You're not a failure! Those tests are brutal!
Posted By: omt on 2006-01-04
In Reply to: I'm a failure!!! - Jodi
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!
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
You're not a 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!
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.
but it's a much more brutal job than being in an office
I actually contracted repetitive stress injury from hours of typing and am now on my way out of the field - going into nursing. I might add I make VERY BIG money owning my own MTSO - but I see the future of MT going nowhere but down, down, down.
Brutal! I hate when they do that.
Do you know how many pages it came out to?
A lot of times that same person is "the wife." Brutal
s
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 can't believe how bad some of the tests are!
Some test where you put commas (for which there are few real-world rules) and other BOS nonsense. Some count off if you didn't transcribe the patient's name and other private information (that you'll send to them via e-mail). Few actually test the skills required to be successful at real-world MT. Many tests only answer one question: "Have you memorized all the personal preferences found in the BOS or not?"
tests are different
I've taken them that take as little as half an hour to as much as 4 hours. I think they are a good idea.
Please no more tests - sm
Any company that doesn't test? There has to be a better way than wasting all this time.
Tests
Just have the employee perform the expected tasks. If the person cannot do so...then good-bye... It's very simple....
Lab tests
Does anyone know of a good website that lists lab test reference ranges. The one I have has in depth information about the test, but not reference ranges. Thanks!
Here's one of the very best for lab tests...
http://www.labcorp.com/dos/index.html
Just click on what the lab test starts with, and it gives you tons of information.
I love this one for finding docs:
http://doctor.webmd.com/physician_finder/home.aspx?sponsor=core
tests
I agree on the tests. Right now I don't have a foot pedal because mine were always furnished before. I won't buy one until I know it is compatible with any given company. Ever try the test with the foot pedal. Takes hours. I just refuse to try it any mroe.
Tests!
Anyone testing/tested with Transolutions? Why is it that the first of four transcription tests are easy breezy? The remaining tests have me backed in a corner. If/when I actually get a job, I hope the transmission is better.
also, most docs won't do certain tests (sm)
without your consent, if they are not considered standard and will probably have to be paid for by the patient out of pocket, unless the patient agrees to pay either up front or if the charge is denied. At least that's been my experience! Good luck, I hate insurance companies, too!
Isn't she cute? 
these tests are standard for this age and despite what sm
poster below said; they are usually done with routine pap smears and sometimes no mention is ever made from doc about what they are doing. fight ins company.
Tests/testes
I always have to check that one.
this one is good for lab tests...
http://www.labtestsonline.net/
NCLB and tests.
I am in Alabama and my husband works for the school system. Not only is the school rated in many ways by how well the students do on the tests, but the individual teachers are as well. I agree that there should be a way to evaluate teachers/schools, but NCLB has really burdened the system. Also, teachers cannot simply teach. They have an ungodly amount of evaluation material they have to complete and report to the various agencies involved. This is on computer, and last I heard they are not supposed to take it home. I have actually seen some of this "paperwork" and it goes way past ridiculous. I know there are bad teachers out there, but considering what they make and what they have to deal with, there is on way I would be one. Consider also that there are students who simply refuse to be taught, and others who even the best teachers cannot reach. Their scores count just as much as the students who really want to learn. Do the teachers "teach the tests"? Of course they do. If your entire livelihood was based on how well you knew the Book of Style, what would MT schools be teaching?
I took tests with footpedal. If using
Windows Media Player, have to keep hitting the play and rewind buttons with the mouse. Very time consuming but doable. Good Luck on your test!!
Transcription Tests
Has anyone tested for any companies, passed their test and was never contacted after the initial email stating that you had passed their test? I wonder why we bother to take hours out of our day to take tests and then never get contacted. I recently took a test, which the company had informed me that I had passed. However, two emails later I am still waiting to be contacted by them. They keep telling me shortly. This was two weeks ago. Anyone else with this dilemma?
Transcription Tests
Here's the thing--there ARE other companies out there looking for transcriptionists, lots of them. I always try to followup ASAP on people who apply because they've usually applied other places too and if I don't grab them somebody else will. I wouldn't bother following up any more, find another company. There are lots of us who are looking for conscientious transcriptionists.
Lab Tests Online
I remember seeing on here somewhere where someone had put a link to a good website with normal values for lab counts. Does anyone know that link? Thanks
These tests are absurd.
dd
Blanks in tests
Hi!
I am looking for an opinion please. I have been taking my very first at-home test(hoping to come home and leave the politics behind). I was wondering if it would be counted against you if there was a blank in the one of the trascrption samples. My current employer prefers blanks to guesses but then again they are familiar with their employees' strenghts and weaknesses.
Any advice welcome.
Sometimes those giving the tests
deliberately give you a difficult dictator or bad-quality dictation to see what you will do. When in doubt, leave a blank. It's not such a big deal, as you will become familiar with the dictator/account & will have samples to go by. I'm always curious though if I leave a blank and will ask and either say, "oh that's what it was," or "I'd have never gotten than in a million years, what in the world?." Good luck on your test!
The problem w/ the digital tests is that...
you cannot read them manually, i.e., the faint line after you pop the stick off the reader. Those lines don't mean the same thing as the standard tests that shows lines for pregnant or not pregnant. I would take another test first thing in the morning and see what the results say.
Breathalyzer tests for docs
Sometimes don't you wonder if they should take this test before they begin dictating???
I just finished a long total knee arthroplasty and it sounds like this doc had a few cocktails before he began dictating. Slurring his words and changing his mind several hundred times. Don't ya just hate that?
Just had to vent cause I have him again. I am ready for a cocktail or 2 myself now.
psychology terms and tests
anyone know of a good website to get some basic psych. terms, tests, etc? I am soon to start a new psych account, and have done very few psych reports of any kind....thanks for any input!
Tests, cannot pass typing
part and yet I have been tested (not under pressure) at 140 per minute. I failed another typing (yes, that’s right) test when I had my hands off the home keys and it all came out garbage. I do lots of lines per day in transcription but it is just me and my kitties here.
Here is list of psych tests
This may be helpful if you'd like a list without having to search every time, then you can look up terms for results, etc., based on the test. Scroll down to bottom, there's an alphabetized list.
http://www.hrplatform.com/Free/FreePortal/FreeHR/Psychometrics/PsychologicalTests.doc
Anyone else to lazy to take tests..LOL. I applied for a job
but I swear when I opened up the testing and it was 6 reports including discharge summaries, right then and there, I just thought to my "NO way." I guess I just don't have the drive or energy to do testing for a job that takes a hour or more. Part of me realizes that they need this information, but the other part, just thinks it's ridiculous to expect people to spend so much time on a test. Trust me, most of the time, when you see one report, it's quite apparent if the person has any skills or not. Sooooo, I guess I'm lazy because I'm NOT doing this test. Anyone else get these feelings...Maybe I'll regret it and maybe not. Time will test because a lot of other people were sent the same test so I'll wait for their report LOL
lots of weird tests
I liked it but it took me a lot of time to learn all the labs. Good learning experience though.
Anyone REALLY familiar with GFR/kidney tests?
 This is a personal question, not exactly related to work. I am going in circles with at least 2 doctors now (and several unrelated specialists) who are not concerned about my lab values, but from what I have looked up, it seems they should be doing something, even if it is just explaining what is going on and why.
Since August last year, my GFR has been 55-59, and from what I've read, that means kidney damage. I am still on indomethacin, which I believe can contribute to kidney damage. I don't know what else could be contributing or what might make things better, or if like they say, it's "within normal limits" and "nothing to worry about".
Any input?
Male friend age 73 had some tests done and x-ray
and doctor was amazed when he saw a blockage of the intestine. The friend is very "eccentric" and not knowledgeable about his health, so that is all I know as of today. When the doctor saw this blockage, he immediately called an ambulance (hospital just across the street), and he refused to go in an ambulance. Then he drove himself to the ER at the hospital and took all papers and x-rays. The ER was very busy with broken bones, etc., and he got tired of waiting and left, leaving his papers and everything on the desk. He told the doctor he would come back Monday, and he said "you may not live until Monday."
Can you help with what you would think could be this problem with his intestine. He is doing 3-day smear for blood now and to return them. Thank you for any information you may have. I am very worried about him.
OOPS, didn't see that he had tests ... (SM)
if the doctor is that concerned that he called an ambulance, you need to convince him to go back!
question about pre-employment tests
I'm a long-time IC, but new to applying to jobs from a forum like this and am hitting the employment trail! I've applied to jobs that I see on the Job Seekers forum just by submitting my resume on the board. When I visit their own websites, they often have pre-employment tests too. Do I go ahead and take these tests or am I supposed to be "invited" to test for them, like I hear people talking about on these forums? I don't want to take the test if I'm not supposed to yet, but I figure if it's on their main website it must not be private.
Any advice for this new job hunter? Thanks.
|
