a long response

>>>Doctors don't want to hire newbies.  In office, at home, it doesn't matter. 

You’re contacted all of the doctors in this country?

>>>It's not about being a stay at home mommy, as you are so assuming and generalizing yourself. 

But it’s okay for you to generalize, with the above statement and “so they can make as much moolah as possible.”

>>>Everyone wants to hire experienced workers, but nobody is willing to train them. 

Really? I don’t know how you entered this field, but I *was* grandfathered for this business. Three different hospitals hired me with different degrees of education. The first hospital took me no experience whatsoever and trained me from the ground floor up in the Medical Records Department. The second hospital took me with only six months of experience, and no radiology experience. The third hospital hired me after I had been out of the business for two years (making babies), and there was a lot of competition for the job.

>>>As I said, every other industry in the country trains their workers. 

Interesting meal you’re eating:  mushrooms and brownies.

>>>MT seems to be the only one where people are expected to walk into it knowing everything.  It's not an assumption; it's an observation.  Just because my experience and observations are different than yours does not make me wrong.  You're not the know all, end all to the MT world.  I do have business management experience and education, so don't dismiss my observation as lacking just because it doesn't match yours.

Great, terrific, wonderful ... applause ... you can be the next Apprentice. (pause) And I never said I was the know all, end all to the MT world. I merely stated a fact:  It takes a very long time to train someone with little to no experience, having done it myself as a MTSO. But you skipped over that part and bit the heels of my last statement about staying home ... a statement made by so many MTs (messages I've read over the years), that if I had a dollar for each one, I could pay off my mortgage.

>>>Going to school or college does NOT train a person to automatically step into a position knowing everything.  Nurses, doctors, lawyers, managers, HR directors, personal bankers, vice presidents, all of them had apprenticeships, internships, training, or worked their way up.

From day #1, a nurse, doctor, and lawyer can’t cherry pick the people they want to deal with (patient or client). A nurse learns to draw blood from ALL patients. A gastroenterologist learns to perform a colonoscopy on ALL patients. A criminal lawyer defends ALL clients (not just the ones they get along with). All from day #1. On the other hand, the new MT is not going to be thrown into the transcription “pool” with everyone else. It’s a long and drawn-out training process ... time that somebody else in the department has to provide. And as I said before, been there and done that. 

HR directors, personal bankers, and VPs all started at the ground floor, probably in clerical positions. They merely went up the “food chain.” I have a friend at Citigroup who went from mainframe programming to project leader to VP of a department over the course of 20 years. It’s like going from walking 3.5 miles per hour to jogging 6 miles per hour.

>>>MT is the only field I know of where nobody is willing to train or mentor newbies.  The training at my last MT job consisted of an emailed two-page explanation of how to pull up their jobs.  That's it.  No account specs, nothing.  Go live on day one.

The MT field used to train and mentor newbies. That’s the way way it was “back then.” To repeat, I was grandfathered for this job (never mind when). It no longer is. Now, you not only need to get a degree, there’s even a group that’s screaming for certification. And it’s not the hospitals and doctors who have been chattering about that one all these years. They were more than content with the quality of the MT work of 20, 30, 40+ years ago. On top of that ... many newbies are hold they should not accept more than 7 cents a line from the start. Even doing only 100 lines per hour, that’s *still* $14.00 an hour. Would you pay a trainee that kind of money? Not me (been there, done that ... said for the third time). Maybe you dug a hole for yourself?

What we have here is two different sides of the same coin ... mine is a good many years of experience in this field PLUS actual hands-on experience training people. I know what’s involved. I know how time consuming it is. What do you bring to the table besides personal observation? 

There’s a huge difference between just sitting in the stands watching a football game and having experience playing on the field.

• Very Angry MT - Angry
  • Sorry that happened to you. :( But - Happy
  • when i was a newbie... - nr
  • Try to find an office you can work out of where other MTs can help you out! - Miss Prissy
  • ESLs are hard enough for exp MTs...sm - HomeMT
  • I am new and work from home without many problems. If I - TM
  • As a new MT one should not worry about production but quality. A lot of MTs old and new sm - My 2 cents
  • Because owners, managers, and CEOs are all trying to cut costs - training newbies is expensive
    • I'm doing it - Misha
    • don't make assumptions - Snow Bunny
      • Nail on the head, Snowbunny. nm - Happy
      • No, even the hospitals don't want to hire new MTs. - training newbies is expensive
        • OK, I'm sure that isn't true in any case but look at this: SM - Happy
        • a long response - Snow Bunny
          • 100 lines at .07 is $7.00 an hour, not $14 - nm - x
            • never did like math - Snow Bunny
              • So, since it is $7 and not $14 now, do you still - think that is too much?? nm
                • do I think $7 is too much? - Snow Bunny
                  • You said... - SM
                    • as I said before your response - Snow Bunnyy
                  • I think $.07, $.075, $.08, or $.085 are all way too low for experienced MTs. - I don't.
                    • getting paid what (we think) we're worth - Snow Bunny
      • Everyone must pay their dues....we experienced MTs sm - Old Exp. MT
        • "Just had to give my 10 cents worth" - Snow Bunny
      • Wow, SnowBunny, you hit the nail on the head. It blows my mind how people think they can - Pat
  • Just curious, Angry, but how did a company hire you - sm - pkm
    • mentoring program - Angry
      • oh dear, no no no. There are quite a few companies that will do that - sm - pkm
  • If you don't have that much experience SM - Judy
    • Yes of course my FAULT - Angry
      • Who else would you blame this on? You did the work. SM - Wellll
      • Thats the biz.. part of the reason why not everyone can or cares - to do this job. n/m
      • Since you had a bad ESL did you blank or put what it sounded like? - outsider looking in
      • ESLs are about 60-70% of the dictators, we as language - specialists need to get used to that. sm.
        • I have done ESLs I worked for SS before - Angry
          • To Angry sm - Dano
          • To Angry - sm
          • Angry, this happened in our hospital with our outsource service - sm - hospital MT
            • Proof that it takes only 1 made doctor to gripe about 1 report and out the door you go! nmx - MLS2
              • To MLS2, you should not have made a statement like that - you could not be more wrong - sm - hospital MT
                • Hospitals being sued - Dano
                  • couldn't agree more with you, Dano - nm - yep
  • Were you being provided with feedback? If not, did you ask? How long did you - Patsy

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I used to make $70,000 and up a year and did so for most of the late 80s and 90s (one girl used to make six figures a year working 7 days a week!)  Because we were making more money than the supervisors and Medical Records Directors in hospitals, they began to switch to transcription services which were sprouting up all over the place.  Plus AAMT came into existence and even though in the beginning it claimed it was to fight for transcriptionists (although assured us it was NOT a union), they eventually morphed into an organization that was more management friendly.  They developed the "guidelines" and the 65-char line.  That was the beginning of the end for those high-end wages.  Then all those mickey mouse transcription schools popped up, and now outsourcing overseas.  YES, we're complaining. 

>>>it states that the one space rule applies following a period, in numeric lists, and following a colon. I received these guidelines in March from MQ. This is what I would go by. I was told that if I spaced twice I would receive a penalty on my QA reviews.

That's all you had to say.

>>>Obviously, you are the uninformed one, so see ya later wench. 

This was uncalled for.    

Yes, the big four are ops, ds, H&P, and consults. I can't help you with where to look for strictly ER reports, but I'll recommend you try to expand you skills into the ops. It'll help if you stay competitive.

In terms of going from 10 cpl to 9 cpl and taking a 40% reduction in pay ... how do you figure that? If you transcribe 10,000 at 10 cpl that $1,000 and at 9 cpl that's $900. That's a 10% reduction ... unless ... you went from 10 cpl for gross lines over to 9 cpl for a 65-char line. Now, that would be the pitz.  

I think 7 cpl is too much for a newbie. Don't matter what it comes out to in an hourly rate.

I don't believe in freebies. That's why I don't believe in doing "secretarial work" (i.e. looking up addresses).

If a new person wants to be hired by a company, they should not receive the same line rate as someone with more experience. They should "PAY" for their continued training. So, if I'm right out of school and want to get a job with a transcription company, I would have no hesitation telling the company to pay me 2 cpl less than more experienced people, as far compensation for my training. Every three months, I make an additional 1/2 cent per line. After two years, when I should not require any further training, I'm at the highest level.

This isn't greed. It's business.

>>>stand by that.  Sure, an MT under the influence may get it right, but I certainly would never want to take a chance on that. 

You're judging without the fact. The best MT my business ever had was an alcoholic. She was responsible. She never had excuses for not working. Her reports were always flawless (yes, I did QA for all reports from everybody). So WHAT if she threw a few back. It had no impact on the quality of her work. Her body was used to the liquor.

>>>It's all about resposibility and realizing the critical nature of medical transcription.  As an MTSO, I would not want an MT drinking while working.  Period. 

And how are you going to know who does and who doesn't drink while working? Are you going to install a little camcorder on their computer and watch them? 

>>>If I hired someone and found out they drank while working, they would be out the door. 

Even if their reports were perfect? Wow, you must be the reincarnation of somebody from the Tempest League (is that what they called it?) during the turn of the century.

>>>After living with an alcoholic ex-husband for 20 years, I don't think this is labeling.  I think it is a reality.  He was a functional drunk.  In other words, he managed to fool the people around him at work that didn't know him well enough or didn't work with him closely.  Those that were close enough to him to see him on a daily basis could see that he only fooled himself into thinking that it didn't impair him.  He would use the same reasoning you just did and say that it affects every person differently and some have a higher tolerance. 

First sentence:  “after living with an alcoholic ex-husband for 20 years.” The origin of this conversation was somebody who liked to sip a glass of wine while working (I don't remember if it was on occasion or every day). By your statement, they’re a full-blown alcoholic who is impaired on the job.

>>>My point to him is the same as yours:  if it starts affecting your everyday life then it IS impairing your judgment.  If you can't even wait a few hours until the workday is over to have your drink and feel you have to make excuses for why you're drinking on the job, then you're judgment is already impaired before you even take the drink.  I don't think it matters if you're a doctor, bus driver, MT, or zookeeper, you are being PAID for your skills and time while on the job.  Save your drinks for recreation.  If you can't, then either you have a problem with it or you don't respect those who will receive your finished product or those who employ you.  

Again, this had nothing whatsoever to do with the original statement:  Sipping a glass of wine while working. I mentioned that I knew some who WAS an alcoholic and their work was flawless. I could have cared less if they had a drinking problem or not. In fact, I don't think I found out until a couple of years AFTER I hired her that she had a drinking problem. So what?! It did not affect the quality of her work. Why should I fire her simply because she was an alcoholic?

>>>Think about it....if you were on a job interview and the interviewer asked if you had a problem with drinking on the job, would you honestly tell that person, "no, I think it's okay to drink in moderation" and then expect to be hired? 

If I was asked that question, I would flat out say I rarely drink, which is the total truth. I rarely do. If they said to me, “Do you think it is wrong to hire someone who drinks on the job, I would tell them ... as much as I do with somebody who eats on the job.” As long as they can do their job properly, it  doesn’t bother me.

I will try eliminating the products and see what happens.  I am glad to hear that it is possible that you can be allergic to the products.  I did not think it was possible since they are hypoallergenic but  I guess it can happen.  I love their products though. 

Dear Ma'am,

I vividly recall refusing to go another doctor as well.  I can truly emphasize with you and your son's situation because I went through the same nightmare.  Unfortunately, this nightmare is nothing compared to what the new "iPLEDGE" program is doing to thousands of patients.  I used to be able to call in my prescription to my family doctor and now have to sign contracts, submit personal sexual history, speak to a total stranger on a monthly basis, have a blood AND urine pregnancy test- how degrading! 

I have experienced absolutely no ill affects with this medication.  It was my last resort and I am thankful every day at least SOMETHING works.  Accutane (minus this iPLEDGE program) has changed my life- well, it had given me my life back.  On Accutane I have the freedom to truly embrace my life and not hide every day.  I guarantee your son is going through tremendous inner turmoil and physical pain.  Please help to give him his life back and help him get Accutane.

Sincerely yours,

J. Jackson

Ummm its not cheating anyone, she knows how I bill them.  I also pay my mom, who has had no other experience 10 cpl 65 character or not, not many people on this board with years of experience making that.  That is also how I make my profit.  She does not pay for FTP site, website, phone bill, dealing with office, efax.  I have trained her right out of school on this account and that takes a LOT of time. If you work at say a furniture store, look at what people are paying for that furniture and they are paying minimum wage to the employees?  Just the way it works.  Sorry you feel this way, but you could go out and get your own account like this as well, then you would not have to work for anyone else! 

I won't take this personal though, there are always a few people that make nasty comments!  Have a great day!  For everyone else that is giving me great advice, thank you very, very much! 

to Hayseed's disturbing non-hiring of Americans link from the Legislative Assistant.

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