Medical Transcription Discussion Forums:
General Discussion Forums:
Recently Viewed Messages: (An archive of over 1 million messages related to medical transcription industry)
AARP Info -
Posted By: siren
I am wondering if any of you know anything about insurance through AARP membership? I have just been terminated from my place of employment after 15 years of service as the lead transcriptionists/supervisor for an in-house transcription department for a mental health facility. My place of employment is outsourcing all of the transcription to a service to save money (not having to pay us benefits, etc.)
My husband and I own our own business as well, so basically my husband is self-employed. I have always provided the insurance benefits, having this through my place of employment. Well, now guess what no benefits! The service that took over wants to hire me as well as the other four transcriptionists, which is cool, because we know these docs and therapists like the back of our hands.
Here's my situation, my insurance benefits that I have now are done on 08/31/07. The new benefits with the service will not be in effect for 90 days after beginning employment with the service, if that is what I decide to do. Their insurance benefits are higher, and the deductible is higher than what I pay now, and of course with a service, these benefits are a privilege really, not a benefit, because it is based on production, etc. to keep the benefits. COBRA is going to cost me $1,200.00 a month for the 90-days of coverage in between jobs. This is outrageous. I have been looking into other options as well.
My husband is 51 years old, do you think we could get insurance coverage cheaper through AARP. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Why would my computer not...sm -
Posted By: curious girl
download or open a .gid file. (A file with .gid at the end.) Instead of saying open or save, it says find or save. When I hit find it sends me to a search page with websties that give info for not unloading .gid files. It said something about downloading some "regcure," which cleans your registry. It cost $30 to do it. Do you thing errors on my registry is causing this to not downloard, or is it I simply don't have the right software or something. When I hit save it says does not recognize this file. Basically it couldn't downloard. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? I am at a loss.
Is rad a whole different animal (sm) -
Posted By: wannaknow
when it comes to transcribing it? I would like to expand my specialties, but have never done rad before. Any info would be appreciated! Also, can it be learned just by doing, or would I need more thorough training, i.e.; more schoolin'? 
Could anyone answer this question for me -
Posted By: radgirl
I work for an company, not employee. I have not paid any taxes quaterly or anything, did not make that much this year. Do I need to obtain tax ID# so that I can do my taxes. Do I get incorporated?
Vonage for unlimited long distance -
Posted By: Teresa
Does anyone use Vonage for the unlimited long distance to dial into a hospital or clinic system? If so, how does it work and what is the price? Do they allow you to use it for an 8-hour day?
TIA
what board for support for depression? sm -
Posted By: struggling
My job is totally getting to me and I thought there was a support board on here... I could use someone to talk to. TIA for any info.
RE Herman Miller Aeron Chair below.. -
Posted By: got very similar one from Office Max
I looked up the Herman Miller Aeron chair on the internet to see what all the fuss was about after reading these posts. I noticed the chair looks a lot like the one I got from Office Max. I'm not sure what the name of mine is, but it is a VERY comfortable, fully adjustable chair. I've not seen anything like it. I paid $79 as it was on sale from about $139. I noticed that this Herman Miller is much, much more expensive. Just thought some of you might like to check out Office Max's line. I love mine!
normal.dot confusion... plz help! -
Posted By: moMT
Surely someone else has encountered this problem. Well, we got a brand spankin' new Dell XPS 420 to our door yesterday! It is wonderful... I just have a slight problem. Had Word 2007 loaded onto it and now trying to figure out how to convert my normal.dot from Word 2003 to this. Any help? It is loaded with a ton of info that I REALLY need.
TIA
who's in charge in the office -
Posted By: newathome
I am brand new at this and am working nights for a national co with good reputation. Suddenly tonight I am getting the WORST cancer surgeries, bone surgeries, static, mumbiling - did I make somebody mad? And the work is out of synch as per time and numbers. LIke one thing at 5 pm, next report at 9 pm. Do they do that, sit in some office and send the good stuff to their friends? I have been working my butt off to average 450 lines in an 8 hour shift,since I hae to also build up my autocorrect aND learn the company, do you suppose they are telling me something? It's already 4 hours and I have gotten through 2 cancer surgeriies of 9 minutes each by esls and am on myh 2nd bone surgery 8 mknutes each. Need advice or encouragement or something.
Coxy tighters ???? anyone -
Posted By: looking for a lab
Gotta a question... When you have an offer from a company, is it acceptable to basically..SM -
Posted By: MOMT
give the company a set of terms. Here's my issue. I have 15+ years experience as an MT and I am finding after I've accepted the job, that I am placed on the crappiest account they have because of my years of wonderful "experience". Then I'm told that they are paying me the higher cpl rate not because of years of experience but because I'm working on the crappy account that no one else can do.
I find it very difficult to earn a living this way and wonder if there are jobs out there where a seasoned MT can just sit down and type carefree 8 hours a day. I'm not saying I don't want to ever type ESL dictation, but can I get an account where the majority is not ESL?
I'm good at what I do. I love OP notes and don't mind challenging work, but it's simply not fair. I feel like I'm being penalized for my years of hard work more than rewarded and I resent it.
Probably old question..history and physical plural or singular? -
Posted By: MTinNC
A history and physical was done OR A history and physical were done.
The HMO nightmare - SM -
Posted By: Flibertygibbit
I was surfing the web late one night and found these two, oh-so-true paragraphs that sum up managed health care in a nutshell, so I thought I'd share:
"Mangled care" was supposed to be the solution to rising health costs. HMOs would cut out the waste and keep an eye on doctors who ordered unnecessary tests and procedures, saving consumers big money. But it was the HMOs that made the big money--by restricting care.
Their philosophy was summed up by Richard Rainwater, cofounder of the for-profit HMO Columbia-HCA: "The day has come when somebody has to do in the hospital business what McDonald’s has done in the fast-food business and what Wal-Mart has done in the retailing business."
Has anyone ever done this? -
Posted By: sjk
I am accepting a position with a new company. One of my schedule options is three 12-hours days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Has anyone ever done this? I like the idea of 4 days off a week, even if they are weekdays.
This is in addition to current my current job, which is full-time, but if this new company works out at all, I would like to make a switch since the line rate would be higher and the other employees that I have spoken to really like it there.
EMDAT/InScribe foot pedal issues -
Posted By: CB
I have an Infinity foot pedal that I am using with EMDAT/InScribe. The pedal works, just not very well. There is a 2-3 second delay and sometimes it will not stop the audio. I cannot play the audio file at all if I am not in the InScribe program window. Sometimes I will lose the audio all together if I am on the web researching things. It is very frustrating! I have tried every suggestion on the support page. I have updated everything on my computer and ran every scan possible. I do not want to buy a new pedal as this one works. I hope there is some kind of "fix" for this. Any suggestions would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!
I am running Windows XP professional with Service Pack 3, DSL, Trend antivirus, and the latest versions of Windows Media Player, IE, InScribe, etc.
Thank you Thank You THANK YOU in advance! 
Has anyone received a personal loan lately? -
Posted By: See inside
I had unexpected expenses and had to get a small one from HSBC. Here are the questions I was asked:
Do you have medical insurance? If so, what are the deductibles for hospital stays, office visits.
Do you have life insurance and if so, how much?
Do you have disability ins and if so, how much?
What is your home owner's insurance deductible?
What is car insurance deductible?
Who are your insurance carriers?
I do not recall these types of questions. I ended up buying 10/mo insurance coverage which includes disability and life insurance...for $2600. I am 48.
Is this new?
MS Word Help -
Posted By: Sue
In Microsoft Word, how is it you put a "marker" or "jump to" point in your text? In other words, I need to mark a certain location, then with the pressing of a couple keys, go immediately to that loaction on my page - how do I do that?
Thanks,
Sue
Finally cools off and what do we have? -
Posted By: Mainer
SKUNKS! I guess it was too hot for them to come out in the past month. Now they come out to scrounge around the neighborhood at 8:00 p.m. to pick through the trash bags that people leave out on the roadside 3 days before trash pick up. My whole house smells like skunk.
But you can't stop these people that work the M-F shift and gather up all of their garbage in garbage bags and leave them out on Sunday evening so they won't have to get up 5 minutes early on Tuesday, which is trash day, to take the bags out to the roadside. Yes, there is a law (more like a "town ordinance" that says no trash until the morning of pickup). It's not enforced though and we just have to put up with the lazy people.
Oh well, "Eau de skunkola" is the fragrance for this evening. 
To daycare or not to daycare?! -
Posted By: Alyssa
I am a home-based Transcriptionist who worked VERY part time (2 hours a day or less) until my daughter was a little over 1 year old, and then my husband got promoted, I went back to school and quit my job. Now my degree is almost finished, and I am getting ready to start back at home again on a full-time basis with my old company. I cringe at the thought of sending my daughter to daycare, especially while I sit at home all day typing, but I am not sure I can get enough production done with a 19-month-old around all hours of the day. Does anyone have any experience with YOUNG children at home and working full time? I'm not going to push myself to produce the huge numbers I know I otherwise could, but I would just like to still be in the mix and have full-time status AND be with my daughter...I guess I want it all!
Fed up - Going on my own! Advise please! -
Posted By: Typer
Ok, I've had it! I'm going on my own. I need advise about how to find local clients, what to charge, simple dicatation systems, etc. Essentially, I need to know everything about starting my own business. I'm confident in my skills and am tired of being put up down and told when and how much I need to work. I'm dependable to the point that I have been tottally taken advantage of. I know there are better ways to make money doing transcription than what I'm currently doing. Please Help!
ABNORMAL PAP SMEAR -
Posted By: CAN'T SLEEP FOR WORRYING
Can anyone calm my fears? My PCP just called and said that my Pap smear came back abnormal and he is going to refer me to see a gynecologist for further examination. He told me that this does NOT mean I have cancer but I am still worried. Although I can't think of anyone in my family with cervical cancer, cancer is strongly positive in my family.
My PCP told me that his nurse would call and get me an appointment and then call and let me know when it would be.
First Shirt? -
Posted By: Lillybelle
Per a listing by "Deborah" on the job seeker's board, I'm just wondering...is "first shirt" a term that applies to a "lead" MT? I recall in high school when the best performer of each part of our school orchestra was referred to as "first chair", so I naturally am thinking that this "first shirt" designation is just something that I had never before noticed??
Please send me your letters! -
Posted By: anonymous
I have received only a few letters to the President about transcription. I want to send a packet full of letters is my goal! Now I know a few of my friends are still working on their letters. I want to address outsourcing, voice recognition & offshoring with the President. So please join me to help get our voices heard! Email me & I'll give you my address so that you may get your letter in to me by the deadline of 1/28/09.
*** MTSTARS DISCLAIMER ***
MTStars does not accept any responsibility for your privacy nor personal information in contacting any individual on this board. Sending your information to this person provides direct contact information to an unknown person.
MTStars Team
How do I respond to ads on the job seekers board? -
Posted By: Looking for job on this site
This might seem like a silly question but do I just send my resume using the 'apply now' button or can I and should I also send a cover letter with it? Does it need to be in plain text? Thanks
ASR funny. The surgeon has just done a robotic....sm -
Posted By: oldtimer
radical prostatectomy and signing off he says "Please send a copy to Dr. John Doe and to the prostate, and to the chart. End of dictation".
Question regarding IC pay by line vs. by page... -
Posted By: Laurie
I am a Southern California IC for two chiropractors and soon starting a third chiropractor in a few weeks. I charge $1.50 - $3.00 per page. Usually the notes are 10-25 gross lines and sometimes (1-2x/wk) a 60+ line report. I do approximately 150 reports a week total with the two chiros. So after paying gas, paper, ink, taxes, etc., I feel like I am making very little for what I am putting out.
So now I am considering charging by the line, but worry on how much to charge. I print out all reports, pick up and deliver 2x/wk, and pay for all materials including disks for backup. I feel I should be making more, but worry what to charge. Does anyone have an amount that sounds fair? I was thinking in the lines of .16 or .17 per line, does that sound right?
TIA~ 
If you found an account objectionable -
Posted By: Curious
I was recently assigned a new account at my current employer. My first impression of the account was lousy dictators and now my impression is lousy practitioners to the point of feeling almost guilty working on their reports.
I don't want to get too specific for fear of ramifications, but....I see practitioners who are just confused, scattered, make many...MANY...errors in drug names, drug amounts, drugs for stated conditions that are wrongwrongwrong, etc. They forget portions of dictations or ignore portions of dictations. They will state the patient is not available for the exam but then say to just put in the following vital signs. It makes my gut hurt. I won't even go into what goes on in the background at this facility but it is equally disturbing and really drains me physically to listen to their long rambling nonsense while listening to the sounds of their failings as medical professionals(?).
This is EVERY day in my workload (I am making no money on this account because of the constant re-dictating portions, mistakes, account notations, etc) . Well....out of curiosity I did some research. The facility has been nailed by the state on numerous occasions for errors and bad medicine and I cannot be surprised. I half feel like someone has to do it, it may as well be me (though its not profitable....) and the other half has a feeling of 'aiding and abetting' their complete inadequacy as medical professionals.
I am curious what your take is on this. What would you do? I am considering asking off of the account altogether but I am afraid to say because I don't want to work with the dregs of the medical profession. I don't want to be one of those whiny MT's who don't like this or that and want something else. I just find this account depressing and I dread it for all the reasons stated.
Typing Captions for TV&Movies -
Posted By: type
Does anyone here type captions? I want to know more about this, as I was watching TV w the captions on and wondering who types the words. I wonder if you just get to watch TV and type what you hear all day long...that would be so sweet.
Need help with calculating expenses for bid on large account. At the moment I do not know *sm* -
Posted By: Keli
how many lines they dictate per day/week. I am going to call the person who sent me the bid forms and ask. I do not have my own call-in system and would be using a TASP. Can someone tell me that currently uses a TASP how to go about figuring my costs in so that I do not under bid. I know that each dictator and the type of report is going to vary but on an average what would you say? Bottom line is I need to know how many cents per line I need to charge to cover the call-in system and my other expenses. Another thing they listed in the bid is that the vendor is to provide all other supplies including plain paper to complete each assignment. The hospital will provide any special letterhead, envelopes, etc. How do you provide the paper and probably the toner if you are doing this remotely? Would there be any other expenses that would fall under other supplies that you can think of other than toner and paper? How much toner and paper do I provide or should I ask the hospital what they use on a weekly basis? I would assume I have the right to ask questions as to how much paper, toner, how many lines they do each day or week on average. I want this account very much but I do not want to have to pay a cheap line rate and I need to make this worth my while. Thank you very much for you help.
HELP!!! Just bought new system -
Posted By: and can't get foot pedal to work
any ideas?
need new headphones, would like some input -
Posted By: reallyoldMT
I've been using stethoscope style headsets since forever, but have found that the newer onese don't seem to last long. I noticed on Transcription Gear.com they have some noise reducing headphones that are pretty pricey, but I notice I just don't hear as well as I used and wonder if these things are really any good. Also I wonder if anyone has had experience with returning things to this place in case I were to find out I didn't really see a benefit for the cost.
Thanks for your help.
need help with removing incorrect words in dictionary...sm -
Posted By: Aunt Bea
I know I have been told how to do this, but I don't remember how to remove incorrect words in my dictionary. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Pathology transcription jobs -
Posted By: Udlood
Hi. Anyone know of a company that employs transcriptionists for at-home position, who specialize in pathology? If so, please reply. Thanks
help on word board please -
Posted By: Lori
.
anyone know the deadlines for the W2s/1099s to be mailed out by? nm -
Posted By: LMT
;
expander -
Posted By: SHERRY FLOYD
I have been transcribing for 10 years, 4 at home. I have never used expanders, do they really help, how hard are they to learn and use?
They will never get that you work at home. Lm. -
Posted By: GoGrannyV
After working at home for over 10 years now, I just want to let anyone coming into this field, or anyone experiencing a lot of distractions, they will NEVER get it. For example, my son is now 23-years old. I have worked at home since he was 10 years of age. The latest company I am employed with, my schedule has been Tues - Sat 9 to 5 for 4 years. He will call me up and say" hey mom, it's me Nate". (He is an only child, it is not like I have everyone calling me mom so why he thinks he has to identify himself along with the name I gave him after I birthed him is beside me). Then he will say something like"what are you doing 4th of July" and I have to say, if it is between Tuesday-Saturday at such and such an hour I will be working. Same with DIL. She will call me up and say can you watch the kids tomorrow? I will have to say, no if it is not Tue-Sat 9-500 I cannot. They will never get it.
Who is 30 and younger and in this biz? -
Posted By: Just curious...nm
x
Dictaphone extext question -
Posted By: sm
Can someone please tell me how I get the little box to open that allows me to speed up or slow down the dictation? Sometimes it opens automatically and sometimes it does not. How do I make it open when it does not appear automatically?
earbuds or headphones? -
Posted By: Susan
I have been wearing earbuds for the past two years. For the most part they are comfortable, once in a while I'll get sore, but the wiring is getting messed up so I have to get a new set anyway. I just wanted to get other's opinions on what they use, earbuds or headphones? I can't imagine long term use of earbuds could be good for the cartilage?? So I was thinking about going to a nice set of headphones. I'd like to hear what you all prefer and opinions. thanks!!
Online education -
Posted By: CR
I'm looking at a company called Future MT for online education. Does anyone know anything about them?
AAMT name change. sm -
Posted By: MT
Someone told me that the AAMT had released a notice that they were changing their name.Does anyone know anything about this? If so, I say high time.
Converting files to other formats -
Posted By: A little lost--technical question
I'd like some help.
I have a file sent to me which was supposed to be sent in text format. Instead, the tech apparently sent it as an ACL file.
I'm supposed to send it on, but need to convert it first in text format. Can anybody coach me? I'm feeling rather "techno-challenged".
Thx.
I need help transcribing some reports that I can't understand. -
Posted By: Bubbles
I'm a new MT and I have reports that I can't understand some of things the doctor is saying. I really need help! If there is anyone out there willing to help please do.
trannsfer of converted files -
Posted By: quiet MT
I have to convert voice files and at time transfer them through FTP to another computer - long story - anyway - my FTP can be so slow because of the type of file - converted .wav - no so much the length, it is just slow - does anyone have another option for transfer that is faster? I have cable modem and all other files are quick - just these. Even zipped they take forever.
Accuracy of the BOS 2nd (sm) -
Posted By: CuriousMLS
Has anyone else on the board had problems with the revised edition of the BOS? I recently tested for a high level client and they had their "own way" of doing things. Since they were in the business of teaching academic subjects at a very high level, the argument about the new BOS went over like a lead balloon. They had their own rules. I was ashamed of what I turned in, although I did follow our own MLS new rules. Anyone else getting demerits for changing over?
TransTech -
Posted By: Wonkers
Anyone know anything about this company. They sure do sound "good". Anyone who can give some insight please post, especially if you are currently with TransTech.
Looking for tips for increasing my productivity on SR. -
Posted By: SM
I fairly new to SR. I've been MT'ing for 16 years. I was wondering if there are any secrets to increasing production. I use Dictaphone SR. Basically, when I get into the report I do a quick read through and correct any formatting that needs to be done, i.e. bold and capitalize headings, put in paragraphs, numbered lists, etc. Then I listen to the report from start to finish, editing as a I go along.
I was just wondering is there a faster way to get through a report. I'm not sure if the Dictaphone SR report quality will improve over time, but right now it requires an extensive amount of editing and correction. Sometimes it would be quicker to type the darn report!
Please note: MTStars is in no way affiliated with MTSpot. There are rumors that I own the site, whic -
Posted By: Sheri Steadman, President, MTStars nm
/
Just found this lovely article about India -
Posted By: sm
on the Kansas City Star's website:
Chamber formed to foster U.S.-India business
A group of area professionals and business executives have formed the Indo American Chamber of Commerce — Kansas City to provide a bridge between Indian and U.S. businesses in the region.
The organization was officially launched last weekend, in time for the Feb. 8 visit to Kansas City by Ronen Sen, the Indian ambassador to the U.S. The group also is organizing a conference on “Doing Business With India,” scheduled for April 10 at the Kauffman Center. The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City also is planning a business mission to India in the fall.
The new group’s founders are Raj Bhatia, chairman and managing director, and Sanjay Kohli, president.
I'm not sure what all this means, but why are we wanting to force more business "friendships" with these people?!!
|
