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Yes, I lost a client because they decided to go with them.

Posted By: No notice, just we're done with you. nm on 2007-08-25
In Reply to: Anyone ever heard of WebChartMD - Terry

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I lost a big client and a new one to EMR
My own doctor hired me after losing my account to EMR. I sat around for two months waiting for him to start only to be told on an office visit that he too has gone EMR. Good luck.
Lost another client - so distraught!

I'm so distraught I've been in tears since yesterday morning when I learned a client of mine for eight years will no longer be needing my services as he's going to EMR. 


He's a one-man practice - orthopaedic surgeon - who's VERY busy between seeing back-to-back patients, performing surgeries, head of a hospital, and running around to meetings in his spare time.  I just don't see how he's going to have time to do all of this!


Do you think this point and click EMR thing is REALLY going to work?  Does it do IME's, too?  How can it possibly include all of the patient's info in a transcript??


Can anyone give me advice, words of wisdom or anything?  I'm just plain distraught.  Do you think EMR is really going to take over this profession and make us all dinosaurs or do you think there's a real need still for MTs?


Thank you for any info/comfort you can give me  I'll be checking the board hourly for responses.  Please let me hear from you - the good and the bad and anything else you'd like to throw in.


Signed, a totally distraught MT IC in NC.  


I was hit by all 3 that summer, I lost power, I lost work, I lost savings...but..sm
NEVER did my employer in any way imply or threaten or dare even mention that my job was in jeopardy because I could not work immediately following a trifecta of natural disasters! My jaw agape is not at your concern about working, but at your concern that you would lose your job because of it. Companies have to have a heart in some situations. You're one MT, your company won't go under without you working for a week or 2 or 3.
I recently lost 20 pounds. That means I lost 80 sticks of butter.

I doubt your brother has won more than he's lost. To win that much he's probably lost 3 times
So he probably has more bills than money. Otherwise the casinos would go broke.
I once decided to not go with a Co due to
The recruiter simply said she was the team leader, that there were two others, one which was leaving and the other that she "did not like and hoped that she would leave, too" and that made a shuddering sound.

I thought this was in bad taste and did not have a good feeling about her. But, I certainly never reported her. It isn't my job and I am not a watchdog group looking out for the companies who hire MTs.

I just think you have way too much time on your hands.
well, so far i have decided...

to just keep pursuing ideas and options until I hit a dead end.  A very nice MT did email me and told me how she got into mentoring.  She seemed to really have a handle on it. 


It seems that I would need my own accounts and then subcontract the work to newbies.  I just cannot seem to figure out how I would have the time to provide service to a client AND mentor someone just out of school.


Thank you for your input.  It does seem that newbies should have a better option that just "luck" when trying to gain experience.


I decided to let her go...sm
to the funeral and I'm glad that I did. She handled it extremely well and I am very proud of her. They had an open casket and she decided against going up to view the body. When it was over we talked again and she asked several questions. She seemed more concerned about how to treat her friend now that she had gone through this, than the actual funeral itself. Her friend went back to school yesterday and my daughter said that she simply started by giving her hug and telling the little girl that she was so glad that she was her friend.

That was actually the second time that she had shown more concern with ones left behind that whoever had died. In her only other encounter with death she had done something similar. When she was in 1st grade one of our dogs came down w/acute kidney failure. She got to the point where there was nothing the vet could do and we made the decision to put her to sleep. I went and got my daughter out of school and ran her up to the vet so she could say goodbye to the dog, which she did. We ran her home and then went back and stayed with the dog while they put her to sleep. We also own the mother of the dog that died. When my husband and I got back from the vet a while later we found my daughter in the backyard with the other dog. She was on the grass holding the mama dog and letting her lick my daughters face and hands. When we asked her what she was doing, she said that she was letting mama dog say goodbye to the dog we had just put to sleep. She knew that our older dog could smell Molly on her hands and clothes from her petting the sick dog and giving her hugs at the vet.

I am very, very proud of her.
My account has decided to go with EMR. please sm

I charge them 12 cpgl and have for 8 years.  They are still going to need me through their transition (who knows how long) and will need me for overflow to type letters, narratives etc. 


 


I am wondering if anyone has had an experience like this and how they would do their contract.  Im thinking of charging them 1-2 cpl higher, but with a shorter Turn Around Time for the overflow work since I am losing the majority of the work. Any opinions or suggestions?  Thanks so much!


Just for fun, I decided to sit down and try to remember... SM

how many services I have worked for since I started working from home back in the mid 90s.  And the grand total is 16!  Isn't that just sad?  Of course, I left for various reasons from no work, bad dictators, late or no pay checks, laid off because work went to India, etc.


I've realized over the years that it's best to work for yourself and if you have to work for somebody else, work directly for the hospital or doctor's office.  Benefits are way more affordable that way.  I have a dermatology account of my own and I work full-time for a hospital for the benefits.  I also cover for a friend of mine when she needs time off, I take over her account and she does the same for me.


It's a really sad statement when it seems not one MT has ever found satisfying work with at least one of the many services out there!


I do QA also and I've decided
not to change capitalization anymore - just for that reason.  It explains it in the BOS but still confusing to me.  I feel badly now for the times I did change knowing it could have been scored against the MT - not sure my company does that tho.  Interested to see what others say here.  Good question!
I have decided not to test for them...sm
I googled "transrx in Canada" and it has a website with a forum from Canada called Canscribe and someone was asking about them and it says they don't pay on time. That is enough for me to say forget it.
You know, you are correct... I have decided
I am not going to have any part of working for a company which is not 100% USA. I was wavering about going elsewhere for a job, but I have a great job right here with one of the best medium MTSOs and why get an IC job which operates overseas just for extra money. I think that we need to keep the money and labor here in our industry. Thanks for your input, it really did help. :)
Okay, I decided to try mobile

wireless internet through Verizon.  I currently have a Verizon cell and have no problem with reception in my home, so I'm hoping this is a go.  I also have a 30-day trial period, so I'll know for sure if I have any glitches. 


What I don't understand is this lingo about voice files, etc.  I'm on the Bayscribe platform, so any info would be greatly appreciated.  Please "dumb it down" for me, as I am not a PC person.  The lady that signed me up told me that the limit is 5 GB and that that generally means about 35,000 web pages a month.  How does this correlate to voice files?  Do I even use voice files on Bayscribe?  I'm assuming so since I have an audio player. 


At least I know if this doesn't work out, I can cancel and not lose anything.  Then I'll have to sign up for satellite, which is about $300 upfront and $60 to $90 per month for service.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Verizon will work for me.


Thanks for any info.


I've already decided to quit.
I'm just waiting for the phone call to tell me what my MT/ME reward plan will be. Then I will tell them to take a flip flying hike.

I can't handle my base pay being lowered to 7 cents per line for ASR reports.
We decided to simplify! We ditched

the new cars and trucks and ditched the big,expensive house in the burbs.  We bought a little place in the woods (1000 square feet - only two of us) and have it paid off now - pretty easy since it was only about 40K when we bought it.  We live on a canal with access to a big river and have all kinds of wildlife.  Matter of fact, I just chased a big raccoon away from my birdfeeder!  I drive a 22-year-old Mercedes and my husband drives a 10-year-old PU truck. We don't totally live like the Waltons - have DSL, DirecTV with Tivo, etc. - but by simplifying we have so much less stress.  We don't have kids at home any more so that definitely makes it easier.  


 It just got so old toiling and toiling just to pay for expensive "STUFF".   Just a thought - It's probably not for everybody, but it sure works for me.


Thanks for the suggestions, I've decided on....sm
ordering a couples massage (waiting to hear back from our honeymoon destination on setting that up) and found on line a really neat engravable key chain that let me put the title of the song I wrote for him for our wedding on it as well as a bride and groom monogram.
Yes, absolutely. My sister and I have already decided we
were going to take them in, a few months at her house, a few at mine. Our Dad is retired and our Mom will retire in two years from nursing.

I do have one other sibling, a brother, but he's knee-deep in debt and is already taking care of his in-laws so he probably can't help much.
I had one who decided lunch time ....sm
would be a good time to dictate.  Opening wrappers, eating, drinking, etc.  I was so repulsed by the eating sounds, I was ready to give them up.  I called my contact person about 3 x and asked her  to ask him to stop.  Finally, I called the manager.  When she approached him about it, HE DENIED IT!!!  Said he didn't eat while dictating.  Of course, she believed him and was dumbfounded at what I could be hearing!  I told her I knew what I was hearing and  it had to stop.  Anyone who has ever heard that sound while transcribing KNOWS they are eating.  What a jerk.  Interestingly, the eating stopped, and I still have the account.
The BOS is just a bunch of "rules" decided on
x
Because BOS are rules decided on by ladies
x
I've already decided on Obama ----- sm
His opponents and detractors keep saying he's "inexperienced". Yeah, and look what "experienced" politicians have brought to the table in the last few decades.

New ideas are good.
Youth is good.

I think it's time for a new way of doing things in this country, not the same ol'. It's a new world, with new problems (such as the plight of American MTs and other workers), and maybe he'll bring some relief (or at least some new ideas on how to get it) for the dwindling middle class, which has been carrying the weight and finances of this country on its shoulders for too many years.

Time to stop letting our country get s*****d by India, Mexico, Asia, and others. And I think he has the ability to say "no" to these countries without starting a war with them.

Sometimes "inexperience" is a refreshing change.

I decided to stop working two MT jobs and just keep the one - sm
but I work at another job totally unrelated to the medical field. I was getting too burnt out doing transcription and the taxes were killing me.
I have decided to quit my job. I hate this company.
It's worse than ANYWHERE I have ever worked before.  The problem is that I don't have another job yet.  However, I know I can easily find another job.  I just don't know if I should hang on to do the responsible thing and find another job first. ~ OR ~ If I should take some time off for Christmas with the kids instead of busting my chops for this company when I know I'm not going to stay anyway.  I wonder if they give Christmas presents or bonuses.  LOL  I can take my $7 an hour from their lousy ESLs and crummy platform and go buy lottery tickets and a bottle of cheap wine!  Hooey!  McDonald's, here I come!!!!
Was gonna post, then decided not to. Opened
my door, went outside to water my petunias. Went to turn on the water and uncoil the black hose, and there was A HUGE SNAKE COILED IN WITH THE HOSE!! AGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! It did not move - it had a fly walking on its back, and I PRAISED THE LORD THAT IT WAS DEAD!! DEAD SNAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not as bad as a living snake. As I was going to poke it with a stick to fling it, my daughter screamed - ITS NOT DEAD!!!! ITS JUST SUN BATHING.  I looked and looked, and it sure looked dead. IT WAS NOT.................................. It was about 3 feet long, which will probably morph into 8 feet by the end of the week as I tell my tale!! It was HORRIBLE. I live in NJ, and moved to a new area a few years back. Never saw a snake, a tick, or a black widow spider in my LIFE. Now they are everywhere. I laughed at the posts to call animal control. If you live in an area with snakes and the like, they LAUGH at you. Believe me, I know. I actually called the POLICE when I found my first bonafide black widow spider guarding her nest. She ATTACKED US!! They are actually aggressive when by an egg sac. Turns out they are everywhere in this 1 section of NJ - brought in via immigrants, per the Health Dept. So, I feel your pain!!  I wouldn't kill them either. Killed a 2 foot rat about a year ago, and still feel bad. The thing lived under my fridge.  HORRIBLE. One night the thing ate a 12 pack of English Muffins. Anyhoooooooooooooooooooooooooo....I can relate!! My only advice - RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My DH has decided to become a Pampered Chef demonstrator.

Does anyone have any info on this?  Is it a good way to make some extra money?  I said NO, he decided to do it anyway.


That's one of the reasons I decided to give up my IC status
and become an employee. There's no way I'd work when I'm on vacation. When I'm on vacation that last thing I think about and would want to do is work. I know that IC status does have advantages, but for me the disadvantages outweigh them. Good luck with whatever you decide.
I think it is decided, and you can kiss this account goodbye. I would present the sm
finished work, along with a bill, and when you expect payment.

Meanwhile, get real busy looking for something else to make it up.
I was teaching, and Katrina hit, and I decided I needed a job that could move with me if need be.
I have a friend who was an MT (actually, she and 2 of her sisters are MTs). When I asked her what she did, it was like a light going off in my mind--it sounded really interesting, since I loved typing and grammar and had good ears (I thought). When Katrina hit, I took time during our enforced semester off to take an online course, loved it, and began working as an MT. I discovered quickly that having good musical ears is not the same thing as having good MT ears!

What I love about MT work is that it is so interesting. I get to learn every day without having to actually be there to see/smell/hear. I am fascinated by the human machine and enjoy learning about it in detail.

Eventually, I'd like to move into a mentoring/teaching position with young or new MTs, but I need more years of experience before that happens. I totally admire those of you who have been doing this for a long time-- you guys have amazing ears and I'm always impressed by the knowledge you have picked up by working! That's what I aspire to, as well.

I decided I did not want to be a file clerk for the rest of my life.....
I was hired in a 5 doc urology practice as a file clerk. And we all know that the file room is a toxic waste dump from people who have no idea what to do with whatever piece of paper they have. After working in the file room, the docs asked me if I would help out the other transcriptionist. (She was the only one at the time). Since I KNEW I wasn't cut out to be a file clerk, I said sure. So I filed part time, helped with transcription overload. We got a new peds urologist fresh from a Fellowship at Mayo Clinic so he was a really wordy type.

Long story short, he was so busy I was out of the file room for good, typing just for him as he saw lots of kids, and loving every minute of it. He moved to Arizona in the early 2000's, called me in 2006, and the rest, as they say, is history. He is still a peds urologist and I am still working for him. Everything is done over the Internet. No paper anywhere except what his office prints out.

He is one of the reasons I LOVE MY JOB.
My puppies have decided a fun place to play is on my foot pedal. sm
The bring one Nylabone in particular, shaped like a wishbone, and chew on it under my feet.  The more I shoo them, the more they come back.  Negative attention. 
The national I worked for refused to pay mine when I decided to move on for better pay.
Hope it works out for you!
I guess Ms. Flip decided not answer my question. I am sure MedQuist would love to have...sm.
many more MTs with such an attitude.
We have decided to add this to our current service not have a new service. It will be easier to sm

keep track of and will just be a different department. 


It looks like we will work out details over the next 6 months, talking with community college program directors as well as a few of the distance-learning course leaders to work on the recruiting end.


We will train current staff to mentor if they would like to do so and want to work in the office.


We are still working on production requirements, goals to set, pay, benefits and other fine details but we have 6 months to get it all in place with three months to pull it together after that with a tentative start date of 09/01/06.  We need to build the building as well, although that is already at the blueprint stage in a spot next to our current office. 


We did not want to cause flames and bashing by listing the company name as there are always so many negative people on this site, but we are national with over 200 transcriptionists, located outside of Chicago (40 miles west) and have the best team of transcriptionists around!


We will have an "official" announcement after the first of the new year. 


Thank you for all of your feedback and suggestions!


FTP Client
I still don't know what an FTP client is that was asked in the original question? 
the client always wants a little something...sm
The client always wants a little something for nothing.....so I give them a free line if there is only one word on the line...I give them a 68-72 character line (spaces I do count).  I have never upped them in 9 years, but on my 10th anniversary I am upping them to 13 CPL.  I also give them their 5 line headings for nothing as it's only 2 Keystrokes for me.  They are good to me so I bake for the offices a couple of times a year and give the offices a gift during the winter holidays. 
I do for one client

One of my clients requested that I charge this way.  We do 10 words = 1 line, so basically a penny per word.  From what I have figured, I'm doing okay when compared to the character count way of charging on this account.  I think they requested charges calculated this way because of being ripped off by their last MT.  Once I send their files, they can check the word count and keep a running tab to compare with my statement.  They're satisfied and I'm satisfied, so it works well. 


Have your client do it. SM
Call the office of your client and have them fax/e-mail to you samples of their prior surgeries.  There's certainly nothing wrong with asking for this.
the client does not have to have it-- sm
The client can unzip using WinZip or whatever program they have installed, but MP Tools is so easy, some clients may want to use it. I have a couple who are interested in purchasing it just for the printing function, which works really well.
I had a client ask me to look
They provided a patient list for the date of service, but if the patient was not on there, then I had to view on-line the past week of patient lists to look for the name.  Yeah right - that took 15 or 20 minutes sometimes uploading and viewing.  So now, they get an inaccurate spelling of the patient name with a comment when I send there report, pt. not on list.  Hello?  Like the low wage isn't bad enough, and then add in that kind of junk.  It is pathetic. 
What the client says is law, if that is what they want, then
that is what they expect and they have the right to tell an MTSO who can and cannot work on their accounts.
Even with this, the client is always
BOS is a style guide, which I do not own.  However, I aim to please the client.  So, if the doctor wants to spell something his own way, then so be it.  He went to medical school, not me!  A book of style means absolutely nothing to a client who wants things a certain way.  End of story. 
It is just according to what the client
wants. Most do I would think, but some want them in a paragraph form and not captialized. Need to check with your supervisor or client.
Oh my! Do you have your own client? sm
I don't know of any MTSOs who pay 13 cpl. If you found one please share.
I'm not sure, but if the client does not
get a cut for using ASR, they why would they care whether their physicians use it or not????

We would be a lot more valued if they all thought ASR was as good as originally touted and had no editors to fix the darn reports it spits out.
First off..there is no way the client is getting a
And ASR is NO WAY 3 times faster...that will never happen. Most transcriptionists type the speed of the dictator to begin with. ASR could be a great tool for those of us needing a break from transcription, but it does not warrant ripping off our cpl's..ESPECIALLY when the client is charged the same...the have NO WAY of knowing whether the report is goes to ASR or not. Lastly, an ASR Editor needs YEARS of transcription experience, becuase to insure a correct report
It would be according to what the client
wants. We just type the numbers if they are dictated that way.
Unless specified by the client, I only
expand in diagnoses, procedures, impression, etc. I always type what they say when it comes to drugs, you don't change things like two a day to b.i.d. unless directed to do so by the client specifically. Also, on my client we are not allowed to use slang, so if they say "sat" we expand to saturation, bili is changed to bilirubin etc. A good MT never takes it upon herself to change something that is dictated UNLESS they are specified to in certain instances by the client or it something is wrong--then if it is changed you flag it for your QA.
I think relistening to a certain client until you
are very used to them is a good idea. Just put it on high speed and go over it. That won't take near as much time. I am QA and I can most certainly tell the difference between those who relisten or at least reread and those who do not.
never a client from a national, but...sm

A client approached me AFTER both HE and I had quit working for this one particular MTSO...I worked for him, she found out and tried to sue ME for $20K.


I sent her back a play $20K bill and told her that was about as much as her "lawsuit" was worth. Never heard another word from her.


Own client question
Those of you with your own clients.  What do you do when you want to go away for the weekend, or get sick?  I can see this as being about the only reason to stay with a company.  The ability to get someone else to pick up your accounts for a few days is appealing.