advice needed, will you guys be my magic eight

• advice needed, will you guys be my magic eight - ball? no drama or mean spirits please.
  • Go for it instead of working two jobs. Good luck. - nm
  • See if there is financial aid available, - Moving on
  • Well, sm - MT
    • esthetician field. - seems to be a growing field. (sm)
  • I should make a correction - OP (sm)
    • About in your same position, and I plan on - holy cow
  • Look for grant to pay for school. Have heard that MTs can get them because of offshoring of - our proffesion. nm
    • Sorry, only if (sm) - Wishful Thinking
    • Actually, heard this applies to any profession adversly affected by offshoring. - nm
    • Where did you hear that? And what funding source? Curious. nm - MT
      • I told you about them...my husband is a machinist...sm - Old MT
      • I probably read about it on MSN or someone mentioned it to me. Maybe call local college or JUCO - admiss. office and ask them? nm
    • Do you think they will pay for my spelling classes??? lol - nm
      • do you know someone who took advantage? - OP (sm)
        • Or maybe check with your state's labor department? - nm
        • I agree. - lol!

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 I was offered a home-based MT job as a direct employee of the hospital with an extremely good per-line-rate.   But yes, it was too good to be true!  Apparently on further consideration, the administrator now says it is too costly (technically) for home set-up; mentioned something about the Lanier DVI desktop and how costly etc. etc.  and some other MT has the license (?what's that about?); also mentioned "Cquence" transcription software program.   They already have 5 other off-site MTs.   Anybody out there with opinions and/or constructive advice...please.  

I am an IC MT.  My MTSO continually loses files that I have already sent her.  I am paid only for what I type per line, not doing secretarial work.  Just today she said that she needed me to resend EVERYTHING I have done for her since October 15.  That's going in, in separate emails so I don't crash her computer, and sending separate emails with each day's work.  I just spent over an hour doing this.

Saying anything will get her irate, because she doesn't understand the concept of IC versus employee paid by the hour. But does anyone have a good sample email for how I would basically say, "I spent an hour on this.  I bill out at $25 an hour, so further resending of previously sent work will be billed at this rate."

That will probably get me fired.  Any better way to put it?

Thank you for posting this and thanks to all for your words of encouragement. I thought about giving up also but I paid too much money for my course to give up.

It was good to read that others failed before they succeeded.

Thanks again.

Pam

This is, I know, an old and overdone question BUT...Please, please other than coffee, protein, water, energy drinks, herbs, and Provigil, please does anybody have a way in which I can stay awake in between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. during my shift? My shift is second oddly going into third.  I am fine when I do third shift going into overnight and early morning.  But, it is absolutely the worst struggle between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.  I would gladly give my highest paycheck to the person who can help me stay awake at that time. That is if I could LOL. Appreciating your replies.

Problems on this job have me seriously considering making a move if there's no improvement soon.  Last night I started to polish up a resume, and realized I'm not sure what to do with references.  I am not ready to tell my current employer that I am investigating my options, and I would rather not have them called for references until I'm in discussion with a company that looks like a good fit for me.

So what to do on the resume?  "Available upon request"?  I have a number of reference letters from when I was an IC that I can attach, if I really need to have references on the resume itself.  Do you think many companies actually followup on references before they interview?  Any thoughts/experience are appreciated!

My friend and her boyfriend of 5 years recently obtained custody of the boyfriend's now 7-year old daughter.   You talk about a handful of trouble, that's exactly what has been packaged into this mini sized monster child.

Bear with me because this will be quite lengthy.  I  will call the girl by her nickname, Tater.

Tater was 5 when my friend (S) and her boyfriend (D) started with the custody proceedings.  Every time Tater would come for visitations, she was full of these wild stories that were quite alarming to S and D.  She would come and tell them how her mom walks around the house naked all the time with all of these different boyfriends, how one of those boyfriends held a pillow over her (Tater) face one time, and how Tater and her baby brother were often left alone for hours at a time and sometimes overnight while her mom was out "getting drunk" with her boyfriends.

Naturally, S and D were really upset by these stories and so they got an attorney and really pushed for custody.  They got custody in March 2005 and their life has been a living hell since she has come to live with them. 

Less than a day or so after she moved in, she started telling them how one of her mom's boyfriends "did things to her" so S and D were once again in an emotional fit because they thought someone had molested Tater.   They called a psychologist and the police.  Had her evaluated, everything.  Even had Tater talk to a detective that works child abuse cases.  His findings and the psychologist's findings were the same.  She had not been abused and, in fact, had a severe problem with delineating fact from fantasy. 

Tater now sees the psychologist once per week.  The goal of the treatment was originally to get Tater to understand the difference between telling stories and the truth, along with dealing with the fact that her mother now has absolutely no contact with her.  It's been rough for S and D as well as Tater. 

Things went well for a short time, then school started 3 weeks ago.  Since starting school, S and D have been called to the school numerous times because Tater has either said that she couldn't do her homework because her daddy was "all drunk", that when S dropped her off at school she was "drinking wine from a bottle in the car" (it was green tea in a glass bottle,) and that they don't allow her to talk to her mother, which is not true. Her mother has supervised visitation but chooses to opt out. 

She has told her aunt and uncle that S killed her cat on purpose when it was actually her aunt who accidentally ran over the cat but Tater didn't know that.  She told one of the neighbors that her mommy had her (Tater) picture taken once and was in a naughty magazine because her mom got money for it and Tater would get it when she was old enough.  OMG yet?  Yeah!  This kid is something else.

She also made a little boy cry in class by rudely saying how he was so stupid and slow during outloud reading time.

S and D have tried all of the things the psychologist have recommended, taking her toys, taking her TV, radio, making her write apologies and hand deliver them, and sit directly behind the bus driver (for even more trouble on the bus.)

She also missed the bus home purposely last week because she was going to go to a friend's house.  Her grandmother had to come all the way into town (they live about 10 miles out) to get her.   When D and S questioned her about what she was doing, she screamed at them that it was "HER LIFE" and she could do what she wanted if she felt like it.  Remember folks, this kid turned 7 last month!

Now, a few minutes ago, S called me in tears.  She got another call from the school because Tater had told some of the boys that another boy was threatening her and making her scared (which was a lie) so she wanted them to do something about it.  These 3 little boys proceeded to gang up on the other boy and he was hurt.  Not seriously but that he was hurt is bad enough.  These 3 boys and Tater are now suspended.  These are first graders and this is a very small town.

S and D are ready to snap.  I don't know what else to tell her.  The psychologist told S and D that she was afraid that Tater had multiple personality disorder but couldn't make that diagnosis on a definitive basis because, as of yet, there are no clear cut documented cases in children of this age.  They usually don't start developing these tendencies until they are in their mid to late teens. 

I have looked online for any kind of research or specialists that can deal with this but it's very difficult to find information even on pre-adolescents that are out of control. 

I am asking for your help.  If anyone knows of a professional or group that can help S and D with Tater, PLEASE post here ASAP.  At this point, I'm very concerned about THEIR well being. This kid is a serious danger.  There is much more but I think I have told you enough already.   We are in Washington State too, just in case anyone has any ideas where to go for help.

Thank you so very much if any of you can help.

I have been working with a national company for 5 years and have enjoyed it but a friend called me recently stating she had a doctor who is despirate for a new MT and she recommended me.  I talked to the doc. today and she is very interested.  I have a meeting with the office manager next week to work out the details.  I have a few questions and would appreciate your advice:

1.  Doc. did not know what type of dictation system they use, but it sounded like a C-phone or DVI system.  Currently I do everything on line, is there a way to dial into a C-phone system through my computor's modem?  I know that this is probably wishful thinking, but it can't hurt to ask. 

2.  Do you draw up a contract?

3.  Are there any questions you would recommend I ask (we have already discussed pay and vaccation/sick time as well as turn around on the reports)?

I am a bit nervous about striking out on my own but the company I work for made a lot of changes last January and it just is not working well for me anymore.  

Thanks for your help,

Mariah

I guess I've been lucky to work with some wonderful MTSO's in the past! I've been an MT for over 10 years, but am just now looking for new work and have not worked for big, national companies before. I posted the other day about testing with companies, and I did and got 2 job offers. Yea!...you'd think.  Ha! 

I thought I'd get offered a decent wage, for starters. Two companies offered me positions, one at 6.25 cpl and the other at 5.5 cpl. Both of them say they go up, the more lines you have. Unless they go up...like double...forget it! At least one of them additionally charges a fee if I don't make my anticipated line count during the payperiod (and I had to make my schedule a month in advance), as well as a bi-weekly service fee for using their software.

Is this what I have to look forward to????? I guess my head has been in the sand, because I had no idea this is what people's contracts had in them. No wonder no one is making any money. Honestly, is this standard? Sorry if I seem so out of touch.

I worked as an IC for a company with questionable business practices and who treated me like a dish rag for about 8 months this past year and when I finally could not take any more, I quit.  In the end I was stiffed for about $1900 in pay but I pretty much knew it was pointless to even try to get my money and decided to leave it in the past. 

Well now, they have just sent me tax papers, evidently they never got my signed forms or lost them or whatever.  My question is do I really have to fill them out and send them back, or should I hold out for my back pay, or what?  I really don't feel like I should do anything for them even though I know that it is wrong.  Does anyone know if I can get in trouble for not returning this form?

TIA,

Still angry MT

Hi, I'm trying to start my own small local MT business, and I'm just wondering if anyone knows what contracts/HIPAA paperwork should be signed between Drs. and myself.  I'm clueless on where to begin!

Thnx,

Rachel

I have seen several posts on the board about using Magic Jack with a C-phone etc, however, would like to find out more about it regarding voice quality etc.  I have both a wireless setup as well as an air card from Sprint and talked to the Sprint rep last night about using Magic Jack with my air card and he said that because my connection speeds are extreemely good, he did not foresee any problems.  I also talked to a "tekky" friend of mine in Las Vegas and he said that he has a client who loves it, but in reading the reviews, I have seen both good and bad about it.  I wouldn't at this time need it for work, but just more as a "home phone line".  Any information would be GREATLY appreciated.  Thanks

Ok, here goes

CPL:  1-(.095/.1122) = about .154, or an approximate decrease of 15.4% of the original .1122 cpl.

Hourly: 1-(13.5/18.54) = about .272, or an approximate decrease of 27% of the original $18.54.

I'm starting a new account on Meditech.  I've never worked on it.  I haven't been through training, but after looking at the manual I have to say - UGH. 

I've heard MTs who love it and many who say it is terrible.  Can you give me some feedback, likes, dislikes, etc.

Are you able to make your lines in an 8-hour day?  Does it have its own spellchecker or can you use Stedman's? 

Below posters you are all right.  This weekend, the MJ stopped working with the foot pedal across the board.  We had 5 MT in our company and same thing happened to everyone.  It has not worked since.  You can't get an answer from the live tech either.  So, anyone thinking of trying this with a C-phone - don't.  I have been using mine perfectly - and loved it!!! - for many months now.  I'm very disappointed but I wanted to pass this along for others.  I guess it was too good to be true for awhile.....

Someone mentioned VOIP below but with limited minutes.  Anyone set up with them for unlimited business plan - is is truly unlimited - and did you like it?  Appreciate your input.

I have seen discussions about this on these boards and I was wondering just how reliable is it.  I currently have Vonage which is costing me 30 bucks a month.  I've heard a lot about Magic Jack and unlimited long distance and it would save me a bundle in the long run; however, I don't want to ditch Vonage because it works great.

Mind you, I don't use my Vonage line for transcribing.  It is strictly my business/personal telephone voice calls only.  I found there is a lag when using my C-phone with Vonage that drives me nuts.  I have DSL through the local phone company and so have an analog phone line through them.  That is the phone line I use for my fax machine, transcribing, etc. 

I'm looking for a way to trim some of the fat off my home office budget.  I need/want two phone lines period.  I won't have it any other way.  I didn't sign a new cell phone contract in lieu of a prepaid cell phone.  At this point, I have a new job with a hospital and I won't need to be using a C-phone.  Everything is digital and through the PC. 

So here's the short answer - is Magic Jack reliable and functional?

If someone has used this or anything similar and could give me some advice, it would be much appreciated!    Thanks so much!