to all moms whose children are gone

So many MTs are single moms, [2008-11-20]
and the price of groceries & everything else is skyrocketing right now. I honestly don't know how they sleep at night. I'm a firm believer in what comes around goes around though.

I understand the reasoning behind moms wanting to (sm) [2008-07-19]
be able to work from home, while at the same time care for their children. However, in doing such, you are NOT going to get paid the big bucks that the hospitals offer. Take if from me. I worked in-hospital for over 20 years, and at home for 2. The difference in compensation for performing the same job is DEMEANING, INSULTING, BERATING, and unfair; thus the bitchin and moaning about pays from working at home. We all need to set priorities; home with kids and work, or work out of home and make the bigger bucks, and by bigg3er bucks I mean well over $24.00/hour, with full bennies, excellent health coverage with very little deducted from your pay, dental, IRA, life insurance, the whole shebang, Perks, as well. It's YOUR decision. These are bonafide facts from a MT of over 25 years. So decide what is most important, location wise, and if you work from home, stop the moaning and groaning, because, like I said, inhospital, and even doctors offices pay 10x more than here. Online you are compensated in pennies. Inhouse, you are compensated in increments of LOTS of $100.00 dollar bills. Period.

Yep, Happy Mother's Day to all of us hard working Moms! nm [2008-05-11]
xx

to all moms whose children are gone [2008-05-11]
Dear Mr. Hallmark, I am writing to you from heaven, and though it must appear A rather strange idea, I see everything from here. I just popped in to visit, your stores to find a card. A card of love for my mother, as this day for her is hard. There must be some mistake I thought, every card you could imagine Except I could not find a card, from a child who lives in heaven. She is still a mother too, no matter where I reside I had to leave, she understands, but oh the tears she’s cried. I thought that if I wrote you, that you would come to know That though I live in heaven now, I still love my mother so. She talks with me, and dreams with me; we still share laughter too, Memories our way of speaking now, would you see what you could do? My mother carries me in her heart, her tears she hides from sight. She writes poems to honor me, sometimes far into the night She plants flowers in my garden, there my living memory dwells She writes to other grieving parents, trying to ease their pain as well. So you see Mr. Hallmark, though I no longer live on earth I must find a way, to remind her of her wondrous worth She needs to be honored, and remembered too Just as the children of earth will do. Thank you Mr. Hallmark, I know you’ll do your best I have done all I can do; to you I’ll leave the rest. Find a way to tell her, how much she means to me Until I can do it for myself, when she joins me in eternity.

How about from all children whose mothers are gone. nm [2008-05-11]
:

Schedule or not...most MTs have small children and spouses sleeping at 2:45 a.m. sm [2008-04-23]
I believe common sense is to not call during that hour period. Sometimes my MIL stays with us in the summertime for a few months and I know if my phone ever rang at that hour it would scare her half to death. Turning the ringer off is not an option at least in my house in case of emergencies.

or go homeless or not clothe my children [2008-04-23]
x

I work the wee hours in my bedroom, but if you had husband and children and worked those hours [2008-04-23]
wouldn't you keep a separate office where the phone ringer could be kept low. They should should only be calling during that period if you're scheduled to work. I get 3am calls telling me they are sending me stats all the time. Remember, hospitals NEVER close.

O.K.. - but Indian CHILDREN are now being trained to do our jobs? [2008-03-26]
You make some very valid points, however even with 30 years experience I was placed at the bottom of the radiology payscale. If you're going to pay someone the same amount to produce a quality medical record which conforms to various random client customer specifications who would you want to do that job? A. A well-trained educated professional who not only understands the English language perfectly but who also truly cares that the records of United States servicemen and women as well as their fellow countrymen are kept confidential and secure, or... B. A child in a third world county. This is not about another pair of jeans...

Really? You can work 16 hours a day and not neglect your children? [2008-02-15]
x

what? You think Moms don't spend time w/kids [2007-09-08]
A few entire generations spent time with their children and cleaned house AND AND WORKED!!! Some raised plenty of well-adjusted children who are out there in the world today and somegot dressed daily along with raising kids, cleaning house, going to business.... please - quit making excuses for bad habits.....

I hope your children are doing better and all goes well [2007-08-07]
with upcoming surgery. You will be in my prayers. Not too serious, but I had to put off my younger son's braces and my older son has an impacted molar that needs surgical attention, both of which I put off until I find a new job, which hopefully will be within a week or so.

didn't you have a mother? Moms teach if you have... [2007-07-08]
poor thang.......

Question for those with school age children. (sm) [2007-05-27]
With summer vacation upon us how do you cope? Do you change your schedule? I would do that for the summer, but suppose then it would be hard to get it switched back to days in the fall. I know, I should contact my supervisor and I will. I will have the grandchildren this summer, 11, 8 and 5. They will be going to summer school for about a month of the vacation, but the rest of the time I am not sure how well my schedule will fit. I generally type 6-11 a.m. and then 12-3 with a short break figured in during the a.m. to make school drop offs. I live in the country, so there are no other children close. I won't allow them to swim unless I am outside with them and I sure don't want them in front of the TV all day. I know many of you do this like it was second nature so would sure appreciate hints. TIA

lol Children usually resort to name-calling. [2007-02-27]
nm

Unfortunately there are many who need to be treated as children [2007-02-21]
I mean.....come on. It is your job(not meaning YOU, I'm taking in general here)...so treat it like a job. NO, they shouldn't have to remind people...but if they didn't then the abuse would get even worse I'm sure. But I place blame with management as well as the MTs. If these MTs aren't meeting the requirements then, as Donald Trump would say, You're Fired! Go! LOL :)

I have empl+children and pay like $350 a month [2006-11-17]
nm

To Steph: they talk about being moms....sm [2006-04-16]
Steph: They talk about being Moms/parents, being Jesus people, being religious and all that talk that goes on here.....and then they all CHEAT! Bunch of hypocrisyis what I read.......oh well......If heaven exists, I intend on getting there as well as you too....See ya up there, Steph!

I have 3 small children...... [2006-03-04]
...and I can do it. In fact, I have a baby.....ya think that is easy with a schedule??????? But if you need those few minutes of flexiblity you need to OK it with your supervisor. Otherwise you need to stick with what you signed up for. My post was very fair. She was acting like she can just work whenever, and that is not the way it is anymore. I was in the same boat about being switched from SE. I wasn't happy about it either. I have been doing this for 20 years, 10 years with MQ. I could have easily got another job, but I decided to stay and see what happens. Although it has been difficult I believe I have braved the storm. Anyone who can't hack it shouldn't stay and XXXXand moan. They have choices.

Children [2006-03-04]
I am the single parent of a 7-year old son.

Do you have children, Albert? [2006-03-03]
x

Apparently. And Louisa May's and JACKO's moms [2006-02-24]
nm

Children! [2006-01-29]
x

RadGuy - Don't let these immature brat children who [2006-01-17]
If they're not making it, it's THEIR fault. Their fault for staying and putting up with it. They're jealous because they don't have what it takes to be successful. Never have. Never will. What's really sad is what they are putting their poor pitiful families through. Their husbands (geesh, can you imagine coming home to hear their bellyaching everyday -- same ol' crap every day, same ol' cryin and complainin, same ol' reasons for not getting off their lazy duffs and doing somehting about it?), their poor kids for having to live in a home where Mom (or Dad) can't get their own self-centered pity act together and get a job that actually pays. Pitiful excuses of adults. Pitiful. There are many of us who are doing well --- and that is our right and our privilege!! Stick around here. We need you! MANY of us think you're just dandy!!!!

yes! can you say "favorite children"? [2006-01-16]
.

Took the challenge this morning; ave. 510 LPH. [2008-11-23]
Before you say I'm lying or faint from disbelief, let me tell you a few things. First, I worked just 4 hours today, so I didn't have as much time to burn out. I truly believe 8 hours at the pace I was going today would kill me. Secondly, I had only my primary today and the same 4 or 5 doctors the whole time. I felt the urge to see if MQ had put a hidden camera on me. I don't recall the last time I've had this combination of doctors AND my primary for four hours straight on the weekend. My theory is that enough people on my primary quit last week that there was more work for me. So........I set my speed the absolute highest and went to town. I let my children fight it out because I didn't want to interrupt my break-neck speed. I slowed down only to hear a word or two but otherwise kept the pace moving along. How did I feel? Very stressed, very anxious, and quite unsure. Although I doubt I messed up on diagnoses or medication amounts, I'm sure commas and other small words were left out. Today I didn't care, I was going for the GOLD. So after 4 hours, I'd produced just over 2000 lines. I didn't keep tabs as I went because it would just slow me down. I only got up once to use the facilities but otherwise stayed put. I DID NOT SLOW DOWN minus the few times I just re-listed in a crucial segment. The majority of the ADT screens on my primary are already filled in, so I only had to listen (not typical on other accounts I work on). What did I get from all this? Plainly stated, it would be IMPOSSIBLE for me to get 600+ lines an hour. PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. It was like hitting all the green lights just right today, and how often does that happen? Really? The speed could not have gone any faster, and except for my potty break, I couldn't have spent any more time than I did. I didn't proof-read, I didn't look anything up (just stuck markers in--sorry, QA), and didn't need to fill in any ADT screens. Usually I average 230 lines or so an hour. I've been an MT for a long time, and this is the fastest I can achieve with ASR. So the challenge wasn't very accurate in my opinion, but even if they wanted to count it, it still wasn't 600+ lines...not even close. I am completely convinced that someone that gets THAT many lines an hour isn't listening to the entire report; I don't know how they could be. Anyway, there ya go.

thank you, Jo! -- sm [2008-11-20]
that was what this industry started out as, mothers being able to care for their children at home and still earn an income, being able to respond to them, and enjoying watching them grow. I guess the rest of the world was just too jealous to let it continue. If they couldn't have it, we couldn't.

You are correct [2008-11-20]
You have summed up what is exactly happening. This will not change and nothing, but nothing will make them change. It is all about the money and beating the competition. I did mention sometime ago that our local hospital (where I had worked and never should have left) outsourced our MT work to India. Why, because the suits thought it would eventually bring more money into the hospital, and at that time they were building an addition on, so they cut out what they thought would save them more money. Anyway, the Director of Medical Records, who is from India, came up with the brilliant idea that they should outsource to a company in India. Well, they did, and guess what, the work was horrible, the docs were upset, so they went back to a company here locally, who they got rid up before because they did horrible work. Does this make any sense? Well, to you and me no, but it was all about the money. This country is not going to change outsourcing until we fight for our rights and bring work back into the US. Many years ago ASR was being tried out in emergency rooms for a start, and it failed miserably. They went back to the drawing board and made it better. I knew over 10 years ago that this was coming, and some people said no way! We are lowered to nothing but editors. Without us ASR would be obsolete. I am now 62, but I still have to work for the insurance. Thank goodness I found an IC job and I now was approved today for new insurance, but it cost me plenty!! Minimum wage is not something I want to go back to, since I haven't been paid that since I was in my teens, and yet there are people out there who make much more than we do. As of now, I am making less than minimum wage in my state, and I intend to contact the Labor Board about this. They cannot pay you less than minimum wage. It is a sad fact that this has happened and MQ could care less. The executives want their fancy cars, nice homes, the best education for their children, nice vacations, et cetera, while we cannot even afford to keep our electric on or put food in our mouths. As we all saw, the executives from GM flew in jets to the meeting to ask for help in this disaster. Does this tell you anything? They don't care. Do you know that they keep a full-time staff of pilots and stewardesses on hand for these trips. All they are concerned is about their role as executives. Big business is not fighting for the little guy, and we have to do something. I hope in this administration there will be more of a balance.

Mine, too. Let's make it like that movie scene in [2008-11-20]
Where bags and bags of letters were sent to the post office from children believing in Santa Claus. Hmm. There could be some irony in that.

Single parenting [2008-11-19]
Hey, I have great admiration for you in making the sacrifices required to raise your son the way you want to. Years ago I raised 3 children as a single parent in this profession, but things were different in that you were actually able to make some real money. If you were willing to put in the hours, you could make excellent bonuses and MQ allowed you to work off the clock as many hours as you wanted (which I think is part of what they got in trouble for). Now instead of worrying about winter coats for the kids, I get to worry about fixing my teeth!! I know it sounds funny, but wait til you get there :-) Yeah, the social isolation is bad, but being there when you child has the sniffles, wrapping him in a blanket next to you as you work - priceless.

ok [2008-11-19]
i'm just seeing this after i posted above why can't we about writing these folks. see, the thing is....we could easily just get their e-mails addresses. and then, get a Google e-mail address. your name doesn't have to be on their. i've got a couple of google accounts and my real name does not show up when i send e-mail. we could inundate these sad excuses for human beings wtih e-mail, ask them how they sleep at night, ask them if they think their children are proud of them, ask them how their wives can sleep with them knowing they are doing everything possible to keep so many people from being able to put food on their tables or pay their bills. yea, i know my sentiments here are nasty and mean. just venting, but thats how i'm feeling right now. i know these people have no souls and don't care, and it wouldn't do any good anyway. i've done like no work today. unfortunately, this is only hurting me. i should have just called in sick. i make more money in PTO than i do actually working.

60% for ASR - is that right? [2008-11-18]
I'm not at home, so I can't access any mail from the Q. If this is the case, then with the rising costs of electricity that will soon happen due to deregulation in my state and with the rising costs of everything else, I guess my children will be going to school naked next year, unless Ican get another job, which is the plan. Boy, I can't wait to tell the Q what they can do w/this job.

GEEEEZUS [2008-11-18]
I WANT TO WORK OUTSIDE OF THE HOME!!! i've been TRYING to work outside of the home FOR MONTHS!!!! i have hated this job with Medquist since DAY ONE two years ago!!!! and every day its just gets worse and worse. except for the ceo's. their children must be so proud.

I hate to say I told you so, but I did tell [2008-11-17]
everyone this is exactly what was going to happen and I got shot down. This is exactly the same thing they did before only this time they said they were going to give us less accounts in each BOB, but instead most of us just got different ones, but still not a primary group. AND where are the supervisors??? About the only thing I hear from mine is that she is going to be out of the office and how many children she has and if one of them is sick or not, other than that very little communication... I try to be happy we still have jobs, but this is getting really tired, really fast. When is it going to end???? If they were in a think tank in Atlanta then I think they should all go to the wizard and get new brains because they certainly didn't come back with any good ideas that's for sure.....

SOOOO.... [2008-11-12]
Can somebody explain to me why theydon't stick to their schedule, other than hostility toward MQ? Gosh, I don't know. I plan my life around my work, not the other way around. I have no children--that was a choice---why would I have children I can't afford? Something would have to give, no?

Thanks [2008-11-12]
Well, thanks. I do appreciate the responses. I am assuming you all were not clocked in charging MQ while going to the bank and having quickie. I do suppose I was being a tad sarcastic---one cannot possibly raise their own children and also have a full-time job. Something has got to give. Sorry all you who believe you can do it all, but I do not feel it is fair to a kid. In turn, if you're being fair to your kid, the employer is going to suffer. Both are full-time jobs. Ignore one or the other, and trouble brews. Again, thanks for the input. I was totally curious in a sincere way.

There was no timeclock back then [2008-11-12]
we are not paid by the hour and the timeclock is actually relatively new. This was like 8 or 9 years ago. Actually one can raise their own children and have a full time job if they have the desire to do it. People do it all the time. I did it for 12 years, single no less.

Well I see things have not changed at MQ! sm [2008-10-29]
I left a few months ago and once in a great while I check here hoping things will get better for you guys. I was denied Christmas off last year as well and had family in from 3 different states with my brother and his wife and baby sleeping in my office. I was so upset but signed on anyway just to find that there was no work for my entire shift. I swore that would be the last holiday that MQ would ruin for me. Quitting before the holiday will be the best present you could give yourself. There are better companies, belief me!!! Good luck to you and you enjoy your small children.

Forced to work Christmas. [2008-10-28]
Getting denied Christmas offis about my last straw. I have smallchildren waiting for Christmas morning!!! Every company I've ever worked for has taken volunteers for Christmas. I can't believe this place. Did anyone get off Christmas, or are we all just supposed to sit around waiting for a few jobs to trickle in? I may just quit before then.

of course they are, but...(sm) [2008-10-02]
If you look at that list, it's obvious it's comprised of places where working moms (and everyone else) would be on-site, not working from home. It would be nice to see them come up with a similar list for WAHMs.

me too, honey [2008-09-25]
Evidently, losing our jobs is not as important as phonetically cussing on this board. We're not supposed to get upset. I'd like to see MQ bigwhigs be homeless and not have money to feed their children and cars repossessed, etc., and how they would like it. Yes, I too want to scream. Getting accts I have never done before, main accts. drying up, all have marbles in mouths, doesn't matter what race...

I'm sure she's not a dork...sm [2008-09-08]
She just needs to verify her information before sending it along to her MTs. The BOS clearly states this and as I said earlier, so does Gregg's. Examples: A 46-year-old patient came in. The patient is 46 years old. The patient is a 46-year-old. A 46-year-old came in. When the 46-year-old is stand alone it is a noun and not an adjective, thus it is hyphenated, especially when it is the subject of the sentence. Again, I'm sorry, but I learned this in school 30+ years ago and my children who just graduated in the last few years have learned this, so I don't think it's ever been changed as far as I know...or if it was, it has been changed back per BOS-2.

I think we should be paid more for teaching hospitals. [2008-09-05]
Not only are the residents and medical students idiots, they idiots change every 3 months and we get new ones. Just about the time you figure them out, or they learn how to dictate, they leave. You can't set up standards for these children. We should get a premium for transcribing teaching hospitals. I have 2 and they drive me crazy.

our jobs [2008-08-27]
Don't you love it when one of the MQ lackeys presumes to tell you what your job is - i.e. to take everything that the company dishes out without a whimper. If workers in the past had not been willing to stand up and fight we would still be working 14 hours a day in sweat shops (along with out children) behind locked doors vulnerable to death by fire and many other wonderful outcomes.

Ahh...my dream... [2008-08-27]
I bow to you! I too have harbored plans to attend medical school. I remember the ortho surgeons I used to work for...they would askme why I did not become a doctor or at the least a P.A... That was a few years ago, I now have 2 more children, ages 3 and 4 soon, on top of the 16, 14, and 12 yo. I still might go back to school. I love medicine! Right now, transcription works for me with all the kids. I really could not imagine trying to get to a 9-5 with the kids at these ages. Transcription pays the bills and I am thankful for my job. I too believe that ASR is a joke for acute care facilities. Voice recognition is perfect for the private practitioner who will take the time to train the computer to voice and save on personal operating costs. Voice recognition does not, however, belong in facilities with more than a few dictating physicians. You are an inspiration for sure! Good luck to you!

so your response is [2008-08-25]
I can be rotten if someone else is. Got news for you, may be old and cliche but still applies - 2 wrongs do not make a right. Grow up. Don't stoop to their level. They cheat so you can cheat? Very responsible attitude. I hope that is not what you teach any children you may have. I can't believe how people can justify their own unethical, immoral behaviors just because someone else is doing it. You are no better than they are, in fact you are worse.

Plus, they're getting worse [2008-08-20]
They bought out some smartly managed companies, but just bought the accounts and the transcriptionists, they threw the management skills away. They stupidly assumed, oh these are just typists, most of them are women, we can just treat them like our house servants, they are like children, or dogs. Anybody can do this. We can replace them if they quit. Duh. We just have to know what doctors are trying to say when they can't talk. You think we learn to do that over a coupla weeks?

Retirees going into MT [2008-07-29]
At least most of the retirees I meet seem to have a good education. They have decent spelling and grammar, read books and newspapers, and can write a letter. I constantly get approached about MT by young ladies or their moms hehheh who have no qualification other than they want to stay at home. The first question I always ask is what about their education? How are they with spelling and grammar. The answer is always no, they barely passed high school. But I do worry about retirees and dexterity - speed - pain in hands - limited eyesight - computer savvy. It almost seems like a form of cruelty!

Word issues [2008-07-28]
My training is to type as dictated, even on a not-strict account. That's not a horrible word. Perhaps a little unprofessional, but kind of cute. We all know which docs have small children, don't we...Before I became QA, a QA person told me to put half quotes, but I'm not sure that's still the rule. I wouldn't worry about this.

Isn't that just awful? - sm [2008-07-21]
Quite awhile ago (I never forget this stuff when it's so off base), I had one in which ASR transcribed*thepatient, herhusband and their 3 children live inside her vaginal vault*. A bit crowded, wouldn't you say? Utterly ridiculous, yet so tempting. Sometimes I'd be surprised if anyone would even catch it if I did letthese go. If I didn't have to worry so about my job, I'd love to take the chance and find out some day.