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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

MTs become 'job-hoppers' because of a 3rd-world pay-scale, - sm

Posted By: FedUp on 2007-11-19
In Reply to: Job hoppers, undependable, drama queens SM - oh I know what you're saying

archaic platforms that were developed by people who have no knowledge of what an MT actually does for a living, rude, condescending, stand-offish management that treats MTs like sub-human entities, and often a lack of enough work to keep them eating regularly. If we 'float on and off the system', it most likely is due to the fact that the only other choice is to sit and stare at a blank work pool for sometimes hours on end, in hopes that some crumb will be tossed our way.

All you money-hungry MTSOs out there are getting rich off the backs of people who have invested a lot in this profession, and have as strong a desire to work as you, or anyone else out there.

But we're not stupid, and if a job turns out to not deliver when it comes to a living wage, or continuity of work, benefits, or other things that were promised at sign-up, we're not going to sit there and beat our heads against a wall; we'll try something else. And in this flaky business, it seems to take multiple attempts to finally find an employer that is even marginally ethical.

If all you MTSOs out thre reading this had more of a vested interest in QUALITY of work, and less about TAT, quatity, and the ever-increasing numbers of Almighty Dollars in YOUR pockets, and the ever-decreasing number of them in your employees', maybe you'd be able to hire and RETAIN quality MTs.

Flame away, Suits.


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The job hoppers are 2 kinds-SM

The first is the person who really does this for extra money and isn't too serious about it.  They have a 2nd income from spouse, don't need insurance, etc.


The second group is a minority in the MT community, but is responsible for the perception that most of us are job hoppers.  These people are kind of off--and by that I mean personality-wise, don't like being told what to do, very demanding, prima donna kinds of MTs with very dramatic lives.  They need the money, but they also have a personality disorder that makes them upset at any kind of direction given and they also believe they have superior skills to most MTs and deserve to be catered to.


THAT group is the group who posts that they stayed at XX Company for 1 or 2 weeks, got fed up with something and left, stayed at XX Enterprises for a month, got fed up..cycle continues.  I am not talking about not getting paid-that's a real problem.  I am talking about people who live in such chaos that they cannot really settle down enough to work for ANY company for long and they also don't recognize that the common denominator in the job changes is THEM.


You mention job hoppers in your post...
You have worked for 4 companies in 15 years and you're making comments in regard to someone job hopping?  I find this odd. 
Job hoppers, undependable, drama queens SM

I've seen them all.  BTW for the person below, I call a person a job hopper when they have had a number of jobs where they only stayed weeks or perhaps a couple of months and then moved on for whatever reason.  These people can be identified from the interview.  They have a laundry list of demands as far as what they will and won't do in terms of worktypes, they need blocks of time out during the day to do errands, make dinner, they have many appointments with various doctors.


If you do end up hiring them for one reason or another, they are undependable.  Float on and off the system all day, have family members call to report the employee is in the hospital REGULARLY, they won't work the shift they committed to, the electricity was cut off, the cable line has been cut..you get the idea.  On the days they do manage to make it to work they are calling the office with stupid problems because they have no technical ability (computer) or they have absolutely no problem-solving skills.  When they aren't having problems, they are calling the office to complain about the work they're getting, they can't type ESL doctors (well who took the test to be hired, I wonder?), they've never typed anything but clinic notes, they don't own a BOS.  I feel your pain.  I hope some of these MTs read this and see themselves, but somehow I don't think they will.  Flame away, people, the folks over in India are grateful when they get more work.


Does the Medical Transcription industry encourage job-hoppers?

First off I want to make it clear that I am not “bashing” any MTs by asking the questions below.  Also sorry this is so long.  Please bear with me.   -- Spelling and grammar police please take a break !!! 


 


I have been following some posts and just got curious.  So if we all could just take a deep breath, give it some serious thought, stay on point and not get carried away with other opinions, I think we can get some good honest opinions about why the MTSOs are treating their employees like “equipment.”  


 


What I have noticed is that when there are MTs looking for information about certain companies they often get replies such as:  I worked for them but “left after 1 month – 2 months – 6 months,”  Then there are MTSO owners who complain that after offering an MT a position the MT either says “no thanks” the day they are suppose to start working or are never heard from again.   This gives me the impression that there are MTs out there who treat working as an MT like they treat buying a new pair of shoes --- try them out for awhile and then return them if they don’t fit.  No emotional attachment involved. 


 


I am fast approaching 60 years of age and have been an MT for over 35 years.  I was one of the first to take the CMT test when AAMT first organized way back when.  My first MT job was transcribing from cassette tapes, using a typewriter and sticky paper for clinic notes and sheets of paper for hospital reports.  So obviously I have seen a lot of changes in the MT business.  Personally over the past 35+ years I have had 6 employers (4 inhouse before MTSOs offered working from home and 2 national MTSOs for the past 15 years).   Personally I am TERRIFIED of having to find a new job --- interviews, equipment setup, new platform to learn, loss in earnings during training, and so forth and so forth.  That being said I have a feeling I will need to be looking for a new position within the next six months and I am curious as to what type of employment search atmosphere I will be encountering. 


 


My curiosity stems from my impression that many MTs are comfortable “job-hopping.”  When they state they only stayed at a company for 1-2-6 months it is presented as matter-of-fact – no-big-deal.  I can see why they feel that way.  With several hundred MTSOs out there and most constantly looking for new employees, even the worst MT in the world could start working at age 20, work for a different company every 6 months and still not work for them all by the time they retire.  In my opinion that is what is causing the MTSOs to treat their MTs so badly, offer them less and less as starting wages, and not be responsive to questions or problems.  The MTSO invests quite a bit of money into hiring a new employee.  They either have to pay someone in their HR Department or a Recruiting Agency to do the initial resume search, testing, and interviewing.  There is a ton of paperwork.   If the MTSO supplies the computer, their IT Department has to set up the computer and ship it out which means shipping charges for the computer or paperwork.  And someone has to train the new MT.  All those expenses are incurred by the MTSO before the MT even starts to produce.  I can see why some of the MTSOs are resorting to questionable “bait and switch” tactics.  They probably also send out the oldest computers to the new MTs to cover themselves in case the MT quits and doesn’t ship it back in a timely manner.  It seems to me that the majority of complainers about type of work, amount of work, or computer problems that they are experiencing are the newly hired MTs. 


 


Because of all the “short-term” complainers, someone looking for information about a particular company is often given incomplete or misleading opinions based on limited information.   Can anyone honestly with 100% accuracy adamantly state a company is “#1” or “the worst on earth” when they only worked there for 2 months?  I would love to see any MT who posts a positive or negative comment about a company to also admit to how long they actually worked for the company and if they are currently employed there or not.  I think that would give their opinions a lot more weight. 


 


Obviously, not every MTSO is the “dream job” for every MT and for any MT to state they work for the “best company” is hubris and can even be fighting words to employees of other good or even great companies.  It can also lead to disappointment when an MT applies to the “best company” only to find out it does not fit their needs.  I feel that if the MTs on this board would try to leave personal opinions aside and give relevant information about a company it would be easier for an MT to find a good fit with ONE company and not have to “job-hop,”   If more MTs would work for a company for at least a year before quitting and moving on maybe the MTSOs would actually be willing to offer newly hired MTs the same respect they offer the MTs that have been working for them for 5-10-15 or more years.  


 


Finally to my questions.  I am curious to see if my opinion is based in fact.  Are there a significant number of MTs who “job hop?” 


 


These questions are primarily directed at employees of MTSOs, large or small, but  inhouse hospital or clinic MTs are also welcome to respond.  I realize IC MTs have a whole different set of guidelines they go by and often have multiple clients at the same time.  But if you are an IC and wish to give your opinion, please feel free to do so – just state that you are an IC so there is no confusion.  


 


Please answer as many questions as you feel comfortable giving information about (I hope you will answer most because of the anonymity of this board):


1.  How long have you been working as an MT?


2.  How many DIFFERENT companies have you worked for (even if it was only for a few hours) in the last 10 years?  (If you left but came back later that is only 1.) 


3.  How many companies have you accepted an offer of employment from but then never actually started working for them?


4.  How many companies have you quit working for within the first pay period?


5.  How many companies have you quit from? 


6.  Have many companies have you been terminated from (I guess the word “fired” from is no longer politically correct)  i.e. you were not meeting line requirements, QA requirements, time commitment requirements (signing on late, leaving early), or being told you don’t have the necessary experience/expertise for the accounts assigned to you, etc? 


7.  How many companies have you left because they were bought out by another MTSO and you did not like how the new MTSO was treating you? 


8.  How many companies that you were working for completely went out of business (was not bought by another company) and told you that you had to find a new job yourself? 


9.  What is the shortest period of time that you have worked for one company? (Even if it was only for a few hours)   What is the longest period of time that you have worked for one company? 


10.  Have you ever continued working for your former company while training with a new company? 


11.  Have you ever worked for two different companies (2 part-time or 1 full-time and 1 part-time) during the same time period?  For how many months/years did you work for two different companies?


12.  What is your primary reason for applying to a certain company (pay, insurance, flexible schedule, equipment provided, sign-on bonus, referral from another MT, etc)?


13.  What is your primary reason for leaving a company (cannot maintain minimum required number of lines, not assigned accounts or job types as originally discussed, running out of work too frequently, difficult platform,  computer slowness/crashes, management conflicts, QA conflicts, other “bait and switch” type of issues where the MTSO said one thing but you ended up doing something entirely different, personal, family, etc)?


14.  Are you really happy at your present company or are you just working there because you are afraid if you try another company it will be worse and not better?   How long have you worked at this company?  Do you plan to continue working at this company for at least 1 year (of course barring unforeseen personal or professional events).  Would you be willing to give the name of your present company?    


15.  Do you think you will retired as a Medical Transcriptionist (or in the Medical Transcription field, such as an Editor, Supervisor, etc) or do you think you will switch careers at some point before retirement?  


 


Thank you for your time. 


 


If you would like to e-mail me with any questions or responses, I would be happy to hear from all of you. 


 


Thank you for satisfying my curiosity and giving me some insight as to where the Medical Transcription field is heading in the future. 


 


HAPPY HOLIDAYS. 


 



 


 


 


 


 


 


What world is that? Wally World?
nm
New Pay Scale??
I am curious.  Many MQ posters have heard about things like 'new pay scales', and I receive no communication whatsoever from MQ.  Is it because I don't subscribe to their e-mail? Is this where this information comes from? I mean, they have my e-mail address, but I have never gotten any communication from anyone but an occasional proofer note.
Pay scale.
How much do you make an hour?  I require $30 to $40 a hour.
If the pay scale for MT2 is .07 to .09 CPL, then
how do you know which you get, .07, .08, or .09?  I currently make .08.  If I get a decrease to .07, then, well..........
about their pay scale
Top pay with Trans Tech is 8.5 cpl. 
Pay scale
They offer 6 cents per line. Way less than what I get for straight transcription, but I'm just curious as to how much more a straight voice Editor can really produce. If I thought it would be at least the same money and if I knew for sure they were a reputable company, I would do it, but I haven't been able to get much information.
The pay scale is different...sm
I worked for them for about three months but only 12 hours a week.  Their payscale really doesn't work well unless you work full time.  You couldn't ask for a nicer bunch of folks.  You can e-mail me if you like.
pay scale
They may not have job listings for US MTs but they DID have a screening site where you could find out how much your MT skills would be worth with Acusis (in India)...36,000 rupees a year.

(Yes, I did the conversion. It's less than $9000 US.)
MQ pay scale
They run in tiers'' with Tier 3 being the highest topping out at 10 cents. There are very few making top money; most are long-time employees from other companies that were absorbed (bought up)by MQ. I have known several hired in the past couple of years and looks like 7 cents a line is the norm for new hires.

Raises? Certain criteria must be met. I wouldn't count on them.

First,you must not have more than 15% going to QA which will be even more difficult with the national pooling. This rule in itself pretty much kicks everyone out. That 15% doesn't allow for circumstances beyond your control,i.e,dictator effect, etc. They just look at the percentage submitted to QA, if it is more than that, no raise; the reasons for submission make NO difference. Second,you must have 98% accuracy which shouldn't be a problem if you are a good MT. Mainly the QA submission is what keeps everyone from getting raises because MQ doesn't subtract from the 15% the reports sent for unknown doctors not listed on the roster, dictator effect, etc.; you know, all the things that are beyond the MT's control. LASTLY, there is a freeze on all raises for now, so that in itself should be a big warning sign to you. If you do decide to hire on, get AS MUCH as you can walking through the door as I seriously doubt you will see any raises down the road.

Health insurance runs around $135 a month for the employee for best plan. The other plan is somewhat cheaper but I believe it is more of a ''health spending plan rather than insurance.



pay scale

I did QA work, not MT work, so I'm not sure.  I think it was around 8.5 cpl, but not positive on that.  Give a call to the recruiters, they'll let you know for sure.


What's their pay scale like?
-
How is the pay scale
Do they compare with other companies or will they pay more for experience? Thanks for posting, it is a big help to hear good things about a company that has not had much good said about it.
KS pay scale
i looked quickly but don't find my notes on the interview with this company which was about 2 hours of me interviewing THEM. So i can't address that point now. Maybe they've changed something, maybe i'm mixing them up with another company(but don't think so). Just ask plenty of questions so YOU know the answers to the questions. If the answers satisfy you, nevermind what i or anyone else says. Good luck!
Pay scale
There are those who only make 7 cpl for them on clinic notes.  That's why I didn't send them the test I took.
pay scale
You'd better believe it. I've been an MT since 1984. Sucks, doesn't it!?
Pay scale - sm
Yes, and you can BET that the facilities are not paying LESS per line/report during all this...so, where does all that money go? Certainly not to us....
Pay scale same for everybody
No, I don't think the MDI people should be brought down, I think the Transcend people should get the same rate and the same options as you are getting.  What I think will happen is you will get your rate for a period of time then they will drop you down somehow.  I really can't see them paying the MDI MTs more than their own employees for the long-term
amphion pay scale

There are 3 levels of employees:


Level 1is clinic, ER, urgent - start out at 7.4 cpl work up to 7.7 cpl


Level 2 is Hospital H&P, consults start 7.8 cpl work up to 8.1 cpl


Level 3 is All Hospital/ESL start at 8.25 cpl work up 8.5 cpl


after 13,500 you can earn an extra 0.25 cpl for incentive pay.  This is 65 chara line count w/spaces.  10 an hour while in training.


Other places pay more.


I'd rate them a 7 on a scale 1-10 NM

They have a low pay scale. They treat you like
The owner is nice enough, but she does not like to pay until her client pays her and she will make you sign a paper stating you agree to that.  Just be careful what you sign.  You might like it if you like EMDAT.  There is no training.  You train yourself through a website she gives you for EMDAT.  Again pay is low.
Webmedx pay scale for VR
Anybody know?  Transcend pays about 50-60% of your typing line rate, which I think is really bad.  Anybody know about Webmedx's rate for VR?
Very low and weird pay scale, Keep looking. nm
xx
I turned them down after seeing the pay scale

I did send them an email and explain that my expectations for transcribing all work types in acute care would be 10 cpl.  They start out at 6.  That's a canyon of difference!


It also bothered me that pay is based on which shift you work.  It seems to me that goes into the gray area of IRS guidelines of control for employee versus IC status.  I need to work split shifts.  Also, I am more inclined to work when there is work and if there is no work during my shift, how can I make money?  I asked if they could negotiate some of these issues with me and they stopped communicating with me.  I'm glad I went with my instinct and did find someone else who gives me the flexibility, line rate and work types I wanted.


They have a very strange pay scale and no one
can quite figure it out.  Very hard to get lines, unable to make any money.  Lots of turnover.  They are also currently training women in Trinidad to be MTs so it is only a matter of time before the jobs follow. 
AllType pay scale
The pay scale varies depending on your skill set, experience and account.
What is the pay scale for Keystrokes please? Thanks! (nm)

I'd like to know what pay scale she is offering. NM
NM
Diskriter pay scale

Does Diskriter pay biweekly or the 1st and the 15th?


pay scale for TransTech
What are the cpl rates. I know probably depends upon experience, but if someone could give me a ball park figure it would help. Thanks.
standardized pay scale

If other professionals in the healthcare field have pay scales they know they can count on to go no lower than a certain rate, surely we can have the same established for us MTs and MEs.  This is not a profession you can just take up on a whim, as some people think when I tell them what I do.  There are so many facets to doing this job correctly -- having a good ear for accents and garbled speech, common basic language knowledge, medical terminology, grammar, spelling, the list continues.  It is so outrageous that we have not been given our fair share of respect and a cut of the money pie. 


I am tired of people in management getting theirs while we do the hard work as they crack the whip for every little thing.  This profession is so rewarding when done correctly by EVERYone who participates (hello, docs) and everyone benefits when everyone does their part with respect for those who come behind or before them.


Companies who offer wages that insult us should not be worked at.  Those companies who take away line rates and incentives and bonuses and never give raises should also be boycotted.  If the bottom line is the almight dollar on their end as to their business practices, then so be it for us as well.  We shouldn't work for less than what we are worth.  Newbies are newbies and have to pay their dues and learn the trade.  There should be a pay scale for the first two years specifically for them.  After that, it should progress as the years add up, 3-5 years, 5-10 years, etc.  


The thing is, I don't know how to go about getting this considered and implemented.  Perhaps we would have to collectively ignore or boycott those companies who treat MTs poorly.  As long as there is someone who is willing to work for them under their rules, it will continue.     


 


I forgot to add that the pay scale

I am making much, much more now.


gctfl pay scale
A friend of mine started 6 months ago with gctfl at 8 cents a line, and has not received a higher pay scale since being off of training status.  She loves it there though, and likes the weekend and holiday incentives.  Maybe she should ask about an increase in pay??? 
The pay scale is less for employees. sm
I work as an IC there and make more per line. TTS has great accounts and once you learn the dictators and account specifics, there is good money to be made there. Some days I'm making $30 or more an hour. I would rather work on great accounts at a little less per line than work horrible accounts for 10 cents a line. That's just me though.
They used to advertise they pay scale as -
9-11 cpl.  PRN status is 7.5 cpl.  From what I heard recently, they are trying to lower their MT pay expense (not investment), so if you ever were to get off 9 cpl it would surprise me.
Spheris Pay Scale
Anyone know what Spheris current pay scale is standard and SR, and what minimum line requirement is?  Any information would be greartly appreciated.
Also, they have a tiered pay scale. sm
So be aware of that when considering them.  The pay is good if you stay 10,001 lines and above but if for some reason the work slacks off and you fall to 6,000 or less, you get less per line. Something to think about.
eTransPlus pay scale
I've been with them for 4 months and average 10 cpl. They require 10,000 lines per 2 week pay period for benefits (the company pays half of the premiums) and the pay for that on day shift is 8.5. That is only 1,000 lines per day which shouldn't be too hard for an experienced MT. For 12,000 lines, pay is 9 cpl and for 14,000, it is 9.25. You also make a differential for 2nd and 3rd shift. What is good for one MT, may not suit another but I just wanted to make it clear that they don't start you out at 6 cpl. You are paid for your production. My only disappointment is their bad medical insurance.
Yes, they still have the tiered pay scale. I
thought I would like it, but I really don't like it too well. If the platforms were more user friendly, it could work out well, though.
Pay scale at Transcend - sm

I would not expect more than 8 cpl for straight typing, no matter how many years experience and about 4 cpl for VR if you are employee.  They won't tell you pubically in a conference call because this is probably something you can negotiate on hiring, but there are ceilings, and don't hold your breath for a raise after the starting rate is estabilished.  Incentives may or may not be included...like the more you do, the more you get paid per line, again, something to negotiate.  Also, weekend and shift differentials ARE given, but another negotiable factor.  Hope this is of some help. 


Cannot help with insurance cost, as the only one I get is dental for myself and hubby, which is very good, and is $18.00/pay check ($36.00 month).


Nice people, but the pay scale is quite
complicated and very low. You can only get the top line rate if you're a CMT and trained on multiple accounts. They do send you a computer, but they don't charge for it. The most telling thing is that my former supervisor left shortly after I did. I say keep looking.
amphion pay scale tier 3? - nm
nm
Pay scale ridiculously low for experienced MT...NM
NM
I knew the pay scale because they offered
me a position, which I declined because it was less than what I was currently making.  Someone else posted they wished they made that much and then I posted what I was making, but not with WebMedX.   You didn't read all the posts.   I don't know about any incentives with WebMedX. 
Probity - pay scale says 0.0825 but -
it says there are incentives.  What hoops do you need to jump through to get the incentives?
MTSOs, on a scale of 1 to 10, how qualified are
I'm just wondering if you are able to hire most of the people who are applying, or if there are a lot of underqualified MTs out there. 
Fast Chart Pay Scale
I have the payscale tier and it seems pretty straight forward, you advance as you complete a certain # of lines.  The recruiter said the software is typing in word.  What software were you typing in?  I would like to know before I make a decision.  Everything sounds so wonderful with them, the people I have been talking to are so friendly and responsive.
I was offered a job there, but turned it down just for the pay scale.
The company itself seemed like a great fit and the accounts looked promising, but the starting pay scale, even though you tiered up fairly quickly, was just too low for me. That just seemed like slave wages and I can't feed my family on that for the next 2 months. If it wasn't for the pay scale, I would have jumped right on board though.