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Thank you! My thoughts exactly. I earn more

Posted By: QA specialist on 2006-07-09
In Reply to: Maybe 16.................... - FrustratedQA

than that but if I could not get it, I would not do the work.


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well believe what you wish. I do know what I earn
and I have no reason to lie about it. I made almost $70,000 one year as an MT so it is not as much as I made as an MT, but it doesn't kill you like being an MT.

My benefits are also fully paid, which also adds to the bottom line.


I can earn PTO if I exceed
the specified line count each pay period. I am eligible for the dental/vision insurance (which I took), and the FSA (which I did not). I will also be eligible for the 401K after a year. So far, so good.
One way could mean that you could earn commission by

giving your employer or former employers client information to this type of person and if they landed a client then you would be paid the commission.  It is a very unethical way of doing business and it is not condoned on this site.


I think $14 is low. I earn $18 an hour
and have been paid over $16 for the past 5 years. I realize many do not make that much, but if you have lots of QA experience particularly in difficult areas such as ESLs and ops, all work types, etc., one should not take less than $16. I work at home with benefits.
I agree with that - you do have to earn it
I am with a great company, and I work my tail off. I absolutely love what I do for a lot of reasons. I was introduced to this by a neighbor years ago and found the whole thing very interesting. Working at home is a huge bonus, so I got the education and experience. I have had a couple of experiences where I have left a job and most of that was simply due to not having the work. We rely on my income and I think that a lot of our fellow MTs really do want a when i feel like it job. Then again, those people just make the diligent hard workers look that much better!

I am not an old timer by any means but I know MTs with double my experience who are constantly offered low wages simply because they have built a reputation and/or tested poorly.

I get paid very well and the company knows that. I am an IC but I work every day consistently. When extra help is needed, I do it. This board really is just like walking into a hospital -- you can immediately tell the difference between the nurses who went into it because they are caring and want to help others and those who went into it for the money. You can tell the MTs who went into it because they find the work challenging and want to contribute to good patient care and those who simply wanted something convenient for them.
MQ looking to earn a living
With ASR making money is getting tougher and tougher. Years of transcription experience counts for nothing here.
When I saw what I was going to earn this year, I
d 2
CPL here. No limits set on how much I can earn.
rt
Companies have to earn loyalty (sm)
Besides, all prospective employees go through a background check.  It's not like these MTSOs are completely in the dark.  I cannot believe (or can I?) that some companies ask for people's screen names to monitor stuff they say on a message board.  If they're that petty and paranoid, there's good reason for it, and I betcha dollars to donuts it has *absolutely* nothing to do with MT attitudes.  If anyone is spilling inappropriate information here, there's a moderator to take care of that.

BTW, now that I'm happy with my company, I am loyal.  In fact, I'm so positive that when *I* post on here about my job, people often give me this oh, stuff it, Polyanna attitude. 

The only thing that could possibly get me to leave is the promise of all that money getting my own accounts would bring.  I don't think I'd like to deal with all the hassle involved, though...but if someone had a Powerpoint presentation to convince me it was easy as fallin' off a log, I'd be very interested!
Any companies out there in which one can earn $500 per week or more?
Just curious
See the TransRAD ad for 7 cpl? No one can earn a living on that! If you see this

how many hours did you work to earn $126? - nm
.
Yes. I earn almost $40,000 working 32 hours a week. nm
nm
I don't believe it - I work there too, have to earn my money - but I love it there.

Well I do earn a pretty decent salary
and I am not talking anything under $50,000. I have heard of some of you recruiters who earn $30,000. I would not do it at all for that. I know one woman who earns $58,000 as a recruiter. I know another who earns $42,000. I know another who is paid per head and I won't do it because that forces you to hire anyone.

For what I earn, yesI will keep an open phone line to an excellent potential employee.


I agree with tt112. Let them earn living at the
Oh yeah, I forgot.  A lot of other countries don't hand jobs to offshore entities at the expense of their own countrymen.   Btw, what country are YOU from?
Do you find that you are able to earn a good income with them?
Do you have ample work, or do you often have to resort to MT work to fill the time?
Ah, Michelle's a little tattle-tale!! Trying to earn some brownie points!

I work for a nat'l as an employee, and my PTO rate is now HALF of what I actually earn working. S
nm
What you need personally to cover your bills should be the deciding factor. And what you MIGHT earn
m
You earn PTO as soon as you are working full-time and reaching minimums.
You are also required to work one weekend a month, but you get two days off during the week leading into the weekend.
You need to leave due to lack of work. Put in your 2-wk notice and move on. Gotta earn a living! nm
n
just my thoughts on it. . .
I'm glad we have somebody to take a second look since we live in a litigation-crazy world and, let's face it, most of the time the doctors aren't going to spend much time reading before they sign. Still,it seems these days our pay is based more on our ability to put all the commas and semicolons in the right place than our experience and knowledge of medical terminology. All I say is give priority to the important stuff and don't over-penalize for the petty things. Maybe some of the QA people are English majors, but most of the MTs aren't.
My thoughts...
You may only get to actually transcribe 3 jobs per day while you wait around for feedback. Once you graduate and are put into the expereienced team, good luck! Most shifts they offer are 3rd and the managment well I've found nicer people at the DMV.
My thoughts exactly. Seems like the ones sm
who have no work or similar complaints are the ones with the most misspellings and grammar dysfunction in their threads. And this is English!! Makes a person wonder what errors are made in medical terminology. It's better to have it pointed out by us than by higher authorities at the workplace. With all the offshoring done now, we all really need to tighten up to keep our jobs here.



My thoughts are... sm
That they actually have too many employees, not enough work to go around! Other than that and the requirement to have unlimited LD, they are great to work for with a very friendly staff.
thoughts
You sound like management. People stay with a company for many reasons. There is no company that is perfect. Someone asked for information and people gave generalized information, positive and negative, not with rose colored glasses. It's better to get some honest thorough answers than some generic snide remarks.
thoughts
The work is hit and miss. Sometimes they are begging for help and other times there is no work available. They shuffle you around from account to account. They have picked up more accounts, but this seems to have created disorganization. The quickest way to get any response is with IM or a phone call.
My thoughts .....sm
This is not an opinion strictly based because I work for Shapin, this is in general....

Yes, we all deserve the best paying rate. But with the economy the way it is today,it just plain ole' sucks! Its not the companys fault because they can't pay top dollar, I blame the economy. We cant even get a decent waged job outside of the home...

Also, I would rather take a lower pay and deal with a company that is very understanding, friendly etc.. Rather than dealing with those holier than tho MT's and QA's. Its not worth the headache anymore... And I at least know, that if something comes up, (personal/emergency) I know that Shapin will be understanding to the situation and I dont have to worry about being yelled at the next day for not being able to commit to the job etc ..

Now, as far as the whole outsourcing matter goes, whether we like it or not, it is there. It's everywhere. We cant do anything about it... Are we supposed to shut off our phone because our CS reps are Indian?? Now before I get bashed for bringing this up, I just want to say that No I am not in total agreement with it, but obviously they are here to stay and we cant get around it....

Thats pretty much my 2 or 3 cents.
my thoughts
I think we pass but when they see how well we did and how many years experience we have, the say we did not because they know we want/deserve good pay which they do not want to pay.  Just my thoughts.
here's my thoughts
I know I'll be shot down in flames for it but, here goes! :)

First, I think base pay should be premium with generous incentives for production, night/evening work, weekend work, specialties, and difficult dictators/accounts.

Second, I think there should be an absolute standard for employers: They scream they want quality and production at the same time. The only way to get this is to hire well seasoned, experienced MTs who have the production capability. I believe all students graduating from MT courses should have to work inhouse in a hospital or clinic (if that is all they want to do) before working from home. It takes too much time and energy to train them. The course is just more of an outline of what they'll need, to make them familiar with what they will see/hear in this work. It does not educate them and prepare them to be even entry level in most cases (I know what I'm talking about - I see entry level new hires).

Third, I think MTs should take notice and realize that not one single company is in business to give us jobs. It IS a business and it must be run that way. The hospital/clinic/physician is our client and we have to serve them. If MTs do not want to do that and work with their employer, they should simply work for themselves.

Fourth, I think MTs should actually take a professional attitude to heart. All of the message boards are full of the most hateful, catty, snotty, judgemental, whining people but they want to be recognized as professionals. We don't appear to be a professional group because we are not acting that way, speaking that way.

Last of all, we need to realize that the MT industry is not the only one changing -- all businesses are changing. It will not go back, it will not reverse, it will not turn about. We have to learn to adapt, change, and make ourselves necessary for the future. Doing the swollen chest/head routine won't get it. Complaining won't get it. Threatening to quit or unionize won't get it. Making a dedicated effort to be better at our work, difficult dictators and all, WILL get it.

Fire away! I've put on my fire-proof clothes and am leaving the building! Won't bother me.

JMO
My thoughts
I am not a butt kisser. You can do everything right and it still does not get you anywhere in this business. Been in clinic and IC. It is the same everywhere unless you are climbing the corporate ladder, which I am not and do not intend to.
Exactly!!! My thoughts exactly (sm)
That is what I am trying to say in postings above. It is OUR GOVERNMENT and BIG BUSINESS creating this issue, NOT American quality.
TRS Please Let me know your thoughts..

Okay, I am a newbie and I have taken a leap of faith to go with TRS, I have been on and off this board and see that there are some wonderful AND experienced MTs on here.  Any info you can give me on what you know about this company would be great!  I am a military spouse and we have recently gone from a two income house to a one, we just spent 5 years in Germany and we bring back a 2 yr old, a 1 year old and one on the way :)  Because of this I decided to go down the MT road for a second income to be able to stay at home.


Any information would be greatly appreciated!!  I am really just wanting to know I am going in the right direction.  I know there are plenty of 'better' companies out there, but I need to get my feet wet before they will touch me.


All comments are welcome!!!  Thank you for your time!!


V/r


Michelle


Second thoughts re KS

This week I was offered a job with KS on a new hem/onc account starting soon, which will use the Allscripts platform.  I actually did accept their offer, but after doing so, I am having second thoughts.  The company I am working for now has been very nice to me, but the hem/onc account I am on is a very difficult one with a lot of different dictators.  The new account for KS would not have half as many dictators.  The cpl rates are very close, but I am not sure I want to go through all that new stuff of learning a new platform, new dictators, etc. Has anyone else out there ever decided to stay with the company they are with even though the new account being offered would be much easier.


Would like to get some opinions regarding this.  Has anyone else decided to stay with their present national and not take the new job offer?  TIA


Second thoughts re KS

I posted a message on 11/17 regarding having second thoughts about going to work for KS.  If you did not see that message, would you please read it and tell me what your thoughts might be.  I need more feedback before making my decision.


Your opinion is appreciated.  Thanks.


second thoughts about TT

I have accepted a position at TT.  Now I am having second thoughts about leaving MQ.  I was so impressed by all the wonderful TT talk a few weeks ago, plus at the time being miserable at MQ so I applied.  Now my MQ work is getting better and now reading this post, I am getting nervous.  Worried about working 8 hours a day on the weekend, plus what if the work is worse than at MQ??? I am just getting nervous about the change, I hate change.   Just needing to vent, thanks.


Don't have second thoughts

Don't listen to the bipolar people on this board.  I swear ... one day everyone is praising TT ... next day bashing them.  These people are on a constant hormonal pendulum or something.  I have been at TT for 2 months now.  Aside from the insurance going up (and I'm willing to wait this out), I have been thrilled with TT and love the account I am on. 


Is TT having a few communication issues the moment ... perhaps.  They are growing very, very fast (sometimes you have to take the big accounts when you can get 'em).  They are great people to work for.  This will all even out ... they just need a little time and patience. 


People are crazy on this board.  One bad day and they want to throw it all away.  That is just not how life works.  It is like they are looking for an excuse to walk out the door ... anything.  Like the MT who totally misread an e-mail about when to page after hours.  She didn't even read it thoroughly (or correctly) and she is on here blasting TT left and right saying she is quitting. 


People act like they will just leave a job, start another tomorrow, and life will be dandy.  Changing jobs is stressful, and there is always somewhat of a loss initially whether it is PTO, waiting for insurance, or just taking time to learn a new account, creating normals, learning the names of the referring docs in the area, learning city names, etc.  This all takes time (which means money for us). 


 


These people who have a few e-mails that go unanswered or don't get answered as quickly as they should need to realize the GROWTH TT is experiencing, which is a good thing.  Have a little patience or bring your concerns to your supervisor. 


 


TT is an excellent choice.  I hope you enjoy your new position.  I certainly have. 


My thoughts sm
I have used both Bayscribe and Extext. I use Smart Type, can use InstanText, but like the ST much better (I am faster and more accurate). Extext is a Word client, Bayscribe is an internet platform.

I had trouble with capping the first letter of each sentence with Bayscribe. IT would not do it for me THERE no matter what I did. ADT info is easy to find relative to other platforms, but Extext is somewhat easier than Bayscribe. For ME, Bayscribe had too many slots that I had to put the mouse on and put my cursor there. I hate using my mouse and I feel it slows me down significantly. On the plus side, you get a line count of a document just as soon as you send it. That is wonderful, but the companies I worked for on it didn't pay me on that line count, it never matched. I didn't work for MDI at all, so I am sure it is different there. They have an excellent reputation and the companies I worked for do not.

Extext, if you know it, that is a plus. You won't spend any time fighting its ins and outs. I have to say that EXT is much more user friendly in the document. You can't number in Bayscribe, not the way you can in EXT, which is what you see is what you get.

The most I ever got in an 8-hour day on Bayscribe was 850 lines. The most I have gotten on EXT for that time was 1900 in more like 9 hours. Productivity was better FOR ME.

You are an individual and you have your own thoughts and needs with regard to a platform. This is MY experience. Now, if you really dislike EXT, go with the other. If you don't mind it, I'd say that was a better bet for you. Bayscribe is unweildy as far as I am concerned.
My thoughts exactly..
my husband started out 24 years ago with his company at right around minimum wage and has worked himself to a six figure income by HARD work, working overtime when asked, putting forth more than the guy in the cubicle next to him and not whining about it and being a valuable employee. Sure, he could lose his job tomorrow, that's why we don't live like we make a six figure income. I was fortunate enough to marry a man who has a terrific work ethic and his income shows it. We pay our fair share of taxes and then some; we have a right to complain about it. We are tired of supporting people who can't, won't or don't know how to take care of themselves or better themselves.
My thoughts......
If you only have 2 years experience, a hospital may be exactly what you need. I started out in a hospital position, fresh out of high school. There is someone sitting there, who can answer all your questions. And I agree with the other poster, when you are typing in an area you live, you just know things, like doctors, places, stores, etc. Maybe you can do both. Good luck.
My thoughts on this

Say I'm happy at my job.  I come across someone asking questions about my company in general, so I take a quick minute to answer.  That person emails me privately, asking a zillion questions.  I try to answer their questions to the best of my knowledge, rooting through my manuals for answers, looking up my production figures, etc.  This takes me a good long while to answer all their questions thoroughly, and throw in a few extra facts that I think of in the process, trying to present an accurate view of the company, pros and cons.  I know my company is offering a $500 bonus for me AND anyone I recruit - so we both get a bonus if they mention my name.


You're saying I should not mention that bonus?  I should take time out of my busy schedule to help a stranger, and then I'll get accused of greed if I mention we can both profit from our correspondence?  Wow, that's gratitude! I guess I'll just ignore any private emails from now on and refuse to help anyone.


Some thoughts
Is this top person you are dealing with the owner or just management. If it is not the owner, go over the person's head (to the owner if necessary) and discuss what is happening. Maybe that person would put a stop to it.

Have you spoken with other top employees to see if this is happening to anyone else? It seems odd that the company's pay/benefit program is such that it is not worth it to them to have top producers. You would think that is what they would want!

If there is BS going on, maybe you can find some proof if you fish around a little bit and have some sort of legal recourse.

Good luck and let us know what happens. I wouldn't just walk away yet. Maybe this can still be corrected.
Your thoughts
have the same problem on the weekends with them
My thoughts exactly...sm
And when we are told something, it's at the last minute, no kind of warning. I don't think it's for sale. I think the managers are told to keep their mouths shut. I can't believe I still work at Spheris.
My thoughts exactly, thank you
xx
thoughts
First, only you know how important it is to have equipment provided to you. Other than that, i'd go with the 2nd offer. Because if you are doing work types that you are not that great with, you will be going a lot slower and probably making less money anyway. Plus, you may be less happy doing you job because of the difficulty/stress factors involved. Now if you really love a challenge and would prefer that over being bored, then you may chose the former offer. Good luck!
Some thoughts

I've been in this industry for 20+ years.  What I have seen is a lot of fudging around from other companies about how they interpreted AHDI's old guidelines on what constituted a line. This has led to tremendous disservice to the MTs who are working on production. It's also made it hard for ethical companies to compete with the big guys who have looked for loopholes in the previous line definition (read up on the class action lawsuits against one of the largest MT employers if you aren't aware of this). So I think Jay is on the right path in doing this to keep the company competitive with the others that aren't as ethical and to get ALL of the MT companies on the same page with regard to what a line is. There needs to be one standard. This needs to be absolutely clear in contracts among MTs, hospitals, and the MTSOs out there, or the MTs and the good companies will suffer.


M-TEC is a great school. Their graduates have been awesome. A partnership with them will be a good thing, I think. I can't think of any way in which it won't. Current employees don't lose their jobs. Now the best students don't have to start with some of the sweatshop mentality companies out there like some of us old timers did just to get a foot in the door. Remember those times?


No, I'm not in management. I'm in QA with Webmedx. There is no perfect company, but this has come as close as I've ever seen any MT company. This one has gotten better over the years as they've hired new management and replaced some old. I have been in admin with other companies, and I have seen a whole lot of dirty dealings. I'm not seeing that at Webmedx. I don't get to see everything admin does, of course, being in QA, but I do see some things. What I can say is they're functioning much differently and more ethically and honestly than any other MT company I've ever worked for. The culture is different. There's no feeling from management that they're out to take advantage of the MT.


There are things they can improve on, of course, but I truly think this is as good as it gets in the MT field, and you don't even want to know how many MT jobs (IC and employee) I've had to compare it with (too many!). Too many of us can relate to having the long list of employers. We had to do it because we had to keep rooves over our heads, and we only barely did that with the way they took advantage of us.


I think this company is doing the right things and heading in the right direction.


My thoughts s/m

I'm retired now partly because of all the changes that are taking place in the industry.  I did MT for a very long time and I still care about the MTs who are working.  My feeling is that it isn't so much the off-shoring anymore.  My  understanding is that some of the better schools have an apprentice program for their graduates.  I think that they are using the new grads who will work for less money.  Same thing as nurses being replaced by new grads who will work for less.  I know one MT company  has actually bought one of the schools.  Experience is no longer an asset.  Most likely it's going to get worse.  One thing is certain, there is no longer a shortage of medical transcriptionists.


my thoughts

Gourdpainter (so glad to see you here; missed you)!


I absolutely agree with your post.  I have been a MT since 1981, beginning in an orthopedic clinic and in 1984 working as a Pathology MT since then.  I currently work for one of the largest HMO's in the US (starts with a K); and the MT's here are being phased out by voice recognition.  The union who is supposed to represent us has been sleeping with management who decided that 'we make too much money' - our contract is up in 2009.  To show how much they care, as far as severence pay; for example for an employee who has worked over 20 years they would get 30 days severance; less than that (i have been at this particular company since 1999), I would get 2 weeks severance.  Crappy. This industry is so crooked and would no more care about our experience, quality of work or dedication than they would a stranger on the street.  You are absolutely right that many of these hospitals/clinics are hiring new grads because they know they can pay them less.  At times I feel as if I work in a sweat shop and it's a sad state of affairs.  I still have a job (and I am thankful) but at any time the other shoe is going to drop and we will be out the door.  The union has 'promised' to find us other positions but I am not holding my breath.  That is why I have decided, at the age of 51, to become an x-ray tech.  It is a two year program but it will be two years that I have invested to have a better chance at staying employed as opposed to the way us MT's have been treated.  It's sad because I love what I do yet I know that I gotta get a move on and bolster my education some more.  I truly pray for all of us, not just us MT's but all of us in this country because we have to help one another if we are going to survive not only this deprecession all else that comes with. 


 


My thoughts exactly...sm
Don't mean to sound ungrateful, but the do-it-yourself cookbook seems pretty cheesy.

And the typing gloves from the year before makes me think of the guy who gets his wife/girlfriend lingerie as a gift. Who's that gift for really? Got to keep those wrists a-working, though.

How about not trying to be so creative and just give something you know everyone can use?