I don't understand these companies....

Understand your frustration [2008-12-04]
but after working inhouse I know they the med recs departments know of the problem and do try to talk to the doctors about it. most doctors just think they are above some things. I also know that sometimes the doctors and med recs departments don't set the TAT, the CEO or board of directors do based on JHACO and other audits. They also do build in some requirements for physician's to get things done in a timely manner and physician do get cited but (at least where I worked) it meant little to nothing. The physicians had no problem taking the slap on the hand for being late on dictation.

I understand your point... [2008-12-01]
but just because you have been burned before does not mean that every MT is going to be burned. Sometimes we need to take chances in life, especially if the benefits outweigh the risk -- the benefits being money and possibly a long-term account, the risk being burned (but that only needs tohappenone additional time and then she will know the truth).Inthe tough economical situation that many are facing, I suggest biting the bullet thisone time and waiting it out.

best of companies [2008-11-24]
I have over phone interview with Webmedx. Am I making a good move if I accept and what's the difference in enterprise platform and chart matrix

I do not understand...s/m [2008-11-16]
An experienced MT should make, with a little position-related training, a good Administrative Assistant. I do not think that you yearlong experience as an MT is the reason that you do not get a job in the clerical field. AA who go through an MT training, are a preferred choice in getting hired as MTs.

I don't know of any companies...sm [2008-11-15]
myself that require a CMT. I really don't know the answer to the second one because I don't know if my company pays more or not. I have never asked because I am not a CMT and haven't planned on taking the test. By lines. All accounts I know of are by lines. 65 characters including spaces. No quota at my company. Doesn't apply because no in-house MTs there. No.

I just don't understand it. I tested [2008-11-14]
the machine from 3 different phones and didn't have a problem. Once I punched the ID# in, the beeping stopped for me. I'm very confused as to why my doc had problems. I had the older model with the tapes and it worked great until the transfer box died. I couldn't find just the box, since this machine is no longer made. I think my doc is a thing of the past. I haven't heard from him since the test. What kills me is that I was with him for 14 years. I don't know this for sure but he has not called me or dropped off any tapes. He passes my house on his way home so he used to drop the tapes off when there was a problem.. His dictation is due today and I don't have any to do.

Congratulations to you! I understand [2008-11-14]
I did not sleep again last night. Found myself on the floor of my at-home office with a coffee cup and the jobs postings on the computer. I have a job, but not enough work at it. This is really really sad this is happening to so many of us. I don't know which is worse, the lack of work or the constant worry. Congrats to you for conquering both!

What companies do this? sm [2008-11-14]
Weekends after the holidays are lonely, I think I could do this, if they are patient as I am learning how to work online but know the terminology, etc. very well.. If you don't want to post, please e-mail. Thanks, I think I will need the income. Anything helps.

I understand....nm [2008-11-14]
aa

WHAT? Does ex-text do that? These companies push so hard for VR, there has to.... [2008-11-13]
be a great advantage to them. I hear of girls doing 3000 to 4000 lines a day but have never talked personall to one. I couldn't , too much editing of sentences left out, doctors who have the habit of changing commplete sentences, sending you back up a report to add this this and that. Geez, that is not counting the a, the changing from the to that, a to an, on and on ad nauseum.

it certainly is not pay worthy at 4.5 line or 3 line. I know the companies cram it down our throats [2008-11-13]
nm

Most companies these days require even [2008-11-06]
FT employees to work at least part of the weekend. I tend to work almost every Saturday, 3 to 4 hours. I am a FT employee working a 40-hour week and just take off early a couple of days during the week.

Thanks all - now I understand [2008-10-30]
Not ever having a baby, and not hardly ever doing ob's I was always just curious. Figured they must have a reason, but today when she dictated what time it was delivered that was a first for me. I smiled at a delivery isn't over until the placenta is delivered. I was waiting for it isn't over until the fat lady sings. HA HA HA. (but I guess that lady singing would be the one pushing the baby out. HA HA HA - Oh its going to be a fun day today. Thanks again for all your answers.

ok, I apologize. I do sympathize with and understand with you seansoned MTs but...sm [2008-10-24]
in the economy today I just can't see why the newbies or fairly new MTs have to complain all of the time. It seems to me that if they were working instead of complaining on this board they would be more productive. Also, my husband does not do road construction but my friends in this area do make that doing road construction. But they are only home 1-2 days a week from April-May until November. So, you take what you can get and make it work.

I can understand your dilemma sm [2008-10-24]
Honesty is best. I can't imagine being on my feet all day and/or doing something really physical because after years of sitting all day, I am deconditioned to the max. Perhaps you are the same way. Tell them you are not physically up to the job, which is true. As for MT, I have to tell you, I have had jobs I have regretted quitting and jobs that have dissolved for other reasons, just at a time I was loving them. I am one to say that MT jobs are a dime a dozen. The problem is, you don't want to work for 11 of that dozen! The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence, and I have suffered from the idea that it is. I feel your pain, but you have to do what is right for you. I am sure they can find someone else.

If I can understand them & you can't sm [2008-10-19]
what does that say?

I don't understand what you are asking -- [2008-10-17]
I am sorry if I am misunderstandnig something. I have worries and concerns also... All my post was meant to do originally was to say that sometimes our lack of production is not someone else's fault - that we contribute to it also by the things we choose to spend our time doing. Lately, my production has gone way down. Same doctors, same hospital, same accounts, same everything... my solution was to see what I was actually doing and what I was not doing and it all comes down to the fact that I was spending too much time doing other things and not typing, but counting that time as work time.

I understand your pain. This MT is [2008-10-16]
Give them 100% perfect work (not possible as we are human) and still not good enough. It is similar to a feeling in which a person is repeatedly victimized IMHO. Step 1: Hire the confident and experienced, good MT. Step 2: Break em down. Step 3. MT eager to please, gets broken down, asks to do better. Step 4: Ignore MT. Step 5: Mt gets paranoid, wonders what she did wrong, wants to do better, but no more feedback. Step 6: Continue to nit pick work indirectly, or directly whichever will break MT down more. Step 7: Ask to work weekends, nights, or make that the only time work available. Step 8: MT still wondering what she did wrong adjusts life around job, getting more paranoid insecure. Step 9: Make sure MT is totally broken. Repeat cycle.

So sorry.....for the life of me, I do not understand sm [2008-10-16]
why some QA people feel the need to nitpick everything.. Commas are important, but if you send a report to 5 people, you will get 5 different versions of where a comma should be. How does that negatively impact the patient's medical record. Come on people...really!! All the medical terms are correct, the sentence structure is correct...the record is technically written. Leave the report alone. It is my opinion that some just feel superior finding fault in other people's work. My advice to you ~ Hold your head up, keep on doing what you do best!! Don't worry unless you have gross medical errors in your transcribed material. Take the feedback and do what you will with it, but do not take everything so personal. Be a free spirit and don't let it get you down!! Hope tomorrow is a brighter day for you!!!

AAMT/AHDI is run by and for the management of companies that offshore! [2008-10-13]
I too used be a member and an officer in the local chapter. I too attended all the activities. I have since let my CMT lapse. Never once has being a CMT earned me a better job or more money, it's all about the experience and the quality of work you can produce, not whether or not you're a CMT!

sick of working for crappy companies? [2008-10-09]
I have been thinking about starting my own company. I have done some research and it looks like all I really need is an FTP site, handhelds (that the doc's purchase themselves), and to get accounts. If anyone is interested in doing this with me let me know...or if anyone has any other information on starting a company input would be appreciated! Why are we working as IC's and the companies are making profits off of us? Lets cut out the middle man and make the money we deserve!!

Yup, everything for most companies. SM [2008-10-04]
I have heard of places where you don't have to listen to the whole dictation, only refer to it to resolve questions, but I've not worked at one of them. Listening matters because the computer mis-hears and also is inclined to insert its own corrections that read right but are not what the dictator said. Depending on how well the computer has learned the dictator, though, you can speed the dictation up, sometimes to as fast as the audio will allow, and still keep up with the few corrections that need to be dropped in. Also, if you know the dictator well, you can be reading out ahead f the audio, skimming through the usual verbage as you look for the next correction, which you make as the dictation is catching up (and as you try to keep some attention on what's happening back there in case dictation isn't the usual), and then you continue on. Reports early in the SR learning curve are typically so full of errors that they're almost more typing than reading. Reports produced by a computer that's learned the dictator, though, are almost all speedy reading, with only a little typing.

I don't understand (sm) [2008-10-04]
This field is filled with inconsistencies. That's just a cold, hard fact. And I totally understand the need to vent from time to time. BUT - those inconsistencies and the frustrations they bring aren't going to go away. That's also a cold, hard fact. This means if you want to stay in this business, then you've got to find a way to deal with those frustrations. What good does is do to pretend otherwise?

Losing expander by switching companies [2008-10-03]
If I decided to switch companies but am using an Expander program that is the company's software, I would haveto start from square one with new company.(There is noway around that, correct?) Not planning on leaving now but was just thinking that ifthat should become a consideration, my line count woulddrop big time until I could build all thoseexpansions again. Has anyone ever gone through that? Do you remember how long it took to get back up to speed?

I understand your pain [2008-10-01]
Once upon a time, I lived in an apartment on the ground floor. I worked nights and it interrupted my sleep. We had a dog; so, this upset him as well. It seemed like the leaf blower guys enjoyed upsetting us. So, there's not much I can do to help you, but I do understand,because I've been there.

I think you should have charged them [2008-12-03]
the first time. Tell them if you have to spend time to listen, then that's at a rate of $20.00 an hour in addition to the transcribed lines minus the reports they think are already transcribed. This way, you are paid to listen. How much more of this are you going to take Lisa? My dear, you are letting them walk on you. Are you being paid for the meeting in the morning? I can thank C-Bay for losing my job, too. Look, you are going to need to draft a contract to bring along in the morning. Otherwise, you will be working for free, and this practice will drive you insane. You need to figure out what works best for you and set the ground rules. You simply explain to the office manager that this is how you will be doing the work and what you will charge, etc. At some point, you will have to hold this office accountable for the work they give you and stop working for free. If you are picking up flash drives, then they should not expect you to report back on patients, etc., which is time consuming unless they would agree to a flat hourly rate for listening and sorting out dictations and then a lower line rate. I know, I have a big mouth, but please, don't let them take advantage of you. As I said in your last posting, they will continue to abuse you if you allow it. There are plenty of companies online hiring right now. www.mtjobs.com - have you checked there?

So you get a flash drive with voice files on it you are suppose to transcribe? [2008-12-03]
I'm trying to understand. Do you save the transcribed reports on the same jump drive? If that is the protocol, then wouldn't the MT before you typed any reports, then wouldn't they be saved to the flash drive? If so, then you could open up the flash drive and if there are any Word files or text files, you open those up and see what they are. If they are transcribed reports, write the patient's name down and don't transcribe those notes. Whatever the case may be, I would absolutely tell the office manager or whoever you are meeting with that you will type everything on the flash drive and that you expect to be paid for everything you type. You gave them freebies the last time and you're in this business to make money.

Yes you are right, it's all about [2008-12-02]
the profits, both to the offshore MT companies and to the idiot doctors and hospitals that send work over there. Irritating that stupid mt with a heartbeat will defend these greedy clowns. You are right. I also have a problem with my records being handled in such a filthy backwards country.

That's 1 reason why I voted for Obama - [2008-12-01]
stay in this business is if the tax breaks are ended and the loopholes closed for companies that outsource what used to be good American jobs. Ending offshoring entirely would be nice, but I doubt it'll happen. But it should cost less for companies to hire American workers at a decent, livable wage, than it does to send it offshore. Offshoring should be something they do in a pinch, not as a standard practice. Yeah, so what if they're making more money the way they're doing it now. Doesn't make it right. They're greedy and they're un-American when they put thousands of hard-working American MT's in the poorhouse, or out of a job.

Me neither whether that be here or in India.. [2008-12-01]
I'm not real sure I see your point. I'm not being difficult. I just don't understand how a fire would cause companies to not outsource. There were fires in California. There was a hurricane in Texas. Iam quite sure these two disasters did not spare places where medical records are kept.

I totally agree with you. [2008-12-01]
I have been burned before too, to the tune of about $500.00. This from an account I had worked on for about 8 years. In the end, it was constant e-mails from them telling me they had not received this, that, or the other, which I politely and even happily re-sent, time and time again, without any complaint whatsoever. The office manager admitted two things: 1) that they were harassing me, and 2) that they had found a girl who would do the work for less money. Still, I understand OPs predicament, and I know I would be sorely tempted to let it go just to have the account. But I still agree that they should never have asked or implied that this service should not cost them.

What about [2008-11-29]
What about those who are native English speakers, but speed talk, slur, chew gum, talk through background noise, etc.? What about those companies that don't dock pay, but deduct points if you couldn't deciphera dictator when they could? In some cases, the QA that can fill in the blank is someone who has worked with that dictator for many years. Nevertheless, they deduct points from your QA score if you cannot figure it out, and then withhold benefits or provide other penalties.Not all companies do this, but I feel that those who do are abusing the system as well. In the end, it is about withholding benefits, which is kind of like indirectly docking pay.

Agree [2008-11-29]
It's really important to take care of yourself, your physical and emotional health. Do proofread and do your best, but don't pull your hair out over it. This is not meant as a copout, but I would wonder if the QA dings were more the result of an over-zealous QA/QC Editor than actual declines in your own ability. For instance, I've been in situations where I had the punctuation correct, but the QA/QC person did not understand it that way and marked it as incorrect. One glaring example is that of military time. Where I had transcribed 1435 hours, she changed it to 14:35 hours. And where I had transcribed 4:00 p.m., she changed it to 4:00 o'clock p.m. As for the simple words, a, the, and, etc., it was a toss up as to include them or not. One day it was okay, the next day it was not okay to include these in the report. Sometimes, she wanted the patient, other times it was just patient, regardless of what the dictator actually said. She ruled at that company and whatever she said was right was right, and was not to be challenged. I simply could not stand it any longer, and left that job after less than 2 weeks.

Nationals who outsource to India [2008-11-29]
Will the nationals in this country face financial hardship if the Obama/Biden administration cuts tax incentives to companies who outsource their MT work to India? I know of one company who outsources and they are not doing too well financially and their CEO resigned not to long ago, no reason given. I know a lot of MTs refuse to work for companies that outsource but many domesticMTs do work for them and maybe now is a time to bail out. Any thoughts???

I am sure they will [2008-11-29]
but again, if they would pay their help better and treat them better, they could keep the domestic MTs. I don't appreciate having my pay cut to pay for someone in another country to have a job, especially when the CEOs are making such good money themselves, plus the perks and bonuses. I almost wish it would happen and it would bankrupt them. All it will actually do is cause newer companies to spring up--and probably ones that realize that US MTs can't live on minimum wage pay.

Depends on type of prepaid card sm [2008-11-28]
I have a Visa debit card through ADP. They are the payroll processing company used by Medquist (which is where I got the card initially) and many other companies, not just MTSOs. The only fee involved is $1.50 per month to have the card and fees for using it at an ATM, which is the same as if it were through a traditional banking account. I can also transfer the funds to my saving account if I want or set it up to have a certain percentage put on the card and the rest in the bank. I have had this card for about 3 years now and love it. However, if the card they are wanting you to use is like the ones you can get at grocery stores, Wal-Mart, etc, stay clear. They require fees for almost everything from getting your money loaded onto it to using it for each and every purchase. As far as not wanting to give out routing information for direct deposit, why is there such a worry? So long as the information is given only to your employer, there shouldn't be a problem. Unless this is only a short-term job, I don't see the big deal.

Fighting Fractured English [2008-11-28]
Blanks are not your problem. Poor dictators are. It has become a standard in the industry to make the problems of an ineffective dictator and make it an MT problem. This is not and was never an MT problem. We are required to transcribe in English, and the oral work coming in needs to meet an acceptable English standard. I've been in the business for 15 years, and frankly I am sick of it. Having exhausted every other resource to resolve this problem it is now time to fight back and sue these companies and the facilities who have made this our problem. We are TRANSCRIPTIONSTS, not TRANSLATORS OR LINGUISTS. If we are required to translate, they need to cough up the average salary of an interpretter which by the way is $200,000 a year. I dare say none of us are making that as MTs. The time has passed when someone else's disability directly impacts our paycheck when it is not our skill in question. Enough is enough. If you or anyone else is interested in pursuing this stand up with me and make your voices heard. Send me an email. I will keep your information confidential. The industry will never change as long as we continue to allow them to abuse us. NO MORE SWEAT SHOP LABOR. THEFREE RIDE IS OVER.IF THESE COMPANIES AND HOSPITALSWANT IT TRANSCRIBED IN ENGLISH, GIVE USA MINIMALLY ACCEPTEDORAL ENGLISH TO TRANSCRIBE.

Prepaid MC/Visa [2008-11-28]
i think you ladies have this MC/Visa thing all wrong...think of it as a debit card from your bank. I have worked for multiple companies that have had this. This was done through ADP the payroll company...you can have all or a percentage of a fixed dollar amt put on the card, the rest is direct deposited into your bank account. you goto ADP online and get your paystub just like regular. Other payrollprocesses that do this are Paychex which uses JPMorgan/Chase as their MC/Visa...all reputable and above board. Face it ladies this is the wave of the future...banks don't want us writing checks and don't want to deal with paper checks so they are slowly phasing them out.

Not only that. sm [2008-11-27]
It is not only blatent theft, it is cheating, lying and or course stealing. In my 25 years I have found that few companies do anything about it - as long as they have a few professionals who will transcribe what comes their way. My sister worked for WebMedx and said their platform was cherry-picking proof, but I don't know if she has had enough on-line experience to really tell.

exactly what i was going to say. [2008-11-27]
You will invariably be working then for a company who will not (or does not) have a good reputation. If the company understood the nature of the work, they'd understand how unreasonable this is.

No Way! [2008-11-27]
Are there really companies who do that? I think it is absurd! I agree that encourages guessing, and that is wrong!

Well, on the other hand, I would like to apologize. [2008-11-27]
I have been at this since 1979. The changes that have occurred over the last 25 years have been dramatic and mostly, they have been oppressive. Now, I know I will see e-mails stating that this is the greatest job in the world and who could ask for more than being able to stay at home and make a living. It is more than that. This is the only field where the wickedness comes out of coworkers to the point of disdain toward their comrades. I don't understand it. It is not like this in any other field. Mostly, the team work that is necessary for feel like there is a common goal (giving the client a perfect report in a timely fashion)and a common enemy (QA which dissect our reports, turning even the most seasoned MTs into self-doubting, defensive and trembling people who, of course, realize they are on the brink of losing their jobs). The past performance however perfect is wiped clean with one bad QA result. Supervision becomes god-like, determine how much income we will make, how well we will enjoy our work and how we feel about ourselves depending on their feedback and encouragement. There isn't much more to say about this job - it does pay well but comparatively speaking, after 25 years in the same field, you could say, we have not had a raise. Speed typing engines keep our production up to a level that gives us a decent wage. Say what you will about this job, but it is always going to have good and bad days. Over the years, our hearing will diminish, tinnitus from noise exposure, carpal tunnel from repetitive movements, the innumerable physical conditions which result from sitting still for such a long time (heart attacks at 50 have occurred to two of my comrades), isolation, depression. And it is not going to get any better. Trying to consider that I am working to help a physician perform his duties as he treats his patients is what I personally focus on. It helps to be fascinated by medicine. But, to the new MTs - I apologize for the bad and hope that the good makes up for it. I hope you realize that the patient is why we are here, so be sure that our report is accurate so that proper care is provided. The personalities in this field can be abrasive, and it may be that reason why they turn to solo work but again, that goes with it. Best advice is to keep to yourself, not gossip nor listen to gossip, type every report like it is the only one, and realize that the money, even 60 thousand a year, is far from enough to compensate us for doing a job that is so rarely appreciated by the CEOs, that our line count and bad QA score over a 30 day period can take us out of a job we have been in for 20 years.

Acusis has an office in Mumbai...sm [2008-11-26]
hmm....and that is where these companies want to send OUR records and OUR jobs

I must be one of the lucky few, I get paid the same as transcribing...see msg [2008-11-25]
I get paid 8.25 per line transcribing or editing, but 9.25 on weekends. I pray it stays that way for quite some time, as I understand it, from posts on here, it usually 1/2 of normal pay. UGH!

RE: Transcend [2008-11-25]
I worked for them about 2 weeks. They said I could do DS, H&P, OPs, Consults. They gave me EMG, EEG from a foreign doctor that I could not understand one word he said.

Proofing Help Pleeeez! (long post) [2008-11-24]
I am 53,divorcee with 1 child in college, been MTing for 32 years. When I started out I was one of the best in my field, accurate, at my peak was making close to 50,000 a year, only one job and only 40 hours a week. Now, here I am going through menopause, working 12 hours a day (1 full-time and 1 part-time) and barely making ends meet. My production is at an all-time low, and I'm working on my 3rd or 4th job this year- I forget, it's been so many, for various reasons why they didn't work out. But, now I find myself, going into my third week of employment with this company, still in QA, making stupid grammatical errors, and leaving out words, that I am not aware of. I would like to say one of my problems is that this is a huge Children's Hospital with a lot of procedures, diseases, and terminology I have never heard of, but I cannot really say that, as most of my errors are gramatical, i.e. not putting comma or semi-colon where it belongs, leaving out it, and, but and they. I am beginning to feel they may not keep me. I am 1 pay check from being homeless, now jobless, already uninsured, as I could not afford the Cobra. I have applied for jobs completely out of the MT field, so far with no luck of being hired. I put in an application last week for a State Job with excellent benefits, paid by company, and although the salary is 22,000 to 36,000, if they call me, I am definitely going to take it. I figure I have 15 more years before retirement, and if I can tap into the retirement for the next 15 years, that would be a help, as I don't have any 401K to fall back on. Anyways, if you guys can give me some proofreading tips that will not take away from my production, I would greatly appreciate it. Most companies don't offer a training pay that would last at least 2 weeks, which would be a help. So here I am trying to make money, which is virtually impossible when you're training on a new account, new company, new software and everything. Help Guys.

Can is use Vianeta and Bayscribe on same PC? [2008-11-24]
I'm going to be working for 2 separate MT companies very soon. One company uses Vianeta and the other uses Bayscribe. Does anyone know if there will be a conflict on my computer with 2 programs running at the same time? Each program uses a different foot pedal.

Good ventilation! [2008-11-23]
This is a good reason to make sure your office -- and home! -- is well-ventilated. Keep your tower as far away as possible and downwind. As plastics heat up, they do outgas. Flat-screen monitors are supposed to outgas less, so that's a help. That awful smell from photocopiers and laser printers isn't exactly safe, either. You should use those only in well-ventilated areas. Let's not blame everything on computers, though. I'd bet that many here have homes that have toxic soup for air. One allergy group I know has taken to sending a staff member to the home of pediatric asthma patients when the usual control methods fail. They nearly always find the homes tightly closed up, always running either heat or air-conditioning with no ventilation. The homes are often very clean, too, with moms using lots of cleaning products, powdered carpet deodorizer, toilet bowl deodorizers, fabric softener, scented detergents, bathroom sprays, potpourri, fragrance candles, and insect sprays. In most homes, the big offenders were those plug-in air-fresheners and scented oil diffusers. Some homes had carpet that were shampooed constantly with non-professional units, so that they were soaked with dried detergent and growing mold underneath. The moms felt that they were doing good to clean everything to keep away the dirt that was causing their child's asthma and they didn't understand how something that smelled nice would make their children sick. They replaced the carpet in the kid's bedroom with linoleum and thought that was enough. Very few were willing to stop smoking or even to go outside to smoke. They were in utter denial that their behavior was harming their children, and even if they admitted it, they didn't care to stop even when offered free medication. Nearly all of them had ashtrays and cigarette butts in the house, even though they told the doctor they didn't smoke there. Most of them burned air-freshener candles thinking THAT was going to help, when all it did was add MORE toxic chemicals to the air and make their children sicker.

Strike at this time is selfish [2008-11-23]
I think that during this hard time for the country, anyone who is going to strike, ie. kick and scream till they get what they want, are being selfish. There are SOOOO many unemployed right now and sooo many more running the risk as well. I understand not wanting to take cuts, etc. but face it people, that is what a lot of people in this country are resorting to because they have no other choice. Many, I am sure, would be HAPPY to have a job...and these people want to quit working till they get their way? And these people are the people who preach about patient care? - just my opinion

UI [2008-11-22]
Once they calculate how much you will get, it is put into a fund for you to take from. It is supposed to last up to 26 months, but if you work part time, they keep the first 55% and you get to keep the extra 45%, which also extends out the amount of time you can receive as you are not using all of your money from the fund. My position was eliminated back the end of February and I still have enough for two weeks yet, and now have been contacted that I can extend it another 13 weeks due to the bad economy. I recently started in a multinational marketing company working with the advertising dollars from Fortune 500 companies and the money I am making with them may get me out of this dilemma by the end of my 13 weeks, hopefully making as much as I was while doing transcription, but working a lot less hours and being my own boss.