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Gees just mentioning arguring started an argument

Posted By: kps on 2006-07-04
In Reply to: I'm afraid I'm 2 young 4 andropause, missy! - Justin

Just not worth it. It's all about respect....and maturity.


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but by not mentioning the name

I would find that suspect.  If I were looking at an employer based on an ad on this site, searched the site and the name doesn't even pop up anywhere for (say, for the sake of discussion) 2 years, then I would wonder why.  It means that not only are disgruntled employees not talking, but satisfied employees aren't either.  So then I would wonder why.  That to me is a red flag.  I think that essence of control borders on paranoia.  Why can't the employees who are happy say so and their reasons why?


The second part makes me wonder about how the company feels about AAMT.  I could see a union in the future for MTs based on nothing other the domino effect of AAMT's apprenticeship program (plumbers, electricians, welders, etc., all have apprenticeship programs and sprouted unions).  SOO, does that mean the company might be less likely to consider me for employment if I earn a CMT? 


Wait...let me guess. Shapin right? Can go for long without mentioning them!
If they are making the $ it is either because of working round the clock or whizzing through with poor quality. I am thinking whizzing through because in past postings they are very busy with posting negative things here. I make 4 cpl and listen to everything as required. I do well, but to do it right and be thorough you would not make big $ at 1.5.
That's a whole different argument...nm
x
Not to start a whole new argument, but sm
It seems awful strange that I know of at least 4 people that have left Transcend in the last 2 weeks or so from the same account because of lack of work all the time on either primary accounts or secondary accounts and now they don't have an ad posted, like they usually do to fill them back up fast.   Hmmmm, maybe they finally realized that they overhired!!!
Ad hominem argument -- sm
I'll admit I had to look that one up. I'm not too proud to say I've probably resorted to an ad hominem argument at some point and time, but now at least I'm more aware of it.
agree 300%--no argument here
it's just all about power and money
no argument here, I just wouldn't...
have called it TOTALLY IC.

I am totally IC--no schedule, no line requirement. But, I am not lazy, I need to eat and pay bills, and us ICs don't want our company to lose the accounts. Therefore, I commit myself to 1000-1200/lines per day whether it be split or straight shifts, and I try to commit myself to 4-5 days/wk.
You had an argument about her professionalism?

your bounds by discussing something like that with her?  I mean, after all, it's her company.  Is it really your place to talk to her about her professionalism when you work for her? 


And when you say she fired you - did she say you're fired?  Seems fishy to me that she'd email in an hour about work if she really did fire you.  And she doesn't have to fire you, she can just say she no longer needs your services.


That was the most well-spoken argument for
I agree 100%, as well. I know some people think that unions brought down the Big 3 automakers, but that's not so. Even their most well-paid line workers with the best bennies don't come anywhere close to what the Fat-Cats up in their designer-furniture-appointed, corner top-floor offices were (and still are) getting. For mismanagement. They aren't building the cars America wants, so they're buying Toyotas, Nissans and Hyundais instead.

When I tell people who are not in this business what an MT has to know before anyone will consider hiring her (or him), both medically and computer-literacy-wise, and then what they're expected to work for, their jaws hit the floor.

I was inhouse for many many years, but was eventually forced out, as although no one will admit to it yet, that office is job-by-job sending its work outside, and will most likely have nothing but a skeleton crew of workflow managers left before the end of next year. They couldnt be honest about it, either. They drove the top-rated, older MTs out with abusive treatment that actually made some workers physically ill. Others left an office that they realized to be a dead-end road.

So these days, many of us are working at home because that's all that's left of MT. Which is the best thing that could've happened to the most unscrupulous of the MTSO's, as not only do they not have the overhead of having to house a officeful of MTs, but they now have an 'invisible' workforce that has little to no contact with their coworkers, and often little to no contact with the office (unless of course, heaven forbid, they make an error).

I think lots of MTs know we need a spokesperson in our behalf, as we are basically an isolated bunch, swept under the rug by the healthcare industry and MTSOs alike. What unions have brought to workers like us in the past has been a VOICE. That's something few, if any MTs have these days.

I also think that after talking about this for years, thinking about it, being told it can't happen, but wishing that somehow MTs could be unionized, with our country's new leadership and thorough shaking-out of business-as-usual for the banking, stock, and auto industries, the time has finally come.

If ever an industry needed regulating, it's ours. And we're all but powerless to do anything as individuals; we have to join together for the strength to stand up to the unfair treatment we've endured for so long. We need a VOICE, and that's what unions are - they are the worker's VOICE.

We need more attention focused on the healthcare and insurance industries in this country, and that in turn may start the ball rolling in terms of bringing MT and substandard pay into public and legislative view.

I think people need to know that those of us interested in unionizing aren't talking about being over-paid, or over-compensated in any way, shape or form for what we do. All we want is a fair shake.... a decent day's pay for an honest day's work.

I'm willing to bet many of the nay-sayers on this board are possibly MTSO trolls. Those who are 'grateful' for their lousy 6 cpl jobs, or who say that it's all we deserve, are most likely the same types who think that when a woman is raped, it's her own fault.

And that's exactly what's happend to the MT industry. Gang-rape by AAMT in the beginning, and now by AHDI. By wealthy business-types who buy an MTSO not because they give a darn about healthcare, or their workers, or even know anything about medical transcription, but just because it's a good 'investment' -- to buy low and sell high, and make even more money.

(As for norma rae below, who says 'It's not 1970'; well, actually in a lot of ways it IS 1970. Do you make much more than you did in 1970? (I sure don't). Less, perhaps? Are we in a recession? Yup. Are we fighting a pointless war abroad? Yup. And are women treated as less-than-human in the workplace? Yup.

Yeah, nowadays they can't legally make sexist comments to us, force us to sit in a cigarette-smoke-filled office all day, or ask us to make coffee. But they're still sticking it to us wage-wise. Why? Because they CAN. Because we LET them. Because even in the 21st Century, many woman still believe they're 'lucky to have a job - ANY job' - and will grovel and lick the feet of anyone who tosses them a few cents and a scrap of meat. Or rapes them and tells them they 'want it'.

If ever there was a ripe opportunity to get a medical transcription union going, it's NOW. As this dismal year finally draws to a close, I hope lots of you will reflect on how much you know, and how long and how much work it took you to learn it. Reflect on how many hours you sit in front of that computer. 10 hours? 12? 14? 18 hours a day? All so that you can make that line-quota you're expected to be able to produce in 8 hours? How much overtime SHOULD you have been earning, but didn't get paid? How many of you have a poor healthcare package, or no healthcare at all? How many of you lost any hope whatsoever of being to retire - not just later, like 70, 80, or 90, but EVER? If we're going to have to work the rest of our lives to pay for all our country's 'bailouts', it would be nice if there were half a chance that our jobs will:
a) Still be here 10-20 years from now, and
b) Pay enough to be able to live on.
good argument for doing away with
being paid by the line. There's no way you can get top speed and top quality...one of the two will have to suffer.

Yes, I've seen similar embarrassing work. It's awful, & yes, it was probably done by someone who racks up billions and billions of lines per pay period, which I certainly don't.

I'm not sure I've ever understood why we are paid by the line. I suppose the argument is that this would be abused & exploited by MTs who want something for nothing & that instead of seeing it as an opportunity to do research & whatever else is necessary to produce a quality document, it would be an opportunity to work as fast as possible and use the rest of the time to eat bonbons.

Is this realistic? Are there really MTs who would do this, or is this just the stock justification for cpl?

I can't think of another profession that is paid this way. It turns us into sweatshop garment workers, not educated professionals who are one of the strongest links in the chain of patient care.

Help me out here. What are your thoughts?
I understand both sides of the argument...
But I believe that a lot of the posts are from management.  They really should not disguise themselves as MTs and try to trick people.  Just let the truth be what it is, and if you do not like the truth, then do something at your company to change it.  All the effort that is being put into posting on this forum by management from various companies should be put into different programs, incentives, or maybe just a nice word or two to their transcriptionists to try and make the companies better.  I value this forum and believe that MTs need a place to communicate these things to one another to possibly prevent someone else from going through a bad situation.  I do believe that some MTs do need to let it go sometimes, but when you know that it is management posting to try and prove you are wrong, that just makes you more determined to prove you are right.  Just my opinion so don't jump all over me. 
I have to provide good argument here, though.
That is no different than the MTs (new or even experienced) who have poor medical terminology, poor grasp of the English language, etc.

For the newbies who don't know the difference -- maybe in a test they do but when transcribing they don't get it -- between a hemorrhage and a hemorrhoid in the brain. For the experienced MTs who have never understood that pleural is lung, plural means more than one.

I've seen great work by US MTs and by offshore MTs, alike. I have also seen the most horrifyingly low-quality work from US MTs and offshore MTs alike.


Your argument loses all steam when you get to
For Pete's sake! Simple - no problems, just don't sign it! You state they're likely to sign since they've been thru the trouble of testing? Sheesh! We all know that taking the test is the magic door to finding out what the job is all about.  Otherwise, all details are a big secret.  Only way in is if you know somebody first.  So, you take the test, find out the pay blows and you say NO THANKS and move on.  Glory, glory, glory - hallelujah!  Amen!
Some of these posts are revolting. No argument here.
*
Sorry, you're weakening your argument big-time. nm
for your lack of discipline in saving. But for legal purposes, they should be taking the taxes out.
No argument about AHDI sucking an egg, but I suppose it is just personal sm

preference.  When I started transcribing 35 years ago or so, I had never heard of AAMT or anything like it, but the people in the Medical Records Department (which of course his now referred to as HIM -- why keep things the same if you can change them constantly for no rason) who transcribed the reports were called transcriptionists.  The machine I used to access the dictation was called a transcriber. 


Of course, it is no big deal and I shouldn't get so hung up with labels.  I worked briefly for an Indian company (felt like I was sleeping with the enemy but that's another story), and they called us transcribers … ugh.


I was hired and started in 1 week. That is not a long set-up time. When I started with our local h
I needed to get a physical and go through orientation at the hospital which is only given two times per month. This is a 900-bed hospital, so it cannot be an unusual process. MQ took 2 weeks. KS took 1 week. SoftScript never got me started even after repeated calls and emails.

I have only been with KS for 9 months but would never put them in the same catagory as the others you mentioned. They are the best company I have worked for, and unfortunately, I have bounced around a little in the last 5 years.
I was hired and started in 1 week. That is not a long set-up time. When I started with our local h
I needed to get a physical and go through orientation at the hospital which is only given two times per month. This is a 900-bed hospital, so it cannot be an unusual process. MQ took 2 weeks. KS took 1 week. SoftScript never got me started even after repeated calls and emails.

I have only been with KS for 9 months but would never put them in the same catagory as the others you mentioned. They are the best company I have worked for, and unfortunately, I have bounced around a little in the last 5 years.
I was hired and started in 1 week. That is not a long set-up time. When I started with our local h
I needed to get a physical and go through orientation at the hospital which is only given two times per month. This is a 900-bed hospital, so it cannot be an unusual process. MQ took 2 weeks. KS took 1 week. SoftScript never got me started even after repeated calls and emails.

I have only been with KS for 9 months but would never put them in the same catagory as the others you mentioned. They are the best company I have worked for, and unfortunately, I have bounced around a little in the last 5 years.
and they started
you at 9.5 cents per line???
Well let's see, I started my day
and have sat here all day to only have 60 some reports! Sad but true. I have 2 other PT jobs for this very reason. I only stay because when the work is there, the money is good. If it does not pick back up soon, I'm gone!
Just started...
using CS this past week, and it is very, very easy and practical to use. You should love it!
I started with TT at 8 cpl - sm
and I was told by Debbie that top pay was 8.5 cpl, not over.  Maybe it was the account I was on.  Don't know.  Just relaying what I was told.  I really did like TT.  I couldn't afford their benefits, and yes, it is my fault for not doing my homework.  I
i actually just started with DRC ..
and just completed my first week. When I was offered a position, I was told that everything counts - spaces, characters, everything in expander. Considering it was just my first week with getting used to the system as well as formatting and dictators, I did very well - a hair below where we need to be for full time, which is not bad considering I relistened to all my jobs before sending it. That is my method of learning. I am happy:)
when I first started with MQ which sm
was then Transcriptiosn Limited, for years, I was a subcontractor given a 1099 and they supplied all my equipment. Probably weren't suppose to. Well, I leased it. Maybe that make a difference.
I started at 10 cpl with MDI-MA
NM
I started out at
8, then they gave me 9 because the account I was on was HEAVY esl, then switched to VA, which also pays 9. Did fine on the ESL account but can't make the new production requriments on the VA account. Oh, full time employee status.
Just started, but so far ...
I'm not having too many problems other than the usual just getting used to new things. I don't think WebCorrect is that slow. I've worked on worse, that's for sure. I've checked their line counts and found them to be accurate and they do include spaces/65 char lines.

I haven't been paid yet, so I can't comment on that.

Communication is very good. You can IM a question any time. I've never waited long for an answer. You do have to pay attention to who you're supposed to IM though.

Everyone I've encountered is very nice and professional. I might change my mind later, but so far, I think it's working out well for me.
I just started with them, but so far
Mary has been extremely flexible with the schedule. Just ask her. I would be willing to bet she would work with you. She is the easiest boss I have worked for yet and I have worked for quite a few:)
I started with them just a little over

a month ago and can't afford the $125 to quit.


Do they still charge you $125 to ship back the computer if you're there for more than 45 days?


Welcome! I just started...
recently myself.  Does your account start with a C by chance?
started at ,12, now...
make 16.
I just started with SGS
So far I have no complaints.  Im fortunate, I have a very easy account.  I have not had any ESLs so far...well, I had one, but he had an English/British accent and was not difficult to understand.  I think the platform you work with is dependent on the account you are assigned to.  I am using a web-based platform and Word 2000.  As for direct deposit, I do believe they told me they have it, but I could have confused them with another company I was entertaining simultaneously.  Benefits are reasonable for individuals, the family price is a little pricey in my opinion at nearly $178 per pay.  I have to do some serious typing to justify that big of per pay deduction and Im hoping I can pull it off because I need those benefits as a single parent. 
just started
I am just starting with them. If you want to email me I will give you what I know.
Just started
I just started with them and so far I like it. My account has been great. Everyone has been very nice.
Just started with them myself

but have you tried cut and pasting document into a Word document just to get a rough idea?  Or is that what you did already?


Just started with them....
on a brand new account. It is a group of hospitals and there is evidently plenty of work. I am doing Emergency Department Reports, which there is a never ending supply of. I am brand new, so it has been kind of tough, but everyone is very helpful and encouraging.

That's all I know, hope it helps.
No, have not started yet, my first
year as IC. Employee prior to this with another company.
Just started...sm
I am working two jobs at this point as i wanted to feel things out before jumping in and the were understanding about that, number 1.  The testing was not bad at all and was in line with the actual work difficulty.  I do ortho so I don't know about the other testing, but I would imagine it isn't bad.  Thus far, I have had plenty of work, QA is WONDERFUL--best i have ever seen by far.  The internet platform takes a little getting used to if you are used to installed programs, but still not a major issue.
and when I started w/MQ they had 12,000+ MTs

Yes, that's exactly how it started out with me...sm
She told me my bank was rejected my direct deposits because my account was closed. I was actually dumb enough to believe her for a while and kept arguing with my bank. Please keep my posted about your situation. I've recently sent a copy of all the invoices she owes me to the hospital with a copy of the job numbers, etc. I doubt they'll pay me but they'll certainly see what kind of a business she's running. I cannot even imagine where she gets off thinking that she can get away with pulling this. I just find it incredible. Hope you have better luck than I did!!!
It has still not started.

After you get started
I almost took the test, but went for a job closer to where I live, in the same state.
I started at .09 CPL at WMX.
x
I just started with them...not so sure yet!
It's too early to tell about the company. I like the HR manager, recruiter, etc., but the QA manager is a little pushy....
Have you started yet?
How long after testing did you hear back from them? How long after being hired did you receive your equipment? Do they pay an hourly rate for training? Thanks
I just started there and not on DD yet. I don't know
when I'll get a paper check.  The company may be growing, but if they are getting the payroll info to ADP in the required time frame I don't know what the issue is.  I would be worried that I didn't have a good answer as to why the payroll is late, especially is this is the second time it has happened, because I would be walking it through the make sure everything was okay and if it wasn't I'd be chewing someone's rear.   I don't know how late it was last time, but if this hasn't been a pattern I don't think it is time to freak. 
Here's what I did when I started out...

My first year as FT IC, when I had the accounts set up I did a guesstimate of my income and expenses, go ahold of the required Federal tax forms, and did a mock-up. This gave me a ball-park figure of what taxes would be due the Feds. After the first year when I paid it all in one lump sum in April (having stashed the money monthly in a savings account), then the Feds sent me a pack of quarterly payment slips.  From that point on I paid quarterly.


You can pay as much as you want to the Feds (they'll take it!), and I tried to hedge on the side of caution, so sometimes I got a refund. Most of the time I had paid my taxes fairly accurately.


The advice to talk to an accountant for your state is a very good one, especially if this is your first at-home business venture. Usually CPAs don't charge a horrid amount for a consultation and it can make things a lot easier for a newcomer to Schedule C.


You can e-mail me with more specific questions, will help if I can. Good luck to you! 


Getting started
I also was lucky to have received on-site training from wonderful co-workers--one of whom also trained her own daughter. Of course, now, with all the outsourcing, Indian mothers can pass this trade on to their daughters while we are supposed to be politically correct, broad-minded, and respectful of all other countries (but our own of course) and just tell our own daughters to go find something else to do. Very fair, isnt it.
i started with 8
For acute care, but I lasted 1 month.
I just started with them and I really like it. sm

Lots of work.  Decent dictators for the most part (in my pool).  I like the management team.  They answer  your questions and are very nice and very  helpful, as are the QA people.


I opted for full time and work Sunday through Thursday on the day shift. They are very flexible too if something comes up during your shift. You can pick a schedule that fits your needs and don't necessarily have to do 8 hours 5 days in a row.  I like having my two days off together (Fri and Sat).  Haven't had that happen in a looooooooooong time.  :)


The platform takes a bit of getting used to, but my old platform (MQ) was cemented in my brain for the past 4 years.  The team and QA people have been very helpful with that as well.


It was only my first week, but it went very well.  I like it much better than my old job.


Good luck!!