Well the problem with that is

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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

I have the exact same problem with CS.net [2008-10-12]
XX

I had same problem about a month ago.. [2008-10-11]
McAfee actually became disabled and I couldn't get it to come back up. I have a loaner from my company and McAfee had been loaded on by them. I called my company's tech support and they remotely connected with my computer and even they couldn't get it to come back on. They tried to reinstall it and something was blocking the installation. There is a virus going around that will keep putting popups saying you have a virus and to install their software. But once you see the popup, that is the virus and it gets worse from there. It gets to the point you can't do anything except throw the dang thing out the window! My company shipped me a new computer the next day. Good luck

Its Mozilla Firefox that's the problem tho' [2008-10-08]
I've made sure all language settings are in US/english. This is so bizaare. Where's giddy PC guru ???

Working fine for me, some problem with your keyboard. [2008-10-06]
//

I downloaded 2 last night without a problem [2008-10-03]
This isn't a hoax, they are legitimate Stedman's electronic downloads, just older versions. I downloaded 2 files and ran scans on them both prior to installing....they were clean files. They were also full versions, third edition, but hey when your own Stedman's books are nearly a decade old and mainly first and second editions, a third edition electronic seems cool. Files work fine for me.

If the only problem is the apt schedule being-sm [2008-09-23]
hard to read, I would have the boss speak with the clinic and see if some improvment/change can be made on that end. If that is not the only reason and you are happy with the amount of time/money I would ask to be changed to another account.

same problem with QA [2008-09-20]
I have been an MT for over 25 years and recently started with a new company. I am having the same problem with QAas the original poster.I never have any of my medical documentation incorrect, only having trouble with their strange formatting, but do not feel like I am ever going to be released from QA. I will never understand making such a big deal out of the little things, and to think that I used to consider myself to be a perfectionist and very competent, I surely do not feel that way now and even considering going with another company. Of course, it is entirely possible that the QA people need to stay busy to keep their jobs, so of course they are not going to release people a moment too soon.

That can be a real problem even for working MTs, we are so out of touch w/friends anymore. [2008-09-04]
nm

I have had the same problem but [2008-09-02]
If I don't save it keeps asking me if I want to save. It is very frustrating.

Geez - what is your PROBLEM? She just asked [2008-09-02]
'Got Midol?'

Your biggest problem will be with OP Notes. [2008-08-26]
I would buy the newest editions of Stedman's Surgical Word Book, Stedman's Medical Equipment Word Book, and Tessier's Surgical Word Book. Those three books will be your best friends in hospital transcription. I would also invest in Stedman's Lab and Pathology Word Book too because you'll run across a lot of lab tests you've never heard of and would probably never hear about in the clinic setting.

The income problem isn't with EditScript itself SM [2008-08-26]
When I was first switched to EditScript (the part of eScription's 3-part program MT's work on), I built up speed as I learned editing on it. The official staged adjustments in line counts were made as the computer learned the dictators, but as I continued to improve I was making good money at it, a bit better than transcribing. Then inexplicably I started making less and less, as did others I spoke with. My income continued to drop, even as all counts and rates seemed to remain the same as they were reported to us. I tend to be a trusting sort and prone to look first at myself for explanations of problems, and took me some while to recognize and admit that irregularities in my own production just didn't explain the long-term trend in significantly smaller paychecks. My employer undoubtedly had some pressure to try to make things hold together with the hospital I was assigned to because my main account started shifting offshore, not that we were told why we kept running out of work more and more until it reached critical point and they absolutely had to. The lies that came with that last are why I went looking for a better employer, but on scanning the EditScript forum and the web, I found indications that people with other eScription-contracted accounts and companies were having similar experiences, both having trouble making the money they had before and with accounts moving offshore, so I went looking for a job with a company that was not involved with eScription, even though EditScript is a wonderful program, my favorite of all the platforms I've worked on. My personal experience was in early 2007. Now that eScription and editing itself are more established in the market, maybe counts and incomes have stabilized with the MTSOs that work with it, but I'd get assurance of that before I committed.

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.

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?

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.

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??

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.

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.

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.

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.

Had equipment problems with Transcend... [2008-11-25]
that they ignored with me though I complained daily. Even worked with a Dictaphone guy who apparently could not fix the problem though he tried. Long story short, I like the account assigned to me but just got tired of this stupid problem - I would have to log out and back in after single every report. I quit in disgust after 10 days because I felt they didn't take me seriously; they didn't even offer to send me one of their PC's, which would have cost me to rent anyway. They hated to see me go. Yeah, right.

Reply to all who responded [2008-11-24]
I never worked for a doctor's office, so forgive me for going off track a little. I went to my doctor in May for a followup of a problem I had gone to him before that. He had no record whatsoever of me even seeing him on the previousoffice visitand chalked if up to a transcription error. (I think they transcripe in their office, however.) SO, no record of me being there or the problem, and of course the doctor can't remember every patient's problems. I am not blaming the Transcriptionist here at all; I tend to blame the doctor. Who knows, maybe he DIDN'T even transcribe it.So, I think sometimes the doctors should be held responsible instead of blaming somone else. God bless.

I don't post here super often but I could use some thoughts (m) [2008-11-21]
and support. Don't flame me for sounding weak or needy. I had a client call me out of the blue today (actually his secretary called me) and told me that I was no longer transcribing his letters. But were clear I'd still be transcribing for his partner. I asked why, she said she didn't know what his gripe was but that he made her be the bad guy. It feels personal to me, not because he did it on a personal level, but I guess it hurts like a personal attack because my work is very serious to me and I'd hate to think that he thought I wasn't do my job well enough. I know I was. I often felt undermined or a little accused by the staff at times. I was supposed to pick up x number of times per week and about a month ago they called and said now, how often ARE you picking up? which sounded like they were not believing I was coming when I should. I pick up after hours, have my own key. Other times I'll get lists of reports they need. Some I've given them weeks or months earlier. Some I don't have at all, BUT not because I lost them, because they weren't dictated. I keep a physical list of all reports on each tape I do and if it's not on the tape, it's not on the list. I mentioned this to the sec. once before in my defense when she's said he dictated such and such when he actually only thought he did or accidentally taped over it something, kwim? Things are so tight for us right now as they are for so many of us. I guess I just need to vent and ask if this has happened to others? Where you felt undermined and let go unfairly? Or if you've just had doctors come and go every so often for really no good reason? I feel bad. These doctors' wives are my friends (were before I worked for him) and I think that makes it feel more personal. I've been very good about and tried really hard not to mention personal in the office or the office when I see them socially so the two are separate. I just feel like he was unhappy with me and I often wondered if he was just by the questions the girl asked me and made me feel like she thought I wasn't doing my job right. But I really thought if HE had a problem, HE would talk to me so I was okay. Guess not, huh? Thanks if you even read this far. If you have a prayer or two to spare for me that it all works out, that I find work fast to replace this income and that my family doesn't feel any effects from it. Also that the relationship and my feelings are healed, that I can overcome it. I'd just appreciated any shared experiences. Thanks. (P.S. Not in the best frame of mind right now, so I apologize for any typos or errors. This is my disclaimer that I'm not going to proofread this, lol).

I don't have any of my own clients...sm [2008-11-21]
so I have never had this problem. They said you were no longer transcribing his letters. Does that mean you are still transcribing other types of reports for him or is that the only type of report you did for him? If the secretary called you before and asked questions about How often ARE you coming to get work or something to that effect, then it leads me to believe he was not happy with you for some reason. Sounds like he found someone else to do his work. He could have found someone to do it cheaper, who knows? I hate to hear you lost this client. I know money is tight.

Conflict with LWWLicenseCleanup.0001 file and firewall? [2008-11-18]
I installed the Comodo firewall on my computer and it seems to be working fine except one very annoying problem. For some reason, I will open a program, ie, DocQscribe, Instant Messenger, etc., and my firewall keeps asking whether to allow LWWLicenseCleanup.0001 to run, I click yes but then when I open the program again for some reason this stupid file is trying to link to another part of the program I guess and I get the same window asking for permission to allow it. Here's the kicker, a lot of the time it will totally lock up my system and I will have to reboot.I called Stedman's tech and they really didn't know what to do but he had me go into Administrative Tools and turn off a Stedman's License file but still this crazy Cleanup.0001 keeps trying to run because my firewall is still detecting it. Has anyone else had this problem? I did a Google search and found a link to one other MT who had a problem with this file and Zone Alarm but there was not really a solution offered. The firewall I am using is Comodo.

That's exactly what I do now [2008-11-18]
I told the company I was available to work late evening/early morning hours. The only problem I have is by the time I go to work I usually don't have any or I have very little, but I expected that since I'm an IC.

hang in there [2008-11-18]
wow, you seem to have a really bad taste in your mouth - too bad you want to ruin it for everybody. I am a supervisor at Transcend and neither blonde or stupid. Not young either. Perhaps counseling would help you sort out the problem here???

From your post sm [2008-11-17]
I sorta do both. I mean, I am up for about 5-10 minutes of every hour because I can't sit too long at a time. I have to get 1100 lines during my 8-hour shift, never a problem to get 1300 in that time, even with all my breaks, which are many. If you are new to having a pool, there is a certain learning curve. You have to be able to hear lots of different voices and not get rattled, and moreover not slow down excessively. It comes with time, but it is frustrating at first. You set a pace that works for you. I work a split shift because I have to see the end of my shift and 8 hours too long to see to the end. My first is 3.5 hours. I usually do about 600 in that time and come back in the afternoon for another4.5 and do 700 in that time span. I am fresher in the morning and I type faster, but I am I stiff and get up more. I have better concentration and fewer breaks in the afternoon, but I am slower with typing. You will have something similar no matter how you do it, even in an straight 8-hour shift. You have to know yourself and work with that, whatever it is. You can set goals for lines against the number of hours, ending with the minimum at the end of your shift. Hourly goals will make you feel defeated if you have a difficult ESL or a particularly tiring report where you had to look everything up. Set it for 2 or 3 or even 4. Don't beat yourself up if you can't do it right off the bat. Adjust your goals a bit and build on them. My company wants 1100 a day, but my goal is consistently do 1300 and I am working on that. You can do that too as time runs on. Best of luck.

I am not sure, I have a unique situation, but sm [2008-11-16]
My problem was no mortgage and being an IC. In October of 2007 I filed my taxes for 2006 (had an extension) and I got sucked for $7500 and then another $400 for penalties. In April of 2008, I got sucked for another $7600 and another $350 in penalties. There went my new car. There went paying off a debt I have been years working on. So, no I don't know how you do it and pay your taxes! In 2008, I went to work as an employee. They will pay part of my taxes, they pay a fair portion of my health insurance premium, I have PTO and everything else. I was thrilled to work for only one place, till my tax accountant told me that in my circumstance, I would not be able to deduct any of my expenses because I can't itemize my taxes! He told me to work at least PT as an IC. I did for a time Jan-March and then quit. By May 1,2008 I knew I had to look for something. I ended up going back to work for the place I had quit in December 2007 to work for my employer. It turns out it is a 6-hour day on top of my 8-hour day. That was not the agreement, but it is the reality. I will be able to file as an employee and a Schedule C as an IC. I'll have my cake and eat it too. I am saving 1/3 of after tax income, but I have very little free time and only one day off a week, if I have that much. I will meet my goals for a newer vehicle and paying off my debt next year, and that is great, but I will have had very little fun otherwise. I don't even have time to grocery shop most months, but I'd have money if I could get there. I am known for being a total workaholic and it is true. The only thing I can tell you about making it all work is to scale down, down, DOWN! I went from a 2400 sq ft house in a large city, to an 1100 sq ft mobile home in a small town that has DSL. I bought the mobile home outright for a paltry $3K and while I don't own the land, my rent for that is only $75 (hence my tax problems). Where I live, it is so rural that the nearest Walmart is 60 miles each way, but it is best that Walmart and I should be parted that way. I get there perhaps 3 times a year, which is plenty. I eat at home. I make my clothing. I clean my own home. I do my own laundry. I pinch every penny I can figure out how to pinch, and then I pinch it harder. I gave away much of my furniture in this move and replaced it with second hand furniture that fits my new smaller home. The house was a real fixer upper and I have almost completed it...on a shoestring doing most of the work myself (but not this year). I grew up poor, I was poor when I was married and raised my kids poor. I am no longer poor, by the standards of where I live I am quite well off, but you would never know this by how I live. I run around in comfy sweats that are old, that is why they are so comfy! I live in a tin can and in a dirty little town full of wonderful people. I happen to be in love with my tin can which I have transformed into a very cozy, inviting home where guests love to visit...for tea in cups and saucers from the thrift store. It is hard to make more money. I knew my energy limits and what I could and could not do. I made a conscious decision to work the money equation from BOTH sides...spend far less and make as much more as I felt I could. The end result has been better than I had anticipated. As for getting out of MT, we are all pretty well in the same boat if we have been doing this for a long time. You might try a job center through where you live. Have them help you brush up your face to face interview skills, and see about how to present yourself as professional and capable. We have all been out of the fix your hair and makeup, actually get dressed and leave the house mode for a long time. I know if I were going out the door to work, I would need to follow this advice myself. I need some fine tuning, possibly so do you. So stay in or get out, that is up to you. I thought I would give you why I have stayed in and how I did it.

I use Spantel...sm [2008-11-16]
I have never known anyone else that used Spantel. I was beginning to think I was the only one. I have used Spantel and Extext on the computer at the same time and had no problem. I also used it with Editscript and had no problem. I haven't used Voicescribe though. It shouldn't be a problem.

I completely see where you are coming..sm [2008-11-14]
from and those are all good suggestions. I really hope they aren't trying to edge me out. I haven't had any problems with them. See the thing I like about this place is unless they need to talk to you then you really don't hear anything from them. My manager, I never get an email, IM, nothing, very rarely. They act like they are happy with my work. They haven't said any different. So as far as attitude goes they don't communicate with me enough to really even know what kind of attitude I have. Honestly I do the work and the money is direct deposited and I never talk to them unless I go to them for some reason which is rare. My work goes directly to the client and I have worked on this account for 1-1/2 years now so I rarely have blanks. I pretty much know the docs in and out. As far as the amount they have to pay me well I only make .075 cpl so I can't imagine they are trying to get away with less than that. As far as applying and sending resumes out I don't even get phone calls for them to see how my mannerisms are. I have gotten very little email replies most just to say they aren't hiring cause I send resumes to places that aren't even advertising for jobs. Just in case they need someone. I have showed my resume to a fellow MT who has 10 years exp and she thought it was fine. They either aren't hiring or they are insistent on 2 years or they want acute care, which my exp in is slim. Thanks for the suggestions though as far as to watch how I present myself. One thing I think may be the problem is I think they may have more MTs than work. I noticed there are probably 5 or 6 MTs on this one account I work on and there are only 2 docs. It could be there isn't enough work to go around. BUT that is why I asked for a backup account but they said all the accounts are fully staffed. I don't know.