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Congress is jumping in (finally)

Posted By: sirpercy on 2007-04-06
In Reply to: From what I read - moving on

Claiming the FDA has been slow to act on this CRISIS!

People criticize activists like PETA all the time, but they have been warning about this issue for a long time.

Apparently people only start to pay attention to (activists) when an issue hits home...


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    You will if MTs get their way in Congress, and we can
    ,
    It will still be up to CONGRESS
    to close all those loopholes, no matter what any president says.  You know, all those loopholes that benefit the businesses that fill congressional halls with lobbyists day after day?  Who make huge campain contributions to congress that help them get re-elected?  It could be many years (4-8) while they study the problem, form committees, discuss it in committee, debate it, fail to put it up for vote, study it some more.  Meanwhile, while they are busy spinning their wheels, they all get credit for their concern over the issue, with very little progress involved.  Have we not all seen this act before?  It's called business as usual.
    writing congress
    Good idea.
    LETTER TO CONGRESS
    Here's a copy of what I sent. I encourage us all to write more letters to save our jobs. Feel free to copy any parts and use to send to them.

    Please stop the outsourcing of our medical records to third world
    countries for cheap labor to be done by people that cannot fully speak the
    English language and are not qualified to transcribe the health
    information that may be outsourced to them. This is done solely because
    the american company that is outsourcing is cheap and saving money at the
    cost of the patient's health due to the inconsistency and inaccuracy of
    their ability to accurately transcribe the English language and are just
    transcribing anything that they think might be the proper English or
    medical term. This puts the patient's health in jeopardy and high risk of
    having the inaccurate information such as inaccurate medicines, inaccurate
    medical conditions and the obvious accessibility of the patient's full
    name, address, social security number and other very private information
    at the hands of the unscrupulous overseas companies with no laws governing
    their privacy laws and no punishable by law of any misuse of this
    information that could be for sale to any one and by anyone in the third
    world countries that have access to the information. There is no
    remediation ability for any illegal use of any of the information that is
    transmitted via electronic voice, computer or fax machine to these
    overseas companies and therefore the very use of this kind of service by
    an overseas company should be highly illegal and should not be allowed
    considering that there are many American companies that do have to adhere
    to the HIPPA privacy law and all the legal ramifications for protecting
    every patient's private information and medical information.

    This is a very serious matter and affects every American as there are many
    unscrupulous businesses operating on the very information that we as
    American companies are held of the highest regard to protect all patient
    information and are held responsible for any misconduct that may occur
    with the releasing of any of the patient's information whether it be
    social security numbers, health information or personal information that
    can be gleened from any medical record.

    We Americans take pride in our work and we hold the patient's medical
    record to the utmost respect and privacy. There is no way to control the
    overseas companies and they cannot be held responsible for selling any
    patient information.

    Thank you.


    Or, Congress makes it tougher to outsource and takes
    nm
    Thanks. I definitely will. I just don't want to be jumping the gun.
    But the posts are also right about getting or not getting riled up. No sense on coming here and worrying. Might easily just worry at home quietly. :)
    I think we did stop a few, but on the whole, they are jumping at it!
    :(
    and I'm saying get facts before jumping, so what?
    slow down, be smart, line something up in case and research the issue.

    crap happends sometimes, sometimes not. make and educated decision.


    and I'm saying get facts before jumping, so what?
    slow down, be smart, line something up in case and research the issue. Things happends sometimes, sometimes not. make and educated decision. That is what I would do. you would up and quit. No problem.
    Jumping up and down on my soapbox

    Yes, doesn't it give you a warm and fuzzy feeling to see exactly how much our government protects its citizens. NOT!


    Not only us MTs, but hundreds of other jobs have been outsourced so that CEOs and other parasites can make big profits even though the quality of service has taken a nosedive.  Anybody try to talk to people from Dell Computer, for example? I just say I can't understand a word you are saying and call me back when you find sonebody who can speak English. 


    jumping jobs
    Let me guess - you're trying to leave MQ? Look at the number of MTs they have now and the number they had a few years ago. That shows you that most MTs that left are not going back and are happy where they are. If you have an offer from a reputable company that has been around for a while I'd take it, jump in with both feet, and not look back. From your post it sounds like you have more to fear from your present situation than this unknown. There will be some adjustment as you get used to a new platform and new dictators and there will probably be times when you wish you hadn't changed, but just remember that once you were new at your current company and probably felt the same way before you got used to it. Pretty soon it will all be second nature again.
    Jumping ship
    I agree with you on the panic thing, just went to VR about 2 months ago and it is definitely not what was presented to me. I am looking into LPN courses, a year and a half, will make better money than I am now, and keep doing VR on the side. The VR money would qualify for pocket money for sure.
    No jumping through hoops for me.

    Hi PAM: 


    Upon reading your post, my first thought was that is a very cynical way to look at our industry, but then I got to thinking about my paycheck for my present company and how little I make for how hard I work.  Then something clicked in my brain and now I totally agree with you.  You are right -- we are slave labor for the MTSO's who probably make tons of money from our hard work.  Well I am about retirment age and probably will not be working that much more.  I have warned people against this job.  You can no longer make a decent living as an MT and that is a fact.  fortunately for me, I have other sources for paying my bills.  Otherwise I am sure I would have been homeless a long time ago.   Someday there will be no good MT's around and then who will do their work?  Oh I am sure they will find somebody, not necessarily good quality and maybe not a dedicated worker with bad attitude, but that is probably what these companies deserve after all. 


     


    Call me totally disillusioned with being an MT.    


    Same here, another day spent jumping from one..sm
    account to another trying to get my lines.  My primary does not have enough crumbs to keep a mouse alive!  I keep on keeping on but am actively looking for another job now. 
    Not flaming you, but where would you ship to? Might be jumping
    zz
    Better companies out there. Lot of acct jumping. Low pay. nm

    From what Ive heard with everyone jumping ship
    there of late, they must need MTs pretty badly. Don't ya think its time for them to regroup and make some changes for the better?
    Thinking about jumping ship

    MQ is making some poor decisions and I am debating whether to stay on for the ride and see if things are better once it is bought out, or just go somewhere else.  I was looking at Diskriter...does anybody have any experience with this company, and if so I would love some opinions on it.  TIA!!


    Spheris interview, not jumping up and down

    Just had an interview with Spheris. I currently work for MQ, so am naturally looking at what other options are out there currently. I've read some of the posts on Spheris and I have to say a few things stike me a little funny. I guess you know a recruiter is good at her job if she is good at working her way around the questions instead of answering the questions! I asked about work flow and running out of work. She basically didn't say the work flow runs low but it's not that it NEVER happens and that there is no downtime pay for lack of work. Sort of evasive if posts stating running out of work is a problem anymore. I wanted to know the line rates, high/low anything, and she said she could not give me that information!! Ok, you want me to consider you as an employer without all the info but you want me to fess up anything? Why is this a big secret? The wage that low that they have to try to sucker you in before they will tell you it sucks? If you think you might try to start me at 6 cents/line let me know, we can save a lot of time! She wants to start me on a clinic account because I havn't done operative reports. So lets waste all your other acute care experience? I'd rather hoped to be moving forward in my experience base than moving backward. On top of that, you can't even be considered for any changes for 6 months! If you hire on part time, you can't go full time for 6 months either. Many downfalls it would seem.


    I've had a couple other interviews in the past few weeks. The outlook just doesn't seem very appealing.Why is it there is no medical Transcriptionist labor union and/or why one can't be started? I would think it would help stop a lot of mistreatment and outsourcing and protect our interests as we need someone to help out in this department since we are all home, alone.


    I'm not planning on jumping ship, either. sm
    The stress of changing companies is far too much for me that the stress of working more to pay the added cost. Less strain on the nerves to stay and just put in some extra time.
    I don't plan on jumping ship

    I've been there long enough to know that there are ups and downs in work and it happens all over. VR is not bad, could be better, but I like it.


    I'd rather be out of work for a week or two than 4 months like I was with my local hospital. There may be better jobs out there but I'm not looking.


    FYI: I'm basically sole provider for us, too. It gets tough at times but I try to roll with the punches.


    where i live, everybody is jumping in front of
    trains right and left, at an average of about 1-2 per day. that sure tells you where our heads are at in this country, huh? at least here, they cover you up afterward and dont go publishing the gory details. but maybe if we all hadnt been so screwed these past few years, it wouldnt be coming down to this.

    and now the commuter trains are always late.
    jumping in front of trains
    and now the commuter trains are always late.

    you are hilarious! i nearly choked on my coffee when i read this!
    If by flex, you mean jumping through hoops,
    yes, I flex.  I wouldn't have any work otherwise.  It is all on their terms if I want to get a paycheck. 
    Yes! Working for CyMed and quite happy. No jumping
    from account to account.  The rare times I run out of work, there is other work available, but that's the only account jumping.  Platform wonderful! People great! Tech support fantastic!  I made more money years ago, but I have found that is a universal problem with MTing.  Overall, I'm very pleased. 
    Going from MQ at this point in time to Spheris is like jumping from the sm
    frying pain into the fire.  Don't go there!!!!!!!
    With everyone jumping ship to work for TransTech

    jumping boards making trouble now?
    get off before I tell the moderator on you LOL
    I know, but it's hard to leave. I'm afraid of jumping
    out of the frying pan and into the fire.
    You are very fortunate. As I say, my days of jumping are over. I agree with you 100% but some
    people need to do that to keep their jobs or good standing.  I am at a point now I dont need to do that but if you think companies dont love that you are wrong.  They love the MTs that marry their jobs, work holidays, work weekends, work on a second notice, jump into backup accounts that you dont know to help out bla bla.  They love it.
    Just wondering if people are jumping in to work extra sm
    since it is the last pay period before Christmas? Just a thought.
    I agree... is it worth panic and jumping ship?
    From what I hear since around Christmas, different MT companies reported increase on open enrollment. This is why I got the job with TT. Now, I find that the rates have gone up and my husband does not have a job which offers insurance, so I have to provide it for the family. I just left a company where I worked pretty much for the insurance and had maybe 900 bucks left over for the month take home. TT's insurance rates are still lower than that was and they went up.
    So, I say to myself today, is it worth the panic, stress, and jitters I am having today? How do I know if I go somewhere else it will be as good a company with the opportunity to make better money than anywhere I have been aside from a hospital. Even hospitals are not offering insurance they are taking per diem, if at all, probably IC etc. so they don't have to pay benefits.
    I have been thinking about it all since yesterday. I decided I am going to have a mantra today to myself and I will say, hang in there to myself all day. I have resolved not to jump ship at all. This company does give us the ability to make more money, and I will work more time to make up for the difference in insurance costs because I know I can here. They have the work, they pay fair, and they give me the confidence to do so. Anywhere else well, fire to frying pan, you know.
    So, I wish everyone luck and if you are stressed today you are not alone. I am making sure for myself and our security in my home, that I will not allow myself to make any rash decisions. Thanks for listening. And hang in there.
    Quit jumping on people who make that statement. Doubt she is
    xx
    uh, and you did a little throat jumping yourself there - mail-order bride? broom closed?
    .
    Yes, I finally did.
    Very, very small local company. I'm crossing my fingers that this will be my home for awhile. It's been a difficult journey trying to find some place that did what they said they were going to do, doesn't offshore and has enough work.
    FINALLY!

    Finally someone saying how pathetic it is to see those types of posts and them not take it off the board!  I posted one like that a few months ago and the "board patrol" wiped it off here that day! 


    You are correct.  So many of the people act like teenagers on this board that I have found myself coming here less and less.  It's no fun to sit and listen to griping, complaining, cussing, and down right rudeness on here all time time. 


    We should be coming here to get away from that!  Let's party!  Have fun!  Be happy!!!!   


    Finally...
    I applaud you.  The others need to pay attention.  I give you A+ for what you said.  That was well said.
    YEA - SOMEONE finally GETS IT!!!

    do you think they are finally (sm)
    doing what most others are doing in being so cautious to meet the TAT that there is not enough work to go around? Wondering...
    FINALLY!!!
    This is a refreshing change. Thank you SO MUCH for not being all doom and gloom like the rest. Its nice to hear that there is a glimmer of hope out there.

    PS... We probably don't hear from MTs like you very much because you're actually out there working instead of here (like me) transcribing my thoughts for free.
    Hip-hip Hooray, finally
    someone explains exactly what is happening at MQ even at ST.Louis office. They put so many people on the accounts, you get switched back and forth from account to account. It is feast or famine in a way. During my scheduled shift, which they asked for, there was no work. If I was willing to switch accounts daily and multiple, and sit on the computer and wait for work, I could make the line count, but I had to sit and wait and watch when the work was available. This was ridiculous.
    I finally learned
    after three months of lies and late paychecks I quit. Great docs, but if you can't get your money, it doesn't really matter. Don't do it!
    FINALLY THE TRUTH ABOUT OSI
    About a year ago one of the owners, Andy Renfroe was speaking for all of the owners and sent a companywide email after OSi got caught sending work to India. This is a portion of the email that he sent to OSI employees, and this is why people quit and are still quitting OSI in droves - because OSI never admitted this until they got caught! This is the truth and you can take it with a grain of salt if you want to.

    I always did. I finally left. nm
    nm
    RAD MTS-good pay finally

    Just got put on an acct for 9 cents per gross line plus $1.00 per report, did not know how it would work out because by other account pays 14.5 cpl.  Well, let me tell you I am making 10-13 dollars more per hour, what about that!!!!


    They finally did pay me Friday
    Well I finally did get all my pay, minus the western union fees. But what it took me to get it was almost not worth it.
    OK finally an answer!
    Well I guess you realize you've just identified yourself...

    From what I can see you are upset about 50 lines a day; 1/2 of 1% 0.50%. Yes that adds up over a payperiod, but it's still a small difference.

    How many lines did you lose doing all this posting? :) kidding.

    It's up to you how much you stress over this, but you may see conspiracy here when all it is an internal calculation that doesn't count a signature line for example - where your counters do.

    Is it really outside the realm of possibility that there is no intent to defraud here?






    finally quit!
    just quit my job yesterday and a weight has been lifted.  I had been experiencing a lot of issues in the past 6 months and finally thought to my self, I've had enough!
    I finally did leave!

    Paradise has been found right here in my own back yard.  Actually, it was always there, I just needed to kick myself in the arse to make the move back there...so glad I did....like you have no idea how glad!  I actually LOVE my job again.  Small MTSO, lovely ladies, not too bad pay, and the best part is the the mental anguish has completely disappeared. 


    I feel so badly for the people still trapped there.  There are some fantastic people there who deserve so much better but, like me, have to stay because, well, you gotta do what you gotta do.  If I still had to carry insurance for my husband, I'd still be there, pissin' and moanin' and growing more bitter day by day. 


    My faith in home-based medical transcription has been restored and yes, I feel rejuvenated and back to my old self again.  Thanks for askin!


    Thanks KS MT...she told me 2/1 so hopefully it will finally be 3/1..otherwise, I will just (sm)
    have to drop mine until I find a plan on my own.  I just can't afford over $500 per month anymore.
    finally someone who knows what they are talking about
    wow!