None of things would be a problem

Not our problem... [2008-12-04]
As MTs, it's not our problem so why worry? As long as we do our 8 hours, why worry about what the doctor is or is not doing. I just wish that the powers that be remind them not to be eating while dictating and also be sure they are talking into the microphone and not off in space somewhere.

A couple of things come to mind.. [2008-12-03]
Years ago while doing my OB rotation as a nursing student I developed an axillary rash after shaving. It got really ugly and spread, and my theory was that it was a staph infection I must have gotten from a baby in the newborn nursery. I figured I was holding or feeding one of the babies and s/he was breathing bacteria from his/her nasopharynx into my irritated armpit, where it was nice and warm and moist. I treated it with OTC triple antibiotic ointment and it went away quickly. The other experience with underarm rash was my husband's. He came to me with a flaming red bilateral rash extending down his sides and asked if I knew what it was. It took me about 30 seconds to figure out he was having a reaction to his deodorant. A fungal infection is probably a good guess, so if you want to self-treat you could try clotrimazole like the other poster suggested (I would use cream). You should see an improvement pretty quickly if you're on target.

Among other things that need to change, [2008-12-01]
MTSO's need to get stand their ground and RAISE THEIR PRICES. All this undercutting has hurt everyone, and cheapened what used to be a respectable profession. Now it's just sweatshop labor, hidden from view of the nation because its home workers are invisible.

going on my 17th year of it and feeling good about things sm [2008-11-15]
still loving it just as much. I work for a hospital and they just sent us home to type so everything is new again, new system, new challenges. I need to be challenged or I become bored, so enjoy things at the moment.

Never had a problem traveling with equip. NM [2008-11-13]
X

The only things that I find silly [2008-11-12]
about the Safetypeare the price and the 12% restocking fee for returns (not to mention shipping costs to and possibly fro). More like ridiculous! I looked at many, many keyboards during my search for an alternative, but I was looking morefor an alternative to the mouse, and I found it. Not to be redundant, as I posted about this a week or so ago and have posted about it before, but I LOVE MY ALPHAGRIP!!! It's a match made in heaven! The cost is a third of Safetype, and some of the others that offer similar hand positioning are up to $400 dollars or more. With the AlphaGrip, at least there is no restocking charge if you decide to return it within the 30-day timeframe allowed. I love mine so much that I just recently purchased another one! Not because the first was defective, but because I s tu pid ly spilled coffee on the first one . It still worked and I used it for a while after that, but the keys became harder to press and it was too much of a workout. As I mentioned in my previous posts, it does look complicated, but I found it very easy to learn to use, what with all the helpful information and tools provided on their site. That said, I have (quite some time ago) seen several posts from people here that use keyboards similar to the Safetype and were happy with them. I've included the link for the AlphaGrip below in case you want to check it out. It looks like they decided to change the name to the iGrip, which I am not too happy about, but I guess a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, and I'm sure the name doesn't change anything about this product either, but I still prefer to call it an AlphaGrip!

My way of doing things sm [2008-11-12]
My shortcuts started with Mary Morkin's list 10 years ago. I have added a lot of things because she didn't do much cardio, ophtho or ENT, but she did do OPs, as I do. You start with a root word, we'll use irritate as an example. The pattern states: The first 2 letters of the first word or part and the first 2 letters of the second word or part. Irritate is irta as the root on this scheme. irtad=irritated irtas=irritates irtaj=irritation irta-irritate Just for an example. J added gives you the -tion or -sion sound S added is plural D added is -d as in ed N or C (depending on what fits) will give you -ance or -ence Y will give you -ly x=expanded anything C=C as in dx=diagnosis dxs=diagnoses dxc=diagnotic dxd=diagnosed bil becomes bilateral, but bily becomes bilaterally. spta=spontaneous and sptay=spontaneously You can add things like CAD and CHF chf=CHF chfx=congestive heart failure cad=CAD cadx=coronary artery disease sst=since that time phh=patient has had hhh=he has had shh=she has had atp=at this point awti=at which time (note an extra letter that prevents a crossover) att=at this time atht=at that time You have to have exceptions because there are too many things that have similarities with the above. In mine, cardiac stuff is mostly an exception. hedis=heart disease hefai=heart failure depec=deltopectoral It is best if the exceptions fall within a body system. I have lot of vascular words because I do a lot of vascular surgery and cardiac surgery. ica=internal carotid artery eca=external carotid artery sfa=superficial femoral artery and so on. If you have to type headers, and I do, I have used a C for capped words. prdxc=PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS I don't include punctuation at the end of my expansions because typing a colon, a period or a comma will expand things. I type prdxc than then : and I get PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Saves strokes. You should be able to translate this easily enough given the above rules: hpix: tp is here WI atfx and chfx pri to cavej tomo. Tp wil hv a preop ec bf the proc. Tp wil be on plav for a yr afwa, and a rx ws gvn to tp tod. OR: HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: The patient is here for atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure prior to cardioversion tomorrow. The patient will have a preoperative echocardiogram before the procedure. The patient will be on Plavix for a year afterward, and a prescription was given to the patient today. I have plenty of doctor's names in there too, if I have to type them out all the time, like my cardiology fellows. bbmd becomes Benjamin Bratt, MD or M.D. depending on what account it pertains to. The longest things are stuff like asap for as soon as possible and amap as much as possible. I don't have many of those. Nw tht I hv inrud your train of thot wi my expar thots...you cn se what I mean here. Gvn what I do it works jus fin!

No problem! Glad to share, and I do hope [2008-11-10]
it has helped. :)

No problem! [2008-11-09]
It took a lot of trial and error to get here, but I have been liberated!!! I too hope it helps someone else.

When ExText is really slow is this a problem with them or my computer? sm [2008-11-03]
For 2 days ExText has been beyond slow (taking 5 minutes to upload a 2 minute job). Is this a problem with them or my computer?

There can also be placental and cord abnormalities that impact things sm [2008-10-30]
I have transcribed a 2-vessel cord, though they should be 3 vessels. I have had velamentous cord where the Wharton's jelly didn't cover the cord structures up near the placenta which can be dangerous to the baby if the placenta is located in certain places. If it doesn't come on its own, it may be retained placenta (treated with D&C) or accreta meaning it has grown into the myometrium, necessitating a hysterectomy and fast so that the mother lives. You also have true knots in cords (my younger son had one) and you won't see that until the placenta is delivered. There are 3 stages of childbirth. They are laboring, then active, which is pushing and then delivery of the placenta. Not a silly question by any means. The placenta doesn't matter to most of us who have had kids, it is the only throw-away organ in humans. It is, however, important to the doctor.

I have the same problem [2008-10-27]
Its the TAT. The industry has now gone to 6 to 8 hours and I think most companies have overstaffed to meet that.

It is a way to save things to your instant [2008-10-24]
text. For example - treat - tr treated - trd treatment - trm treating - trg you use the first part of the word or phrase, and then the last part at the combining form.

What a smartie!!! that took care of the problem-sm [2008-10-22]
wish I knew what/how the changes were made. Thanks so much.

Could be other things also on the fingers sm [2008-10-21]
I have had my MS Natural keyboard for about 7 years, and the only key that is fading is the N. It wasn't until I left my previous company a few months ago and had to send back their computer that this key started getting messed up. The difference? My kids, my husband, and I all use this one computer now, and I am constantly on them to stop eating at the computer. My mother-in-law is a constanton-line game player and eats at her desk frequently. She has gone through about 5 keyboards in the same 7 years due to the letters wearing off. We're getting another computer soon, and I'm buying a new keyboard for myself so we do not have this issue again.

If they are commenting on things that [2008-10-21]
are specific to the account that you are not following, then you have to conform to their way. If there are inconsistencies between what they tell you from report to report, then refer the emails with an explanation to your supervisor for clarification as you are being told multiple ways to do the same thing. If they are telling you something that you just don't understand, then let them know that you can't change templates, what are they talkign about?, do you do you not correct dictators' grammar, etc. If you are on multiple accounts, then each account could be different as to being verbatim/not verbatim etc. There are a lot of things that could be going on that you, being new to the account, are not aware of as of yet.

No doubt...things can be written off for taxes you know... [2008-10-19]
I believe that is the first excuse I have heard like that about QA...ha

They have this problem with many MTs there, not just me... [2008-10-18]
It's not like it doesn't work at all but that every once in awhile will only partially expand. IOW, you will get a fragment of the expansion. There is apparently one MT who is able to work with ShortHand and Chartscript but all others have problems. The dept has tried working with Softmed and Shorthand but were unable to figure out exactly why this is happening. I am fairly certain (and would completely understand why) they would not be willing to uninstall and reinstall THEIR software for this issue -- that does not seem a reasonable solution. And I upgraded to version 10 of SH without the problem being solved. It was a little better, but still the occasional fragmented expansions

You should not be having that problem, Shorthand works "ouside any program." Contact Shorthan [2008-10-17]
nm

No problem ... honest mistake :) nm [2008-10-17]
x

Has anyone ever had a problem [2008-10-15]
typing a shortcut key in Word? When I try to record a macro, it won't let me type a character in the shortcut key area.

bad with math is no problem anymore - [2008-10-14]
there are always calculators and computers! To quote my business math teacher, Is the head of the department going to come tell you to put your calculator up or they are going to dock your pay. Not talking down to you by any means - just saying don't let that stop you from doing something you might want to do. I feel your pain about ADHD and sitting at a desk - It is killing me. I am so bored with it and cannot keep my mind on the task at hand anymore (which should be making money, but actually ends up chatting on this board for some variety). A PA would be a great job. They are going to be in high demand in the coming years. I just don't want to be in the medical field anymore or I would do that. I always wanted to be a doctor, but alas I fell in love at 15 and got pregnant and had a baby and had to give up a lot of what I wanted. Started nursing school at one point, and ended up transcribing and have been doing it now for almost 17 years. It has been good to me, but it is time to put it to rest!

No problem.:) [2008-10-14]
no message

Um, can be a sign of a number of things. sm [2008-10-14]
If he's always been a sweaty guy, then he just might have hyperhidrosis. Or, if thie sweating is new, then he needs to get a physical examination. New instances of sweating at night could be caused by an infection, some cancers, new medications like niacin or antidepressants, male hormonal disorders, even hypoglycemia. But most of those things have other associated problems - like severe fatigue, for example. Or stress, like someone else said. That being said, since he says he feels healthy and thinkshe has good energy with no fatigue and otherwise sleeps just fine, he just may be too hot, plain and simple. Men often seem to generate heat like a furnace, (which is wonderful for us girls who freeze to death on cold winter nights), especially if they have a lot of body hair. Lowering the air conditioner to 70 might be cool for the average person, but not cool enough for him -100% plain cotton sheets and no comforter on his side of the bed. Really, he needs to make note of just how much water he is drinking, whether he is losing weight or having trouble maintaining it, and whether he is having to run to the bathroom a lot. I mean, it's good to be drinking lots of fluids and one's urine should be the palest of yellows, but if he's having to go twice every hour then something's wrong. If he's finding he needs to drink so much that he doesn't have enough room in his stomach to eat, then again, something is wrong. He could try eliminating caffeine, alcohol and sugar drinks and see if that helps. If he's taking a multivitamin, check to see if there is niacin in it. It is possible a slow-release multivitamin is releasing niacin in the middle of the night. Niacin creates a significant hot flush and it will make you sweat - prolifically, until the body assimilates it. Try a multivitamin without niacin. But besides all of that, a physical check up is always the best way to put one's mind at ease. Is there any way he can get that done where it won't impact your insurance app/approval?

some things I do [2008-10-13]
I make my own yogurt 2 gallons at a time. Can keep going without re-purchasing new yogurt for starter for several months. Strain the finished yogurt down to 1 gallon. Eat yogurt every day, use in recipes, use for protein shakes. Use the yogurt whey in any recipe that calls for buttermilk, like making my own bread. It's worth it to invest in a bread machine. You can get them used on ebay -- very cheap. I make bread for about 40 cents a loaf that's more nutritious than anything you can buy. I buy flour 20 pounds at a time from Costco for $3.45 (the cost of a single loaf these days!). Meat is not the centerpiece of every meal. As in Asian cooking, it's more like a condiment. This is healthier anyway. Alternative forms of protein. Eggs & combining grains/legumes. That sort of thing. It sounds time-consuming but it isn't. The bread & yogurt take 5 minutes to prep, then they do it on their own while I'm working.

speakers [2008-12-04]
I've always used the metal Lanier type headphones and they've been great, but I just tried a pair of Sony digital reference headphones for listening to music. They are a little heavy on your head, but the sound quality is wonderful.. you hear things you couldn't before. Having the speakers on just seems to muffle voice for me and I tend not to hear as well. So, next to the Sonys, I would use the metal earphones.Hope this helps.

Use your mouse [2008-12-04]
Just use your mouse and keep clicking on the icon. If not, just reboot your machine. That sounds like a strange problem. Best not to let other people mess with your work PC.

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.

Not our problem... [2008-12-04]
As MTs, it's not our problem so why worry? As long as we do our 8 hours, why worry about what the doctor is or is not doing. I just wish that the powers that be remind them not to be eating while dictating and also be sure they are talking into the microphone and not off in space somewhere.

This account is sounding like both old MT sm [2008-12-03]
and the office staff are extremely disorganized. Other than making a list of the patients you transcribed, I would not get involved in any pre-transcription listmaking. That's the office's job. What should be happening is that they give you 1 jump drive for every 1 or 2 days' dictation ALONG WITH PATIENT LISTS FOR THOSE TWO DAYS. They have patient schedules in the office or a sign-in sheet, I am sure. They can at least provide you with those. As far as duplicates, state very firmly that due to the state of the records prior to you doing their transcription, they are probably going to have some duplicates and that you expect to be paid for everything you type. This is simply a cost of doing business the way they have been doing it in the past (or associating themselves with) and they are going to have to eat that cost. It's not your problem. If they give you any trouble with any of this, I would drop the account immediately and let them find a sucker to do free typing for them.

I need some advice on starting my own small side business. sm [2008-12-02]
First of all, I have worked for several nationals in the past few years, and equipment has always been provided. I currently have a f/t position with a national that I use my own personal computer for, they just put their software on it. I had what I needed already, as far as foot pedal, Expander program, etc. I have just been sort of rolling ideas around in my head about possibly starting up something small perhaps on a p.r.n. basis just to bring in a little extra income. As I am still just mulling this around in my mind, my questions are: How do I go about getting started? Do I try to purchase equipment first, or start out using tapes? I am worried about spending the money and not having any takers, so I am thinking, I should send out some sort of letters first; but, without having the equipment already, how do I tell them I plan on doing their transcription. Maybe mention tapes first, and tell them I have plans to go digital after I get up and running? These are all just things I wonder about. If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to email me with any advice. I have been an MT for 16+ years, but as I said, I have always had all of the stuff provided for me and just don't know how to start. Thanks in Advance!

IC and taxes/PTO time [2008-12-02]
Hi all. I have been doing this and wanted some feedback from other ICs on how they handle the same. I currently have 10% of my check put into an account for all taxes and 5% for PTO time, which should equal about 13 days a year, maybe more depending on how much I work. My husband gets floating days off (works at a casino) and gets 5 weeks (imagine that!) and I think I would like to work up to that per year. Currently at the 5%, I am at about 3 weeks, so not too far off. I am just not sure I want to have 9% taken out for vacation time. That seems like so much hehe Maybe I could increase by 2% each year and by 2010 be up to the 9% or 5 weeks off a year. I do pool work, so taking time off with notice is not a problem. What I have done in the past is if I dont have enough PTO time saved, I work on Saturdays leading up to time off and after vacation to make up for lost days. I so much want this to be more like a normal job I am working 8 hours and setting the $$ aside, so I think it will come together, but the PTO still throws me off! My question is really how do the rest of you set aside for taxes and paid time off? By percent or dollar amount?

eScription [2008-12-02]
I am currently using the eScription platform and don't seem to mind it at all. A lot of the docs aren't recognized yet, so it's stilly typing as usual. The ones that are you simply correct the typed report and it can be kind of fun, especially some of the things the computer comes up with! There are a lot of new Keystrokes you can use to become mouse free as they hope, but I find I still use my mouse a lot! Hope this helped...

I know. It is nuts. It's even [2008-12-02]
more nuts to read MTs on here defending poor little Indian MTs trying to steal our jobs. Maybe they'll see things differently when they get pink-slipped.

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.

What is there to handle? You provided [2008-12-02]
It's not your problem if they discovered afterwards they handed you already completed work. I can't believe you'd even ask the question.

You do as you like, but I can tell you [2008-12-01]
that disorganization does not always come from the old MT that you've replaced. You can type for free all you want. That's your business. If this person wasn't smart enough to know that there were dictations already transcribed and just handed it over to you on a holiday weekend to sort out the mess, and now doesn't want to pay, that's a bad first impression of the person handling the work that is supposed to have a handle on things. I guess she should have checked, but then again maybe she was in a rush to get to her holiday and not worry about it. I'm sure they'll pass the word all around that Lisa works for free; try her out! What would it cost for them in all honesty to just pay you for the trouble since it was their mistake and not yours? Honestly? But, hey, if you like working for free, that's your business. Good luck with that account! Why not ask the office how the old MT handled this situation? See what answer they give ya? You are all assuming the old MT was the bad one, when in fact it is probably the office; I think it's horrible to have this girl type on a holiday weekend and then come back with well we don't want to pay you know. Horrible! No, I'm not a doormat. It is actually MTs that type for free that give us all a bad name! Gee, I wish I could afford to type for free, but I can't, so I won't. Do you think a patient goes into thisphysician's office and says I've heard this all before from another doctor, so I'm not going to pay you? Doubt it!

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.

Question about comfort [2008-11-30]
I had read somewhere about noise-cancelling headsets being uncomfortable and hot on the ears. Any problem like that with the Bose?

ESCRIPTION INFORMATION [2008-11-29]
Just within the last 2 weeks, I was unable to pick and choose the reports that I loved doing inmy queue anymore. WHY? I wasn't sure at first. Then after 2 weeks, I finally IM-ed the trainer for our company and asked her, thinking SURELY she would know since she was the one who trained us in Escription to begin with,what was going on? I was told she didn't know and referred me to my immediate supervisor. Ok.. so I wrote her an email and she came back with the reason they did that was because the OLDER jobs were being missed and the TAT was in jeopardy (I knew this was a crock because most of those reports have dates on them that were dictated 3-4days earlier) and she said it was also because they weren't able to send us the STAT reports that needed to get through to a random Editor to do in ahurry. I knew THAT was a crock too becauseInever had a problem with them sending those in my queue as welland did them whenever they wanted me to. Okay.. so I deducted those2 replies as meaningless andwas still leftwondering WHY they did it. No one had an answer for me, but... lo andbehold.. this past pay period was a real eye-opener. I was given a WARNING letter by my supervisor because she said my production per hour fell short of my rate per line and they had to give me minimum wage (according to what itisin my state of course)and that 3 of those WARNING letters ina 6-monthpay periodwere cause for termination. Shesaid it was in the manual. I looked andfound nothing in therepertaning to any of that.This is actually what she emailed me: If after payroll is processed your lines per hour multiplied by your line rate is less than minimum wage, that is what puts you at minimum wage where our company, by law, needs to pay you at least minimum wage. It is possible that one can type 4000 lines, for example,in the pay period and not be paid minimum wage, so long as the number of hours they worked did not put them in a minimum wage situation, i.e., 80 hours compared to perhaps 40 hours. Okay so why didn't someone say this to me a while back and where in the manual does it say this? In any case, aside from being monitored after wondering WHY we can't pick and choose our reports, I started thinking back to the days when I made 9 cpl for editing for another company.. then I was talked into coming to the present company I work for now and was given 8.6 cpl because they were just starting a new Speech Team and I was excited to say the least.. I finally have the dream jobI wanted! Well.. thereagain, I spoke too soon and then my immediate supervisor, the one who tried soooo hard to get this going, was demoted to QA with a cut in pay because they wanted to do away with speech forever. Needless to say, she left.. I was the only one left on the Speech Team and DID stay at my rate which was fine. It was then that I left for a month to try another company and I found out they were worse. Long story short, I came back to present company and then ESCRIPTION came into play... 5.5 cpl.. well.. okay.. the platform is better and I think I can do okay.. then more people were hired and NOW it's 4 cpl. I am struggling every day to make ends meet. Even if you were to get 15,000 lines per pay period, that is only 600.00 BEFORE taxes.. that's still poverty pay. Part time, you need only 6,000 per pay period and full time at 12,000. You aren't making jack crap. My co-worker and I get picked on and singled out when we ask questions or challenge them about our pay and find errors in the way the ADJUST it for Escription. Yes, they adjust our pay and we just figured out that our PTO time isn't the 10.00 per hour as promised but they calculate it on the last 6 pay periods.. Didn't use to be like thateither.. it was always at 10.00 per hour. Back to the pick and choose thingee.. Yes, I think they DO keep thegood ones for the clique. It's likehighschool.. you are either with the IN crowd or you're an OUTSIDER and notgood enough to join the GANG.... it's sickening... I have looked high and low for a decent paying editing job out there and there is none to be found..There has to be a better way than this??

Transcription vs.coding [2008-11-28]
Coding is definitely a plus when billing or transcribing. I would recommend that you take an Anatomy and Physiology class before moving onto the coding or transcription. Go to a good school, such as a community college. Do not get caught in the business college trap. Been there, done that. Coding and transcription training can lead to other things besides just being a coder or transcriber.

Talk to your bank [2008-11-28]
With DD, your bank statement is proof that the company paid you or not. With checks or prepaid credit cards, if it's lost in the mail YOU have no proof it wasn't sent. If it gets screwed up in adding it to the card, YOU have no proof the MTSO is at fault and you have to fight with Visa. The MTSO is correct in refusing to tell you which other MTs get Visa--they have a right to privacy. The main problem I can see with Visa is that it's just inappropriate. You'll be forced to spend every penny you earn AND spend it at an establishment that takes Visa. How do you plan on saving? How do you plan to pay your insurance and other expenses? What if your children need $10 for school? You also may be subjected to fees and/or expiration of the funds on the card. Why don't you talk to your bank about the safety of direct deposit? Perhaps if they can calm any unfounded fears you have, you can be paid in a more appropriate manner.

How about forgetting about other people and thinking [2008-11-28]
I started doing that years ago. We have the ability to just tune in our our headphones and tune out the garbage. Take attitudes for what they are. Here is something once I heard I always try to remember when someone in the field, either a coworker or boss, etc. is nasty: Always be kind as possible, everyone is also fighting some kind of battle. This means we don't have to get in other people's heads and figure out why they are out to get us. Don't waste the time. Chances are whatever it is has nothing to do with us. If QA is instructional fine, take from the mistake and learn and consider that learning experience a blessing. Conversely, besides the money which I also need to feed my family, think about that patient you are serving silently from home, and how you are in service. There is no job greater than to be in silent service to others. So, 2 things we can learn about our unique situation in this job: 1. Be thankful we can work quietly and remain quiet even through the storms of others. 2. Remain quiet while serving in a noble manner those who are at a time in their lives when they need you most, the sick and dying. A lot of the way we are treated is drawn by the way we look at the world. Change your outlook and things will change. That of course is just my 2 cents. I am not in control of anyone else, not this business, not the other posters, not the docs, not the people in the industry alongside me. I can only sit quietly and appreciate the fact that I am an MT and that is where I should be and I enjoy that fact every single day, even for 26 years I have served thus far. Happy Thanksgiving.

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.

do you mind saying what prepaid visa--sm [2008-11-28]
Do you know what card they use or what the name on the card it? Is this for IC or employee? I have been looking into getting a prepaid visa or mcard for direct deposit. There are several I have found online, but among other things to consider, I am still unclear what the fees are or just how they work. Thanks in advance if you know the answer to the card name.

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.

I use the Wal-Mart Green-Dot card and love it. SM [2008-11-28]
There was an intial $4.50 charge when I first got the card. They waive the monthly fee if you deposit more than $1000 a month on it which I do because I have my pay check direct deposited to it. The only fees I pay now are ATM fees when withdrawing money. You can reload at Wal-Mart as well, but if you are loading cash, they will charge you a fee. However, it is a payroll check, income tax check, basically any computer generated check (not handwritten) you can load it on your card at Wal-Mart for nothing -- no fees. I started using the prepaid card through Wal-Mart a year ago or so because I couldn't open a checking account thanks to my ex screwing up a joint account we had when married and never taking care of the negative balance as he agreed. I got tired of always running to the bank to get cash out of my savings account to go to the store and buy groceries, not to mention my bank only allowed 3 withdrawals a quarter from a savings account and then they start charging fees. Getting the prepaid card is awesome. I pay bills with it, use at Wal-Mart and the grocery stores with very little fees. Plus you download a direct deposit form off the green-dot website to give to your employer for direct deposit. It has all the routing info preprinted on it. I've never had a problem.

I've done this for a short period. [2008-11-28]
I had a doctor who hated to dictate. He hired someone that was a resident, but then that physician moved on to other things. I actually liked it because it was feast or famine. I eventually dropped the account (not enough profit) and it was after it took 3 months to pay me. Never again will I waste time on accounts that do not pay. I learned my lesson.

I'm thankful to have a job at all [2008-11-27]
To my fellow MTs on Thanksgiving Day. A poem that makes me realize how blessed I am to have a job at all in this economy. Even if it's not perfect, it's a paycheck. Hope it touches the heart of all who read it. BE THANKFULBe thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.If you did, what would there be to look forward to?Be thankful when you don't know something,for it gives you the opportunity to learn.Be thankful for the difficult times.During those times you grow.Be thankful for your limitations,because they give you opportunities for improvement.Be thankful for each new challenge,because it will build your strength and character.Be thankful for your mistakes.They will teach you valuable lessons.Be thankful when you're tired and weary,because it means you've made a difference.It's easy to be thankful for the good things.A life of rich fulfillment comes to those whoare also thankful for the setbacks.Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,and they can become your blessings.~Author Unknown~

Same thing [2008-11-27]
Mine was doing the same thing at first and then it started changing my is to I and I never have figured out what the problem is, Sure did slow me down though. Doesn't do it all of the time which is the weird thing.