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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

The industry HASN'T advanced. sm

Posted By: IMO on 2009-09-04
In Reply to: Tired of it also - LeaveIt Already

That's what the 'gripes' and 'complaints' are about.  Technology in this field has advanced, but normally with advancement of technology comes advancement with compensation for continuing education.  That's not happening in this field.  THAT's what the complaints are about.  I, for one, welcome advancement in technology.  I'd still be working on a Selectric typewriter with carbon paper if I didn't.  What I don't welcome is the fact that while technology is advancing, the working conditions are declining.  While we are continually learning and sharpening our skills, researching new terms, equipment, drugs, procedures we are LOSING pay.  This is one of very few industries where the workers are continually required to learn more and do more, but the compensation is going backwards instead of advancing.  When technology advanced for the physicians and for the nurses, did they take cuts in pay?  No, they actually advanced with their fields and their compensation increased based on the justification that they had invested time and money to learn the new technology.  They became 'specialized.'  When technology advanced for the medical centers and hospitals, did they lower their prices because their staff could do their jobs in a few less steps?  No, they raised prices based on the premise of increased price of equipment and costs for doing business.  What about us??  We have increases as well!  What honestly justifies a cut in pay when the cost of everything else is skyrocketing?  Can you tell me that??


This MT board is really the only way we have to communicate about our field.  The 'griping' and 'complaining' is a symptom, and there wouldn't be a symptom if there wasn't an illness.  So obviously there must be something wrong with the way this field of medical transcription is moving.  This networking board allows us to discuss it openly where we can't with our employers or management.  It almost seems as if some people won't be happy until they can take that away from us too. 




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hasn't it been said it can be 30% less...
x
Is there any company which hasn't been...

complained about???


I've read the posts and wonder.


It hasn't been announced yet..
But some of the office people have "leaked" the info apparently.
Really, that hasn't been my experience at all.
I was initially concerned when I heard the company was sold, but honestly you would never even know they are a part of Transcend unless you actually knew it. (Does that make sense??). The owners are still extremely active, and my managers and team leader are really special.

You are the first person I have ever heard has noticed a change. MDI is growing, but they are growing on their own. I think they have almost 500 transcriptionists at this time. BTW, I don't think Transcend is much bigger than MDI - they also have 500 employees.
This hasn't been my experience other than to say
do my work. Working before anyone else gets up and then end of day seems to make all the difference in making line count in my situation with MDI on a C-phone account. Perhaps it is an issue of what accounts you have and how versatile you are.
OSi hasn't changed
I just left there because of the VR and the low work volumes. They aren't offshoring, I can tell you for sure. I can tell you also that the work is still very low, the VR pay is terrible and forget it about communication, and yes they still micromanage through the IM.
This hasn't been a situation that has gone on for
months.  The biggest account took some of the work back in-house w/o warning.  It was done w/o warning and the other accounts have had to absorb all the MTs who were left w/o work.   I have been there less than a year so I don't know if the work flow is a cyclic thing or not, though if you read the board it seems like the workload is low all over.  I know things are frustrating, but at least they pay for down time.
IT HASN'T BEEN IN OVER 3 YEARS!!
I have never known them to use the supervisor as a recruiter!!!!!!!!!
it hasn't started yet, still getting set up
X
Amphion hasn't, to my recollection
x
It still hasn't been resolved for everyone. I'm still in limbo. I'm going

to give it until tomorrow. 


Huh??? CyMed hasn't been around for almost 2 years now.
They were bought out by SPi, which is one of the worst companies out there! I know this for a fact as I worked for Cymed for about 2 years until they were bought out by SPi in the mid to late summer of 2006, so they don't even exist anymore.
This is the first year Oracle hasn't sent anything...oh well.
Not even a thanks. As a matter of fact, been unusually quiet this week. Hhmmm, feeling guilty maybe?
I'd like to know why this bunch of crooks hasn't
I can think of a few MTSO bigwigs who could use 150-year jail sentences.........
So you're one of the lucky ones who hasn't
taken a cut in pay for working longer & harder? It's sad to not be able to feel compassion for your fellow MTs who are struggling to make ends meet when their pay is being cut & the cost of living is rising. The CEOs of the MT corporations aren't going hungry, but some of our fellow MTs are really struggling. My compassion lies with them.
Are you sure you don't mean MDI (Medical Dictation Services, Inc.? MRC hasn't been around
s
She has been told this for years now. Hasn't changed.
You would be shocked at how many MTs have left them.  Amazingly they keep finding others to hire.  Sad, sad, sad.
I was told it hasn't started for any account
In order to finish you have to start and as far as I know no account has been started with this new line counting utility. When I questioned this, on several occasions, each time I was told its still happening but that was the extent of any information that was conveyed to me.
If your company hasn't paid you come payday and

promises it will either be overnighted to your or in your account by the end of the day and it isn't, and the next day the money isn't there and they wait until the end of the day to tell you they don't know when you'll get paid doesn't that sound very fishy?  I think the CEO should have issued a statement and outlined exactly what the issue is.  If it isn't a matter of money (like they don't have it) then why not say what the problem is. 


Someone mentioned this situation yesterday or the day before and got reamed, but I think this is now a MAJOR issue.  Fortunately for me I got a big tax return and I haven't paid all the bills yet so I'm not hurting, but I can imagine there are more than a few who NEED their checks NOW.  


Hasn't your mother taught you any manners?
What is wrong with you to judge? Do you think every MT has to be just like you. Every business has the high achievers and the ones who struggle, possibly to find they have chosen the wrong field, or the wrong company, specialty expander.

Your ladies who toss off your smart a$$ comments at every chance are part of the reason MTs are considered difficult.

If you are like this 24 hours a day, I have a feeling you spend a good deal of time MTing because there is no one else in the house with you. Who'd want to spend time with a person who could cough up a post such as yours? A masochist possibly.

Find yourself a sense of humor and until then, cease posting in representation of medical transcriptions. We have more class than that where I am in this business.


Medware..There hasn't been anything on this board since August 2007...(sm)

Does anyone who works for Medware care to share their opinion about the company in regards to steady work, flexible schedules, platform, benefits, etc.?  You can e-mail me if you wish.  TIA. 


WELL SAID TT12 - mine hasn't run out yet (I love slow times though)

CEO hasn't left yet, she's leaving in August. Co's are bought and sold all the time and I
think this is that big a deal.
Way of industry
I guess what is considered a good salary has gone down since the last time I changed jobs. Sounds like you are talking about the same company I just left, only I don't consider anything less than 10 cents a line to be good after as many years as I have been MTing (and that is a cut for me). I guess its back to soliciting doctors and not working for a company anymore from the looks of things.
What is the top pay in the industry (sm)
today?  In other words, if you have many years experience, CMT status, high quality QA review, work your schedule,  and do high quality work, what per line can you make?  What is the top right now?  I presently make 8 cents a line and have for many years.  I am curious how much farther companies are paying - or not?  I thought it might be fun to see what others are making/expecting to make?  Thanks for the input!
Only in this industry...

I'm wondering how it is that a whole group of SR editors allowed JLG to breach their original contract?  This just goes to show you that a company can change the rules any time they want.  All they have to do is threaten to fire you if you don't agree to whatever changes they feel like making.  I wonder if any of the SR editors were able to collect unemployment??


BTW, I was hired by JLG in 2007, but quit on the first day of training.  Too many RED Flags made my vision suddenly crystal clear.


 


WELL SAID, THAT GOES FOR ANY INDUSTRY..SM

It's only human nature to care about your work when it's appreciated and halfway decently compensated.  When you have to scratch out a living, though, and feel exploited, well, who cares?


It's not just this industry

It's not just this industry that does things like this.  I spent many years working the front desk in hotels - front desk and night audit.  The executive office staff had paid holidays, etc.  Heck, they had LUNCH BREAKS that the front desk rarely got.  We did get paid time and a half if we worked a holiday, but depending on how cheap the management company was that ran the hotel, there were usually only 6 of those per year.


I worked for 4.5 years for a small, family owned insurance agency.  It was amazing to me what the owners/family did that cost the company $$, but god forbid I actually take a day off sick............. 


There's always a sort of a double standard between the line employees and people who are considered back office or management, etc.  It's just the way the world works.    It doesn't bug me.  I don't have anyone looking over my shoulder making sure that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing or interrupting me every 5 minutes to ask me to  do something else that is an emergency because of their bad planning.  I don't have to stop what I'm doing every 5 minutes to answer yet another phone call from a client.   I never have to worry that at the end of the day I have 57 things started, but NONE of them are done.  I don't have to work till 9 pm at night (having been there since 7 am) in a salaried position because the workday is so frenetic that's the only way to actually get something completed.  I don't have to lay in bed at night wondering what is on my desk that I didn't get done that is going to get me and the company sued.  I can have my TV on or not as the mood strikes.  I can work in a T shirt and pajama pants, or I can get dressed like a real person again as the mood strikes.  I don't have to pretend to be sociable to coworkers who make my life a living he!!.  I don't have to deal with hotel guests who are unhappy because of incompetent management and complete lack of communication with the front desk staff.  I can sit and have my coffee and play with my cats and then just go into the next room and go to work.  On my lunch break I can take a walk around the block to clear my head and wave at my neighbors.


Life is pretty good, as far as I'm concerned.  It could be and (for me, at least) has been a lot worse.  


For those of us who have been in other industry.
Things are the same all over. Nobody gets recognized for the work they do until it's time for the retirement party. I suspect that since I work at home, I probably won't even get a retirement party.

I don't expect anything from my employer other than a paycheck. That is my reward. This Christmas, I am very happy I have a job. There are many people out there who don't have a job and would take mine in a second. It is 2 below outside, and I am grateful I have a roof over my head. Again, there are lots of folks who don't have that. I have food on the table and I could buy gifts for my kids. In my mind, I really don't have anything to complain about.

Besides, is a $25 gift card really going to make a big difference in your life? I wouldn't think so.
All W2s, regardless what industry,
company, etc., have to mail them by 1/31. This is the law, not just for MTs but everyone.
The industry would never have gotten as far as they have -
when it comes to screwing their employees if MT had been a male-dominated field. And what put it over the top was when the internet made it possible for MTs to work at home. Once we were isolated from each other, and the outside world, they just started a feeding-frenzy of rewarding themselves by siphoning off whatever profit and benefits was in it for us. Today, we pretty much work only for the so-called benefit of working at home. For me, the novelty of working at home wore off years ago, as I began to tire of the constant poverty level. Why women as a whole won't join together and stand up for themselves is beyond me, but that's how it's always been, and it's why sweatshops around the globe continue to thrive.
Advanced
I worked for them for about a month.  Very nice people, easy setup, they use Word.  The pay periods are unusual in that you have to wait about a month to get your first check.  They are twice a month but run a month behind.  So do inquire about that.  Low ESL from what I saw.  They did not consider me to have enough experience. 
Advanced
Run, run, run as fast as you can!! If it's the one where the owner is in New Jersey. I worked for her for three weeks and it turned out to be a nightmare!
Advanced
Pay was a bit low but regular. Platform had a lot of kinks but that improved. Management could be very disorganized, nasty and rude. I found better pay and nicer people elsewhere but maybe they have changed.
Advanced
I've worked there for 9 months and am very happy. The program is easy to learn, everyone is very professional, pay is on time or early. As long as the turnaround time is met, I've found them to be very flexible. They have a lot of work.
Advanced
The one in Oregon is very good to work for and flexible for IC status. Pay is good, by direct deposit, and on time. They use Iscriptor which works with MS Word.

I have no knowledge about the one in a different state. They are separate companies as far as I know.
Advanced in OR

I worked for them very briefly as a secondary.  They are nice people to work for and easy to get along with.  They seemed fair.  They just needed me to provide a schedule of sorts to them as to when I could help out, and I just couldn't give that to them at that point in time.


One of the platforms I used was Iscriptor which was cumbersome but doable.  I think they also use an IM to communicate and e-mail as well.  They paid on time direct deposit.


Nice people!  They also try to set you up with your specialty, which is a very nice touch. 


With Iscriptor, you basically take so many jobs at a time, send them back, and then take more.  It was pool work for me, but things may have changed.


I would highly recommend Advanced. 


You don't know much about how the industry works, do ya?!
ROFL

Change your schedule monthly? Oh, so the company should have to readjust and possibly hire more for one month just because you want to work different schedule next month and it leaves them without coverage for their clients (which, by the way, PAYS YOUR CHECKS).

You don't want annoying emails all day but you want communication on your accounts? LOL Which is it?!

Tons of work? Gonna take tons of line counts to get it done with tons of commitment on a set schedule to make sure its covered. ??!?!?

An account liason with a real person on the other end...blah, blah, blah. Can't read? Don't wanna read? Soooo, you think the company should take on more overhead to pay someone to sit at the end of the phone and personally tell you what you can and can't do?! LMAO

If all MTs did their work there shouldn't be any on weekends. Hmmmm....LOL I guess those who dictate on weekends are outta luck, huh?! ROFL Make sure they tell clients, "Uhmm, we hope we'll cover you on the weekends but because the MTs may or may not want to cover weekends we might not be able to." Yeah, that will keep clients (again who pay the company so they can PAY YOUR CHECK).

OMG this is all so rich. Just not enough time to continue on here...but you get my drift.

Get over yourself. This is a business just like any other.

Don't like it? Get out. Dream on with the "fantasy" job. Or, wait, wait -- BETTER YET --- Open an MT business yourself and let's all watch you put all these wonderful things in place and see how much business you really get, how many GREAT MTs you get, and how much profit YOU turn!!!

LMAO!!



The industry needs more new graduates like you ! nm
nm
I think the industry standard is using
independent contractors and you get neither vacation or sick pay. 
Another example of how this industry has changed -

that's why many are leaving this profession.  After 10 years, that is how you're treated.  It's a shame - and very degrading.


I think this is probably the industry standard
.
U R so right! The MT industry gets away with so much unethical
If all MTs were to rise up one day, suddenly become VISIBLE, and make their voices heard, maybe the industry would be put on notice to clean up their act.
It's not just our industry that's affected...sm

Try calling your ISP, cell phone carrier, cable or satellite company, etc for company service and more than likely you'll receive someone who isn't in the US. 


Want to buy furniture?  Good luck finding it American made. 


What about your clothes you're wearing? More than likely not made in America.  After all, that's how places like Wal-Mart is able to provide the low prices we want.  When I was in high school back in the late 70s a pair of Levi's would cost you around $20.  They are still around $20 - and it's almost 30 years later - yet the cost of producing them has gone up so something has to give to keep them cheap. 


What about your car?  It's hard to find the words American Made Car and Top Quality in the same sentence unless you have $40,000 or more to spend.  Most of us can't afford that so we go to cheaper vehicles - that are in part or wholey made out of the US.   Kia is building a plant here in Georgia that will open next year - and it cost our state millions to get this deal to provide jobs for Americans.  They've already more people asking about jobs with them then they'll have openings for - and they haven't even started hiring yet. 


Now look at food.  Where does your produce come from?  Increasingly from Mexico because of pricing. 


Now let's take our situation of healthcare and our jobs as transcriptionists.  Hospitals demand lower transcription pricing and get it because of competition.  Long gone are the MTSOs getting 20 cpl for a gross line.  MTSOs now do good if they get 9-10 cpl for a 65 character line - without headers/footers.  The hospitals don't care about the individual Transcriptionist because we don't provide direct patient care that they can bill for - even though if we don't transcribe correctly they can't bill - but they don't view it that way.  On the other hand if you're an oncologist or radiologist and want a new play purty you'll probably get it because it'll make them money. 


America has always been a free society with free trade, and as long as that continues our jobs will continue to increasingly leave the borders.  Will government care? Not really because the lobbyists line pockets with cash and gifts to keep getting what they want.  Here in Georgia the head of an area in the state was recently publicized as being unusual because she refuses to accept even a cup of coffee from anyone wanting to do business with the state.  That's the way it should be - instead of the exception to the rule.


God - this industry is populated almost entirely
!
Industry standards
are a 3:1 ratio

4:1 ratio is slow and I'm not trying to diss you, just giving you facts.

Industry standard also uses 1 minute of dictation = 10 lines of transcription, which I've found is more like 8 most often, but that doesn't change the industry standards.

Some interesting links:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Medical-Transcription-Standard&id=1079391

http://www.astm.org/BOOKSTORE/COMPS/127.htm

http://www.fortherecordmag.com/archives/ftr_05122008p18.shtml

Those links don't give you the specifics you asked for here, but those links will show you where the REAL ADVOCACY for MT is --- IOW you'll notice that ADHI/AAMT is NOT cited


Re-entering the industry sm
Hi. I'm re-entering the industry after 2-years to work with my husband's company, not MT related at all. I had finally gotten a great account with a great company five years into the biz and lost it after 6 months due to the account going in-house. I threw in the towel for 2 years. I have noticed that things have changed a good bit since then, in the fact that these companies don't really need you to actually do the transcription part unless they are seriously interested in you. That has been my experience anyway. I remember one time I was trying to find a great company, and I spent a LOT of time transcribing sample reports.

Thanks for the input. My biggest problem is that I'm customing my cover letter for each application, and I'm making stupid mistakes like referencing this site when I saw the job at another site. Geesh. I even sent out a cover letter the other day and forgot to spell check because my cat was at the door driving me crazy wanting in. I typed, I am very conscientious of my work quality and mispelled conscientious. I'm sure they got a hoot out of that one! Then I signed my email on another one as my kids mother, the signature block I use for the school. GEESH! TGIF!!! :) Thanks for chatting! I've had WAY too much coffee!
Advanced Transcription
I thought their platform was really slow and I could never make any money switching back and forth through the system.  Frustrating!!  I would work several hours sometimes and make less than 10 or 12 bucks because of all the switching around, cutting and pasting, etc.  Good luck!
Advanced Transcription
I am currently testing for Advanced. Does anybody have any info on them? Thanks!
Advanced Transcription

Can anyone give me any information on Advanced Transcripion in Portland, OR? 


 


Advanced is great!

I have worked for this company for awhile.  It is true that the pay runs about 25 days behind, but once you get over that hump for the first pay period they pay consistently.  You can have your check direct deposited.  Pay is always on time.


I love working for Advanced!