lost lines due to new platform myself.

• No work, low work, 45% cut in pay, still advertising for more help. - Jumping ship
  • Amen to that - I'm fed up with it. We weren't - EmmaMT
  • 4-5 cents a lines????? - camt
  • lost lines due to new platform myself. - mtgirl

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I'm working on a Windows-based Meditech platform and routinely get 450-500 lines an hour using Shorthand, and then on two other Windows-based platforms (Misys and Radplus) I get about 400-450 lines per hour. 

Have heard this is a slow platform.  Is it possible for an experienced MT to make at least 150 to 175 lines per hour?  Would you take a 2 cpl raise to switch to this platform?  THANKS!

new. I betcha.

If a MTSO advertises that the MT works in MS Word and sends dictation by FTP, does this usually mean there will be no demographic/doctor database and the demographics will not be autopopulated?

I got into a mess with a small company (got out real quickly too).  I was required to print out daily email copies of the doctors' office patient schedules (which were barely legible) and type in all information.  I spent more time hunting for the correct patient through pages and pages of these schedules.  Then I had about 25 pages worth of doctor's names that I would have to go through to find the attending, referring, etc.  A total waste of time as I didn’t get paid for that. 

I wish MTSO would give more information as to what platform they use (if any).  Proprietary software is such a generic, totally useless description.  Would they buy a new car that listed, "Car has gasoline operated motor?" 

And for Pete's sakes, why so secretive about the pay?  Give a ballpark figure.  Just say, pay is between 7-12 cpl depending on skill, testing, etc. Tell me if you pay for spaces, headers, etc.  It would save them time because I wouldn’t even apply for a 7 cpl job. 

Before I spend an hour or two testing, I need more information from a company to be sure it is compatible for my needs.  If the MTSO would spend a little time on their website detailing their platform, how they send/receive files, pay rates,  how line rate is determined (spaces/no spaces) employee/IC/SE status, minimal line count, whether work pools consist of 100s of doctors, or smaller pools with 25-50 doctors etc.   Having all this information on their website would save them time and the MTs time.   Phoenix Medcom has a really good layout describing pretty much everything an MT would want to know before testing with them.  I am just tired of testing with a company and then finding out the job wasn’t exactly suited to my needs. 

I've been working for MTSOs for years now, using their templates which sometimes cause productivity problems (macro issues, etc). I'm wondering if productivity is increased when working on a structured platform, such as one that a national company provides for its transcriptionists?  I've never used a platform, but it would seem that all one needs to do is straight type onto the screen and the platform program takes care of margins, page breaks, etc?

Any thoughts (as well as companies who are hiring who use platforms) would be appreciated.  Thanks

a day when I switched from clinic (through an MTSO)  to hospital work. Not only was the clinic work easier with more macros (and less providers to learn, 12 vs 300+), but I was typing in straight Word (as opposed to Softmed/Chart Script).  So you see, it really varies depending upon the type of work as well as the platform used. That said, I am so much happier typing the 1800 lines per day (I make over $15 per hour plus an incentive for any lines in excess of 1200 per day) plus a great health package/benefits, AND approximately 5 weeks of paid time off per year.  In my opinion, hospitals really are the best employers WHEN they appreciate the work we do.

My advice for you is not to judge a job by any one criterion but rather the entire picture. The 'extra's can really add up.

Good luck in your job!

I have always charged or been paid by 65 or 60 character lines or per letter or space typed, but have never been paid or charged per gross line.

What is the advantage of this?  If I were to charge 11 cents per 65-character line including spaces, what does this figure out to for an average line rate and how do you do this calculation? 

I'm wondering if it is financially beneficial for me to bill by gross line or to keep it the way I have it.  I do know some accounts will only pay per 65-character line, as this was the deal my first own account I recently acquired.  They were adamant on a 65-character line, but didn't specify with or without spaces and I personally would never not charge for spaces.

Thanks for explaining this.  I appreciate it and hope everyone has a speedy day.

Does any know of a Radiology account that needs a Radiology Transcriptionist with 25 years experience.  I worked for a small company in my State for a year and the account was dropped today. 

Believe it not, C phone and Lanier technology is very passe now.   If you work for a national, you never lose jobs no matter what happens.  Don't worry about it. It's their equipment not you that caused your job to disappear.  It's all in a day's work. My mom used to say "tomorrow is another day." It's true it is, fresh start, new beginnings with lessons from the previous one to lean on.

and of hospitals around here that have gone to EMR, no Transcriptionist is needed.

With VR and EMR, the VR automatically puts their dictation into the patient's record.  They could care less how it looks, their idea is to save money.

I have worked with PRD+ for 6 years.  Somewhere between moving offices and and clutter I have misplaced my PRD diskette.  Tried to save from original computer to transfer to new computer, but will not work since I am going from Windows 98 to XP.  Since Sunflower is no longer in business, I need to the disks as I have worked without my PRD for 2 days and it is killing me.  I need the original diskette because you can save from 1998 and transfer to XP, even though the program I will be working in is WP. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  TIA!

Hubby got the gout after that, so had to go off it so we could find out what kind of foods would trigger his attacks. That was 2 years ago and we gained all our weight  back. We missed the meals. We were really into the full meal salads, etc., satisfying and weren't really into sweets or deserts before starting. Never missed potatos, either (except french fries...my weakness).

 He also has a heart problem and finally asked his doctor what foods to avoid...Lo and behold....everything we're eating now. When asked what foods to eat...you guessed it...everything on the Atkin's Diet. So, 2 years later, we're anxious to get back to it. ...but a modified version.

Oh, and we have figured out which foods trigger his gout...FINALLY. It's any dark green leafy vegetable, spinach (our favorite) and even mixed baby greens, and green beans! Never would have believed it but we tried several times to include those in our diet and they trigger attacks every time...go figure.

of each other in September.  I am so sorry for your loss!  I have not even taken it all in yet...

I was driving to Philadelphia to see my dad who had terminal lung cancer when I got the call that my 12-day-old grandson was in the hospital on life support!  I was torn what to do, see dad or turn around to be with my daughter...I went ahead to see dad, but he passed two days before I got there, my grandson the next day....There I was, in the middle of Iowa at a truck stop, feeling like I was in a surreal world, with people all around me talking, laughing, etc.  I lost the oldest and youngest members of my family within 24 hours. 

Believe it or not, time does help!  I think about my dad almost every day, especially when I type elderly male patients.  I have just now started to laugh when I think about him.  I have his WWII picture in my dining room, I see his handsome face every day and I have a more recent picture next to it, him looking tired and ragged, but he has one of his great-granddaughters on his lap and he is smiling big and proud. 

I like to think that my dad passing a day before my grandson just made it certain the baby would have someone in heaven waiting for him from his family!

Be strong and know that there are those of us here who feel for you and share your sorrow and pain! 

And do we ever get over it?  Doubtful.  Especially if we were close to our dads.  I was lucky, had him for over half a century!!  Very lucky indeed and he lived til he was 96!  He was shooting for 100 or the millenium (which he was around for 2000-01).  I'll never get over his demise but I will always cherish what's in my heart and my head as I had one terrific Dad, as you probably did too.

If it gets too tough, one day at a time (ODAT) might not work, and in those times, one minute at a time works wonders. Best luck!!!