Why Do You Have To Answer Your Own Posts?
Posted By: Because no-one else is backing you up? on 2009-02-24
In Reply to: Laughing - you are soooo right - love it....
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Answer to all recent posts . . . sm . . . and my own summarization of reasons as to the first post -
To the poster accusing me of lying (SEE MESSAGE):
I am not. However, I have to mention that I have been working at least 20 hours of OT a pay period. My end amount for the month before taxes is about $2200 (give or take a few hundred depending on how much OT I can work).
Thus, I take home from that about $850 per pay check. That is $1700 a month of take home pay. Like I said in my first post, my husband is able to bring home some money. So with his help, our monthly income is about $1900 after taxes and benefits.
Below is the list of our expenses in a month. Obviously, we are not living comfortably and are pinching ever penny we have, but we are still making it.
House - $1350/mo
Phone Bill - $80/mo
Electric - $125/mo
Heat - $110/mo
Diapers - $40/mo
Gas - $50/mo
Food - $140/mo
Total - $1895/mo
I know the food amount seems low, but we grew all our own vegetables during the summer and have a connection with relatives on farms for eggs, chicken, and beef. We have made an effort to keep our bills as low as possible.
Next poster (My Take):
Yes, $11.50/hr is very low. However, if I were to go outside the home with my education, I wouldn't be able to find a job at more than maybe $16.00/hr. Yes that is quite a bit more than $11.50/hr, however, that does not include the $$$ that I would be having to pay to put my son into day care and does not include the $$$ that I would be spending on gas (would have to travel about 100 miles a day to find a job that pays that much). All that added up, ends up making my horrible pay of $11.50/hr equal to or greater than the $16.00/hr pay. I do not consider myself to be working for peanuts. I could make more if I wanted, but I chose to have family benefits, an employee status, and produce work that I can be proud of (not that I am saying those of you making more money than I aren't producing good work, I just know if I rush too much, I tend to miss things that I wouldn't had I slowed down and took my time). In the position I am at right now, I can easily make $24/hr, but because I tend to make more mistakes at this pace, I choose to slow down and send out great work. I wouldn't want my medical record to be incorrect. I completely understand that there aren't many, who would like to be in my situation, I am just trying to show people that you actually can live off of lower pay, whether you want to admit it or not. I do know that where you live makes a big difference, but if I have to chose between a roof over my family's head and food on the table versus living in a certain area, you better believe I will chose my family.
Next Poster (Hawaii MT):
Hawaii is a much more expensive place to live. I don't think I could be an MT and live there due to that fact. However, I wouldn't put myself in that situation. Your post is correct, I don't think you could live off of $11.50/hr down there, which is why if that was all I was bringing in, I would have to move. Better to be miserable and support my family than be happy but not have a house or food to eat. IMHO. In regards to clothes, I am lucky because I have my sister, who gives me the stuff she doesn't want any more. I haven't bought one article of clothing for myself in 5 years now. In reference to your next post about moving and then moving back, that is was your decision to put yourself in that situation of living in a more expensive area. Thus if you aren't making enough to survive, isn't it your fault then? Why complain about the industry? Granted, I am not sure if you are one to be complaining, but just my thoughts.
Next Poster (MTT):
I never said I was doing well off of $11.50/hr. In fact, I am not doing well at all, just getting buy, but I am able to make it, so that is why I am happy. I can't believe you make almost as much as a nurse. You must be awesome. Nurses in my area make $35/hr minimum. I do, however, agree that the lack of pay raises in this industry is frustrating. The more experience I have, the less my pay seems to be. I went from making almost $14/hr with a local hospital to $11.50/hr with an MTSO, but didn't have a choice, so made it work.
Next Poster (MT):
I know you can't live in California or New York on my wages. However, if I were living in those areas and making what I make, I would be working 2 to 3 jobs if I felt I absolutely had to continue to live in those areas. I doubt I would do that though. I would much rather live a more comfortable lifestyle somewhere that is less expensive.
Next Poster (thought about moving?):
My thoughts exactly. For those complaining about their wages and the cost of living being so much, I don't understand why they complain, when there are other options. JMHO.
Next Poster (50 miles inland):
Florida is cheaper than California, as well as a lot of the southern and east coasts.
Next Poster (income):
My rent went from $500/mo 3 years ago to $1350/mo once I bought a house. This was my choice, but I know what it is like to feel a shock from rising payments. I have adjusted to this though, and actually since our payments have gone up, our income has gone down by over half of what it used to be. Not much fun, but the whole point of my original post was to let people know that it still can be done, just that sometimes drastic measures have to be taken. I don't know of many who can get their income to go up, so instead of complaining about how low it is all the time, why not do something about the extra expenses you do have?
Next Poster (I would be happy at $25/hr too):
If you can't afford to live off of what you are making and you live in a high cost area, then what I meant by reevaluate your lifestyle might actually be that if you want to continue as an MT because of all the other perks, you might have to sacrifice and move so that you can afford to live while working as an MT. That would be one way of reevaluating if you can't afford to live like you currently are on your pay. Personally, I wouldn't be moving. I would be finding a different job or getting more jobs. I like where I live.
The basic point of my post is that there is no point in complaining about how "little you make". If you don't make enough money to "survive", then you should be looking at either a new job, another job, or finding a place where you can "survive" off of what you currently make. There is no point in coming on these boards to complain about your "horrible pay or no raises" when you are making twice as much as a lot of people. Besdies with the economy right now, anyone with a job doesn't even have a right to complain IMHO. I know too many people laid off right now, who are struggling to keep their house. So to see people complaining about what they make when they have a job is not fair.
My whole point of my original post had nothing to do with how much I make (trust me, I am not proud of it, but it does pay the bills, so I am grateful for that). It had to do with the fact that you should be happy you have a job.
To those of you that said I was happy making $11.50/hr, the reason I am "happy" is because I can support my family. I don't like the amount and think it is quite low, but I am so happy right now just to have a job it isn't even funny. This is why I am happy with my $11.50/hr. Seriously, with the way the economy is, I would be happy as a peaches pie just to be making anything over minimum wage.
Also, I like being an MT and being able to work from home and be with my family. I think the fact that I am able to be home with my family everyday is well worth my lack in pay.
I do understand that we aren't getting paid what we should be and that the wages are continuing to go down, but that is happening everywhere. Just be happy you have a job. Seriously.
Any more comments . . . I am just trying to make those who are complaining realize how lucky they actually are to have a job and to be making as much as they do.
Just do a search and read the posts. There are plenty of posts about OSI on this board. nm.
nm.
A simple google search will give you your answer...I'd give you the answer,
but how would that help you learn to research on your own...and I'm in a rush to get to the next post. 
Um have you read any of your posts and the other posts? I think everyone DOES believe me..you
There has been a lot of posts about them
over the past couple of months, few good. If searching with TRS isn't bringing up anything, search using the full name.
regarding most of the posts below
I just have to say that "redneck grit", I think is how one poster described it, does not only live in trailer parks! I know, for a fact, a used-to-be-nice neighborhood full of new homes--houses--where there are a bunch of rednecks. I'd rather live in a nice trailer park than in that neighborhood full of houses. Regardless of where or what you live in, there is always gonna be the not-so-desirables in the neighborhood-regardless! And most of the time, they live right on the main road or right at the entrance..go figure! 
not ALL posts are MQ...this is not..I am not..
you are just a slammer to slam...maybe YOU are the MQ person and that is why you are so mean and slam...afterall...not every post on this board is for or about or beause of MQ there are lots of other companies out there..good and bad
To below posts about MT pay and such
Just wanted to say my piece. Sure an MT can make money at 7.5 cpl. Sure many MTs can type 14,000 lines in a week and bring home 4K or more a month. SURE. The point is, however, WHY should we have to work that much? If we are not newbies and have all this experience under our belts, and not to mention a high standard of quality, WHY should we have to take a job paying 7.5 cpl? WHY. Am I not worth more than the MT who has just graduated from school? Yes! WHY should I not make more money? So, the attitude of most MTs these days is simply because we are not valued for the experience and quality that we bring to our companies.
You can't please everyone, don't let the posts get to you....
Most of us here are happy.
MAP - are you on AIM?
Thanks, everyone, for your posts. I just
don't know what to do, and I probably should just wait til the holidays are over before making a decision. Yes, I wish MTs would understand that we HAVE to mark their errors. We get QA'd, too, down the line in the food chain! I honestly don't ever mark the small stuff - that's depressing to me, too. Just an endless blurb of really horrible quality work - major errors, and not blanks! And yet I'm supposed to not stop and "really proof the work - just the blanks and push it thru. Its horrible. Occasionally I get some nice work, and I have faith again in the MTs, but more often its pure garbage, and American garbage, I might add. Not trying to start anything, but I seriously wish the quality of MTs in the USA could pick up a bit. Not to mention the attitude of some - not all - some newer MTs - they are vicious when you try to mentor. So there is no mentoring - just fix the work for them and push it thru. Drugs spelled phonetically, wrong body parts, you name it! Oh well. I think I have left myself no choice but to transcribe again! I miss it so! And it really doesn't save on the arms, as 1 poster felt. I am using the foot pedal and keyboard just as much, but all sporadically, not a smooth flow of typing. Its not all that great a job, that's for sure. Oh well Thanks, my fellow MTs!
Old posts say bad. nm
s
your posts
The above poster was correct - you could have and IMO should have just not posted. When there is a post about something I'm not interested in, I just skip it.
But people like you have to be nasty and spread your venom everywhere. What about a little common courtesy and just leave the Soprano fans alone?
OMG - Best 2 posts on here EVER!!
LOL
following posts
Is there a way to be notified by email when further posts are added to topics we have responded to?
Thanks EVERYONE for your posts! I
really appreciate it. Guess I have a lot of soul-searching and financial planning to do this weekend!! Now, if only I was off...
posts
They were replying to posts from quite a while back and just seemed to be stirring up trouble, for example the post with subject of "BLINDED".
Most of the posts are ... sm
because people don't have work. I wonder if you should switch jobs. What if you didn't have any work at all and could not feed your sick child (grandchild), whatever... It is a shame you can't work for a company that allows you flexible hours and can understand that you need a day off, too. Next time, make your coworker do the electives on holidays. JMO Cheer up!!!!
Cannot believe these posts
A post like yours reenforces people's attitudes about MTs not being a professional job. It is a JOB. It is not something you do so you can stay at home and do housework, take care of the children, tea etc. I wish each and every 1 of you who wrote posts like this would have to drive back and forth to your job, have a supervisor hanging around, make sure you dress appropriately and play the game of office politics. You might learn then to grow up some. My gosh!!!! From in the 70s until 1992 I worked out of the house and learned good skills and work ethics. I never have a problem then nor do I now keeping myself on a schedule. It is supposed to be a job, remember????
Thanks for all your posts...
Just to clarify, this is straight transcribing, no VR. I've been with the company only a week now and have not actually started doing "live" jobs, still in training and getting used to the program which is MedRite XL. I was previously with MQ using DocQScribe which I found EXTREMELY easy, pretty straight forward typing. Hadn't been on ASR there yet either as I left before the required training. MRXL seems to be a bit more complicated, but then again I've been on the system for only a few days and am still learning. As with anything, practice makes perfect!
I am not required to use the function keys and I have not been threatened if I do use the mouse. My trainer highly suggests I use the function keys instead of the mouse as she says it will increase my speed and my productivity. That may be so, but I still feel much more comfortable with the mouse and I usually produce 200-250 lph. There again, I could probably do more lph but I don't use Expanders a whole heck of a lot. I know if I could get comfortable with the function keys and expanders my productivity would probably increase dramatically, but I am of the mindset I don't want to take the time for a learning curve. I just want to sign on and start transcribing according to my comfort level. I know I could constantly look at my cheat sheet, but then that would slow me down at first and I would probably get very frustrated. Maybe if I could think in terms of what type of command the CTRL key does, what type of command the shift key does, what type of command the ALT key does, that might help. But there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to what key does what and it seems to be just all memorizing, which at my age is kind of hard to do. Have too many other things swimming around in my head! Anyway, I just wanted to get an idea of how many MTs use the function keys vs the mouse, and if I was still back in the dinosaur age. Thank you all
Look about 3-4 posts below yours at the -sm
person asking for ortho sites. The reply has a web address that is pretty awesome. May help you-can never have too many reference sites. Good luck.
where's my posts???
Posted twice in the last 24 hours...but none of them are showing up!!!
Thank you both for the posts so much!
I appreciate your input because I also was feeling paranoid...it is kind of an awkward thing to talk about as was mentioned because you do not want to seem like you are complaining to get the easier work, but why does it get taken away when you get used to it, plan somewhat on how much you think you are going to make, and get into a real rhythm and do a great job with no errors.
I was hoping I was not the only one yet am also sad to see I am not also because it must be a deliberate practice.
It really is a dilemma because you do not know if you should or could speak up, whether it would change anything or not, or like I have had happen - as soon as I mentioned it my fate was sealed the last 2 jobs.
Again, I thank you for sharing, and if any consolation we are not alone anyway...
If you find a way around it, please share!
MT...most of your posts are
rude and heartless. You have your own opinion of course but it is a proven fact that depression is a disease. How can you say to this person....get up, take a shower and get a job. You are not helping this person but probably making it worse for him. Do research before you give such advice on depression. Glad I'm not your friend - you make me depressed with your posts.
two posts from me?
Sorry if there ends up being two...I thought I lost one. It shows in my posts, but not here. ???
many posts on top 3
nm
I'd look at all the posts here of
and then count your lucky stars you're being paid by the hour. If you're getting all this work in without OT than I don't think it would rise to the level of "extra" pay. If you're getting OT, there's your bonus.
From my posts on here I probably don't...sm
seem the best MT. I don't watch things on here. I just vent usually.
I would like to get in to acute care. I did do it for a couple of months with my company, but when the opportunity came for my cinic account back, I jumped on it cause I made more money on the clinic account because it had good dictators and most of the dictators on the acute care were TERRIBLE. They ended up not keeping that acute care account too long anyway for whatever reason.
I do need to get into acute care though. I know that is where the work lies.
Thanks to the posts below
I was going to look into Intant Text myself to see if it would improve my productivity better than AutoCorrect, but it seems to be too much trouble getting started and sounds complicated to use. I find AutoCorrect very easy to use and was up and running with it from day one without any problems.
Does Instant Text automatically expand from a few letters typed like AutoCorrect or do you have to choose from a list every time from a few letters typed?
For the below posts...
I have been searching for info on the laptop question for a while. Would any of you be willing to email me about what kind of setup you have with the laptop? I get so many conflicting views on what you need and don't need. I would love to hear from you about the things you have learned doing this.
Which was exactly what was said in posts above.
nm
exactly. But I have seen posts sm
lately on the word board that had the DTR thing and one that didn't know about rales and wheezes, normal stuff that you learn at the beginning. These people should not be transcribing at home by themselves!
I too prefer my books unless I can get to a Stedmans website for a word check once in awhile. MTs nowadays are not willing to invest what it takes to get going in this business and don't understand that it takes years and years to get the experience needed to be able to do this independently.
Answer
Yes, of course I'm half afraid if I leave him I won't find someone else and half afraid that I will!! I'm old enough and had enough good and bad times with men that I really don't think it would be the end of the world if I lived the rest of my life alone. It's maybe what I would not choose but it might have some positives in the long run. At least that's what I tell myself when I'm feeling good, during the middle of the night is another story....
Break-ups are tough. How do you stay on course. You get lonely, you miss him, you doubt your judgment, you want to try again, you tell yourself maybe you were too hard on him......
I think I should go to a counselor, it's just that it's quite expensive and as I said, I'll be paying for it out of pocket. I think they will tell me pretty much what you have.
It sounds like things have worked out for you. I thank you for your insight and help.
Answer
The payperiod I average 16,000 lines is a bimonthly payperiod. It runs 1st through the 15th and 16th through end of the month. It is WAY more than the minimum requirement. I am EXPECTED (with that employer) to do a minimum of 6000 lines per payperiod but the incentive is just too good to pass up.
See my post below if you want to know more. Or ask me. I'm not hiding anything. I'll tell you straight up what works for me.
Yea.. I used to think that. Now, for me, the answer is, no.
but again, you should go for it. You might love the challenge and have a really great team that will help you not have to roast over the flames. Its always possible!
Godspeed my friend, do it if you want to. It really might be the best thing you ever did! Or not, but either way, you will know for sure!
I can only answer for myself. sm
I never applied for a supervisor's job. When the super quit because of stress I was asked (no begged) to take the job (in the office) until a qualified supervisor could be hired. Time dragged on until I finally had to say either a supervisor was hired in 2 weeks or I would be quitting in two weeks. I never enjoyed being "the boss," don't know why...I just didn't. Another thing.....I abolutely HATE being told lies. I was told by an MT that she couldn't cover her 3rd shift assignment (guess who did cover it) because her grandmother had died...that was the 6th time AFTER I started counting, no telling how many grandmother's she had all told. I guess some people enjoy being the boss for one reason or another.
my first answer is, of course, neither but (sm)
if I HAD to choose, I guess I'd say A...rather give it to some poor children than some rich b****. 
a better answer would have been
leaving off the "jerk" comment, and recommend that people contact the MQ office they are affiliated with to see what that particular office wants them to do.
Anyone doing DQS...please answer this for me.
When I need to enter a NEW HEADING, I type it in, then it brings up a new box that says "type in new heading"...I finish typing it, hit OK or whatever, and it puts the new heading in my report.
BUT...it doesn't KEEP The new heading! ARG! It stays on the drop down list of headings for THAT REPORT ONLY but then when I do a new report, the new heading never shows up.
What am I doing wrong? Help!! 
answer
I don't quite understand what you mean by the style they prefer, I worked there 4+ years, it is either feast or famine, not a very honest bunch. You can make money for short periods of time until they over hire and run the account out of work and make promises to you they won't keep. They don't have very good communication and rarely return calls or emails. Their platform is not too bad, seen better, but easy to use. I would like clarification though by what you mean by the style they prefer?
the answer is
New blood who don't ask for much, job a low line rate and glad to have a job. They don't see that the experienced workers will soon all be gone.
Got my answer!!!
I have been asking for months, "WHERE ARE ALL THE DOCTORS I CAN UNDERSTAND, I CAN'T MAKE MINIMUM LINE COUNT ANY MORE". I do not do ASR but my account is on it and I have been screaming for months that I can't even use my expansions anymore, that I have used for years. They are going to hear from me again. They respond to me like I am crazy, well I know now that they know why!!!
THANKS!!!
Well, what is your answer, I'm
Where did O'Reilly get his stats?
HOUSEHOLD INCOME DOWN, POVERTY UP:
MORE THAN 1 MILLION FELL OF MIDDLE CLASS IN 2004
Before President Bush took office, under Democratic leadership, income was on the rise, jobs were expanding, and the economy was booming. Today, the Census Bureau announced that real household income has decreased in 2004, falling for the fourth consecutive year. Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, household income has declined nearly $1,700. Over 1.1 million people fell out of the middle class into poverty in 2004, an increase of 5.4 million people living in poverty since Bush took office. Despite this, Republicans still have no plan to help struggling middle class families. Democrats are fighting to create jobs and keep good paying jobs here at home.
HOUSEHOLD INCOME DROPPED SINCE BUSH TOOK OFFICE
Household Income Declined by Nearly $1,700 Under Bush. For the second consecutive year, median household income declined: income dropped last year by $93 -- down to $44,389. In real terms, median household income has declined by $1,669 since 2000. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table A-1]
African Americans And Latino Household Incomes Have Declined by More Than $2,000 Under Bush. Real median household income did not increase between 2003 and 2004 for African Americans and Latinos. African American households had the lowest median income, at $30,134--down by $2,273 since Bush took office. Median income for Hispanic households was $34,241 in 2004--down by $2,141 since Bush took office. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table A-1]
Average Earnings by Women Declined by About $330 in Real Dollars During the Past Year. The median earnings of women declined over the past year, from $31,550 to $31,223. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table A-2]
1.1 MILLION PEOPLE FELL OUT OF THE
MIDDLE CLASS AND INTO POVERTY IN 2004
Number of People Living in Poverty Increased by 1.1 Million in 2004. Approximately 1.1 million people fell out of the middle class into poverty in 2004, an increase of 5.4 million people living in poverty since Bush took office in 2001. The poverty rate has increased from 12.5 to 12.7 percent over the past year, increasing for the fourth consecutive year. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table B-1]
Nearly 1 in 5 American Children Lived in Poverty During 2004. 13 million children lived in poverty in 2004, an increase of about 1.4 million since the beginning of the Bush Administration. This comes on the heels of a 730,000 increase in the number of children living in poverty in 2003. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table B-2 ]
Disproportionately High Number of African Americans and Latinos Live in Poverty. Nearly 25 percent of all African Americans (9 million) lived in poverty in 2004, an increase of over 250,000 over the past two years. Nearly 22 percent (9.1 million) of Latinos lived in poverty, an increase of almost 500,000 over the past two years. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table 3]
1.9 Million More Americans Enrolled in Medicaid in 2004. As 1.1 million Americans dropped out of the middle class and into poverty in 2004, the enrollment rate in Medicaid increased from 12.4 percent of the population in 2003 to 12.9 percent in 2004. Without the safety net of Medicaid and SCHIP for people who dropped into poverty, the health insurance numbers would be even worse. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05, page 16 ]
NEARLY 46 MILLION AMERICANS LACK HEALTH INSURANCE: NUMBER OF UNINSURED INCREASED BY SIX MILLION SINCE 2001
Today, the Census Bureau announced that the number of people without health insurance nationwide increased to 45.8 million, the fourth consecutive annual increase. A total of 800,000 Americans became uninsured last year - many because fewer employers offer health insurance to their workers. As a consequence, American families are paying higher and higher health insurance premium - which are expected to double under Bush's tenure by 2006. Yet, Bush and Congressional Republicans lack a real plan to address the problem.
ONE IN 7 AMERICANS LACK HEALTH INSURANCE
Nearly 46 Million Americans Are Uninsured--Increasing for the Fourth Year in a Row. The number of Americans lacking health insurance increased by 800,000 last year--and by 6 million since Bush took office in 2001. Today, a total of 45.8 million people are uninsured--roughly one in seven Americans. [U.S. Census Bureau, 8/30/05; Table HI-4]
Answer
No, I don't work for that office. Mine is out of Baltimore and I have to admit that I have really really liked most of the folks I have had contact with. My current supervisor is wonderful!!! Pretty much always have lots of work available. My only complaint is my secondary account is not so hot (but LOVE my primary) and have never had a raise in 8 years (hmmmph), but other than that I'm quite happy.
We have a cabin up north where DSL is not available, only dial-up, so I work on a laptop and take it with me when we go up there. Very nice.
Answer
Yes, obviously if I am to purchase a home, all the expenses that come with home ownership are coming out of my income alone. I do not pay anything currently except the phone bill, some groceries, ins for car, and gas, and I have lots extra that I spend frivously that obviously needs to stop.
answer to ?
What type of exam, nuclear medicine or US?
My answer
I have heard a doctor say this like "subsonometer" and it is just the way they talk and they mean subcentimeter. This is what I have experienced anyways.
Here is the answer.
Where you have to fill in all of these numbers before you can even start typing.
Answer (SM)
I am not the only Moderator. I'm not sure why your "apology" post was deleted.
If a post is deleted and there are replies attached to it, all are deleted. We cannot stop attached posts from being deleted.
Moderator
Answer me this...
Does your mortgage company - the telephone company - the phone company - the cable company, etc. discount your bill if you pay on time or do they add a late fee if they don't receive your payment on time?
I don't agree you should reward a company to do something they should normally do - something that's considered a basic in good business - paying on time. 
Answer (SM)
It will be best if you e-mail the Administrator directly; she can help you with the chat problem. Her e-mail is admin@mtstars.com.
Moderator
Answer...
These earphones do reduce a lot of the noise and seem to bring the doc's voice into focus. They'd be worth a shot I bet. I paid $50 at Transcription Gear. They have a 30 day money back guarantee. Good luck!
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