office lighting comparison
Posted By: frugal MT on 2007-11-18
In Reply to:
Everyone's talking about the compact fluorescent lighting saving hundreds of per year in energy costs. That's swell, but I have tried using these bulbs in my office, and the lighting is not at all adequate. In my experience, the CFLs do not come close to light output of incandescent (standard) bulbs. I'd have to buy extra lamps with CFLs to equal the amount of light I need and can get through standard bulbs. I have my office lights on for 10+ hours a day. I turn them off when I take a break, of course, and at the end of the day. However, my power bill is through the roof already, as Ameren has dumped another rate increase on Illinois.  So: Need the best lighting option for the lowest price possible. Any ideas?
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home office lighting
 Any advice about the new full spectrum lighting that supposedly resembles daylight? I rent my house, so can't install ceiling fixtures; can only use floor lamps and desk lamps. I also have pretty severe seasonal affective disorder and need as much light as I can get here in the gray midwest. The regular (incandescent) lights I've been using put off way too much heat in the summer and really don't provide good light in the winter. The compact flourescent bulbs don't seem to be bright enough. I'm thinking of trying the BlueMax full spectrum line. Any experience from you guys out there?
home office lighting
Thanks! I checked out the website and have emailed them for info. 
Editing at home is tough. No comparison to the office, and much, much harder
than transcribing at home, especially with kids. Wish I could help, but I can totally sympathize with you!
Lighting
Yes you can, but it's really not distracting at all. It's just neat if you want to use it at night with no lights on in the room.
Lighting not distracting (sm)
Lighting is not bright enough to be distracting. It has a dimmer switch with it and I always have it up as high as will go. I actually wish it was brighter. The light glows through the white letters on the black keys and you can see the glow between the keys, but it is very subtle. There are also two strips on the side edges of the keyboard that give off the color you selected. It is a heavy keyboard, so it stays put. Cord is in the middle rather than to the left or right.
Yesterday I reached for the ringing phone over the keyboard and across my desk, the wire to my headphones caught on the glass of water I had there and of course it knocked over the glass and a very significant amount of water went in the keyboard. I immediately flipped the board over while cursing the freakin' phone call that turned out to be a wrong number. No ill-effects from the flooded keyboard.
As for those cordless ones, I have never bought one because they are too $$$ and I go through keyboards way too fast to be spending that kind of money. I have had a cordless mouse. It lasted a couple of weeks before I ditched it.
lighting and heat
Those are excellent ideas! I'm printing all these ideas and will check into some of them. You're right....moving the office would be the most reasonable (and free!). 
Reduce lighting and screen glare
You might need a screen for your computer monitor to cut down on glare, and/or wear the lightest sunglasses you can find or get a new prescription for glare. You can't get rid of them, but this seems to help. Of course being an MT can cause headaches also, lol
Can you disable the lighting on this if you find it distracting? nm
s
Thanks for the comparison..
They sound one in the same.
A little comparison.
Option A: National: Two hours of emails, faxes, unpaid headers, using expander. Total income $9.60 in two hours.
Option B: Small MTSO: One hour of straight typing with only one researched name and address. No emails, no faxes, paid headers, no expander. Total income $20.00 in one hour. I just wish they had more work!!!!
Comparison
I think there are some variables here. Our company went to VR and there are some who are making more and some less. I am one of those who is making less, but I made a good salary to begin with and am a fast transcriptionist. If you do a lot of editing when you do straight transcription and put in lots of punctuation, and edit A LOT, changes are VR is not going to work for you. I love it, but then again, it all depends on what platform of VR your company uses.
what a perfect comparison
If I had pictured you as anybody that would have been the perfect choice, quirky, funny and cute in the boy next door way.
that is a ridiculous comparison!
dogs, birds, cats, etc are all different animals that required different diets and have different needs. You can't even compare 1 dog breed to another b/c every breed has its different needs, so that being the case, how can you possibly compare dogs to birds?? That is just ridiculous.
I posted a comparison...
within the last week here on the Main Board (MTSO ratings) that shows how the clients of some of the top MT companies who offshore rate the quality of both onshore and offshore transcription. There really was not a big difference, according to those clients, between the quality of both.
Cents pay comparison for VR editing
Non-VR (IC) at 10 cents/line x 200 lines/hr. = $20 / hr.
VR editing (IC) at 5 cents/line x 400 lines/hr. = $20/hr. (a 0% increase)*
Non-VR MTSO charge at 15 cents/line x 200 lines/hr. = $ 30/hr.
VR MTSO charge at 15 cents/line x 400 lines/hr. = $ 60/hr. (a whopping 100% increase)
If you deduct the $20 to the MT from $30, MTSO still makes $10 per hour per MT.
If you deduct the $20 to the MT from $60, MTSO now makes $40 per hour per MT.
(of course these figures do not include MTSO overhead and other costs)
*Note: VR editing requires MTs with extensive experience for detecting and correcting errors.
Looking for conversion/comparison chart sm
I'm getting paid gross lines right now and my company is going to be using new software which will use 65-char lines. I'm looking for some sort of chart that shows the difference in $.
Any help will be gratly appreciated.
Thanks
Wow, I did a line count comparison...sm
what one of my accounts paid me for and what my other account would have paid me for with their counter and only came up with a 15% difference. A 50% difference is pretty hard to stomach. I have no ideas except for some really crooked software.
Great comparison! Just like dogs, we have to train our men!!
It might take years, but it does pay off in the end!  Been training mine for 30+ years now, and he's about halfway there! But I would sure boot his butt out if he cheated - and he knows it!
I work for both ... my comparison (LONG READ):
HOURS/CLASSIFICATION:
MQ: You have a choice of FT with full benefits -- 39-40 hours producing average of 150 lines/hour minimum; FT with limited benefits -- 39-40 hours with less than 150 lines/hour average but more than 100 lines/hour; PT with limited benefits for 8-16-24 hour schedules all averaging 100 lines/hour.
Spheris: FT is 37 to 40 hours a week, with 10,200 lines required by payperiod's end. PT is 20 to 36 hours a week, production is 5100 lines/payperiod minimum.
OVERTIME:
Both companies structure overtime the same way; averaged in the same manner; requires approval, must be in addition to 40 hours WORKED (PTO, DT do not count).
SCHEDULES:
Both require a schedule with the offer of "flexibility".
TIME:
MQ: Time sheets are used; MTs fill them in manually and submit.
SPHERIS: Galaxy is used -- you clock in and the system punches your time for you. Day's end, you see how much you've worked and allocate your time accordingly (productive time, PTO, meeting with mgrs, etc.).
BENEFITS:
MQ: You see the benefits in the Harmonization booklet. The employee's cost of insurance benefits is assigned by the state you live in (as well as which/if coverages are available to you).
SPHERIS: Med/Den/Vision are offered. Employees all pay the same amount for amount of coverages (EX: All employees wanting EMPLOYEE ONLY coverage pay the same; all wanting EMPLOYEE+ONE CHILD pay the same). It is available to all employees. Cost is not region-specific.
EQUIPMENT:
MQ: Use your own or they will provide. The current rental charges will no longer be effective in January; as well, the internet reimbursements will not either. I don't know if there will be a deposit for those just coming into the company after Jan 1.
SPHERIS: Must use their computers. No rental fee but there is a refundable deposit. You can pay it at once or have it taken out in 6 paychecks. Refunds to you when equipment is returned in good working order.
PTO:
MQ: You see the new PTO offered in the plan and can read online the PTO calculation formula.
SPHERIS: Same type of calculation formula; averaged quarterly and you receive a notice of what your new downtime/PTO rate is and what period it covers. Limit is $20 an hour tops for PTO. Lowest is $7.50. Amount of PTO depends on status and length of service and ranges for FT from 11 days to 21 days a year and PT 2.5 to 7.5 days a year.
HOLIDAYS:
MQ: You can read in the Harmonization booklet.
SPHERIS: Thanksgiving and Christmas are designated holidays. If you are scheduled to work on it, you can take PTO instead. If you work it you will earn double lines those days.
QUALITY:
Both require 98%.
PAY CYCLES:
MQ: Pay WEEK is Su-Sat; pay PERIOD is bimonthly 1-15th and 16th-end of month with paydates on 10th and 25th. Direct deposit available.
SPHERIS: Pay weeks are same as pay periods and are Su-Sat with every other Fridya as paydates. Direct deposit available.
BASE RATE:
MQ: With the new plan, you have your current base rate and it is the same on all work (unless you do part radiology or ASR).
SPHERIS: Your base rate depends on the level of the account you type on. If you type on a really easy account, you will get less pay; more difficult accounts, more pay. Each account level has a new-hire hourly associated with it. Levels go from level 3 to 10 with line rates 0.065 to 0.102. With Spheris, if your production earnings do not add up to at least minimum wage for the hours you worked, they will pay you minimum wage. However, you will not stay with them long if you cannot produce enough to keep you off the minimum wage payments.
INCENTIVE:
MQ: We know that incentive is achieved on a daily basis -- after you produce 1200 lines. Tiered so that you earn incentive ONLY on the lines produced AFTER 1200. It barely puts change in your pocket for mid-range producers. Only rewards high producers.
SPHERIS: Incentive is base on each week's production (Sun-Sat). So you can have a really bad week and only get your base and then next week have a great week and get incentive. Once earned, incentive applies to ALL lines typed and ranges depending on FT or PT status. FT: 5200 lines start at 0.002 and increases up to 7000+ lines getting 0.015 cpl incentive. PT: 2700 lines = 0.001 and increases up to 7000+ lines = 0.015 cpl. Whatever incentive you earn that week is applied to ALL LINES PRODUCED THAT WEEK. Spheris also has special teams that pay higher base rates.
SHIFT DIFF:
MQ: 11pm-7am = 0.01 and 3pm-11pm = 0.005
SPHERIS: 4pm-8am CST daily = 0.005.
NO WORK AVAILABLE:
MQ: This is not specifically addressed per se; however it is not listed under downtime definitions at all. I doubt MQ ever pays for no work situations.
SPHERIS: Has a policy: "MTs will not receive compensation for "No WOrk Available" situations. If an MT runs out of work, the MT should immediately notify their Supervisor or follow th eout of work situation guidelines for their team."
Hope that helps.
My comparison of homeschooling to MTing at home.
"A full-time job isn't finished in 3 hours (like the abbreviated day many homeschoolers boast about). It's about being there on time, sticking to it even though you may not feel like it, and getting along with people you may not care for, and avoiding those who are not good for you."
DANG! And that's why I got into medical transcription. LOL I didn't want to work fulltime or stick it out in an office. And that whole getting there on time thing, oh, I've never been good with that one.
What a dumb comparison - apples & oranges
Geez. A lot of people can't spell, and they sure as heck don't belong managing a QA department for medical transcription - correcting other people's mistakes!
Anyone using DirectTV- what are the pros and cons in comparison to cableTV? nm
nm
I have the most recent version of Corel WP, but it pales in comparison to (sm)
Microsoft Office Small Business 2000 (MSWord, Excel, Outlook, IE5.0. ) This software works as flawlessly as the day I purchased it. Patches never required. No hang-ups or crashes. The only alteration I have made to it, is that I am running the most current version of IE. However, most of the time I use a tabbed browser for my web experience.
.
Have most people had good luck with their MQ office closing and moving to the regional office. Have
things gotten better or worse for you.
Yes, I lost mine. I upgraded the Office 2000 package to Office 2003. sm
I have over 2000 autocorrect entries and lost them all as well as my supplemental dictionary for my Stedman's spellcheck. Lots of grief!
Maybe you will be lucky and not lose anything. Good luck to you.
Might be able to rent one from an office supply or office machine repair shop
s
I gave a tin of toffee for each office and a Lia Sophia necklace to each office manager. ~nm~
x
I gave a tin of toffee for each office and a Lia Sophia necklace to each office manager. ~nm~
x
Office politics. That is why I enjoy working at home. In the office,
people are in other people business. Just mind your own business.
Can anyone suggest an office in MQ that is not run like this Amherst office. They are absolutely
pathetic. I wonder how many other MTs are in that office in the same situation.
Just DQS from my office was transferred and the rest are getting on DQS before the office closes.
:
Pay kids work around office, renovate office.
x
Office 2003 so far, but going to Office 2007 as soon as I can. nm
nm
30 day TAT in this office ... office politics at its best
I have kept in touch with an MT I worked with at the last in-house job (radiology). This was inpatient radiology and also an outpatient radiology clinic the hospital operated.
One of the girls, a person who at one time folded towels but who was hired as a clerk, was just discovered to ahve not mailed out reports for 30 days. These include both in house reports and outpatient reports. They have been sitting on her desk because she "has not had time to do them."
What do you make of this? The lead MT is close to this girl (hence her being moved from housekeeper to clerk) and is trying to minimize the impact that not having the reports mailed to referring physicians' offices, as if it is a minor problem (how they found out about it is a doc's office called the MT's supervisor and asked why 30 days worth of reports were mailed to their office yesterday.
They were keeping it from the director of radiology. I think this is BIG and that heads should roll for negligence.
What do you think?
at home vs office - i am in office
well, I really was referring to the MONSTER MANAGER that I have, who has her favorites here, and she assigns them the easy doctors who say the same thing over and over, you know. I have to do something. I am losing my SELF at this point, with no church and no family. The stuff on here about running out of work, my lack of computer savvy, all has me just frozen. MOre about in-office. Do you have little habits like talking out loud to the dr? Someone will complain about you. Do you ever say a cussword? Someone will complain. Do you ever sigh? Complaints. About age - I was offered 2 trans. positoins in San Diego before I came here. I had gone to a seminar about how to look for work over age 55, had revamped my resume and my "presenting" self, and it made all the difference. Things are way different than they were evern 10 years ago, you will be judged by someone younger than you, but in this line of work they do appreciate experience and reliability. And the computer doesn't care if you're pretty. It's not your age unless you are sickly. Don't give up!! if that's what you want.
What office are you out of
and how long you been there?
not with every MQ office
It is on the list of "dangerous abbreviations" and is to be coverted to mL.
all along with the ATL office also
and just now trying to enforce all of the sudden. I have only met quota a handful of times since starting DQS over a year ago. NOTHING has ever been said to me directly. Even contacted the office numerous times concerning this and just get blew off. So frustrated!!
Is this every MQ office?
I have been with them 8 years and I have not seen or heard anything about a check other than on this board.
my office
My office is also my study room. It is lovely with a nice corner-style desk. I have a nice music set-up with cd changer, etc. and a nice sofa with a really pretty pine cabinet that holds all my extra "stuff". I have nice wall grouplngs with pictures of the grandkids and other things that make me happy on the shelves that are amongst the photos. It has a large window looking out to the front yard and a ceiling fan for a breeze.
I have another picture that I picked up at a yard sale last week that I also want to put up. It's a neat and quite large original pastel that looks like something you's see on Antiques Roadshow. In fact, if they ever come to my town I'll take it in and hope it's a treasure.
which office?
what region are you in and did you have to ask for it if you don't mind telling?
Office
For tax purposes I have my own office. Also helps me to be able to "go to the office" and shut the door when not working as it seems I get more done this way. It might be small 8 x 8 or so but is large enough. I also will not keep any of our household finances in my office -- strictly for work related items only -- others are kept in a small office in the spare bedroom. That way I do not feel I am at work "all day long." But that is just me. Still work in sweats the first few hours, start to work within 15 minutes of getting up with coffee. Tried the other way with office in spare bedroom or living room and just did not work as I felt that the work was always there with me. Patti
I have my office,
x
Not in my office
If you hang up or get cut off for some reason, you go back to the report you left off with. OP, can you tell us which office? I am in Chicago and hope it's here. I get stuck doing all of the ESLs and 20+ minute reports too.
why not ask? if you were in an office,
would you ask your friends there their thoughts/opinions?
What does your office look like?
Redecorating my home office..Maybe a newer/nicer surrounding can get me more motivated.. going kind of retro decor.. what does your work environment look like? Just curious..
Office
Mine is in an extra bedroom (converted to office). Working very well for me. Away from distractions, can close door if I need to.
Office
I started off in the bedroom, moved to the dining room, then as our family expanded from 2 to 4 kids, I divided the dining room in half (It was huge! Have sat 27 people down at one time, the largest room in the house), had walls built and what do you know, I know have my own space! With a door and a window! My two older kids are in their teens and I have been finishing the basement and moving them down there. I thought about going down there myself, but I like my little office and I can hear the little ones and the window leads right to the backyard too. Nice and peaceful! But it wasn't always that way!
The last job I had in an office the office..sm
manager seemed to think we would not see this take over for a long, long time and that many were trying it and going back to using transcriptionists. Let the doc know you will be happy to help him out should he decide it is not working out for him. I am so sorry for you, hang in there.
office pet
Awww - thanks for sharing the photo of your kitty and in reading your "blog" thanks for reminding me why I enjoy working at home so much.
Office Pet
I hope this link works. I wanted to show you who keeps me company every day while I transcribe--unless she runs off to sleep half the day, which I wish I could do!!! When she's not around, the birds visit the feeders in the window.
http://mtblab.blogspot.com/2006/08/office-pet.html
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