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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

a simple solution

Posted By: Snow Bunny on 2009-06-23
In Reply to: My situation was a family member - - Amanda

Next time it happens ... just invite the person over to your home and give them a shot at actual transcription. Try to give them a dictator who is midway between fantastic and a nightmare. Don't leave any medical books around for reference. Tell them they have 15 minutes to do as much as they can.

And then post the results here. Should be good for a laugh.


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Simple solution
As long as Cymed can continue to find MTs who will put up with this crap and accept their positions that don't pay for spaces, they will continue to do what they're doing.

Why would a quality MT accept a job that doesn't pay for spaces. Why would a quality MT stay there?
Simple solution -
email me.
A simple solution...

get a fake email address.  go to hotmail or yahoo and just make something up.  i will never know who you are.  :)  I do understand your hesitation.  I wouldn't email me either.  LOL  I'm safe, I don't work there anymore.


Line counts?!  Um, yeah.  Encouraged to be dishonest to the MTs regarding that also went against my grain.


Simple solution:
Don't work for them. 
Simple solution:
Don't work for them.  I don't.
Simple solution: Notify the IRS.

x


There's a very simple solution to MTs that don't improve
You put them on warning after so many same mistakes and then if they continue to make the same mistakes, you follow through and LET THEM GO. End of sob story. As QA, part of the job is weeding out the inept. Why any MTSO would keep an MT that continually made the same mistakes and compromised quality to that degree is beyond me. Highly nonproductive and bad business practices, IMO.
No solution is Precyse Solution
So sorry about what you had to go through. I truly feel for you. As good as we are, no one should stand for their crap. I certainly didn't. I could not get rid of their equipment fast enough. The day I quit is the day I boxed up their computer, called Fed-Ex and had it sent back, and then I got a new job the next day!
There is a solution to the what you think is

It is very simple.  DON'T READ THE POST if it will upset you that much.  If you already knew it would happen, don't pour oil on fire by telling people not to talk about it. This isn't the Transcend forum where people aren't allowed to talk about what bothers them. If you feel uncomfortable with the posts here, stick with the company forum and maybe you won't be in so much pain.


I think that was the solution they came up
with for keeping up with TAT. For years, I never had any problems - then new management steps in with new ideas such as overstaff every account so they not only keep all accounts current, they also don't have to pay bonuses or overtime.

MQ MANAGEMENT HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THIS JOYRIDE WILL LAST FOR YOU?

SIGNED,

FRUSTRATED CHICAGO FULL-TIME MT

P.S. COMPLAINING ONLY GETS YOU MORE BACK-UP ACCOUNTS. I MADE MY LINE COUNT WITH NO PROBLEMS WITH ONE ACCOUNT FOR A LONG TIME AND NOW I HAVE 3 ACCTS ON 3 DIFFERENT PLATFORMS!! AND HAVE TO WORK 12 HOURS TO GET IN 8 HOURS OF WORK. I ACTUALLY HAVE 5 ACCTS BUT I REFUSE TO WORK ON MORE THAN 3. IT'S NOT WORTH IT...

WHAT'S A GAL GOT TO DO TO GET A STABLE ACCOUNT AGAIN?

THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT NOW OFF TO SCROUNGE AROUND FOR MORE LINES.
My solution........sm
I had almost 100 dictators who used normals. As you know, it could drive you crazy not to mention put you in the poor house. I finally decided to make separate folders for each doc and used MS Word to make a separate document for every normal exam. It took me over a week of my own time, but well worth it in the long run.
And here's another solution
I work for a hospital who pays up to double the lines for the difficult docs. People seem to like to get those docs (I sure do), especially when they've invested the time to get good at doing them.


If you never learn them, and never get proficient enough to do them independently, you don't get the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.


It's a win-win situation, I think.
no - and the solution to this

is in the voting booth not the company board.


 


SOLUTION
Keep the computer and/or other equipment until they call you for it. Then, explain kindly how you kept it back because you heard that there was a problem with the company reimbursement and wanted to avoid that problem for yourself. Then let them know that you will return it in PERSON if at all possible and expect a check that same day. You could write any trip expenses off on your taxes and be sure you are reimbursed at the same time. Once I did this a few years ago for the same reasons, different company. I did receive my equipment deposit back on the spot.
I may have a solution for you ...
Please EM me.
So, the solution is... SM
Just don't answer our phones???


First I was paranoid about getting a pay cut. Now I'm paranoid about NOT receiving a phone call from The Power that Be. Maybe some of us fell through a crack... or maybe the fierce anti-Acusis posting of the last couple of days changed someone's mind about delivering bad news to all MTs at the same time. After all, if we all quit at the same time, who'll be around to learn the CDFIZ or whatever the heck the new program is.



so your solution would be?
If you're an IC *YOU* should be calling the shots, not someone you work for.

Everybody here has options.

The MT can acquiesce and work the hours her EMPLOYER is requiring her to.

The EMPLOYER could be human and work with the MT or NOT.

The MT COULD take action against the EMPLOYER for a) offering medical advice, b) treating an employer situation as a contractor situation and not paying taxes.

So it's not a matter of being in this MT's shoes. It's a matter of being a savvy MT and knowing how to run your CONTRACTING BUSINESS or sucking up being paid like an IC and treated like an employee.


There is an AAMT solution.
you could report this to AAMT, but it would take weeks to process the complaint. Also report the website to them. But its a great thing that you have posted the red flags. great work.
Low to no MT work is all over.... Here is my solution!
I have been working as an employee with a company and for the past 4 months the work has been low, with the last 1-2 months ridiculously low to no work at all.  There is a 1000 line requirement for benefits.... and I need benefits.  I work a part-time IC position, and guess what, it's low to virtually nothing also.  So this week, I took on a 3rd IC job, so where I normally would transcribe 1600 lines with the employee position, I only give them 1000 lines, just to keep the bennies. I will do 1000 with the third IC position, and continue to do the 600 lines with the 2nd IC position.  Thank goodness, there is no hourly requirement with any of these positions.  It takes me 3-1/2 to 4 to get 1000 lines on employee position, 2 hours to get 600 lines on 2nd IC position, and about 4 hours to get 1000 lines on 3rd IC position.   I have purposed this year to not work over 10 hours in a given day, give or take an hour or two.   So far, the past 2 days it has worked.
Offshore solution sm
Why can't a company give the client a chose.  Excellent client ready work at a higher price, and I realize this would exclude many US MTs, or work that has been offshored at bargain rates.  This way everything is on the client.  Either they are going to say no way do they want their records going off shore and  pay the higher rate, or they agree to offshore.  The good thing about this is the doctor cannot deny he did not know the work was being offshored if he agrees to that to get rock-bottom prices.  If the client wants work done in US, he can have that but at a somewhat higher price.  US MTs will be able to make a living wage at their profession.  I think this idea needs some tweeking but I think it might be something to think about. 
The Best Solution to the 30 days
TYVM for such great input.  I believe here is the problem.  Any MTSO has the obligation to (if they have one sub or 3 dozen) to negotiate a contract the right way with their account to be able to offer their subs a decent arrangement.  There isn't one business (hospital, doc, etc.,) on earth that can't cut checks to a vendor at will, or at least set up a unique situation if they really want the vendor to work for their company (vendor being the MTSO).  As it turns out, this company I considered is a subcontracted company to an MTSO who actually has the hospital account.  This subcontracted vendor has virtually no negotiating position with the account.  They are at the mercy of the MTSO.   I believe there's a time that a big or small service has the obligation to the MT team to not take on a crummy contract unless they get a pre-signing commitment from their MT subs that they can live with long-term payments.  I don't think it should be done the other way around.  Though at this time I was just looking for some part-time filler work, I too have hired subs for overflow work in the past.  I made sure whatever the account was that was paying me did so within a time frame in which people could work and survive with money--including myself.  I don't have a husband or other type of income.   That's neither here nor there.  It's in the contract negotiations, and having enough courage to sometimes say No to an account, to pass on the deal for the sake of what's right and not roll over all the time.  That puts it in a true underdog position from the onset of the contract.   Needless to say, I'm not going to take them up on their offer.  But very interesting what's going on, what everyone thinks, and how it's still kind of the short end of the stick on the real production end -- the MTs that do all the work.  Thanks to all who replied.
My solution to low work
I (thankfully) left MQ and found I had low work at the company I picked, which I liked otherwise. So I took on a second job. When there is no work at company one I just switch to company two and back and forth and I am never out of work. In talking to several of my long-time MQ friends, they ALL do this. Sure, it's sad to have to do it (and it ticks me off royally) but I have a family to feed and this is how I am doing it.
well please let me know if you find a solution since i haven't. sm
have spent 2 days with tech support with dictaphone and still not fixed. i don't have the time to spend now cuz i gotta bring in some money, LOL.
Solution for their ILLEGAL activities
The next time they call me to work on my day off I will do so and I will record my hours knowing it will put me in OT. When they yell about it and say OT was not approved in advance I will document by email or phone call that I was asked to work and if they refuse to pay me OT I will definitely report them. They have already been reported by at least 2 other people with documentation. They will either cut the BS about not paying OT or they will see the feds.
I'd still contact the solution center
I got the email from my STM this week as well (bet we have the same one!), but I have not been experiencing any problems. It is still very possible that the reason you are having so many difficulties is something to do with your router (if you have one) or ISP. I know how frustrating it is when the platform keeps freezing up on you. I was having so much trouble until I changed the settings on my router and now it is smooth sailing. Definitely contact the Solution Center and see what they can do to help you. There's no reason to suffer through it if there is a fix out there.
information on Transcription solution of SC.

any information on Transcription Solution out of South Carolina?  TIA


SOLUTION TO OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING
Since offshore outsourcing couldn't be stop why don't we just outsource the dictations coming from these freaking speaking doctors. We need to screen the accounts and all those accounts with difficult doctors to understand, we outsource them. I think we will be more productive, the only problem I can see is that most of the doctors here in America freaking dictators.
It isn't a solution after you've already returned
the computer.  I was glad to get rid of it, but I want my money. 
Time to find, my solution
will be to have two companies on board. My current work (a small mom and pop that has managed not to be eaten by a big company) frequently runs out of work, so I decided that since I am the breadwinner in my family, I will take on another job as well. Of course, my original company won't like this because I will not be available for extra when it is needed but I will do what my contract says I am to do and no more. I am tired of sitting here looking at a blank screen.
Offshore is not a good solution
These are people who come from a completely different culture. They have very little regard to human life and therefore it is hard for them to comprehend that we do and have it extrapolate out to providing a conscientious medical record.  Please do not think that I am criticizing them for this. It is just a fact. I know a little of what I speak because I have seen the product that comes out of the offshore community and India and Pakistan to be specific.  Did you see the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Did you see the screenwriter's analysis of life in India? He said everything is extreme over there. If it is sweet, it is very very sweet. If it is spicy, it is very very spicy. If it is poverty, it is grinding abject poverty, living underneath active outhouses. If you see the movie, there is a segment there where it portrays a call center and the lead character tells the customer that he is just down the street from her and he is looking at a map of her area. But then he messes up and says the wrong thing. This is the type of culture with which we are dealing. They think nothing of lying through their teeth just to keep their jobs. Do we actually think the clients here in the US even know that their precious heretofore confidential medical reports are even being sent overseas? I think maybe 20% of them know and the other 80% are blissfully unaware. That will change.  
Solution: Shut down hospitals on weekends.
nm
My solution to the feast or famine syndrome

I work part-time with a daily number of lines to complete, no set schedule.  My work is usually pretty steady, but over the holiadys when things slowed down, I decided to get another part-time job.  I ended up in direct home sales.  I make more money at it than I do MTing and I get to set my own schedule.  I usually do 2 shows a week, averaging about $150 to $200 per show.  The shows take about 3 hours in total and the computer work is about an hour or less. 


It also gets me out of the house and gives me a break from my kids.  I will say that I'm pretty fortunate that my husband has a M-F 8-4 job, so he's able to be home with the kids on the evenings I do these. 


I keep a separate checking account for my business and it's really neat to watch it grow.  I'm saving the money for a rainy day (or famine) and when I get to a certain amount, we're putting in a pool.  I'm halfway there already.


No way would I stay attached to my computer.  If things are slow, I put that time into my new business and work on getting new shows booked or party games or invitations.  There's always something productive to do. 


The solution center's memo of an upgrade to the system SM
in the next couple of weeks (not on company computer right now so don't remember exact date) includes release notes that says the issue of the platform freezing will be corrected. I hope this fixes some of my own problems.
Just marry a guy who has a great income, that was my solution, who wants to work that hard!!
//
It is simple...

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Moderator


It isn't quite that simple...

Thank you for your input; however, it is a deeper issue than that.  It is a major opportunity to teach the offending MTSO a lesson.  Speaking for the collective MT group, we are human beings and we deserve the same respect as any other human being.  It seems that MTs have, for too long, allowed themselves to be doormats.  Obviously, there is an exception to every rule, but I am not referring here to those few exceptions.


It is that simple...

There is no deeper lesson to be taught.  If you feel that you are being treated as a doormat and do not want to be, then do not accept the position and move on.


Moderator


Simple
If you type 100 minutes of dictation for this company and their operative notes are 1-2 minutes maximum (I worked for a company that paid like this) and they add up to 30-40 lines per report, you would be typing anywhere from 3000-4000 lines for 100 minutes, which equals $100.00 for this amount of lines, which in turn equals about 3-4 cents a line. Believe me, they pack the dictation in this amount of time. The company in turn charges the hospital or clinic per line and they pay you the minimum.
It isn't that simple
It isn't just whining! These people are taking MONEY out of the other MTs' pockets! While an MT with integrity does all the jobs that are assigned to her and gets hung up on an extremely difficult dictator, while the other MTs are taking all the easy dictators and making money hand over fist. That is NOT fair to the MT with integrity who makes chump change because she refuses to stoop to that level.

It is not fair and it is up to management to put a stop to the practice.

Don't judge others until this has happened to you. It isn't fair and this is the only place MTs can come to vent their frustrations over it. If you don't want to read the posts, just skip them, but don't tell people they are acting like children fighting for candy. This is FAR, far more serious an issue!
OSI plain and simple
Speech recognition, outsourcing, massive turnover, only the beginning. The only way to offset this was to offer more benefits but they also upped requirements to receive them. You can't make more lines if more and more companies are outsourced, and two new ones have been added to that, Mayo and Sarasota--Ochsner already was. They aren't being that generous with benefits in the long haul and as someone said the other day nobody will stick around long enough to actually receive the benefits.
SE versus IC. I know there is s simple

but I'm a math retard.  If an SE made 10 cpl and an IC also made 10 cpl, and everything else were equal, then the SE is actually making more because half of the 15% social security tax is paid by the employer.  So the SE makes 7.5% more than the IC, correct?


Now here's where I'm a math retard.  If you take that 7.5% into account, what is the SE's *real* line rate?  Sure, it's still cpl but when you figure the employer is paying 7.5% of the taxes then does that make the line rate actually more like 10.75 cpl?  Or am I off on my math?


Simple -- 5 steps
1) Do NOT answer the phone if it is not about your child or your husband, period. Get an ans machine and check it on your breaks. It is your responsibility to treat your job with respect and spending your time on personal calls is not respecting your job, your pay, your finances. You're an adult; you can do this.

2) Try to arrange your appts during nonworking hours.

3) Make an alternate schedule for yourself that you can commit to when appts or emergencies call you away.

4) MAKE everyone aware that you are working during ## hours and that you are not to be interrupted, then do not ALLOW them to interrupt you. If you answer - you are allowing it.

5) Define what really constitutes an emergency to TAKE YOU AWAY FROM WORK and stick by it.

It sounds as though the phone is your biggest problem. Simply stop answering. Let everyone handle their own problems...they are adults, too.

If you take control of your phone calls and have an alternate schedule for true emergencies (I mean - child/hubby sick, etc.), then you'll be able to handle unexpected/unplanned pressing needs such as your cousin (going to Iraq) dropping by!

Make YOUR time the most important time in the world. Because it is!!!
Some simple feedback for you..
Just wanted to say I think it was your tone with your suggestions that angered a few. It sounded bitter, angry, and downright nasty the way you spoke/typed it. We have all had our run ins with recruiters who make promises and do not follow through irregardless of the resume itself. I think you just hit a sore spot. :)
radical yet simple

Pay based on knowledge and difficulty NOT production.  This will raise the howls from those on the board who want all ops -- but you reward knowledge not limber tendons. Higher line rates for those willing to slog through ESL Discharge summaries and medium line rates for flying through ops and ERs.


 


The rationalization is simple...(sm)
I'm laughing here because it's so simple you're gonna laugh at yourself for asking! Of course they're now trying to sub-contract to other companies, no one wants to work for them. So, if they hide behind another American MTSO, they can get American transcriptionists that way!
Anyway, thanks for the warning. I hope everyone who is contacted by or contacts another National company does what you did and ask where the work is coming from.
I use ChartScript and it is very simple. The only
demographics I fill in are ptient's name and doctor's ID # if there are any CC. 
And here are even more simple facts about
I have been with them for 2 years. I work PT (6 hours/day). My average for last pay period was 163 lph. Yes, I exceeded production for PT (6000 lines/pp), I always do and did even when I was FT. I don't understand the complaints or the inability to meet production. The DI honestly takes all of 2 seconds on MOST (I aint saying all cause I don't work on all) accounts. I have worked on 6 different accounts and all but 1 have ADT feed...I am sorry it didn't work out for you because Amphion is one of the best nationals out there...good luck!!
Simple answers
Okay, simply put, I work for SoftScript, the workload is steady, the supervisors, etc., are great communicators; they pay within a few days of the end of the pay period by DD.

Now I'm off to work. :o)

PS .. the reason you don't get a lot of response is because we're all happy with our job and not having to hang out in here with all the negativity.
How about a simple - Let the supervisor
they can bypass the supervisor and just let other workers know?  Unfortunatley by accepting their IMs and working based off that you pretty much made your bed. 
In simple lay terms...
If the post in question is the post that culminated in this lawsuit, the OP went into great detai about how TT received work only through what Dictaphone chose to essentially spoon-feed them and this was resulting in the lack of work for many posters at TT.

This was not prefaced, to my recollection, as an 'in my opinion' type of format. It was done as OP had 'inside information' or was somehow privvy to the internal workings of TT. HER POSTS WERE PRESENTED AS FACT AND NEVER INDICATED IT WAS SUPPOSITION OR HEARSAY. THE POST WAS WRITTEN AS HARD, SOLID, IRREFUTABLE FACT.

Presenting something as factual that is in fact NOT based on fact is the entire premise of a libel suit.

I'm not here to argue with you or anyone else. Everyone has their panties in a bunch about the OPs freedom of speech, with which I agree 100%. However, there is a vast difference between saying, 'I THINK TT GETS THEIR WORK ASSIGNED TO THEM FROM DICTAPHONE BECAUSE...' and I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE IS NO WORK AT TT BECAUSE DICTAPHONE IS NOT GIVING THEM WORK.'

Do you see the difference now? This was a VERY lengthy series of posts between 4-6 weeks ago perhaps a bit longer.

Apparently, the powers-that-be at TT take exception to this poster's assertion of their internal operations, and what the OP led us all to believe must not have been factual or no lawsuit would be in progress because there would be no grounds on which to sue.

I do not know why, with a group of professional, educated woman such as at this forum, people cannot seem to comprehend this has NOTHING TO DO WITH HER FREEDOM OF SPEECH; IT HAS TO DO WITH MISREPREENTATION OF FACTS.

If TT was running around suing every one of the MTs that trashes them on this site, EVERYONE would have a summons. But, no, that is not the case. The only one who has a subpoena is the OP, the one who professed to know exactly why there was no work at TT.

And obviously her facts were not facts at all; hence, the lawsuit.

C'mon, people, research is part of our job. Does it make any sense to you that TT or any company would randomly select a poster to arbitrarily sue?

No, it doesn't.

What DOES make sense if the OP apparently overstepped her bounds of knowledge, posted erroneous information as fact, made TT look terrible with that information, and TT has decided the misinformation and malignment were sufficient to warrant legal action.

Search the archives, find the original posts about Dictaphone and TT. NOWHERE in those posts will you see any disclaimer that is is the OPs opinion or theory or anything remotely similar. It is all presented as FACT. Presenting misinformation as FACT is illegal and punishable by law.

This is my last post on this subject. If the pack mentality would rather prevail and defend someone for spreading misinformation as fact, so be it. No amount of common sense will change your minds.

I'm a staunch support of our freedom of speech; however, I am not a supporter of libelous/defamatory information towards ANY entity.

Flame away; I couldn't possibly care less. I've done my homework. I've done my research; and I've seen with my own eyes the posts I believe spurred the lawsuit.

And you'll all really hate this. TT is on firm ground and will likely prevaill.


simple terms
Transcend bought MDI. MDI employees unhappy because they have not been given many details about their pay scale or flexibility of schedule. Also, many MDI empoloyees are angry that MDI sold to a company that oursources to India. In a nutshell, that is what is happening.