theory
Posted By: sm on 2005-08-16
In Reply to: no, it was Cottage...theory? sm - just me? OP
The headers and footers being taken out, yes, that can add up and make a difference, but since I don't have to enter the headers anymore myself, I actually do better because I have more time for just typing. I came from MTShell and am more productive on DQS. I have been wondering if the people who have line count problems are just coming from other platforms or if any came from MTs like I did. There was something somewhere in those lawsuit papers about Medrite inflating the lines, so my theory is people struggling with lines on DQS came from a program that padded their lines (not due to any misuse on the MT's part). Maybe I'm way off here, but that's why it's a theory, not fact.
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the big bang theory and Darwin's theory of evolution are also extensively documented but
just a theory
I agree,, they didn't check any of my references because I asked the people whose names I gave. I started working before I even filled out any paperwork. I had worked for another company using their computer, it took 3 months for them to come pick it up after many, many calls.
Theory indeed!
I work for a major national and have the option of using my own PC. Trust me, they are making plenty of money on the computers they supply! Even if they lose a few, they are making big bucks at $50 month!
As for references, mine were checked! Do you work for a national? Have you ever? Have you as a seasoned MT been able to pass a national test? It sounds like you haven't. Makes me wonder what your problem is?! There are plenty of new grads who do it everyday.
There are plenty of seasoned MTs working for nationals, as well as many very good newbies! Some of you "seasoned" MTs need to remember where you came from!
Here's my theory
I think it was an accident that took on a life of its own.
Her mother was the typical stage mom, wanted her daughter to be perfect, and didn't tolerate otherwise. I think JonBenet did something that made her mother angry, probably just some typical little annoying thing that any 6-year-old would do like wetting the bed or being a little too rambunxious in some way since it was Christmas, and Mom got carried away with the physical discipline, lost control and JonBenet ended up dead (hit her a little too hard in the head probably).
Then since they were such "fine upstanding members of the community" Mom and Dad wanted to cover up what happened and staged the "tied up with a garotte and hands tied together" scene to divert attention to a fictitious home invader/child molester so their socialite friends wouldn't think they could be responsible for hitting and killing their own child.
I still think their son will spill the beans eventually because he was there, and since he was clearly always playing second fiddle he is probably growing up to be quite an angry young man who feels neglected and resents being told to lie about what really happened for all these years.
Just my take on it, but Mom did it, although not on purpose and I'm sure they would both love to have that night to live over again and not have gotten into this mess.
no, it was Cottage...theory? sm
please do tell! And any suggestions would also be welcomed! 
Thoughts on DQS, theory, etc.
From what I've read here in last month about MQ/DQS, I would agree with your theory in general (MTs from different platforms may experience decrease/increases in production, depending).
I worked on INET previously and have experienced significant decrease in production/pay with (MQ)DQS. Some others who posted here have had same experience going from INET to DQS. I have yet to hear from colleagues or read posts here where ANY INET MT has experienced anything BUT decrease in production. I keep hoping, but not a single post.
Regarding another post in this thread, I too received comments (from not only several tech people but also my supervisor) that implied I was the only one experiencing a decrease in pay. That is just nuts. Thanks to all of you who have the courage to post here and be real. I think when we just talk about what we experience here, it is much more positive than some of the company bashing - or inter-MT bashing that seems to go on here. A lot of us are experiencing the same thing with MQ and need reassurance we are not alone, not crazy to think we are getting less pay when WE ARE - until it gets better or we leave the company... for those MQers who are doing great, I am pleased, and believe you me, I wish I was in your shoes!
Regarding other MQ programs being padded to account for significant decrease in pay on DQS - at least regarding INET, I can't really speak to that (no proof for or against). I made a very decent living (though no raise to speak of for almost 8 years) previously averaging from $18 to $25 an hour. I'm nowhere near that now. I'm amazed to read that MTs think that averaging $13.50 an hour is great... and I too wonder if maybe they are newer to the field (I'm at 20+ years).
What I do know - something is not right with MQ and with this industry in general. I don't have the answers, but sure wish I did. Looking around at other companies sure is not providing an immediate answer - in fact, it makes me realize that I will actually make LESS money if I jump ship... Choices: less money with another company I don't know, or pay cuts from the "new improved " platform even transcribing accounts I have been on for years - how screwy is that!?
In the meantime, keeping my eyes and ears open, trying to stay on a positive yet realistic note!
This is precisely my theory, as well!! sm
One other thing that intrigues me...Patsy died of ovarian cancer, right?
Consider the fact that OJ Simpson lawyer Robert Kardashian died of esophageal cancer, and OJ lawyer Johnnie Cochrane died of brain cancer. While I realize that cancer strikes and kills many thousands of people, I find it interesting that people whom I suspect are guilty of other crimes end up dying of cancers related to their crimes. A lawyer who vocally defended a murderer dies of throat cancer....a laywer who was the "brains" behind the defense of a murderer dies of brain cancer....a mother who killed her own child dies of cancer of the reproductive system. Maybe it sounds more like sicence ficiton than a plausible proof of guilt, it's just something that intrigues me.
Very interesting theory...
In theory, it's basically the same as the other
MSWord version; it just has all the bells and whistles.
I tried honey at first because the theory behind sm
the Hiburnation Diet made sense to me. Although I have lost weight, and more importantly inches, the great sleep is what keeps me using it. I just take 1 or 2 tablespoons straight off the spoon and within 20 minutes I'm nodding off. My dreams are so vibrant and detailed now. I really enjoy sleeping again :)
I don't use IT, I use Shorthand, but the theory would be the same....
I use one big glossary for my main full-time job. Most of my abbreviations are single words, or phrases that are common to pretty much all dictators (chf = congestive heart failure, for instance). I also have entries for all the various formatted paragraph headings, in all their permutations. And so forth. I also have some entries for phrases that some docs use all the time. The real trick is making up a system that works for you, for how you assign the abbreviations/keywords. There are threads on other boards where people share their own systems.
I also have one "moonlighting" local account. He's got a separate glossary, and the main reason for that is that I do his work on my home computer, and I do the full time work on a company computer. Most of the entries are the same between the two computers, other than the things like formatted paragraph headers that are specific to the account/platform. I try to keep them as uniform as I can because my memory is not getting any better as I get older, and the more that I can do on "autopilot," the easier it is to keep everything straight. (And it's faster.)
theory on why nationals are so awful
If you think about how much money they spend on computers and equipment, shipment, they need to make sure they are not just hiring any joe who does not know what they are doing and can walk away with a free computer. That explains the testing that goes on to get hired on with these companies.
Not only that, being so remote, having so many MTs, they have no time to check references, or to know whether or not you are seasoned or how much experience you might have. You could lie your way all the way into becoming an MT, they lose clients because of the lousy work from inexperienced MTs, lose money because of the thieves who just want a free pc.
We seasoned MTs get lost in the blizzard of this. They are just looking out for themselves, for good reason if you look at it from their perspective.
While all of what you said sounds good in theory...sm
and I used to agree withyou, in this real world of MT, we are just typing peons, that are almost disposable... not appreciated and expected to do nonproductive work, not complain, and sit w/o work many days... so in the real world, if we don't jump through the hoops, we just don't have the work, plain and simple as that.
In theory this is correct, but in reality all of us who are ICs - sm
and work for MTSOs or nationals know otherwise. I have negotiated for a higher rate when applying of course and have gotten it at 2 previous IC jobs. I never got more than that though. At my current IC job though I have asked 2 x and have gotten raises. My last raise (yes my 3rd) I did not solicit, though I was about to ask. I did not get as much as I wanted (only .005) but agreed to it and probably next Spring I will ask (and I am sure get) for another .01 (I make .09 now). I think demanding an increased rate does not go over well, and if you tell them you will only accept .12 or whatever, expect to be "let go". As for the OP, it is unfortunate her MTSO said no way. If I were her I'd be actively looking for a new IC job and get a better rate that way.
that sounds good in theory BUT -
As was already pointed out, it depends on the difficulty accounts, the skill level of the MTs, whether or not you are doing 100% listen, if you are required to send e-mails with corrections (as opposed to the MTs just looking at their reports later), etc. It all sounds easy until you consider these factors.
Gross Line theory
I once was told if you were going to charge gross lines, you should be basing your rate on a 12-point Courier font with 1-inch margins. I understand the reasoning for that, and it is a great theory, but how does it work in practice? I know some people do use this theory to calculate line rates as it has been discussed on this board, but what do you do if your doc doesn't use the 12-point Courier font?
Nice in theory, but most of us have to work a lot more than
Very few people are so fast that they can make a living at only 6-7 cpl within the confines of a 40-hr. week. It's often even hard to meet the minimum daily line requirement within an 8-hour day because of all the detective-work we have to do with names/addresses of doctors, brand-new medications not in the books yet, and poor-quality dictating. It's more common to work a 12-hour day and then have to write '8 hrs' on our timecards.
Here's my theory. We were taught to place nice.
Even if you hated the person and hated their ideas we were taught we needed to share and play nice. Well here on boards and in chat rooms, you don't have to play nice and we can vent and rant and not have to suck it in.
I believe it is healthier here on these boards than in real life where you need to smile in people's faces in the workplace, in the neighborhood or even in the family when you would rather tell them what you think at best and at the very worse give them a good old fashion A$$ kick and tell them to get out of your face with their BS..    
Here you don't need to be phoney baloney and you can tell people exactly how you feel w/o repercussions. And that's a good thing.
slinging insults supports her theory
you know. The OP made some plausible, even if offensive, statements. However, I am ashamed at your comment and even more offended by it.
Hmmm, interesting theory on Lisa. Maybe so, huh?
x
I have a theory about grammar, proper English going the way of
the dinosaur. I am beginning to think that with all the ESLs who cannot speak English, that everyone else has totally forgotten how to conjugate verbs, have no idea what sentence syntax means, understand the relationships of nouns to verbs, etc. I am wondering how long it will take before no one makes much sense and it really bothers me. I see paragraphs where truly, it is difficult to tell exactly what is being said, what relates to what. I long for the days when I had an ESL who wanted me to correct her, even to the point of completely reworking her sentences to sound better.
In theory approx. 750 lines, but depending - sm
on the speed of the dictator it could be more or less obviously. I have a dictator who will do a 13 minute report, I am lucky if it is 80 lines (same with her 18 min. reports), totally stinks.
thats all good in theory....calling the floor sm
getting the numbers, dialing into the system, etc. etc. In a perfect world! These docs are not going to do that.
MTSOs are hired to provide a service. They do whatever they have to do to provide that service. I have also had the experience you have had working in the hospital system where turnaround was never met by the MTSOs. MTSOs were hired because turnaround was never met by the hospital either.
Do you ever wonder that these problems with turnaround both on the hospital side and the MTSO side is one reason that outsourcing got started???? Please don't flame me for that statement but I guess if the MTSOs are not going to be able to keep up with turnaround then they have to do whatever they need to do to stay in business. I don't agree with it and I wish it were outlawed, but its just food for thought.
Calling in on the weekend and listening to a dictation may work in a smaller hospital, but I don't think its a very good solution for a huge major medical center, at least not for very long.
From what I see on this board it's ok to bash those of us who ARE flexible and make it work. But it is not "politically correct" for us to say anything about the folks who want to work for MTSOs and not facilities, but don't want to be very flexible in their working hours. Just an observation.
Yep. The "forced attrition" theory is starting to seem more and more plausible.
Though I just really suspect major "suits" cluelessness about how to keep this company's head above water, honestly.
Ah well, made me sick to think about helping to pay for all their Bahamas' vacations and BMWs all this time anyway. Hasta LA vista, babies.
here is my theory....... patsy knew him from when they lived in georgia. sm
i think together the two of them planned the plot to get money, i.e. the ransom note already said to have come from patsy's handwriting by one analysis and only referred to "Tom" throughout the note. thus, why he is saying it was acidental and it was only supposed to be a kidnapping and why he is only saying he was with her when she died.
My theory is no news is good news. (sm)
If there is really a problem with your transcription, then I would not worry about it. They will get to you if you screw up.
As far as policies and procedures, look in your manual. I am sure they gave you info for all of that stuff. JMO.
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