Visible black characters without spaces being included. nm
Posted By: Black on white only. NM on 2007-10-01
In Reply to: Hate to appear dumb, but what is VBC? - movin' on
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Visible black characters (VBC)
As of the recent AHDI/AAMT annual meeting, it appears that the method of line-counting known as VBC (visible black characters) is becoming a trend.
All MTs should read the following report from Perspectives in HIM, February 14, 2007.
http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_034023.html
To summarize: counting by VBC results in a 31.5% reduction in line count, compared to the traditional 65-line (with spaces) count.
Thus, to avoid a pay cut, any MT now earning 9 cpl should be raised to 11.8 cpl if line counting is switched to VBC.
This is a critical issue, and it does not appear that AHDI is taking any action to promote fair pay for MTs under VBC compensation plans.
It would mean NO spaces included if it's only the B/W characters. Better ask for sure! nm
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9 cpl, 65 characters per line, spaces, headers, footers included. employee status. nm
If you do a search for VBC or visible black character there should be some old threads.
I know that some platforms rolled over to this (without warning in some cases). IMO, if they pay by VBC then the line rate should increase accordingly,or pay should be set based on a lower count character line like the companies that already base pay on a 55-character line.
In some cases MTSOs have changed the billing parameters but not the production/pay parameters.
My line including spaces is 65 characters. I've heard that not counting spaces
takes away over 35% of your line count. I believe it too because you have at least 15 or so spaces on each line that you type. Use your first sentence up top as an example; you had 77 char and 21 spaces - in that line that would be a little less than 30% of your characters that you didn't get paid for. I don't think it's worth it and wouldn't want to work without getting credit for my spaces.
VBC (visible black character) method of measuring productivity. SM
I just read an article about this in the Advance mag I get biweekly. It seems the MTIA, AHIMA, and the AAMT are endorsing the VBC method of measuring productivity for transcription. Basically, that means they don't want to pay for spaces. So they are finding another way of screwing with our money.
I know there are several services out there that don't pay for spaces now and quite frankly I won't work for a company that doesn't pay for spaces. I'm a firm believer that transcriptionists should get paid for every single keystroke, but that rarely if ever happens. Now with those three major industry organizations endorsing not counting spaces, it may be the case that all services will adopt the VBC method and we are all going to lose.
Oh, the AAMT says that the VBC method will create a "level playing field throughout the industry" and allow for a "great opportunity for the industry to engage in a real discussion about the inherent value of transcribing and how pricing under the new defintion should reflect that value." The AAMT also states that MTSOs should consider an MT's "critical thinking skills and interpretive judgment" when discussing compensation.
Yeah right. Like MTSOs have been considering anything more than the bottom line and pumping up there pocketbooks. To them we are machines. I'm tellin' ya medical transcription is circling the drain.
You need to know if spaces are included, then ... sm
divide your character count by 55 based on the with spaces or without spaces. It should come out exactly as your company figures. With it being 55 characters, I would almost bet you are not paid for spaces. Are you dividing the number of words by 55 or the number of characters without spaces by 55?
You should be able to come right out and ask the company the formula they use; if its not something you can recreate in a word document to verify, they are cheating you somewhere.
Hmm...will check this out. I know spaces are not included.
Thanks for responding. I will e-mail her tomorrow and find out what is up.
characters (with spaces) / 65
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Without spaces, what line is that on? 65 characters?
t
About 8.5 cpl 65 characters including spaces. nm
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65 characters w/ spaces = ? lines
Anybody know any valid convertions? I would really like to know how many characters w/ or w/o spaces 1,000 lines converts to. Thanks for your help!
Formula is: Characters PLUS spaces / 65 = lines. (nm)
nm
Both 65 characters per line -- one counts spaces, one doesn't NM
X
0.12/cpl, macros count as 2 characters, backspacing is given to us as 1 character. No spaces. Aut
dd
What the heck does getting paid by a 55 black character line?? Does this mean without spaces and doe
You just never know if this is a trick to somehow rip you off of lines. I am just very skeptic of it since I have never heard of anyone using this formula before.
usually one "word" equals 5 characters, so it's still being paid by characters. nm
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Black widows are shiny black, females have red spot
There aren't many males around. After the mate, the females eat them lol.
We have black widows galore here in Calif. I actually keep frogs in my yard (provide ponds for them) and they have made a big impact on the insect population.
Remember to always wear shoes (something I try to do).
No it isn't visible
I'm not sure what you are talking about (or if you have the wrong idea of what plastic surgery is ... there is no "plastic" involved). They just remove skin and muscle (along the edges) and tighten up the face. Any cuts are hidden so none of the thin minimal scarring shows.
You just look like a regular person (unless you get a bad surgeon who does something strange) and age the same as the muscle and skin carries on as usual.
Not trying to convince you to do anything. I just don't understand where your concept of the whole thing is coming from.
But I bet that it is visible that work has been done
on your face. Then you do not look so young anymore. Then you get questions like:
'Oh, you look so young, all of a sudden, what did you do to your face?'
A no for me!
New learning website! Visible body...
It's free!
http://www.visiblebody.com/
blood or visible bones?! lmao - I love it!
nm
Make the sign very simple to read and put it in a very visible area
such as over the doorbell if you have to.
Some younger kids may not be able to read a lengthy sign.
Maybe "NO CANDY HERE" will work.
I know having the porch lights out does not work for my house either but whenever we came across a house with a sign I would have to tell the kids since some of them can't read yet to pass that house up.
They used to not pay for spaces, but a poster here said they are getting spaces paid. Are there 2
s
Most of the gals I know, myself included.....sm
love to get some really nice hand/body lotion, either in their favorite fragrance or something scented from a specialty shop. They usually sell for maybe $18-20 and that's just too much $$ to spend on our own hand creams! Either that or scented bubble baths, soaps, etc.
I give things like that to my friends all the time and I have one friend who has now actually come to expect a bottle of her favorite lotion every Xmas. :)
You and everybody else are looking for same thing, me included. nm
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QA Submissions not included!
QA submissions nare not included either! LOL! Happy holidays!
Will that be entirely VR or any straight included?
NM
Pay No Spaces, Type No Spaces nm
nm
without spaces compared to with spaces
10 cpl without spaces equals to how many cpl with spaces?
Spaces versus no spaces....
Can someone tell me how big of a difference it makes if a company pays for spaces versus no spaces. I have only every been paid without spaces. I have been offered a position that pays for spaces, but the cpl is less than I am making now. I am not sure if getting paid for spaces will make up for the pay cut. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
If you're not American, then how would you know. If you, you just included yourself
nm
Yes, lots of software was included.
Unfortunately, Word was not included though. 
Thanks for the input anyway. 
did you read the site I included....sm
in my post just below? tipping dot org keeps up with all the rules of tipping. www.tipping.org
MS Word is included in MS Works now sm
What Dell probably met was that MsWorks includes a full version of MS Word. It's the less expensive way to get Word without having to buy Ms Office. The student version of MS Office cannot be upgraded, btw, so don't get that.
Should've included the website...
http://www.hipaadvisory.com/News/newsarchives/2004/0520markey.htm
The times used to be included. I don't remember why it
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Addendum: Batteries not included.
OMG... I feel even better now. I was looking at the back of the box and it said you need a AAA battery. Wow... I thought the sound was great before --- that was without the battery which I did not even notice because of the design of the headphones. Now, for the first time in 9 years working for MQ I am proud to say that I had to turn the volume DOWN. Too loud...hurt my ears...ooww. LOL Glad I was able to exchange my MQ stock for something useful... a pack of 2 AAA batteries for my new headphones.... Life is good.
Wonderful people in Houston, yourself included!
Wonderful to know there are such caring folks out there.
Board names or not, some people, myself included...
don't care to discuss what they make. Why should we? It is such an individual thing and based on so many factors that is is impossible to draw any meaningful conclusions.
The type of work, as well as the MTs experience, ability to research effectively, retention and overall knowledge and intelligence, self-discipline (and much more) are variable, to say the least.
What others make is totally irrelevant to what someone else may make.
Yeah, I'm annoyed that QA wasn't included! sm
I so respect QA because they usually fill in all my blanks and I sometimes am in AWE of just how they do that when I relisten to all blanks several times. My one QA lady also I absolutely think is the best because she communicates so well with us.....and seeks us out to do just that and give us feedback.
Next year, I'll bet, they WILL honor QA!!!!!!! (if I have anything to say about it!!)
Thank you so much! The Shorthand instructions included with my version
nm
Sorry you are so disgruntled but many of us, myself included, are still making money...
there have been changes but I am still making great money so I have no complaints...good luck to you though
I get Sirrus/XM included through my digital TV package,
So I just play it through the home theater system. It rocks
Hmm, guess I shouldn't have included bird and humans. nm
:=
TransTech FedExs the first few checks until your DD kicks in. I was included in the
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Not included. Demos and ccs are headers/footers. Not counted. nm
x
Just accept that it is you opinon and let it rest. We all read all of the posts, yours included sm
and all taken into account.
Mouse included in the package lit up right after battery insertion. No on lights
come on when the batteries are inserted and power button doesn't do a thing. Power isn't being transmitted to keyboard for some reason.
Just got back on a Timeshare trip - cost - 200 and included 3 nights hotel
and tickets to a bunch of free stuff! It was fun. Was it worth it? I am not sure! We got hounded pretty bad about 'buying a timeshare' but it was very affordable! Beautiful place too!
13 cpl 65 characters. nm
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