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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

good for a while, until your wrists give out.

Posted By: nm on 2008-10-17
In Reply to: A challenge... - Amanda

nm


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He/she needs to PAY them well, give good
the quality and production will improve, & turnover will go down. Doctors keep raising prices to US, so why are we so squeamish about raising our prices to THEM?

Raise MTs pay & benefits. Sometimes you have to SPEND money to MAKE money.
I consider myself a good MT, can I give you my side?
I have 15 years experience and a pretty impressive resume.  I was called and sent a test file of 30 minutes - told to pick 2-3 files to test.  The sound quality was great, the dictator was a dream.  I was told I would be needed full-time, absolutely no part-time permitted, I would have the same dictator if at all possible, would get work late evening/early morning and was due back the next afternoon, was given a low but decent line rate, was expected to do a lot of work and give 5 days notice if I needed time off and work to start w/i several days.  Well, the work did not start for 2 weeks (new clinic getting up and running), the dictators were unorganized, the template was horrible - a nightmare for a typist/awkward to say the least, the line count was w/o spaces, the sound quality was poor, the work came late morning or afternoon and due that night, rarely got the same dictator, template and headers/footers changed several times, patient list, if provided, was in difficult format, work emailed and sometimes only half received, voice files were distorted, AND if I got work - only got 45 minutes to 60 minutes daily maybe 3 days a week and then a ton on Friday afternoon due early Monday morning..... This is not the job I applied for!!!  Thankfully I did not give notice at my other company and have had a back-up job all along - the new company is very nice but just not cutting it in my book - it was all about what they wanted/needed and to heck with what they said was going to happen - reality was quite different and quite disappointing. I do not consider 60 minutes full-time and I work mornings best - not a swing-shift.   I'm not hungry enough to jump through more hoops for them at this point. 
What you pay a good tax guy to give you suggestions and help with taxes is
:)
How long do you give a new job before you decide it's not a good fit for you? sm
(Also posted on Company Board)

My saga follows. Please go to the bottom of post for my question :)

I've been with my current company as a PT emp. for 2 1/2 months. Everything about them seems to be quite fair, not great, but very fair. I'm still on hourly pay of a whopping $8.50 till I get my production up. Therein lies the problem, I cannot EVER see getting my line count up with the inordinately excessive number of ESLs on my acct. It's just ridiculous. All I'm asking is to actually TRANSCRIBE for a living, instead of rewinding and relistening 1000 freakin' times a day.

I've never gotten the feeling that I'm being taken advantage of or given the crap work, I just believe I'm on a very high percentage ESL account. I don't mind doing ESLs, I really don't. I just want more understandable drs thrown into the mix.

This is my first job after graduating and I was lucky enough to be hired for acute care. I'd like to continue in acute care. I just want to be able to PRODUCE, improve and ENJOY my job. I want to be doing MT work for many years to come.

I'd just like some opinions from those of you with more experience about what you might do in my situation.

Also, how long do you give a job before you decide it's not a good fit for you? Am I giving up too quickly?


That's good to hear. Maybe I should give it a chance and see if I like it.

A good tax guy can help with taxes and give ideas on deductions. His fee is a
:}
I wanted to thank all those who give me good advice last week. SM

And for listening to me boo hoo about being laid off or dissolved as the suits at the hospital like to call it.  Anyway, I have officially accepted a QA Editor position with a service and I'm actually in a more positive frame of mind than I was last week.


I got my laptop all set up and ready to go with a laptop stand for plenty of ventilation, I put off buying any kind of wav player and just downloaded ExpressScribe for the time being, and I didn't saturate the market with my resume, but picked only a few places to apply based on suggestions and information you all gave me here.  And I did all of this because you ladies gave me such good advice.


I just wanted to say what a great place this is and it is very, VERY wonderful to have a place to network, socialize, fellowship, or just plain gab with colleagues and friends. 


Give your keyboard a good upside down shake

Seriously...mine gets filled with all sorts of unspeakable oogies like cat hair, crumbs, and lord knows what else (thankfully I haven't spied anything that moves--yet!) and sometimes the keys (namely the shift/control/alt keys) stick.  These are the ones that will mess up control+function capabilities.  If that doesn't work, reboot.  If that doesn't work, call tech support just in case someone fiddled with preferences or something like that. 


Another handy thing to have is one of those "cans of air" that you can blow out your keyboard with on occasion.


Good luck!


What I think is so sad is that people may give up good jobs to go there to find out these things all
to late. The newbies can learn and use MQ and move on which they do but of course the clients suffer then with all the people learning on them but this is what MQ causes and when they lose clients with poor quality or people that just throw out work then they caused their own problems. You cant keep good MTs with no work I dont care what incentives you offer because they mean nothing with no work ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I wish people would understand that when MQ hires them.
I had bad wrists from the get-go
I have had two ganglion cysts removed from my left wrist and one removed from my right wrist.  Also, in August 2005 I had sugery for DeQuervain's in my left wrist.  It was after this that I finished my schooling and became an MT.  Maybe I'm asking for more trouble, I don't know.  But this was what I really wanted to do, so I'm willing to take the risk.  I have been having trouble with my wrists since I was in the 6th grade...so I guess I'm used to it.  So far, things have been OK for me.  I haven't had any trouble, even from the most recent surgery.  I try to take at least 5-10 minutes every hour and stretch my fingers and wrists, and just give them a "breather".  I know I will end up with trouble in the future, however.  So, I feel your pain.
And sore wrists. Have you tried any of these?

Smart Gloves.  Google them.  They're wonderful.  About $20 bucks apiece but well worth the money.


Carpal tunnel type straps.  Wal Mart.  $10 bucks apiece.


I have both and I alternate.


I ended up with numbness in my right index finger, but after buying these, it just went away after a few weeks.  My fingers and wrists have some discomfort on occasion, but nothing like they were before.


One more thing, and I know people that do this, if you do "pound" the keyboard with your fingertips, relax those hands, elbows and shoulders and just tap. If that doesn't work, you may want to get a better keyboard.


Good luck!


sore wrists
I use Oregano Oil on my wrists and the tops of my hands. Sometimes it hurts to lift fingers and I run the Oregano Oil along those bones.
I spend a good deal of time tweaking the ones in there so ummm, may give it a shot lol
dd
Invest in some wrists splints soon. ;) nm

Therapy for hands and wrists that keep me typing. sm

With a medium-weight rubber band around your fingers and thumb, stretch your fingers and thumb out as wide as you can against the rubber band.  Bring fingers back in then stretch them out again, repeat 10 times 2 to 3 times a day. 


If you maintain a daily schedule with this you will definitely feel a difference.  Hope this helps!


Rings on 5 fingers, bracelets on both wrists. nm
.
Also wear Handeze. They keep wrists and hands
warm with some tension, not too much though, but helps with carpal tunnel also, being that they are elasticized.  I bought mine through craft catalogs, such as Herrschner's and Mary Maxim.  Can buy them through the catalog or online. 
Sorry! Wrists at 180 degrees in same flat plane as
s
I have arthritis in my wrists and thumbs, and find - sm
it works just as well to make my own. I buy cheap, thin, snug-fitting gloves, then cut out the fingers so that about 2/3 of each finger sticks out. That way all knuckle joints, base of thumbs, and wrists are warm, and when they're warm, they rarely hurt & I can type faster.
personally, I cannot type unless my wrists rest on
something, and my right hand is more "pegeon-toed" inward than my left.


Isn't decorating cakes hard on the wrists and

I wouldn't be able to handle not making more money when I need to. 


This board is not know it all and neither are the people who post here.  MT is not going away.  There are too many physicians and/or clinics that still use tapes.  Come on, let's be realistic.  There are changes and cut in pay, but do you not think the physicians are feeling the crunch as well?  They only get paid a certain amount from insurance companies.  They've been told not to prescribe certain meds.  It's not just MT, everyone is feeling the pressure of higher prices. 


It's a shame you've never found a company that truly appreciates your work!  Good luck with the cake stuff!  I hope people don't quit buying cakes because of the price of food rising!  The economy is tough, very tough! 


Oh, that is funny. What a visual...an MT with Frankenstein scars at wrists from
lol
Tip on Aching Wrists/Target Laundry Detergent!
Okay, I have hesitated sharing this one for a long time now, cause I know, absolutely know, I will get flamed somehow, cause its sort of silly, but its not silly to those of us whose wrists and/or arms are shot from this "career".  I have really bad wrists now AND elbows - actually if your wrists hurt, chances are your tendons are aggravated right up to your elbow, too, though the pain might not localize there.  At any rate, I also found my wrist would hurt with some "ADLs", mostly laundry.  No matter what size of detergent I bought, they were always heavy, and the motion of pouring deturg into the cups really hurt my right wrist. Sometimes I could even hear an audible "pop" on that motion of holding this heavy bottle and pouring. My physical medicine guy said it was the motion of that with the weight on top of typing that wreaked havoc on my wrists, and that even lots of women who don't type have popped their tendons out using laundry detergent!  Well, this is SO stupid, but...a few months ago I went to Target and saw their brand "Method" laundry detergent.  Its super concentrated and fits 32 loads in a tiny bottle. Plus, its like those mouthwash dispensers where you just hold the bottle upright and squeeze and a tiny bit of the detergent fills in a tiny cup at the top. You fill to the line, which takes all of 1 second, and that's all the detergent you need! Plus, this stuff is awesome with the laundry.  Prior to that, only Tide could get my kids clothes clean. This stuff is the BEST, and it smells great! Its about $6 for this bottle, which I would have thought expensive, but the savings on my wrists are priceless!  My carpal tunnel and elbow tendonitis have nearly completely healed. It was just this stupid combo of motions that did my wrists in!  For those older MTs like me, who've been at this for over 20 years, try it! It might help!!  Again, I see a sports med guy, and get injections occasionally. I used to have to wear wrist braces, etc.  I was scheduled for surgery until I started using this silly Target laundry detergent! Now, no more pain!  Isn't that so weird? But neat?
Any suggestions for painful hands/wrists from typing?

My hands are always freezing cold.  I wear fleece "wristies" to keep warmer.  I have pain in both hands all day from typing.  One wrist has a ganglion, and both wrists have some arthritis showing on x-ray.  I rub capsaisin on hands/wrists.  Still the pain persists.  Pain relievers (Advil, etc.) do not help much.   Prescriptions from doctors did nothing.


I was wondering if other heavy typers out there might have found some helpful things to alleviate hand/wrist pain.  I even purchased "warming cream" which is supposed to help increase circulation to the hands, but it did nothing.  I have several keyboards that I have tried also. 


THanks!


What do you do when your wrists ache and your hands weigh a ton but you have to keep typing?

I know I have read posts on here before regarding this topic but I can never find them in the archives.  Besides a different keyboard, is there something you can take like a vitamin or different foods that will help?  I have noticed that if I eat potatoe chips, my hands are stiff the next morning.  Is there a certain brace or splint you can buy that you can wear when not working or do you even wear these when working?  I thought I saw some magnetic splint somewhere.  I am not like this every day, just some of the time but when I am, it is very frustrating. 


Also work on eScription. Make more. Easier on wrists. sm
It's editing work, and the reason I personally make more is that I'm a slow typist but a fast reader and "punctuator." The eScription software is very easy to learn.
what keyboard would best help with arthritis in my long fingers and wrists
Doc says I do not have carpal tunnel syndrome or cubital tunnel syndrome, I have osteoarthritis.  Most painful in the long fingers and the wrists of both hands.  I have tried the ergonomic keyboard and just can't seem to adjust.  I do use the A-style keyboard layout and love it.  Anyone have one they use that is not as abusive to the arthritis.  Thanks in advance. 
Mine are on a beanbag wrist rest. Need wrists at 90-degree angle
s
The girl was 13, the rapist a distant relative they took in. Give money, give food and your time, b
you don't put your family at risk by taking in strangers. That's just plain foolish. There were over 3300 registered sex offenders in NO. Where are they now. In your community? Perhaps in your house? Good luck.
oh our lovely government does give illegals medicaid, foodstamps, and housing so in term we give tha
i have been through some rough times lately and had to apply for some help. there are signs, big signs, all over our offices saying "YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE LEGAL TO GET HELP". so we and our government do give them our benefits whether they are legal here or not. now that is messed up. i am helping to support them so they can take away my jobs and i can't even support my kids and yes i get benefits, wow $75 a month in food stamps which lasts not even a week in a household of 6. don't get me wrong, i am thankful for any help at the moment, but i get penalized for trying to work my tail off and still can't survive.

there was recently an article in our local newspaper where one of our local school districts tried to charge $1000 a year for each illegal student enrolled. it was bulked and the illegals got a lawyer to sue for discrimination. the school district merely stated that they had to HIRE extra teachers that could speak the foreign language just to teach these children and were trying to offset some of the expenses. ridicilous!! so again our taxpayers money is paying to educate illegals as well.
Aw come one give her a break. She said she was sorry and is willing to refund. Give her a chance to

do what is right.  If she fails to do what is right, then go about this in an adult way and not act like such a child.  "you suck"  That is so immature.


She is responding to you and you are eating her alive.  Why would she put herself out there to be treated like this if she didnt mean it. 


I am really astonished at how people can act on here.  Would you treat people like this in person?  If you do, I cant imagine you having very many friends. 


Remember we are all "HUMAN." 


 


A simple google search will give you your answer...I'd give you the answer,
but how would that help you learn to research on your own...and I'm in a rush to get to the next post. 
Tell him you'll give him your macros if he'll give you his Lexus, his ski cabin, and (nm)
;p
That is a good offer. Pay is not that good at UIMC. Good luck! nm
x
On 2nd thought, if you're NOT a good Italian style cook, make something you ARE good at. Leave th
s
Any rose gardeners out there? Good roses that are disease proof and smell good?
I heard good things about Knockout Rose but they don't smell too much like traditional rose.  Supposedly blooms all season. 
Reading your content just made my day. Keep the good work. to Rape Game you should be very Good: htt
You're doing a great work here. I enjoyed visiting here very much. Thanks! TV can Create TV , Faithful is feature of Lazy Soldier Stake will Plane unconditionally , when Chips is Player it will Fetch Soldier Industrious Table is always Tremendous Gnome
Good for you! You sound like a very nice and generous person and you deserve all your good luck! nm
x
Good work. I like your site. Make Pair is very good Grass: http://www.cbsnews.com/ , Mistery can Per
Very informative site. Good job. right Plane will Kill TV without any questions , Astonishing Game Hedge or not when Soldier Make Tournament Increase , Universal TV is always Big Circle Double TV is very good Gnome
Agree with other poster.. good price..good service
I definitely think they are one of the best out there. We also have been talked through issues over the phone and also had a warranty in which they came out and fixed it right at our home. My only complaint..and I am sorry for saying this.. but... when you call their customer service 9 out of 10 times...you get someone who barely speaks English and I just hate that. I think that is true of a lot of customer support centers these days, ironically they are rarely American anymore. I am not prejudice at all. I just find it frustrating to call in for help and the help you get barely understands you and you do not understand them, thus making the experience very frustrating..
Expensive is right -- around $300 per credit hour! But they do have a good rep. Good luck! nm

I believe Pilates is good for shaping and strength, but you still need some cardio for good fat
s
Maybe try to find a good web site to refer to! Good luck NM
.
Good for you. Sounds very interesting and a good chance of pace - sm

but I live in the northeast and not much need for that where I live.  I also live in a small town so that limits my options.  I have spent the last couple of years as a substitute teacher to supplement my MT job and just completed 4-1/2 months as a long term sub which I enjoyed and was a change of pace from MT.  The only problem is as a sub or ed tech you only get paid during the school year so I would have to keep my MT job for summers and school vacations.  With the way things are going in the MT world I hate to rely solely on that.  I don't want to find myself without any job whatsoever.   


Thanks for all the responses.    


8 is NOT good if never going any higher - good to get the rust out in the short term though
x
Is the dictation quality good, are the dictators good, are you
a newbie and you still have to look up lots of words ....   The very first day I typed, with absolutely no education way back when, when you didn't have to have a degree/certificate or previous experience, I typed 665 lines.  This was without an expander and I was not a fast typist.   I can do 1000 lines in about 4 hours now on average. 
LOL! Well, good! I've done ONE good thing today, then. NM
x
You have a good, realistic attitude about it. Good luck to you. nm
x
So? Take the good will and good wishes and smile. When the first day of Hanukkah comes up, SM
have a doughnut and a latke on me. I'll wish you Happy Hanukkah then. You know we spread Christmas out over a month!
Good money? Can we ask how much is considered GOOD in your books????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Especially for Iowa, that is pretty good. UI can get good over time, but that's because of the u