
I used to make $70,000 and up a year and did so for most of the late 80s and 90s (one girl used to make six figures a year working 7 days a week!) Because we were making more money than the supervisors and Medical Records Directors in hospitals, they began to switch to transcription services which were sprouting up all over the place. Plus AAMT came into existence and even though in the beginning it claimed it was to fight for transcriptionists (although assured us it was NOT a union), they eventually morphed into an organization that was more management friendly. They developed the "guidelines" and the 65-char line. That was the beginning of the end for those high-end wages. Then all those mickey mouse transcription schools popped up, and now outsourcing overseas. YES, we're complaining.
Been in this biz a long, long time, 30+ years and....sm
I love/loved MTing. However, things have changed so much during these years. The job definitely gets easier; don't have to look up much, can decipher ESLs much easier, in other words, you get pretty comfortable with things and you have confidence in yourself. The more experience you have the easier the job, but....
I actually made more money 10 years ago!! We didn't have speech recognition and you actually got paid for headers/footers, demographics, carbon copies, etc., you got paid for what you did fairly; today, I am not so sure.
You will feel burned out at times, but that passes and you find you like your job again.
Good luck to you!!
What letter
Did only certain offices get a letter. I work in the southeast and have not received a letter.
No letter here either (sm)
I am a SE, were these mailed to employees and SEs?
Also, have a question. Signed up for Qnet - activated I-mail account, on the Q-net I don't get any memos or even show an icon or heading to click on. Can someone enlighten me. I know I can call 1800dictate, just thought I would do better asking here.
TIA
Letter
Is the letter you are talking about the one talking about preserving documents and telling us not to throw anything away, or is this a different letter? 
Here's the letter...
medquist has always prided itself in doing business ethically. As part of our
continuing efforts to ensure that we maintain very high standards, we have
enrolled you and many of your associates in an Internet-based Ethics training
course in the area of Code of Conduct.
All MedQuist employees will be paid for the time spent taking the training. All
Transcription Operations Hourly/Production Employees (Medical Transcriptionists,
Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Customer Service Representatives, Clerical)
should schedule time in advance to take their Ethics Training with their
Supervisor. All hourly/production employees will be paid for the time spent
taking the Ethics Training, which is expected to take 45 minutes. MT employees
will be paid the equivalent of their "benefit rate" for the time spent
completing the training, up to a maximum of one hour.
To begin the training, click the link at the bottom of this e-mail. Please write
down and keep your User ID/Access Code, also found at the bottom of this e-mail,
since you will need it to enter the training. If you need any technical
assistance please send an e-mail to: mailto:support@integrityatwork.net.
The course will take you about 45 minutes. It is important that you finish this
course within the next several weeks. Please contact the human resources or
legal department if you have any questions about this or any other compliance
issues.
Thank you and enjoy the training.
About letter -- don't have it -- was that
the ENTIRE contents of the letter? What else did it say, please?
rec'd letter
yes i rec'd the same letter as the posts below. they are paying 2 different rates; the rate you are currently rec'g for typing will remain the same, the ASR or edited reports will be paid at 20% less than your current typed rate
MQ LETTER
The letter also states that in a few weeks we will get information about a new MT/ME Rewards Plan that will go into effect in early 2006. Why don't they just tell us what it is now. Is this supposed to be a dangling carrot strategy. It had better be a big carrot. Oh well, it's probably not anything that will improve our checks, just theirs.
Letter from MQ
Yes, would you PLEASE post the letter you received from MQ? I have to drive 8 miles one way into town to get my mail and with the gas prices, I only plan on doing that once a week. I would like to know what that letter said as well.
letter
I got mine today, and I am really upset. My production has gone down or stayed the same since doing ASR reports. I have to practically retype the entire report. I often delete everything and type from scratch. I'm gonna quit. If I decline ASR reports, they will give me a really crappy acount, I just know it. My base rate was 0.875 (after 9 years with no raise excempt when I made CMT) and now it will be 0.700. That is so pathetic. I'm finished with these greedy Bastards!
MQ Letter
I got my letter last fri, my last name is at the front of the alphabet. My base rate is being reduced by 0.175 cpl for ASR reports. So now on top of my already reduced pay when starting DQS, it will be reduced further. I figure I will lose about $200-250 per month. I am going to reply to the corporate heads who sent the letter, and give them my 2 cents. I challenge all MQ MTs to reply to the letter and give your input on their unfair pratices. I will soon be an ex-MQ'r. I won't allow them to reduce my pay once again. I don't make 25% more in production on ASR reports. I have to re-type almost the entire report except for the occasional dictator, where I only proofread and make minimal changes. I had a contract once upon a time that stated what my pay would be. I never gave anybody permission to change that. Isn't this illegal? I am going to get legal advice and see what my options are. I am not going to take this lying down. I'm tired of being kicked around. Thanks CM for enlightening me about the F9 feature, what an eye-opener. Now I have proof that they are cheating us out of our pay.
ANOTHER MQ letter,
 this one about new pay plan............ "Pay rates based upon experience, skill, and work difficulty" is the first 'highlight'....... I have been asking for a raise since MAY and I am level 3 typist, highest level MQ has.... Supposed to be contacted personaly by someone in the future. Hmmmmm, wonder what they will offer.
will I get a letter?? probably not
Well, I have 36 years experience and can transcribe anything..gee, wonder if they will contact me..They cut back my pay when I went to DQS by one half penny..Mmmm..hope I get that letter..Sure havent gotten the letter for DQS line count discrepancy and a check for that..
One more letter
A lot of good that CMT classification did for you. You would think the company, which claims to be short on able-bodied transcriptionists, and with all the new technology they are developing to make our job easier, that they would want to increase our pay to do ASR reports. Totally makes no sense. I sense a massive exodus.
Letter
That's the way I understood it also.
I got the same letter from SBC (which is AT&T LD)
using onesuite.com. I called when I got their letter and canceled my LD immediately. LD is only 2.5 cents a minute at onesuite.com. You have to pay in advance and then you dial an access number and then the number you want to reach. I liked unlimited better because I could dial direct, but for now I guess I'll use onesuite.
I got the same letter. sm
last year from SBC so I switched to MCI. I was completely honest with MCI and told them what I needed it for becuase I did not want them coming back at me telling me I was not using it according to their guidelines. MCI is expensive though. By the time you pay for taxes and everything else my bill is around $80. I wish I could find a job that is totally internet based. I started to check into Vonage but I could not understand how that worked when they kept telling me I had to pick a phone number or a different area code than the one I have and you can't speak to someone who speaks good English to get an accurate explanation. I also would like to know what everyone else does or how they get away with it. I wish the hospital that I work for through the company that I work for would have a 1-800 number for the transcription. I would even be willing to pay my employer a $10 long distance fee or something just so I do not have to pay out $80 every month.
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