I'm sooo confused. Why is Newcastle

confused on no work policy, sm [2008-11-28]
Every supervisor I've had seems to handle this no jobs available thing differently. I know to call support and get a ticket #, which I do every time, and then email it to my CCM. I don't think it's fair that because there's no work that we have to use our PTO to cover the day or just sit around all day and check the system constantly to see if there's work. I'm being told that I have to either make up time or use PTO. Is this right? Just wanting input from others on how they have been told to handle the no jobs available situation. I don't want to use my PTO just 'cause there's no work and I don't think that's fair either. Opinions, anyone? Thanks.

More confused, just been told that sm. [2008-11-28]
we are released from work, but have to use PTO or make up time (??) I guess by releasing us from work they don't have to pay us. Smart on their part, but VERY unfair since we're still required to use PTO or make up a whole day's schedule. This makes NO SENSE to me...

More confused [2008-11-28]
I have been released many many times, never made up the time and never took my PTO. Released means you don't have to work the day and you won't get paid. Thats all. You don't have to make up the time and you don't have to take PTO.

I'm confused. NM [2008-11-24]
NM

Well.....I'm confused.... [2008-11-21]
I think I will call the 800 number on Monday and ask some questions....

YES!!! that is sooo annoying! (NM) [2008-11-14]
:(

Now Im confused - Is Add A Van from the ILPs or [2008-10-17]
I only have experience with the ASRs and I know they never spell Ativan correctly.

Sorry if I confused anyone from my post [2008-10-08]
below but we do get paid for the red headers in the report but no ADT information or cc info that we type on the ADT screen. Before DQS the reports were usually generated with hospital/clinic name, address, etc. (a header and/or footer) at the top and/or bottom of each page and we used to get paid for these but now with DQS we don't. Again, sorry if I confused or upset anyone.

Confused [2008-09-03]
I'm a bit confused. I've read a lot of posts about the BIG pay decreases that have happened and how horrible it is to work for MQ. I've been here about a year now and make more moneyin my40hour work week than I did working similar hours at my previous medical office job. So, I quit it and nowonly do MT work. Could someone explain where these big decreases came from and how much the actual $ loss has been. I just haven't seen itin my situation and am very curious. I know theypay lessthanICs can get as12 cplis my current IC MT rate, but this is also after 11 years of service and with my own paper and gas being used without reimbursement. I stay with them because they were my first account and are great people. I also have not been able to find any otherICaccounts willing to pay more than 8 cpl, which is why I came to MQ in the firstplace, after months and months of footwork.At least with MQ I get401K, PTO, etc., and no gas expense to boot. I'm also able to get time off and adjust my shift when necessary, which as an IC can be very hard to do at times.

To Confused [2008-09-03]
Don't get too comfortable with the way things are now because sooner or later they will change. All depends in what area you work but with this place change is constant. I was happy at one time too.

confused about the Mandatory web meeting ....sm [2008-09-03]
I just got an email about a mandatory web conference, attendance is a must. Another thing we HAVE to do on our time for this stupid company. Regardless that they're going to pay us trianing pay, it's just another thing to add to the Mandatory Our Time work stuff!!By the way, it's for tomorrow. Way to give notice. Anyways, what I'm confused about is the time. It says Time: 8:00 AM (GMT - 06:00) Central Time (US Canada) I'm Eastern time so I think it would be 9 am for me. What confuses me is what's in the parenthesis GMT -0600. To me, it looks like they're saying that 6:00 mountian time is the same as 8:00 central time but aren't they only an hour apart? Wouldn't 8 CMT be 7 GMT?

this is sooo true [2008-09-01]
saw this in today's paper...and worth following the link http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080901/OPINION01/809010297/-1/OPINION

This has to do with Newcastle. Costa Brava trying to block acquisition up to 2013.nm [2008-08-04]
x

I think they are just as confused [2008-08-03]
as we are about some things. I think they are not informed. I base this on the fact that I have been called many times to work extra in the two months since I quit, and each time I have told the caller I do not work for you anymore! So they are not informed of who is quitting, and when they are told they are not making a note of it.

Yes. Newcastle Partners LP had a court hearing today to try and stop [2008-07-31]
the sale with CBay. I keep looking in yahoo, but no news.

Thanks - got my pay periods confused! -sm [2008-07-10]
I am so furious about my paycheck, I got them mixed up. Thanks so much.

I'm confused [2008-07-10]
Do you mean when you get to a R-skip marker at the end of the dictation, you're supposed to uncover what it's saying and correct it? I've never heard of this. (And if that is what you mean, there's no way I would take the time to do it!)

You may be confused about red-s marker [2008-07-04]
or I may be reading wrong... It is not for text to be skipped but not always skipped, it is for things that the doc uses all of the time but is not part of the dictation, like this is dr. mickey mouse, send a copy to my box, thanks. All of that would go in a red-s because he says it all of the time, but it would never actually be part of a dictation that should be in the report. This is how it was explained to me and how I have been using it for years, so if it is not what you were told, you might want to double-check. I know sometimes it can be a pain trying to decide which one to use when they are stammering and stuttering, so if they do that, then I opt for the regular skip marker instead. The red-s makes the change system wide and tells DQS to ignore it in every report for every doctor everywhere forever. The regular skip marker says just ignore this mess for now because he doesn't know what the beans he is talking about or he changed his mind or he had to spell something out. Also, I don't know about you, but I was told to only use the regular skip marker for more than five words in a row, if it is fewer than five words to just erase them.

Filing by Newcastle [2008-07-03]
Phillips acquired 60% of MedQuist’s common stock in July 2000 paying $51 per share. It now owns around 69.5% of MedQuist. Since Phillips took over control, shares are now publicly traded at $8.25 per share. Phillips placed four board members, also known as “individual defendants.” You can see the background of the Phillips board members on the filing where their positions with Phillips (and CBay) are also identified. The three other board members are independent. Early this year when CBay expressed interest in purchasing MedQuist, they wanted sensitive Medquist information and signed a standstill agreement preventing them from acquiring MedQuist shares for 2 years plus a confidentiality provision in order to get that information. Since then, four of the five IDs (individual defendants) voted to waive the standstill so Phillips can get the sale over with. The IDs have proposed that MedQuist issue a dividend (money to shareholders) to help finance CBay’s purchase. In April, Bear-Stearns (recent investment company failure) and a special committee voted that CBay’s offer of $11 per share ($8 cash and $3 for CBay shares) was an inadequate offer. Long story short: The stock purchase agreement with CBay was voted for by the four IDs, while the independents voted nay. The IDs voted to suspend the confidentiality agreement and the standstill agreement. Phillips agreed to replace their IDs with CBay board members. The SPA also looks toward the above dividend, which gives money to Phillips before closing the transaction. This would come from an over $160 million MedQuist has kept in reserve for potential liabilities or future purchases. Think about that when you look at the reduced amounts on your paychecks. Anyway, Phillips’ financial shenanigans are too convoluted to explain tonight save that Phillips will have the right to convert the over $90 million note from CBay into almost 55 million shares of CBay, or approximately 30% of the outstanding CBay shares, giving them the same voting shares it supposedly gave to CBay in this deal.

It's a minority shareholder (Newcastle Partners) of MedQuist that's suing. [2008-07-02]
nm

I'm sooo confused. Why is Newcastle [2008-07-02]
trying to stop the sale? I think it's a great idea (I assume NC is located here in the U.S.?) but just wondering WHY? Are they afraid CBAY is going to take over?

Sorry I confused you, I did mean [2008-06-30]
benefit rate! I knew after I wrote the post I should have put that, I just couldn't think of the right word as I was saying it :)

Me too! Gotta Love those 'Sclades. Pearly White is sooo pretty nm [2008-06-27]
xx

you are sooo right...let's get rid of them and [2008-06-23]
money makers...us! This company is heavily burdened with management dead wood who do not contribute to revenue but simply drain it away from us. Did someone say STRIKE?!

She said by "yet another MTSO", sooo obviously MQ is not the only SM [2008-06-13]
one who ignores their people!

downtime pay depends on CCM. sm. [2008-11-29]
According to my new CCM, if we are released from work then there is no downtime pay given and she requires us to either make up time or use PTO. If she doesn't release us from work, then it's her discretion how much downtime she actually pays you if you have a ticket number. MQ's policies are SO vague and open to interpretation that it's ridiculous. In my case, I was given 1 hour of downtime pay yesterday and then was told to make up the time there was no work. So, if you aren't even more totally confused by now (ha-ha), it's up to your CCM and how they choose to handle it. I have had to use PTO in the past for downtime and sometimes I have received downtime pay. This confusion is driving me insane. Why isn't anything clear cut??

secret to high line count [2008-11-25]
I now know what new wonder drug those in management/high line count producers must be on: IT IS CALLED - MQrackcocaine. That must surely explain how **** thinks MTs can edit 600-642 lines per hour. I recently had a psychiatric report that was about 4200 seconds, excellent dictator, minimal changes and it generated 425 lines and took me about 1 hour and 20 mins to carefully edit with proofreading of every single word. So unless you upload a pile of jobs without editing, I DO NOT believe (with 30 years experience as an MT/ME, 5.5 years on ASR with MQ) that any MT in their right mind can edit what they state. Sounds to me like they want quality to suffer by cracking the whip (possibly due to crap produced by off-shore, non-English speaking MTs). I also believe that management is posting fake messages on this site that state the 1-hour challange produces 500+ lines per hour. That is utterly ridiculous. Post an actual itemized line count from a specific MT that shows how many jobs are signed off in an hour......then maybe I will believe the claims to fame of producing 500 or more lines per hour. MQ ceases to amaze me. The last thing that shocked the heck out of me is when QASAR first came out and the little explanations that showed depending on what type of error MT made...case in point MT is tossing the job over the fence (not exact words but close enough). The other reasons were nothing but accusatory. The world is not a perfect place, but the longer I work for MQ the more confused I get. Oh well, next ASR report and then later I will go grocery shopping and I had better grab a case of KRAFT dinner. Now that is cheap eating and in several months from now I will have a larger butt to type on. On the good side of things, it is a beautiful winter day with sparkling frost on the ground. HAVE A NICE DAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN. Sincerely, fellow MT who shares all of your feelings/opinions/frustrations.

Has anyone noticed that [2008-11-24]
this happens before EVERY SINGLE HOLIDAY? PS will send an email saying that they are sooo swamped with work in their BOB. They offer OT so we will earn that extra cash for the holidays. Then the bottom drops out and there is nothing to earn because you get the scum at the bottom of the pool. I think they do this to us so there literally is nothing to do on the holiday so they don't have to pay that time and a half. What do you think?

line counts [2008-11-23]
I am a bit confused about the line counts. How long does MQ give you to reach the minimum line counts? I'm still in my probation period but I can't seem to get past 700 lines/8 hours. I seem to average around 650 after about 6 weeks. I don't know why I can't get beyond this. I've done 150-200 at other jobs in the past. I've been trying to setup expansions and wonder if trying to use them could be slowing me down --- basically, just having to think about the expansion and it not coming automatically. I'm at a loss to figure out how to get beyond this count and don't know when I'm expected to achieve the 800 lines/8 hours. Thanks

line counts [2008-11-23]
I am a bit confused about the line counts. How long does MQ give you to reach the minimum line counts? I'm still in my probation period but I can't seem to get past 700 lines/8 hours. I seem to average around 650 after about 6 weeks. I don't know why I can't get beyond this. I've done 150-200 at other jobs in the past. I've been trying to setup expansions and wonder if trying to use them could be slowing me down --- basically, just having to think about the expansion and it not coming automatically. I'm at a loss to figure out how to get beyond this count and don't know when I'm expected to achieve the 800 lines/8 hours. Thanks

are to talkin' to me? [2008-11-21]
You don't have to duck for cover. I have no anti-grenade capabilities, but I really don't understand your last paragraph at all. What quotas? 150 lines an hour should be easily achievable by an experienced MT. It's MQ who has made personal quotas drop by all these changes. 150 lph is almost impossible anymore. Bragging? I'm not bragging and I'll bet there are many MTs who were able to do 300 lph before DQS. I didn't brag to MQ. They have my stats before and after and they didn't get them from this board. I think you're missing the point. It is a fact that MTs' lph has dropped because of unpaid and time-consuming ADTs, multiple accounts, and just mere mind games that preoccupy us (we should be stronger!). And please, I can say I've done 500 lph on this board and it wouldn't make one difference to MQ and any decision they make regarding their bottom line. You actually made my point by stating how productive you were with IT when things were as they should be now. Primary, familiar accounts. I'm really confused how MTs who say they were able to produce a lot because of an environment that nutured productivity (which is not true now) raised the bar. I'm only saying that it WAS possible before and now it's not.

Me too [2008-11-21]
Wouldn't it be great if we all formed a company together, everyone contacted our primary accounts' medical records departments, and offer them the same service for half the price? Actually, the service would be better, cuz we're all in the US. We'd have to hire somebody who could figure out how to set up some kind of internet network, and we could use MS Word - which is the same as DQS without all the bells and whistles! We'd also need major legal advice about keeping confidentiality and in case we screwed up patient reports. And we'd need our own QA - that we could probably steal from MQ too. And we'd need some kind of errors and omissions insurance. MQ would sue us sooo fast! But just think - if we all went to prison, we'd be housed, clothed, fed, and have free medical care, and even free education if we wanted it!

explain a little [2008-11-18]
i'm confused. just starting with MQ. how do they reduce your pay when you start out at a certain rate? what is the average they pay or is it based on years experience. i'm used to getting paid by the line and they are paying by report

goincrazyquick [2008-11-15]
I know how you feel. I'm so bummed today, getting collection letters from bills I can't pay, and I have always been really good about paying my bills. Sooo frustrating!!!

If you're in America, speak ENGLISH. [2008-11-15]
I could swear I hear ESLs speaking their other languages, too, in their dictations. It's rare that I get one that speaks slowly. These days more often than not, I think they're just too full of themselves having beat the system to work here and not in their third-world country, making OUR money, not confident but cocky. I personally refuse to be treated by a doctor that I can't understand. What about our older generation who hasn't traveled the world, lived in polyglot cities as I have. I can't imagine how confused they must be having to suffer through trying to understand their medical illness, let alone through the tongue of someone who can't even pronounce half the words. It makes me mad. I remember how hard it was for ME to pass the exam for my RN license. How can those ESLs ever do it? MQ doesn't take into account how doing ESL dictation can wear you out.

DQManage [2008-10-31]
I never got this e-mail, maybe because I'm still in training. When is it supposed to go into effect and does it mean we can just open up the account and then start working it from there or what? I'm confused on the whole thing.

At least it's not just me! - sm [2008-10-26]
When I clocked out at 2 a.m. it said 3 a.m. I really had a WTF moment. Did a little research, thinking I might have messed up on DST (but we'd go backwards) and the only thing that I found is that most of Europe went back to normal time on 10/26. I'm still confused, but I know that the world time clock is run on + or - GMT. Don't know who we're supposed to send eTime corrections to these days, so I sent it to my CCM.

If I did leave [2008-10-23]
I used to work doing MT in house in a hospital and when any of the MTs would get a specific doc for an ER report the ER doc would come into medical records and breath down the MTs neck while it was being transcribed. That made me sooo nervous. I do not miss that at all. If I found a job, it would really have to be a good fit. My cousin worked for a medical billing company nearby where I live and she really liked it. Now she lives near Pittsburgh and is working for the same company. They were hiring a little while ago and should have checked it out but did not. It so hard to leave after being here for almost 9 years, but I think I would if the pay was a little higher. I'm working on my procastination to just even apply to the billing company. I left a resume a few months back but have not been there since I saw the ad.

don't understand [2008-10-16]
I'm new and really confused about this restructuring. I'm in the North region and was tolda couple of days ago by my thensupervisor that I had a new CCM. Not knowing what this meant, I asked her if that meant my accountswould bechanged. She simply indicated she was no longer the contact forthe accounts Iwas doing, the new CCM took those over. She indicated the CCM would be sending out an introduction email with the contact info for the CCM and the QATL. I have yet to get any emails. However, I did notice that the account I am doing seems to have a bit morespecialty type reports, though I'm only supposed to be doing tier 1. Does anybody know if they've also changed the tiering requirements around? Anyway, I'm confused because I don't know who to go to with questions. I don't even have a working Imail account yet, though I've been trying to get it setup for 2 weeks now.I've been issuedtickets3 times now. If anybody is in the NorthRegion and has any info to pass along, Please do.

QA in the know???? [2008-10-16]
Sorry about the delayed response, but I've been a little busy lately figuring out if I had a job. I just read a previous post implying that QA actually knew what was going on and were just not telling MTs. Hmmmm...Well, let me come clean and tell you exactly what this QA knows: 1: My supervisor has been fired. My manager has been fired. My QKL is MIA. 2. I have been using Schedule Source. This means that any PTO requests (including the first vacation in 2 years) is in that system. I also have PTO beyond that, that I either need to take or lose. It's just a little difficult to take time off when you're working OT all the time. They just shut down the system and are going back to E-time. My new QKL said she has never heard of Schedule Source and doesn't know who does the scheduling. 3. My new CCM called, asked if I typed a certain account, found out I did QA, said nevermind, and just hung up. --and yes, that was the extent of the conversation. 4. The impact team called and asked if I still worked for MQ and if so, how about overtime for the rest of the week. Yeah, I'm soooglad I knew that was coming!!!!

Couldn't sleep. Doing research. Tell me I'm wrong, please. [2008-10-15]
MKay, everybody. I hope someone can tellme I'm incorrect, paranoid, and/or just too sleepy and worried to make sense of what I've read tonight. Google cbay +medquist +WARN +mass layoff +plant closing Came up with: http://google.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHtmlSection1?SectionID=5956052-14277-362649SessionID=3qZiWHsaa9b4ms7 Seems to be some official document having to do w/Cbay purchase of MedQuist. I could be wrong and hope I am because I didn't read the whole thing - plus, I'm not a lawyer and probably wouldn't understand much of it anyway. On that document, check out page 25, section 4.01. Read that paragraph then go to page 28, section (xviii) under section 4.01. NOW, check out: http://www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/layoffs.htm and read about WARN. This would make sense to me as to why the working conditions (i.e., change after change, lack of work, nit-picking, etc.) have declined dramatically recently - to get as many people to leave on their own,whypeople are getting counseled and written up for doing the same thing they've done for years withoutbeingcounseled orwritten up for before - so they have adocumented reason to can people, andwhy the layoffs/restructuringare happening gradually - so as not to have too many involvedat once so it's not a mass layoff and stays quite legal. It's 2:30 in the morning, I'm annoyed/confused/worried/madder than he** and I hope I'm wrong. I REALLY like working for MQ and Idon't want to be a crap starter, either, but seems pretty fishy to me. Watcha think?

no primary no email from a new PS either [2008-10-15]
I am confused because my primary accounts have been soo backlogged and now I am working on a completely new account. It would be nice of Medquist to let us know whats going on!

Are CCMs just like PSs? My PS would call me for missed punches sm [2008-10-14]
time off, missed line counts, etc. In her intro letter today (my new CSM) she didn't state she was my new boss. I'm confused!

e-mail me so we can really talk [2008-10-09]
Appreciate an e-mail. There is sooo much that cannot be said here.

Sorry if I confused anyone from my post [2008-10-08]
below but we do get paid for the red headers in the report but no ADT information or cc info that we type on the ADT screen. Before DQS the reports were usually generated with hospital/clinic name, address, etc. (a header and/or footer) at the top and/or bottom of each page and we used to get paid for these but now with DQS we don't. Again, sorry if I confused or upset anyone.

ASR editing [2008-10-07]
I am always confused when I see these posts - when editing ASR, do you not listen and read at the same time? The most common thing I see is missing small words. I listen, use ctl+right arrow to jump word by word, add and correct as I go and do about 250 or so lph. Maybe I am just used to editing?

you're not serious [2008-09-25]
are you? we excatholics take things sooo seriously!

Yes, there are! Please SM [2008-09-23]
I've been with the Q for many years. I've seen the company go through many changes, purchase and absorb several other companies. I've gone from IC to employee. It was an adjustment at first but I like the structure and I certainly love the benefits of a good deal of PTO and insurance. Makes my life much easier. I've worked part-time at other companies during my Q employment. None ever matched up. Most had no incentive; most had the same or worse problems you read about here. My suggestion is think about the negatives this way: If you look back pages and pages and pages, it is the same gripes no matter what the company does. I'd say they are more unhappy with their lives in general and feel like they have no choices. Everyone here knows better. No one makes anyone work anywhere. It is a choice, no matter how we want to project it. There is no law stating anyone HAS to work for this company or any other one. There is no law that prevents anyone from leaving. This industry is changing, as is EVERY OTHER INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD. The nature of our jobs is definitely changing. Keep up or lose out. If you want to be successful in this profession, which is very much a loner-type job working from home, here's my tips -- from an Oldie but a Goodie: 1. Choose your attitude carefully - make it positive. Happiness is a choice. 2. Choose your company carefully - make it positive. You will take on the attitudes and reflections of those you keep company with. 3. Decide what YOU need out of your job - not what others think you need. You work for YOUR needs, not theirs. Determine what you need in money and benefits to make it happen. 4. Learn to love flexibility and change. You will need to be flexible to be successful with change. Change is inevitable. Always keep the idea of, How can I make this work for me? 5. Ask your management and other support avenues if you have questions. Use MTQuestions to get answers. Let them know if you're feeling upset, scared, leery or confused. They've invested in you, Linda or SuzieQ (which ever you prefer) and they want to keep you. ...time for some shut-eye!

It depends on what the dictator [2008-09-16]
says - ifhe says sensorimotor (sensory first/motor second) or motor or sensory (motor first/sensory second). No need to be confused. Just go with what he says.

I don't understand this [2008-09-14]
I'm being completely honest here: How hard is it to do? You have a set schedule, right? You know you have to do either 100 or 150 lines an hour, depending on your status, on the payperiod average, right? Simply work your schedule: Clock in/out on time. DO your work. Keep up with your line count each day. How hard is that? You don't have to keep up with anything else in order to make sure you have your hours and production. I've been here more than 7 years with this company and I have never missed this. I didn't miss it before when we were statutory and I haven't missed it since we became fulll-fledged employees and required to clock in/out. So, I cannot imagine why anyone feels confused or cannot do those 2 simple things. I would really honestly like to know what it is that prevents people from doing that - I see this claim all the time on this board and it makes me scratch my head over it. I really wish someone would explain how/why they find it so difficult and fail to do it to the point they are in performance management for it.