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It is clinic notes that are pretty easy to type.  Some of the work is digital and some is still on tapes.  They want me to come in and pick up tapes, and they want me to print and deliver reports when I pick up the tapes because they don't know much about setting up a remote printer.  I made an introductory offer of 12 cpl for the first month and then 15 cpl if we both feel like continuing to work together.  I felt that since I am going to be out the cost of gas and ink, my offer was more than reasonable.  Well, they countered with a flat 12 cpl period with a one year contract and then we reevaluate at that time.  While I was mulling that over, she called back and asked if I would be interested in doing some radiology for them in addition to the clinic work.  So basically this account will keep me very busy and is not going to be just overflow.

So now I'm back to thinking 15 cpl and because they balking, not offering the introductory rate anymore.

What does everyone think?

Does anyone use software for transcription that has the automatic faxing and e-mailing so the doctor's office doesn't have to pay staff to do this? 

Was it expensive for you to buy - does the vendor charge you a per line fee or any fee for this - is it easy for you to use - and do you feel that the doctors like this kind of software and its faxing and emailing of transcripts to referring physicians functions?  Also, do you have names of companies you could give so that I could possibly check into this?  I am currently using a phone-in system but I thought an automatic faxing software would draw in prospective doctor clients. 

Any opinions, good and bad, are welcomed.   Thank you. 

Does anyone use software for transcription that has the automatic faxing and e-mailing so the doctor's office doesn't have to pay staff to do this? 

Was it expensive for you to buy - does the vendor charge you a per line fee or any fee for this - is it easy for you to use - and do you feel that the doctors like this kind of software and its faxing and emailing of transcripts to referring physicians functions?  Also, do you have names of companies you could give so that I could possibly check into this?  I am currently using a phone-in system but I thought an automatic faxing software would draw in prospective doctor clients. 

Any opinions, good and bad, are welcomed.   Thank you.

I'm still firmly of the opinion that it does suck.  I hate it.  The poster who said it's just a mess to clean up, is absolutely correct.  That's the whole problem.  Some doctors are great,  others are so-so, and many are just a mess.  You waste more time backing up and correcting, and could have typed it by hand in the first place with less grief and frustration.

Yes, maybe it is the wave of the future, but as many bad dictators as there are, there are always going to be people needed for them.   Let the ones who love speech rec go for it.  It might help some, saving some people's hands, and boosting production somewhat, but I'd really like to talk to the people themselves who love it and supposedly have great production, rather than just seeing a generic sheet of numbers that the supervisors wave around for show. 

No, it was not the Dragon program, and not a national company. 

This is not on just a few providers, it's about 70% of them in a quite large facility, ESLs included right along with the stumblers and mumblers.

Correct, the supervisors are pushing this program so hard, to save money. Yes, it can be a great help to some, but not to all. 

Medical reports can be extremely complicated, and are in no way comparable to social work reports.  One person, consistently dictating all the time, compared to an assortment of 20-30 dictators/speech patterns at random, with different types of reports?  No, there's no comparison. 

All in all, it does suck to work with.  And if I'm not taken off the program at the end of three months, then I will probably quit.  It might help me somewhat, but I doubt it's going to boost my production that much.  We'll see what happens.  To me, it's not worth the stress and frustration. 

I am SO sorry for reposting this. If I knew how to remove my other post from the pressure valve, I would... I do not want to get in trouble for multiple postings, so PLEASE forgive that mistake. I just don't think that the PV gets as much traffic as this board, and I really need some help right now! 

Can I get an opinion from someone who is experienced in this business?  I am a relatively new MT...  I have only been doing this job since March 2005, so less than a year. 

I work as an independent contractor at .08 per line.  My employer is a really nice person, but she will frequently need help over the weekend.  I have always said sure because I want to make myself valuable to her.  However, I have always done as much as I can do comfortably and still have time with my family over the weekend. 

I did an extra 1000 lines this weekend, which takes me about 6 hours because I am still new and research everything if I am not totally familiar with the terms.  I got an email this morning saying that, basically, I had not done enough to help her and she ended up doing "most of it" herself.

My feeling is that she is the owner of this business.  If she overextends herself as far as taking on work and she has to work all weekend to get it done, that's what she has to do as the owner of this business.  If she wants to pay a weekend differential to me, then sure... I will make plans with my husband to take the kids on his own and I will work all weekend now and then.  But if I am working for the same rate, I am not willing to work all week and then work all weekend too and miss out on my husband and children.  Isn't it customary and expected to offer a differential for working weekends and holidays?

I am a bit miffed because I gave up most of my Saturday and an hour or so on Sunday to help her out, and now I am criticized for not doing more for the same pay. Any input from you experienced MTs?

I am sitting on my email reply, but it does have this in it:

"I am happy to help as much as I can over a weekend without a differential, but I will need to do so around my family's schedule."

I need to reply to her email, but am not sure what to say. Thank you in advance for your help.  

Yesterday, I received an announcement in the mail regarding the graduation of a long-time ex-friend's daughter's graduation...wheew!

My question to y'all is...the last time this ex-friend and I spoke, we were not on good terms..and actually, she wasn't really a friend.  She was an MTSO that I worked for for about a year.  Turned out (and long story short) she was a crazy person!!!  Anyway, I was very surprised to receive this announcement.

What would y'all do? Send the girl money?...I have nothing against her, though I don't really know her that well...trash the announcement and forget about it, or what? I am by no means going to attend the ceremony, but should I even acknowledge the receipt of the announcement?

I feel like the "friend" just...like my daughter said...went through her address book and sent everyone in it an announcement...probably just for gifts...your help would be so appreciated!

I don't believe I am looking for acceptance or any such thing from my mother, but rather I truly care about my father and aunt's health.  I think sometimes people are very close to a situation and may not be able to see outside of themselves. 

Also, I never said, nor do I believe, that an MT has anything on a NP.  I only believe that we do have some medical knowledge and can sometimes pick up on things.  Years ago my dad had a constant cough.  His doctors (IM, card, pulm) or my mother couldn't figure it out.  I asked if he had started any new medications and he had started an ACE.  He changed meds and his cough was gone. 

I have to think a little more about this, but I do appreciate all the help.

I am considering filing harassment charges against an MTSO for which I used to work.  I left the company 3-1/2 years ago to start my own company with another Transcriptionist (who also worked for the same MTSO).  We had both signed a non-compete contract and had no intention of violating that agreement.  When we were contacted by three of the MTSO's former clients, we consulted an attorney who advised us that while we could not solicit the work we were free to accept the work being offered (in the contract, the MTSO had not only attempted to prevent us from soliciting its clients, it also attempted to prevent us from accepting work from its clients if offered).

Two years after we had both left the MTSO, we both received a visit from the local authorities who had received a complaint from the MTSO stating that we were operating a business out of our homes without a license.  This was proven to be unfounded as we had closed our company the year before (we both went to work for other transcription companies).  A couple of months after the complaints were filed, the MTSO then filed a lawsuit against us (as well as three other former transcriptionists who had worked for the same MTSO) for breach of contract. The judge ruled in our favor and the lawsuit was over.

Fast forward to now:  I received yet another visit recently from the local authorities stating that another complaint had been filed against me by the MTSO for operating a business out of my home without a license.  Again, this was proven to be unfounded as the company no longer exists and I am now considered an employee, not an independent contractor. 

If I file harassment charges, would I just be adding fuel to the fire or stamping it out, as is my intent.

Thanks for any and all advice!

I had doubts myself, guess that's why I asked.  I will continue to brainstorm for a new name.  Thanks to all that replied!   

My brother-in-law is a very sensible, smart and  hard-working man, and my sister has always so cautious, especially when it comes to her children. But somehow, the past couple years she is able to turn and look the other way with her son. And my brother-in-law will not tell his son  to get his head out of the clouds.  Their philosophy is, they survived the "hippie" years, so they know their son will be "fine".   Perhaps it is just to hard for them to deal, so they are too easy on him.  I know it is not my business, but I love them and sometimes I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut.  I need to learn to keep quiet.

Do the majority here think that our supervisors and managers are out of touch?  Before you laugh, this is a serious question.

As we type all these crappy soundfiles, static, ESLs, Christmas carols in August, and on and on, do you think that our managers who were MTs x years ago would really be able to produce as much as they expect us to do day in and day out? What they did in the past isn't an apples-to-apples comparison any more than if we do that.  This is a "today" survey of sorts.

The main reason I ask this is naturally as above (the out of touch/too far removed thing), but beyond that, now that we have all the "perks" of the digital age, why do we still have all these audio problems and everything else we endure on a daily basis?  Why have those problems yet to be resolved, seriously?

I thought about this over the weekend as I had an entire shift of one doc, who always uses a horrible phone or something. The end result is always leaving quite a few blanks--and that's after QA goes over it. 

This isn't a diss session.  It's more a fact-finding one.

Thanks for reading this and adding comments.

Employee salaried position, 52K year, at home with benefits for QA specialist doing full edits, feedback and monthly QA audits.   Do you think this is a reasonable salary?

This is salaried, not hourly! 

Thank you in advance for all opinions!

I visited a school yesterday.  I can't justify paying almost $12,000 to go to school to get a $10/hour job.  I'm going to take the advice I've gotten, get a book and study, and take the certification exam on my own, and then start pestering pharmacies.

Thanks, everyone!

them. 

I have a feeling you think the money we b*$ches are all ponying up is going to let you live in the lap of luxury with your new bundle of joy, but you should really consider whether you will be happy living with almost enough, but never plenty. 

You are at a crossroads in your life really.  You have abilities and skills that can lead you to success, or you can choose to live off the hard work of others.  Choose carefully and live with your choice.

Please tell me if I'm wrong here.  I will try and make it short.  Okay, so I work as an LPN for a doctor and I also do his transcription AT HOME for an extra check (IC status) and I work for another company doing transcription on the weekends.  So, out of the blue he and his wife (office manager) decide that they no longer can "afford" transcription, so they want me to do the transcription during my 8-hour nursing shift.  They don't want to take away any of my duties, they just want me to work harder I suppose, and they said I could do transcription in between patients and things such as that.

I told them that I didn't feel that was fair and that I do make a considerable larger amount doing transcription than my nursing pay and it's really not fair to double my work and keep my ONE pay.  Well, the wife explained it to me and she said that even if they asked me to sweep the floor, as long as I was getting my salary that was required for that 8 hours, then I would be required to do so.  Okay, so I get that........BUT.......everybody working in the office knows how to sweep the floor and that would be fair.  I am the ONLY person that knows how to do transcription, so if EVERYONE can't do the transcription, then why should I be required to?  It is like they are using an extra "talent" that I have, for lack of a better word, to profit on it. 

I feel like what they are asking me to do would be in comparison to if I was also a hair stylist and they REQUIRED me to style everyone's hair at work for no extra money.  I mean doing transcription is a whole extra craft, but they feel it is the same as if they asked me to take out the garbage or sweep the floor.

Am I wrong?  TIA for your opinions.

We said he's a MORON and we're not giving him any of our hard-earned money.  He has a right to his opinion.  However, I'm not giving him one red cent of my money because I don't agree with his private opinions that he's been so publicly vocal about.  My opinions is that he's not good looking, he's not a great actor, and his personal beliefs are such that I don't want to contribute to his material wealth.  I merely tolerated him before because he was in the movie I happened to be watching.  Now, forget it.  I won't watch Woody Allen movies either because the nasty old pervert married his stepdaughter.  That's just wrong on so many levels.  And that's my opinion that I'm entitled to.

Threads change as conversations evolve.  We don't have to stay on topic either.  Besides, refusing to pay money to see a Tom Cruise movie was on topic to the thread.  However, the discussions on this board have gotten completely off topic from transcription.  I liked it better when all these current events were on a separate board or the politics board.  Life's too short to worry about what all the rich and famous are doing.

Plus, your generalization about people who vote according to their favorite celebs but don't seek help for depression was way off base.  That was such a completely asinine statement that I would really love to see your facts and research to support such a theory. 

Just wondering if anyone out there has had any expierences with TransformMT (good or bad)?

What, in your opinion of course, do you consider being unfaithful to your spouse? I know this is a LOADED question, with many different opinions.

Is it having a full-blown affair (you know what I mean...we are adults here)?

Is it simply talking to/seeing someone without your spouse knowing, but not being intimate? Kissing, talking, becoming emotionally involved?

Do you think one must *go all the way*, to us a teenager's term, before it would be considered an affair?

I really need some help here...I'm going through a very hard time right now and need some support. I don't want to go into my personal details here, but just need opinions...thanks everyone!

Looking at several different options.  Metroscript, MyDocsOnline, and Files To Go seem to be at the top of my list so far.  I would appreciate any feedback as to experience with this program.  Thank you.

i work for a small MTSO doing clinic accts.  i have my own accts assigned to me.  now they are wanting me to train someone on my accts.  okay, we all know how long it takes training someone usually.  no compensation offered.  i have to send all my templates, instructions, etc, etc, etc to them.  okay, a lot of these i made myself to save myself time.  which should i send the things i made myself.  no one trained me on the accts nor sent me templates, instructions, etc. when i started.   

how do you all handle this?  am i just being tacky?  this job hasn't been going so well lately so i think there are ulterior motives.

if i refuse, i would probably lose my job but at this point i really don't care anymore.  otherwise, do it and loose my income and time to help someone else learn my acct to probably take my place when i am already swamped?

Here is how the story goes.  Have been married for 5-1/2 years to a great man.  We are young, in lower 30s, have one child who is almost 4.  My husband is disabled due to mental illness which is somewhat controlled with medication.  We get disability for him.  I work from home as a MT.  We were doing great but then became careless with our money a bit.  That was fine.  I could make extra money, but then my work became VERY LOW for about 2 months straight. Bills got behind, we almost lost our house in foreclosure, etc.  We have no help.  Then I became surprisingly pregnant, which we were both HAPPY with but only to end in miscarriage days after we found out I was pregnant.  My doctor, probably since I have no medical insurance, said "let nature take its course" by letting the miscarriage happen and remove itself on its own.  This was grueling - took almost one solid month which I had to get blood test every 6 days to see how low the count was going.  We recovered from that and my work began to pick back up - thank God.  I have been working a lot, almost getting out of our crunch - would be out of this mess by mid-July.  The problem:  During this time period we had gotten into some fights, he left and went to his parents (who always - and I mean ALWAYS - interferes with our business), they went and switched (the same day of our fight) his mom to be representative payee for his monthly check.  So when we made up the next day he told me this.  I was irrate! First of all, I would NEVER EVER try to steal his money or what have you - he should know that by now.  I am not like that.  Well during the course of the next few months we had always missed the date to switch it back to my name and they said to wait until next month.  Well, we have been fighting for a few days lately, but I thought everything was okay - just a fight.  His mom tells us how she is going to spend his money for July - which I disagreed on because I have a set schedule of certain bills automatically withdrawn - so I get a little upset and tell him as soon as the beginning of next month happens, we will switch me back to being his rep. payee for his check ---he tells me "NO, my mom is staying my rep. payee!"  I LOSE IT!!!  I tell him I am not working my tail off for his parents to decide how OUR money is going to be spent.  He thinks all of the hardship is my fault, which honest to God I haven't bought any clothes, shoes, got my hair fixed, bought makeup or ANYTHING for just about this whole year.....He was gambling heavily awhile back - not hundreds but money that we could have used for something important, he wasted on that.  So I talk civilized to him and say, "Maybe we should separate a bit and you can pay your bills (credit cards, car) and I will pay for the house, utilities, my credit cards, and care for my son....this is AFTER he said he is going to have his mom take his money and pay off HIS bills since I was so horrible at it. 

Sorry this is so long....

The thing is what else can I do?  There is nothing that I want to do.  I feel like I have gotten the shaft here horribly.  But he thinks he is totally right.  His parents come first - what they say he believes even if he said the sky was purple and he was looking at and saw it blue he would still believe it was purple because they said so....I think a lot of his mental issues are from his parents and upbringing.  How do I handle this the adult way?  I offered to help pay on 2 of his credit cards because I helped with them - but total for both is only like 800.00.  I am sticking to my guns of him NOT coming back as long as his mom is rep. payee.  I just don't see how a marriage can work like that. 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I guess I just wanted to vent and see where did I go wrong.  I know I have been grouchy lately at times due to stress but I don't cuss or anything so he was never cussed out or anything....I take care of ALL bills, do ALL cooking, do ALL laundry.  He sleeps until 1-2p every day while I get up early, try to work and watch my son.  He has gotten lazy since he has been disabled.  Before he worked MANY HOURS and was NEVER EVER LIKE THIS....Help.