This whole discussion has turned to blanks, but -
Posted By: Frazzled Ranter on 2008-01-16
In Reply to: I agree with you. - blondie
it's about so much more than that. That was only a fer-instance. What my rant is REALLY about is that we are an educated and skilled specialty in the world of white-collar business. I can't understand why our country has allowed a decent-paying job to be trashed by outsourcing.
We lose money, so we end up paying less taxes. The big corporations are given a tax-break by offshoring, so they pay less taxes. The offshore workers pay no taxes. So where is the benefit if I finally give up and go on the dole in order to survive. One more taxpayer bites the dust. If we ALL go, the poor little wealthy darlings of the upper class will start having to pay their fair share and more, if there is no longer a middle class whatsoever.
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Trying to keep this discussion near the top... SM
not because I am egocentric and feel I need to be at the top, but because I just don't want to have to scroll down and look for it every time I have something to add. So, it's not arrogance, it's convenience. Also I would just like to add that I posted my "credentials" so to speak because I was asked to defend my position with what made me qualified to talk about poor MTs.
Anyway, I don't know if I could be classified as an old-timer as I've not had to transcribe on manual typewriters from belts, but I did start out in transcription in the late 80s, right before the internet boom. So I did start out in an office with other MTs who could lend me an ear and give me advice, but most of them were old-timers who felt lost when the internet did hit and changed our profession forever. So all of my computer skills, internet skills, and researching skills are self-taught out of necessity. Because I took the time and made the effort to hone my internet and research skills, I moved up the transcription food chain and moved passed a lot of the old-timers who trained me. I guess I just have no patience for "old-timers" who wear their years of experience like a badge of honor, but then use those same years as an excuse for not using the internet efficiently.
I am more than willing to educate or mentor an MT, whatever it takes, but the MT has to want and accept constructive criticism gracefully instead huffing and puffing about how mean and evil QA is. Most of the time MTs ignore their feedback and make the same mistake again and again. I can quote chapter and verse out of the BOS to an MT trying to illustrate why they are wrong and it will not matter. They see "QA" on an email in their inbox and automatically hit delete without a passing glance.
I am not the enemy in this war called transcription. MTs and QA should be allies against offshoring and we should be trying to elevate our status in health information chain, but we can't be allies and we can't accomplish anything if MTs are constantly paranoid that QA is "out to get them." The sad truth is that eventually we QA people are going to have no other options except unemployment or educating the Indian MTs and ironically the Indian MTs will welcome any feedback that will help them get more work from American MTs.
To all those who posted that I have a big head and have launched personal attacks, I would say you the ones who are arrogant and big headed if you can't just accept that you are wrong sometimes and you can always learn something new and maybe you can learn that something new from me, the QA person who has proven her skills, passed a harder employment test, to get the QA job I have today.
You can call me names and insult me, but the truth hurts and obviously those who are defensive have reason to be.
Well, we were having this discussion about VR in -
the past, maybe 10 years ago, and it never amounted to much of a threat. Considering the amount of trouble I have (and the mistakes I make) just using the touch-screen in the supermarket self-checkout line, I wonder how it will work with your average, technology-challenged doctor.
I also have to wonder - how would such reports be QA'ed? I assume they'd go straight to a medical record, & with no voice file to check against, or worse yet, the doc doing his OWN proofing, I feel I could look into a crystal ball and say, 'I see lawsuits!'
;D
LOL same discussion on another board but it was regarding a SM
wildlife cam and people didn't want others posting about it - is the same thing as saying "I demand you entertain me by posting what *I* want to hear about."
this isn't a religious discussion...sm
I didn't ask for *religious* advice, I simply asked for opinions...that's not religious...I know what God thinks about this subject...
"House" discussion!!!
 What are everybody's thoughts on the show tonight regarding House and Stacy. Do you think he told her no because:
A: He feels he is not good enough for her.
B: He does not want to hurt Mark after Mark came to see him.
C: He feeds off his misery and can't give that up.
What a great show, great lines tonight.
See the recent discussion
on page 2 or 3 of the company board.
I do believe as stated in this discussion
that we should care for them. I just want to respond to some things said. Yes, our parents have decades to prepare. But my parents worked very hard and were extremely smart with their money and had a good savings when my Dad became ill. However, to put him in a nursing home is thousands of dollars a month. His insurance paid 0 for it and Medicare only paid 20 days. For him to stay it would have drained every pain fast (and it did) and then he would get state aid of course. If you can at all help it, a nursing home is NOT where you want to put a loved one. Some are great if you can afford them, but even the ones you think are good can be very remiss in care. Trust me, I've seen it. They're grossly understaffed and some employees should not be in that field, enough said. I don't and didn't at ANY time feel caring for my Dad was a burden. I did feel it was my responsibility. He's a member of my family. If my brother or sister became ill and had no family to care for them, I would certainly feel it's my responsible to at the very least help them get care but for certain to make sure they're cared for. I can't say how a person should feel towards an abusive parent since thankfully I have no experience in that. No, I wouldn't want to 'burden' my children with caring for me when I'm old. But if I raise them right and I happen to need care, I would hope they would feel privileged and blessed like I did, to help make sure I get what I need.
My involvement in this discussion ...
... was not meant to be inflammatory. I arrived on this site out of interest and was naturally drawn to this thread, however, I was not prepared to stand by while some of the posters spoke about Third World countries and denigrated our physicians and specialists - would you? I responded to an intelligent post by Dinosaur, I had no idea it would get as out of hand as this. The fact of the matter is our specialists do not outsource, they definitely do not send offshore. The work I do is for specialists for whom I physically worked for many years ago, the work I do offshore is not for any US companies, it is directly for physicians and specialists that have come to me via my website. I have had all of my clients for the past six years. Yes, I work for a lower rate of pay than you do, but I can assure you the cost of living is not cheap here; I need to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week and I am grateful for the work that I have and I really do value my clients. I turn the work around within 1 – 12 hours, they never have to wait for work. I am at the end of a line, all day, every day, should they need any urgent reports done. All I am saying is, do not underestimate people who live elsewhere in the world and their needs and willingness to work as hard as you do.
A.
Interesting discussion about it
Over at MT Chat. One of the posters somehow found all the old info about the site ownership.
we had this discussion a while back -
The problem is, you are not increasing your pay, you are increasing your production. Of course they don't care how much you type because they are making money off all your lines - they want you to be productive - they don't care who produces. What you type is just something somebody else does not have to type.
Anyway, good luck - and I hope you make what you need to make. I for one have not had enough any work for 2 months and am sitting here from morning until night downloading jobs and typing them as they come in.
So far, I am a month behind on my rent and I don't know where the money is going to come from for it next month, because I am not making enough to pay it even if I don't pay anything else.
So, is the company in the discussion below
that is going to VR and dropping the rate from 10cpl to 3cpl MDI-MD? I am dying to know what they are going to be paying for VR. If they are dropping the rate that much, with their stellar reputation for caring about their transcriptionists, perhaps all hope is lost.
Can somebody please spill the beans!
Check discussion below (sm)
about the microsoft ergo keyboard with the "zoom" key. Hope that helps!
blanks
Can anyone out there clarify how a company penalizes for sending in a report to QA and how do you know if your company does that? Thank you upfront!
blanks
Can anyone advise how long an MT should spend researching an item as opposed to letting a blank? The company I work for is very reasonable about 1 blank per document etc. I was just wondering if there is a general rule.
Thanks for the opportunities this board offers to learn, vent and feel less isolated.
How many blanks in a day?
I am wondering if I am a good MT. I am an IC that worked on the same account for 3-1/2 years and NEVER sent any blanks. The doctors were great! I lost that account and now my company has given me a new account for the past 2 days. I think I have left at least a few blanks in EVERY single report I typed that had to go to editing...is this normal? What are the average number of reports that most good MTs have to send to editing in a day?
Blanks
With a new account, you are getting used to the dictators.
Go back and listen after you have typed the whole report and 9 times out of 10, you will hear what they are saying.
more on blanks
The specifics of how to mark a blank for QA vary from account to account, service to service, etc.
When I was a QAS, I really didn't want my MTs to put sounds like phrases in, for example:
____(s/l) bazaar or bizarre____
because it would often be something completely different. I prefer to approach the blanks I'm filling in as a QA person with an open mind. I read through the body of the whole report while filling blanks in order to make certain that the word I'm hearing fits the context of the report, but I prefer not to be told in advance what the word is.
Yeah, I like crossword puzzles too.... LOL!
BLANKS
Hello, I am having a very tough time with blanks, especially with doctors who have accents. I try listening really close to how they pronounce the word, but after listening for a good few minutes, I find I still have to leave a blank; this is so fustrating. Are they any tips to cracking blanks?
Blanks
First question I ask -- are you a fairly new MT? second question, do you have access to company IM? I have worked in this busines many years and even those of use with experience have trouble with blanks at times - I did a dictation today and the docs dog was in the background -- one blank and really not bragging here but if I leave 3-4 blanks in a report it is because of horrid sound or terrible docs -- this is really where a lot of newer MTs need to be able to have contact with someone who "has an ear" 
Blanks
First question I ask -- are you a fairly new MT? second question, do you have access to company IM? I have worked in this busines many years and even those of use with experience have trouble with blanks at times - I did a dictation today and the docs dog was in the background -- one blank and really not bragging here but if I leave 3-4 blanks in a report it is because of horrid sound or terrible docs -- this is really where a lot of newer MTs need to be able to have contact with someone who "has an ear"
Blanks
First question I ask -- are you a fairly new MT? second question, do you have access to company IM? I have worked in this busines many years and even those of use with experience have trouble with blanks at times - I did a dictation today and the docs dog was in the background -- one blank and really not bragging here but if I leave 3-4 blanks in a report it is because of horrid sound or terrible docs -- this is really where a lot of newer MTs need to be able to have contact with someone who "has an ear"
BLANKS
Thank you all for the advice. It is much appreciated, and I will try the suggestions.
I wasn't even talking about that discussion down there
because someone besides BusyMT was doing the same thing to other people, telling them what to do and how to feel. Then this person was being overly dramatic and defensive whenever anyone responded to her, no matter how rational or emotion-free our posts were. If it's not PMS, a full moon, or a hangover, what is it then? Jealousy? Bitterness? Just because some of us CHOOSE this profession and can make decent money at it, why does this person have to attack us personally? And WHY do the moderators let her get away with it? If you hate this profession so much, find your heart's desire and go for it. I promise you that there is something out there that will make you happy. You just need to find it. Flaming people anonymously on a message board is NOT your happy spot.
Isn't this considered a policitical discussion?
Along with daycare, mothers working, breastfeeding in public, cosleeping, religion, politics, and all those other hot topics that are just going to flame anyways?
To discussion of Katrina victims
Everyone is playing the blame game. It doesn't matter who did what or did not do now. What matters now is to go on with life and reach in our hearts (Although some of you do not seem to have one) and give to the less fortunate. This disaster will not only effect those in the coastal areas. This will effect the whole United States and the world in some form or another. Louisiana had a population estimated at 4 million. More than a 1/4 of that population is without homes. Can you imagine the indignity they indure living in shelters? As a Louisiana resident, I would like to point out that the victims in the media are not the only victims. They are the poorest of poor. They do have many families and individuals that are displaced, living with relative, hotel rooms, no jobs. Other states have taken in many of the victims but there are small rural communities and cities all over Louisiana itself that have taken in these people. In the small high school in my community, enrollment went up by 200 students almost doubling the student body. The small Catholic school my son attends took in over 40 students. Grocery stores running out of food because the extra people and trucks being delayed. The list of changes and difficulties go on.
Like 9/11, this disaster will forever change America. Not all of the changes will be bad although it seems that way now. This is the time people should stick together and focus on the good things that are happening, not the few people that take advantage of the situation or the people who have no souls and think of themselves. Take an active roll in helping these people, you are not only helping them, you are also helping yourself and the whole country. I have visited the shelters and I have close friends who have actually gone to help with the rescue. Again, this did not just happen to the gulf coast.
I will continue to say an extra prayer for all victims, and especially those of you who seem not to have a heart or soul where others are concerned.
I had a similar discussion yesterday.
"Oh, you should get a job at the school district. They need cafeteria workers and it would work great with your kids' schedules."
I don't think so! They pay $7 an hour to feed and clean up after other peoples' munchkins! If I *ever* decided to work outside the home again, it'd be something that uses my education and pays way more. Hubby butted in and said that I make at least three times what they do in a year by working at home. That started the, "Oh, really? I've always thought about doing that. Where do you work?"
It all started with a discussion about bankruptcy or something like that.
With this new board format, the name and email automatically get carried over to your next posts. Honestly, it doesn't matter to me what name someone uses. Sometimes you have to let people on these boards know your areas of expertise or else they'll keep on arguing even when they know nothing about the topic of discussion. I happen to like fbm (former bank manager) because she's real and knows what she's talking about.
Bringing up hurricane discussion
Just for some other information. When Hurricane Rita hit in Texas, i.e. Jasper, Beaumont area, these people were not prepared. They were not prepared because hurricanes do not come in that far inland. The Jasper area is one of the areas where most hurricane victims evacuate too. There are people in that area that are still without power including elderly people and children. Most of the surrounding areas (Pineland, Rosevine, Hemphill) are retirement areas. These are also low income areas as well. These people definitely would not have expected the hurricane to effect them in the way that it did, but it did.
Also, people in Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas were effected from it as well. Again, a hurricane never has come close to these areas and these areas are also where evacuees come. During the time we had evacuees from Galveston, Beaumont, Houston, and still the ones we had from Louisiana drained the resources that we did have here (not saying anything negative by this – just a statement). None of the businesses could get trucks in to deliver gas, food, ice, water, etc. When we did get gas delivered, the lines were so long that people were waiting 9-10 hours to get gas and of course by the time most got up there, it was gone again. This went on for several days. Even the Wal-Mart here and in Nacogdoches was only able to be open a few hours a day and for the first few days after the hurricane because of the amount of extra people in these areas, they finally had to limit the number of people they were allowing in the store at a time.
Some of you say, people should be prepared. I do agree and especially more so if you live in a coastal area. However, these people affected in the areas I mentioned above do not live on the coast; however, were heavily impacted by this natural disaster. You are saying these people don't deserver help?! Well let me tell you this. When we had a lot of LA evacuees here, FEMA stepped in and for a lot (not all of course) they received $2000.00 for help with housing, another $600.00 for food, and there $400.00 for something else (honestly do not remember what it was).
However, my mother and father-in-law who are elderly went 14 days without power, lost everything in the freezer and refrigerator, and they are also raising 2 of their grandchildren (both young teenagers). They were unable to get FEMA to help with anything.
I guess the point is this. Before spouting off about who needs to do what or who the government does or does not need to help (or where you tax monies go), you might want to think about the fact that this was a natural disaster and therefore, no one can ever really be prepared for one. I hope none of you ever have to deal with anything like this. It is not a pretty site in this area right now. Clean up is still going on. There are still trees down on houses and cars. How would you feel if this were you?
By the way, yes I do feel that my family was very lucky to come through it unscathed; however, some were not so lucky.
Just my 2 cents.
It is but there is nothing wrong with Christmas discussion here.
/
Discussion boards!! (can't resist, lol)
 and other distracting Internet surfing, neglected art projects on the desk behind me, sunny outside, new powder on ski hill, new German Shepherd pup....
There was a discussion not long ago that they outsource
I was checking into them, but when I read all the controversy over their outsourcing (one person said the owner was from India, I believe), I changed my mind. I can't remember what all was said, but maybe you can go back about a month or so ago and find the conversation. Good luck with your search!
Whenever I bid an account, I have a frank discussion about TAT...
really only ER and X-ray need dictation back within 24 hours. For the rest of 'em, it's just a convenience. I explain as a small MTSO I don't want to be the one telling the MT who is sick with the flu that she HAS to get it done. None of my clients have ever complained about their TAT, which range anywhere from 24-48 to 1 week.
Yes. Leave discussion of other websites off this one, please. (NM)
Goldbird
I didn't really mean to start that discussion
In my rather limited experience all nationals pay pretty poorly. Honestly, 9 cpl is pretty good for a clinic account at a national. I just didn't know how much of a difference the spaces make in the long run, nor do I have any idea how much paying for headers and footers will add (and those aren't typed).
Speech recognition discussion
In reading the news release posted below about Nuance buying escription, I was wondering how different SR platforms are working for us MTs. I do ASR on DQS and have found that on my main account the ASR is pretty good, so I don't have to make tons of changes.
I tend to like doing the speech recognition and here is why I think that is so in my case:
If I get my primary account it recognizes pretty well and I don't get much junk to have to change.
Also, I can usually turn the speed to the fastest whereas straight transcription is usually about the halfway point for me, so I think I am getting it done faster.
Another thing is that I never did get into the habit of really tweaking my Expander the way a lot of other MTs have. I have seen some say they put anything that takes more than 3 characters into an expander. I am getting better about this but not to that degree, so I think SR is faster for me.
I think I have some carpal tunnel issues starting up so I can't transcribe for as long a stretch as I can edit.
All that being said, about 25% of my work still comes through as straight transcription and it is a good thing because that significantly affects my hourly rate for the better, so I am not losing lots of $, although I have lost some. 
So my question is two-fold: If you do SR, what system are you using? What has things specifically have made it better/worse for you?
Per discussion below...don't question, just type.
If they want to pray...type it.
If they want to swear...type it.
Who are we to question what goes in the medical record.
Realistically, 16 blanks they were able to get and you could not?
x
So you NEVER send anything in with blanks, or
Can you walk on water, too?
Blanks in a report
Are you serious? Are there really MTs that leave 20 or 30 blanks in a report? I feel bad about leaving a blank when the doctor dictates the wrong dosage or I cannot verify the dosage and decide it is better for QA to check it. Sometimes I leave a blank because the background noise is too loud for me to hear what the doctor is saying. The most blanks I have ever left were three during my first weeks as an MT. Now I know why my production has been low (because I researched). I am proud of my accuracy being at 99.97% to 100% and my reliability at 100%! Why is an MT allowed to leave that many blanks?
How can they predict how many blanks?
This annoys the heck out of me about some transcription companies. How in the world can they set a limit of one, two or three blanks per report? That's unrealistic. What do they want us to do, make it up? Well I sometimes wonder if that happens, or some things are just "skipped over". It's tempting, but I haven't gotten to that point yet. I don't care how long someone has transcribed, there are things you just cannot hear, understand, or find. I'm finally working for a company that has no limit to blanks. They have a great editing system. I do a reasonable amount of research on terms I have not heard of. But if I can't hear it....I CAN'T HEAR IT. And don't even get me started on the subject of blanks in ESL dictation. Even the editors can't grasp a lot of it. I used to spend LOTS of itme on blanks, but I've wised up now and let the editors figure it out if I can't get it after a minute or so of research.
There is nothing wrong with a report going to the hospital with a blank. If I were a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional, I would rather deal with a blank than incorrect information. The doctor can fill in blanks when he signs the report.
I leave blanks for even slightly unclear lab values. I see when I review the QA'd report later that they have been filled in by the Editor and it amazes me that they could hear it clearly. Unless they called the nursing station at the hospital and asked them to look it up....which of course does not happen
Maybe I'm too naive about it. I could make a lot more money if I'd just ad lib and send it in. But, I never have been a good liar.
Definitely finish with blanks. nm
-
I think it is normal to have a lot of blanks when ...sm
you are learning an account. You have to learn the things the doctor says and get accustomed to it.
I think leaving blanks when you are new...sm
to an account is normal. You have to get used to the account and the doctors.
Docking for blanks
Encourages guessing....totally wrong. This is a policy adopted by people who have never done the job.
Blanks in tests
Hi!
I am looking for an opinion please. I have been taking my very first at-home test(hoping to come home and leave the politics behind). I was wondering if it would be counted against you if there was a blank in the one of the trascrption samples. My current employer prefers blanks to guesses but then again they are familiar with their employees' strenghts and weaknesses.
Any advice welcome.
Did anyone hear the discussion on radio last night about (sm)
If this evolves as planned, there will be no typing at all by 2010. 
Oh, not this discussion again. I haven't had a credit card
account in over 10 years now, and I do just fine. That includes reserving hotel rooms and rental cars, buying plane tickets. I live on a cash basis within my means. Nobody needs a credit card.
If I were you, I'd take the hospital job, but ONLY after a very clear and frank discussion w/
the woman who has been refusing to hire you for the last few years. Why would she hire you NOW and not then? Is there a problem you or she need to address? But frankly, you could take a LOT less at the hospital, when you figure in, ON PAPER YOU SHOULD DO THIS, but figure in the 2-3 months down time every year, and the $600 a month in insurance. If you are over 45, you should count, too, on having niggling health problems coming up, and you could need paid time off AND non-cancellable health insurance for that.
If you and the hiring lady can iron out the wrinkles, I'd much prefer the hospital.
Is this for a conference, round-table discussion, or what? nm
s
Discussion re padding counts. Anyone remember where it was?
nm
LOL, we just had this discussion thru e-mail at my company yesterday!...sm
Sometimes they get so confused down thru the list, that I am no longer sure what number we are on. Number next would be great, we can count! I always thought they said the numbers to keep track of what diagnosis, medication, etc they were on. Guess not?? 
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