Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Thank you for bringing that to my attention. DONE! sm

Posted By: Lyndia on 2008-05-24
In Reply to: ask your senators and representatives to support this bill - medtransgrl


I am writing to request that you support the above bill. I am a medical Transcriptionist in Wyoming. I make an above-average income, which I spend in my community, but my job is at risk because so much of this work is being outsourced, particularly to India. More importantly, the health and privacy of the American public is being put at risk by this practice. First, Indian transcriptionists do their job poorly and inefficiently. The gross errors jeopardize health care. Every error has the potential to injure or poison an American citizen, including many young children for whom accurate diagnoses and medication administration can be a life and death issue. To add insult to injury, Indian transcriptionists are NOT required to honor HIPAA. Once a physician's dictation leaves this country, it is no longer private.


I am a very hard working medical transcriptionist and I am still able to earn a decent living in this industry, but it is certainly not what it used to be. I am paid 9 cents for every 65 Keystrokes I type, whereas an Indian is paid 2 to 3 cents for the same work. This undercutting has hurt this industry and every woman (95% of us are female), many of whom are trying to support families on their own, has been dragged to the poverty line because our wages have not grown with the cost of living. I make 9 cents today and I made 9 cents in 1996, the year my career began.


Please protect the healthcare and privacy of Americans, and help to protect yet another industry from moving to overseas. Support and sign S.810/H.R. 1653.




Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

Just bringing up from below

Many years ago, when I worked in house for a local clinic, we had a Transcriptionist who had just graduated from a medical transcription course (I believe it was through the local community college since this was back in the early 1990s), and everytime this gal came across something she didn't know, she would ask the other transcriptionist or I how to spell it.  I truly think sometimes one of the BIGGEST problems is the fact that nowadays, people are not taught the proper way to spell or even how to research for that matter; for example not realizing that a spelling with an f sound could be spelled with a ph or Pf et cetra.


One classic example was a few years ago, and I was doing QA for a company and this company hired a friend of mine an older lady, who had decided to go into medical transcription and had completed a course.  Well, the company hired her on my recommendation and she called me one day, very upset and saying that she had received another email from a QA person, whom she felt was picking on her.  I asked her what the error was about and she stated that it was over the word chem as in chem-7 (which as an aside, I have NEVER abbreviated; always spelled it out as chemistry-7)  -- well anyway, my friend had typed it as Kem-7, so while I was on the phone with her I made her do a search, and what she came upon with the first hit was some rock band in a foreign country!!!!  This, is what I and older, more experienced transcriptionists get angry about is the fact that many people if they use the internet to do a search will use the first thing that comes to mind, rather than tryng to spell it several different ways to see if it fits in the PROPER context.  Sorry for this being too long.


Bringing to the top - wouldn't any of us in D's

I worked for MDI.  I loved MDI.  I have always known D to be someone of yes, integrity.  I don't believe her integrity flew out the window.  There is surely a lot we don't know.  And of course, D would not have been at liberty to discuss the coming merger before it happened.


D is a businesswoman.  The purpose of a business is to generate income.  She ran her company with honesty and integrity.  I can't say I wasn't suprised, shocked even, at what has happened.  But I have known D since the early 90s and I know she is a good person and truly cares about people.  I don't know how to reconcile that with what has happened other than to think there is more to the story than we know and that it is the decision that D needed to make at this time for whatever reason, whether it be to ensure a secure retirement, whether it was because she was no longer able to compete with offshoring and VR (I think this may be part of it because she had told me at one time they were having to cut line rates to compete with VR and offshoring) or whether she was just tired and ready to not be the one at the helm any longer.  Maybe it's her health, or her husband's health.  We just don't know. 


 


This whole thing does make me afraid for the future of medical transcription, because another thought I had was that D saw the writing on the wall and knew it was either make the leap now and profit from all her years of hard work, or end up losing it all when transcription becomes obsolete for the most part, or at least for those who don't use VR or offshoring.


Whatever the reasons, I choose to believe that D is still the person of integrity I have always known her to be.  I just choose to accept that there must be more to the story than I know.


I wish the best to D and to all MDIers.  I feel like an era has come to a close and it will never be the same again.  But I feel lucky to have been a part of Signal and MDI and to have known D.


I feel like we are on the Titanic and we just saw D either jump to safety or jump into shark-infested waters, we don't know which, and we don't know whether we should jump or cling to the boat - because MDI was the last lifeboat and now it's gone.


Bringing up thread on Precyse sm

I just got off the phone with someone from Precyse and they have terrible communication and no flexibility.  She kept IMing another lady to ask questions.  Had to check with another person to see if I could do Monday through Friday.  Made it sound like she would really have to do some fancy talking to get that.  I had put in my info that I wanted to work from 6 am to 12 pm and she just read that as she was talking to me and said there was no way.  Told her that I am capable of doing full time line requirement in those hours and she said there had to be the hourly coverage there.


I was just not impressed at all.  She really did not seem like she knew what was going on, could have been a little more prepared for an interview.  I just wasted 10 minutes of my time! 


bringing MTSO question below

Sugestion - when MTs complain their account is too hard. Instead of giving them something easier and pushing hard work on more experience Mts, assign the complainer exclusively to hard account until they are competent. Only way to be fair to distribute. Everyplace I work the complainers get the easy accounts.


 


Bringing up my question on ProScript below
Didn't get any answers, so don't know if that's good or bad, maybe they're just a pretty small company and don't have many people working?  Anyone know anything about them recently?  Trying to update my notes for companies that may be interesting to check on.  Thanks!
Bringing up "who's going to stand up for us" from below

First, flamers, never mind, I'm not talking to you.


So we are all spread out but all of us know other MTs whether we work for the same company or not.  If everyone communicates with those they know and asks them to do the same, word will spread like wildfire and something really CAN be done.  Sitting around complaining and doing nothing accomplishes NOTHING.  As near as I can figure one MTSO is as good (or bad) as the next so they could all use an attitude adjustment.


Not only bringing suit, but our profession's tendency - sm
for it's members to behave like pirhanas towards one another whenever someone mentions something different. Yes, this topic IN GENERAL has been on the news before, but it needs to get more up-close and personal. To begin with, showing what MT really is, how it works, who does it and where, and how it integrates with their doctors, their insurance, and their healthcare, and just HOW MUCH of their personal, NON-MEDICAL information is really contained in their medical records. Then they might just START to care.
Bringing to the top, re Transcend's platforms: How is Beyond Textl? SM

Is it productive at all?  I think it is a VR and transcription mixture and may actually belong to MDI-FL.  Thanks! 


No she's not. She's obviiously replying to a post by DB and bringing to top. nm
xxxx
Be sure to tell them bringing US jobs back home
nm
Some hospitals are actually bringing transcription back in house.
I have heard of more and more hospitals bringing transcription back in house and using independent contractors as well as in-house staff to get the job done. So far, it is working out well for most hospitals and, believe it or not, saving the hospital more money then sending it to a service.

Imagine that!!!

Hopefully, 90% of the health services and facilities will bring it back in house and soon!!!!
Just a little slower than DQS in bringing jobs up, filling out screen. (sm)
Not a lot really, and the plus side of being able to research other documents by a particular physician or patient pretty much makes up for it.

Just thought I had heard something and was hoping there was an even better system coming about.


Sten-Tel is bringing all of their offshore work back in to USA. Per the client's wishes! nm
x
Pay attention please .sm
This is my final comment on this subject.  From day one I was never contacted by anyone other than your CEO.  She responded to my resume.  She offered me the job stating there was plenty of work.  She called me to tell me how wonderful Keystrokes was and how happy I would be there.  She welcomed me aboard.  She told me I would be contacted regarding the necessary paper work within the next few days.  That was the last I ever heard from KS.  She knows that many of us live from paycheck to paycheck.  I don't care how busy she is.  This is just a blatant inexcusable disregard for a fellow MT.
You need pay attention to what is sm
formulary and nonformulary with medications. Apparently some medications were nonformulary which is why they were $50.00. They cost more to purchase. If you can get another drug in name brand you pay 30.00, if generic it $10.00. Always, always read your insurance packets.
Attention J
.
Don't pay attention
to the Keystrokes bashers. The bottom line is, as I've found time and again, that Keystrokes is a great company to work for. Please don't let the nuts on here get to you. You were just telling the truth and have a right to your opinion.
If they cant post why, I would just not pay any attention.
I cant stand it when someone says they suck.

That in itself shows their immaturity.

I dont know about this company myself, but just the comment made makes me feel this person has some issues.
Attention poster: Instead of ...
Instead of writing in ALL CAPS here begging for help, why don't you email the admin directly at Administrator: admin@mtstars.com

Obviously, you were not paying attention...
I corrected myself before you could. BUT, you're the type that likes to rub things in another one's face. I REST MY CASE LOL HAHA
Don't pay any attention to that person SM

because he/she has totally missed the entire point of the posts....it's not a matter of discipline or whether they want to do it or not.  It's the LAW.  They want to have employees under their control and that is fine, but there are some responsibilities that go along with having employees.  One of them is collecting and paying the employee's taxes.


This is not an option for them; they have to.  There is no reason for you to have to set aside your own tax money.  If you wanted to do that, you'd be an IC and not an employee.


Attention: QT followers
You go ahead and stick your heads in the sand and I can guarantee you will be on the board crying because you have no job in 30 days. I can't give names or specific information or it will be removed. Just know that this information is straight from the client.
I don't pay attention to posts like yours

I don't know about others but I find your post highly offensive and if I were searching for employment I certainly would not base my decision on offensive statements like yours.


  When I was searching for employment awhile back I had 4 offers for employment, and decided to go with OSI.  I'm still with them and very happy with my choice.  If for some reason I decide I made the wrong choice you can bet I won't get on here and badmouth them and their present employees because they weren't right for me.


i corrected myself. PAY ATTENTION LOL
/
ATTENTION ANYONE WHO WAS LET GO FROM JLG THIS WEEK
I understand 5 people were let go from JLG this week, I would like to chat with any of you who are interested, not to turn it into a war stories episode or to badmouth management. I am just curious about some things.  We can stay anonymous if you would like.  Just post a reply if you are interested in just letting your feelings out with a follow exJLGite.  I am just very hurt and would not mind having someone to share my feelings with. We dont have to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves, maybe we can even help each other find new jobs. 
Attention Annie
.
pay attention, she says in the post sm
Pay days are the 10th and 26th.
ATTENTION ALL JOB SEEKERS

Regretfully, we have had an incident where an unscrupulous offshore individual has placed an advertisement for employment, pretending to be an actual US-based company. Apparently, some have applied and even begun to work by this ad with an abrupt cancellation.

The owner of the actual company (US-based) has contacted us and is understandably upset.

We have removed the advertisement and placed a ban on this individual. Please, if you have responded to or are corresponding with anyone related to the ad, we advise you to stop.

The ad was posted on 10/03/08 by Timothy Olyphant and the subject was Seeking Contractors. This what the ad stated:





We are currently seeking contractors for Transcription Project. Audio is downloaded via FTP. Preferably, these contractors would work the morning shift clearing jobs as they come through the server. We are looking for contractors committed to do 5000 lines/day, Tuesday through Saturday. This contractor positions are available immediately. Interested contractors can send in the resumes/contractor profile to integritymedicaltranscription@yahoo.com. Please quote your rate per line.




Please note that this ad is a scam and the email address is not the actual address of the real US-based company.

We encourage you to contact the Administrator (admin@mtstars.com) or one of our Moderators (cher@mtstars.com, javabean@mtstars.com) with any complaints or suspicions you have about advertisements on MTStars' Job Seeker's Board.

Sincerely,

MTStars Team


If you would pay attention to the program sm
and click on get new dictation the flashlight DOES APPEAR. No one is blocked. TT is not saving work for ANYBODY. Goodness, it's the day after Christmas. Lots of docs took 4 DAY WEEKENDS AND ARE CLOSED. I know mine did. It's going to be the same way next weekend for New Year's. If you are that broke and need money that bad, then GET A SECOND JOB AND QUIT COMPLAINING. There is nothing you can do about no work at TT. And when the work comes in, you will probably gripe about that too. Get a life.
Attention Keystrokes MTs
How often do you run out of work?
Attention MQ packet receivers

Is there ANY mention at all about what is happening with SEs?  If so, please elaborate.  Also, could you give us the new guidelines for part-time versus full-time employee status (# of hours that need to be worked and/or line quotas per pay)?



Attention: MQ MT Old Tiimer. See message, please.

Thanks for being a calm voice of reason.  Even though I think you're somewhat unfair with some of your criticisms of some of us other old-timers (we're not all unprofessional "kids"), I do appreciate your reminder that we're a profession that has not acted very professionally at times.  It's been very hard over the last decade for those of us who have stuck it out, and many of us are defensive of the little perks for which we have fought in exchange for awful benefits, oftentimes poor compensation, and little or no respect.


But for the most part, I think the tone of your posts below is correct.  Medquist is trying to reverse some of its bad ways by giving better benefits and treating the MTs more professionally, and in return some of us (ouch) will have to be more yielding about our flexible schedules in order to ensure that TATs are met and the accounts stay with MQ (and in this country).  I truly don't know if these aging tired hands are capable of pumping out 39 hours a week in a fixed schedule (I already do pretty decent production), but I'm going to try to see if I can make it work.   


Added to the stress of all this is simultaneously switching to the new MQ program, which seriously bites at this point.  It's not my first platform change--and I'm sure it won't be my last--but it's been very difficult so far, in part because the training has been very haphazard and tech support has been less than helpful many times.  I sincerely appreciate the help of my fellow MTs on this and other forums who have helped me along.  I'm sure in six months I'll be singing DQS's praises. But maybe not today :).


We can all do this.  Come on now, group hug .....


If they want attention and recognition as a newbie, go with one of the big 3....
...Andrews, M-TEC, or Career Step.
Attention THMT - thank you for your postings
You helped me make a decision to join your team because of the way you are level and positive.  Thank you!
Attention lead person at KS
Listen up here! Instead of asking MTs on a board to give up someone's initials, why don't you just go through all the tests that have been taken and passed, and see what or when jobs were offered. Do your own internal inventory and grow up and become a professional.
Attention Current TTSers (NH)....

I know there have been problems with late pays in the past.  Is this still an issue?  Thanks!



Attention potential new OSi employees
You have to be an OSi employee for at least 6 months to be eligible for holiday pay, on top of all these other new guidelines. If you are thinking about applying at OSi, forget it - or you could be stuck working every holiday that is coming up WITHOUT HOLIDAY PAY.
Attention OSI MT's about Extext companies

These companies use Extext and are hiring so you won't have much of a learning curve - Medware, Opti-Script (also called OSI), Amphion and TTS (Transcription Technology and Support).  Good luck, you can do much better than OSi (Outsourcing Solutions).  I found my ideal company. 


I wish I had paid attention to MT Stars
I read all the complaints about OSi on here and accepted a job with them anyway which was the biggest mistake of my life.  Then after I was hired they came up with the weird holiday policy.  I will be eligible for the holiday pay because I am past 6 months but since none of those days are on my days off I have to work every single one of them and if we run out of work I won't get paid extra - - - - - but I definitely have my applications in elsewhere so I hope I will be gone in a few weeks.  I truly truly hate this company and never look forward to starting my shift.  And the posts on MT Stars were right about the Q dept.  Everybody says something different and their emails are full of errors including the manager's emails.  I don't know how they hire some of those people.  This is a big mistake.  Don't even think about applying for this company.  All the bad things you read on MT Stars are true and I really wish I had paid attention to them.  Also I keep getting put off about my hire bonus so that is a bait and switch tactic too.  They don't intend to pay it.  I can see clearly now and I am P*****   that I did not pay attention because I consider myself warned a long time ago. 
The squeaky wheel gets the attention......
Sometimes, they are overwhelmed with resumes and it takes time to go through them, especially if it seems like a good job. At any rate, I say e-mail again and ask the status of the job and if there is a phone number, I would call and let them know you are really interested, that you have other offers on the table, but you are very interested in this position. What can it hurt?
Amen. I just don't pay attention anymore.
nm
Attention Moderators: Still Having Problems
Still having problems with the search box. When I type something in the search box (even something that I can see within the first 5 threads of the page I'm on), I get a COMPLETELY BLANK PAGE with no search results. Is there something wrong with the search engine???? Thanks!
Crap! You should pay more attention to your commas!...sm
She was just venting.

And, how do you know that there are not employers with a mental problem out there?
No way to prove this.

BTW, nobody is interested in your life story!
Please do not get it started again. We already gave it too much attention. nm

EMR distracts from doctor's attention
Went to the doctor for GI problem. He spent most of the time dinking around with his laptop. He ordered tests and didn't prescribe anything for interim relief. I paid the bill. A week later, got another bill for his time spent with me in the exam room dinking around with his laptop!
Attention MDIers wanting to go USA only
I work for them off and on, and to my knowledge there is NO offshoring involved in anything they do. Great group of people, too.

HEADS UP, MDI-ERS --- LAST I HEARD PROSCRIPT WAS HIRING IC'S!!!!!!
Well, thank you for calling our attention to THAT little gem of a thread!!!
Wow, and didn't Larry said he HAD to send the work offshore because he had no MTs working at night?

And then here's this poor AMERICAN MT having her work literally ripped from her to give to INDIA?

Yeah, just the kind of place I want to work for...NOT.

Thanks again for bringing this thread to the forefront. I rarely check the Main Board so I'm not surprised I missed it the first time around!!!
The doctor's lack of attention to what he was doing
When I get a dictation like that, unless they're only a few lines into the report, I send it, and the doctor has to pay my company for it. You have to draw the line somewhere, and there's simply no excuse for dictating an entire report and then saying 'never mind'.

I personally think there should be a way to count all the words, sentences and paragraphs we type where they back up and correct themselves, too. 90% of the time, they just change it to say the same darned thing, only in a different way. They should have to pay for that, too. Every lapse in their memory comes out of our time, and our paychecks. It shouldn't be free. They can afford it.
I am sorry. I was going to thank you for paying attention and doing a spell check.

Thanks


I hear you. I pay NO attention to how good someone thinks they are.
With all that wonderful experience, if you cannot pull the testing, you have just proven you don't know your own skill level.

You wanted attention and a pity party.

You got it from the other posters, but I'm the bully.  Okay....  I'm being called grinch and bully, but I'm not the nasty one here????


Some people just don't want to be helped, they want a handout!