theory on why nationals are so awful
Posted By: just a theory on 2005-08-19
In Reply to:
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.
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not everyone thinks nationals are awful.
i have worked for 4. two were terrible, one was okay, one great.
the one that was okay and the one that was great made you put up a deposit on the computer stuff and if you didn't get it back to them in good shape they kept it. i think that is fair. costs a lot of money to do that.
all 4 of the companies i worked for checked references. i had to test on terms, meds, and then do a transcription test for 3 of the companies.
the 2 that were terrible - i just did not like their software (1 sent me a computer that wouldn't work so they sent another one and it wasn't very fast at all). it wasn't really anything they did. i just didn't care for how their stuff ran.
i think all of them are decent companies. beats the hospitals i've worked for. beats getting in the car for a drive everyday in pantyhose and heels and listening to coworkers gripe about what they're not getting and having to work when they want you to.
the big bang theory and Darwin's theory of evolution are also extensively documented but
I think we could all stand to learn from the Amish and how they are handling this awful, awful sm
tragedy. I read on a website 2 seperate stories of how the Amish are dealing with this. Yes, they are sad, but they believe that they will (and I do too) see their children again and that they are in a much better place. They have reached out to the gunman's family, visiting the killer's wife and children and offering them forgiveness. I also read that they want to "help" the gunman's family monetarily through a Mennonite fund if they need help! The article contrasted the Amish to other school tragedies where lawsuits were filed and death threats were made against the family members of the ones who committed the murders!
They are such graceful, loving people. Different, yet. Weird? In a way. But you have to admit that without electricity or vehicles to get them around, they obviously live a faith that most of us could only wish we had inside of us. I am a Christian. If a madman entered my children's school and killed them, could I offer forgiveness to their family? I doubt it. Could I weep in peace and silence knowing that I would someday see my children again? Maybe. But I would be a wretched mess and everyone around me would KNOW my suffering.
I am learning a great deal about the Amish through this. I used to live near PA where seeing the Amish was a regular occurrence. I thought they were so crazy and weird.....But, it was my own ignorance that made those judgments. They are wonderful, Godly people. I admire them more and more as I continue to read how they are dealing with this awful event!
theory
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.
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.)
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.
What nationals?
What nationals or hospitals have this policy of showing doctors how to dictate better? I have worked at 11 hospitals, clinics and trans services in my career, managed a few, was lead transcriptionist at a few hospitals, supervisor at another and also just an MT at times. Never have I ever heard of a policy like this.
There were no nationals
Nobody had ever HEARD of outsourcing. We were all in-house, regular employees, got a REAL SALARY with benefits including LOTS of PTO time, etc. We were treated with respect and appreciated for our hard work and MT was an actual profession to be proud of. Then after computers came along and the "want it on the chart 5 minutes before the doctor dictates it" mentality, somebody got the brainstorm that they could make tons of money off of us by getting rid of the in-house departments, "allowing" us to work at home, and only paying us peanuts on a "production only" basis. The bottom line of "the cheaper the better" took hold, the nationals took over, started outsourcing overseas, and you have the mess we have today. I guess that about covers it----
Do any other nationals have 10,000 MTs?
Maybe that's why it is talked about so much. There are 10,000 MTs affected by what they do.
Nationals are no better
Disagree, no matter whether you are an I/C with own accounts or with a national or even small MTSO, we are all at the beck of the doctors. If they are off or do not dictate, there is no work. I do not think that the majority of you realize how hard is to balance out having enough staff to do the work to keep the accounts and also keep them busy when the work does not come in, especially when the help does not think twice about someone in the family being acutely ill when they are not, taking off for children field trips on a whim, children being sick or whatever the excuse is not to work. It takes quite a juggline act to accommodate both employees and acounts themselves. That said -- flame me as I have already been burnt many times by people who do not have a work ethic or want to work when they want to and not when the work is available.
Nationals are no better....sm
Every group has people who don't come through when they should, doesn't matter what job, etc. but most of us are professional enough that we don't leave our employers in the lurch, certainly not nearly as often as most of them do us, no work, computer down, etc., etc. but, if someone refers to me as "the help" I wouldn't feel too kindly toward them. I would do the job, but don't ask "the help" for any favors.
Sorry...that's a sore spot. Makes me feel like we should be kept in a corner somewhere until we are needed to "help"
If that happens, no more nationals for me!
nm
Big nationals and MTs
I have been in this business over 20 years. I started when we used IBM Selectrics and tapes. I have seen this business changing over the years, some good, some bad. One thing in particular is the very large national companies getting more and more of a monopoly in the transcription business. This has had an impact on the MT. I am making less per line than 15 to 20 years ago, and I seen that is widespread in this industry. I see it is getting more and more impersonal.
20 years ago many MTs were getting 7 to 7.5 CPL. I see that still happening. Adjust that for cost of living increases and inflation, and I feel wages have gone down.
Now we must compete with overseas work and if an MT wants to do VR, they must take a pay cut, at some companies of up to 50% of your line rate. I remember many years ago when they were talking about implementing VR, we were told we would not have pay cuts, just be able to type more. I knew then that they were lying, of course they would cut our wages. They will squeeze and squeeze to get the most money for themselves. Many of these CEOs make millions, but what about all the unethical business practices. Remember Enron.
I feel most of these changes are because of the a few very large nationals changing the nature of the business. Of course, they want to make as much money as possible. Everybody does, I cetainly do. But it seems to me they are doing it at the expense of the individual MT.
Did you know many transcription companies actually train the MTs in India and then give them a job. If you are in the good old USA, you pay for your own schooling and are lucky to get your foot in the door because of no experiernce.
I think if there were fewer nationals and more smaller companies, maybe the MT would benefit.
Nationals can pay much better
than hospital jobs. If you are capable of 1500 lines in a hospital setting, you can easily do the same at home. With experienc (which you seem to have) you can make at least .95 or .10 per line. Most hospital MTs do not make $150.00 a day. If you want benefits, there are some good national companies with good benefits.
You just need to decide how much your in house job means to you versus staying at home. I work in a hospital during the day and at home in the evening. I make more money at home but I need to see other people so I love going to the hospital 6 hours a day.
Has anyone else had this awful
If so, any comfort care measures you'd be willing to share? I am really struggling today and don't want to take my OTC meds cause they knock me out. Any home remedies would be GREATLY appreciated.
i think she looks awful
Maybe it's because I never liked her, but she looks unhealthy since her surgery - like a balloon with air sucked out of it.
Isn't it Awful
Where do you live? Here in NY the heat index is 107. It was already sweltering at 8:00 this morning.
It is awful
I am not even sure how to work the speakerphone option because I did not receive a manual. I did press the transcribe button and at first the sound on the headset was very faint, now it is nonexistent. I had to transcribe with the handset up to my ear and neck crinked to the side. Could only work like that about 2 1/2 hours then had to stop, sound wasn't the greatest on the handset trying to use it to transcribe. DH is going to take it apart tomorrow to see if he can rewire it to external speakers...any other advice would be appreciated before he does that...that option scares me too.
Awful
I think it is awful that you were treated this way. I know how it feels to be treated as if I am no more important than the next best piece of equipment. The thing is, they did it because they could. This is a learning experience for all of us; whenever we make any agreements for extra help, then we must have solid written contracts to indicate the limitations. I wonder if it would also be a good idea to insert a clause into an original contract with the client (or for the next client) that indicates that you require a minimum of work before they go and hire additional help on the accoun?. Give them the out of "negotiable", but they will have to discuss any changes with you before adding more MTs to the account for which you have a binding contract.
I am not a lawyer, but this is my 2 cents.
thats awful
my sympathies...geez. if things usually come in 3's, then you're probably in for one more o)
but hang in there. when you're at the bottom, the only place to go is up! this'll help you even more appreciate all the good days!!
hope your son does okay...
They are both awful! nm
nm
awful awful
I was with a company who chose that platform and after a year, I had to get another job. It never did work right. I was in management and it was kept from the MTs that it did not count lines right, if it counted them at all. It would not do the headers or footers that the MT did not get paid for when they had to do themselves. It was down more than up and when you called, seemed like there were only 2 people ever there and we got a lot of "I don't know." MTs would call in to get help and maybe 4 months later they would get a call back. I hated it and so did my people. There are many many better out there. Be sure to ask how long they have had it and if all the bugs are worked out.
Oh, how awful for you! sm
It is sad that they have to do that. Makes it 10 times harder on the patient. I hope you are okay - be strong, (((hugs)))
Until they cut it again, and MQ has an awful
ASR system that requires a lot of correcting. I don't think ASR should pay any less because it takes just as much time.
No, they don't. Maybe Spheris or the big nationals
that actually send you equipment and take the time to train you, but the little MTSOs don't do anything except set up your user ID and password to get into their system and fax you their contract. Ooh, 15 minutes out of their lives are gone. Dreadful. They expect you to have your own equipment, be proficient with the computer and software, and know how to transcribe medical reports. Reasonable enough, but it does NOT cost them anywhere near the figures you quoted.
$18.5K two smaller nationals. nm
x
nationals vs working for yourself
Regarding the post below about how to avg 1600-2000 lines per day, someone posted they make about 12 cpl and about 3500 lines per day. I'm assuming this person works for themselves. To all of you wonderful ladies who are so lucky to do this, where the heck do you get started??? I'm soooo jealous, thats a dream living right there. Seriously, where to look, how to get started, what equipment. Any pointers from you gals? I work no less than an 8 to 9 hour shift to scrape in my 1300-1400 lines, work until my fingers get stiff....!!!!
Probably why the larger Nationals have their own
qq
OH! One of the nationals I worked for did that.
Of course, the supervisors had been on the accounts before getting promoted, so they had tons of macros and expansions already. However, they'd work a few hours and get these astronomical line counts while I had all the leftover garbage dictators. Between that and the frequent shortage of connections available, I quit. The supervisor not only got her supervisory wages, but she also cranked out about 2,000 lines a day in less than four hours by taking work away from the MTs. Why did they hire me and the other MTs if she was just going to hog the good lines and the C-phone connection?
YES! nationals have turned
wife's kind of job......need a second income to live.
It is no longer a career
It is no longer a respectable job.
They have lowered it to _drop in_ make a few bucks_go to bed
But don't expect or receive RESPECT, A LIVING, OR ANYTHING ELSE
from a transcription company. They are there to make the profit
OFF OF YOU.
Bows sounds real darn good - when do we start - I'll make the
wagon to sell them from - I'm pretty handy with power tools now since
my husband left because I had to type 26 hours a day! Stupidly he thought
we should have a life.
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