line rate pay

line counts [2008-10-08]
I'm new here and feel totally frustrated.I can't understand why my line counts are so low. Iknow it takes time to learn new accounts but I'm having problems averaging even 100 lines an hour. I also work part-time for a local company that pays on the same 65 character count butaverage 250+ linesan hour. What am I doing wrong and how can Iincrease my counts? I need help PLEASE.

Line count [2008-10-08]
I have been with MQ for a little over 3 months now and am now able to go over 100 lines/hour. I basically accomplished it through my word expander. That is the only advice I can give you, to work on your Expander and getting more familiar with dictators. Hope this helps.

I'm on the line with 800 dictate right now [2008-10-07]
He's putting in a ticket for them to reset my account. I'll let you know.

Yes. It will stay that rate until reassessed. nm [2008-09-29]

Benefit rate and base rate not the same [2008-09-29]
It sounds like there is confusion. Base rate is your cents per line...and good luck getting a raise. I've been trying since 2003. Benefit rate, holiday pay, is supposedly done Feb and August. Be careful tho, if you have worked a ton of OT, your benefit rate will go down. I learned this lesson the hard way. OT is not figured into the benefit rate, and in February my benefit rate dropped $5 b/c of all the OT. This figures out to be $132/week PTO decrease. Try as I might, I find it impossible to get back up to Before $5 rate. I've fought this tooth and nail since March to no avail. My easy solution, DON'T DO OVERTIME. It's not worth it when it comes to taking time off.

Yes. The base rate letter you got is good [2008-09-29]
nm

The last I used a phone line to work was about 3 years ago when SM [2008-09-23]
I was on MTS. What are you doing on long distance calls all the time??

so .. are you saying the line counts we get off DQM ... [2008-09-19]
are not what we get paid??? Is this what your PS told you? I will have to compare figures ... I check my jobs every day in DQM and write down the lines but have never compared it to e-time lines ... thanks

What Is Your Technique For Line Building [2008-09-16]
After 15 years of being an MT, I have never come remotely near to making $40K a year. I am very good at foreign dictators and do not complain. You must be doing something right. Can you provide tips, good word Expanders anything, at all, to boost my lines? I have no trouble doing the work and it seems my fingers fly. I time my self. Set aside times when I know I will not have an interruption, but a decent line count does not come.That also effects any line rate increase I would have received. I would sincerely appreciate any shortcuts or techniques to boost my lines.

resident + discharge summary = line count below minimum. [2008-09-06]
Just shoot me now, please! 20 minutes - 80 lines

to break even in ASR as far as line count goes -sm [2008-09-03]
You need to increase production as far as lines per hour go by 42%. 142% x 70% is pretty close to 100%. So, if you were doing 150 lines per hour without ASR, with ASR you need to do 213. Isn't that all just lovely. The day I got trained on ASR, the trainer said with a freaking smile on her face that they pay 30% less because most people have 30% increases in production and some even have 40%!!!! - WOW!!!! That's great!!!! I just freaking love MEDQUIST.

or suppose your rate never increases from 10 cpl & [2008-09-03]
in 5 or so years from now while you're still making your now measly 10 cpl, new people are being hired at 13 cpl & things have changed so that your line count or bonus decreases. How are you going to feel then? The Q is going to have to make up for all the people making 7, 8, & 9 cpl people who will quit. In 5 years or so years, they might need a new bottom, and you might be it. By then I plan to be working for somebody who appreciates me and gives raises and doesn't let the cost of living chip away at what I make over time.

Good luck in the unemployment line. [2008-08-26]
x

My line count is sunk already today. [2008-08-21]
First report - Out of my primary group. Dictated by a foreign dictator. Dictated by a resident. Twenty minutes long with most of the time spent reading the chart, word......by........word dictation. I'm already on production coaching and I'm already sunk. Good grief. Guess I had better find a new job.

Total line count for that 20 minute job was 84 lines. [2008-08-21]
To top that off, I had another 20 minute job yielding 60 lines and a 30 minute job yielding 80 lines. All discharge summaries, all residents. I hate doing discharge summaries and would sure like to know where the op reports (my favorite), H&Ps and consults are going. Lately it has been a lot of discharge summaries.

do you know what is considered a line [2008-08-15]
by MQ?

line [2008-08-15]
65 characters, including spaces

is this a line for MQ? [2008-08-15]
so, no headings are included?

I'm starting to figure out why my line count is lower than some. [2008-08-14]
Everyone keeps logging out of Etime while they're working while staying in DQS. I've been on the clock for breaks, lunch, reviewing reports, everything, and was beating myself up for getting 200 lines per hour. I guess I should have been feeling pretty good about that. So those 300-400 line counts are for clocking out on every little thing, right?

It is 1.5. The half is what is in the OT link line and the regular..sm [2008-08-10]
part is in the regular rate section with the rest of your regular lines.

LIne Counts, Editing vs Transcribing [2008-08-07]
The account I get most has horrible ASR, which has not gotten better. I average 300 lines per hour typing. I get between 150 and 200 lines an hour doing ASR. So, most of the time, I put the entire report in a skip code and type it. I still take the 30% loss, which annoys me a lot, but it's better than editing because then I make even less. That is my ASR experience so far. I honestly believe it is because the ASR on my primary account is so bad. I have gotten some ASR jobs on other accounts that are very good, and if ASR were like that most of the time, I would likely be able to make up the 30% difference.

Not true, if the client pays the same rate no matter [2008-08-06]
who transcribes, they prefer US MTs. Many clients specify their work cannot be sent offshore, some have limited offshore.

Anybody up for a line check? [2008-08-05]
Just would like to gauge how I stack up. Doing straight ASR right now and the 30% cut is not being made up on the back end...so just wondering. Line counts for: Straight ASR Straight transcription Mix ASR/transcription Thanks for Sharing!

Line shortage [2008-08-04]
Ok, so I got a note from my PS that my line count was at 147 lph instead of the 150 lph needed for the FT, full bene status. Ok, so a week where you fall short. Life happens.....However.....the line count that he has and the line count that I have are off by 195 lines. Not only do I check my line count for the previous day at the beginning of every new session, but I also figure out how much I made doing transcription and ASR and then I also figure out how much I would have made on an hourly rate for the day. I just like to know where I am. I guess I am wondering if I need to watch payablelines on my check. Does anyone else have problems like this or does anyone check their pay check closely? I don't and now I am wondering how many other times I have been shorted.

did not meet line quota by .1 (sm) [2008-08-01]
I am going to miss the 100 line/hour minimum by 0.1, I will get 99.9 lines/hour. It happened one other time early this summer. I am not sure how strict they are on this, but I really can't lose my job right now. Anyone know how this is going to go over? I checked my timecard and already made 1 change that was a mistake. I have a really great sup but I just don't know what policy is on this. I guess I will go look at mqcentral to see what I can find. Thanks for any thoughts.

Medquist is actually great training for other jobs [2008-10-10]
Handling the Medquist cesspool has one great benefit: When you quit it's easy to adjust to the new account you get. Plus, even if you get a penny or less per line, you're happy because you aren't getting robbed by ASR. I live way out in the country (bears in the backyard once in a while). If you're a good Transcriptionist you don't need to wrap yourself in a city. You can work.

You are absolutely right about a 2-way [2008-10-10]
street. We are to adhere to all the rules while we watch them bend them to their benefit. What is the difference anyway if we are a few minutes shy of our time? I'll be those working in the corporate offices are not at the job every minute of the day. I worked in house for too long and saw too much. Some people at our hospital were lucky to put in 4 hours of actual work in their 8-hour shift. Laughing with co-workers,way too long lunches, etc. They got full benefitswith no questions asked.If this is a production game, why not just focus on our actual line counts and stop picking about a few minutes?

Hear! Hear! [2008-10-10]
Same situation here. I am assigned to rotate between 8 large teaching radiology hospitals. In theory I should NEVER run out of work. Averaging 4 hours into my schedule (prime dictation time 9-5) I am getting may 1-2 hours of work. Between having pay cut 30% when shifted from line to report pay (10 cents a line to a buck a report), then 50% of my day with no work and reports being 20-25% longer (almost all CTs, MRIs, etc. now) I figure I'm now working for the Q for free! (holding up WILL WORK FOR FOOD sign now).

Oh, please not again!! (sm) [2008-10-10]
I am working my shift and I notice that in the box where it tells you the job information and on the last line where it usually tells the supervisor's last name, my supervisor's name is no longer there. The manager's name is now there. Please, does this mean what I think it means? New PS? I have had so many in the 3-1/2 years I have worked here. It seems you get used to the way one does things and then you get a new one. I hope I am wrong.

how do I get rid of patient block? sm [2008-10-09]
The ADT data block at the top of the screen takes up so much room. Just want the speed slider as the last line up there. I know I saw it somewhere and now can't find how to close those optional blocks from showing.

Are you.... [2008-10-09]
helping out with another account that needs help? PS's often change pools in order to help out other regions WITHOUT telling the MT or is your line count high? If your line count is high, then this is why you are being changed to unfamiliar accounts in order to prevent you from making TOO much money. MQ policy, my personal opinion, of course.

line counts [2008-10-08]
I'm new here and feel totally frustrated.I can't understand why my line counts are so low. Iknow it takes time to learn new accounts but I'm having problems averaging even 100 lines an hour. I also work part-time for a local company that pays on the same 65 character count butaverage 250+ linesan hour. What am I doing wrong and how can Iincrease my counts? I need help PLEASE.

nothing [2008-10-08]
You are doing nothing wrong. I worked for the Q for over 17 years and saw my line counts decline, does that make sense? Needless to say, I finally had enough and left and making a very decent wage w/o all the frustrations that also go along wit this company

It's probably not you but that MQ does [2008-10-08]
not pay for headers, footers or any ADT info. If we were paid for that like we used to be our line counts would be much better. MQ takes everything it can.

Is anybody else getting nit picked by supervisor? sm [2008-10-08]
First it was I was not doing my 2000 lines in a week. I have been ill which they did not care about in the first place and then getting back to work I got tired, am doing fine that way now but then it was not sending my emails in the correct format for e-time audits and not having my signature line on my email and now because I clocked in late due to a hang up with an appt with my mom with an eye appt and could not call her and not working the full 2 hours I was supposed to even though I will get the 2000 lines done this week. The list goes on and on. I think they want me to quit because even though I don't make a lot of money my cents per line is up there, although not enough, but still, they could replace me with a full-time person for less money. I just think they want me to quit--- or am I just notworking like I should for MQ?

MQ is getting quite strict [2008-10-08]
with absences. The only option with sickness is GET AN MD EXCUSE, that way they cannot say anything. As far as line count, they have always been strict on this, you have to meet your requirement each and every week. I do not think that your supervisor is picking on you -- I think MQ puts pressure on super's when things are not done the way they want them to be, i.e., missed work without PTO, not reaching line counts, etc. They expect the sun, moon, stars and so forth from us, but WILL NOT pay us for it.

Is this true? Say it ain't so. We DON'T get paid for headers, footers, ADT? sm [2008-10-08]
I've been with them for 8 years and did not know this. Boy, if this is true, I am a dunce! I'm so outta here if this is true...My line counts are pretty low, too, but this just is the last straw IF it's true.

I read a hint on here the other day that I tried/sm [2008-10-08]
I put the speed all the way up, or as much as I could without it being nonsense, and worked on the report that way. It increased the number of reports in a day that I did by quite a bit and increased my line count. I was listening to it just a bit over regular speed before where it was very comfortable, but instead, cranking it up higher really worked.

tried that too! [2008-10-08]
That was some great advice. I too improved my line counts. I also have been training myself not to sweat the small stuff- the patient versus patient, not adding an extra space after Ctl K to end a sentence, C diff versus C-diff versus C.diff; whatever ASR puts I just leave it. Go ahead and flame away, but we are being paid less so we all have to find ways to increase our production.

At wit's end.. [2008-10-08]
about all the contradicting issues. By the time we check the 5 resources required, our line count will drop even further. AAAANNNNNDDDD, now they want us to check MQC, email, etc., after our shift...while not punched in to email. There must be a law somewhere that addresses this. Otherwise, looking for the gun. MQ has already sent the bullets. G-bye all!

Hmm [2008-10-08]
Somewhere along the line, MQ started calling headings, headers. Headers and footers you don't see on a report until it's back-end formatted--the letterhead logo, the signature lines, etc. Headings are the things you type directly into a report.

When we first became "employees" I had some issues - sm [2008-10-08]
Yeah I had trouble being confined to a set schedule. After having corrective action taken on that subject it was *you're only typing 85% of the time while signed on*. When I informed her that I was being pushed from one account to another and having to lookup a gazillion things, I was told to stop looking things up, that was QAs job. I was also told in no uncertain terms that I was not allowed to clock in 1 minute early or clock out 1 minute late; there were times I sat and stared at the screen for the last 10 minutes of my shift because I knew I couldn't get the job done w/o going over. Then it was *your not making your line count*.... I was on the verge of quitting when she disappeared. Thankfully I have a PS now who is great. I make my lines and I don't worry about those few extra minutes; I'm part time and not getting OT so what's the big deal? Hang in there. Adjust, and hopefully it'll get better, or your PS will go bye-bye!

When we first became "employees" I had some issues - sm [2008-10-08]
Yeah I had trouble being confined to a set schedule. After having corrective action taken on that subject it was *you're only typing 85% of the time while signed on*. When I informed her that I was being pushed from one account to another and having to lookup a gazillion things, I was told to stop looking things up, that was QAs job. I was also told in no uncertain terms that I was not allowed to clock in 1 minute early or clock out 1 minute late; there were times I sat and stared at the screen for the last 10 minutes of my shift because I knew I couldn't get the job done w/o going over. Then it was *your not making your line count*.... I was on the verge of quitting when she disappeared. Thankfully I have a PS now who is great. I make my lines and I don't worry about those few extra minutes; I'm part time and not getting OT so what's the big deal? Hang in there. Adjust, and hopefully it'll get better, or your PS will go bye-bye!

Someone else posted that they got [2008-10-07]
a verbal warning for working when not signed in. MQ doesn't like it either way. Working off the clock boosts your bonus eligibility as well as your benefit rate. Not working on the clock earns PTO that you technically didn't earn. If you have E-time discrepancies, have your PS fix it.

MQ Style Guide [2008-10-07]
I got this from the MQ Style Guidelines. As far as I know it has not changed. MQ makes up some of their own rules and does not follow BOS in all areas. Capitalization Do not capitalize names of services, units, departments unless following the name of a facility. Niagara Falls Memorial Emergency Room The patient was taken to the emergency room.

paid [2008-10-06]
That's for sure, but the bottom line is that we are looked at as typists. I have said for years now, let someone in administration or the other powers that be sit for a day and transcribe, then they would see.

incentive [2008-10-06]
It is my understanding the incentive continues until today. The last time I tried for the incentive with a ridiculous line count to attain, I was good until the last day, when there was no work and missed it by a few lines. It is insanity. Makes no sense to me. Also, all the OT, goes against you in the configuration of the benefit rate. You just can't win with MQ.

Incentive [2008-10-06]
My personal pet peeve regarding the incentives is that I'm a PTer and most of my workis weekend work. When they run these incentive weekends I have to work like a madwoman just to barely get my line count. I seldom make the incentive and never get OT. It's frustrating as hell.

To not a cheerleader: [2008-10-06]
maybe I'm slow on the draw, but could you please tell me how OT goes against you in the configuration of the benefit rate? Thanks!

Well, don't know what to say other than [2008-10-06]
I guess I have good ASR (?) Hard to say how it compares to others, but I do know when I bounce to the cesspool - sometimes it's a lot worse - sometimes it's better. I would say on average I make at least one correct per line. I have the speed usually on the next to highest level, which is about 2 clicks higher than when I transcribe. I am a speed reader (actually took a class) so I wonder if that helps me. I really think they ought to allow MTs to choose whether they'd rather do all ASR, all regular, or a mix. I think that would more people much happier depending on where they can do the best. I know what you mean...you do have to be very careful with ASR (I always read the entire thing). I have found what could be some very dangerous mistakes that actually at first glance look like they could be right! Yikes. I think it really sucks, though, that they cut pay for ASR. We are supposed to be getting paid for our knowledge (i.e. to fix mistakes like the above!) not just typing! Slashing the pay bc they think it speeds everyone up (not true) is like a slap in the face.