burnout/changing companies
Posted By: tiredMT on 2007-05-04
In Reply to:
Hi everyone - I post here frequently but I need to remain anonymous for this one; hope you understand.
I'm looking for thoughts from MTs about whether switching to a different company alleviated burnout. I am trying to figure out if it's MT itself, or just the service I work for, that is causing my severe burnout.
I'm on the verge of hauling myself to a doctor for antidepressants (paying out of pocket, of course... no psych insurance coverage as an IC!) and my line counts have dropped drastically. I have bilateral CTS to boot. I'm struggling pretty badly with all the "classic" burnout signs.
Thanks all!
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Not sure, but had something similar happen to me to, I ended up changing companies...
The telephone company I had was for unlimited calls, long distance and regional calls. Everything was fine for about 3 months and got a letter where they were disconnecting my service because they said I had used it too much. I called them and stated to them that it wsa for unlimited minutes and they just said sorry, they were discontinuing my service. Luckily I was moving anyway and the new area I moved to has cable. Might check into another telephone service. Good luck.
Three-job burnout
A co-worker took on a second and now a third job. I can see where in trying to get a "balance" her work is suffering especially in turnaround time and also some quality issues. I believe that if you take on additional work, your first obligation is to your first job, second obligation to your second job, and so on. If the second and/or third jobs pay more, that matters not. I think it is called honoring your committment. Anyhow, too much work will eventually leave you burned out and you may end up sick and/or running as far as you can from this work. Would think very carefully about divying yourself up into too many pieces. Best regards.
BURNOUT?
So, if your post is correct it seems you probably need a vacation, at least. I have done what you say you do and, believe me, it can suck you dry. It is hard to do so many things 24/7/365, used to find myself sitting in my chair at home in the same pajamas I had on 14 hours before. I found I needed a better quality of life. My best advice to you is to take a break and post us when you get back and feel better and not so offensive/defensive. Good luck.
burnout
WOW - I couldn't have said anything better than these posters. Have been there several times over the past 25 years - the last after my son died, and am so thankful I didn't get fired the several years it took me to get back up to speed afterward. Truly, maybe working inhouse would be a good thing for a while for you.
Love, blessings, hugs, understanding.
Burnout
Would it be possible for you to take a part-time job doing something -anything - else to get out of the house and be with people and cut down a bit on your transcription hours? I know you have to make your bills, but if you're not producing would you be losing a lot by trying something else? Or maybe at least ask for a different account? Or maybe find a different service for whom to work? I know this is scary to think about, much less do, particularly as we age. My guess is I'm a bit older than you, having been in transcription for 31 years, but perhaps not. Perhaps you are a late bloomer (she smiles). I've been where you are, and sadly, the road I'm traveling down at the moment is starting to look familiar, like I'm headed back to that same spot. In my case, the first time around, I took a temporary part-time job in Geographic Information Systems for a local municipality. I'd taken the classes for fun at the junior college but had no experience. I was given very low-level work, but it was different from transcription, I was learning more about GIS than I had at school, I loved it and the people were super! When I came home to start transcribing, I was in a much better mood and production increased. I hope you can find something, because your pain is coming through loud and clear.
ahh, burnout
After about 12 years of being an MT, I found myself suffering from burnout. Right about that time, I was offered the job of 1st & 2nd grade teacher at the tiny Christian school my kids attended. I was really looking forward to something new. After only 2 months, I was over my burnout but I was committed to finish out the rest of the school year. It was the longest 7 months of my life.
I think the burnout came from having had the same account for so long (nearly 10 years). Every day was the same. Maybe just learning a new account or a new specialty would help you get over the burnout. Although I hate the pay cut that invariably comes with any new account, I always feel proud of myself for rising to the challenge and learning new things. It keeps things interesting.
This may sound silly, but do you have any scenery where you transcribe? I sit in front of a picture window in my office and watch the birds and squirrels. I have become quite an avid birdwatcher while I work. It doesn't take a lot of time out of the day, but it gives me something else to look at besides the computer screen. 
on the edge of burnout
It sounds like you're on the edge of burnout. I was there a few years ago. You just have to force yourself to stop working at 5 (or whenever your shift is done) and close the door and not look back at that computer.
Dealing with burnout
Hi:
Is anyone out there dealing with burnout due to their transcription job? I have been doing this for 7 years as an Independent with only 1 vacation in that time. I work weekends and holidays and feel like I am about ready to yank my freaking hair out  from the responsibility!!!
Lynn
How do you handle burnout as MT? Any
suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I've only been doing this for 7-1/2 years and I've about had it with all the junk. 
severe burnout
I just can't do MT anymore. I've been doing it for 30 years, the last 6 with a national that begins and ends with an S. I so tired of their lies and garbage. I also edit as an IC which I enjoy but can't get steady hours. I'm presently on intermittent FMLA from "S" for my mom who is a paraplegic and they're giving me all kinds of grief over it. My supervisor is doing everything she can to put roadblocks in front of me. She won't me change accounts permanently. I get put on an account I'm good at and can get good line counts on for awhile and then I'm put back on the account I told her I hate and can't make money on. This happens over and over again. She also won't let me taking an editing job or change my hours. I received their "certificates" for quality and attendance, but not for production which is the only thing they care about since only 62% of the company made 98% or more quality. Some days I just can't sit and work. I'm totally burned out and the above doesn't help.
I'd leave in a minute if I thought another place would be better, but I'm not convinced it would be. Add to that the fact that I only have dial-up, need health insurance as I am single and can't afford a good computer at this time.
Sorry for the long post. Just needed to vent. Has anyone been in this situation? What can I do?  I'm working 50-60 hours a week and still can't make a living. I'm really ready to go on welfare rather than keep working.
So your answer to the the OP's burnout
the boss and I am a child. If that is what you got out of the post, then I AM SO RIGHT ALL ALONG!!!! 
Taking a vacation due to burnout
MTs to boost production. Having contests to see who can do the most is more like something a 12-year-old would do in my opinion. Furthermore, this is not a game people play. This is a job. The doctors are relying on transcriptionists to do a good job. We cry we want more money, we have to work for it, and then we cry that we're burned out????  Get a life! 
Plain and simple burnout.
I used to carry two pagers for two hospitals all by myself, 24/7. They went off maybe a couple of times a month. The chore of being on-call is now shared with a few other people but now the after-hour pages come in nonstop and I don't know why. Me thinks some deal was made to keep an account or something but I really am just pulling that answer out of my tuckas. It's gotta be costing the hospitals a mint to have us at their beck and call like that....either that or they got a really sweet deal.
The other issue is it used to be a much more laid back environment. You logged on, did your work, and you were left alone. You kept an eye out for stats yourself and took care of them, because you are there because you are responsible.
Now you log on, strike up this thing called Instant Messenger, and sit there at your desk working your alloted shift but can't get up because you must be present if you get an IM for a stat...even though you are already on it because it's your job to be. Want to take a break? Yeah, sure, once you finish up this stat. Oh wait, I've got another one here that needs to be done super duper stat....you know what I'm talkin' about too, lurkers.
Ya know the movie, Office Space? I'm always referring to it with this company. You know the scene with the TPS reports, where the fella has 4 bosses telling him the same darned thing even though you already know your job? That's what I'm dealing with and, yeah, I've been reduced to the mumbling dude who worries about his stapler.
I don't blame my bosses at all, but the micromanaging thing is out of control and I have no idea why it has come to be, because it wasn't like this before. The days of a happier Hayseed with high line counts and company pride are long gone. I don't know who works there anymore as the folks I knew have all left, and that's made an impact as well. Ask for new scenery because of burnout, and all you get is a strokin', nothing more.
Contracts....burnout.......etc....open and read
Hello--
I was just reading your post and I do understand where you are coming from. First of all, let me start by saying I will never do a non-contracted job again and every job that I have is contracted. :)
Secondly, I know how you feel about being "stuck inside"--Yep, been there, done that....burnout. I was so ready to go to work in the big world again. So, I left transcription at home, hired a babysitter and went to work in my secondary field as a medical assistant. After three months of it, I was so ready to come back home, and I missed my transcription so badly...AND MY KIDS.
I came back home, been here again for over a year. I can say it is better this time around, I appreciate MT more and I am absolutely taking in every moment I can with my kids. At least I know when my babies get sick, I will be the one nurturing them..and bringing home a paycheck at the same time. :)
Sometimes it is hard to balance everything at once, and the thought of going back outside the home to work seems like an easy answer, but believe me, it is better to be home. :)
I suffered from major burnout about 4 years ago. sm
Was at a major company that I liked for a year, then they made some changes and it was a nightmare for the second year. I went to a smaller company for awhile, they were great but I found it harder and harder to sit down and pull reports. I got to the point I was only doing about 300 lines a day. I made a change to a small company as IC, and chose one where so many minutes were dumped on me for the day. I knew I had to finish those minutes, and before I knew it I was back to about 800 lines a day, six days a week. That is all I can do without developing CT myself; I have learned this over the years. Now I'm starting some editing part time, so I can earn more without losing the use of my hands.
If you already have CT, you might have to get into something different, like editing. It doesn't seem realistic to keep working, knowing you're doing more damage and will shortly be unable to work anyway. I'd be looking for a change.
Whatever you do, try to find the motivation that works. I didn't find thinking about unpaid bills or setting a financial goal each month helped, it just made me depressed when I couldn't reach it. I focused on the positive, like being able to do 50 lines more daily this week than last, adding minutes each week until I reached my goal. I also make sure to take two weeks off at different times each year and go some place at least once, something I neglected for years. I come back refreshed.
Best of luck to you; it's a difficult situation.
I read a book once that burnout was caused by being out of balance. sm
Working too much and not giving time to other parts of your life is the culprit in the job arena. Variety is the spice of life, so focusing on balancing your job, your need for a good cash flow, with times to enjoy yourself is essential.
It takes work, and fortunately I have an S/O that demands that I take time for us to have fun and for "me" to have fun as an individual.
How do they think that changing their name....sm
would matter diddly squat in the industry? If their rationale for considering it is because no one knows who they are then changing the name isn't going to change that. Seems silly that members and supports would be asked to pay for the costs of changing instead of focusing on marketing.
CHANGING COURSE
Well, after the reading and research I have done, I think I agree with one writer that stated that at the rate things are going now in the transcription world that in 5 years 80% of us will be out of jobs!! Either through technology and/or offshoring!!
So, instead of waiting for another axe to fall on me...I have been chopped up enough by the MTSOs...... I am hoping to decorating cakes for a living!!!
I am waiting to hear back from a local bakery where I just interviewed.
I have taken all the Wilton cake decorating courses and have done quite a few birthday, wedding, and mother's day cakes in the past...I definitely am not Duff or anyone at Charm City Cakes, but it is something I truly enjoy doing and it was my "therapy" that got me through a divorce about 10 years ago.
So, I will be working 8 hours a day only, get immediate feed back, paid hourly and not production, and hopefully will be able to transition into this job permanently....
So, I hope and pray that I am wrong about the future of this profession for which I have worked so long and hard....but the stress now is almost unbearable and ain't worth it no more!!! 
Changing Course
That is a great idea. You might work into doing some on the side and go into business for weddings, etc. I had a friend who did that and make good money. She was in great demand too. If you get a business of your own, you would make a lot more and could probably do a lot of it sitting.
Probably not...just changing
I work on a VR account, and trust me, there will always need to be people behind it checking what the computer types. There are just certain things that need an actual brain to decipher that a computer just cannot pick up.
Oh, I am not changing what I said
because again, have not seen it ever used with lung.
Oncology because of the always changing...sm
meds. And I have to admit, though I have done ortho a lot in the past and know it well, I just don't like it.
Anyone know anything about changing sim on cell?
Can you remove sim card on Sprint phone and put in a T-mobile? Please help if you can for I am a "technically challenged MT."
We are changing the company.
Watch and see. And all your rage and CAPS can't change that. The lawsuits, the SEC, the shareholders, the clients. We are all changing the company.
Changing Careers
I absolutely LOVE medical transcription work. It is the best kind of work for me. I have always, up until five years ago, made plenty of money to support my family (I am a single 45 year old mom).
However, I have become very scared. So, I have 80% decided that I have to go back to school and start over. It makes me sick, but I can't watch my pay decrease every year like this.
I really, really, really want to continue MT work, but it just doesn't feel secure for me anymore.
AND - changing careers at my age is also scary, but I have a friend who did it at 50-something years old, so I guess I can, too.
Who's changing the subject?
and so am I.
Try to keep up.
This is changing the subject a bit, but.....
What about birds? If people had a bird that they had in a cage, and not let FLY for exercise, is that a bad pet-owner? Most bird owners that I know of, have birds in a cage and they let their birds poo in a cage on the paper in the bottom of the cage.
What about cats? Cats are domesticated animals just like dogs and some people NEVER let their cats go outside. They let their cats do their business in a litter box.
I just don't see any difference in this and using the potty pads, and like I said, I have used potty pads with previous dogs I have had. They do not smell if you pick up the dirty pad right away, which I do when at all possible. It's the dog hiking his leg on the furniture which is NOT acceptable to me and I agree--it stinks and I have a terrible problem going on with this---I try to clean it up as soon as I can, but he is definitely ruining my floors and thus why I was asking for advice on the hiking of the leg. We need new floors (carpet) in our house anyway and we are planning on replacing them soon but I need to get the dog re-trained somehow before we get the new flooring or else I'll still be in the same boat I'm in now. I've just got to figure out how to retrain him back to the potty pads. Wish me luck!
Have a nice day!
Jen, seriously, the face of MT is changing. sm
Get that degree. Trust me on this. Yes, it's nice sitting home in jammies with the kids. I did it a lot of years, but I made way more money then than now. Things are changing drastically and fast in this field. Get the degree.
You are changing your position.
I breed Yorkies and was in the pet care business for over 30 years. Of course, you love your pets and they have a place in your family but you do not let a dog growl at you, as you stated. One of your original posts you said if a dog growled or bit, oh well, dogs have bad days, too. That gives a very different impression than the one you are trying to make now.
changing the subject a bit . . .
Does anyone know of a really good hair product for the "frizzies" ?
With summer coming, I'm dreading my hair curling and frizzing with the heat and humidity, have tried a lot of products without success. Any tried and true methods? thank you in advance !
So what are they changing it to? The Anal
.
Not sure if changing jobs will help...
There are very few places now that have no ESL doctors. When I changed jobs last November I thought I would lose my mind because there are so many ESLs on the accounts, but honestly after getting the same ones over and over, they should get easier. I actually miss the days when I was just starting out getting 5 cpl typing nothing but ER reports. Yeah, it got boring sometimes, but I was bringing in more money then than I am now making 8.5 cpl. Ah, the good ole days!
Changing jobs ....
I'm wanting to buy my first house this spring. Ive been working at home for the same national for the past 3 years. I have been an MT FT for 9 years. Does switching jobs really affect your credit poorly? I think I could be making a lot more money, if I changed companies, but Im afraid it will hurt me being at a new job and trying to buy a house. I have also heard that as long as you are in the same line of work, it won't matter...Any insight on this?
changing jobs
If you are an IC, it would not matter as you do not have to say "who" you work for - just prove your income.
and the QA people wonder why we ever get anything right. It is always changing.
nm
Changing careers
I have been an MT my entire life. I had no formal training - just had a knack for it and always had a job doing transcription. I was sought out many times. However back about 1993 I started hearing rumors about voice recognition. I at that time decided to go to school and get a nursing degree as I wanted to stay in healthcare. I obtained my LPN- RN - then BSN in 1999. Took me awhile but I did it. Since that time I have done some coding, worked as a nurse and been promoted to transcription supervisor in 2000. I also teach transcription at our local college. Since I have such a broad range of experiences in all the things you are looking at I would suggest nursing - you are going to get the most valuable education in that field - with many opportunities. If you don't like it you would have the bulk of your education and could easily slip int to coding or transcription. Just my opinion.
changing email
Hi Moderator:
Can you please direct me how to enter my new email addy? Either on line and send it to me at my new one? or what? Thanks so much
The MT's are now the editors. Everyone changing to SR. SM
They are calling MTs "editors" for doing SR. They are also hiring like crazy, since they predict many new "editors" will quit because of cut in pay.
changing careers
It seems a lot of people are feeling the same crunch. I have been an MT for 10 years I too used to have a excellent hourly plus incentive with great bennies in-house jobs which was outsourced to an Indian Company. I worked from home and make ok. Now it's hard to even find a decent line count with benefits at all. I am working as an IC at 9 cpl and no bennies. As a single Mother I simply cannot do this anymore. There companies who offer employee status and bennies but the line rates are so low or they want you to work 2nd or 3rd shift and with my family situation this is not possible.
I too am making a career change plans. It seems that nursing is all the rage with the high paying jobs and plenty of them. But as a former nursing student years ago before MT I know it's not for me. Too high pressure and the bullying in nursing school is unbelievable as is the 2 year committment to school full time.
I decided to try Assocaites degree Accounting/CIS. I hope to enter as a clerk or bookkeeper and work towards the Bachelors degree once working as a clerk. In the meantime I have been brushing up on Powerpoint, Excel, etc and applying for secretarial and admn assistant jobs.
I had considered medical billing but I am somewhat soured on the healthcare system and outsourcing. I figured Accounting is much broader and can work for more than one industry, but have seen accounting positions in healthcare systems too.
I wondered if people would share what fields they were considering.
For new MTs... the field IS dying between VR contsantly improving and outsourcing/offshoring our jobs are dwindling as are the pay and benefits. If you are a married-stay-at-home type of Mom with luxury of a second income and your husband's benefits MT might still be ok for a little extra money on the side. But for anyone trying to support either themselves or their family on MT -- forget it. Its a good part-time Mom job these days and that is about it.
Sad. There are many excellent and quality MTs who have a ton of knowledge. I wondered how they intended to transfer skills to another profression. The writing is on the wall. I hope to be out in 2-1/2 years tops.
The field is changing, Just Me, and SM
those whose incomes are dropping drastically are either unable or unwilling to change with it. The unables have my sincere sympathy; but in any case, don't make the mistake of basing your decisiosn on those who are on the way out. If your talents suit the work you'll end up doing over time, whatever that turns out to be (you won't be doing straight transcribing, though), you'll make a decent middle-class wage appropriate to a skilled clerical worker. Which is what we are. If the changes lead you to advance your secondary education and move to a higher skill level, well, hopefully you'll make even more. Best wishes.
changing careers
After almost 30 years of MT work under my belt, I'm ready to throw in the towel and hit the pavement. I'm already out there interviewing. Even if I make only what I make as an MT, if it's a job that I like, then it'll be worth it. Wish me luck!
I don't think it is dying, I think it is changing sm
There will always be a need for a hand typed medical narrative. Having said that, how much need is anyone's guess. FOR NOW, many companies are moving towards at least some VR. I have watched my company ramp it up and now ramp it down again. Why? The quality isn't there and part of that is the MEs who are doing them.
Being an ME usually only appeals to someone who can't actually type the report with any speed and accuracy (not a real MT in my book) or an MT who can longer tolerate the wear and tear on her hands (a real MT). The pay is less, which might not be a problem IF the software didn't require so darn much editing! Either the software needs to be a LOT better or we need to be paid more, if they want to the best quality, so that real MTs are doing the ME thang.
What I see happening, even now, is that companies who will hire a traditional, old-fashioned typing MT want the very best they can get at the best price they can get her. It is and will be increasingly a buyers market for our services. It will edge out any MT who is marginal...in speed, in accuracy, in attitude, in work ethic. That is to say, those of us who can stay glued to our desks and produce 99.5% or better accuracy AND do it with speed, will still be around for quite a while yet. The tolerance that some companies for not showing up on time, not getting your minimums, not producing very good work, is decreasing. I see this as a trend.
Less work? Not for some of us. No work, as in we don't need the chaff of this industry? You bet, and it is happening already.
The truly top-notch MT will always be needed. Do you have any idea how very few of us there are? I have not talked to a company who has more than 1 or 2 of us that they consider the cream of their crop. If you want to stay, look at what you need to improve, be it work ethic, speed, accuracy or scope of knowledge. If you don't, you'll be in one of the first groups out of this business.
Changing jobs
If you are working now, I would recommend you keep that job.
I don't know what you mean by taking classes, but if you have not completed a coding program and learned enough in it to pass an AHIMA or AAPC certification exam *right now,* it is unlikely that an employer will hire you for coding.
Taking a job in medical records might help you break the ice at that facility, but taking a job in other areas isn't likely to help much. Any possible benefit from taking a housekeeping is so small and so unpredictable that it isn't worth losing the job you now have.
This counselor sounds as though she doesn't have a good grasp on the requirements of the coding industry.
Your best bet is to set up a study plan and work toward passing a certification exam in coding, then look for a job.
Changing settings
You can change the settings. With your mouse on the main desk top screen, right click and go downto properties. Go over to the settings tab and this will give you options for changing the font size. You can change it in that setting by changing the pixel settings, or you can click on the Advanced button and change your DPI setting (or both).
Hope that helps.
If they are changing the rules...then all
you can do is keep your emails to prove that you are just doing what they previously told you to do. If you keep deleting, then you don't have a leg to stand on
As far as the ridiculous corrections like a instead of an, that may be ridiculous, but one way is correct and one isn't. I am a QA and my reports get reviewed by the client. If I let one of the ridiculous corrections go through, then you better believe that they point it out. I mean I agree that they aren't the really important errors, but if the client cares, I care. If the client is going to jump on me for it, then I have to correct the MT. So, don't look at as the QA nit picking you...she is just doing what the client wants.
On the other front, save your emails or you don't have a leg to stand on.
It's not going downhill but it is changing
The job is evolving into an Editor process and there is a higher-than-ever ratio of difficult dictators.
The line rates are not something you can count on moving upward but they never have been. Where money is usually made is in production with incentives and bonuses.
Changing to a new expander
Cathy,
You may want to read through Sharon Allred's experience switching from PRD to Instant Text - click on link below. Instant Text can be set up the way you want it, and you can skip learning all the advanced features if you don't want to use them.
Instant Text can import your pp2 file with a few clicks so you can use your PRD list as before with some restrictions concerning entries starting with numbers and entries containing symbols.
Like ShortHand Instant Text is a Windows software.
Marianne
Textware Solutions
800-355-5251
Try changing the extension to .vox
nm
MT companies negotiate with the insurance companies until they get what they want
It is strictly up to the agreement between the employer and the insurance company. Your new employer can tell you what the pre-existing clause is in your new policy. Some require proof of insurance for the past 12 months. It may say something like if a diagnosis has not been made NOR treatment received within the last __ months. Not good when companies negotiate with a pre-existing clause in order to get a lower rate. Better check with your HR with your new company before doing anything. It really gets hairy !
Line count changing
I have noticed lately that mine line count has been dropping on a daily basis. I finally started checking my own lines as opposed to the company line counter and I have realized that I am NO LONGER getting paid for my spaces, without telling me. I have half a mind to start typinglikethisbecauseifyoudonotpayforthemyoudonotgetthem!!!!! Is it me?
why would the resolution change without someone changing it?
nm
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