You're not a failure.
Posted By: Just me on 2005-07-15
In Reply to: Lines per hour - I just do NOT get these figures. PLEASE tell me how you hit these #s - FAILURE
I agree with the poster who said to use lots of phrases. I never ever tell how many lines I transcribe because people don't believe I can do that much in one day or they say I must have worked 24 hours a day. Some even accuse me of cherrypicking. I've never done that and never will. You have to take the good with the bad in this industry. I earn every line I transcribe.
I've been doing my accounts for a very long time and have transcribed everything from the simple docs to the mumbling ESLs.
Use the expanders for phrases. TPWG the patient was given. TPIG the patient is given. TPWS The patient was started on. Set it so you don't have to use your shift key to capitalize things like copd. Type in smaller case and it automatically capitalizes for you.
I used to put post-it notes on the front of my computer of macros I recently made so I would remember what they are. It would help get in my memory faster.
Another thing I do for every hospital or clinic that I work with -I see if they have a website and print out the copy of their physician list. Saves me a lot of time from looking up physician names. I print it up 2 or 3 times a year because most of them keep their lists up to date.
Hope some of this helps!
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You're not a failure! Those tests are brutal!
With 17 years of MT I thought I had it made. I was sooooo frustrated with the testing. I just barely made it and when I got an email that said "congratulations, you passed the test," I was in tears. Probably in tears because I didn't have to take the horrid thing again.
You'll do fine. Test somewhere else. Good luck to ya!
You're not a failure for wanting to quit.
If it isn't working for you, for whatever reason, it doesn't make you a failure.
Individuals cannot be failures. Failure is a process, an action. You are a person.
You know, typically it is considered professional to give a working notice of 2 weeks. What about offering a 2-week notice with an altered schedule?
Generally, employees who do not give a 2-week notice are considered ineligible for rehire - an important question when others may call them for past employment information. Usually all that is asked/given are dates of employment, compensation, and whether the employee is eligible for rehire.
To FAILURE: SM
I tried to give some hints and tips above...I'm happy to help with more if I can.
Please don't let this smart-mouthed poster above get to you.
Those who want to know how to increase their line counts absolutely should be asking and we should be sharing all the information we can on it.
you are not a failure
i dont have normals either. I cant remember them enough to be fast with them. however, i do use my autocorrect in word for words. Like wo without, ht for hypothyroidism, hyt for hypertension, bid for b.i.d., etc. Amazingly this really saves you a lot of time. words that any one says or words that you misspell a lot and want to fix while typing or have to fix spell checking. This is one way I have become faster.
Also, I found that if I do 10 reports at a time I am faster. I download 10 reports and I type straight through. Not stopping for ANYTHING. Then I either download 4 more and say to myself you can sit through 4 more or I will take a quick break. But I try to make myself sit there as long as i can without stopping at all. I MAKE myself do it for at least 10. Before I know it, I have 20, 30 reports done and 3 or 4 hours has gone by!
Above all, once you reach your 1000, don't stop with your groove. If you reach 1000 in 4 hours and work an 8 hour shift, dont stop. Keep going and pulling 10 and sitting as long as you can. You then will have done around 2000 in your workday!
I'm a failure!!!
What is going on??? Is this really happening?? I failed the MT test. I don't understand. I have been a Transcriptionist for 7 years. I wanted to work from home again after taking a few years off. I took a job at a hospital making extraordinary money just a year ago. They didn't have a problem with me. At first I thought it was because I have been away, but I don't think a year can make that much difference. HELP!! 
No - you are not a failure -
I feel the same way about my company. I worked at a 600+ bed facility and never had as many different dictators as the place I work for now. I can't make line count either and getting tired of it.  - I'm tired of working on my days off trying to learn more and when I learn that ----- they ZAP me with something else.
CMT failure sm
I am so sorry you had this experience. You sound like you have an unforgiving back and like myself, probably will have trouble in this profession down the road. I was a CMT for 18 years. I am now part-time only and can't afford it, but when I was a CMT it was a small town and no credence was given to the certification; in fact, they were afraid I would ask for more money. I did have the certificate on my wall though and was proud that I exceeded my necessary credits each time I recertified. Don't pay attention to the insults, just ask if you can take it again, although I doubt it. Be proud that you tried and you did well! Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate, don't let them get you down!
I would never classify anyone a failure or
call myself a failure. As for me, I can do at least 2,000 in 6 hours because I have done this same account for 10 years, and I have normals. I may have to change a few words but mostly its all normals.
REVIEWS FOR FAILURE
The things being taken off on for the review is pathetic too. "During this hospitalization" being marked wrong because the reviewer states the dictation said "during this hospital stay", etc. and so on. These so called reviews are jokes. We are educationed professionals and don't appreciate slave driver tactics.
If he's a failure, what's that make all of US?
more sour grapes
dog liver failure
Mine died from Deramaxx too. She developed liver failure and had a horrible death at home in my husband's arms. When I heard about the Vioxx recall I immediately called my vet, concerned about Deramaxx, and they assured me it was fine. She was dead a month later. We blame ourselves because we had also given her Revolution, prevention for heartworms and fleas, and she became lethargic and vomiting four 2 days after that, which probably weakened her liver further.
Failure to pay and your options
If you are currently an Independent contractor, you are a business. You are hired as a business to conduct work for a MTSO. I strongly urge everyone to be sure that any contract they sign with a company includes a date of expected pay. Also, when hired, note that late payment of services, after a reasonable amount of time for posting, will be cause for a late fee or interest. Be sure to save e-mail or correspondence. The fact that a company notes when payment of your invoice will be ill give them a set time with a reasonable amount of time for postage to get to you.
If, payment is not made, within that reasonable amount of time, and conversations give you the assumption that they will not be paid (especially if it is said we did not get money etc) then it is theft of services. Contact your DA, and the DA of the MTSO. Think of it this way, if you were any other professional, late fees get tacked on if YOU DO NOT PAY, so pass it on. Put it in your correspondence and stick to it. You are an independent contractor supporting your business.
Now, for all of those who think they are an independent contractor but have any of the following terms, you may be considered an employee through the US Labor Board - including scheduled hours of work.
These factors are used to determine if an individual is classified as an Independent Contractor:
* Is the worker required to follow INSTRUCTIONS?
* Does the firm provide training to accomplish the work?
* Is the worker REGULARLY employed at the firm?
* Is the work performed personally by the worker?
* Does the firm DIRECTLY pay the worker's assistants?
* Is there a continuing ongoing work relationship?
* Are there a set number of work HOURS?
* Is the worker engaged full time by the firm?
* Does the worker work on the firm's premises?
* Does the worker work according to a SCHEDULE set by the firm?
* Is the worker required to submit regular reports to the firm?
* Is the worker paid based on time rather than by project?
* Is the worker REIMBURSED for his/her expenses?
* Does the firm furnish the tools and/or materials?
* Does the worker have a vested INTEREST in performing the services?
* Can the worker realize a profit or suffer a loss?
* Does the worker work for more than one firm at a time?
* Does the worker make his services available to the general public?
* Does the firm have the right to DISCHARGE the worker without incurring a legal liability for non-performance under the contract?
* Does the worker have the right to TERMINATE the relationship without incurring a legal liability for non-performance under the contract?
Depending on your responses, you could be an employee or IC - check with your Labor Board BEFORE a problem pops up.
As a professional, we all must protect ourselves and information is key.
I hope those who have problems get them cleared up sooner rather than later.
sorry - power failure - cut off my post!
SORROY - OWER FAILURE CUT OFF THE END OF MY POST!
Don't worry about the little things - she has good parents that are concerned about her. Just make the love, trust and open communication the priority!
Yeah, most MT's I know have an MBA - you must be a failure in your fictitious field then
LMAO
nice try though
vent on failure in patient care
My husband took my son to see the doc for a tetanus shot after he stepped on a nail. I'm always transcribing and couldn't go there myself. After coming home from the doctor's office, my son and husband tell me that his foot was never even looked at by even a nurse, let alone the doctor. My son got the tetanus shot, and the paperwork said "do not give if a fever is present." Woops, they didn't even take his temperature. Rather than looking at his foot to determine if it was infected, they just asked my son if it was infected. I called the office totally irate, and they reduced the charges from $88 to $7. Wow, didn't expect that. It's a crying shame that we're a society so hung up on paperwork and billing (HIPAA, etc.) that a doctor or nurse would not even take the time to actually look at a patient's wound. What's really ironic is that very day I transcribed a report where the doctor states the patient shouldn't self-medicate with vitamins and supplements. So, we're not smart enough to determine what vitamins and supplements to take, but we are expected to determine whether or not we have an infection?
Thanks! Maybe I'll remove the caps from Failure!! I do use all expanders
almost exactly as you have described! Its my account that specifically wants verbatim and NO canned text. They must "know" about that, and want to make sure they get their pennies worth out of the MTs!!
Your first boss really sealed your fate! You had failure handed to you at the start!
How on earth can you even believe that?? There are thousands of MTs who have worked, and full time, with small children at home. Boy, talk about an encouraging post! Doom and gloom for sure! The continued negativity of the MTs on this forum is astonishing. You don't have to spend thousands and thousands of $$ to get an education, and if she's a single Mom, she'll probably qualify for complete financial aid! And the company board the last week has been full of posts from newbie grads who are getting jobs across the board, and good ones! This business is constantly ebbing and flowing, changing, but always is a lucrative career! Come on! And the person below, fg, who is negative 24/7 calls it dog meat??? I'd like to see any comparable career where I work the minimal hours I do and make fantastic $$. And, gee, me, a lowly self-educated CMT! Doom and gloom is yours if you choose it. From your own post, your first boss set the tone for you, and you accepted it. Think POSITIVE! 
I have 2 middle age couple friends. One couple became pregnant from condom failure.
This is not just "irresponsible" behavior! Both couples are "fixed" now, because for them, reliable birth control was NOT. But it's an error to assume this stuff happens to people who are unmarried or irresponsible. Both these couples are raising 2nd families, now, but it wasn't "irresponsibility" that did them in!
For Pete's sake, you're not terminating a pregnancy, you're just typing a report after the
It's already been done before you even hear about it, and NOTHING changes regardless of whether you or someone else types it. Sheesh.
It's not funny when you're on a board where language is one skill you're selling.
.
Hope you're gonna have a glass of wine while you're relaxing
in your spa goodies. Congrats!
Well, you're all complaining that accounts are current and work is low, so, gee, maybe they're
focusing on WORK, as in CLIENT and transcribing, as maybe half of you should be focusing on!!
If you're experienced, try for 9cpl or higher, and you're lucky to get that! nm
s
Skip it. No one cares. Either you're good on the test or you're not.
x
You're probably right. Plus we're losing our percentage of good people by .... (sm)
allowing every loser from every 3rd world country on the planet to just stroll on into our country, some legally, most illegally, and take advantage of the social services all us hard working little gerbils pay for by having money taken out of our pay every month. But I don't think we're all lazy. Just the ones on permanent welfare driving around town in brand-new Cadillac Escalades. Saw one just today on the Bayshore Fwy. Brand-new black Escalade with expensive spinner wheels, with 5 or 6 Mexicans in it. Well, who knows - maybe they stole it and it was on its way to a chop-shop. Smart-and-hungry people aren't always hard-working and honest.
You're not going to find a word expander for free. You're going to have to pay
g
You're forgetting all the stuff you can't buy when you're UNEMPLOYED!
Unemployed people have a hard time buying anything, including cheaply made offshore products. How many will have to end up depending on public assistance? That means more tax dollars being eaten up - besides the taxes NOT being collected from the overseas workers. In the long run, are you really enjoying a lower price?
If you're on the job, ask for samples to do it how they want it. If you're testing, separate o
s
You're not losing it, you're burned out on your main job.
I feel for you... I am having my own "version" ;-) of these kinds of struggles. Lots of recent changes at the admin level have made my job do a 180, going from a really great one to a really crappy one.
For me, it's a struggle to get through the day with a shred of motivation. I get distracted in the way you discuss as well.
I just try to make my environment as comfortable as possible and make the best of it while I decide what the best way is to deal with the burnout... I figure if I can't change my inner brain workings so that I still like this job, I need to find another one, or this feeling will possibly get worse!
I hope it works out for you. Wish I had some better advice for you, but this really does look like burnout and extreme job dissatisfaction to me. We all wear it differently. Try to be good to yourself while you figure out a solution.
Don't know what you're complaint you're making with this post. sm
You stated in your original post that you don't want to work weekends or odd shifts. What is your definition of an odd shift? Second shift? Third shift? Sounds like you want to work M-F on days. Sounds kind of rigid to me.
Personally I like second shift, so everyone working days means more work for me! 
You're not under a rock, you're just like me... an adult with more to
s
It's not because you're beautiful, it's because you're an IDIOT!
Does that make it any clearer for you??
YOU'RE A SACK OF CRAP!! YOU'RE NOT
THE ADMINISTRATOR. WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE IDIOTS???
 
Honey you're not being a shrew, you're being a
I don't get it when husbands and wives *allow* the other to have money that THEY work for...just don't get it. Go buy the flippin' keyboard and tell him to take a hike! (To put it sweetly!)
Why is it the only expander you're permitted to use? How would any know what you're using?
xx
They think they're smart to accept it, but they're
m
If they're withholding taxes, you're not an IC.
As an IC, you should already be paying taxes. That said, the only benefit having them withhold FICA is that your Social Security/Medicare share will be less. Social Security is 15%; if you're an employee, you pay 7.5% and your employer pays 7.5%. As an IC, you pay 15%. Doing the math, 0.0925 would be your 0.10 minus 7.5%--the 0.0924 is just a tad less than you're making now.
We're out here (good MTs) but we're busy! sm
I don't recall ever taking an employment test where I wasn't offered a job. My MTSO does not even look at my work unless I happen to have a question or a blank, which happens maybe once in every 30 or so reports with an ESL. If you find a really good MT, how much training would be involved? Certainly you would save time in the long run once they're trained and you don't have to check all their work.
If you're one of the MTDesk clan then you're ok
wersdffa
You're right if you're single it's tough.
I am an IC as well, but I have a husband with benefits and makes a fair buck. I am fortunate after 20 years to able to work from home. I worked on site for 17 years with a "chocolate cake" the day I left. Nothing more... The loyalty in any profession is gone, gone, and gone again.
Most companies want new employees/ICs that will take low pay and that won't cost much in the way of paying vacation time.
I do take every Friday off and try only to get on to check e-mail, etc.
However, I wouldn't trade being here for my kids at this point.
There are headaches no matter what profession you are in. It seems if it isn't one thing it's another.
Raises? Out of the question in this profession since most are afraid they will lose the account including myself. I also underbid my last account because I wanted the account so bad. I should be charging more.
It is a neverending cycle really.
But, I still enjoy the work, so I guess that's the difference. It does take will power to sit and type. Some people need that boss hanging around to keep the production up and the incentive of a nice paycheck is just not good enough.
Good luck with your new job! Sounds great!
If you're new, good - if you're not a newbie, not so hot
Would need to know how long you have been an MT. For a newbie, this is a pretty good rate of speed.
However, if you have anything over a couple years of experience, then this is not too hot.
Also, what are the dictators like? Is it a "United Nations" account??
If you ARE capable of 200 lph or more and you can't seem to get it, then the problem has got to be with the platform you are using. In my experience, the platform into which you transcribe can make or break your paycheck - so if the platform stinks, then I hate to tell you, but there is no way you will be able to improve your line rate. I have quit jobs because of awful platforms more than once.
You realize by doing that they're making more money & you're making less? You should reconsid
It's just what you're comfortable with and what you're used to.
I give a minimum of $100 for acquaintances and raise the bar from there to good friends, relatives, immediate family getting the largest gift.
that's because they're the big guys and you're only the
x
No, you're not missing anything, but you're really not seeing
anything either. InterFix designs and sets up software specifically to facilitate an easy conversion to overseas transcription.
You're both right and you're both wrong.
There are too many variables to give an accurate--or even estimated--count. Using a standard 1-inch margin, you may have short lines and lots of paragraphs and get a lower count. If no paragraphs and it's a full page of text from margin to margin, you get your higher count. You can't possibly use an average count because of variables, which is why no one can commit to a pat answer.
It says that's why you're QA and we're MT, simple enough?
Yes, of course, you're right.
You're absolutely right. Your E-mail shows such aspirational maturity -- I'm sure you were the class valedictorian, always the studious, respectful child. You have limitless options. That's how you ended up at MQ like the rest of us.
You're welcome SM
I know exactly what you mean. I've worked for some of the largest teaching hospitals who had staff and resident lists nearly a foot thick but that was in the "old" days when pay was better and computers hadn't been heard of yet. These modern days if a company can't provide their physician list in the data base where I can search with just a letter or 2, then I'm not going to work for them. I suspect that lots of your company's MTs object to nonproductive time looking up tons of names and addresses and whether you realize it or not, you're on the clean up committee, getting those jobs when they are thrown back into the pool. You might try talking it over with your supervisor and offering to continue doing the throw backs provided you're paid to do so. I did that once when all I was getting day in and day out was the most horrible of horrible dictators. Much to my surprise they agreed to compensate me appropriately. Granted, the pickings for really good companies are slim but they are out there, you just have to find the right one. Most will tell you anything you want to hear until you're hired, which is why I suggested keeping the old job until you've tried the new one on for size.
Hope this helps!
You're welcome!
You're right. They do.
x
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