What do politics have to do with this challenge?
Posted By: This is not a politics board on 2008-10-17
In Reply to: Amanda's Challenge - Joanne
I feel bad that you lost your account, but you don't need to be taking your anger out on other people and start calling them Republicans and blaming her for your belief of the mistreatment of MTs. This was a simple challenge on how to make more money and spend your time wisely.
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If you are up to the challenge
with SS
OH. Now you want more challenge...
But you also state it was a small account. Why do they only assign you to ONE account? Cross training for others is out? Is it a small account and "NOT ENOUGH WORK" as you initially stated, or now it's because you can "DO IT IN (YOUR) SLEEP".
LOL
Now, that is a challenge
it seems that going into the petites section gets you into the clothes that are made for the younger kids. I totally feel your pain. If anyone out there has any suggestions that would be great. Like you, I'm short and small-boned. Finding age-appropriate clothes is a real toughy! :-)
It was the challenge
Used to be, I felt like I was playing some sort of computer game, trying every day to "win" by increasing my line count, overcoming the ESL's and unintelligible speedtalkers. But when the greedy companies and corporations took over, they started stacking the odds against us, the game was fixed and it wasn't fun anymore. Set yourself some new goals, financial or imagination-stretching. Remember, you have a life, and this is not it, just the means.
A challenge to all MT's....sm
I feel that we've said it all - the rest is just blah, blah, blah! Yeah, we need a place to vent but how about we challenge ourselves - each and every one of us try to find someone in the public eye to whom we should all individually write! If someone, say, at 20/20, 60 minutes, etc. were to get hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of well-written and well edited letters enunciating each and every point; from why all off-shore transcription should be illegal (it is against HIPAA), to how little we (the transcriptionist) is really getting paid, to how much each IC or at-home employee actually saves the physician or hospital or clinic, etc. than we will have some attention put on the industry. Another big point to investigate is just how much these national (and international) companies pay their chief operating officers, etc. What used to be a viable career has become nearly impossible to continue. If anyone thinks that a national effort to attact the necessary attention to our problem is a good idea, respond here and let's see if we can get a letter written that we can all forward to our state senators as well as to the media. A MEDIA BLITZ will either make us or brake us - we'll either get what we deserve or we'll all lose to off-shore transcriptionists (which we're doing anyway)! A one day work strike nationally would work well too and would get a lot of media attention! Particularly on a Wednesday (middle of the week) but all need to agree to lose one day's pay...but don't worry, the companies will be desperate and put us all to work on the weekend to catch up (at our regular rate, of course)! What do YOU think?
You like to challenge?
Ridiculous ego.
Challenge yourself - sm
One of the four doctors I do has an accent - Indian - and the others "speak English". I would much rather do the accent than put up with the sloppy, slurry, lazy way the others dictate. I have found that once you do an "accent" the next one is easier. Don't be intimated - give it a try - challenge yourself - it's part of life.
A challenge...
Okay folks... I like everybody else have seen my pay go down lately and have been complaining about having to work more to get the work done; I also see people talking about how many hours a day they have to work to get their lines for the day and how it equals minimum wage, etc.
Well, I went to the store and bought a cheap timer. I set it every hour for 55 minutes and I would take a 5 minute break at the end of that 55 minutes. I did not move my butt from the chair during that first 55 minutes - just typed. No phone calls, no surfing the web, no answering people's yells, no TV, no laundry, no dishes, NOTHING, NADA, just typing. Here are my results -
165 minutes (2 hours and 45 minutes) and I got 1129 lines. That averages out to be 410 lines an hour. For my pay, that is $41 an hour.
My challenge is to each of you who say you are not getting your work done to try this yourself and post your results and let's see what happens...
Should we all take an MT challenge?
We all realize that our situations are different and within our own accounts can be so very different on different days. (Oh, how I hate those days when I would swear my line count will be great and it turns out to be lower than the day before when I felt I didn't work nearly as hard!)
But what we can do to see how much time we are wasting is to do the same challenge for a week straight. We will likely have a variety of work to deal with and can see how much different our line counts end up.
I have noticed I tend to get up from my chair more, out of stress and frustration, when I am having a tough dicatator or subject matter. I tend to want to check my email after sending a job because there are several seconds before I can open the next dictation. I probably lose some time there (beyond the pause time).
It would be interesting to see how much different things turn out for us all. Not the acutal line counts (since situations are so much different), but the increases we end up with.
Anyone want to try this for a week and see how we end up next weekend?
I agree. I would see it as a challenge. I took a
college class where they posted everyone's ID# and then grades for each test/assignment, etc. You could see where you stood. It was a self-paced course and seeing that a couple of people had already whizzed through and were almost done, and with HIGH scores, made me want to pick up the pace and make sure MY scores were presentable. I didn't want anyone looking at my anonymous scores and saying "What is that person's problem?" I ended up not at the top but near the top. Some people just didn't even turn in assignments at all and had big fat 0s and poor scores on the test and I was thinking "Uh, what was the point in paying for this class if you're not going to try to get a decent grade?" 
I took your challenge today
and I buckled down as well and I got in 1 hour and 28 minutes 824 lines!!!! Yes, it was an easy doctor, but that is all the work I have today is from him. That gives me $43.95/hr. Wish I could have him all day. I'll try to average out the day if I get anyone else in.
Okay, I took your challenge, Amanda. SM
ME: Below-average typing talent. Sad but true. I'm a clutz. Use an expander, though.
I'm paid good but not top-level industry rates.
I work 35 hours per week, not 40.
So-so account, lots of ESL, mixed transcription and editing.
CHALLENGE: Worked in my usual manner for two hours of average work flow, i.e., not fast or slow. One coffee-refill break.
RESULTS: 291 lines per hour X my pay plus incentive = $32/hour = $56K/year for a 35/hour week.
IF I worked 40 hrs/wk, that would be $64K, but I prefer not to. Like you, I do prefer to work fairly intensively while I am working as a tradeoff to a shorter workday.
Good post, Amanda! Back to work now.
Amanda's Challenge
Until two days ago, I had several accounts. One of those accounts I used to smile and call "butta." (As in butter). I've been an MT for close to 30 yrs, Amanda, and this account that was taken away from me had tons of challenging ORs, not colonoscopies, etc. I made great line count--now I have an account that is populated by physicians who don't organize their thoughts before they start dictating, open their mouths and spew absolute nonsense (and the patient's safety is OUR responsibility-HAH). One doc in particular says each sentence at least three times and changes each version subtly (on a verbatim account, yet), leaves sentences dangling, hops all over the place and in general is a pain in the butt. You know, Amanda, I challenge myself every working day and with this latest smack in the head by my employer, I'm thinking of asking my doctor for antidepressants. You're a Republican, Amanda, and you have to act like this general mistreatment of MTs over the last five or so years is our own fault. Sorry, honey, the Obama sign stays on my front lawn.
Definitely challenge it - I've heard of others who have
asked for a review and they were then found to have passed. Go for it.
OP notes are a challenge - just depends if you are determined enough
to learn how to do them. After doing DS, HP, CR and Clinic Notes, I was asked by former National to try to do about 20 OP reports. I was terrified !! Thought I had a good grasp of anatomy, physiolgy, etc, but I'll swear I ended up looking up every instrument, suture, needle, forceps, retractor, etc., & hate to guess how many hours I spent doing those 20 reports (that was before internet resources & my salary was dependent on how much work I did !!). Going from Clinic Notes, etc., to OP reports is not an easy transition - there is a vast difference. I did struggle in the beginning & know it took me a good 6 months before I became comfortable transcribing them. For me, it has ended up being for my benefit. That National, from that time on, only assigned me OP reports. Having since left original National & having searched for a job with different companies stating that I specialized in OP reports, I received unexpected offers at a higher than average cpl pay !
Don't be disillusioned thinking that you can apply for a job doing OP reports after doing Clinic Notes if you have no experience doing such. If you don't have an opportunity to try to learn them in your present job & you're interested in learning such, you might consider getting the SUM practice tapes that have original OP dictation. Just depends on how much you want to learn their terminology & how much effort you're willing to put forth :o) :o).
take Amanda's challenge. it's down a lot of posts with a fire tag.NM
no message.
I'd gladly take the challenge if there was any freaking WORK to do..!
x
I will challenge the law. I am paid by piece work and that is excluded.
sheesh
To those below arguing politics...
Please dispute this. I welcome it. It seems like Bush's "lies" had lots of company, although those quoted below have washed their hands of their own comments. How convenient.
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998.
"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998.
"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18,1998.
"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998
"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998.
"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999.
"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Letter to President Bush, Signed by Joe Lieberman (D-CT), John McCain (Rino-AZ) and others, Dec. 5, 2001
"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandated of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them."
Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002.
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.
"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002.
"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force-- if necessary-- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I b elieve that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002.
"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Jay Rockerfeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002.
"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do"
Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002.
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weap ons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002.
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002.
"[W]ithout question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his contin ued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real ..."
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003.
Office politics. SM
There was a lot of that before I became an MT. Maybe I was just lucky, after I went into MT we were on a great incentive plan and were highly competitive, I don't think we had time to gossip and backstab. I know what you mean though, I have had those jobs.
About Politics Board (sm)
is ForuMatrix part of MTStars? I couldn't quite figure it out. I see Billers/Coders forum is hosted there as well. Please explain?
Please take to Politics. Locking. (NM)
Goldbird
office politics
I will never forget the Friday night when, after working from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, I left my desk at 5:25 to head for home and my supervisor went ballistic. After four 12 hours days, I left my desk 5 minutes early (it was a good 5 minute walk to the time clock) and she got angry with me. Nor will I forgot all of the times my supervisor procastinated on deadlines and guess who was there late meeting her deadlines? In-house is not for me, I enjoy my freedom.
It's still on the Politics board
Under the title "Do you think people will begin to take any job."
Politics and gourds
I need to check in to the politics board, haven't been there in awhile. Still painting gourds and other stuff. Off today with the grandkids to do some cave exploring and try to cool off.
Insanity in politics in America
....I hear you. This insanity is not going to end until we, the American folks, the backbone of this country, BECOME MORE PROACTIVE. We have become a complacent society. We accept anything the government puts out there as the truth. We need to question everything, look and dig deep as to the motivation of our leaders. We are a stressed out society, have become more materialistic, tuned out, burned out and so we have no energy left to become more proactive in our government, OUR VOICE.
Look around what is happening in this country. Our leaders, especialy Bush, project an all American image, but how American can it be when we give attention more to providing jobs in third world countries than attention to the job situation in our own country? Why even Bush used Indian BPO services for his 2nd term campaign!! Did he not think of us Americans first? We outsource
everything with no intelligent guideline to assess the effects. Our country has stopped looking at long term and long range effects and has substituted short tem fixes which benefit powerful corporations. Think about it and do some research, the Bush dynasty has been built on oil. They are a powerful family and have had a long term relationship with the Bin Ladens and the Saudis. How objective can he and his administration be? Just think about this - since his popularity is at its worst, funny how all of a sudden the gas prices are dropping? ... And no I'm not a democrat, a liberal, just a concerned citizen. Our government has become all spin. It's all about the spin.
(nm) I tried to post on the politics board, but was not able.......sorry
xx
I have no desire to talk politics.
That would be true most especially here .. this is not a place for that sort of heavy discussion. I prefer face to face. And, just to be clear, I too am of the mind that we certainly need to be vigilant, and I was merely responding to the fact that I found it ironic that this particular day was chosen .. I will be watching the Boston Pops in 10 minutes and thanking God for having the freedoms I enjoy. I did not need to be chided as we all have opinions.
where on politics, under demo, repub, etc etc??
x
office politics never change--sm
find another at-home job. It won't stop just because you want it to. JMO
Always have felt they were more politics than beneficial. nm
nm
I challenge you all to host a Halloween/Fall party at your house this year! sm
 You will have an eyeball! I mean, ball.
This will be my 1st, usually my sister-in-law does it. I picked up A Taste of Home's Halloween issue and if that doesn't inspire you to do something this fall, then you might be dead...pun intended.
For dessert I am going to make little witches that will make a neat centerpiece. Here's how you do it: Take 16 large marshmallows, oreo cookies, coconut slivers (for the hair that you dye green with food coloring), Hershey kisses and peanut butter cups (miniature) that will be the top of her hat (place candies on top of oreo chocolate cookie (minus one side of cookie and the frosting). Use pretzels for her broomstick. These things are so cute I can hardly stand it.
2. Spider cupcakes. Use chocolate EVERYTHING and for the legs use 8 small pieces of licorice dangling from the cupcake and anything small and red for the eys (M&M minis) or red icing.
There are tons of ideas and recipes. The main dish will be Witch's Brew Stew and it looks awesome! If you want the recipe, email me. If not, then drop dead.
Oh, and for the kiddies, I will be playing games like pin the stem on the pumpkin and bobbing for body parts (will probably call this game something else), but you fill up a large tin bucket, stain the water black and put things in inside. Each kid takes turns using their hands to try to find 3 things you tell them to find in this nasty mixture of stuff using their HANDS, not mouth.....
So, get your invitations out, dust off your printers and have fun! I'm doing this mid-month, not on Halloween since I am a Christian and we don't celebrate Halloween.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Take the political banter to the Politics board.
/
Celine. No contest. Besides, Babs is into politics now. :) nm
Aren't politics and religion social no-nos? sm
And I believe there is a very good reason for that.
I neve discuss politics or religion
x
IC good thing is no more office politics.....nm
Post political discussion on the Politics boards.
/
Post political discussion on the Politics boards.
/
As always, political posts should be posted on the Politics board.
/
Posts about political topics go on the Politics board
If you are talking about President Obama's stance, action, statements concerning offshoring - it is political. It goes on the Politics board.
If you are talking about healthcare industries and what Congress, the Senate, the GOP or other leaders are doing or not doing about - it is political. It goes on the Politics board.
Thanks,
Moderator
Thread starting to get out of hand. If you want to talk politics, post
/
Hated it. The office politics, the dressing up, the back-stabbing. I do in 4 hours what I did in 8
at home. That hospital environment with all those women backstabbing, worrying about how long other people took for breaks or lunch, who was in favor with the supervisor, who fit in with the cliques, UGGGGGGHHHHH! I can't believe I am saying this but MQ looks good compared to those days now that you got me to thinking. (Not that good pay-wise/benefit-wise though)
If you are a visitor wanting to turn the Hurricane Katrina disaster into politics, take it to the
Politics forums. Do not post on the Main board. Administrator
Office politics. That is why I enjoy working at home. In the office,
people are in other people business. Just mind your own business.
30 day TAT in this office ... office politics at its best
I have kept in touch with an MT I worked with at the last in-house job (radiology). This was inpatient radiology and also an outpatient radiology clinic the hospital operated.
One of the girls, a person who at one time folded towels but who was hired as a clerk, was just discovered to ahve not mailed out reports for 30 days. These include both in house reports and outpatient reports. They have been sitting on her desk because she "has not had time to do them."
What do you make of this? The lead MT is close to this girl (hence her being moved from housekeeper to clerk) and is trying to minimize the impact that not having the reports mailed to referring physicians' offices, as if it is a minor problem (how they found out about it is a doc's office called the MT's supervisor and asked why 30 days worth of reports were mailed to their office yesterday.
They were keeping it from the director of radiology. I think this is BIG and that heads should roll for negligence.
What do you think?
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