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Great advice!

Posted By: sm on 2005-07-28
In Reply to: Often it is better to apply at your local hospital. Many times they - mlstoo

That's what I tell people too. Start out in-house, and when you're able to get through even one day without asking someone a question, "please listen to this for me", etc. you're ready to work at home.

Thinking that you're going to plop yourself down at the computer and be a functional money-making MT without any prior experience is really being unfair to yourself. It simply can't be done.

When you're working from home you're on production so a newbie who needs to be constantly looking things up isn't going to be able to stay afloat financially.

Plus, I liked working in-house. I wish more hospitals still had in-house MT's. It's hourly pay so you can take all the time you need to make sure your work is perfect and you learn so much.

I wouldn't trade that real-life experience I gained in-house for any MT correspondence course.


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Great Advice
Point taken
Great advice....sm
So there's really a company out there that meets these criteria?
Great advice. Is people stop working for them, maybe they will start paying attention. I wonder if .
their clients know they do not pay their MTs to do the work. You can bet that Rapid Transcript is getting paid by the client. What a ripoff. Just the fact that they have an F rating by the BBB woudl be enough of a turn-off for me. Crappy business practices.
Good advice, and advice that I'm giving real thought to ...

If I had known that they offshored before I accepted employment with them I never would have gone there to work.  I've been here long enough now though to not want to lose my benefits. 


Still ... making a DECENT PAYCHECK and making a living without being stressed out over the type of work that I'm doing is just as important as good benefits. 


Webmedx fits that bill, great company, great benefits, great pay and always on time. NM
,
Great company, great boss, great account!!!nm
x
System great, pay good, everything great, but most managers from old Edix, problems, poor people ski
when you are out of work, you are out of luck. If you are good at brown-nosing, are tough enough to be without any self-esteem, and have maybe money coming into the household on the side in case you tick someone off, then you may succeed, for a little while.

Don't ever ask questions or have problems with anything. Don't ever have a problem. Don't think you will have any control over anything you do, either.

A few 'good' managers remained when I left, but the new ones were all from the old Edix, and were completely into numbers, cared nothing for individual MTs...if there is work, you BETTER be working. If there no work, you will hear nothing, no one will help you.
You are pathetic! I have a great life, loving family, work for a great company.
You might want to fix that.

You really don't have to shout (angry person), but yes you are wrong!!

That is my last word to you!

I will add that getting a great pay check every other Friday from Medware really puts a huge smile on my face.
Oracle is great. Bayscribe is wonderful great line counts.
The trainer at OTI will always answer any questions about the platform and if you have any problems they have already worked them out, so just ask. Good luck!
YOG - Lots of work, great office staff, great money. NM
.
Loved Alltype! Great management and great accounts.
wah  -  i miss it there!
It's a great company -- lots of work and great pay. sm
Web site is www.mditrans.net.  If you need anymore info, feel free to ask. 
AXOLOTL - A GREAT COMPANY WITH GREAT INSURANCE
Axolotl has AWESOME, AFFORDABLE insurance.  Family plan medical and dental costs a little over $300.00 MONTHLY.  They also pay for family plan vision in its entirety.  STD, LTD, 401K with match and flex spending account, great PTO and HOLIDAY pay.  OH and paid downtime in the case you run out of work, which doesn't happen often!!! 
Great pay, great benefits for 11+ years..sm
I've just started with this great company (eMTS).  I have 11+ years of experience and I was started at .10 per line as a regular employee, not IC, with a huge sign-on bonus, full benefits, very nice people, and a good account.  So far, this is the best experience I've had in my years as a transcriptionist.  Unfortunately, I don't believe they're hiring more right now, but you could always check in with them, they're online at eMTS.com.  The management seems to really care and they work with you.
Great company, great boss....

I use to work there.  The dictators on my account were really good.  They use Emdat/Inscribe.  Pay on 1st and 15th by direct deposit.


That''s great and I've heard they pay great as well.
I just have heard a lot of adjectives for a few accounts - zinger, killer, impossible, etc., and I sure know I couldn't hack it there. But I'm sure they know what they are getting into when they sign up.
Great little company..I worked there for a short time, IC, and pay always on time, great owner too!
I had good dictators, they use FTP, and I had a 12-hour window to return the work.
Started small; great company. Rapid growth; not so great company
First year I was there was like heaven. Then the big growth spurt when they hired managers from another company (that I had run away from before because of their bad management) and let them kind of take over. Although I have no proof it was as though I got 'bumped' by these new people when they came in and I lost a good account, good manager, etc. My paycheck went down every month lower and lower, and it became harder and harder to make my minimal lines. Having any kind of advocate was nonexistent.

It depends on you and what kind of MT you are. Seems to me there are pretty much 2 types...

Sports like basketball where you have the pros who play with finesse, and then you have street players who think it is all about physical strength, period. More and more the physical strength is winning but the art of the game gets lost more and more...

As in this country where there are almost 2 sides now, those with intellect and thoughtfulness, and those who think the only way to be strong and be a leader is to beat up everyone who does not agree with you...and force your will on others.

Suffice it to say in my opinion WMX changed its philosophy of the way it treated employees and lost its heart when it grew, and it was literally almost overnight...

If you are a mass producer who has no care of what it takes to make money, if you are a 'street fighter' then it would probably be for you because you WILL have to fight for everything. Fight for the right account, fight for lines, fight to be treated fairly, etc. If you appreciate MTing for the art of MTing or have any kind of joy for the profession, my guess is you will not make it there very long...

This is happening all throughout the what used to be called profession. Seems to happening all through everything these days. Humanity and heart are being pushed down to the bottom...
bit of advice - sm
I have worked in many hospitals over many years, and after a bit of trial and error, I have found that this approach has always worked in my favor -

I STOPPED sending resumes to HR departments. Why? Because I would inevitably end up with a computer generated letter "thanking me for the resume ... on file ... should a position come up ... blah blah blah." I would contact the hospital and say I am responding to the position that is open, what do you mean you don't have a position??? The response would be "Oh, well someone should get in contact with you soon then."

By the time an HR department got off their butt to start calling in people for the position, chances are the transcription department was into overtime and overtime meant loss of $$ and next thing you know, it was being outsourced.

So I cut out the HR department, and would find out the name of the head of medical records and send my resume to that person. The person would either go to HR and say "contact this person for an interview" or would contact me themselves and set up the interview.

I would even send a resume to the head of medical records even if there was no opening because you never know. Hospitals may have onsite transcriptionists as well as outsourcing. But if the hospital realizes that there is the possibility of another Transcriptionist right in the area, they may be able to utilize me. Hence, I would get a phone call.

It's just a bit of advice - don't always rely on the website for transcription positions.

my advice is ask MQ for more than that...
if you have the experience and are 'seasoned' you should start out at least at 9 or 9.5. be firm. they must need MTs. if they say they do not pay that much say you are sorry to hear it but you have other offers, and everybody is paying at least 9 now...(IF you are as good as you say and you tested and passed, etc.)

men do this- they push back a little...

even if they simply will not give you more than say 8.5, they will at least know you are not stupid. if you take it at 8.5, tell them you want a review in the near future and expect to make more than that...

geeze, I started at 9.5 there a year ago...?

if you are good, demand to get paid what you deserve.
Thanks for the advice - sm
It's not a lot of money, but since I was courteous enough to send the equipment back immediately, I just don't understand why they aren't paying me. I am not going to drop it though.

Thanks again!
K
Here's my advice sm
If you are on your own and don't have a spouse or a second source of income, this isn't the job. You've really got to have some backup with Webmedx. This is not the company where you'll be on one or two accounts and have all the work you can do. This is scraping for every bit of work you can get some days and bouncing around on lots of accounts.

However, the benefits are very good. I'm not sure if they take them away, though, if you can't make your lines. Surely not if there's no work, but if there is work and you have trouble, don't know.

IF you have benefits through a spouse, I would go elsewhere and be an IC. I would not be here if I didn't need the benefits.

Good luck making a decision!
I appreciate the advice, but would like something a

see my advice
If you have been working for someone else, take a document, do the word count and the line count and see what you would need to charge per word to equal what you want per line.    I also worked for someone that did that and lost a lot in letters and consults as I charge by gross line.  She paid 1 cent per word also.  In medical there are more longer words than shorter one.  I would not do it for less that 2.5  to 3 cents per word as I just looked at one of my documents and it would have taken probably 3.25 per word to make what I did off of that document.  Good luck.  With words no spaces are counted. 
I need advice
Does anyone out there know about Entente Health Care.  Has anyone ever worked for them?  I have been offered an Editor position with them but I was wondering how they are to work for.  I hope I am posting this in the right place since I am new to this.  Any comments appreciated.
Thank you...I did take your advice SM

to heart.  It wasn't an easy decision as I heard just as many negative comments as I did positive comments.  After careful consideration, I decided to give them a chance.  I think I'm better off having heard all the negatives and positives as I was able to make a more informed decision.  I really hope I'll be happy there.  I'm not naive enough to believe it will be perfect (what company is?), but I want to start off giving them the benefit of the doubt.  Everyone's different.  I worked for Spheris and hated it (others I know love it there).  I worked for Medquist and liked it (lots of people hate it there).  So it's my hope that I'll find my niche with TransHealth.


I really do appreciate your advice, though.  I hope that you have found a job that is better suited to your needs.


Take care,


Chickadee


That would be advice. nm
x
Thanks for all advice given sm please
That is what I would love to happen in the long run,  but I am pretty certain that at this point I could not handle the potential daily workload myself, and I would not want to mislead them and get myself in over my head...  New advice??
My advice to you

Right now things are slow, probably on all or most accounts.  Get yourself a backup when it's busy.  Then you have it to fall back on at times like this.


Thanks for the advice (sm)
One of the jobs I had in Ophthalmology was at a medical school, but, of course, only in that specialty.  I know the job that fits me is out there somewhere, that is, if I lose my current one in August (I really do like the office for which I currently work).  Thanks again for your input.
Same advice here, but
I might add that nursing is also emotionally and mentally exhausting.  When I worked full time, I basically worked and recouped from work.  Not much energy left to enjoy life.  I'm glad I learned everything I did, but don't want to go back. 
looking for advice

Approximately two and a half weeks ago I accepted a job offer for IC status. It would be another full week before I would hear from them again, and another four days before I was able to train on the platform. As I sit here now, I am losing money, because I still do not have a password to begin work (this being yet another four days after training). It seems like a good job - a job I would like to keep. However, I am getting very frustrated with the lack of communication. I email and do not receive responses. I call and leave messages, and do not receive a call back. I have considered doing overflow work for someone, but if I ever get going on this job I am afraid that I may be spreading myself too thin to do that. I do not particularly want to name the company, but if you would like to know you are welcome to email me. I will, however, let anyone that may come on here asking about this company know.


 


Thank you for letting me rant.


My advice.

Thirteen years is a lot to give up for the unknown.  The current Transcend employee below basically said as much about her own situation, and she makes a lot of sense.


Why don't you try it on a part-time basis?  Then if you find it's a better place for you, you won't lose anything.


When I worked at TS, the platform was down every other day and tech support was virtually nonexistent.  Maybe things have changed for the better.  I hope they have.


The grass isn't always greener on the other side.


Thanks for the advice
x
Need some advice...

Hi everyone,


I just need some advice here. When put on a new account is it common to make stupid mistakes while getting used to how a doctor dictates? Does QA to some degree expect that these little mistakes are going to be made when starting out on a new account?


I was recently added to a new account and I am not making many mistakes, but the VERY FEW I have made make me want to kick myself--HARD. They aren't big mistakes..just something that when I see corrected I say WHAT WAS I THINKING ...(though, it did make sense to me when proofing at the time)...  basically the hear one word and it turns out to be another scenario, regular English words, not medical...the ones that make you feel  


 


Don't get me wrong, my QA is wonderful and doesn't try to make me feel belittled because of that or anything. She is excellent. I just really beat myself up over things like this.   I certainly don't want to look sloppy!!


Is this the norm for everyone just starting out on a new account?


Thanks for listening and for any words of wisdom.


Jess


advice
being a new myself, and getting an oncology account, which I know nothing about, makes it really hard, plus, my doc is ESL and talks like he's got a mouth full of marshmellows. I make mistakes all the time, dumb ones too! But, never, but never kick yourself. Just learn, if you spend your time kicking yourself, you're not focusing on the learning aspect. Just calm down and learn. Bec
Need advice
Can anyone tell me anything about Phoenix MedCom?  I have a choice between them and a local physician's office with an hourly pay of $14/hour.  Please tell good and bad, consistent work flow, easy platform, if its hard to get time off when needed. Also have always been an employee, so any tax info about ICs would be greatly appreciated as well.  Please email ASAP.  Thanks. 
advice?

Can anyone tell me about Phoenix MedCom.  Have a choice of them and a local physician's office with hourly pay of only $14/hr.  Please tell good and bad.  Also I have never been an IC before, so any tax info appreciated.  Please email ASAP.  Thanks!


Need Advice
Need some advice here.  I have been doing transcription for over 8 years the old- fashioned way with microcassettes and regular cassettes and am now wanting to go with a national account, which uses things like .wav pedals and different updated equipment.  I need to start testing with some of these companies, but I need to know what equipment I need so that I'm prepared to take this new step.  I assume wav pedals are different than these outdated pedals that came with my transcription machines.  Where do I start?  TIA
I better take your advice
I am starting to have bad luck with this company. The workload is very light when I log on to type. I request more work, but they never seem to respond back. I think I better start looking somewhere else. Thanks for your advice.
My advice would be to look for a job
Take the experience from this other job and put it into a medical center and work onsite for a while to learn all you can, around here most let you work from home after 30 days of working on site. Consider yourself lucky that you didn't stay with this company as they don't sound very professional, and you deserve better. Good luck. :)
You mean some ADVICE?
x
Need advice!

I have been a very depressed MT lately working for a company who never pays me on time.  The accounts are fantastic and the work is the type I love doing, but I do not get excited whatsoever anymore because I cannot guarantee my pay to be on time.  I communicate with the manager this issue and she says she understands, but she is not fixing the solution.  I told her I wanted to resign because I was offered another position and that I need to be paid on time.  I have bills to pay and MTs or any employee at any company does not work for free. 


My question is, if you were in this type of situation, would you just continue doing work for this company and start working for the new company and see how things go?  I know it's not good to quit a job whether you are not sure about how the new job is going to turn out.  However, this new company says they always pay their MTs on time and even have direct deposit. 


What would you do in my situation?  I am so nervous to give up this job I am doing now because it might not be like the new one, but on the other hand, do I just try out the new job for a month and work both jobs part-time and see how the new one comes out and if it is a match?  Of course the present job is just sending me tons and tons of work to do, but I will not be able to do all of that work if I am concentrating on learning another job.  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Need advice
Does anyone know of a company hiring part time (20 hours per week), who works via VPN using DSL or cable modem, provides equipment or requires little additional equipment other than own computer, foot pedal and MS Word and does not require you work weekends?  My current full time employer's set up is that I dial right into the hospital's computer system and I would like to find something similar.  Is there such a company?  :o)
I need your help and advice please...
I have almost 20 years' experience with acute care and multispeciality clinic transcription and have been with the same company the past four years.  Unfortunately, work flow has been slow the last six months or so, and I am having to check other options.  I have taken several tests for various companies and have heard back from a few and have heard nothing from others.  These tests were completed three weeks ago!  The one offer I did get was 6 cents per line!!!  I was shocked to say the least.  I was told my testing was excellent, so what's with the rate?  Of course I told them I couldn't possibly accept that position.  Anyway, I guess my question to all of you wise transcriptionists is whether there are companies who are willing to pay for experience and quality?  I have been working as an employee, but am not able to do the line count (1500 lines per day) to acquire benefits.  I'm wondering if I would be better off being IC status.  If so, what is a reasonable line rate for my experience?  I'm sorry this is such a long post, I'm just terribly frustrated and needed to get some input.  Thanks for listening.   
Need Advice Please

I am thinking about testing with Cymed.  I know they merged with another company recently.  Can anyone tell me do you type in Word or in some other sort of platform?  I absolutely hate and cannot tolerate emdat.  I wish to stay away from that program at all costs.  Do you run out of work?  How do you feel about the company?  I am not at all happy where I am now.  It is time for me to move on. 


Advice

My sincere advice is to not to join Four Seasons Transcription as they don't pay on time or don't pay at all. There are hundreds of companies which are good, so be wise and don't choose this company.


Thank you for the advice.
I'm not going into that rabbit hole. I just got out of a bad situation with barely an ulcer and with your help won't get into another. I have a friend who works for MDI-MD and she also is very, very happy.
My advice..
Don't do it......look elsewhere...you'll thank yourself in the long run. 
Some advice... sm
Most companies get a whole slew of e-mails and piles of resumes to go through and very rarely make it through each and every one they receive.  It is very important to take the proactive approach and FOLLOW UP a few days later with a personal e-mail, or even better, a phone call if a number is available.  It could very well be that they just haven't seen the diamond in the rough yet!  A lot of companies also know that many people send out to several jobs and just hope to hear from one, so if they see you contacting them again directly it tells them you're genuinely interested.  Do it!
Need some advice...
I posted on here about a week or so ago about being driven totally insane by SPI (formerly CyMed). I quit working there several months ago, and I cannot seem to get it through their thick heads that I don't work there anymore and haven't for months! I keep getting all of their e-mails even after emailing them back asking them to remove me from their email list, and for the past couple of months I have been getting phone calls from them VERY late at night (sometimes midnight or later) asking me why I am not working! It is always a different person who calls me. After the last call that woke me up from a dead sleep after midnight, I called the main SPI office the next day letting them know that I was getting all of these late night phone calls and that I had told every person that called me that I am no longer an employee there. I asked them if there was anything they could do to get them to stop as they are driving both my husband and myself crazy! They told me that they would pass on the information and make sure that the phone calls stop (the person I spoke with was not all that friendly). Well, tonight at 10:30 PM, I got another call asking me why I wasn't working. Any advice on what I can do to get them to stop? I have tried everything that I can and they just won't leave me alone! It almost seems to be getting to the point of harassment. HELP!!!