what is the rationale for going digital, your savings on mileage?
Posted By: sm on 2006-07-08
In Reply to: Rates have changed so much in the last few years and I am wondering... - (sm)
you need to sell the doc on the advantages HE will receive from digital, i.e. better quality = fewer blanks/errors, ability to STAT, perhaps even improve the TAT on his transcription?
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gas mileage
I also make sure that I do all errands when doing deliveries and so that mileage is written off. My deduction for my mileage yearly is over $5000 and so that is $5000 I don't may taxes or SS on. And it is the same amount of miles I would be putting on my car if I had a job and worked over by where 90% of my accounts are located --by the hospital and that would not be deductible. So that is a savings -- again I make sure I do the majority of my errands while on my daily run and don't use the care much more than that per day.
Ours is right at $3, but I get FANTASTIC gas mileage.
I feel for those of with you SUV's and minivans. Filling those up has got to be expensive.
You can write off your mileage
to get into. As far as blocking your schedule, that's your fault, not the office's fault. Would you charge an online company a "sit and wait" for dictation charge because you blocked your morning? Hello? You have to be very flexible in this business. I have gone and there's only 1 tape to pick-up. I really don't care to know the doctor's daily schedule because I have enough to worry about, but high-paying jobs are hard to find. It sounds like you've made up your mind in that you don't like the driving, office, or the dictator himself, so what kind of advice are you looking for? If you just want to know whether to charge for a pick-up that brings you home empty-handed, then no do not charge. Why don't you talk to your overflow account and find out if this happens can you take work? I just don't get some of you gals... Really this allergist does not "owe you a tape" everytime you come in and I'm wondering if you are going to return reports. If you are returning reports, then your trip was not wasted. 
P/S: It could be worse; they could NOT PAY!!!!! LOL Good luck...
you will only get 55 cents for mileage SM
reimbursement so that does not help much with 3 miles round trip. I used to charge by the hour for such nonsense when I was IC. You are getting robbed otherwise. Make it clear to them in, possible in an addendum to your contract for additional copies it will cost $x per page due to travel expenses (gas, time, etc.) Your time is worth a lot and they are not taking care of their records. Good luck with this!
YMMV (your mileage may vary)
>>>Who are making more money with VR than you did with straight transcribing?
Depends upon the day.
>>>If so, how many LPH did you average when doing straight transcribing?
About 250 lph.
>>>If not, how would you rate the difference, approximately in % of income lost
When VR is "kicking booty," I can get close to 400 lph with around 99% accuracy. And that's just straight dictation. If I knew how to do macros and templates, I could probably get close to 500 lph. --- But it didn't happen overnight. I started using the product again in November 2002 when I busted my finger. When it's a matter of spending the time training the product correctly or not working at all, you find a lot of patience.
As a for instance, 225 lines/hr at 8 cpl would be $18/hr. Your mileage may vary. nm
a
15 cents a line AND charge mileage
nm
I do tapes and digital. And I was told if I'm not logged into the digital system, they assume I&
BUT she wants me logged into the system by 9:30 a.m. So I'm confused too. I've decided that I may come back to her and just say I'm not going to do the tapes anymore. I hate the tapes anyway. The voice quality is horrible, it fades in and out. It takes me twice as long to transcribe their tapes than the digital.
I prefer Dorland's and consider it the "bible" of medical terminology. Others' mileage
x
Phone savings
I am trying to come up with a solution for all of this. I have a remote office at my Mom's 10 minutes from my home (in another state actually) where I have DSL. I have a phone line there that I use for my fax machine. They installed the DSL on my Mom's regular line (for some reason). I just pay her for the DSL and the extra phone line. I could get rid of the extra line if I could figure out a way to receive faxes. I am thinking about changing from DSL to cable internet there. Here at home I have dial-up internet and 2 phone lines. My daughter is a heavy computer and phone user so there is really no other way that I can come up with. We have cell phones, but are in a very poor service area. My remove office is in an even poorer cell phone service area. We have satellite available here at home, and I do not think the company I subcontract with now would care if I used it. However, Directway is the only satellite option and it is pretty expensive. Then again, it would not require 2 phone lines, and with Vonage we might actually come out better.
savings for the company but
not such a happy ending for the 21 FTEs who no longer have jobs..?
Our company is just now switching over to VR and they keep assuring us that they do not forsee cutting staff, but I'm not so sure.
Hope You Have Some Savings!!
It took my husband's daughter-in-law FOREVER to get her first unemployment check. Right now they are being indundated with applications for the new Honda plant that is being built in Greensburg. A few weeks ago they opened applications for 18 non-production jobs and got 7500 applications. This past Sunday they opened applications for production jobs and by Monday morning they have received more than 6000 applications. Honda is only allowing applications from 21 counties surrounding the plant. There are even people moving from Ohio in order to be eligible just to complete an application. It's crazy!! I don't know if that has anything to do with unemployment benefits being slow to get but all Indiana state agencies are screwed up now with our governor moving to privatize everything.
Good Luck! 
Grocery savings, and web link
We shopped at Aldi Foods when all our kids were at home - teenagers and toddlers at the same time - this was a big help with keeping grocery $$ lower. I think they take only cash or ATM (no credit cards - which is probably a good thing).
Gardening and canning your own produce can help save money on your grocery bill, as well as homegrown produce is better for you nutritionally. It is time consuming, however.
A favorite web site - The Dollar Stretcher http://www.stretcher.com
I opened a savings account ...
and I put 30% of everything I earn in there. Then I can be sure of not spending the money and it is available for the quarterly payments.
If I didn't do that, I KNOW I would spend it and then having trouble coming up with the payment.
Anyone want to do a group savings club?
Just trying to drum up a little motivation.
If we pact to do 100 lines a day more each day that we earn and then put that net amount into savings each paycheck, it can add up a bit!
For me, that would be 500 lines a week or $160 a month gross. By the time my taxes are taken out, that's about $131 a month net and THAT adds up to $1572 a year!
Any takers?! See who earns the most for it or heck even stays with it?!
Wow! Congratulations! Taxes, then savings....
If you want to take time off to be with your daughter, how about asking for a reduced schedule for a while instead of whatever you have now? That way, you can decide later if you really do want to keep the job or if you don't, and you won't be rushing into any decision in the heat of the moment. Best wishes to you.
eh I like it. It's kinda like a savings plan for me.
Plus I get the child tax credit. Usually get around 5 grand back. Nice. but after buying an HDTV, computer and two Xbox 360s last year this one will alllll go to the credit card companies!
You don't manage your own savings account?
5 grand instead of the government.
JUST A REMINDER - IT IS DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIMES
At least we no longer have a cough, not to mention the savings $$$.
dd
Poll-Daylight Savings Time
Like or dislike?
Personally I dislike it very much. It changes everything with my sleep cycle, work cycle, and even my emotions. It is too much of a bodily adjustment that I personally would wish not to experience twice a year. Anyone else???
Don't mess with my line counts to get that $.01 savings !!!! n/m
v
actually I buy I bonds, can't trust myself with a savings account
x
Yes, it's the same principle, except no checkbook or savings acct.
Just the card. You don't receive a monthly statement. You can log onto the website and check your account transactions and card balance anytime. For me it's more convenient then balancing a checkbook and no more bounced checks! Either the money is there or it's not.
No check=MTSO fault. No savings or cushion=
x
hate daylight savings time, LOVED living in AZ for 2 years!
used to whatever time you are on, some government says, "EVERYBODY CHANGE AGAIN!"
Agree! I hate Daylight Savings Time. It takes me a good two weeks
to get myself and everybody in the household adjusted to the time change every six months. If the farmers need to get up earlier, let 'em! That doesn't mean I should have to, also! DST has definitely outlived its usefulness. I stay up later and get up earlier in the summer, but go to bed earlier and sleep later in the winter. It's like my mind and body are tied to the sun, not the clock. I never got an extra hour of sleep last night anyways because the neighbor's stupid dog barked from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
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.
Digital
I am brain dead also, since I've been away from the "job" due to husband's illness. I do not see any replies on here. Please forward any good info to my E-mail. Appreciate it. Turn your back around here and technology changes, zap!
Going digital
Hi,
I read your post and was wondering if I could get in this thread? I don't have my own accts yet, I work for a small national and a large national. However, I am seriously thinking about getting my own accts. Before I go looking, I thought it would be good idea to have a digital system in mind and ready to set up.
One idea that I have seen that I found really interesting was in the Transcription Gear Catalog. There is a 2 page spread about their idigital system. This is a toll free dictation ASP, very similar to what the nationals have, I would think. With this system, you pay for the minutes that you will use during the month. Has anyone else used this type of system? Any thoughts about it?
digital
I have two different setups for digital. I have an internet based call in system, which allows me to set up Transcriptionist to receive the work directly to their systems using Express scribe and I also have a doctor who uses a handheld digital recorder that he uploads in the evenings and sends the work to me through Magic Vortex......There are several great companies for you to check out. RTKING, JAY VANCE, START STOP TRANSCRIPTION are a few good places to start with. There are also other options for sending and receiving work, such as FTP sites, Hypersend, Magic Vortex and many more.
Going Digital
I switched to my 5 accounts to digital using Jay Vance with Vance Digital in March. I absolutely LOVE it! Wish I would have done this 5 years ago! e-mail me with any questions.
digital sm
How on earth do you print to the docs? Do you both have to have the same WP program and do you supply them with a printer? The offices I worked with were too lazy to even take the tape out of the tape recorder, "not their job" so I gave up on asking them to do "anything at all" as they were so lazy. By the way, thanks for sharing, not too many are willing to do this; would rather play their hand close to their chest. You are a wonder! Thank you!
digital
I'm doing digital for my client and it's wonderful--no more traffic jams. They use Olympus handheld dictation devices. We use hushmail to upload the dictation and transcribed reports so they are encrypted and HIPPA compliant. It's fairly inexpensive -- I believe $30 a year. One nice thing about that you can be anyway to pick up your files as long as you have internet access. I've often taken my laptop with me on vacation to cover emergency work. Not that I want to work on vacation, but it makes the client feel better knowing you can access the work.
If you want to go digital this is what I did
Purchased DocShuttle Admin ($300) and DocShuttle Client for myself ($99), had doctor purchase DocShuttle Dictator ($99) and an Olympus recorder ($129). Rented FTP site (about $45/yr). Set up DocShuttle so once dictator docks the recorder, it takes file from recorder and erases recorder, imports into DocShuttle, goes to ftp site, posts new dictation, pulls off old. You may want to go to Bytescribe's site though and see if the program they have for doing it by email would work for you. If you are the only MT and they are the only client, then do it by email. Email me if you need any further clarifications.
digital
i went with transcriptiongear.com and have been very happy. you can email me with questions.
for those new to digital...
FTP stands for file transfer protocol. An FTP program transfers files (uploads and downloads) from a virtual warehouse on the Internet, called an FTP site. FTP sites are rented by size. FTP programs are free or cost a fee. You can post ANYTHING to an FTP site. You can put your's kid's first grade picture there. You can put your resume there. You can put your back up data from your Quicken there. You can put a love letter there. You can put a .wav file there. You can put a MSWord document there. You can create folders there. You can password protect your ftp site and some software allows encryption, different levels of user permissions, etc. Once it is there, anyone who has the password to your FTP site can then go and pull it off. i.e. TRANSFER the FILE. So if your doctor dictates on a digital recorder, downloads the voice file into his PC, then uploads the .wav file to the FTP site, you can go to the FTP site, download the .wav file, transcribe it, post a .doc back to the FTP site wherein your doc can then go to the FTP site, pull the .doc off. Voila!
Going Digital
Hello
My doctors use Olympus recorders. One doctor does well with the DS-10. The other uses the DS-330 (No longer in production). The DS-330 has the advantage of overwriting. For instance, if the doctor makes a mistake, he can back up and record over what he has already taped; however, this was a disadvantage for my other doctor, who taped over his entire morning of dictation by accident by hitting a wrong button. It depends on the doctor. With the DS-10, you cannot tape over anything. If you are sending the audio files over e-mail, you should consider first encrypting the file for confidentiality reasons before sending. I use e-mail, because it is free, and it was easiest to train the office staff to use. There is a free software program, ZipGenius that will encrypt your files. Yes it is free. When getting a handheld, you want to consider the types of files also. A .dss file is much smaller than a .wav file or a mp3 file. That is also why I went to Olympus recorders, because they record in .dss format, which makes for much faster upload and download times. If you have other questions, please e-mail me. Also as one poster has already said, the express scribe software is great and free as well. I bought the recorders. They have already paid for themselves in gas and time.
Lynn
You would have go go digital
If you are doing digital for a national you already have the foot pedal if not then you will need to get one that would transcribe the type of files that will be sent to you, wav or dds. I don't do digital just the tapes but from what I have read you would need to get an FTP set up going so that you can transfer the documents and then if you have your pedal, you should be set to go. So just send out flyers/brochures giving your experience and stating what you will provide and go for it. But you will be a little limited since you only are available for digital and don't pick up and deliver back printed material. You might be able to do overflow for some local large clinics. Some might require a C-phone to dial into their equipment. Good luck.
Digital
I have a couple of accounts that I go daily and pick up tapes/deliver. One of the docs wants to start sending me dictation via computer but does not know how to go about it. I must admit I have no clue. Can anybody point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance.
digital
 What about encryption when sending through an email?
Digital
Hello,
I need help from anyone that can write in and give me suggestions. I was just approached by a physician that has 4 in a group and they want to go digital and have me do their transcription. This would be a great opportunity as I have just lost 4 of my accounts to outsourcing to India, so I need all the help. They need to know how this can be set up. Do they need a FTP site and do I need one? What kind of system do they need and all the basics. I am sure the easiest and cheap way to do this over the internet the better, as you know physicians-HAHAH. Also if Patty is on any information from you would be appreciated. I have this weekend to work on this and give them a proposal on Monday with the costs. I know what to charge by line as I am an IC already; I just need help on the way to get me the files and for them to send. I presently do tapes and pick up still. 
Thanks Everyone in Advance!!
digital
Hi Luvdigital,
I just posted on board. I was approached to do a large 5 DR. account, but want the easiest and cheapest way to do this digital way. I have some questions as your way sounds easy. 1. Do you have the software on both of computers, the one Dr sends and yours? 2. Do you send just by email or to a FTP site and can you send to FTP after? 3. What is this DDS Player? 4. Do I need a foot pedal, what kind? I have to make up a proposal this weekend, so info is needed ASAP! Thanks again for your help. I would love to land this account as I have lost 4 accounts to outsourcing to India and need this badly, so the easiest and cheapest would work and I not very computer sassy, so easy is great for me.
Thanks,
Mary Lou
digital
Thanks everyone that wrote in with suggestions about going digital. I have a few questions about the brand of digital recorder. I researched the Olympus, but do you recommend the ones that have editing capabilities or not, as I am unsure what this really means. Any other types that your Docs use would be helpful.
Thanks!!
digital
I think you misread me. I am landing the account. The Drs are paying for it all. I just need to know what recorders are the best and cheapest. I also need to know what wav pedal is compatible with Olympus. They are paying for the FTP sites. They just wanted me to research everything and give them the prices. Sorry if I confused anyone.
If there is not a way for them to go digital
I would at least seriously look into a way to have a delivery service - I used one myself 10 years ago....... most areas have them - they send the tapes in a locked pouch and you sign for it when you receive it and visaversa if you have to print out work and deliver..... it can be compliant - you just need to secure the information - these companies are bonded.... time on the road is costing you money big time lady!!
Going digital
Do some research here.
Going digital, again.
http://www.transcriptiongear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=T&Category_Code=DIGITAL-TOP
Sorry, the link didn't post. The tricks are to get your doctor(s) to give up their old recorder(s) and learn to use the new one(s) and also having office staff able to download the recorders reliably and retrieve/print the reports/notes, etc...You will love the convenience, but if you're in-house it still won't help locate patient charts (LOL)
going digital
I also want to go digital, but don't know the first thing to do. I also have 2 doctors that I am picking up and delivering tapes for. Thank you so much.
digital...me too!
Can you please email information about how to go digital cheaply??? Thanks!
Digital...
Why don't you investigate going digital and cut down your overhead ever further? No gas, no paper, no ink...etc. Worth some thought.
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