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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Not only is there ridiculous discussion

Posted By: JustMe on 2008-08-08
In Reply to: Lots of boring discussions! - Bored by Board

there is also a lot of thinly-veiled shilling for people to work cheaply for Proveros......


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    There was some discussion of VR
    last fall before I left due to a constant lack of work. At that time, the plan was to not cut the cpl rate.
    I hung in there with them for 6 months, but they seemed to be overhiring. It
    looks like I got out in time, but this is not good news.
    will look for the discussion
    x
    There was a discussion about this
    1-2 weeks ago and someone offered a way to figure it out - some kind of formula.... at least it is a 55 character line!!
    Since the OSI discussion below
    anyone care to share if OSi has improved. I tested with them and scored very high and hopefully will be hearing from them soon. Would like to know if the platform is MT friendly/how hard to make production? I'm not interested in benefits and I assume the rate is what is considered standard with most companies - just need to know if I can sit down, work and be as productive as possible. TIA
    Discussion/arguments. (SM)

    If you want to discuss or argue your post being edited or removed, take it to e-mail.


    There was a whole Medware discussion just a few

    Here's a link: http://forum.mtstars.com/company/v/1/22251.html


    See discussion from 06/03/06 on this site.
    x
    TKU very much. I had seen the newer discussion,
    but hit server errors when I tried to go back to May, so had not seen the older link. Now that one has me reconsidering.


    Re: MT supervisor discussion below...sm
    I was an MTSO many years ago and have been an IC with my own accounts ever since.  I'm curious exactly what an MT supervisor does?
    you are missing that the discussion

    was also about signing the agreement that we would not bring the company to arbitration...as in agreeing never to sue them.


    Per discussion this board. Even if never provides it,
    x
    Fantastic Discussion
    I really appreciate all your replies and this discussion as a whole. It's helped shed some light on things.

    What I'd really like to see is some kind of checklist that we could all go by to ensure that we are ICs, that the businesses are not trying to slide around any laws, and that we're treated the way we should be treated. Something that is MT specific, uncomplicated, and clear-cut for both sides.

    I'm afraid I don't have the knowledge (or experience, especially) to put something like that together. But I sure would help any way I can.

    I'd like to get together an action committee of some sort to straighten this out with businesses that are reported to be guilty of stress fracturing these laws. That would probably be less painful for all involved, but still achieve the desirable outcome.

    In addition, something like this would really help empower MTs who don't understand the importance of what being an independent contractor means.

    Empowerment through education and all that. It's a good thing. I think, as a whole, most MTs just don't know what they don't know - and go by rumors and rumors of rumors on internet forums. It's what I was guilty of for so, so long.


    This is a DISCUSSION board...
    How much stock do you think people take in postings here? You take this board WAAAYYY too seriously and assign it powers that it simply does not have.
    This is a DISCUSSION board...
    How much stock do you think people take in postings here? You take this board WAAAYYY too seriously and assign it powers that it simply does not have.
    Shouldn't be a year old there was just a discussion the other day.
    x
    Won't let me register for the discussion board
    nm
    I would open the discussion by calmly
    asking what the procedure is for assigning work. If you don't get the info you need, ask if there are any other accounts available which will enable you to be more productive. If you are working in an atmosphere where you are afraid to ask questions, it sounds like the wrong job and you might need a change. Good luck.
    I asked the same question in a discussion about MDI-MD
    further below and someone told me when they were hired they were asked to work 2 Saturdays a month...if you scroll down there are some answers to other questions about MDI-MD..Hope this helps!
    Interesting Discussion on June 21 -- Did you see that?

    Did you go to about the middle of page 4 -- thread started June 21, 2006.  Begins with:


    Anyone turned down offers at Amphion, Axolotl or Webmedx - would like honest opinions


    But, NOT on a casual discussion forum. I have said this a

    thousand times. THE GRAMMAR POLICE IS NOT NECESSARY.  This is supposed to be a place where MTs can let their hair down. Afterall, they are not getting paid to post, so if it's not perfect, so what? 


    Daphne, I emailed you privately.


    Strange discussion with them just yesterday
    I sent them a resume last week.  Have not taken any test or anything.  Recruiter called, wanted to know if there was anyway I could possibly start this week?  Possibly by Thursday?  Seemed a little weird.  She was nice and all, but I felt it was a little strange that they didn't want to do any testing, check references, or anything. 
    See link for discussion here about NJ Documed
    http://forum.mtstars.com/company/v/1/79123.html
    Discussion about Escription 6 versus 8
    below and someone said the version 8 was terrible. I was wondering what they thought the difference was.
    also see discussion above re: line counts
    I believe our lines in eScription were all manipulated which also brought the hourly rate down. If you are an IC, you should invoice your company anyway and do you own accounting and NOT rely on their software or you'll get screwed. If you're an employee, the only way not to get cheated is to never sign on for production pay and ONLY agree to an hourly rate...but good luck with that. Especially if your company outsources offshore like mine did. soooooo glad to be done with those a**holes!
    Isn't this the same discussion from about a month ago, with the Union sm
    building thread? I mean, where did that go? Pardon my skepticism, but there seems to be a lot of talk and little action on this board.
    There is quite a bit of fairly recent discussion (sm)
    try going to the search box farther up on the page, just make sure the MTStars radio button is marked (not Google, type JLG in the box. (for some reason the other search thing never works for me either)
    After reading all the Webmedx discussion below..sm

    ...it occurs to me that there is bigger picture out there that not everyone is factoring into the equation.  I am an MT.  I transcribe/edit for a living.  Have been at this for 20 years.  The industry as a *whole* is struggling.  Against outsourcing.  Against EMR which is aiming to completely eliminate narrative dictation and transcription as a whole.  Against a huge downturn in the economy.  Against lower census at hospitals, fewer elective surgeries.  Against patients putting off regular care.  Against hospitals wanting to cut costs.  Against front-end speech rec which can eliminate transcription.  Everyone is trying to stay afloat.


    Personally I know 4 people in my life - friends and family - who have lost their jobs in the past 2 years.  I know others - in other industries - who have been in a pay freeze, or hiring freeze, or who have had their wages cut.  It's not just MTs who are being impacted.


    No -  I'm *not* happy about a possible pay cut.  But I AM glad to have a job.  If I thought I could find a better situation at another company, I'd be looking.  It's six of one, half dozen of the other.  I'm a realist. 


    Please don't flame me.  We're all entitled to our opinions. 


    After reading all the Webmedx discussion below..sm

    ...it occurs to me that there is bigger picture out there that not everyone is factoring into the equation.  I am an MT.  I transcribe/edit for a living.  Have been at this for 20 years.  The industry as a *whole* is struggling.  Against outsourcing.  Against EMR which is aiming to completely eliminate narrative dictation and transcription as a whole.  Against a huge downturn in the economy.  Against lower census at hospitals, fewer elective surgeries.  Against patients putting off regular care.  Against hospitals wanting to cut costs.  Against front-end speech rec which can eliminate transcription.  Everyone is trying to stay afloat.


    Personally I know 4 people in my life - friends and family - who have lost their jobs in the past 2 years.  I know others - in other industries - who have been in a pay freeze, or hiring freeze, or who have had their wages cut.  It's not just MTs who are being impacted.


    No -  I'm *not* happy about a possible pay cut.  But I AM glad to have a job.  If I thought I could find a better situation at another company, I'd be looking.  It's six of one, half dozen of the other.  I'm a realist. 


    Please don't flame me.  We're all entitled to our opinions. 


    Has anyone from MDI-MD visited the discussion forum at the new web site? sm
    I checked it out awhile ago, but I guess it is still too new as there are no real discussions.  I do not think that D or any of the liaisons monitor the MT Stars boards, but surely they will look at their own.  Maybe if all of the unhappy people post their concerns there, the issue will be addressed in a manner more satisfactory to everyone.  Just a thought ........
    " there are no developments" wouldn't warrant discussion or am I
    x
    Posts about TransTech are getting way out of control. Take discussion regarding
    /
    This discussion will cease immediately. You are WAY off base. We do not

    cater to any company in the manner you describe just because a company may be a sponsor.  The reason that we remove content about ANY company is when posters use this site as a sounding board of their complaints posting to the point where the thread flames.  At that point, I will remove the thread and tell posters to take discussion to email until things settle down. 


    If you have problems with a company, you need to take it up with them. Sounding off on this forum about the inner workings of any company is innapropriate.  Posters need to use tact when posting.


    Many of you know me well enough by now that I would not remove posts just because some MTSO tells me to.


    Administrator
    MTStars


    Big discussion a few weeks ago about them wanting a 3 x 5 picture of you sm
    and your work space. They are a major outsourcer, as well.
    Who are you anyways? I am lara. What is G.P? I stop this discussion before it gets 'ugly.' B
    nm
    Since discussion about OSI cannot remail CIVIL on this board, you will now need to take it to email.
    /
    Take OSI discussion to email. Posts will be removed until certain posters

    /


    everyone is banned for discussion line rates being offered
    nm
    MTStars is a discussion forum that does not require registration. We watch the

    content that is posted and remove inappropriate posts and we encourage the posting of factual information.  Administrator


    Prove it to me then. I'm open for discussion. You can email me at admin@mtstars.com

    /


    See the Focus discussion below. I posted some pretty interesting info.
    x
    Lots of discussion below. Unless they are losing or firing MTs, I wish you luck in scrounging
    for lines.  Can be a real problem.  Depending on the account, the sound is very poor.  I think this has been discussed rather extensively on this page and the second page of this board.  QA is very good but they do look at every word you transcribe so you had better be reviewing everything you do word for word.
    on NewMT board, recent discussion about 17 test files for
    nm
    That is ridiculous
    I never heard anything so ridiculous - none of the companies do what? want you to earn too much? LOL. Every penny you put in your pocket is probably two in theirs. Companies want you earning as much as you can.
    This is ridiculous...sm

    I received an email today regarding an employment application I had submitted some time ago.  I currently work as an IC and am very happy with my job, so the application must have been submitted at least 6 months ago.  First of all, the email does not state the name of the company that I supposedly applied to.  It is three sentences long and states that they are looking for ICs to work from home.  They will pay 6.5 cpl without spaces!  Attached is a list of their computer requirements.  The email states that if I meet the requirements to contact them and they will direct me to their testing site.


    I have about 20 years of experience as an MT.  What is going on with this field that a company thinks that 6.5 cpl is a respectable rate for a seasoned MT?  Not to mention not putting the name of the company in the email...so I don't even know who I'm dealing with.  And, not paying for spaces?!?!?  I will not work for a company that does not pay for spaces.  A space is a keystroke.  It should be counted.  Spaces don't get into a document by magic!!


    I have a good mind to respond to this email and tell them exactly what I think of their offer, but then again, it probably wouldn't do a bit of good.



    ridiculous
    That statement is absolutely ridiculous.  The QA manager is the most easy person to get along. 
    That's ridiculous

    I have to say that I used to be MTSO and while I was not rich, I definitely made more than the people who worked for me...if you don't, even part of the time, then you are doing something wrong and why be in business? And yes, most of the MTSOs that I know (and I do know 5 of them right in my general area) do live in the very best neighorhoods, have 5000 sq foot houses, and if not vacations homes, then quite a bit of money in the bank.


    This is ridiculous
    3.5 cpl is ridiculous! The only way it could be any good at all is if you JUST had to fill in the blanks (nothing else). No 100% proofing. No new MTs. Maybe one or two accounts at most. And IF IT IS NOT being transcribed by offshore MTs. That's the only way 3.5 cpl would be worth it. Also, if companies would STOP paying QA on a production rate, it would help the industry! Being paid on production to ensure quality is an oxymoron. It makes no sense. It says hey, do your job perfect but the more the merrier. Its a sore subject with me, and I'm hoping that we stand up and stop accepting QA positions on a production pay. Maybe eventually the companies will have no choice but to go back to hourly pay and pay as what we are worth! If you have to proofread any more than filling in blanks, you're getting ripped off big time at 3.5 cpl. (mtsunite.com)
    that is ridiculous IMO. SM
    They are definitely short-changing you by giving you $3.00 for the first page and then $1.50 for subsequent pages in a report. That would be equivalent to being paid, for example, .08/per line for the first page( working for a company) and then .04/line for each subsequent page of a report. That is extremely unfair. Charge for what you produce. I had my own clients for years, and depending on the going rate in your area, I certainly would not go lower than .10/line (or figure out the equivalent if you have to charge per page). I am being conservative here as this is low rate. Also, if printing each page, add a percentage to that line rate. Whole different ballgame when you have to print and deliver reports. Time consuming and more cost to you. Their offer per page is ridiculous. Think how much money that patient is billed for the visit, and then see the pennies that you would make by producing one of the most important components (the medical report). The medical report is as important as the actual care the patient receives. If they do not agree with your charges, let them go with a company who will charge them much more, and they will likely call you back. I once had a client who wanted digital dictation so I footed a hefty TASP service bill every month so my docs could call in their dictation. They then requested that I print and deliver the finished reports. Not! They were upset because I denied their request, and ended up going with a large national and pay a much higher line rate. They still did not accomplish having their reports printed for them. They called me back, but I was already involved with a new client who appreciates me and does not try to get everything for nothing. Good luck in whatever you decide, but don't settle for less than you are worth!
    7 cpl is ridiculous! sm
    I was thinking about applying here, but I definitely will not be wasting my time taking the test and interviewing with them now! I don't have the experience you have (I have about 11 years now), but there is no way I would work for that!

    Thanks for posting that and saving me some time.
    ridiculous is right

    You're not the only person I've heard say this and it's a shame this is happening.  I realize we MTs cannot expect to be paid higher wages when the services are suffering as well. 


    But I see too many ways for this whole mess the transcription profession finds itself in now to just fail and do a turnaround.  The government insists on privacy protection of medical records, then allows us to send them overseas with little if any regulation.  What about taxes and Social Security loss due to this?  The Department of Labor gives us our own classification (a bit of recognition for us) but our pay is not on par with other professions in the same classification.  AAMT wants certification to be mandatory but what's the incentive to study and work so hard for it if it doesn't make a much more substantial increase in our salaries than a penny a line? Yes, that can add up, but it should be more, way more.  Physicians want cheap rates with excellent quality but how many qualified MTs are willing to work for pennies before feeling used, frustrated, burned out?  How many young people are willing to enter a profession with such low wages and have to work hard and wait years to achieve even that?  


    In the end, I don't see how all this VR and offshoring and underbidding it is going to benefit anyone except lawyers who will profit from suits brought about by privacy violations, malpractice suits due to the result of physicians depending on missing and/or wrong information in the medical record, misplaced records, dictation getting lost in the process of transfer between here and there, etc.  How many service owners will want to continue making as little profit as they do now (small ones)?  I also see coming an overall shortage of qualified MTs who can understand the American physicians who are impossible dictators and the ESLs.   What incentive do the new MTs have to hang in there and strive for this other than a sense of accomplishment but that doesn't pay the bills.  Yes, if you work long hours and/or multiple jobs you can do well, but is this what it has come down to?  And how many will be willing to do this for any length of time when they have other options?


    It's all going too fast to prevent errors, serious errors.  I think we will be needed again, hopefully paid a higher salary again like so many years ago, but not until a tragedy happens and America wakes up to how these allegedly cost-saving methods of doing medical transcription is hurting the economy and the physicians start getting only what they are willing to pay for.  There are the lives of the human beings (patients) involved here.  This isn't about producing just a product (like a garment) in another country.   Medical transcription involves too many people in too many areas of medicine to let it totally falter.  Something has to give at some point.


    One thing I'd like to see is for the insurance companies to raise the fees for physicians and services who offshore since their transcription is more prone to error than if it was done by a knowledgeable native American MT who knows our language, and also because it leaves the country thereby jeopardizing the patient's protection and privacy since these other countries do not have the security measures that America does. 


    This is ridiculous.
    Two MTs fighting like children.