best platform for production? NM

• best platform for production? NM - looking for new job
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If a MTSO advertises that the MT works in MS Word and sends dictation by FTP, does this usually mean there will be no demographic/doctor database and the demographics will not be autopopulated?

I got into a mess with a small company (got out real quickly too).  I was required to print out daily email copies of the doctors' office patient schedules (which were barely legible) and type in all information.  I spent more time hunting for the correct patient through pages and pages of these schedules.  Then I had about 25 pages worth of doctor's names that I would have to go through to find the attending, referring, etc.  A total waste of time as I didn’t get paid for that. 

I wish MTSO would give more information as to what platform they use (if any).  Proprietary software is such a generic, totally useless description.  Would they buy a new car that listed, "Car has gasoline operated motor?" 

And for Pete's sakes, why so secretive about the pay?  Give a ballpark figure.  Just say, pay is between 7-12 cpl depending on skill, testing, etc. Tell me if you pay for spaces, headers, etc.  It would save them time because I wouldn’t even apply for a 7 cpl job. 

Before I spend an hour or two testing, I need more information from a company to be sure it is compatible for my needs.  If the MTSO would spend a little time on their website detailing their platform, how they send/receive files, pay rates,  how line rate is determined (spaces/no spaces) employee/IC/SE status, minimal line count, whether work pools consist of 100s of doctors, or smaller pools with 25-50 doctors etc.   Having all this information on their website would save them time and the MTs time.   Phoenix Medcom has a really good layout describing pretty much everything an MT would want to know before testing with them.  I am just tired of testing with a company and then finding out the job wasn’t exactly suited to my needs. 

I've been working for MTSOs for years now, using their templates which sometimes cause productivity problems (macro issues, etc). I'm wondering if productivity is increased when working on a structured platform, such as one that a national company provides for its transcriptionists?  I've never used a platform, but it would seem that all one needs to do is straight type onto the screen and the platform program takes care of margins, page breaks, etc?

Any thoughts (as well as companies who are hiring who use platforms) would be appreciated.  Thanks

I'm sure with your 15+ years of experience and your speed you will do very well pay-wise.  Be sure your internet research skills are honed and this will make you even more successful.  You may want to try and find an account that is all cardiology or all operative notes if you really want to hit the ground running.  Good luck to you! 

does anyone ever think of that?  Everyone keeps saying we are paid to fill in their work, but does anyone ever consider that I get paid by how many jobs I do in a day?  Filling in 20 blanks on 1 report versus filling in 1 blank on 20 reports makes a difference to me.  Nobody ever thinks a lot of us get paid just like you do, by how much work we produce.

Maybe you worked at one of those very rare places where they compensated a MT for her knowledge and expertise and not just her production.   

I worked in house for about four months last year and went back home.  Hated the office politics crap, but I made significantly more per hour at home than I did in the office.  I was considered a newbie and so wasn't paid as much  hourly as the women who had been doing it for years.  Because I'm MUCH faster than they are, though, I make more than they do working from my home.

It all depends on your line rate and your speed, and what you think good money is.

>>>I have wondered if Dragon Naturally Speaking for Medical Transcription is a way to increase overall line count.

1.  It takes several months to reach a good production level.
2.  You need to listen to the dictator *AND* dictate at the exact same time. However, if the dictator is one what requires a lot of mental editing, you're better off using the keyboard.

>>>I seriously want to know how is it that some MTs can type up to 2000 lines a day!  That is phenomenal!  Is there a secret?  Please share!

I used to transcribe 250 lph (gross lines) back in the days of using a typewriter (no Expanders and time spent erasing carbons), plus I was only typing around 90 wpm, which isn't all that wonderful. So, my suggestions are:

1.  Stay focused.
2.  Make the best use of your Expander as you can.
3.  Don't treat the BOS like a bible.

being on production, you don't know what you're going to make - so it doesn't apply to us.  In the beginning, I used to pay quarterly.  I now pay annually and the IRS just returned $3700 in overpayment to me for this year.  Yep, I just recently received a check back for overpaying my 2005 taxes!!!  As long as you pay and on time, the IRS lets us do this.  Been doing it this way for years now and I have no IRS problems *thank goodness*

Better get a better CPA/accountant if they don't tell you these things......or maybe different strokes for different states, but I don't think so.

I am so frustrated with how long it is taking me to get my quota every day.  Today is going to be rough because all the kids are home from school, but on most days, it is just myself and my 4-year-old son.  I do about 1000 lines per day and it takes at least 7 hours.  Is this normal or should I producing way more in this time frame?  I have been in this field for 16+ years now.   I work for a great company and most of the accounts I have are terrific with excellent dictators.  I am up and down a lot, but it just seems like forever! 

Oh - and I do not spend a lot of time on this board during my working day.  In fact, I haven't posted here in a long time!!

I'm just curious how long it takes other experienced MTs with normal work-day interruptions to complete about 1000 lines of transcription each day?

The last hospital I worked at paid an hourly wage, no incentive, and had a minimum line requirement per day of 1200. 

The problem with this scenario is that there is no incentive to produce more - thus the term * incentive *.  If work became backed up, we were offered overtime.

When I worked in-house for a service, we had a line per day requirement of 1200 and anything over 1200 lines per day was paid at 6 cents per line.

converting my typing speed into an idea on how many lines per hour I could expect of myself.  I've done acute care MT for over 15 years and am considering going to work at home on production pay.

I type a very solid 127-130 words per minute.  So, how does that relate to lines per hour that everyone talks about? 

Thanks.

If you do 3000 lines per day as you say you do and for example it's all VR at 0.03 cents  per line that's $90 for a day's work.  So you would make a little over $11.00 an hour.  It would be $15.00 an hour paid at 0.04 cents a line.

Not so hot.  I predict VR will cause MT wages to decline at current pay.  I've been doing VR for over 2 years and it is not over twice as fast as typing in general.

I have been working on this account for 3 weeks now and I am playing the audio as fast as I can understand it, but I still cannot get 2500+ lines a day.   I am trying to use all of the eScription's shortcut keys and keep my hand off that mouse too.  What else can I do?  I need to be making at $100 a day to survive.  Any tips would be really really appreciated.  Thanks

Do you suppose increased production basically just come from utilizing the Magic Keys over and over until they become habit.  If any one has a link to an article or any information, please share.  I feel like I just landed on the moon with VR and no interpreter.