Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

1 extra hour per day in additional to regular shift...nm

Posted By: MT on 2007-08-04
In Reply to: Mandatory extra hours?? How many? - Yikes

xx


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

    The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
    To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


    Other related messages found in our database

    If you work it you get extra cpl. You CAN ask for it off if it is on your regular days also. sm
    Personally I don't think it is a bad deal at all.  Better than nothing, which is what my other job paid for holidays.
    This job is only good for extra pin money for people that have other regular income coming in.
    It may end up being a good job for people that are experienced and on social security and have other investments now for some extra money.  Would never want to have it to pay all bills.  No way.
    No just put your regular shift
    Just put your regular schedule unless you work approved OT. That is all that is necessary for the payroll people because they go by line count anyway.
    Should get extra for 3rd shift 99% ESLs!...nm

    pay is by the hour. Don't know about CMT extra. Not hiring editors right now.
    ,,
    A lot of times, if they need extra help, they will over 1-1/2 times our regular rate. sm
    This is the equivalent of OT but you get it even if you have not done 40 hours already. I have also received AmerExp gift cards a few times for incentives offered. I think it depends on the account.

    I do know for sure that they are working on an incentive program but I have no details and not even sure if they are still looking at it.

    I do know for sure that I make more $$ with Keystrokes than I have ever made anywhere else.
    24-hour shift
    What companies let you do your work with no set schedule and give you 24 hours to complete your required lines??
    This is in an 8-hour shift
    It is an ER account with about 8 or 9 doctors, and every doc has a template, which are counted as lines, and the reports are very short and easy. The platform is ExText.
    No Shift Requirements at MDI...Just 24-hour window
    Sorry, couldn't let that falsehood go by unchecked.

    I've worked at MDI-MD for several months, and THERE IS NO SET SCHEDULE. You have a 24-hour window to get your lines done. You choose the days you wish to work. Not once has anyone ever contacted me to see where I am or what time I will be on. Somedays I get my lines done in a single sitting; other times, I spread it out over the allotted window.

    Nope, don't know if it's changed since perhaps you ICd for them or if you've been misinformed, but there is no set shift.
    If I worked a longer day, I just put my regular shift, 3p-11p, or whatever. If I worked sm
    an extra day, then I was told to fudge the hours around on the other days so it all came out to 40.  I didn't really mind -- have learned not to expect overtime in this profession -- and I was happy to be able to work whenever I needed to get the lines I needed.  However, them telling me directly to fudge on my time sheet would seem to be a violation of the wage and hour laws.  I suppose it doesn't matter now if they do not even have enough work to make the minimum line count necessary.  Several of the companies I thought were golden seem to have gotten a bit tarnished lately … sad. 
    Yes but that means hiring a lot of extra people and paying out a lot of extra money when they can
    have SE without all this. Their last report said they are making less money now than before and expect to make less in the next quarter so what does that say. We shall see. As part time employees you would still have to adhere to a schedule and I think people are SE for flexibility at least I am.
    As a shift lead I made $15 an hour, but did QA plus lead duties...
    I also worked terrible hours with no differential for them. I think it just matters on the company.
    Additional info
    Can you give us any tips on how you approached these doctors offices.  Any information would be appreciated
    additional comments
    There are currently no weekend bonuses. It's the usual to run out of work evenings and weekends, especially on Sunday. Management has been specific that they want the work cleared out by the weekend. Yes, they have a newsgroup that MTs can use to ask questions and give each other normals or samples. They are growing rapidly and becoming less responsive. Not sure how you managed to produce 1500 lines a day -- were you on clinics or acute care? QA people have absolutely no contact with the MTs. I don't consider that supportive or helpful to the MTs at all. You can go in and review your reports once completed, but you cannot review your original report side by side with the finished report.
    any additional news?
    I understand they are not a large company, and having left myself due to the problems with payroll and bouncing checks etc, I am concerned for fellow MTs still working for them. Last I heard, several MTs were filing complaints with the District Attorney - hooray for you - may I also suggest the Attorney General for the State of PA? Bouncing checks is not a laughing matter, and when a company does this as often as D&L does, it is possible they are setting you all up for a bankruptcy, and as IC you will be incorporated into their claim and never get paid. Make contact now with those who can legally make them pay - one way or the other. And keep the board posted. No other MT should be placed in your shoes - and any outcome you have can help others with possible problems with other companies. Remember you are an independent contractor - not an employee, so you rights are a bit different, but a legal claim can be made - not through the labor board but through the DA or attorney general. I can tell you that the management of D&L think they are smarter than us - and that they are Teflon coated, able to get away with this, because they have for many years. Time to show them who is really in control. If you have had problems with them for payment of services and not gotten that check yet, or one that has bounced - file a claim for theft of services. Time to teach these companies that we mean business when it comes to our business.
    Additional information
    They have a great insurance program, and recently they increased their contribution so the rising fees for insurance would not impact their employees as much. Which I have never seen another company do. They are also bringing the HR in-house so that they can have more control of HR issues and probably be more in control of the kinds of rates for medical insurance etc. I have 2 great accounts and steady work, they give bonuses on top of bonuses when you help out extra. Plus they have unlimited patience with their MTs regarding flexibility. At least for me. I also did a minutes check. Per minute on an average of spoken dictation I get more lines with this company and incentive retroactive paid more than anywhere else, equal to a hospital job. This is even though they don't pay for headers and footers, but their dictators make up for that, and they spread the wealth around with normals v difficult dictators. So, all in all, I know after all my research I am retiring with this company, no doubt about it. And I am not an MTSO or cheerleader, just an old gal who has been around the block a bit. Good luck in your search.
    Do you have any additional info

    on GCTFL?  Specifically, what type of platform do they use?  Is it web-based or does it require a C-phone?  Any idea on what their pay scale is like or incentives?


    Just curious before I take the time to apply.


    Have you asked to be put on an additional account? nm
     
    Additional info on Task
    I have been pretty proficient in this type of transcription for about seven years and it sounds like it is what they mostly offer. What is the low pay scale they offer and what type of a payment delay is expected if I decide to take on this company. How long have you worked for them? Thanks for the info! amj
    This is true. Shift does matter. I work 2nd shift and really have not had any issues with not havi
    x
    I got the same automated email, but did not get any additional emails...
    apparently the left hand is not aware of what the right hand is doing. I would not bother with them at this point since they apparently are not on top of things. I would think they would have shut off the automated reply or at least changed it seeing as they have an ad running...makes ya wonder.
    3rd shift radiology can be like that. Feast or famine. Same with 3rd shift sm
    ER work. Sometimes the doctors are too busy to dictate, so they do it at the end. Why don't you talk to them and ask about a different shift?
    Ya know, even if I spend time during my shift or after that shift

    it is still MY time, expected by the company, and I am not getting paid for it regardless.  I don't answer my phone while I am working, never did, never will.  What other profession, while probably punching a clock, do folks work for free?  If I worked in an office doing this, that time would be paid - say 15 minutes a day x 5 days a week at even $10/hour =   $50 a month - and it is more time spent than that to deal with the email thing and the reminders and the changes in specifics and logging in and out of 3 different accounts when primary is out of work.  GRRR. 


    I don't change jobs easily either, glad you are happy where you are - but producing 1400 lines of ACCURATE text will end my career soon (and probably yours also) and then what are we all to do?  My goal is not to work more, work harder and longer hours to produce a salary I can live on. 


     


    think, people! If she does 250 lines/hour, same docs daily, will make $15/hour
    nm
    100,000/year - no way. I charge $35/hour and work 10 hour days - sm
    AND I DO NOT CLEAR $100,000/YEAR.


    what's not to believe - I said that I charge $35/hour and work 10 hour days AND DO NOT MAKE - sm
    I DO NOT MAKE $100,000/YEAR

    try READING the post.
    $35/hour x five 10-hour days = $1,750 gross/week.
    x
    $20 an hour is not even average for radiology. You should not make less than $25-30 per hour. sm
    I work for Keystrokes and have for 3 years. I average 25 reports an hour, which is $31.25 an hour. I have 401, health insurance, direct deposit, life insurance. My lead tells me I'm wonderful when I talk to her, but I do not need a daily pat on the back.

    I also have a good friend who works for them on a clinic. She only makes 0.08 per line but does 300 lines an hour, which is $24 an hour, again higher than your $20.

    I don't think we're selling ourselves short. There are companies out there that are good to work for, 6 or 8 of them that I know of personally. Don't settle for $20 an hour.
    They pay well 10 cpl days, 11 cpl 2nd shift, 12 for 3rd shift
    1300 lines a day required, 65 character line. They have benefits. Don't know much else.
    I have worked both 3rd shift and day shift (SM)
    including what you call banker's hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). I ran out of work more often on 3rd than I do now on the day shift.
    Well if I could do 500 lines per hour, I would be making 35.00 an hour. sm
    nothing to sneeze at. More than fair for having a 2-year degree. Come on people, we are all acting like we expect 6-digit incomes! Whatev!
    Same here, about 40-50 regular drs on my acct, with
    probably 10 of them being so awful, I can hardly attempt them. I'm happy to say that some I hated at first are now ones I enjoy, so hopefully I will keep finding that to be the case. Others though, UGH!
    If you have a regular phone that has a
    foot pedal control connected to it, you can use that for transcribing rather than a c-phone. And there are quite a few generic telephone transcribe units that are compatible and cost a whole lot less than the c-phone. Also, DVI compatable.
    Do you keep regular phone?
    Thanks everyone.  I do use a c-phone and I wondered with Vonage if you have to give up your regular phone.  Sorry, I am technically challenged.  LOL  I appreciate all the input.  Also, I live in Nevada.......anyone from this state use vonage....everyone is giving mixed reviews and I will check out that other site also.  Man......what a dilema....cannot believe some wise person has not come up with something for this type of business to have ULD.  Thanks to all you wonderful people giving me a response so quickly.  I will keep watching for more suggestions.
    They can pay you on regular pay day if you quit. nm
    nm
    Same here in MT, always last check on a regular pay day. nm
    s
    Yes, just regular rate
    They have never paid for any OT. When I first started and they asked for OT, I asked them if it was line and a half rate or how they calculated it, and she said what do you mean, you get paid the lines you type. Thinking she didn't understand me, I repeated the question and asked what we got paid extra for the OT pay, and she said nothing, you get paid for what you type. I thought it was illegal too, but obviously they are getting away with it. I know I refuse to work OT...never have and never will. When they cry about being out of TAT, I politely tell them that when I get paid extra for doing extra that I'll be more than happy to help.

    I also work 2nd shift, and I'll have to check to see if I've been getting my differential due to what the above poster said. I'm going to be even more mad if I didn't, but it wouldn't surprise me none.

    This company is going down hill fast since SPi took over. I think they forgot we are Americans and have a different way of doing things here. They want to pay us like they do over in their neck of the woods, and it's just not happening. It's getting to be quite insulting actually. I know I'm definitely looking for something else!
    ASR sound seems to be better than regular. Even if
    help you figure it out.  It seems like it's the same dictators with the worst sound quality no matter whether it's ASR or regular.  Try it, you can always tell them you don't like it. 
    You sound like me! I went from ASR to regular MT
    this week and loving it! I'm still part-time with the ASR company but I sure enjoy getting back to the typing I love to do. I know that sounds crazy, but I love MT-ing some much more than editing (and of course it will ultimately pay more since this BIG company's ASR/voice recognition SUCKS).

    :)
    my regular rate is 10 cpl
    tr
    They did not *cut our pay* for regular transcription sm
    We were told how we would be paid for VR editing straight up. Yes, it pays less but at least it pays a lot more than the 2-3 cpl straight pay that most MTSOs pay; at least you get 70% of your regular line rate for editing.

    As for *not telling their clients* - How do YOU KNOW what they tell their clients? Unless you are management (and obviously you aren't), how would you know what the clients are or are not told about VR?? How do you know they don't offer a line rate cut to those to use it?

    You don't. I'm sick of the bashing. There are plenty of jobs out there with other companies (where you won't be treated nearly as well as Webmedx). If you don't like the company, go somewhere else.
    Where does it leave regular MTs?
    It leaves a lot of them complaining on these forums about always getting lousy jobs or not enough work, etc.
    I do both regular transcription and VR
    My biggest complaint, like everyone's is the ridiculous pay scale. Because of the low rate for VR, I am still not making the money I used to, but I don't think it is because Cornerstone is slowing me down so that I can't do as many lines as I need for the same pay I used to make. I would have to do 3000 lines of VR a day to make my former income, which I've been able to do once or twice on a day when the volume of work was there. I have way too many people that end up as secondaries in my account which is very frustrating in the mornings when the work is low in all the accounts.

    I work mostly in my primary account, but do have 2 secondary accounts. I could have more but choose not to ask for any, because my primary account generally has enough work most of the time.

    I don't even remember when I started on VR, but I think it's been about 9 months.

    Because most of the better dictators are on VR, that does leave the crappier ones on regular transcription, which, in my opinion, now makes the pay rate for regular transcription too low because you are now only dealing with the harder dictators. I used to be able to use macros for many of the easier doctors that were more accurate than Speech, so now I am getting paid half as much and having to do more work on those easier doctors also.

    Nothing about the pay scale is fair, and their little pilot program to figure out why was a complete joke. We all know the outcome of that should be that they are simply not paying us enough and they overestimated what VR could really do. The slightly better ramp-up pay was not good enough to compensate. I was way beyond the ramp-up lines so I got a measly $89.00 extra on one check to make up what I would have made on the new ramp-up pay. My income has dropped by several hundred a month and that 89 dollars was a joke. The only thing that would truly be fair would be to raise the rates overall, but we all know that isn't going to happen. That being said, Spheris does pay a higher rate than a lot of the companies for VR, so switching companies doesn't seem to be the answer either. They are all ripping us off.

    And as far as the new blanks procedure, that one has me pretty angry. The whole thing is ridiculous, the training was ridiculous, and in the survey at the end, I answered their question about it making me more efficient with a big NO!, and I put in the comments that they need to pay us more to make up for the time it will take for such nonsense.

    As I said, I can complain about pretty much everything else at Spheris, but I don't find Cornerstone to be the problem that so many others seem to think it is.

    I make very good use of Instant Text, and use the mouse more than they recommend, but I find the mouse faster for me then some of their shortcuts.

    If they would simply pay us fairly, it would be easier to put up up with the rest of the crap this company has to offer.
    Vonage, but also have regular ULD as a backup

    I spent about $45 a month for the 2 combined, both residential plans.  If I use my ULD (through Qwest) I'm careful how much I'm using so I don't red flag their system.  I haven't had any problem with Vonage for the 2 months I've been there and using it heavy.  I talked to a couple of other people who have used Vonage really heavy for 1-2 years and haven't had a problem, so I decided to go with that.  I only picked up the Qwest ULD recently because my Vonage box malfunctioned and I didn't have any long distance for 3 days until I got a new one, so like I said, the Qwest ULD is now a backup.


    not my regular account - just helping out

    nm


    Yes, honest I do. I have my regular account (sm)
    and a backup.   It is probably to your advantage to do the same.  Learn one, and then ask for a backup.  That way if one gets low you will have work.  I don't know why people on here are saying there is never any work.  I can honestly say, when I had only one account, it got slow right around New Year's and lasted for a day or two.  But never actually ran out.  Don't know what these people are talking about.  Believe me, if I found out they were offshoring,I would be mighty upset, but I do not believe it.  Good luck.
    I'm doing regular MT now, but in the past I have gotten 0.05 V/R with .10 transcription sm
    but never had enough work, so went back to regular transcription. I had thought about applying, but did not want to waste my time with the whole process if the rates stink! You know what I mean? I hate going throug the entire process only to find the rate absolutely stinks!
    Actually your ASR rate drops to 70% of your regular sm
    rate, not 35%. If you do not like ASR, ask your STM to be removed. You have a choice whether or not to use it.
    I'd say that would depend on what your regular line
    is what I've seen posted on here.  If you read fast you'll do fine, if you type faster than you read, well, it's iffy.  If you have lots of formatting, i.e., ROS/PE flush left margin and ASR doesn't do it, screw it; use macros/shortcuts because you should have ROS/PE in macros/shortcuts for most dictators.  I ignore the company's advice on how to do Keystrokes with it, turned off that hideous hiliter, and never waste time on tab plus whatever the other key combination is, it's too far away from home position and I'm a lefty and it's totally inconvenient for me to use it.  I use the ctl/arrow keys to move forward or backward and ctl/shift/arrow to both navigate and hilite, then all ya gotta do is hit delete.  All that also depends on how the ASR is set up.  I hated it at first and I'm still not fond of it, but it's better than sitting with nothing.
    Well, that's you're getting 45% of your regular line
    try to work your way around it like I did.  Do what's easiest for you, sometimes their way of doing things is bass-ackwards. 
    I just use a regular debit card......sm
    I think bank is out of texas.