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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Count me in as one who would like to be informed! Thanks. nm

Posted By: still wandering on 2006-04-27
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    Informed MQ MT

    Sorry, I pitched it out since it was the same as the email.  Fromwhat I can remember, it was from Frank...telling us that they would be "informing" us of the new pay plan, etc that all the upper crust have worked so hard on "after" getting so much MT input.


    Bottom line though, IMO, it was more to do about document preservation for the attorneys on all the legal issues...even had a note from the atty's on what is/is not important. 


    The snail mail came from corporate and again, I just got mine Saturday..so maybe yours will be there this week


    Be Informed

    The pros so far for me as an IC are setting my own schedule and no set times I have to work, just getting my lines in for the day


    Please make sure what *YOU* think IC means is also what your service means.  For many services it means- I can make you work like I need you to but don't have to incur headache or expense of withdrawing and submitting taxes.


    If you are a TRUE IC, you go out and get your own CLIENTS, and make up your own schedule, etc.  When you are working for an MT service you are NOT an IC.  You're a statutory employee and still don't get to name your own hours apparently.  Please see my post above.


     


    Has anyone been informed of a pay cut in their MQ packet? nm
    nm
    Informed decisions
    You're looking before you even get your info clear? Interesting.

    The changes take place Jan 1. Your paperwork has to be submitted by 12/1.

    The "firm" schedule is actually MUCH more flexible than any I've ever seen with MQ as you're looking at choosing from 24 hours in 7 days.

    It took 3 weeks to get an ID, but they kept me informed. sm
    I agree with the other poster. You should call or email.
    The employee should be informed (sm)

    it is overflow and not be told there would be plenty of work.  Can't pay bills some weeks and not others.  Work being offshored takes away from US line counts any way you slice it.  No thanks.


    After just being informed by Embarq that I was using my (sm)
    unlimited long distance too much (they knew why I needed it when I signed up for it), I just called my digital provider and had it installed on my second line which will save me about $50 a month.  And they said there were no restrictions! 
    Your "take" is ill-informed
    MDI has never sent work to India, never will. It is an AMERICAN company that respects its AMERICAN workers.
    Work has gone bye-bye since they informed us we ...sm
    needed to be doing speech editing as part of our daily routine.  I said fine to that but have heard nothing about it since.  I never have work the last day of the pay period and end up being a few hours short and a couple hundred lines short for what is required for full-time and then accrue no time off during that pay period because of that 1 day.  I gave my notice yesterday because I am not going to be jerked around anymore and go broke while they sit there and send out emails we must do speech editing and then cut my work load in half.  I got a job at a local clinic part-time making the same amount at TT full-time!
    Oh my. I just don't think you are very informed about IRS stuff.
    Let's say the standard deduction for your state is $5000. This means in order to claim deductions you need to come up with more than $5000 business deductions to take those deductions. Say you have DSL costs of roughly $273 a year. Do you think the average IC MT has that much to claim. If not, you swallow that $273 for DSL.

    If you have your own small beans dictators and say you still have to pickup and deliver you have mileage to claim,maybe some ink and paper costs, but most other stuff like equipment has long ago been prorated or taken in lump sum.

    I provide and I am sure many/most IC MTs provide most everything the standard stuff. (other than paying to use their software).

    I still don't feel you are much informed, you think so, but not so. I can tell. I had my own small beans for about 20 years, did my own IRS stuff too.
    Make informed decisions
    I had worked for TransHealth and they did pay for the spaces/headers but I would advise to seek other opportunities. They kept changing mgmt staff and you did not know who was coming or going. A lot of ESL dictation; no incentive whatsoever working wknds or shift differential. They will pay you 10 cpl if you are willing to sacrifice every weekend. Also you might get condescending emails from couple of the QA staff and when there is a huge backlog they send their "panic" emails but when there is no work, you don't hear a peep out of them.
    Not informed Professional MT Recruiting Service
    As a student in a business law class and working on my AA in business administration, I can tell you this strange poster by Professional MT Recruiting Services is not well informed and smells of a troublemaker. Recently my law professor and another professor who is also a vice- president of a bank and deals with employees both discussed this topic a few months back. The current temperament and laws in most state make it very, very difficult for a former employer to say anything bad about a former employee because it makes that former employer open to big law suits. One would have to have committed a serious crime such as major theft from a company, and been convicted for a former employer to say anything negative about a former employee. In fact, both professors tell us that it is not worth the time or trouble to say negative things about a former employee for fear of law suits. Our law professor is a practicing attorney and a CPA who runs his own business, and if he is telling us he would not take the chance of saying something bad about a former employee who was less than an idea candidate, I am going to go with their expert advice. Both professors tell us it is better to be neutral and keep law suits at bay.
    In my Extext experience count was about 10% less than the Word count. nm
    X
    It means to double check what THEY say your count it. Count
    uj
    Diskriter off off offshores - and on some hospital accounts - they have not informed the hospital
    x
    Are you aware of how they count your time?.. or don't count it i should say
    nm
    WMX - line count. Was working along and noted line count accumulation (sm)

    signed off the report I was typing.  Those lines didn't add immediately, but sometimes they do that.  What concerns me is that when I signed that job off and the next one came up, not only were the other lines not added in but they were LESS than they were before I signed off previous job.


    I thought I noticed this happening the other day, but figured I just wasn't paying attention.  Today I definitely noticed it.  For some reason it changed it's mind and took 8 lines off my line count.  What the heck? 


    Am not really ecstatic with the way things are going anyway  and then this confuses me. 


    Please, someone have a realistic explanation so I don't feel paranoid and cheated here. 


    Then company should set line count per day with incentives for above that. If get line count done
    :[
    MP Count
    Can anybody tell me where I can download MP Count?  I cannot find it anywhere on the internet.  I need to start billing the client and they want me to use MP Count.  Any help would greatly be appreciated.
    MP Count
    Thanks! I just realized they are not giving out their free sample anymore. Do you have any idea how you charge 9 cents per line for a 65 character space line? Is it easy software? I just want to make sure before I purchase it. Thanks!
    MP Count

    Hi!  Can anyone tell me if using MP Count is similar to the count in MS Word?


    TIA!



    MP count
    I use MP count and I find it very accurate -- better than MS Word.
    MP Count

    Thanks so much for your replies!  I have never used a line counting software and I wanted to be sure.



     


    Count me 2
    I also had experienced those problems with TT. I was told that because of my being able to do the bad dictators efficiently was the reason why I was getting so many of them. They say they don't cherry pick but instead they pool, route, and set up stats. I also know some others who never ever did progress notes and only only worked on OPs which is also in my opinion just another form of cherry picking. After the line count issues I moved on and now I see an ad for PT acute care at 10 cents a line, go figure.
    Count me in!!!!! nm
    nm
    Count me in
    And also on your list of MT companies who ONLY hire American MTs, add WebmedX. That is where I work and they are vehemently opposed to offshoring work. I am glad to see that we are finally taking action. You can e-mail me and we can keep in touch. I live in Texas and there are a lot of medical facilities here. I will find who I need to direct my information to, but by golly, I will do it! So far that's three states (and three BIG states!) Pennsylvania, Florida and Texas!
    count me in

    Excellent idea.  Let me know if you are serious about this.  Just email me.


    Count me in too.
    I want to participate. How about something like American Transcription or  All American Transcription? Maybe even Transcribed in America. I am in Kansas. Please email me with details when you get a chance.  Thanks!
    Count me in
    If you are looking for a Transcriptionist when you form your new company...count me in!  I am just over the river in Jersey.
    Count Me.....

    ...In!!!  I have turned down 3 jobs in the past 2 weeks:  (1) The first job actually wanted me to move to NY and work on site at a radiology office, contracted out through a transcription company....I live in TN!  This company would not tell me what they were paying, and no moving expenses were being offered.  (2) The second job wanted me to fly to NJ and spend 3 days training in their corporate office.  They also would not tell me what the job paid....said it would depend upon testing and training.  They reimburse travel expenses after 6 months....but, who knows if one would want to stay for that long....especially considering they will not disclose how much they are willing to pay.  (3) The third job actually wanted me to work as an IC being PAID BY THE DICTATED MINUTE for RADIOLOGY....and, again, would not tell me what they were offering to pay!!!  What a JOKE!  I have never, EVER been tested at less than 98% and am always offered jobs, but am picky regarding benefits and line count.  I have been stuck at 0.085 for the past 6 years (but with fairly good benefits) and have been told repeatedly that our company cannot afford to give raises.  :(  I am shopping for something better....and will only settle if I find a HIGHER PAYING JOB!  Regarding all transcriptionists not settling for less than 0.085 per 65-character line.......I think this is a GREAT IDEA, but do not think the less experienced transcriptionists will adhere to this.  There are too many people out there who have paid for fly-by-night MT schools and are willing to work cheap or free just to get the experience - trying to make the money they spent pay off one day.  Best of luck in getting others to sign up for the idea.  I am on board with you!!!


    Count me in.
    .
    Count me in

    Count me in..or should I say Count Me Out of MDI!
    I am frantically looking for another job as I do not have the luxury of being unemployed and this took me completely by surprise as I believed in Dorothy...but believe me when I say I AM TAKING A STAND also and refuse to work for a company that offshores! My resignation letter will make my reasons clear!
    Count me in! Enough is enough!
    I'll do it!
    LIne count

    I have had the same accounts for up to 15 years.  On my surgeons with even charging 12 cents a line I can often make $50 to $60 an hour with their consults.  I think it is fair.  They pay within 48 hours, never a bounced check, got $500 Christmas bonus.  I can do them in my sleep.    They never question my line counts.  It is 60 characters to a line and gross lines, not character count.  On a consult for breast cancer, that is 3 to 4 pages,  probably type 50 lines as the physical is so standard.  If I charged more I would feel like I was ripping them off.  I make a decent living and so  pass it onto them.   I gross over 11,000 lines per month with them and work 5 to 6 hours per week.   They like the smaller amount per line.   My other is a clinic that I have a lot of auto corrects set up and still make $35 an hour and so why charge them an arm and leg when I am making decent money.  My sub's make close to $25 an hour as they aren't quite as fast as I am and don't use as many quick corrects but at 8 to 9 cents they average 250 to 350 (psych reports) per hour.   So we are all happy.     Half way through the year I myself  have made $26,500.   And that is with a slow June. 


     


     


    line count
    I have always understood that gross line pay is better than character counted. This could be false, however, depending on font used and size of font, as well as the format of the report. Sorry, don't know info specific to Meditech's system, but have read "To convert Gross Lines to Net Lines multiply Gross Lines by .70." This obviously reduces gross lines by 30% to a net line count, but it does not make sense that this formula would be accurate all the time considering all the variables involved (those mentioned above as well as the fact that character counted net lines are not a standard 65, and could be whatever number the client has agreed to pay on).
    line count
    How can you get an exact count by Word? Even the different Word programs vary.
    My line count
    Some say that if you are not a high producer, you may actually do well with VR?  How true is that? Due to the summer, my line count is only in the 6 or 7000 range per pay period.  However, in the beginning of Sept, the kids will go  back to school and I will start working full time.  Given that there is full time work available to me, could I stand to actually make more money doing VR?
    MQ line count
    I've been on DQS for way over a year.  My line count has never improved and I am one the same account every day.  Join the class action and hopefully we will get our money eventually. 
    OSi line count - sm
    When I started there it was 198 lph...they have lowered it since I left. And why are they allowed to post jobs here? They outsource overseas!!! What happened to MTSTARS policy of not posting jobs from outsourcing companies?
    Line Count
    Sharon, I've been with TT for over a year and have never had a line count problem (and know it is correct because I know what I can transcribe per hour/day, and have been doing it consistently for years before coming to TT and since being with TT).  Are you new at TT?  If you are having a problem you should email Debbie about it, as she will be able to answer any questions you may have. 
    Line Count
    This may not be much help but I've worked for 2 years for TT and never had a problem.  Guess before TT I'd worked on just about every platform there is and been paid every way anyone could think of to pay; hourly, by the line, by the minute, per word, per 1000 words, by the page and maybe some others I've forgotten. Thus, I know what I produce forward and backward, don't need to check it, I KNOW when it's right and I'd KNOW if it was wrong.  Once before TT I was complaining to my husband that I absolutely was NOT making ANY money despite the fact that I was working 8 hours a day and that certainly my lines were not being recorded accurately.  Being the helpful person that he is, he suggested that I keep a log for a week of every minute I spent typing and every minute I was out of the chair and then take my log to administration.  To my horror, at the end of the first day, I found I had spent EXACTLY 2.5 hours of the 8 hours I was signed on actually working.  No wonder I wasn't making any money. (Not implying at all that this is the problem with your line count but it certainly was MY problem). Thereafter I parked my butt in the chair and it was amazing how my line count got accurate.
    Line Count

    I currently work for an oncologist and I do not get paid by the line, but rather a straight salary every month. Can some one tell me about how much typing is involved if expected to type 1800 lines per day??


    Thanks


    Tammie


    Line Count
    Thank you very much for the information
    Count our blessings
    I think we should probably be glad it is only slow - so many companies on this board are out of work more than they have it and in the 4+ years I have been at QT, I think I can count on one hand the times I have been asked to take a day off, actually don't think I ever have, but have volunteered when it was slow.
    LINE COUNT
    NOPE, OSi
    Yes, does not count H/F. I had problems with
    ExText line counting, felt like I was being cheated, so I quit. I will never use any program or work for any company I can't count my own lines in including headers/footers.
    And how about the line count that you

    see not really being the 1 that you get? 


    yes that is right line count
    transtech only pays for lines typed excluding header, signature, and timestamps.  I have compared the line count from MS word highlighting only what counts and it is equal to Dictaphone line counts. 
    dqs line count
    My line count went way down, but if it is because of way lines or characters are counted then why do line counts seem to check out in word?  I simply cannot figure out the problem, but hate DQS.
    For my own accounts I use MP count and
    I works really well and the best part is its FREE!! Here is the link:

    http://www.medpen.net/countindex.htm