depends on location, I know someone who lost a local account - sm
Posted By: xxx on 2006-01-11
In Reply to: See Message - Kate
in Woodbridge, VA, was charging .12 a line (60 character line), got underbid and lost it after having had it for years. Now in order to get more but look less, she bids at .10 a line but a 50 char. line....comes out to .13 if a 65 cpl. You can't get much over .10 around here on your own which really stinks, or do some fancy accounting which in this case works.
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I've lost a local account today that I have had for five years......
I cannot believe that this happened to me today. I went into one of my doctor's offices this afternoon to pick up his tape for today. I was given a tape and told that his wife, who is the office manager, wanted to see me in her office. I thought nothing of it because she sometimes has extra things that she wants me to type up for her and we talk quite often also.
She tells me that she just has not gotten around to talking with me yet, but "tomorrow we will start dictating through a company over the internet". I was blown away! She said she wanted to give me a break and that if it does not work out she will let me know. The whole time she was tell me this she was writing me a check as I had just turned in an invoice.
My first inclination was to throw that #@%$ tape at her and say "do it yourself", but I knew that wasn't the "professional thing" to do. I was thinking how could she do this to me, not even a 24 hour notice. She handed the check to me, I snatched it and walked out.
I have had this account for five years exactly (began August 1, 2000). I have never took a day off, never raised my rates, never asked anything of them, and my work has always been the best possible quality. I have been the most dependable person they have could had. I have passed up other accounts because of them, and I always put them first. Thank goodness I have other accounts to fall back on. In our town, there is only one other transcriptionist besides myself, and we both have more work than we can handle most of the time.
Just thought I'd remind all those other MTs out there that no matter how good we are and no matter how much we try to please everyone we are still not appreciated. I will never be fooled again. No one will ever receive the attention from me that I gave them. 
it really depends on your location
I live in a cheap midwestern state with traditionally lower hourly wages, and I work for a county hospital, so compare accordingly.
I make 15.00/hr base pay plus 1.50/hr shift differential plus between 1.50 and 2.00/hr production bonus.
That's not our experience with our local SPCA... We also lost..
our lab 2 yrs ago from epilepsy and felt it was "time." Our SPCA is a brand new building, the animals are kept in a gorgeous facility, walked every hours, and very well cared for. We got a 2yo Lab mix (looks just like Lab, just a little smaller) for 120 dollars. She came with all her shots and had just been spayed 3 days prior. For 120 bucks I couldn't have even spayed her, much less get all her shots updated. She also came with a month free vet health insurance, a free vet check up, and a month of free behavior assistance with their trainer. I think it was a deal. And she's turned out to be a lovely dog. Fits right in here.
No, I lost an account to EMR
and of hospitals around here that have gone to EMR, no Transcriptionist is needed.
With VR and EMR, the VR automatically puts their dictation into the patient's record. They could care less how it looks, their idea is to save money.
Lost my account
 I am so upset. I have worked on the same account for 2 years now, ever since I started medical transcription. My computer has been giving me issues now on and off for about a month. This week I have not been able to work because of computer issues. I have spent $800 since December on computers having them upgraded and antivirus and more memory. It is constantly acting up for the last week and they had to reassign my work this week. They just called me and informed me they took my account and gave it to a MT who doesn't have computer issues. Like I chose for my computer to go on the fritz. So now I am a backup MT. I am so hurt that I had the bad luck to have computer issues for the last week and they take my work. How can I help that? I can't. Oh well. I think it is time to get another job.
We had an account that went overseas that when we lost it
one of hte people said they'd be back. Hasn't happened yet and it's been over a year. I always wished they would.
This is true......I lost an account to EMR like this
and I'm almost positive the same thing is happening to my account that I do now. It is definitely spreading as more of the younger generation of doctors comes into the field. To me, this is more of a threat than work going overseas (I definitely don't like that either but I found that most clients that do that at least come back; EMR physicians do not).
Me too.. Lost major account
to EMR.. basically put me out of business. I could have "stayed-on" in house doing limited transcription and scanning for 1/2 the money. System was not very friendly to transcription, had to constantly switch screens, etc. would have really lost $$$ if I was paid by the line. Either way hourly/cpl, less money for me. I decided to just stay home and go with national. Hopefully I can hold out for the next 5 or so years, or else I guess I'm off to Walmart!
I stood up for myself and probably lost an account - oh well
This is only the second month that I have had this account but they thought that their bill was a little "high" as the doctor does not feel that he should pay for any lines that I have in a template or if the physical is mainly normal and so I have a normal template, etc. I told them to try to find somone else that was cheaper that gave them the service that I did, with the TAT and quality. This is a doctor that loves to rib off insurance companies and morally I have been debating about doing this account but felt someone had to do it. But I told the NP/OM that with the time I spend in delivery and pick-up, paper, etc. I need to make this much per hour and that is about what I make. This is the first time in a long time I have really stuck up for myself. She said that their last Transcriptionist had been charging $5 a page and I said fine I would compare that with my lines but it would be with 1" margins all the way around and a 12 courier font to define "a page" and low and behold it came out about the same as with my line count. Anyway I am sure that they will begin to look elsewhere and that is fine, I wasn't looking for an account when this one came my way and so somewhere else there is something else. But it made me feel good to stand up for myself and believe in my skills.
Update - lost the account
Well they said today that they were going to investigate other avenues, appreciated my work but did not appreciate that I corrected her when she did not correctly spell Crohn's disease. She is a PA and knows how to spell so then why did she specifically spell it incorrectly -- anyway am glad as their were a little shady. She saw the patients, dictated as the doctor, and charged out MD prices instead of PA so am glad I am out of it. But God gave it to me over Christmas, I was able to pay off one credit card and so it worked out. Will enjoy the 6 to 8 free hours per week now. Just thought I would let you all know how it came out.
Patti
I lost a clinic account
to EMR. I had lunch with an old friend who is an ER nurse in Colorado and the ER changed over to EMR recently. So far that is the only department in her hospital, but she expects the entire hospital will eventually.
This is the touch screen type of thing. She says there is a computer at every station or bed. When they chart, it also generates the billing so more revenue is captured.
I would be worried if I was younger, but should be okay until retirement hopefully??
I have one local account that does that (sm)
I've gotten used to the fact that he'll do a 2 page report on an established who is being seen for a an earache. He has to go through all of the other medical problems, review of systems, etc., instead of just saying something like medical history is in patient's chart.
The other doctor in the same practice will just do: Chief complaint: ear pain. Examination: Left ear is red. Assessment: Otitis media. Plan: Amoxicillin.
The hospital and the practice have tried to get him to cut his notes down, but apparently he likes to hear himself talk.
No skin off my nose, I see that I have a tape for him and I sing, "I'm in the money!"
Local MT account
Has anyone ever tried sending a resume to local doctors to get some accounts of their own? If so how well did this work?
Thanks
Angie
I know personally I have already lost 1 big account because of the new system and please sm
talked to my own physician yesterday about it. He said they have to be on-line within the next 2 years. I love my work from home MT job but I'm thinking of going back to school for nursing. Just checking if it has affected anyone else yet and if so, what are your long term plans?
Yeap, lost huge account to EMR, most CA doctors are now using it
After I lost my accounts, I went to doctors' offices all over Orange County, and most are now using EMR or going EMR. I lost a huge account with several clinics. They loaded up all of my templates, and off they went. Good luck.
Forgot to mention that our account is local to us.
sorry!
Wanting to land my own local account
I am currently working part time IC for two different people, I have a little less than one year transcription exp, all in family practive or GI...I have been thinking about trying to get my own account locally but not sure about some of the "in's and out's". Those of you who do this, do you have someone who covers for you when you have to leave town? I have always had someone to QA my work, so if I do my own account and have a question(blank) do you call the office and ask or do you leave it blank? I am kinda back and forth w/ the idea, I know I would make more money, but not sure if I want ALL the responsibility.
Lost account of 28 years to Dictaphone because hospital believes it will eliminate all transcription
Curious if any of you are working for Dictaphone or Infomatics and doing an account out of Miami with mainly ESL dictators? I was convinced I would not lose the account after a few days with VR. However Dictaphone is not using VR right away and will transcribe reports the regular way until they have a database. I am certain this hospital will never be done by VR. I posted a job on here about a year ago offering 18 cents per line to help with this account and not one person accepted after hearing the ESL doctors we have. They are that bad. Anyone else have this happen to them? Losing to Dictaphone And we have had to do most of the work for over a month since they supposedly took over because their system is not working.
RE: Depends on the account
No it does not!!!!!!
depends on which account
It really depends on which account you are going to be working on as to how much of a response you will get. There is one account manager who manages several who is NEVER around, doesn't answer emails or the phone and it's been whispered she may even work another job. There is a huge group of clinic accounts without a manager, they got rid of her, probably to save money since there have been lots of money saving cuts going on. Currently that one is being overseen by the HR lady with no transcription experience (the second in command, watch out for her, really thinks anybody can do the MT or Editor job without having any experience). There was another account with a really good manager but a bad platform, but she finally left, so hard to tell who is there now. The actual owner is a very nice lady but unfortunately isn't much involved and only knows what her second in command tells her, and she makes it look like she has all under control, and in reality she is the second top reason most people leave this company. A new manager has been hired for the new account we have, but yet again she will be limited by what Ms. G. will allow her to do, which won't be much. This used to be a really good company but steadily has been on the decline. Tell me what editor will put up with bad platforms, 100% listens and low work for 3-3.5 cpl? What MTs will stay on with bad platforms and being ignored when there is no work?
Yes, it depends on the account (sm)
I do think it would be strange to have a PE section. The physical exam section is the "O" section, for Objective. It would be redundant to have PE within O. You may want to ask for samples.
Depends what account you are on. I have been
there just over a year. DocuScribe is easy to learn, not bad at all. I don't have that many ESLs, mostly they are residents, but still I don't know about other accounts.
I think it depends on what the account wants, and
In fact, one account I type wants it both ways: They want all abbreviations expanded in letters, and usually no expansions except in certain circumstances on all other dictations by that account. The 'twice a day' vs. 'b.i.d.' thing is trickier. If my account has no specific rules about it, then for the sake of continuity, if the first couple meds in a list are written one way (such as b.i.d.), then even if they say twice a day on the next med, I still type it b.i.d. That way there's a little more uniformity, and I think also the list is easier to read. Of course, it all boils down to the preferences of those you work for.
Depends on account, but discontinued
would be correct (sometimes it means discharged)
It depends on what your clients or account wants. sm
BOS sometimes does not matter. The only thing that matters is what the people who sign your paycheck want on their reports.
It depends. If you have a very difficult account
an hourly rate would be great, but being paid by the line I make $20+/hour and I don't think companies would be willing to pay that hourly, so I guess I would have to say I'd rather be paid by the line, unless it is editing and that is a whole different story. I also think being paid hourly would make me maybe not work so hard to get lines and perhaps slack off occasionally. Depending on what shift I'm working I'm up and down every hour or so, putting a load in the washer, feeding animals, loading the dishwasher, etc. If I was getting paid hourly I should not be doing that stuff. I am not very disciplined and find it hard to sit still for more than 2 hours, so I would have to have a change in my routine. I enjoy the flexibility of being able to get up, even go outside and sit on the deck and watch the sunrise, etc. Another pro for the hourly wage though is at least you'd know what your paychecks were doing to be every payday and could maybe budget better.
I find it really depends on the account.
I really lucked out that I am on an account that has been doing VR for a while and the docs all speak pretty clearly. The reports come to me pretty clean. I only have to verify demographics and make minor changes to the report and I can get pretty good line counts.
On the other hand, I know MTs who aren't so lucky and end up having to transcribe many of their reports because they are so bad and end up making less money.
I love my VR account. I decided to do VR to save my wrists. I have had problems with carpal tunnel, but not since switching to VR.
It also depends on your account specifics too...
if it is verbatim, you type what they say...
Depends on your account, I would guess.
Some accounts want a strict SOAP format, so you would disregard the other headings.
I personally work on verbatim accounts so we put in any headings they dictate.
It depends on the account guidelines.
For the majority of the accounts I work on abbreviations are only expanded in the critical sections, such as diagnosis, impression, etc. This is to the client's preference, and it is considered an error to expand an abbreviation when it is not necessary.
As far as dosages, I always transcribe what the dictator says unless it is a prohibited abbreviation or an error. Prohibited abbreviations are changed, per client preference, to the acceptable term. If it may be an error, it is flagged for review. If the doc dictates "twice a day," they get "twice a day." If they dictate "b.i.d." that is what I transcribe. It is also considered a error, at least at my company, to alter what is dictated.
Much depends on the account/accounts that you are on (sm)
Like everywhere else, I suppose... I've been with JLG for almost 12 years and have had the same main acct the whole time. It's a large hospital system, and yes, lots of ESL, but only a few that I would consider dreadful. Have been on some other accts with virtually no ESL. Have also been on work types where I could rack up lines like crazy, and other times (like now, for instance) struggling to get 1200-1300 per day. Have had times where I felt extremely micro-managed, other times don't hear anything from anyone for literally weeks. Paycheck has always gone out on time, but unfortunately no longer do direct deposit. I guess you could say they've been a little erratic since I've been with them, but overall I am pretty happy. I believe they have several different platforms - I'm on "EHR" (for the past year or so) and while it's a little slow going from the patient information screen to the document screen and back again, it works with your own Stedman's spellchecker and with Shorthand, so better than some others that I've been on. I will say that the support personnel have not always been the best, but, again, I've seen a lot of people come and go! Hope you find a position that's perfect for you - or at least nearly so!
I have been paid both ways. Depends on the account. nm
n
I guess that depends if it is a verbatim account...
I think even so I would type feces....
I agree, it depends on who you work for BUT also the account
and how long it has been on VR. If it has been on VR for a few years, piece of cake. If it is just starting out on VR - tedious work, low pay as it takes longer to edit than to just transcribe it.
I have been doing VR editing for 4 years now with an account that has been on it that long also...can make up to $50 an hour, and some times as low as $30 an hour when we add new dictators.
Hope this helps.
Same for me, I made more 10 years ago. It depends so much on account, SM
work type(for me), and expanders. I find it hard to stay motivated when report after report is ESL and a work type I can't make money on. The above poster likes radiology, I like OPs. It is easier to stay motivated when you have that.
Depends - one account I make 40 an hour, other - s/m
I grunt it out to make 10 bucks an hour. If I worked just the ER account, I would definitely make full time money for part time hours.
Durn second account. :}
I was hit by all 3 that summer, I lost power, I lost work, I lost savings...but..sm
NEVER did my employer in any way imply or threaten or dare even mention that my job was in jeopardy because I could not work immediately following a trifecta of natural disasters! My jaw agape is not at your concern about working, but at your concern that you would lose your job because of it. Companies have to have a heart in some situations. You're one MT, your company won't go under without you working for a week or 2 or 3.
I consider myself a pretty fast Mt, and I am lucky to hit 100 reports a day...depends upon account.
lines produced also depends on type of account, doctors, specifics, platforms.
nm
Depends on the pay and account. My lowest average is $15.52 an hour (roughly 182.6 lines an hour) w
;'
I recently lost 20 pounds. That means I lost 80 sticks of butter.
    
I doubt your brother has won more than he's lost. To win that much he's probably lost 3 times
So he probably has more bills than money. Otherwise the casinos would go broke.
Buy local. The local stores pay taxes to support your city and state. (SM)
Using online and catalogues does nothing to promote the local economy. We complain about outsourcing and about the big companies gobbling up all the work so the jobs at local hospitals are gone, yet we do the same thing when we buy on ebay, catalog, and these web sites that may be located any place in the world as their primary business location.
I went local. Great local tech support, they know what I do and were able to set it up just for me
:)
LOCATION
Macon
location
Live in Oregon and I am cheap, cheap compared to others in the area.
Patti
LA Location
Gray is in south LA between Houma and Thibodaux, south east, I think, from where you are. About 1 hour and 15 minutes SW of NOLA.
Location, Location, Location
That is what it boils down to. Here in the Pacific Northwest (of course it depends on how much experience you have), experienced hospital MTs are paid at an average rate of $15-23 per hour.
Location
It is in Phoenix AZ. Just wanted to know if anyone on here would have any info on this company. I am applying.
Is this right? (location of JR in name): DOE, JOHN JR ? Thanks for your help. NM
Ad says location Nova Scotia nm
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