While I agree with your glass half full
Posted By: way of looking at things.... on 2008-12-08
In Reply to: Enough !!!!!!! - Just me
there are few points that are not necessarily correct..at least with my company MedQ.
While I can still "type in my pajamas" I have no automy over my schedule, need to clock in, in my own living room, to maintain an impossible TAT. I agree schedules are very important...but rigid scheduling held to the minute is not even possible in an office envirment, let alone your own home. A 10 hour window has and always will be a more productive way to produce your work.
I do not agree we have it good. I feel it is an abomination that our profession and hard earned skill (a skill that takes a minimum of 3 years to perfect in order to work at home...alone) is paid such a paltry amount. I have never complained over the years of not receiving one raise...I was more than happy making my 45-50 K a year...but systematically reduced to 20-25 K a year..and working harder for it..is unacceptable.
What really frustrates me is the axiom.."well you don't like it..go somewhere else." I wonder how nurses, x-ray techs, pharmacy techs..and other group of medical professionals that also require 2-3 years training before performing their jobs would take being systematically deducted 40-60% of their pay..and told to..You don't like? Go somewhere else! Of course that would not happen to them...they have a union to protect their interests.
So while I agree constant bellyaching gets you nowhere and the inevitable deterioration of this profession is a fact, I am not grateful for this job...nor do I think I "have it good." Other than the extremely poor economy which does in fact make me grateful to have any job....it is patently unfair and criminal what has been done to MTs. And until I see contracts between MTSO and hospitals that delineate how ASR work is paid at 40% less than MT work..I will never believe hospitals pay a lower rate for ASR. They have no idea what work goes through ASR and what does not.
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- Enough !!!!!!! - Just me
- While I agree with your glass half full - way of looking at things....
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Glass half empty....
I can agree on a few points here. If you expect to be stroked, you won't find that in healthcare at all. I have worked in a hospital setting, have my own accounts, and also currently IC for a company online at this point. I just love what I do, and I'm pretty good at it. A lot of what you write is true in that this profession has evolved, but think about it this way. If we didn't evolve, then how long would a patient wait for you to get that report off of the old typewriter? How many people would go months and months before finding that lung mass or brain tumor?
Just like the typewriter has evolved, the technology in which we diagnose and treat patients has evolved with leaps and bounds. I still feel I'm doing a service to the patient. I like my job because I know it helps people. I'm sort of behind the scenes at this point and not visible to the patient any longer unless there's one in the waiting room when I pick up my tapes (doctor won't go digital), so I see the difference I can make.
Do I need to be stroked and told I'm doing a great job? No. I know I do a good job, but being told that every day or two is not why I'm in it. Money is just the means of a transfer. No one told me I'd get rich being a transcriptionist, but no one told me how much I would learn about the human body and functionality of it either and that I could most likely take that experience into another field.
Wow, when I type a report on a patient that has a serious illness, I think my lucky stars. I think at this point, reading your post, I may go back to school. My transcription skills could really help me become a coder (are they stroked/given raises every year?) or maybe I'll become a nurse (are they stroked/given raises every year?), or maybe I'll become a physician myself and pay my transcription enormous amounts of money and remember to call and thank them to express a job well done when really I should be calling my patient with the brain tumor or lung mass or any other disease. I wonder if the maintenance guy sweeping the hall deserves a raise or the nice lady cleaning the windows, then again maybe the physician himself wouldn't mind being reimbursed for the services he renders to someone without health insurance?
Buck up camper.... It's going to a long trip! 
Let me guess - you see glass as half empty too, right?
I tend to see the good in people and think positive. There are exceptions to everything. I don't focus on those - I move on. Your posts remind me of someone who goes to a a restaurant and says to the waitress 'Every time I eat in here the food is bad!' - so - she says 'Why do you keep coming back?' 
Glass if half empty for a reason
Someone is drinking out of it!
You make it sound like we are all a bunch of whining babies looking for a pat on the back. That isn't really the case. The truth is, we just want what is fair. There was a time when you worked as an MT and made good pay. You got benefits, maybe even a paid vacation. You were respected by the doctors you worked for because you were generally in office with them and they saw how hard you worked and what you put back into the office.
As work has been outsourced to services, these jobs were lost. The MT who used to work in house, have her nice benefit package, get paid an hourly rate, and had the opportunity to develop a relationship with the doctor she worked for, is now an IC working at home. She has lost her benefits. The doctors she transcribes for in her pool of work don't even know her name. She is "the typist." She is paid by the line with no guarantee. She bounces from company to company only to find that most are the same. They make promises that don't pan out. She runs out of work at one company, which means no pay. She works on a ridiculous and inefficient platform for another (less pay). She ends up bitter, and who can blame her?
I think many of us feel the same way. I have worked in this business for six years, and the pay that I was offered then is the same as now (8 CPL). Why has this not gone up? God knows the cost of healthcare, groceries, and gas has gone up. We shouldn't expect COLA?
I don't want a pat on the back. I don't even care if I ever hear a thank you. I want fair pay and respect. I want to be treated like a person, not like a machine hooked to a keyboard.
I agree, faster by half, at least
My Expander has round about 6,000 entries and I add sometimes 20-30 more a day. I think I definitely type twice the amount I could without one.
I agree but ask for full payment
good luck
Agree - my reports are full of blanks SM
this morning. I refuse to guess on vital signs, lab values, and this ESL's mumbling. And lucky me, since I'm the first one on this morning, I'll probably get about 10 of his H&Ps.
I totally agree with you. Even samples passed out by the MT trainer were full of errors
and some were her own creations that she used every day! I could not believe it.
I'll bring the dip and the half and half ;)
Full Core means full CPR code.
NM
Glass of wine
I did not mean to start a war. I know the difference between a glass of wine and a "problem with drinking" as my father was an alcoholic as well as ex-husband. And just to let you know the open bottle that I opened Sunday evening for my glass is still in the wine case/holder with one glass missing. I will probably have to throw it out as I usually have one glass and forget that it is there to finish it. Would not make a good alcoholic as I forget to continue to drink -- just my one beer or one glass of wine every couple of weeks. Also, I usually wait until I am very near completion of my work before I "pop" the cork. But again, did not mean to start a war.
Glass of wine
Patti, unfortunately on this board lately, anything can start a war.
Like you, I sometimes start sipping a glass the last 30-60 mins. of my shift - about once a month. Ignore the hostile postings - some of these people read 2 words, take it out of context, and post in response to things that weren't even said.
Personally, I'm glad you posted because I felt a little guilty about sipping an ounce or 2 while working - I grew up in an alcohol-free home, but I certainly saw what alcoholism did to some of my friends' families.
Glass top stove
Have used these since the 70s. Be careful what type of pots you use on these. Never use any pots except the ones that are all metal underneath. The finish can come off the pretty red and blue pots and burn onto the stove. Check the bottom of your pots before you use them. If they have food embedded into the bottom, sometimes this will burn right onto the stove. Use the cleaner for a glass top stove. You can let is soak on the spots with a damp cloth on top of it and then go back and rub some of the soil off, but you have to keep repeating this until gone. The razor is okay under certain circumstances. Someone one stuck a contact paper onto one of mine inadvertently, not realizing the burner was on. Luckily for me I had the razor handy and got at it right away, while the burner was HOT. There's a lot of little tricks to keeping these nice. However, I did have one, a GE smooth-top free-standing range where the finish did actually chip off, which turned out to be a warranty problem. If the stove is new, maybe there's a warranty on it? Good luck. Try to relax and don't drive yourself wacko over it.
Yeah, but full-time lines does not necessarily mean full-time hours, so I would do it if your produc
-
chug a glass of water
X
A glass of wine with typing
A while back there were several messages when someone made a halfway joke about drinking and I never answered but I do have to admit that when I sometimes have to work on Sunday nights or some late evenings I do sip on a glass of wine while typing, not an entire bottle but a glass of wine. Just thought I would not comment on it as several people were shocked that anyone would even consider it. Not all the time but occasionally and in moderation.
That is my Sunday comment.
Glass etching, maybe? see link
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_wood_glass_etching/article/0,1789,HGTV_3348_1383604,00.html
glass cleaning wipes
They are in a plastic tube kinda like the wet wipes but are made for monitors and TVs. Wal-Mart has them.
I do the same thing now and then, have a glass near the end of my work, usually takes me an
I find it relaxes me a little and I type a little faster, but I certainly don't do it on a daily basis, maybe Friday or Saturday night when I am winding down. As for the open bottle, get a vacuum system for it--rubber "cork", then pump the air out of the bottle, it will keep for a LONG time, no more tossing of flat wine. Works great!
screen kind? Glass or trinitron?
Windex or rubbing alcohol on glass :)
I'd like to have a tall glass of eggnog spiked with a shot of rum.
dd
i've got a clear glass L-shaped desk,
and plain buttercup yellow walls (here when I moved in). I'm going to go into business with a family friend painting (faux finishes, murals, etc) so I'm thinking of painting my office with a stone look wall (on the wall with the window) and a mural of some sort (probably italin)on the wall that I face. I will eventually knock that wall down anyway so that it's open to below/looks over the family room so if the mural isn't that great it really won't matter-and if it turns out great- the wall will probably stay
How about grilled fish like salmon? Add a glass of wine and you're all set!
nm
My office has a sliding glass door that I keep open, but it helps me
x
Office lunches come to mind, the whole crew would have a glass of wine
We managed to get through the Friday afternoon following the glass of wine. It's holiday time, birthday time, retirement time. Rare - RARE - occasions. I remember the doctors have a very very slight slur LOL. I probably lost a keystroke or two on my speed. The nurses were happier that usual. The secretaries laughed for a change. It's all good.
Holy Cow, a gallon of Jack Daniels? I had a whole juice glass once sm
and was sick for a week, can't imagine a gallon.
another thought - if you can't see under the water, possibly broken glass, or other sharp objects
which could cut you, and cause infection or tetanus.
Merlot, white zin, chardonnay, sometimes daily 1 wine glass with din-din. Maybe 2 if I am thirsty
No alcoholic tendencies.
I use round glass lids from old Corningware and other glassware for all my pots. Find 'em at yard
s
1 out of 2, 1/2 looks like one-half
what do you do in this situation?
I have it also and they don't have even half sm
when you are doing angios and MRIs.
Could you do half and half - QA/MT?
Some days I think I'd rather do QA - I have carpal tunnel and I could sit in my recliner and QA because I wouldn't have to be pushing a foot pedal all the time and could use hot keys, and it would be a change of pace. But then I have days at a time, if not weeks, where I have the worst dictators. I rarely have blanks, but I do have them, and I think no way do I want to be stuck listening to every horrible dictator, although my company pays by the hour and a good rate, so it would be nice not to have to worry about working 50+ hours/week so I can pay my bills because I don't have a consistent pay check to try to budget with.
Which half?
nm
Hope you're gonna have a glass of wine while you're relaxing
in your spa goodies. Congrats!
they get half pay for retirement too!
Bus drivers are making $63,0000 and that is with no education. you can be a hs dropout or a foreigner. I hate NY and glad I left.
As an IC half-time I still use believe it or not...
I loved WP5.1 from the getgo....and still love it and all my private MDs are fine with it - they merely convert the floppy diskette over to whatever program they use. No complaints SO FAR and it's been TEN YEARS!!!! *lol*
Six of one/half dozen of the other
I have had both over the years (have bought my own insurance since 1989). Neither gave me any grief. Blue Cross was eventually cheaper for me than Mutual of Omaha. The downside to Blue Cross is that if you move out of the area where you bought Blue Cross, say you have Blue Cross of Illinois and want to move to Georgia, you cannot take Blue Cross of Illinois with you, and just because Blue Cross of Illinois accepted you does not mean that the Blue Cross plan in Georgia will accept you when you apply. With Mutual of Omaha, you would not have this problem.
Already checked half.com and they don't have any at all, e-bay only had
edition one cheap, edition 2 more expensive than any other place I've seen.
Yep..try half.com or eBay for used ones. nm
s
I write off half my DSL
I am sure I use it more like 3/4 time for work, but half to be safe. Tax Cut, from H&R Block, goes through the deductions with you and it is simple.
About an hour and a half if I sit still...
It also depends on how many screens to maneuver before you can type which takes time in between.
I transcribed a 70 min file in an hour and a half the other night but it was one long letter.
It all depends I guess.
half a brain...
Again... I am not trying to win any friends or make any enemies. If you are happy and have no complaints, that is wonderful. I was observing and making comments. Half a brain was not meant as a cut to anyone, simply a figure of speech.
I work a full time and a part time, but not sure about 2 full-time...
My hubbie is disabled and I am the only one in my family working also, so I fully understand. You will not have a day off at all working 2 full-time as that is going to be the only way you will get in all your hours. I work one job in the mornings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the other from 5 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and do have off one day a week, but if I had to get in the extra 15 hours to make the other job full-time I am not sure how I would do that other than lose my only day off. Also, make sure you have your account specifics in front of you at all times because you will get yourself confused as to who is what and having notes will help in that area. Good luck to you, as it is possible, but forget about your house being clean, having any social life, etc. Feel free to email me personally if you just need someone to talk to, as I have been where you are and still am.
half year mark
My small MTSO is at 22,500 and my part-time job in a clinic is $6200. So should do well this year.
Not sure how to type a liter and a half. Help please sm
The patient was given a liter and ½ of fluid.
Withholding half your check
I, too, think you should check with an attorney. I see no reason why wording like that would even be included in an IC contract, but if it is, you may not have a legal leg to stand on.
Give your notice, work it, problem solved.
If you bought it new go for half of what you paid or it - sm
If you bought it used then try to get back what you paid for it unless it is not in good shape. If you don't remember what you paid for it, look it up on the internet what it sells for now so you can get an idea what the value is.
Have you thought about trying Half.com or Ebay? I
started with Half.com and just cleared out a bunch of books, videos, etc. They don't charge a listing fee - just a percentage when you sell your items. They stay listed indefinitely, too. From there I went to Ebay. There's a little to learn, but I've done pretty well with that, too. Just an idea. It works pretty good for me.
My husband remodeled half of ...
our basement about 7-8 years ago and made it the family room. Then it became the room that the kids used for their playstation. After awhile, nobody used it for anything anymore. So I cleaned it out when I started working and just this spring I painted it and added my own touches, such as the Beatle's posters that no one else wants to look at. I also added a small TV and DVD player and bookshelf, so I basically have my OWN space, which is cool. I am also treasurer of our church, so I have all that stuff there as well - check book, books, records, etc. It's not a big room, but it's mine and it's my favorite room in the house.
Just half-cent thoughts...
I know this is too long, but wanted to give you a few tips. Sounds like you're one of those employees of medical offices (and many, many types of offices) that isn't set up on clear job descriptions for the workers--and then stick to it. Not all practice managers really know how to run an office efficiently. You have lots of issues here, but just for me curiously, why on earth would you invest in your own equipment (unless you really wanted it anyway) and still be considered an "employee." Do you have other work where you can write off your expenses? In our city (and in many organizations, many MTSOs) there is a hospital that has home workers, but they bring the hospital equipment to the MT's home for them to use. That's how they get to tell you how and when to work. I've worked in offices most of my adult life where people grumble out of habit all the time. You may not be that kind of person, and you may be grumbling in vain or just burned out. It's sad but true that many offices don't have the luxury of being managed properly, nor does anyone have personal knowlege of knowing how to set up a bona fide transcription department. Maybe that's where you could make some changes. Make yourself a "department" not just an employee. Take the lead and define yourself. It's called intrapreneurship--you create your own little venture as an employee but see yourself yourself a "small business owner" in your own mind. You could make up a plan to present a better work option to your employers based on research and projected outcome that this change may benefit all involved. Personally, I don't think you'll get anywhere by taking the defensive line here (though you have set a precedent). However, agression and resistance won't work either. You have to "create" your spot and show how it will profit the greater good proactively. And if you're getting insurance benefits for this home/office pattern you are requested do to keep your job, lady, count your MT blessings. Also, I'll bet many MTs working at home probably wouldn't mind having to "go into the office" on some days. Sure beats the isolation and might make you feel more connected to the real world. Best of luck to you.
500K...as in half a mill???
Geez, luckeee...I'm jealous . Congrats though!
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