You're asking for part of their market! It'll be a competition
Posted By: and you will lose out. on 2006-10-12
In Reply to: Who says you have to compete - Melissa
You go ahead though. Keep us all informed.
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It's called competition in a buyer's market (sm)
or vendor's (hospital's) market, not low-balling.
I would include the why you're leaving part. They'll probably ask
s
If you're an overseas vendor here's how to market....sm
Go by medical offices and talk to them in your native tongue. They just LOVE hearing it. When visiting in places like Florida be sure to ask about the last snow storm they had last winter - that's very impressive! In the northern states talk about the warm sunny 70 degrees in February in their state and ask if they're ready for that this year.
Be sure to take brochures showing the fabulous quality of work you do. Be sure you include impressive sentences such as: "Dr. Jones said he would eat ketchup with the patient to review his lab work." After all they don't find it cute to type it like it was dictated.... "Dr. Jones said he would catch up with the patient to review his lab work."
Lastly don't forget to give them laminated card including all 25 digits they will have to use to call your native country. Be sure they're aware that all of your employees in your native country have new names.... Ben, Mary, Thomas and Amy are of course popular choices. Potential clients like getting a warm fuzzy feeling by talking to "Mary" who has a very heavy accent to the point that they can't understand her talking. But hey - she has an American name (woo-hoo!) so all is forgiven!
the market will pay what the market will bear...sm
just the fact that jobs are posted for this pay means people are taking it. You have to remember - we are in a global marketplace now. We are competing against people from India, Thailand, Cambodia for these jobs. If the Mexicans could figure it out, we would be competing against them too. It's like washing dishes. Washing dishes isn't easy. Why does washing dishes only pay $5.50 an hour? Because they can find people to wash dishes for $5.50 an hour. Not only that, but MT work was getting cost prohibitive for a lot of people. That's why some other really, really smart people said, "let's find a way to make computers do this! Then we can sell the programs so docs can buy programs instead of paying MT's." Then some other really really smart people said, "let's not even have docs dictate. Let's have them point and click!" And so MT's are also competing against VR and EMR.
You may say ..."If a company offers me 7 to 9 cpl, I let them know that it is an insult to expect an experienced, highly skilled Transcriptionist to be offered such low pay and I refuse to work for them." But if your current job goes bye-bye, and you're scrambling out in the market and that's all that's out there....well, you get the picture. If you want the job, you take the job for that pay. Otherwise, yes, it's get a job at WallyWorld. Your choice.
so sorry for your loss...there're a part of our family.
nm
You're right about the "prehistoric" part! The place I used to work (sm)
uses Lanier, and it's a mess. It's WORSE than prehistoric. It was down more than it was up. It was also not at all friendly for at-home MTs, either.
You're right. She'll tell you that you
=
If you can't afford to pay a transcriptionist 10 cents a line then obviously you're part of th
The reality of the situation might be, Gloria, that no one is willing to pay your business more than the "going rate" because they just don't think you're worth it.
Tell me what you're taking and I'll tell
.
you're right. She'll find her way over. NM
.
Ssshhh! Maybe if we're all quiet she'll go away!
nm
I'll let you off the hook since you're also a Mustang lover.
I just like the '67s and '68s better because they're a little bigger and more rounded in the body style than the earlier years. I dreamt of owning a Mustang for 20 years before I got one.
I agree, fishy. If you're an IC you'll have to take out approx.
30% on top of the 25% they're going to keep, but will you have to claim earnings of it all, even their 25%. Hmmmm, I think I'd be asking a LOT of questions because why aren't they just saying you'll make 9.75 cents instead of 13 cents that you'll really NOT be making.
You're already doing great! You'll be there in no time. I wasn't as fast as you when I star
b
They're supposed to be good luck. He'll find his way out when he's hungry. nm
s
Give it up and enjoy your vacation! They'll live w/o you for a few days.You're allowed! :) nm
.
COMPETITION
How long have you been with this client? Is is offshore they are talking about? Be tactful and supportive of their concern, BUT FOCUS ON THE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF YOUR WORK. Start off by a brief review of your business relationship together. Review with your client, all the fine points of your business - your professionalism, TAT, your availability and your thorough knowledge of their particular needs. Then taken the client through a scenario - ask them point blank who is this other service offering such low rates? Ask your client about the other service's background? Are they offshore? Bring attention to HIPPA and security of their patient's records. If you get no where, you may want to consider meeing your client in person for review of pricing and offer a perk such as a discount per month or if you have to, lower your rate a little. The more you keep your wits about you and stay professional at all times, the more impressive you will remain to them. I have lost hospital accounts at times to lower rates, but I kept my cool at all times even though it killed me, and just once or twice, I got back the accounts and you know what? The first thing told to me was how impressed they were that I was so professional and helpful through the process of letting go. As it turned out, the other services were lousy and I got my accounts back. This doesn't always work though but it's worth a try.
This is not a competition.
see "I think it has to do with"
below.
I don't feel as such competition with $$$, sm
As I don't believe they settle for the pay that the Indians do, and as such not competing with us as much ...
Well if it's a competition, I guess
the experienced ones could stop being so generous with help on the Word board, which they do FOR FREE.
Sorry, but I've found another industry that pays by the hour and gives actual holidays. I will drive to work and work with real people, where I will actually feel like I count for something. I'm over the feeling of "privilege" of working in medicine. Let the newbies have it. I'm tired of the docs think we're idiots because we follow a book of rules that has no basis in their reality. I'm also tired of docs that don't want to pay, but would never consider changing their ways and standardizing formats and phrasing or gathering everything they need ahead of time before they get on to dictate (think ESLs and their long, drawn out, time-wasting sentence structures and pauses).
Irish dance competition.
x
LOL. And some kind of comedy competition soon too!!! nm.
.
Y-City Star competition - like AI
Fellow MTs and American Idol watchers,
I made it to the top 20 in the local Zanesville, OH competition similar to American Idol. PLEASE HELP A FELLOW MT!!! You can go online and vote tomorrow for me. PLEASE!! go to www.whiznews.com or www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com and cast your vote. You should be able to hear me sing for about 90 seconds. The public vote is only a portion of the scoring. I will be judged on vocal quality and performance as well. The first night of actual competition is July 15th and then again on July 29th if I made it to the top 8. I appreciate each and every vote. There is some stiff competition ahead of me. Lots of talent in OHIO!!! This is gonna be fun!
You can "thank" the offshore competition...sm
Like it or not.... it's driving the prices down in our industry. We have customers now demanding price reductions as contracts come up for renewal and tell us that if we don't meet their new pricing they'll send the work offshores and pay 4 cpl for transcription, 1.5 cpl for editing work.
More and more clients are willing to take the risk of sending work out of the country for the cheap labor and getting the work done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The overseas companies truly work 24/7/365 and their English skills have improved dramatically.
Gone are the days of high line rates for everyone. Stinks, I know.
Thanks for that information! Competition should bring price down
dd
MQ's "daddy" underwrites them so they can undercut competition. They aren't
And if you aren't MQ Rosie then I guess I'm not calling you stupid now am I?
Going on a school trip for childs chorus competition--sm
in March to New York. Went to a meeting with school/parents and told the school board will cancel the trip if the terrorist threat level goes to red--understandable, but also we would lose our money ($1600 for four of us to go). Does anyone know of an insurance company who underwrites trips or tours? One of the parents said they heard of this but did not remember the details or company.
Competition is driving prices down. Companies are not making
Sooner or later you will have to face facts that this industry is in a freeze hold due to several factors.
If the companies are not able to raise their prices to customers, they cannot raise their payouts to workers.
Nice marketing too..a bogus statement about US MTs to discredit the competition nm
nm
Now you know the local job market and my
home situation better than I do. For your information, I make more working parttime at home doing MT than I would working fulltime for any of the local advertising agencies. Plus, I don't have to travel or put my kids in daycare.  Thank you so much for your concern about my employment situation, though. And please, get off your 
In the market for a new computer -
I will not buy MS Vista - I hear it's a nightmare. TIA
When you market your services with a
business name and a business license, it shows the doctors or hospitals that you are representing yourself as a professional business and are not just a homemaker or housewife trying to make a few extra bucks. They will treat you with more respect and take you more seriously, and in turn will be willing to pay you a fair rate as a respectable businesswoman. Think about any business in your community or town. They all first procure a business name and a business license before they open their doors. You may be working from home, but you can will present yourself in this fashion. I would also suggest obtaining a P.O. Box to use as your business address instead of using your home address. Believe me, this works. I have been running a successful small MT business from home for over 20 years now, and I support my entire family on my earnings.
job market update
If your skills are excellent and your experience and references speak well of you, then I believe the job market is pretty good.
But!!!!
You have to look carefully at the prospective jobs.
Please, I beg of you, for the good of ALL OF US, please please please do not take a job for less than 8.5 cpl! Please!
It's a very tough market right now...sm.
I have 8 years experience and have been testing left and right for the last 3 months. I have passed several tests only to hear about the company being put on a hiring freeze and I am added to their waiting list. I have also tested and done very well and not heard anything back. I finally made the decision that I am going to go to nursing school but right now is not a good time either (my husband has been out of work since April of 2008). He finished his degree and STILL cannot find a job.
Keep faith..it will come through. Maybe instead of having to drive into town, you could send your resume to all the local doctors, dentists, veterinarians, eye doctors, anyone who maybe has been thinking they are too busy to do their own notes. I have heard that this has worked for many people. It is always worth the effort. If you are a good general Transcriptionist too, don't just stop at medical. Send you resume to insurance businesses, lawyers, whatever might be there.
Good Luck and God Bless.
The easy part is making the decision to leave, the hard part is
actually doing it. Been in your shoes and it took me a year and a half to leave after I had made the decision to do so. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself and my girls. I had family and friends and a counselor telling me what needed to be done and I knew what needed to be done but until I had the courage on my own to do it I stayed. One day, we had an argument and he spit in my face and that was the last straw for me. Even though it is something that I will NEVER forget, that day is also a day I will never forget because it is the day that I took my kids and left. I am a single mom of 2 and have been single and supporting us for 5 years now. I have been healing ever since and still am to this day. You can do this. I know that if I hadn't have left and I would have stayed one of us would be dead by now or both.
Money Market accounts
MM accounts do have checks, but you are limited to the number of checks that you can write per month - no more than 3 checks to a third party. Rates are usually tiered based on your balance - the more you have deposited, the more interest you will earn.
Start here:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/rate/mmmf_home.asp
Are you worried about possible MT job market glut then? I am...
nm
My family went to a flea market that is mostly run and
attended by Hispanics. There were several vendors selling leather goods, such as wallets, belts, shoes, etc. DH needed a new wallet so he picked one he liked and opened it up only to find a tag that said "MADE IN INDIA." (He didn't buy it.) We didn't look at any of the other leather goods, but found it very ironic that the Hispanics are now importing their "handmade" goods from India.
yeah, in today's job market, the
middle class is supposed to be happy we even have a job. Forget any idea of getting any appreciation for hardwork, reliability, knowledge, or any of that good stuff, just be "happy" to be working... in my next life, maybe!
So what? 8 cpl is what the market will bear. If you don't want 8, don't take a job that pays
x
Instead, if I had $345, I'd put it in a money-market acct. - sm
and watch it grow, rather than putting it towards a bunch of fake 'certification' letters after my name, and seeing that money fly away and earn me nothing.
Sixe of MTSO Market
Does anyone know the size of the MTSO market (how many service providers, how many software co's etc. or a good source for this info?
Going back on the market -- any advice?
Hi y'all,
Three weeks ago I began a new job doing acute care at a local hospital (part of CHS). On Friday they told us that our work would be outsourced beginning in April.... Previously I worked at another local hospital for 9 years transcribing Rad and ER notes, echos, etc. I left there because I need expensive orthognathic surgery and their insurance plan has a blanket exclusion against it. Plus I wanted to brush up on my "big four" skills.
Now I am looking for work. Boy have things changed! I really prefer to work for a hospital or start up my own company again but would work for a service as a last resort. After reading the informative posts here, I have begun compiling a list of "good" and "bad" services so I can avoid certain ones.
Does anyone here have any advice for me? Not general advice about job hunting, but more specific advice about the services -- what to watch out for, etc. I have never done editing/VRT, but apparently that pays less anyway so I don't think I will be doing that.
Thanks.
Really? Hmmmm...you wouldn't know the stock market if it bit you.
Run a stock analysis on MQ under any search engine. Yahoo stock analysts are the ones I use personally. There are advisories and analyses of MQ and Philips in the data base EVERY DAY. There have been "hold" advisories, "sell" advisories, and "buy" advisories any given day. Sorry to disappoint your disillusioned mind. Obviously NASDAQ and regular trade is better, but they are STILL in the ball game, sorry to disappoint you. And you SHOULD be happy at that if you care about the 1000s of MQ employees who have stocks, etc. But, gee, sounds like you're just a disgruntled werker!
Does anyone know any basics on money market accounts?
nm
Be sure to investigate the housing market in your area
In my area as well as most of the U.S., the housing prices are SKY HIGH! Some say there is sure to be an 'adjustment' (downward) of housing prices in the near future. If the prices have skyrocketed in your area also, you might want to take a wait and see attitude for a year or two and see what happens? Just a thought.
I don't know your circumstances, and there may be reasons you need to buy a house right now, but a waiting period would also give you a chance to straighten up or clean up whatever is wrong with the credit.
I feel sad for my two sons, (one of whom is a store manager, but single income), as I don't see any possibility of either of them being able to buy a house at the outrageous prices nowdays.
My husband and I got lucky (MANY years ago) and bought our first house from an elderly fellow who carried the contract himself and gave us a STEAL of a price! He assumed we would default like all the other renters had and he would repossess the house. Ha Ha, not so with us!
Hey, maybe you could try advertising for a house with owner financing. Might be easier to qualify. Good luck!
This is not a new market. Is being done with all offshore companies I have ever worked for. nm
:+
you should be setting your rates according to what the market will bear...
not what you feel like getting. If you like the account, you're familiar with it and able to make good money off of it, you might want to stay at the rate you are at. As a service owner, I used to plan to hire at 7 but bring everyone eventually up to 10 cpl by 0.5 increases every six months. I also used to be able to raise the rates from the hospital, clinic or physician office every 2 years. Nowadays if I bid on a new account, I am regularly outbid at 11 cpl, with 24 TAT. I have discussed it with my IC MT's. If they want a raise, I can try to negotiate a raise from the hospital...but it jeopardizes our account. Every time you raise your rates, it's a signal for them to start shopping around. So I would say, based on what the market will bear, don't expect to be getting raises. Ever. 
Never heard of RMT. In my experience, CMT is worthless in the job market.
x
Here are two free market listings. You can google search for
freelance writing or editing market/job listings, too.
Writers Write market database
http://www.writerswrite.com/paying/
Writers Weekly market listing
http://www.writersweekly.com/markets_and_jobs/003118_11302005.html
Yeah, but are these other companies trying to put stores in every market in the country?
I think that is what makes Wal-Mart so "evil" and scares me so badly. Soon we won't have ANYONE left to buy our goods from because they force all the other competitors out of business (particularly the small business owners) and then we are FORCED to buy everything from overseas countries/Wal-Mart.
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