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Any of you who do this, how in the heck do you make any money? I accepted a job with a company for 4 cpl for VR, but I nearly have to type the entire reports over.  I was doing it part time and it takes so much time that I figured out I am only making 5.00 per hour.  What's the average rate for this?  I  gave it up, it's not worth it for the line rate, considering I was editing typed transcription as well that came back from India and it was just as bad and took just as much time.

Entered a photo contest and got an email congratulating me on it being chosen to publish in their book ($59+shipping) for a copy with a plaque eligibility for $5000 prize. Seems like a lot to pay for the entry??? Contest by "Cirle of Photographers". Is this the norm for these contests? I've never entered one before. Thanks for your advice.

Do any of you work for Sten-Tel? I was thinking of accepting their offer, but could not find any recent posts about this company. Would appreciate any information what it is like to work for them.

Thanks!  

Just recently got out of the hospital with PE but need to go back to work right away.  On the usual meds that come with this condition and feeling lightheaded.  Anyone here been through same thing and how soon did you return to work as an MT?  I would prefer you e-mail me privately.  If this is too personal for you.  I understand.  I tend to be more candid than most.  Also would prefer to talk to someone who has been through it.

Thank you so much.

I just got a new system, vista.  What spell checker are you using with Vista.  At work I have Spellex on xp, but i was wondering if there was something better, steadmans??? any opinions.

Thanks

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I am thinking of taking a job that pays by the gross line and not a 65-character line.  I have never worked this way.  Does this literally mean if there is one little word on a line you get paid for it?  I have not pinned her down on a line rate but I am just thinking I am going to be comparing apples to oranges and am wondering how to accomplish that. 

Thanks for any help!

before I had children <g>.  Nothing offensive, I promise, and it's the funniest thing I've seen online in ages.  Enjoy

BTW, it's from salon.com, so you may have to click thru an ad to view.

First of all, let me explain that I work not from dictation but a handwritten template that I fill in--typewritten "transcription" in turn.   The physician fills out the form while in the treatment room, circles correct choice from a list, etc.; sometimes the nurse does this.  I've been instructed for the third time to "type as written" when I've questioned meds or inconsistencies.  This goes against my training and principles (if that sounds sanctimonious, so be it)--when I can't reference things. I've had as much as half with questions and blanks where information was simply skipped. I don't have the patient charts to consult--just a stack of forms.  I have respect for the doctor professionally; her patients, many of whom have been coming to her for years, seem to love her.  Never had this experience before, either with transcription or as a secretary.  Most of the time my supervisors have been happy that I caught errors.  Please let me say these aren't nitpicky things--it is misspelled drugs like Demedex rather than Demadex!

The last time I said I wouldn't put my initials on the reports I questioned and was told I must put my initials "to tell who to return work to," even though I'm the only one doing transcription.  Furthermore, the office manager told me the doctor takes ultimate responsibility because it's her signature on the notes.  I'm going to comply while looking for other work, because this is one of many things we just don't see eye-to-eye on!  What do you all think?  How to deal with this?  TIA!

I am doing a 1099 C to my ex-husband and I have received my four from my accounts and so here are the instructions regarding them from the IRS forms sitting in front of me -- Both as a recepient and as a reporter

DUE DATES:  Furnish Copy B of this form to the recipent by January 31, 2007.  File copy to the IRS by Februuary 28th.  I have to file my "Intent to File a 1099 by Februaru 15th".

On the back of my 1099 (Misc Income) received from my accounts it states "If your net income from self employmnt is $400 or more, you must file a return and compute you SE on Schedule SE (Form 1040) -- this is social security.  

It does not say from all 1099's but simply on the back of this one.  Now if someone files a 1099 with under 400 on it and others are filed with higher amounts, the IRS might wonder but I doubt that they would audit for 400 as that does not increase your tax and is only 60 SS.  Not worth their time.  But if you were to get several of these they might. 

Now some will not send you a 1099.  Plumbers, electricians, painters etc. that work on houses as sub-contracters do not get 1099's from their contractors.   I have several neighbors/friends who have small business and use manual labor and do not provide 1099's.   Then you have to decide whether or not it is worth including in case you get audited and how honest you wish to be. 

As for the employee vs IC or subcontractor - would you get anymore benefits as an employee - perhaps the 0.75 SS that they pay but they would take that out of your pay so you are not ahead.  As for having to set hours, when I was offered that before I decided stay and forge forward with my own accounts - I simply said "No thank you".  But I understand where they are coming from after having my own small 5 accounts.  I do give my gals some leeway but I do need the work back in a certain amount of hours and I prefer that they work when they are rested, not rushed, have no interruptions or squeezing me in between basketball or soccer as it certainly shows in their work.  It is hard keeping an even flow as I have no control of when docs are off or work is light or when suddenly someone decides  not to work. In the 18 years I have been doing this the hardest part is keeping a regular flow of work going to keep everyone happy.   As unemployement goes up, we go down.  But anyway just thought I would let you know what the 1099's say. 

I want to ask the most comprehensive questions I can so as to make the best decision possible.  I work for a small national right now, pretty happy but would like better benefits, especially more affordable and better insurance.  I already know this hospitals pays .09 cpl and .11 if you do more than 1200 lines per day.  It's been so long since I've been interviewed in person.  I need you guys to help me make a list of questions to ask so that I can just get it all down on paper and make sure I'm not missing anything.  I know they use ChartScript and Lanier and that they provide the computer.  What else exactly should I ask? 

At 8 cents a line, to me, that should be just straight typing.  No looking up - leaving a blank, and no struggling more than 1 time to make out what some doctor is mumbling.  I am sorry, please don't tell me I have a bad attitude, but each and everyone of us is worth more than 8 cents a line.  When we were paid (in the past) at a higher rate, it made up for the researching or trying to figure out what the doctor is saying.  I had been out of this work for quite some time.  Worked in a hospital for 22.00 an hour for years, worked part time for a service for about 9 cents a line - maybe 3 days a week for 4 hours a day.  I did not pay attention that closely then as I had the hospital job.  But now, working 8 hours (or more.)  This is complete and total B.S.  This p_____s me off so bad.  But I have to do it in this economy, I am not in a position to do anything else.  Everytime I try to really pick up my speed - as there was a time I could about 200 lines or more an hour.  (I cannot do it anymore straight through 8 hours.)  The QA people find something (a comma or whatever) and then I get nervious and slow way down.  I know they have a job to do, but come on.  There are some, but very few,  doctors who care where a comma goes.  Give me a break.  It just infuriating for everyone that does this.  I had a few doctors on my own accounts years back, but they would not pay on time, regularly, etc.  Anyway I just had to vent. 

nm

Come to work for Soft Script.  If you are a "newbie" transcriptionist, do not mind us stealing your lines, enjoy rude, threatening, and hateful e mails, and among numerous other things - you like to work for less than minimum wage, then we have the perfect position for you. 

Yes folks, this is what you will get when you go to work for Soft Script, it is a lot of fun, everyone should try it. 

NOT!!!!!!!!!  

I think I'm in the minority here, but I'd much rather do long reports than quick short ones.  Right now I'm doing prog notes/fups/etc but I also get a few psych notes here and there.  I'd much rather do 4-5 30min psych notes than 50 2-min clinic notes a day but I found out that that clinic is leaving so I won't be getting those any longer.  Should I just my manager that I want the longer reports and hope she'll find me something else?  Or just keep my mouth shut and keep chugging along?

Am curious if anyone's else is outrageously high.  Mine typically is $150-200 for summer months. 

I keep temp at 82 during day, 78 at night.  Temperatures here soar to 95-100 though.  But, I live alone and have gas hot water, gas stove.

Working at home has its pluses and minuses!  Leaving the air off for 8-10 hours a day while I was at the hospital working saved me a lot of cash in this utility bills.

I've been using Autocorrect for years and just recently started using Shorthand.  Autocorrect is so easy to use and to add entries to.  In Autocorrect, you can type up a whole page or template or whatever, highlight it, then go into Autocorrect and just choose which abbreviation you want to use for it.  All the formatting stays, bold and everything.  When I try to do that with Shorthand, it copies the template into Shorthand, but none of the bold and formatting is there.

I'm sure there must be a way to add templates into Shorthand, but I have no idea what that is and it seems like it would be complicated.

I've been looking at Smart Type and it looks pretty good, but I'm wondering if it will be the same as ShortHand as far as adding long entries or templates.  I love Autocorrect because of this feature, it makes it soooo easy.  Can anyone tell me which Expander is similar to Autocorrect in this fashion?  Thank you!

I just started a new MT job and will get health insurance when my benefits quick in.  I want to put my husband on my insurance.  My question is- he has spina bifida and I am concerned that the insurance company will deny him coverage.  Can they do that?

Thanks

I was switching back and forth between documents and Word asked me if I wanted to save changes and I hit no when I meant to hit yes and ALL of my work is now gone.  Is there ANY way to recover this?

Thank you so much!

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone out there knows how to get the expanded toolbar in Editscript in the work queue????

Thanks :)