You're realistic like me...
Posted By: Cindy M on 2008-06-04
In Reply to: Wait a Minute Before You Protest - Laurie
I'm a diehard second shifter for 30 years now and would have it no other way. I find your topic totally unreal and wonder what planet you've been living on, sorry. Look around you, the days are gone in this country when hard working folks can "demand" and get much of anything, especially getting back the old ways of doing things, and I seriously doubt there will ever be a big turnaround regarding the global viewpoint; we're already out there and it's expanding cause the third world is where it's at regarding how to make a buck and use the people. We're going to have to change our personal lives financially to survive and go with the flow.
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I do that all the time. You haven't snapped, you're just realistic. -nm
xx
It is very realistic - sm
I have a 3-year-old and work around him. I try to get up around 6 a.m. and get in 2-3 hours of work before he wakes up. I do another 1-2 hours during his nap time. I finish up at night after DH is home. We are also at this time trying for baby #2 - I CAN"T WAIT!! 
Unfortunately, what is not realistic is
getting answers from posters on this board who are not condescending, hateful, and just plain ugly.
Obviously, you've already received posts of varied opinions.
If you really want to try that situation on for size, why not pick up babysitting for someone's baby or small child and see how work fits in for you. You may decide that it isn't for you or that it's very workable for you.
If you cut back to 20 hours a week, you could easily work 4 hours a night when the baby goes to bed and never miss any time/care with him/her.
I think it would be prudent for you to realize that in order to make money at this work, especially in a remote situation, you really have to be dedicated and enjoy what you are doing. Otherwise, you'll be as bitter as many you see on here and probably not very productive.
Good luck with whatever you choose!
No but just realistic about 95% of MDs. Since
x
Sure it's realistic...
I'm back with Spheris, and the 1500 daily (always nightly in my case) is certainly possible with the large hospital account I transcribe for. I've been at it for 30+ years myself.
I am realistic......
All three of these are companies. I don't have my own accounts. I work as an IC for these companies. I work for FutureNet, DTS and GIS. Maybe you should look around more.
Rude or realistic?
You know, I visited this site first time while training online almost six years ago. I thought it was great and then not. I quit coming here for years and then used it as I saw fit for my needs but usually glanced before I left at the postings. I am really happy with the change since xx. I feel this is a much more peaceful place than before. Sure, there are differences in opinions and such, but that's what makes it unique and special. I am glad to see that nothing really has changed much since the other owners moved on. I feel the new owners give more liberties in the way of speaking your mind, and I for one appreciate that for sure.
No, you won't always get the answers you want or hear the "yes' answers you might like, but this is still a place to hear everybody's thoughts which I think is a really great thing. I remember telling my mentor that I felt this was just a B board and how could I trust one person's thoughts or point of view from another? She told me, you can't really, but if three or more people are saying the same thing, you might want to question it. She was right! Thanks B. You taught me well.
For those who come onboard thinking and/or feeling intimidated; don't feel that way if you can help it. This is one of the most informative boards you can happen upon.
If some of us sound B or grouchy, we've probably just had a long and hard day with crap dictators which you will soon know about. Everyday is not a bed of roses in this field.
Still, I am back after years of really not frequenting the board, and I think the old timers and people who are fairly new to the field know what the heck they are talking about and are right on target. I wouldn't base a job on another person's experience or opinion, BUT I would think twice if I saw the same complaint numerous times.
I don't really think that folks post to be malicious, though some may. I feel most of us post our true experiences with different companies and we do it hoping others don't fall into the same horrible traps we may have got caught up in. Truth is though, I've just had bad timing a time or two and happened into bad situations when companies were a mess. They later "got it together" and were fine, so who knows. Go with your gut as admin suggests on this board and don't base an important decision about work on somebody else's opinion or experience. My mentor did tell me though, and I still do heed the warning, if more than xx people say it's true, it just might be. Thanks
B for warning me. lol You're great
I agree, Simon is just being realistic!
nm
Realistic Income Expectations??
Hi guys!
I am a mom who currently runs a very financially successful home daycare business. I am looking for a change and considering MT.
After much research I am still unsure about the REALISTIC income that can be made doing MT.
I will be working 6 hours a day - no kids, no interruptions etc. How much can I really make a year as an independent contractor from home? I am very familiar with medical terminology etc and plan on taking an MT course.
I would really appreciate a response. I don't want to give up my daycare and spend money on a course only to find out later I have wasted my time and money.
Thanks!
She asked for advice and that is realistic
x
Ok - There's a diff between DREAM job and REALISTIC GREAT job!
Do want that? Seriously.
What's *realistic* is that after I've paid my rent, (sm)
my utility bill, my car insurance, my ISP & phone bills, my medical co-payments, dental bill, etc., I usually have a choice between eating or buying gasoline. So currently my car sits in the carport, fuel-less and rarely driven, but insured - just so that I can continue my close relationship with Chef Boy-Ar-Dee and day-old (or older) bread.
1500 lines per day? Is this a realistic line
count to be able to make daily in the current MT climate? I have been in MT field for 30 years, with last 10 as QA. I hate it, and can't wait to transcribe again. I am still really fast, never lost my skills thankfully, and can easily hit 1500 lines per 8 hour shift IF the work is there, though. That is the target I would have to hit to even come close to what I am making currently as QA - things are tight on this salary, and can't get much tighter! Do you think most companies have this sort of workload to offer MTs? I used to work for 2 companies 15 years or so ago. Maybe do you think it would be more realistic for me to try to work for 2, or is 1500 lines steadily daily not a big deal? I'm just so used to getting paid hourly, and never having that gut-wrenching fear of running out of work. I don't need benefits at all, so IC is a big possibility. I hope you understand, and I really appreciate your thoughts.  I'm so scared, but have to get out of my current situation at "you-know-where" before I lose my "you-know-what"...  Figured I'd peddle myself off as an MT rather than QA - worry about that down the road at a good company.
lets be realistic and talk about companies
nm
Does anyone have any good, realistic advice for working on 60 different accounts!?...(exaggeration)
but I am really getting frustrated. I left a company who bumped me off my ERs (which I did for over a year and were my 'bread-and-butter', and the more I complained or asked about it, the worst dictation I got, etc. This was a change of management in which that company went down-hill fast, anyway, as far as the treatment of MTs.
so I left, and now at the 'new' company I am still doing 5, 6 accounts. Forget ERs, I am told.
the question is, I am working on so many accounts, and even accounts with different management, different QA. I am embarrassed to mention I just did a report using the SPECS FROM THE WRONG ACCOUNT. Luckily, I had sent the report to QA, but I get a note from the QA like 'read the specs' (stupid) is how it sounded. Yeah, I did, but for the wrong account.
these companies do not see how making people work on so many accounts is going to be huge negative for them in the long-run. they risk mistakes like this, not me.
how does one keep it all straight, and why do we have to? the only people who are having success, are people who will take any kind of abuse, it seems, and are just making the best of it. does that mean only the aggressive will survive in this business? this gets more ridiculous all the time.
not to mention, pay and money - LIVELIHOOD - severely diminishes the second week of pay-week. anyone else notice that? first week I am flying on the primary, second week in I am like getting scraps, working on 4, 5,6 accounts - there goes all I worked for in the first week.
so these ladies typing 300+ lines/hour and making $50 thou a year, like so many boast on here, how,where, when ???? I am not getting it, and I am a 99-100% quality MT, working 35 hours/week. every company I have worked with, my paycheck is totally dependent on the manager, period.
That is only the half of it...check out this site for a more realistic view of the future of med rec
http://www.mohca.org/standardsbodies.php3
We have not much to fear from overseas, in my opinion, compared to the technology being created every day to reach the goal of the 'standardized text' paperless record (EHR - electronic health record).
No more 'free text' or dictation in the future.
Same for billing/coding, which will be done automatically with mobile point-of-care hand-held PCs.
Certainly, there will still be editors, but I can not get any solid information as to how this technology will affect MTs. Will be still be needed, if so, in what capacity.
I keep hearing we should be open to being trained in the new technologies that are coming, but hey, what ARE they, and who will train us?
The only thing AAMT seems to be suggesting/promoting, is (what will make them a lot of money) for certifying MTs...what good is that going to do us?
I would gladly train and learn new technology so I can 'stay in the game,' but how, what, where, who pays, when? What will it be, what do I have to do?
I have E'd several people, including Ms. Tessier herself, and have not gotten any kind of response, period.
Heck with being certified, tell me how I can keep my job for the next decade before I can retire and MT as we know it is extinct!
My apologies up-front for any typos - I am not 'on the clock' so-to-speak...thanks.
Be realistic! A newbie, fresh out school, no experience whatsoever cannot expect to get accounts
on her own and definitely cannot expect to earn $50k!
EMR is coming whether you like it not and whether your doctors are older or not. Eventually the older doctors will retire and the new generation coming out of medical school are products of this technological age. There is no stopping it.
You have a good, realistic attitude about it. Good luck to you. nm
x
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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