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Comparing Cymed counts to Word

Posted By: oldhands on 2005-07-29
In Reply to: Hired by Cymed and told they did not pay for spaces, but paid for headers and footers. Just did a - Been had.

I work for Cymed and find that my counts are pretty comparable to what they were when I used Microsoft Word. I've done the same reports in both programs, and they were essentially the same, give or take a space or two. As someone mentioned, they did give you a heads up on not paying for spaces, which I agree doesn't seem fair, considering our thumbs work pretty hard and the report would certainly not be acceptable without them, but apparently you agreed to it.

As far as headers/footers, since I don't have to manipulate that information in any way, I honestly am okay with not getting paid for them. Heck, considering the time I save by not having to name my files, put page breaks, page 2 headings, count my lines, transmit files, etc., I actually am able to get more dictation done in the same amount of time than before in Word.

Curious, though. Since they have several different locations, may I ask which office you work out of?


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You have to remember that Word counts
everything. The headers, footers, etc. It's always going to be off if your company doesn't pay for headers or footers.
Accurate Word Counts
I would like to know how to check my line counts independently, to make sure that I am getting paid accurately for all lines, spaces, characters, etc. Currently I use Medrite and have always taken my line count from the system as it gives it to me. It runs with Microsoft Word 2003.

Since I am a high producer, after reading comments from others, I think even minor differences could make a substantial difference in my paycheck. An upgrade might be coming at the end of the year, and I wonder if this could affect counts in their favor. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


yes, but remember that Word counts blank lines, as well. nm
nm
comparing
I work for Medware and their platform is super easy. I was off quality after 5 hours of work. I'm not sure of the benes, but from what I hear they are quite good. Many of my friends work there as well & they love it.
comparing pay
I've always been IC, so I don't know how it compares to employee pay. I can understand how it would be quite a cut in pay for you.  The pay is lower than my other job, but I just find I like it more, so I think it's worth it.  If I ever stop enjoying it, then I guess the lower pay will be an issue.  I had found that I was so horribly bored with my hospital work that I dreaded getting on the system to do it, so I wasn't making a lot of money anyway.  So I finally quit and got this job and 2 others, actually, that are small jobs in interesting specialties.  I'm also doing more legal work.   
Comparing reports
Knowing I was going on DocQscribe, I kept 10 reports from MTs and their line counts and then pasted them into DocQScribe after I had been on it for a time - compared the line counts and they were almost right on - I had to manually subtract the header information in order to make it come out, but we know that we don't get paid for headers anymore.

I know that my biggest problem is the internet - when late afternoon comes and I am pressed to get done, my line count goes way up. If anyone can figure out how to discipline themselves from "surfing" - post it here - a lot of people would be very grateful.
Comparing companies
Currently interviewing for employment with both WebMedx and Medquist and was wondering which company I should choose to transcribe for.  I am going in as a part-time employee.  I would appreciate any and all feedback and help on this very important decision I am to make in the next few days.  Thank you
comparing companies
I'd love to hear from employees of Axoloti, Keystrokes, and WebmedX as to which company pays the best line count and has the best benefits for full time employment.  It would also be nice to know if their line count systems are accurate and reliable. 
comparing companies
Thank you so much for writing and sharing your experiences.  It's very helpful to hear someone who's been there, done that. 
Comparing schools
I took a quick look at their website, what they offer, and how much it costs. Are you interested in this course because they say they often hire top graduates? This course does not guarantee you a job with them. They even say you have to go out and market yourself.
As an M-Tec graduate, I can tell you that if you study hard and after graduation really stick to it, you will find a good job. You receive a large number of real books with M-TEC and not just some workbook. With M-TEC you have your own instructor to answer your questions and guide you through the course. Not to mention the online classes and vast online resources they offer. They have their own IT expert, who will answer your questions and holds online classes. After graduation, they will always be there to help if they can. They help with your resume, and after graduation they provide you with a large list of MT companies that hire new grads. Make a list of questions, submit them to the top 2 or 3 schools, and compare answers. Good education has its price, but it will also open doors for you!!
that count on none of us comparing notes...
what else can they say when confronted? I doubt much of middle management even realizes how easily their line counting system can be manipulated...
Yeah, it's sort of like comparing - (sm)
The tone was a bit on the stern side today too, don't you think?

I, too love the current platform. Entirely easy & user-friendly. I worry that the speech-rec part of the new platform will turn this into a boring editing job.
Exactly. Even comparing our industry to carpentry.
industry workers have a plan - a set plan and structure for their trades. You progress up the figurative ladder, gaining more skills and expertise, and you get paid accordingly - money, benefits, where to sit on the scaffolding, etc. LOL.  Would a man who was a slacker complain and ridicule his peers when they wished they made more money for their skills?  Its so beyond ridiculous that its almost funny, right??? Oh, please, dear employer, I don't want anywhere near what i deserve to be paid. I like making peanuts, because I can play games with my kiddies in my jammies and type a few lines now and again...so, no, please don't pay me more to do so.  Heck, making more $$, our happy mom poster could even buy little Jimmy MORE games. Would that maybe strike a cord or flip the light switch on??? Honestly.... I can just see the master carpenters having debates about same.
Comparing a few companies, it seems OSI has a lot to offer!
Whatcha think?
What I found comparing straight on 1 computer and VR on another....
I was making 30-40 dollars more a day straight typing. i really like the idea of VR it was nice on my wrists but, you are right about the a, an, the, whole sentences left out, etc. I used all the short cuts but figured even with those I couldn't double my line count as easily as it was touted. I don't have 6 months to go down the tube before VR caught on or I did. That is just my opinion. Maybe people with 2 paychecks in their family could do this but I couldn't.
SPi versus CyMed...SPI is offshore and YES they bought CyMed...

CyMed is now part of SPi and will be merged into the company and will follow all company policies and procedures.    It's the only way the President, COO of SPi could grow the company and keep his job.    He has to grow through acquisition.  This means that at least 70% of all CyMed's business will be transitioned to India or Manila.     The US MTs working at Cymed should be very careful and start looking!!!!


Comparing figs & plums. Advantage/disadvants to
x
The platform is Word. Their program works with Word but does not change how Word works. nm
The benefits just changed the first part of this month. I don't have them but I remember them being reasonabl for a single person. Family and spouse was not reasonable in any way (in my opinion).
small to medium company that works in Word or Word-based program - email me. nm
nm
ExText is integrated with Word. Auto correct is a part of Word.
ExText is a Word based platform. When the page opens for you to type the document it will be just like you are typing in MS Word.
anyone work for Oracle - do they use Word or a Word-based program - e-mail me nm
nm
Just wanna work in Word - need company that works in WORD! nm
nm
Their program works with Word and does not change how Word functions. sm
You use your own expander. Overall I feel it is user friendly and I like it.
Does the Emdat platform use Word or is it Word-based? nm
nm
Word for Word Medical Transcription
Pros and cons please.
In his ad, he's asking for Word Perfect, not Word, if that matters. nm
s
The platform is not Word, but it is Word-based. I
had little Word experience and the recruiter told me to try to find a book to learn the basics of Word as their program is Word-based. 
Now I wish they would just call me back......no word no word and
What is up with these MT companies that advertise. They don't even answer. I have a great resume, tons of experience. I'm confused.
word for word company
does anyone know about word for word transcription company?  how are they to work for, platform?  thanks in advance!
I was told I could use word pad since I don't have word

I have 1 computer to speak of that I did not buy personally.  the company has their own platform and their own computer to be rented.  I would not be typing in word.  I have never had a problem testing this way before.  I am not saying certified is better.  I was explaining my circumstance.  I have my own personal computer ordered for my use and I wanted to test fast without waiting. geez.


"overtime" is not a generic word. "incentive" is a generic word. Over time means time
x
off counts
Truthfully if it was a small enough discrepancy then I would and yes I could find a different job but it could just be that I need a different line counter. Do you use a line counter and if so which one do you use. Using MT Stars, Abacus, and Word Traverse I get a count of 1717 and I-Chart gives me 1655.15; MT Stars, etc. 1409, I-Chart 1350.55; MT Stars, etc. 1144, I-Chart 1088.32. If all the counters that I have used gave me all different counts I would be done with it but these 3 give me identical counts. As stated before in actuality its not really that bad because on the bigger picture its not that much money but this seems to be escalating and in order to monitor that I would need a comparable line counter which is the reason I asked what line counters others might be using. The problem could very well be that I just need to try a different line counter.
If you mean the 3 that are all together, that counts as ONE.
nm
Getting line counts up

I recently was hired for a national company, after having worked in-house for about 5 years in a physical therapy clinic.  I'm still in the training status.  Every day when I check my line count, I cannot believe it!  It's in the 200-250 area.  I know I'm slow, having to look up almost all drugs, many procedures, etc., and I'm adding to the expander program every day, but I don't see how I can get a lot faster.  We don't get credit for header information and oftentimes this takes several minutes to look up, add to, correct.


Any suggestions/comments are welcome!


 


yes i have compared counts
of canned reports too. Your latter supposition is logical, and being on internet allows for more 'wandering' with ones time as well.
Line counts

Does anyone out there or has anyone out there worked for Transtech Medical Solutions and if so could you provide some input on their line counts and why there are 3 different platforms to figure your lines that give you 3 different figures and final line count is lower than those 3 platforms.  Any info would be appreciated.


Thanks


LINE COUNTS
Be that as it may but have you have problems with your line count W?
line counts
I was given $10 guaranteed hourly for the first pay period, unless I did more than the 12,000 lines. That was a joke because I, like you, was, and still am, getting awful dictators. I did not make the 12,000 line requirement until 5 pay periods later. You will get there.....eventually. I can only dream what my line count would be if I had some decent dictators!
Line Counts
Line counts are pretty easy to get.  I don't have any problem, but of course, the longer you are with any company/account, the easier line counts get.  They require 150 lph, but they aren't sticklers about it, if you don't.  (It took me a few months to get to 150, but then after that, 175-180 is about the norm).  They let you pick your schedule.  They are pretty flexible with that.  I work a split shift and it works out great.  They have excellent shift differentials.  They use Shorthand as their Expander and if you're already using it, you can transfer it in.  They have quality equipment.  You don't spend a lot of time waiting.  As far as demographics go, for the most part, it all pre-fills.  Occasionally, you will get a patient you have to look up the name for, but it's easy and doesn't take long.  It's an easy system to get used to, as well.  You don't have to have 6 different windows open to do one thing.  They have normals and examples easily available for different dictators, etc.  Overall, it's definitely worth applying and taking the test.  (The tests have caused problems for some folks - there's a written one and then 3 or 4 dictation samples).
Line counts

I sure did not have trouble getting between 250-350 lines per hour when I was with MDI at 11 cpl.  I quit to take a radiology position that pays gross.  The Bayscribe platform is very user friendly and I never had trouble with any of my accounts (2). 


Line Counts
I average 250-300+ lph on my acute care account at MDI.
line counts
I most certainly did read it.  I was stating that when I paste report into Word it does agree with the DQS line count, not that it does not agree. 
I think you are right on both counts.... I know of a few people in sm
key positions who have handed in their resignations after seeing what Medware was willing to do.. and these are people whose absence will make a significant difference in how some important things will get done... and these are things that the hospitals will definitely notice... I have a feeling the worst is yet to come to them for being so greedy.. If having outstanding MTs is all they need to get by.. well then.. as of now they will likely be okay because those MTs who are there are just that...but. I think mgmt is in for an awakening... :)
Line counts

It really depends on how many characters you do in a day.  For instance, if your total chars are 50,000 - then divide that by 65 csl and you get 769 lines total.  And the same for a 72 csl - divided by 72 would be 694 lines total.


So the more chars you type the more lines it turns out to be.  Figure 85,000 chars would get you 1,307 lines!


csmr-mt


Line counts

Again, I want to ask what can be done bout something... The way are lines are calculated by the MTs is to take 24 x the number of reports we have done in a day and that is just a guesstimate I am told.  The owner has a line-counting program called Docu-Count and we do not have have access to that program.  Again, when we get our paychecks.. it just shows the line count but we have no way of knowing exactly what our line count is compared to the what the owner comes up with.  I have asked a person there at the office who helps with payroll and explained that my line counting program comes up a lot more than the one they use at the office and the response to me was I have to go.  Does anyone besides me find this odd and know what I can do about it.. Im afraid to ask him for fear that I will lose my job and I need this job right now.  TIA.   


line counts

Well, that's good to know.  Do you know if we are paid for the headings in the report? I think that might make the difference.  I literally go from one IC job in the morning, making right at 300 lph, to struggling for 200 to 225 at Precyse.  If we are paid for the headings (which we should be, because they don't appear out of thin air and they all take at least 3 keystrokes), then maybe I'm just too tired to pull off 300 lph at a second job. 


verifying counts
My mom and I both worked at the same in-house hospital.  We both verified by typing the same report in Word and doing a character count divided by 65.  
TT Line counts

Since the Ichart line counting program for TT has been having problems, I have noticed that my line counts have gone down.  Has anyone else experienced this problem?  I am starting to get worried about it.


TIA


 


 


line counts
anyone working for TTS having trouble with their line counts?
TTS line counts
An email was sent out to all about that earlier. It appears to be an ongoing issue with Dictaphone, and probably something they have no control over. I am sure they will get it straightened out soon, they can't afford not to.
Line counts
Let me ask you this then, to whose benefit is this equipment geared to - not to increase an MTs productivity, give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ichart service, Dictaphone can help you assess the true cost of your current transcription infrastructure.

Past audits have revealed some of the following billing discrepancies:

Inadequate Billing Detail.
No true MT line counting standards for billing.
Challenging Audit Trail and Process.
Special Characters Can Inflate Line Counts By 15%.
Invisible Characters Can Inflate Line Counts Up To 20-40%!
Poorly Designed Templates can lead to Excessive Line Counts.
Multi-page Reports can Drive Excessive Characters and/or hidden words.