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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

You and me both. MQ is totally sick. They had better find another type of business to get into

Posted By: MQMT on 2005-09-13
In Reply to: The letter was a waste of - your time if you are the one

because they have failed miserably with this.


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this is not totally illegal. it is sound business practice.
.
Do you all type when you are sick? I woke up this morning with a sore throat and a stiff achy

neck and my body was kind of stiff all over, but I ignored it, got the kids off to school, and went about my usual routine of having my morning coffee and reading the paper.  I don't start work until noon every day.  As the morning wore on, my body got achier and achier and I started having chills and basically had to huddle under three blankets so I would quit shivering.  I took my temperature and it was 102.3 and I'm wonder if I have strep throat or something.  I tend to pick that up about once a year and amy pretty familiar with the symptoms.


I couldn't bare the thought of calling sick especially because I work at home and I always think it's kind of lame to call in sick when you don't physically have to go much farther then down the stairs.  I always feel extremely guilty whenever I have called in for illness in the past.  Do you guys feel that way?  Like we're somehow not entitled to take sick days because we already working from home.  I mean, I have them accrued and I am truly sick, why should I feel bad about taking one when I actually need it?


Anyway, I took a handful of Motrin and the aching has eased up and I'm sweating like a pig so the fever broke for now, and now I just feel really tired and would love to lay down and take a nap, but just feel like I shouldn't and dread the idea of calling my boss.


Oh well, guess I'll suffer through like I always do.  Every once in a while working at home doesn't feel quite fair. 


No matter what type of business you're in, there does -
come a time when you have to draw the line somewhere. It seems like a no-brainer that if the price for transcription was X amount of dollars with letterhead provided by the client, then it would be X amount MORE with letterhead provided by the service. Still I would imagine she panicked a little, fearing she'd lose the account if she stood her ground about a separate rate for providing the paper. Knowing how expensive paper is, I still have trouble seeing how she could just let it slide in the beginning.

In her position, having allowed him to cheat her for a certain amount of time, what I would do next is give him notice that next month (or next week, or whatever), due to the overhead costs of supplying paper for the account, she could no longer do it at the old price, and then quote the new price.

If she gets 'replaced', she'd have to figure that it was going to happen sooner or later anyway, and if he was that cheap, there were probably other 'surprises' down the pike, as well. So probably good riddance. It might seem like a better deal to keep that account and let the guy keep cheating her like that, but then again, a better account is probably just around the corner. OR --- he could start to take her seriously when she sticks to her guns and says she has to raise her price. She has to make a living, too, right? OR --- he could go with someone else for a while, realize he had a good thing when he was using her service, and come crawling back. At that point, she could probably charge him almost anything she wanted, within reason of course, and he'd gladly pay it.

I had a non-MT, service-type business a number of years ago, and some of my BEST clients were the ones who left in a huff when I had the 'audacity' to raise my prices along with the rise in overhead, only to come back on their hands and knees a few weeks or months later. Some of them became the most generous tippers, too. It was funny how male colleagues of mine in the exact same business were rarely, if ever, questioned when it came to their charges for services rendered. Yet as a female, it was almost expected that if the client tried to get me to provide the same service for less, that I wouldn't stand up for myself and would just accept it because I was a female.

Until there is an equal double-standard to go along with the perception that women's work is worth less than men's, and we can pay half what men pay at the gas pumps and in the grocery stores due to our gender, then we shouldn't have to simply settle for less than they would get for the same job, either. And you just KNOW that if medical transcription had evolved into a 'men's' profession instead of a 'women's' profession, it would most likely be a good, high-paying white-collar job that they would have fought long and hard to prevent from being offshored. We just stood there and allowed the hospitals to reduce it to about the same level as janitorial work, or lower.

If a woman running an independent MT business such as this woman is STILL doesn't want to do things like give clients the bad news when a price hike is in order, why not simply borrow a strong male voice to make those calls? And to have a little spiel on the voicemail system, so that it SOUNDS like the system is owned and run by a man? If the client believed a man owned the business and was making those kinds of decisions, I bet she'd be able to command a higher price for her services all around, not just when supplying the letterhead. Something to think about!
Can't find work...should I start a business?
I am about to finish up my certification at a local college and have been extremely disappointed to find that it seems no one is going to hire me to work for a company because I don't have 2+ years experience....even though I've spent the last 2 years transcribing school work....I am trying to decide if I'd just be better off to take what I've learned and try to start my own business.  Financially, I am able to do it, but I'm just not sure how much of a headache it might be.  What should I do?  I kind of feel like I've wasted a lot of time and money.  I'm pretty confident that I can do the work, but how can you prove that to someone who just wants to know if you have experience?  I just don't know what to do. 
I find it unlikely this company will be in business much longer...
that is just horrible.
anyone know where to find samples of flyers to start your own business?
I want to make my own and would like to look at how a few are formatted.  Thx.
I find it totally disgusting that benefits are tied in to production.
xx
Funny how people are different. I find islands/beaches to be totally boring.
s
How do you find a balance in this type of work...

with family, friends, hobbies, etc and still have time to type!  Is it possible, if so, how?


So what do you do to keep motivated to type during the work day? Sometimes I find it so hard to...

stay focused.  When you're working at home it is soooo easy to turn on the TV, take frequent breaks to answer the phone, talk to hubbie, play with the kids, take a hot bath, play solitaire on the PC, surf the net, post on a message board, etc.


I just wondered if anyone had any miracle cure for the wandering mind?


I find myself cringing everytime I type a cath
nm
i have a Geneticist that i type and find it extremely hard with the terms of all the genetic disabli
;
I AM SICK, SICK, SICK AND TIRED

Of bad dictators and QA that takes up for them!!!!  I am sick to death of:


1.  Doc saying paragraph after every sentence.


2.  Docs never dictating the first name of doc they are writing to.


3.  QA asking us to insert certain sentences in certain places for certain doctors who do not dictate them.


4.  Docs wanting their own specific headings but not dictating them.


5.  Docs who ramble, never saying period.


6.  QA asking us to **fix** their grammer, mistakes, fragmented sentences, and verb tenses and sometimes when we do, we are docked points for **not transcribed as dictated.**


7.  QA not wanting anything sent to them, stating **researach medical terms and facilities you are not familiar with.**  If they are not there to help us out, what are they doing there????


8.  Docs, NPs, and PAs who do not know how to dictate, pronounce, or spell.


9.  QA asking us to use BOS, but not knowing it themselves.


10.  Doing work I do not get paid for.


Before QA became involved, in years gone by, if a doc's dictation was awful - then that is what he got for transcription and more times than not, they would straighten up and make a better effort.  Not now - we or QA has to almost do the dictation for them!!  They are the ones with the medical degree - not us.  What happened to us just transcribing what is dictated.  Why can't they be responsible for what prints out??  If someone could let them know how much trouble their dictation style causes, it would cut my transcription time in half.  My list could go on and on.  It is a terrible time to be thinking about getting out of the business, but if this crap keeps up - I have to give it some serious consideration.  The job just AIN'T what it used to be.


Unfortunately it is legal..so yes it is business and they will continue with bad business practices
x
I made my business your business by posting and...
I totally respect everyone's opinions. It is easier for others on the outside looking in. That's why I pushed the "post reply" button yesterday. I trust my fellow MTs and I know the more I read from you all, the more confident I am becoming. I just need that final push, not from him though. I also wanted to let you all know that the physical abuse while I was pregnant was documented by my doctor and the hospital. I only wish I had known then that it is a felony to abuse a pregnant woman. I also photographed my face from a couple of weeks ago and told several people in my circle. I had such high hopes for us. Now...not so much. I'm not saying that I won't try to get him to church, but I realize that God can only do so much for someone who isn't listening. j
Business is business. Internet forums are
.
don't type double spaces. Type single. Then no one will be cheated.
x
go to chat room on web site and find out. i'm working but if you find out, let me know.
creepy dude.
For a business ad?! A business that deals
''Transcriptsis'' x2

''with good track record''

''serve our clients of all sizes'' (I know what they mean, but I just think the wording is funny)

''strive to achieve highest possible quality'' (once again, they never met an 'article' that they didn't hate)

''all departments including H&P...'' (or a comma, for that matter)

I can type with wine, can't type with coffee, though...too jittery.
x
That is, type the code above before and after what you want bolded in the text-to-type box. nm
nm
I find most of my abbreviations here. Scroll all the way down until you find the abbreviation box.
http://www.mtchat.com/frame.php?frame=message
Totally Special, totally HOT! NM
z
For me it isn't an account type but a dictator type ...
and that would be oriental. An oriental dictator (hahaha, that kind of sounds funny...hahaha) is the most challenging for me.
No, you don't type directly into ES. You type in Word -
or whatever their platform is, just like you did with your tapes.

Then you do your line count in Word or the platform.
You should type them. I usually type them in parentheses following the diagnosis.
x
remind me, type what they say, type what they say, type....
"He indicated that at the beginning of the year he complained of health problems recently but has gotten better."  C'mon doc, which one is it?????
sorry you are sick
You should probably try something orally like Pepto or Imodium, doubt the other would work but if you call pharmacist they would know for sure
Yes, you do seem a bit sick. Maybe you should

Small talk is a bridge that connects us to people, and let in what might be a close relationship, whether it be friends, or mate, or whatever.  This is how people break the ice to see whats deeper. 


I, like you, became defensive and withdrawn being out of it for so long, and thought everyone was the enemy and out to get me.  Once you change your perspective, you'll realize its not them, its you, you're the one who needs to change to become happy. 


The world is not negative, dreary, and awful, that is just how you see it because you're isolated and scared.   


I am far from a know it all, just sick of MTs like you who cannot think.
I have some great MTs that take feedback, get their scores up, and go completely off QA. But then there are the ones like you who think your own low scores are the editors fault..you couldn't be at fault oh no!! LEARN YOUR JOB! You are on here arguing with people when you should be figuring out how to be a transcriptionist or better yet, a manager at McDonalds!
I used to do that, cause I was so sick of it, but
supposedly now our company started where they will deduct from your paychecks any reports that are sent back, so I just do them.   A lot are still being sent back though, so I doubt if they are enforcing this.
I know what you mean. This is so sick.
How about we discuss too when the world is going to end.
sick cat
Help. Our cat stopped eating about 5 days ago. She will eat maybe 1 bite a day, does drink water.  No upper respiratory signs, no vomiting/diarrhea, she just sits very still for long periods.  Can't get her into vet for a couple more days.  She is getting very thin, not grooming herself.  Tried fancy food, things she likes, not interested. Any suggestions?
sick cat
Please see your vet ASAP! My cat, recently deceased, exhibited these same signs and it turned out she had pneumonia. I was lucky and she ended up living for another year and a half. Yes, if your vet will not see you on an emergency basis, get another vet! Good luck to you and Boo!
If you think I'm sick
then why are you on my site.  Go elsewhere.
If you think this is sick
you should read my journal.
sick son

Emetrol for nausea.  Always worked for me.


Bo sick?
What's wrong with him?  I love him.  He was my pick on the last AI.
sick of it?
I don't think I will ever get sick of it, and I have been at it for over 20 years!   The only thing I regret vocation wise is not sticking with my nursing school.  You know the story... got married young... decided I wanted big $ instead of nursing school and there it went!  So i guess i get my nursing vicariously through transcription!  I do love being at home and being my own boss though!
I am so sick of this!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't help but vent. I was at a family picnic last weekend and YET AGAIN someone approached me about "doing what you do at home".  Uh, you mean my JOB?!?!?!?!?!?!


She said she is trying to get some family member of hers to "do what you do at home". I gave her a bit of a blank stare at first and then as NICELY AS I COULD I explained to her that it is a great job but anyone considering it should know that working from home isn't as easy as the advertisements make it sound. (this is someone who I don't know well, picnic was at my sister-in-laws and she had her side of the family there as well). Anyway, I explained to this lady that I have been doing this for 20 years and I went to school first, then worked in doc office 6 years, then hospital 4 years, then home.  I told her that companies want people to have at least 2 years hospital experience before working at home.  AND, most hospitals want someone to have some MT experience before hiring them.  So I told her not to think that it is easy for someone to just starting ~typing at home~ right away


She then *explained* to me that her sister lives near Cleveland (we are from a small town) and that she would probably have a better chance to work from home being from a bigger city.  I then tried to explain that I work for a national company and that is the standard for the entire country.  She didn't say a word.


HONESTLY I think people really think that we have a nonskilled job, like anyone can put a desk and computer in their home and sit down and start doing this.  UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.  I just wish people would understand that it is a real job!!!!!!


 


sick of MT
Totally. The people who run these companies are total scam artists, and their QA and staff are a bunch of brainwashed illiterate idiots who believe they are "wonderful". I hate these people so much, I will collect welfare before I submit to slave wages and condesencion from perky housewives with GEDs screwing honest skilled workers out of money and loving themselves for it.
Everyone needs to take a sick day now and then!
It truly sounds as if you are sick to me. You might feel better sooner if you rest more and actually need to take less time off in the long run. I have to say that I have typed many times when sick and always thought I could, but the one time I had strep I was so ill I actually had to take off three days AND the weekend in order to begin feeling better. Do what you feel you need to do! :-) Hope you feel better soon.
When you are really sick, take someone with you.

This is one reason that I advise anyone who goes to a doctor when he/she is seriously ill, to take someone with you.  I mean, bring your own advocate right into the examining room, if possible.


Twenty-five years ago I was working at a nursing home on the night shift.  Part of my job was to recopy the doctors' order sheets each month.  They were then mailed to each doctor, who would sign and return them.  Part of this page was provided to Medicare as PROOF that the patient had been seen during the required time period of 60-90 days.  Without the required visits by the doctors, the nursing home did not receive the money from Medicare.  I reported this situation to a long-term care advocate/ombudsman.  Nowadays, I understand that there is a main physician at the facility who may or may not actually see the patient, but he signs the papers.   


 


OH MY GOD! SICK!

You make me sick!  You are obvious.  "A few" are legal. "Good luck finding a decent, well groomed, good hygiene one who is illegal. Alot of them are thieves also"  - how dare you.  I live in South Texas and have lived in California and in Chicago, where the populations of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans are dense, and I probably more than you have had my fair share of contact with "those people" becauase I am one of them - so I guess I'll send myself back to Mexico because my ancesters 125 years ago came across illegally, right?  You mask it well under the pretenses of "oh, my taxes," blah, blah, blah.  Yes, we have a problem with illegal immigration, but sorry, honey, you will not send them all back; yes, they need to be stopped; but because you've had bad experiences with some Mexican nationals, does not give you expertise in all things illegal immigrant - and STOP CALLING THEM A FREAKIN ALIEN!  If you'll notice even the media has stopped that nonsence!  Peace!


 


I'm sick of it 2...
It's not like we're salaried workers who get paid the same amount of money whether we sit around and eat bonbons or work ourselves into the ground. I can't AFFORD to be lazy and try to "get away with" something - if I don't produce much I don't get paid much - why don't they "get" that concept? THEY are the ones who get paid a set annual salary no matter what they do. One day very soon it will all come back to bite these CEOs who sit around thinking of ways to nickle and dime us while insulting our intelligence and skills, which are considerable - and I personally cannot wait until that day.
Car sick
I'm out of town 3 days a week working as a nurse and do MT from my motel room. I just know I couldn't do this from a moving vehicle. I've always been prone to car sickness and it's gotten worse over the years, especially if I try to read or look down at something. UGH. I'm thinking working on a plane or train or maybe an RV would be different since the smaller the vehicle the worse it affects me. Ooh, and I can't ride in the back seat at all anymore. Let me know if it works for you!
I'm sure they get sick
but I doubt that Indiastanippines really requires (for their own patients) the degree of documentation that is demanded in the US by insurance companies, the  malpractice system, etc.
I am so sick of all of this.

This has to be the most underhanded, greedy, bold-faced attack on our salaries that I have seen in my lifetime.  It is just a ploy to keep more money in the MTSOs grubby hands. 


Our fingers are still hitting that spacebar.  Our fingers are still hitting the tab key. 


How about this -- we don't touch any keystroke we are not paid for!


But people will stay and people will take it until all the work is eventually offshored to some other stinking country. 


I can't wait to finish school.  I have had it.  I already left my MT job with a national for a smaller local hospital that still pays an hourly rate.  But I am just keeping this job until I get through school.  And it is not related to medical or typing or transcribing or anything close. 


This industry has become one big scam!


Most of us are just sick of talking about it
x
I am so sick of ESL dictators!

What a lousy day!  I am sick to death of getting 100 different doctors a day and maybe one of them speak English.  Makes for a very long frustrating day.


What are you sick of, the truth?
Someone finally not letting you trash MQ? If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen, seriously.