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How to Convert DSS to WAV? -
Posted By: Dave
Hi,
Does anyone know how to convert a DSS file to a WAV file?
I have the WAVPedal player and software. I also have an OratorPro call in system.
Thanks,
Dave
which would you choose? -
Posted By: poll
Job A at 9.5 cpl but awful dictators, bad sound quality, speed talkers, cell talkers, ESLs about 90% of the time, blanks in 50% of reports.
Company B: 7.75 cpl easy, long dictations, averaging 9 minutes, 90% English speaking, coherent, slow, pronouncing words, no blanks left all day.
a dumb question (please don't blast me) ... sm -
Posted By: dem
First, let me say that I too HATE our jobs being outsourced. Not only for the ill effects to US MTs, but especially the slave wages paid to Indian MTs to line the pockets of more greedy and overpaid CEOs. It is sickening.
My question, however, is what exactly is so bad about medical records being sent outside of the country? I just don't understand why everyone seems so adamant that this is an awful thing, mentioning homeland security, privacy issues, etc. Other than loss of our jobs as MTs, what is the danger and concern? Just curious.
Wavpedal (sm) -
Posted By: Dianne
Any suggestions on wavpedals? Any good or bad experiences would be helpful. TIA
Decent money is out there -
Posted By: Patti
Most of you know me from this board and I just want to share this with you guys. One of my gals that I met through a nephew's baseball team -- he and her son played together and we go to the same church. She had two terms of medical terminology/some transcription underneath her belt, many years in the law field as a paralegal, etc. She wanted to work at home, make some extra money, etc. I took her in and started her on my psych accounts and the onto some IM accounts. She got the psych accounts quite well but had trouble with the IM. We butted heads several times over scheduling, etc. She did not understand the 24 TAT and so on. But we perservered together. She finally got a job in an attorney's office part-time doing some medical review, etc. and quit me. On good terms. Then last November I helped her land a GYN account that we started off together and I just handed off to her as it was not worth my while to drive 25 miles for what dictation was there. It was my business name and years in experience that landed the job. She took it over and tonight she informed me that she is so glad that I kept at her and perservered with her as she is now making $42 to $45 an hour typing for them. She is like me charges only .12 cpl but because of auto corrects, macro's and shortcuts that I helped her with, she is making good money. If fact in Sept when they add another doctor she is going to quit her legal job completely because she makes more with this account with less hours or if she keeps the legal job she is going to do what I did and mentor and help someone else break into the field. Again these are tape accounts, with pick up and delivery and the little accounts no one else wants but they provide us with a good living. Again, I don't look at the cpl but at my hourly rate and that is what keeps me happpy. She just wanted to thank me for helping her out and I am really happy for her. Yea we spoil our accounts but they reciprocate with decent money. So for those that want your own accounts, keep at it, takes time and patience but you can get there. I had most profitable year ever this year and less hours.
Has anyone ever had major surgery and a few months later started to shed a lot of hair. I am having -
Posted By: MQ2
that right now and I wonder how long this goes on. Much more hair loss when brushing and washing than before. Scary.
outrageous -
Posted By: MTing
I see job listings for experienced hospital MTs at 7 cpl subcontractor status. Ladies and gents, don't take it. I hope nobody applies for these jokes of a job.
Anyone use VoIP phone system -
Posted By: cowpatty
and are you having problems with connectivity? We switched to internet-based phone service a few weeks ago and recently I started having problems with downloading the voice. I get the report but without any voice. If you have had this problem, how did you remedy it? I'm about at my wit's end. Thanks!
Cheap digital hand helds vs expensive ones -
Posted By: Fast Fingers
I want to get my doc to switch to digital instead of tapes. I need to know what the difference between the expensive handhelds and the cheap ones at radio shack is. There is a huge difference in price and I can't really see why he needs one of the expensive ones. Thanks for your help.
Breitner Transcription -
Posted By: l
Is there anyone out there that works for Breitner Transcription? I was wondering about this company. Is it hard to get on. I've already taken the test and I believed I passed, just waiting on company to contact me about a position. Just wondering . Thanks 
new at this... how do I choose a good expander program? -
Posted By: lo
 Which is best Expander program? anyway to get a free trial to check out how these things work?
bringin it up..you know you're an MT when...you finish your dr's sentence.. -
Posted By: poopie
s
scared of the MQ pay plan -
Posted By: GOT THE LETTER
I think its going to be a raw deal for those of us who have been here awhile. Only because it will be based on higher pay for harder work. In all honesty, I do not see them paying more than 10 cpl, and if they hand pick the worst of the worst, all day every day for those of us who can eek by and do them, we will be screwed. Honestly would rather have lower pay (no lower than 8 cpl) for easier work to keep my line count up. I've already been told many times that they give me the harder work because I can do it, but all day every day I would lose money.
They should base pay on experience, period the end! Keep the pool completely open to whatever work comes up, do not special assign harder work to those of us who can do it, because it slows us down incredibly! I agree, newbies need a chance to get their foot in the door with some easier dictation, but how are they going to learn if thats all theyre getting, and how about those of us who have been around the block, how are we going to earn a living for paying our dues in this business. Thats why i'm scared. Buh bye experienced MTs or what? What do you guys think?
Magic Jack -
Posted By: Debbie
I have read previous comments about Magic Jack and was wondering if there were any more recent experiences about using Magic Jack with a C-phone. Vonage wants to up my plan to business because of the amount of time I am using it and then with all the fees tacked on, I'm looking at at least $55 a month for a business plan up from $35. I would rather use Magic Jack if I can see other transcriptionists are happy with it. Please post if you don't mind. Thank you!
Debbie
Is there any danger putting bank acct# and routing# on federal tax (sm) -
Posted By: rambling Rose
tax form so as to get your refund by direct deposit? Can someone use this info to their advantage?
Just need to vent -
Posted By: 91 MT
I am being driven crazy here today. I have a 60-minute dictation with more than half of it, just air time. Ready to pull my hair out, of course, the dictator has an accent and then to figure out this thing is only worth $8.25 with the line count. Just plain sucks and a waste of time. I dont know how MT schools claim that the average income is 40,000 a year for a FT MT, not with these kind of reports!
Thanks for letting me fume a bit, now I need to go back and try to make some money and make up my time from this report! 
Tomorrow is the running of the bulls in Pamplona... -
Posted By: Sluggo
Anybody going? http://www.condoradventures.com/images/runbull_medic.jpg
Unable to read any posts, screen blank. nm -
Posted By: Becky Clark
nm
I think I am in love with DocQScribe and ITVPro sm -
Posted By: after a month of using it
I am, I guess, up to speed on my new job using DQS. Made my lines from day one, but today...first half of my shift I did 800 lines and had some crappy cellphone dictations that slowed me down.
When I topped out at 150 lph at my last job, I thought it was my hands. Apparently it was the platform that was so bad, not my hands going fried.
The last week before that other job died, I prayed: God don't let anything change unless it is going to be a lot better. That seemed to help my attitude through a rough job change. Yes, it is way better.
The Good Old Day of Trascribing -
Posted By: old MT
I know this is a bad time (money wise) for us but remember the good old days like - waiting for tapes because there was a blizzard and getting a day off. Everyone in the office laughing so hard we were crying over a dictation. A doctor coming in the office and trying not to laugh because his dictation was horrible and we finally put a face to the name. Left the cap off the white/pink/blue out and it was all gobbed on when you went to use it. Please add. Need a good laugh. Depressing enough typing about sick people for 25 years but I must of kept this career for a reason.
WARNING: TOTH TRANSCRIPTION -
Posted By: MT Advocate
Hello! It's been a while since I have been on this board. I'm still receiving e-mails from MTs telling me that they have been taken advantage of by Toth Transcription. From what I understand, Toth is now advertising on www.craigslist.com for new MTs to apply with them.
Every time I receive an e-mail from another MT, she tells me how she has not been receiving her paychecks, and how after many attempts at contacting the Toths, she has not received any replies to her e-mails or return phone calls.
It's no less than criminal what they are doing to people, and the more people that come forward with their experiences, the better our chances are at putting them out of business.
I can't stress enough how underhanded and manipulative their hiring process is, and how abusive they are to their MTs.
If you don't want to see them get away with this anymore, you have to act on this, and warn anybody and everybody about TOTH TRANSCRIPTION in Wexford, PA.
They prey on newbies fresh out of school, and out-of-state applicants, because they know that as long as you are out of state, you have no recourse to go after them to get your money.
****** I am in touch with other MTs who have been put through the wringer by Toth, and they are fighting back tooth and nail. Don't feel hopeless and helpless, that is what they are counting on. Stand up for yourself and get fighting mad.
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Any discussions regarding this situation should be handled via email. Contact/Reply OP (original poster) using the "Reply by Email" link below".
MTStars Team
multispecialty account -
Posted By: Stefanie
I've been an MT for about 2 years. I started off transcribing for an orthopedic account just doing clinic work at a smaller MT company. I have now been working for Medquist for 2 months and have been put on a multispecialty account that has 12 or more specialties and 3 main accounts, but they keep giving me new accounts. I was under the impression that multispecialty might be 3 specialties for instance. I now know I was wrong about that. You live and you learn, lol. I'm not happy at Medquist, so I plan on going back to a smaller company again. I know to be a well-rounded MT I should know more than one specialty, and I don't have a problem with that, but going from ortho to every specialty under the sun all at once is a bit crazy. Learning ortho and maybe 2 other new ones at the same time sounds more reasonable. I'm just wondering if multispecialty might mean one thing at one company and something entirely different at another company. There is a big difference in my opinion from having to know 3 to 4 and having to know 12 to 15 specialties. Three to four is still multispecialty, but it doesn't seem impossible to a 2-year MT. Just wondering if some companies are open to hearing what your strengths and weaknesses are and putting you on an account according to that.
There is this one company I am thinking of testing for (a smaller company), and I noticed that they have several different sections for their test. They have general medical for MTs with less than 2 years or multispecialty acute care for more than 2 years. A part of me wants to test for the general medical even though I have a little more than 2 years of experience because I'm afraid of getting the type of multispecialty account with this new company that I got at Medquist, but then another part of me knows the general medical would be too easy for me and going with the general medical will put me making less per line. Don't get me wrong, I am a good MT, well good relative to my 2 years of experience. I've transcribed for ESL doctors before. I'm not trying to get out of working hard here, but I just don't want to set myself up for failure either. The company I was originally with for 2 years told me I was welcome back any time, and so far I'm doing good on QA at Medquist, but I'm very slow compared to where I was at the last company I worked at. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Collections Agencies (nonpaying doctor) -
Posted By: TLA
Can anybody recommend a collections agency? I have a nonpaying doc, in another state, but there are so many agencies out there that I just don't know who to go with.
If anybody has a recommendation, I would appreciate it.
s/l patient given Ativan and morphine ... sm -
Posted By: just askin'
Patient is a DNR with end-stage breast cancer. Does Ativan sound like it would be right? TIA
Do you give a discount for standard procedure notes? SM -
Posted By: AzMT
I have an account who asked me to provide them with a form that could use for standard outpatient procedure notes. I personally feel that there are too many variations for them to use one paper form and offered for me to do it for them at a discount since almost the entire thing would be a standard that I don't have to type in its entirety. This account is a great account and I figured it isn't a big deal say to chage 25 cents instead of a $1 (example) for the form since I only have to type a couple letters to pull up the form and insert any changes.
I really don't know the easiest way to keep track of this discount or what amount to discount. Any ideas? I'd rather see me getting a small amount for doing the form then to get nothing for them using a paper form. Plus, the account is newer to me and I thought it might look like a plus for me to offer them a discount and to make their life easier by not having to dictate the entire note.
Thoughts...ideas??? TIA
Just wondering... -
Posted By: memt
Just wondering if anyone has gotton a job without having to take a medical transcription course?
Does anyone do Pathology? -
Posted By: diane
if so, what system do you use - if you work for a big transcription company (as opposed to directly for a pathologist) do they pay the same for pathology as for other work. I've recently been asked to come back to work for a pathologist I worked for (for 10 years). They then switched to a big outsourcing company and have not been happy ever since. Their "new system" seems to require 20% of the time transcribing and 80% of the time on busy work - looking up names, demographics, etc. Does anyone have an opinion about this? Thank you.
Terror attack in London, explosions in the subway, many deaths -
Posted By: On Fox news. nm
xz
What is rate to charge per report not as MT...sm -
Posted By: DCMT
I really need to know what going rate is...Illinois too...for charging by the report for radiology. I know that some MTs are paid 1.20 per regular and 1.50 for specials, but what is the client charged? An account wants to be charged per report not by the line and I have only charged per line for 10+ years and have no clue what the rates are for this.
In checking with the only person I know getting paid this way for radiology reports, she is paid the above rate, but have not seen any discussion for the charge to the client and don't want to be underbidding....hard enough getting good wages without underbidding for services.
Any help will be really appreciated.
Confused DCmt
Rates in RI for transcription.... -
Posted By: Possibly RI bound...
What are MTs charging per line in Rhode Island and surrounding areas these days? Independent contractors or employees? Home based? Benefits?
I might be moving there for a while and want to know a little more about the area in relation to transcription. I have been an MT for 5 years in acute care setting.
2005. -
Posted By: Robyn
2005 was a good year for me. While I realize many people suffered through Hurricane Katrina and many families lost loved ones in Iraq or Afghanistan, their losses have given me the ability to teach my son about life, its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows. I leave 2005 behind with memories of hugging and laughing with my loved ones and being thankful that we are all still here. I have a job, a son, a wonderful husband-to-be, a dog, and the rest of my family. Yes, I've lost loved ones this year and faced what I consider to be "hard times" though not as hard as what others have faced. But I still see the lesson to be learned; not to take anything, or anyone, for granted. To say what I want to say to my loved ones, and do what I want to do for them. I may not have another chance.
Any way to transfer microcasettes to digital voice files? (sm) -
Posted By: midwestMT
I'll be using a subcontractor and rather than picking up and delivering tapes, is there a way for me to transfer dictation from tapes to voice files that she can transcribe using express scribe?
Do they make such a machine?
The traveling MT... -
Posted By: jss
I have seen some posts about MTs who travel while they work. I would like to try working in the car but my husband is afraid I will get motion sickness. I am prone to motion sickness on curved roads and cannot read in the car. Does anyone else have a problem with this or find that they don't have a problem with typing? It seems like it would be different then reading a book or newspaper especially if I know we have a straight highway drive.
what line rate do you get -
Posted By: tm
As an IC what line rate do you get?
need some help -
Posted By: Lisa
Hi there, I'm an MT with a couple of years of hospital experience, but want to work from home now. I haven't bought a foot pedal yet and I am just wondering if I need any special software to go with the pedal in order to do pre-employment testing?
Voice Recognition & EMR -
Posted By: Lisa
I am starting to be concerned about EMR and voice recognition taking our jobs. I wonder if they will even need us in 5 years. I know most hospitals tell everyone they will still need them as editors, but surely it will eliminate many jobs or they would not be willing to incur the expense of the new systems. What do you think?
course or ?? -
Posted By: Wendy
It can't just be me but .. in sample notes given me by the company I work for, two of the notes mentioned "course skin, etc." I would have typed "coarse". I'm beginning to wonder. I mean these are supposed to be examples of correct work? Guess they just don't know the difference?javascript:editor_insertHTML('text','%3Cimg%20src=http://forum.mtstars.com/smileys/smoke.gif%3E');
Mobile Infirmary Medical Ctr -
Posted By: Beth
Have applied for a full-time MT job at Mobile (AL) Infirmary Medical Center. Has anyone experience working for them? I would appreciate any information, as this would involve a move for me. Thanks in advance--
I washed my keyboard in the dishwasher and -
Posted By: Latest experiment
it worked like a charm. Use about 10% of normal dishwashing compound, but do not put through the dry cycle. I put mine on the patio where it is nice and warm and let it dry for 3 days. I had read about this before but was afraid to try it, but I had to get a new keyboard, so experimented. Might save me from buying 3 or 4 boards a year. (My keyboards like coffee, water, coke, etc, so they get a little sticky after I feed them on schedule.)
Anyone else have trouble with -
Posted By: insomnia? - sm
I recently started working from home as an IC. This is my first job as an MT. I am really enjoying it thus far, but I am having the hardest time getting to sleep at night. For the past two nights I have been awake until 4 a.m. Can't seem to turn off my brain. Since it was the weekend it wasn't that big of a deal, but tomorrow is Monday, and I have to get up early to get my son to school, and get to work. I was just curious if anyone else ever seems to have this problem, and if so, any suggestions on how to shut off my brain? I'm exhausted and I know my work quality will suffer if I don't get some quality sleep.
Proofreading and had to laugh. sm -
Posted By: smile
In one of my word programs I noticed I apparently typed does not too fast and it came up as "doe snot." The spellchecker didn't pick it up.
After I got done laughing about the poor female deer with post nasal drip, I entered a quick correct in my expansions. 
Semicolon -- Am I Wrong? -
Posted By: Anon
The QA people in my company insist that a semicolon goes in the following sentence - I beg to differ. What's your take?
"He appeared comfortable; in no acute distress or pain."
Look on the MQ board by anMT -
Posted By: Funniest post of the year
Seems the mysteriously disabled international internet cable line to India that's been sucking away all our work, good dictators, and decent dictations from American MT's, let's keep this between ourselves, it may have been an inside job. I won't say anymore.
I work at in the wee hours and it's hard sometimes not to burst out laughing and wake the sleepers up. Thanks, anMT, whoever you are...
So what do you do to keep motivated to type during the work day? Sometimes I find it so hard to... -
Posted By: KYMT
stay focused. When you're working at home it is soooo easy to turn on the TV, take frequent breaks to answer the phone, talk to hubbie, play with the kids, take a hot bath, play solitaire on the PC, surf the net, post on a message board, etc.
I just wondered if anyone had any miracle cure for the wandering mind?
Since it is very clear--sm -
Posted By: none
That the beloved Ms. Kikki is back and really trying to cause havoc again on this board with her rude comments to everyone, I can only suggest that we do not take her bait and give her fuel for fire. She seems to have it is for a select few on this board and also seems to love to attack what people eat. Maybe if we do not acknowledge her rude comments, she will get tired of it and go away again. Either that, or we all stop posting anything for a day or two and she will have nothing to make rude nasty comments on. Just a thought. If we stick together, maybe we can get her to leave.
Anybody use the BeyondTXT platform? -
Posted By: Pros & Cons?
nm
ergonomics question -
Posted By: Rebecca S.
Hi all...
For those of you who have been doing this awhile, what have you found to be the best practice for avoiding back pain while sitting? Should your arms be resting while you type, or should they dangle by your sides?
Also, can anyone recommend a good chair for sitting for long periods of time?
TIA
I am SO UPSET! -
Posted By: AAAARRRGH!
I am so frustrated that I am in tears, and that takes some doing for me. Is this the norm with being an IC, or what....
When I started with this MTSO, the paydays were on the 10th and the 22nd of the month. I loved it, because my husband was paid on the opposite weeks, so we got a paycheck every week. Well, the paychecks started coming on the 11th and 25th.... then the 12th and the 26th... you get the drill. Then she just officially moved the pay periods to the 15th and the last day of the month. Now this caused me some headaches, sure, because I had to move some auto withdrawals and such, but I supposed that was her right to do as the business owner...
Except now the paychecks are coming later and later AGAIN! Well, she had sent out an email saying that she would not be able to pay us on the 31st, but that she would pay us on the first. So I did something I NEVER do.... I wrote a check to my daughter's preschool with no money in the bank, only because my MTSO said, "Don't worry, I'll put it in on the 1st."
Guess what? I got an email today saying that she would NOT be paying us until Friday the 3rd. There will not be enough money in the bank to cover this. Now, it won't bounce it to the preschool, because my bank will cover it. They will, however, charge me a big ol' honkin' $35 fee for this.
I am SO mad! Is this normal? Do MTSOs just think they can pay us whenever they feel like it? Her excuse was that she didn't get paid by the hospital on time, so she couldn't pay us on time. Excuse me, but this is the same MTSO that said, when my phone lines were down, "I don't care what your personal problems are, I need the work!" Well, I need my MONEY! If she has to take out a personal loan using her car as collateral, then she needs to do that in order to pay us. I admit that this is only my third MTSO, but two of the three did this "pay when I can" thing. I'm just used to a much more professional system.
So my question, after this long-winded post, is the following: Is this normal? Do the rest of you ICs have trouble being paid on time?
(PS - In a recent disagreement that the MTSO and I had, she told me that she was having money problems, too, and that she was declaring personal bankruptcy. That's not a good sign for being paid on time in the future, you think?
Yeah, I said I was going to look for another job, but I started slacking on that when I cooled off because I love my accounts. However, I don't want to be the last rat off a sinking ship. I'm just SO upset. This is not how a business should be run!)
 (P.S. - Grammar and punctuation police please take the night off. It's midnight, I'm typing through tears, and I just don't care enough to edit, okay? Thanks.)
ENTRY LEVEL TRANSCRIPTIONIST NEEDS PRN WORK FOR EXPERIENCE -
Posted By: Diana Strand
Hello,
My name is Diana Strand and I am an entry level medical Transcriptionist seeking any kind of PRN work or internship, or mentoring program available. I wish to get experience to be able to attain a permanent job. Any comments would be helpful. Thank you very much.
Diana Strand
Pat Day retires from horse racing -- It is a sad day for race fans everywhere! We wish him the best -
Posted By: memt
in his retirement, although I hear he's going to stay busy behind the scenes with the chaplaincy program at the horse tracks. We're gonna miss him here in Ky--
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