Which one did you get...the older one or the newer one?

• Anyone here have the Belkin ergo keyboardSM - Chickadee
  • Which one did you get...the older one or the newer one? - Charlene
    • it was supposed to be the older one, SM - Chickadee

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Ignore 'Shroom.  Don't let yourself get into that mentality.  Life is what you make it.  MT CAN be a very profitable profession.  It's not for everyone and not everyone can do it.  But if you are good at spelling and grammar, and you can type fast, and you are dedicated to really learning and not just doing a crap job as fast as you can so you can get paid more, your patience and hard work will pay off.

My #1 advice is:  Get a job in a hospital transcription department.  Not acute care at home for a service.  Get a job with a hospital.  The pay not NOT be as much as you could make at home for a service, but that experience will prove invaluable.  Work there for a few years.  Learn the ropes.  Learn to do all types of reports - the basic 4 plus everything else.  I have worked for a service and for a hospital and I learned so much more at the hospital.  The service was about production; the hospital was about quality.  They wanted us to really KNOW what we were typing and when there were words no one could get, the MT supervisor would ask the doctor and we would get it straight from them.  Doctors would also come down to talk to us and explain things to us sometimes, and that was a big help.  I worked at a hospital and a service at the same time and there were so many things (terms) that the service MTs didn't know that I knew only because of my hospital experience. 

Now I own my own service.  I get all my accounts through word of mouth, partly (actually MOSTLY) from my contacts that I developed back when I worked IN a hospital.  I have never had to advertise.  I have always been praised for being an excellent MT.  The hospital supervisors at the hospital where I used to work know that.  When they get a call from doctors or other hospitals asking who they recommend for transcription services, guess whose number they give out?  Yep, mine. 

When I first started out I didn't make much money at all.  But I worked hard and learned everything I could.  I never had an attitude like some on this board, that I wasn't being paid fairly, or that someone owed me more money, or that I was being cheated.  I worked and gained knowledge and experience, and made sure my quality was excellent, and added to my expander, and developed new ways of using shortcuts, and kept looking for the next opportunity that would move me up a little more.

I never make less than $25 an hour.  I usually make $35 to $40 an hour.  I have had an occasional hour where I made over $100 - yes, $100 - and no, I am not lying.  It was a surgery center account and one day a week I would transcribe routine cataract extractions with lens implantations.  I had that I had a template for and all I had to do is pop in the patient's name, right or left eye, and the size of the lens used.  I would do one right after the other, over and over, and make over $100 in an hour.  Would have been nice to do that all day long, but after an hour I was done with the cataract surgeries. 

Anyway, don't sit there thinking you are never going to make any money in MT.  Don't listen to the people who want to bring you down.  Don't waste time thinking your glass is half empty.  Look at the opportunities that are in front of you and start taking them.  Maybe you make 8 cpl now.  Do the best work you can do for that company.  Be valuable to them.  Become an asset to them instead of a liability.  And when you find something that's a little better, do the same thing there.  Work your way up. 

After you get the experience (hospital preferably), keep working and honing your skills.  Then decide "Okay, I am going to spend X hours a week working on getting my own accounts."  Maybe 4 hours every Saturday.  So you set aside that time and you think of points you want to make to potential clients.  Set up a business number or a separate phone number to receive business calls.  Put a business message on the line so if you miss a call they can leave a message.  Figure out how you will receive dictation - dictation system, TASP, or whatever.  Make flyers.  Drive around and check out potential clients in your area.  Go through the phone book or the little blue book of doctors in your area and start sending out flyers or walking door to door.  Every Saturday spend 4 hours doing the next step.  Decide you'll send out or deliver 20 flyers a week, or whatever you want.  You may not see results right away.  Don't get discouraged, just devote 4 hours a week to it, every week. 

There is money to be made in MT.  You have seen people on this board tell you how much they make.  They didn't answer an ad for an MT school on a matchbook and suddenly they are making $35 an hour.  It takes time and patience and a good attitude.

would not send them to the "z" section of a book or any website.  Maybe a Google search would have worked, but I didn't try it to see.

How about lightening up on the new MTs asking questions on the Word Board.  I am not a new MT (20 years), and I've asked questions.  I'm not so sure there is a "level of word asking."  Why be so brusk and hard on the new MTs?  Are you afraid they will take your job?  Don't worry there is plenty of work to go around.

I would hope if you had a question on the Word board, someone does not go on another board and post how horribly incompetent you must have been to ask that question on the Word board.

This is a wonderful resource. 

Thought I'd put my 2 cents in - I have been with Transolutions for about 4 months now, and I agree with the statements about how nice they are - they really are.  I am working really hard to increase my production and get up to level 5, which is the higher pay.  Dolfan, do you have any suggestions on that?  You said you just stay there no matter what it takes - does that mean you just put in as much time as it takes to get that many lines in?  Does it usually take you significantly over your scheduled time?  I keep resolving to do that, but then I get tired and end up between level 2 and 3.  I am still adding docs to my glossary on a daily basis, so I keep hoping that I will get there eventually. 

I agree also about the benefits - I am part time (25 hours/week), but I am earning PTO, holiday pay, etc.  When you do have to work a holiday, you get benefit pay, PLUS time and a half - I think that is fairly unusual for an MT company. 

The scheduling is flexible, too.  I worked for as an IC before, but I actually found that I needed a schedule or I would leave work too late and burn out.  But, that is just me.

Hope that is informative, and Dolfan, thanks for any help in advance!  (Or any other Transolutions people out there reading this, if you have any suggestions.) 

Melissa

Sounds like you need to find a good one, #1, and #2, one who really specializes in the cervical spine (mine does - he does it all, but he really specialiizes in the head and neck). 

Hope you feel better very soon!!! 

How old is John Travolta anyway.  He was so cute in Grease too.  Loved his dancing and now I just wonder if he has the same moves since he gained weight.  He didn't look all that bloated in Pulp Fiction either.  It's just lately he has looked too heavy for his frame.   

I can assure you that I'm not an older woman.  Thirty is not old.  I still get carded buying alcohol.  I've never bleached my naturally blonde hair either.  The clothes aren't skimpy.  I have full coverage with nothing hanging out.  I certainly don't shop in the plus or women sized departments either.  It's just a change from slob mode, which is the point I was trying to make.  Women will feel and look younger by taking a few moments to care about their appearance.  Try some trendier clothes, a new hairstyle, a touch of makeup.  Besides, if I was a fat, ugly, old lady as you're implying, troll, hubby would tell me.  He's the one who didn't like my "comfortable" work clothes to begin with.

than your older children.....25 and 23....didn't want you to think I'm a real old biddie....*lol*

Hope you resolve things....sounds like a family therapy would help solve because if you don't resolve....these buildups you get....will continue until you die.  Best get into some therapy - it works WONDERS if one applies it!  *S*

Best of luck!! 

Sorry if I offended you, I was joking because I'm older and I do read many blogger sites of much older, more journalistic type writers, and famous people who are also bloggers.

Again, sorry for any offense taken, none was meant! 

I got less than a decade on you but it starts happening around 40+ (*winks at the 39 y/o poster) and it happens.  At 40, I started writing down lists, whereas prior I never needed a list (to go shopping, let's say).  About halfway through my 40s, it was "where are my keys and/or my eyeglasses" things.  I talked to a bunch of women who confirmed this (older than me).  Now, I do the room - "why did I just walk in here?" - thing. 

I try not to worry about it.  I had a dad (who died nearly 2 years ago at a very old age and more than twice my age *S*) whose short-term memory was not great from his 60s on into his 90s, but his long-term memory was so EXCELLENT that he could tell you a story about a horse, his neighborhood, and a situation that he experienced at 5 years old (an emotional trauma) with such clarity and lucency, you could picture the entire situation yourself.  That, in and of itself, amazed many!

So, don't beat yourselves up about this stuff.  There are lots of books out about this very subject.  When you think about these things, well....what's the alternative?  (I'm thinking some extra serotonin *LOL*) - but really, these things will occur and I'm not choosing the alternative, that's a given (i.e., death).  *LOL*  So, I'll live with these challenging things happening and try not to kick myself every time I mess up. 

I will tell you I am much better about my keys and eyeglasses today because I made places for them to sit (if I remember to not toss them wherever *LOL*)

You are all not alone, that's a given too

where you pretty much have to point the remote directly at the box.  The newer one where you can be anywhere in the room is DRD435RH.  This is about 4 years old, so I would think the DVR should be able to do the same thing.

We have favorites, but at least 2 other options, maybe 3, where you can block certain channels so it is like having favorites.  I like the DIY type channels and DH does not.  It has my channels blocked as he is a surfer and blocking mine eliminates having to go through all mine.  When I want to watch I switch to all channels.

If you go to Direct's website they might have the info more detailed. 

but the seller sent me a plain, flat, dirty keyboard!  I was sooo mad.  Fortunately I complained enough and sent him copies of receipts from Amazon showing it was supposed to be the Belkin ergo (he insisted he clearly stated what he was sending) that he has finally agreed to send my money back.

So, as soon as he refunds my money (I got an e-mail from Amazon saying I should be getting it soon), I will look for the older one that you are talking about.

Thanks for sharing your experiences! :)

Chickadee

I also feel bad when I see an older person eating alone at a restaurant.  When I say older, I mean 75+.  I feel like inviting them to sit with us, but that would be too weird. 

I also feel bad for people with no insurance or people that will not fill scripts because of the cost. 

I knew a lady who had lived with a man for 30 years.  He got Alzheimer's and his daughter had him declared incompetent.  She threw this lady out of the house she had lived in for those 30 years (common law marriage not recognized here).  No one could find a will, so this lady was on the streets for all intents and purposes.  She called me one afternoon to ask how much I would charge her a month for rent (she had only social security,  minimal) to live on, had Parkinson disease, heart problems,  diabetes, etc.  Knowing she was a proud lady and I was working in a hospital at the time, I told her I would charge $50.00 a month for food, but if she helped clean the house and cooked in exchange for rent, that would be great.

She lived with me until her death 7 years later.  My mother had passed away about a year earlier, but this dear lady became my best friend and my substitute mother.  I was compensated in ways you never will never know, but monitarily it was wonderful.  She was a wonderful seamstress and could knit, so after that I rarely if ever had to buy any clothes, just some yarn or fabric.  My mother had spoiled me completely, my late husband had spoiled me, and then I had the wonderful fortune of having this lady as my friend who took over where they left off. 

Before she called me, she had rented a room in a cheap motel and it took all her money.  She went to the local food bank to try to get food, but they told her she was not eligible because she had no children.  It would take several months for her to become eligible on medicaid.  Her medications cost so much that she would have to pay 100% by September because she had exhaused her medical benefits, so I bought those for her - unless I could convince a few doctors on staff to help by getting drug reps to contribute a few for her.  Is this what we do to our senior citizens? 

I am not asking for praise.  I just think it is time that we all look around and see what is happening.  There are a lot of people in this world who need compassion and help, and we really should do what we can to ease their discomfort. 

The Life of David Gale...excellent movie...Kevin Spacey, I think...

Mona Lisa Smile...Julia Roberts...I really liked this one, so did my teenage daughter...

Forrest Gump, of course, one of my all-time favorites...we all know who he is (and the soundtrack is awesome)!!!

Have a lovely weekend...