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Employee vs Independent Contractor - Posted By: Snow Bunny

Click here:

Vonage and C-pohne - Posted By: Rooney

Any folks out there able to usage Vonage with a C-phone? Thanx

What do you think?? - Posted By: Curious

I work for a small MTSO on an account that I handle by myself. This includes calls for STAT reports at all hours of the day and night and all contact directed to me personally. I handle everything except the billing. The MTSO is making 7 cpl off the work I do and it just seems a little unfair. I know that I would not have the account if not for them, but they don't even have to think about it except at billing time. I guess I am just a little bitter at handling EVERYTHING and them making that much off the top. A raise is also out of the question. I tried that one! Any opinions?

Companies charging for use of software (sm) - Posted By: MyT_WannyMT

Now I have been in the business for a good while and besides Trans"scam" I came across another company that charges for software. Fast Chart. They use both DocQScribe and EditScript and will charge the ICMT $7.50 per pay period if you do not meet a particular line count every pay period. Now, although $7.50 is not that much, I have worked on both of the programs (in fact, still working on Editscript) and have NEVER been charged to used it. What are these companies trying to do to all of us. ..geez louise.

Line count - Posted By: Laurie

Can anyone tell me what is good for a newbie to get for line count? I have a company that is going to pay 8-10 cents a line. Is that good? Please help!!!

I've been seeing a lot on this board about fonts and font size affecting line counts and I was... - Posted By: KYMT

wondering how this is possible? I mean if your lines are based on a 65 character line then what difference does the font type or size make? I mean, a character is a character whether it's type in Arial, Times New Roman, or Courier.

I use MP Count to count my lines and I decided to do a little test. I typed a document and saved in Arial 10 and 12 font type and size, Times New Roman 10 and 12 font type and size, and Courier 10 and 12 font type and size. And then I ran a line report on each individual document counting lines by 65 characters per line strict (no spaces) and came up with 24 lines each time in each font type and size.

There was an MT below who was saying she types in Arial for her client, but bills them for Courier like it made a difference in the lines. Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't see how it makes any difference at all.

Male MTs - Posted By: me

I have been an MT for over 20 years. My hubby is unemployed and looking for new career options. He is checking into the MT schools and even talked to an employer today that hires ouf of a certain school. I have known very few men in this career field over the years, maybe 5 that I knew personally and counted as friends. I asked my boss when I first got into MT why we didn't have more men in the office doing MT. She said she thought maybe they just didn't know about it. Well now I am talking to my friends, and I have heard some of their husbands are checking into it. They like the idea of staying home to work and spending more time with their children. The few men that I have known over the years that did MT really enjoyed it as a career. I think it would be nice to see more.

What is IME transcription? - Posted By: anony

Can anyone tell me what IME transcription is? A company I might work for told me they have IME transcription, but I've never heard of that before.

getting a third job! - Posted By: dusty

Has anyone else considered a third job besides me. I work full time during the day and occasionally (15) times for weddings. I'm thinking of getting another job PT from home.

considering MT job avenue - Posted By: Susan

Hello- I am a dentist- have been for 18 years. I am currently styaing home with my child. I thought MT might be a fun avenue to travel for awhile and for a change. I donot have any digital equipment and do not know the first thing about it. I have, from my years in school, teaching and practice a large medical vocabulary. Do you think I need to take an MT course or can someone learn how to use the digital equipment and that is enough if they have a medical/dental degree? What do you guys recommend?

To the people who are against unions... - Posted By: suzylyn

My question is why are you against them? My husband is a union member and we have good family benefits plus he gets a very decent wage. Granted, he hasn't been a member very long, about 1 year plus, but so far everything seems good. Yes, unions are political, but so is everything else today. There are lobbyists for everything in Washington and as the saying goes "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". But at least unions are there to protect their workers, or so it goes in theory. US MTs have no protection whatsoever and our profession as we know it is on its way to becoming obsolete.

On this MT site alone, post after post is negative and it's mostly about MTSO's and the way they treat their workers who make them $ - US. I've been an at-home MT for about 3-1/2 years now and previous to that worked in-house. I work for a well known national and when I first started it was good - I was making really good $, more than I did in-house, had a great supervisor, good accounts, and they always gave us opportunities for bonuses that you could actually make some $ on. My sup even sent me a B-day card and a Xmas card by snail-mail and in her own handwriting no less! The good times lasted for about 1-1/2 years and it has all been downhill ever since. With the combination of ILP and ASR, the transcription industry is going down the tubes and FAST. The big fear in the past was hospitals outsourcing and in-house MTs losing their jobs. That fear became a reality as more and more hospitals realized they could save $ by outsourcing a portion, if not all, their work. Now today the fear is outsource companies outsourcing overseas (kind of funny when you think about it - outsourcing company outsourcing) and machines taking the place of humans, again MTs losing their jobs. When will it end? We can come on here and post our frustration and moan and groan, but what is that really going to accomplish. Some may think (and hope) that MTSOs read this board and our e-mails and suddenly one day the light will come shining down from the heavens and the angels will sing because the MTSOs will finally come to their senses as to how rotten they have been to us, their loyal worker bees, and will shower us with praise and gifts of gold and $. Well, to those MTs who think this way, WAKE UP. MTSOs do not care about us. They may say they do, but they know that right at this moment in time they still need us. ASR and ILP are not as efficient as they need to be to get the job done correctly at dirt cheap rates, but it is only a matter of time before they become dominant and transcription as we know it is in the archive books. MTSOs main objective is to make the most $ and pay out as little as they can get away with. They chip away little by little - sending more accounts overseas, cutting rates, reorganizing to fit their needs but not taking into consideration how it affects the MT. They are business people doing what business people do by trade and they are accomplishing what they are setting out to do - make the most $ and pay out the least. So what are MTs supposed to do to protect our professional trade? Voicing our opinions, whether it be here on this board or by e-mail or phone, isn't going to change a thing. Maybe it's time to get proactive and actually DO something rather than complain or just up and quit and then the MTSOs can say they HAVE to have ILPs and ASR because there aren't enough qualified US MTs. I for one would be interested in seeing a union or other organization be formed to protect the US MT industry from it's downfall, but I wouldn't know where to start. If nothing is done now, I'm afraid that in 10 years or less my job as I know it will be a part of history. If anyone has any other proactive ideas, please post them. I'm sure there are plenty of MTs who would be willing to join a group venture to protect our profession.

help - Posted By: texan

on word board please !!

Soft Script is a real piece of work - Posted By: m74

I don't know if any of you out there work for SS but I think it is a bunch of bull that they can make the decision that they will not pay if someone makes a mistake. EXCUSE ME I thought we were all human but obviously they in management think their **** don't stink. I am definitely looking because I do not believe my paycheck is right however their is no way of checking as they have it posted nowhere. THEY SUCK!

It never fails to amaze me - Posted By: Concetta25

It never fails to amaze me that there are so many MTs out there willing to post nothing but negatives about their current and/or previous employers. No matter what company one works for, there will be positives and negatives. Maybe if we all take the positives and focus on them, we will find that the negatives are easier to deal with.

New Orleans... - Posted By: KYradMT

I don't know about U guys but I'm finding it a lot harder these days to complain about the usual stuff I tend to complain about - bad dictators, bad companies, bad hair days, etc...every time I start feeling sorry for myself the words "New Orleans" keep popping into my mind - and the complaining stops. Those poor souls...

Would it be worth it? - Posted By: MT Texas

Hi everyone. Been reading your postings and thought you could help. I presently work in a clinic but have been mulling the idea of working from home. Would it be reasonable to assume I could make at least $9.00 an hour working from home (realizing I would get paid by cpl) Should I quit my job and go for it?

Thanks

Here is another word - Posted By: sm

Fluctuance, fluctuantes? which one is it?

Are there any free medical spell checkers for Word that can be downloaded?.. - Posted By: Flo

xxx

Pictures - Posted By: Patti

The problem is though I am quite knowledgable about the software, computer, working had, transfering files, etc. when it comes to fun things I know nothing. So my nephew is going to E-mail me the pictures and then I guess I will just E-mail them to anyone that wants to look at them. He is getting back from Bible camp on Saturday and promised me he would get them over to me. I don't have a digital camera and so if he doesn't by Saturday, my neighbor told me I could borrow his and take some but they are coming. Will especially take some pics of my lilies that came up late this year and are beautiful. But thanks to all of you for asking. Seems like I only use my computer for work, work, work and never anything fun. I bet I am not alone in that. Take care, it is going to be hot here in Portland up to 101 to 105 and so going to the beach Fri/Sat.

Patti

Too much for me - Posted By: MT Grip Reaper

I calculate let's say 8 cpl as an average as doing about 3100 lines per hour. Now tell lme how that is humanly possible????????????????? DUHHHHHHHHHH

Can anyone compare Spellex to Stedman's and - Posted By: new job

tell me which they think is better and why. I've always used Stedman's but DOS-based. Changing jobs and now need something Windows-based.

Help! Is this a good deal? .09 gross lines with a font of ...sm - Posted By: MT

Times New Roman 11 and 1-inch margins. It will be op notes, but I have a sample report and there are sure A LOT of characters on those full lines.....

like you - Posted By: AnotherOldTimerMT

Thank you for your great response. Yes, I know how hard it is to get people to band together, but this is a huge issue and isn't going to go away unless/until we all see we have a common ground, OUTSOURCING, and all the foibles that go along with it. To have the "supposed" #1 MTSO, MedQuist, be the catalyst for change might just be a blessing in disguise. All I really am saying is that, in order to effect change, we must be willing to stand up for what we believe in. Are we really ready and willing to do that or just maintain lip service? After all, grassroots movements weren't formed in a day.

I live in a state with several large medical centers, one "world-wide" known. When services were just coming into view, one of them decided it was time to "test the transcription waters" as they were having their annual budget meeting. The Board of Directors voted and unanimously passed "outsourcing" to a local service as I recall (offshore outsourcing was not yet "available!). After less than a year and with what was reported as continuing very poor work quality, they had yet another Board meeting (called by a group of "concerned physicians") and it was unanimously approved to put the Transcription Department back in the hospital. That was about 15 years ago. It was also reported that some of the doctors were willing to resign if this practice continued! They then decided by unanimous vote to spend $20,000,000 to provide the latest state-of-the-art transcription equipment and space in the hospital, rehired their MTs and it's been that way ever since. And to answer any questions, yes, they're still in operation to this day! So, my point is banding together, while perhaps not all the time, does work but it never hurts to try does it?

testing - having issues posting -nm - Posted By: max

nm

Where on the scale of conditions would a guarded - Posted By: Wannie

condition be?

Pt has had asthma her lifelong. Is lifelong correct? - Posted By: Does the sentence make sense?

TIA

YEA STEELERS!!!! WAY TO GO!!! - Posted By: holy cow

Have a lot riding on them... DH says he'll give me $500 if they win the SUPERBOWL! and I don't even like football...what a guy!

Guess all I have to do now is root for them!

Need Testing Help - Downloading Voice Files - Posted By: Loves to Type

I am taking a transcription test and I have downloaded the voice files on my desktop. I am trying to drag them into Express Scribe but it isn't working. Does anyone know how to do this? Thanks!

Hospice? - Posted By: Mommyx3

Anybody out there volunteer for hospice? I recently started my training for it and I am so excited. I have 18 hours of training to do before I actually am on my own. I can't wait.

Anybody else volunteer for hospice?

Free software available for short period of time - Posted By: mtgreenville

CleverKeys for Windows

With CleverKeys for Windows you can look up words from almost every application, including Microsoft Word, Outlook Express and your favorite browser. CleverKeys is easy to use and easy to install.

How to use CleverKeys for Windows:

* Highlight a word
* Hit control-L to look it up at Dictionary.com
* CleverKeys takes you right to the definition in your default Web browser!
* Hit control-M for a menu of other options, such as "Look up using Thesaurus.com," "Search the Web" and "Shop at Amazon.com."

You can configure the keys via the task bar.

See CleverKeys in action by clicking here to view screen shots (opens a new window). Or click here to download your FREE CleverKeys today!

Beta testers needed! We are looking for beta testers to help us with a new version (2.00b5) of CleverKeys for Windows, released on December 29, 2005. More...

http://www.cleverkeys.com/ck.html?p=features&os=windows

Copyright � 2006, Lexico Publishing Group, LLC // Credits

http://www.cleverkeys.com/ck.html?p=features&os=windows

Has anyone else had this awful - Posted By: cold that has been going around? sm

If so, any comfort care measures you'd be willing to share? I am really struggling today and don't want to take my OTC meds cause they knock me out. Any home remedies would be GREATLY appreciated.

What credential is FAAMT? sm - Posted By: MT

Where I work there's someone who likes to sign her emails with

RN, CMT, FAAMT

It's kind of laughable. Should we all start writing our degrees and education behind our names?

No education? Feel free to give yourself an abbreviated title.

ASMS (Associate of Science in Medical Secretarial--I tried it without the medical first, but it didn't look so nice behind my name).

Anybody else think this is all a bit silly in our field?

DSR just gets better and better. NOT! - Posted By: MT and worn out

I am glad for this I am paid by the hour.

This is DSR: PROVISIONAL DIAGNOSIS: Peritonitis suprapubic.

Actually dictated: PROVISIONAL DIAGNOSIS: Hidradenitis suppurativa.

computer question sm - Posted By: old MT

I have switched to using a lap top computer with a full size monitor. When I leave my computer for any length of time but don't turn it off, the computer goes into power save mode. When it does that I have to lift the top of the laptop and push the button. Its not a big deal, but sometimes its just inconvenient. I would rather just have the screen saver working and be able to move the mouse to get back in rather than lift the lid and push the button. The lap top is on a shelf underneath so its not the easiest to get to. I do this several times a day.

Is there some setting I can set so that my computer doesn't go into power save? Been doing MT more years than I can count, but am not all that computer savy! haha.

Any help is surely appreciated.

Is this a valid thing? sm - Posted By: Repair Registry Pro question....

All of a sudden one day this box appears at the bottom of my computer stating....Repair Registry Pro has found 466 errors, click here for more information...I clicked it and it wanted to charge me a lot of money for this...I think maybe it is something not like a virus but not anything good either. I clicked on Microsoft website to see if I could find anything about this, and while there ran some tools to see if I had any errors which it did not report any. Has anyone ever came across this and is it legitamite (sp?)?

Does anyone how to enter a new word into shorthand sm - Posted By: slow learner who hates a mouse

without using the mouse? I clicked on

add new entry (still trying to figure out what the 'key' is that opens this so I don't have to use the mouse)

keyword/text to type/ and then there is an okay butten. I am use to doing this same operation in autocorrect but without using the mouse (where i use the tab and enter key once I program it.) . The O on the okay button is underlined but I can't seem to use the alt/o to have the program OKAY my new entry. I am trying to read this help guide and I am really struggling. I wish someone could write instructions that weren't in computer languange. sigh. Thanks once again

Question for Veteran MTs - Posted By: Tina

Just had a question for you all. I am almost done with my course, and hoping to get a job soon thereafter. Does it just depend on the person how well we get that 98% on-the-job? I mean, how long it takes us to consistently achieve that. I am usually about 97 right now, so I am hoping it won't take me much longer! How often are you usually (on average) reviewed at work and what about grammar, punctuation, etc? Does it just depend on the company? What happens if you are below 98? Thanks for all responses!

Looking to Use/Buy Space on Your Call-In System - Posted By: David

I have a MT service and have only a few small clients who do call-in dictation (most use handheld digital) I am looking to use space on someone else's call system and either: Pay for that - OR - Do a trade in terms of TX or QA work. 16 years in MT as transcriptionist, QA and business owner.

If you are interested, message me here and/or leave your contact info. Thank you,

David

Spider bite? - Posted By: tia

Has anyone every been bit by a spider? Isn't an ER doctor suppose to be able to identify a poison spider. I got bit yesterday on the left thumb. I would not have worried about it if was anywhere else or the fact that I was alone with no wheels. My husband had just left to go to a ball game.I called him to tell him that I had just been bitten (He hates spiders, he had been bitten by one and spent two weeks on crutches). He comes home to take me to the emergency room along with the dazed spider. The doctor could not tell what kind of spider it was. My husband had looked it up on the net and it seemed to be a brown recluse. The ER doctor said there was really nothing to do except give me a Benadryl (I never take medicine or go to the doctor) and antibiotics to take if I see an infection starting and kept me for 30 minutes in case of a reaction. In the meantime, my husband (a science teacher) goes to his classroom (school is next to the hospital) to put the spider under the microscope and do more research on the spider. As it turns out, the spider was not a brown recluse but a brown house spider often mistaken for one. The only way to tell the difference is the number of eyes. LOL. Anyway, I felt so foolish and because taking the Benadryl was out like a light the rest of the afternoon and evening. Wasted the rest of my day.

Ergonomics - Posted By: Anna

I have recently returned to transcription after several years of editing. My left wrist has become very sore while transcribing. Can anyone recommend a good keyboard or any other devices you have found useful in combating this problem?

While the queue was empty - Posted By: Lillybelle

While the queue was empty, I logged in to my public library's audiobook section and found an audiobook called The Law of Attraction, which I downloaded for free and started listening to. It contains tips and secrets on how to attract good things into our lives, which would include abundance and positive experiences in every area of life.... I also found links online to free worksheets and all kinds of stuff. Here is a you tube link to explain more about what I'm referring to here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoGCaLul8ms

Ruling against DeVenture - Posted By: anon

http://bangordailynews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=152854&zoneid=500

Interesting reading here for anyone thinking about applying with DVHP.

Working for a national, do you ever feel you can't ask for - Posted By: ICMT

an increase in pay because you're concerned you'll price yourself right out of a job?

I make 9 cents a line IC. I get my line count pumped up to where I want by hard work on the accounts I'm working. I get pretty efficient in that account and then I get pushed to different work where I have to start all over again and work really hard to make a decent line count. It's seemed to happen again, so I'm thinking about requesting a pay increase but then I start thinking that I'm already at a "better than most" pay from what I've seen posted here and elsewhere. What do you think? I'm interested in opinions if anyone will share. Thanks.

curious for those using Bayscribe expander, - Posted By: sm

I just noticed when the word Expander box is open, in tiny print underneath the bottom expansion box, it lists your number of entries and also the ratio of Keystrokes to expansions. wondering how my expansions compare to yours in that ratio part -- mine is 5:1 --- funny how I can have brought up this box to add them so many times and never even noticed it!

Okay, I decided to try mobile - Posted By: in the boonies

wireless internet through Verizon. I currently have a Verizon cell and have no problem with reception in my home, so I'm hoping this is a go. I also have a 30-day trial period, so I'll know for sure if I have any glitches.

What I don't understand is this lingo about voice files, etc. I'm on the Bayscribe platform, so any info would be greatly appreciated. Please "dumb it down" for me, as I am not a PC person. The lady that signed me up told me that the limit is 5 GB and that that generally means about 35,000 web pages a month. How does this correlate to voice files? Do I even use voice files on Bayscribe? I'm assuming so since I have an audio player.

At least I know if this doesn't work out, I can cancel and not lose anything. Then I'll have to sign up for satellite, which is about $300 upfront and $60 to $90 per month for service. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Verizon will work for me.

Thanks for any info.

My husband just signed up for group life insurance with work which will give him 10x his salary if - Posted By: Dancin Shoes

he dies which will leave the kids and I with almost a million bucks if he dies. Of course I would much rather have him here more than anything. He had just 150,000 in insurance but for some reason just opted for this group thingie. When talking last night I asked him if he died if I could marry again and this man got so upset with me I thought he was going to cry! He told me absolutely, positively NOT that I could not remarry ( am 31!). He is 35. LOL

Poor guy. Leaving me all this money and I supose the thought of me sharing his wealth with someone else makes him sick!!

I told him he could go ahead and marry if I should happen to die. I want my kiddies to have a great mom and person who loves them very much. Wouldn't you agree?

How do you feel about your spouse or partner remarrying if you or he dies??

HIPAA and Outsourcing - Posted By: AnnieM!AnnieM!

How can outsourcing to an offshore company, where a patient's sensitive personal and medical information is concerned, be HIPAA complient? Shouldn't we as patients have the right to know if our medical info and personal data are being sent via the Internet to a foreign country? Shouldn't we as patients be asked to sign a release/agreement to such a practice, notifiying us of this? I have never asked my doctor/hospital if they outsourced to offshore companies...but I will now. Wonder if I'll get a truthful answer.

ESL doing rectal exam dictates "I did a rectalization" - Posted By: LOL

Just wondering if there are other military wives out there who are also MTs? NM - Posted By: Navy Wife/MT

x

inhealth transcription - Posted By: maybemaybenot

Does anyone who currently works for or has worked in the past for Inhealth Transcription have any pros and cons regarding this company? Are they good to work for? Is the work flow consistent? Does QA give you timely and constructive feedback? Do they pay on time? Do they shuffle you on several accounts due to over staffing?

Any info would be greatly appreciated as I received an offer from them.