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Gourdpainter going to paint gourds and do other things s/m

Posted By: gourdpainter on 2009-09-28
In Reply to:

I would like to thank everyone who has responded to my posts in a nice way.    My presence here seems to stir much dissension which is not and never has been my intent.   I post on a number of forums that are of interest to me and never in all my days have I seen such HATEFUL, SPITEFUL people as some who post here.


To the friends I have met here, please stay in touch via email.


I wish all of you (even the hateful posters) the best. 




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I sure wish I could go paint gourds.

Or just about anything else.  Too poor to retire and can't think of another field to get into.  But best wishes to all of y'all who DO get to leave MT and move on to something else! 



And if you do paint gourds...
how do you do this and where do you sell them? I love to paint little things like pumpkins and such for Halloween, but have never seen much of a call for it other than that time of year. Would love to make money doing that all year round!
Do I paint gourds for a living s/m
I do and love every minute of it. 
Do you really paint gourds? Just wondering.

I know it is off topic but cool, I wish I was an artist.  I might get into making jewelry and try to sell that.  I love artsy stuff. 


Oh, by the way, I got tired too of not being paid to sit and stare at a screen and I did find something waaaay better.  Still work at home, but for a local hospital, very small, no VR at all, they don't like it.  Better benefits, better pay, better perks, better situation all the way around. 


So, anyone out there miserable, yes, look.  You would be surprised of what you can find.  There is life beyond the nationals.  


Do what I did and just send or email resumes out to every single thing you see.  The final choice is up to you, just listen to what each has to offer and if no good, go onto the next one.  Send to local places you would not even think twice about.  Local hospitals, small local transcription companies, even insurance companies who don't outsource hire transcriptionists.  Just try anything and everything.   


Seek and ye shall find.  Well, I did anyway. 


Do you have a website for your gourds, gourdpainter?

Thanks all! The recruiter sure did paint a much
rosier picture! Said the work is easy, no ESLs, flexibility, etc. Too bad, I guess I will keep looking.
About that paint brush

I don't paint everything with the same brush either.  Just as there are good people and bad people, I'm sure there are good MTSOs and bad MTSOs.  I think part of the problem has come about with the greed (or survival) if you want to call it that.  Let's say back maybe 20-30 years ago when MTSOs first gave medical facilities an option to deal with the fact that it was almost impossible to recruit qualified MTs.  Up until maybe 10 years ago one couldn't pick up a newspaper in any town big enough to support a hospital where the classified ads weren't begging for MTs. I travel a fair amount and always look at the classifieds and I haven't seen an ad for MTs in several years in ANY newspaper classified. 


The MTSOs were able to fill a gap.  They would pay whatever bonuses were necessary, often 2-3x usual pay rates to get the work out and MTs would crank it out.  The TAT as I recall was 24 hours for H&Ps unless they were stat.  DS, if I remember anywhere close to accurately, the TAT was something like 4 days.  Then more MTSOs came on board and in order for them to get in the action they offered shorter TAT with the argument that faster TAT meant faster $$$.  It got to the point it was and IS ridiculous.  Would a hospital go bankrupt if they didn't get their DSs within 3 minutes?  I doubt it. 


Next, we had the biiiiig MTSOs swallowing up the smaller ones until there are hardly any mom and pop MTSOs left.  Either they could sell out or be put out of business because there was no way they could compete.  Just like the big box stores, the big MTSOs can probably be profitable on maybe a 2% profit margin (volume), something that is totally impossible for a small MTSO.  I know this because I have been on both sides of the fence.  During my career I have worked for many hospitals and many MTSOs, some good, some not.  I never worked in a hospital where the facility and the medical staff did not appreciate and have great respect for their MTs and treat them with respect and dignity.


Then we have the MT training programs.  Again, probably good and bad.  We've all seen the ads that promise people they can take a short course and make $30,000 annually right out of the chute.  We all know better.  We all spent our blood, sweat and tears learning to be professional, COMPETENT MTs.  We all know that it takes a person generally in the neighborhood of 5 years to become proficient.  It takes a physician much longer yet we are expected to speak the language of medicine fluently in a relatively short period of time.  I cannot count the number of calls I have received and still receive from people who have taken this or that MT course and have never been able to find employment.  I tell them that the best I can do is give them a place where they can get an extensive list of MT companies who if they beg and plead MIGHT allow them to test and if they test and pass they MIGHT be offered a job.  I don't have the heart to tell them after spending their money to educate themselves, they would likely make more flippin' burgers.    I also have people asking me all the time how they can get into the MT business.  I have one word for them......DON'T.


Maybe MTs shouldn't go back so far as to be primma donnas as they were in the past but good grief!  MTs and medical records have always been non-revenue producing departments in medical facilities but for MTSOs MTs ARE the revenue producers.  It's kinda like killing the geese that lay the golden eggs.


I've seen the incompetence in medical records, including some of my family's records that have had to be corrected. We've all made mistakes because we are human but when someone transcribes pot of orange, it doesn't take much to see that person doesn't have a clue and the quality HAS sufffered because of inexperienced people trying to make a living under the most nefarious conditions.  I, for one, can't fault people for worrying about paying the rent and feeding their kids!


Painter of Gourds...

why do you still feel compelled to paruse this board?  If was retiring and no longer wanted to be an MT, I think I'd find the gourd painter message board and be very happy. 


Why are you finding yourself still downing MT.  Not all of us feel we'll have to buy a job.  We don't all have bad luck and not all of us are down on the MT business.  A lot of us are doing rather well and love this job...


Good luck with your retirement, but something tells me you'll be back after Thanksgiving...  


though gourds and stewed tomatoes go well together...n/m
nm
I can't paint worth a you-know-what but I'm in on that Caribbean crap selling gig ... let's
n/m
Aha !! Retired and painting gourds as a hobby? Envy you. nm
.
Gourdpainter
I think you are wise and spot-on. IMHO, the AAMT or whatever that silly sorority is calling itself these days did more to hurt the common MT than any other single factor. I have been in this business a looooong time and have never seen those folks do anything to help the MTs. On the other hand, they have been busily engaged in OFFSHORING and doing whatever else could line their pockets. Now I am off to bake a pie!
Gourdpainter
I agree with you about some people not having an ear for it. I think I may be defining zone differently than you do. I see so many people who are the proverbial mommies in jammies who think they can step right into 40K a year. That's not going to happen. Many people are not willing to do the work. By getting into the zone, for myself, I mean, letting my friends and family know not to call me during my work hours except for emergencies, working as professionally as if I were at an outside workplace, setting hourly production goals, etc. I think that if people realized how many interruptions they allow and put a stop to them, their income would increase from that alone. I do agree with you that some people do not have an ear for it. It is kind of like being a singer. I would love to sing but cannot carry a tune so that will never happen. I guess it is best I do not have the ambition of singing grand opera.
Gourdpainter
You and I are politically on the same page. When I left MQ and was interviewing with other companies, one of my first questions was Do you offshore? If they did I politely thanked them for their time but told them I believed in American jobs for American workers and would not work for them. I also believe that MTs who work for companies who offshore are helping undermine the American worker. As to the AAMT or whatever they are called now (I lost track), I have zero respect for them. I have yet to see one thing they have done for the American MT.
I don't think Gourdpainter is mean at all
I think she speaks the truth from experience. If you don't want to read her posts, move on to something else. She has as much right to be here as you do.
To: gourdpainter
Thank you for your feedback. I have several additional questions if you don't mind taking the time to answer them.

1. Why do you say ERs are going to VR in the future?
2. Do you feel your experience was different than most, or the typical ER scenario? I seem to recall many posts from people saying that they really love ER and I was wondering why, based upon what you are saying now.

Thanks.
Gourdpainter: Just an FYI.
Gourd is on my son's spelling list at school for next week. I thought of you immediately LOL. PS: This MT is an artist, and thought about gourd painting, looked up the web site you suggested, but it seems too difficult that is the cleaning and preparation. I admire your hard work. Easier for me to just type and paint canvas. But I would buy hand-painted gourds from you. Seems cool. Anyway, just wanted to let you know you were thought of re: Son's spelling list. You may even make it into his homework sentences. tee hee.
gourdpainter
You are so right on. On one of my jobs, I currently have a 90% almost all ESL account nobody else seemed to want and while other people are complaining of no work, I have tons of work all the time. I look at the ESLs as my job security. Any hour of the day or night that I want work, there is plenty. God bless the ESLs!
Oh Gourdpainter...
I so wish we could go out for drinks one night...we could howl the night away! I am LMAO, thank you cause it is the first time I have done such today!
gourdpainter
It just ticks me off that this happened to you. I would rather imagine that the ACLU might be interested in this infringement on your freedom of speech....
gourdpainter
Actually, I hope you get some pit bull lawyer and sue their, well, you know, off for malicious prosecution.
gourdpainter
I had the same thing happen to me. Another MT cyberstalked me because she did not like what I had posted. There are some real angels out there in cyberspace but there also, as they say in Brooklyn, some real pieces of work. Everyone needs to be careful.
gourdpainter
I can their karma cannot catch them soon enough, all the way from MQs minions down to the greedy mom and pops. Yes, there are a few greedy mom and pops still life, and a few really great ones, too. I don't paint everyone with the same brush by any means, but it does seem that ethics and kindness flew out the window about ten years ago in our industry. (I am NOT talking about my current company, but others I have worked for!) To the squids and the folks who have forgotten the rules of fair play, I can only say, WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND! It's a rule of life.
gourdpainter
You are one wise woman. I feel really isolated, despite living in a big city. I also feel completely betrayed. When I was a little kid my parents taught me that should always be loyal and give my highest and best to any company I worked for, and I did it. (Silly me.) It would seem that we are just machines to be lugged around and plugged in and used up. Feh!
gourdpainter
Don't you have anything better to do?   Like painting gourds?  Halloween is coming, surely it is your busy time of year, no?
Gourdpainter, you're right--
we have too many people and not enough jobs. We need a temporary halt on immigration and tough rules to protect American workers.
Hey gourdpainter, I used to work for MRC before they SM

merged with TL and became Medquist. I miss those days...


Reply to Gourdpainter
Yes, you are more than likely 100% correct in your assumption about Dictaphone.  Did you ever notice that when Focus/Nuance/Dictaphone is advertising like mad, TT has oodles of work.  When the Focus/Nuance/Dictaphone ads go away (i.e., they have hired a bunch), TT work dries up.  Wow, what a chain of events.  Of course, how could TT explain this to their people?  Let's hope that people will remember this when there is another massive TT hiring spree, so that they won't be in the position to have to go through this.  Your personal experience with them is indeed sorry.  You probably were the ultimately loyal, caring, productive Transcriptionist they had.  How sad!.  Keep paintin' and smilin and have a wonderful day!
RE: Gourdpainter and TT lawsuit,...sm

Do you think you could go to work at ANY company and continually bash them, either online or to other employees and NOT get fired or sued.  There is such a thing as libel and defamation, and that has nothing to do with Freedom of Speech.  I have gone through the archives and am shocked at the things people say on here about the companies they STILL WORK FOR.  I cannot imagine going to work for a company and to continuously badmouth them and to be able to keep my job!!!  Someone else said on here in another post I read about not having to use your real name or be accountable for what you write on here and that is only to true, which is why I use my name!!!  I have nothing to hide.  If what you say is true, then you should be able to show your identity!  You cannot knowingly lie or defame a company  ANYWHERE, especially where it could potentially poison the pool of current or potential employees.  If you are SOOO unhappy with the way things are where you work QUIT!!!!  I have been through the ups and downs on work flow with Transtech too, but my intelligence tells me this happens everywhere!  There was no change in payroll company since I have been here, almost a year, or if there was I had NO PROBLEMS and did not even notice.  I had no rush to get my paperwork in or mistakes in my paycheck and whomever implied those things about TransTech's questionable payroll practices, deserves to be sued.  You cannot say those kind of things about a company, especially  when to my knowledge they are UNTRUE.  That is defamation of character and NOT Freedom of Speech.  They are owned by a parent company and THAT company does our payroll NOT TRansTEch themselves.  Everyone really needs to do their homework on this sort of thing.  This is EXACTLY what people get sued over and as well they should!!!  There is a difference in stating you were unhappy, or if you did not get paid on time or not at all, but to continue to work somewhere, and then get on here and CONTINUOUSLY bash them, is just plain WRONG!!  There are plenty more companies out there... find another one to work for if you are that unhappy!!. Again, I am NOT management and I have had problems that I needed to work out with them, but that is exactly what I did WORKED IT OUT WITH THEM!  This is a company just as if you were working in an office, and there is protocol when working in a business environment that many of you just do not get!  For those of you that do, this is obviously not meant for you!!!   For those this does not pertain to, I know you will not be offended by this.  If you are offended by this, this is obviously meant for you.  Have a great day!


GOURDPAINTER was the poster

 


Why would I ask my own post be locked???  No wonder you USED to be a moderator - you fail to understand the use of this message board and what can and can't be done.  Sounds like you're the goof!!!!


 


BEST OF LUCK TO YOU GOURDPAINTER
I respect the fact that you can't talk about this right now. I just want to wish you the very best of luck with all of this. I would love to talk to you about it when everything is behind you.

Just know that you have a lot of support and a lot of friends out here who are rooting for you!

I am so glad to see you are still posting and exercising your first amendment rights!
Gourdpainter and FatCat, ? for you....
Do you remember about 20 years ago when MT Week was actually a true celebration of the hardworking MTs, and there were 5 full days of employers showing their appreciation? My employer in the 80s would send us to workshops, seminars, etc., during that week (I guess those have disappeared), the entire day off with pay and all expenses paid.

Those we worked with actually respected us back in those days and the appreciation shown during MT week was such a motivator to do even better.

I'd better quit walking down memory lane before I can't find my way back to the present times...so sad what the industry has done to our profession.
IMO, Gourdpainter belongs here as much as you or anyone else!
She is a very seasoned MT that we are could learn a few things from.  The 15, 20, 30 year MTs on here have a respect for the wisdom, dedication, and professionalism that MTs like Gourdpainter have.  And you know what, you can tell who they are and who they are not. This is worthwhile reading of posts.  Frankly I get tired of the immature insults, flaming, and I am holier than thou attitude.  We can tell who you are too.  It's cute to you and maybe you can laugh and get a pat on the back from some others on here, but believe me when I tell you, it gets old and it is not worthwhile reading or very entertaining.  You continue to post while most will ignore you - but you really don't have the right to ask others not to.  Maybe you have not heard of the word, but it is consideration.
Gourdpainter, where in the world do you get your info from?
I would think you probably never did VR, is that correct? You have to have as much experience to do it as straight typing. Do you think you just look at words and see if they are spelled correct. I do combination of both and to say a newbie probably could get a dictionary and do, then this is just another fable that is thrown out there from people who do not know what they are talking about. I see no difference at all in straight and VR except for the fact you are just not typing as much. Oh, by the way, a person who is experienced can make a good salary. Go back to retirement, ok?
Hey gourdpainter. Do you even work at TT? I am guessing no.
Why then are you constantly bashing them?
I agree, gourdpainter...as I posted above, and have
stated once before on this board, we as MTs make a living typing, concentrating on not making errors - many of us perfectionists to a fault.  These boards should be an opportunity for us to communicate without having to worry about being judged if we make mistakes - just type along and don't worry about it for a change, right?  Who cares if someone makes typos or the grammar may be questionable.  Apparently I was wrong to think that MTs wouldn't judge one another in that way. I really think it's time for me to consider not participating any longer on these boards - too many mean people.
Who are you??? I only agrred to gourdpainter's post!..sm
Read the 2nd post in this thread 'Since the subject came up - gourdpainter.'

You get a grip of yourself and before making an uninformed accusation READ ALL THE FORMER POSTS!

COMPRENDE ????

And why don't you post with a Moniker?

FOR GOURDPAINTER AND THOSE WHO SHARE HER BELIEF SM

Do you think you could go to work at ANY company and continually bash them, either online or to other employees and NOT get fired or sued.  There is such a thing as libel and defamation, and that has nothing to do with Freedom of Speech.  I have gone through the archives and am shocked at the things people say on here about the companies they STILL WORK FOR.  I cannot imagine going to work for a company and to continuously badmouth them and to be able to keep my job!!!  Someone else said on here in another post I read about not having to use your real name or be accountable for what you write on here and that is only to true, which is why I use my name!!!  I have nothing to hide.  If what you say is true, then you should be able to show your identity!  You cannot knowingly lie or defame a company  ANYWHERE, especially where it could potentially poison the pool of current or potential employees.  If you are SOOO unhappy with the way things are where you work QUIT!!!!  I have been through the ups and downs on work flow with Transtech too, but my intelligence tells me this happens everywhere!  There was no change in payroll company since I have been here, almost a year, or if there was I had NO PROBLEMS and did not even notice.  I had no rush to get my paperwork in or mistakes in my paycheck and whomever implied those things about TransTech's questionable payroll practices, deserves to be sued.  You cannot say those kind of things about a company, especially  when to my knowledge they are UNTRUE.  That is defamation of character and NOT Freedom of Speech.  They are owned by a parent company and THAT company does our payroll NOT TRansTEch themselves.  Everyone really needs to do their homework on this sort of thing.  This is EXACTLY what people get sued over and as well they should!!!  There is a difference in stating you were unhappy, or if you did not get paid on time or not at all, but to continue to work somewhere, and then get on here and CONTINUOUSLY bash them, is just plain WRONG!!  There are plenty more companies out there... find another one to work for if you are that unhappy!!. Again, I am NOT management and I have had problems that I needed to work out with them, but that is exactly what I did WORKED IT OUT WITH THEM!  This is a company just as if you were working in an office, and there is protocol when working in a business environment that many of you just do not get!  For those of you that do, this is obviously not meant for you!!!   For those this does not pertain to, I know you will not be offended by this.  If you are offended by this, this is obviously meant for you.  Have a great day!


Gourdpainter is one of my favorite posters!

Gourdpainter, you are RIGHT! As a long-time -(sm)-
MT who has been applying at other jobs lately, I've come to the realization that MTSO's do NOT want experience and longevity in this field. It COSTS TOO MUCH! (Or so they THINK! I guess they don't factor in worker turnover, training time, software setup, errors, QA time, and possible loss of client into the equation).

I'm pretty sure that when a prospective employer sees 35 years' experience on my resume, they worry that:
1 - I'll want more money than they want to pay. (Which is true in most cases).
2 - I'll retire soon. (Which is FALSE - who can afford to retire anymore?)
3 - I don't have a CMT. (True, because I've been around long enough to know that it's a SCAM).

It's little wonder some of the big companies have been buying or starting MT schools lately. Not only is it yet another source of income, it also supplies them with a fresh supply of VICTIMS to feed upon (oops, I mean 'employees').

VAMPIRES. All of 'em.
Wow gourdpainter... I have followed you for a long time and I truly trust
your take on things... not that I don't others here, but you have proven to be honest and reliable. It truly is a reality check to me to hear this from you. If this happened to you, who is so honest and obviously reliable then what to the rest of us? If this kind of lack of loyalty to you what can someone like me expect? Thanks for taking the chance and writing this here... I know you may have blown your cover, but to some of us in the MT world out here alone and wondering what to do, you are a light in the darkness, and a guidepost to those of us who are uncertain who to trust. This MT does trust you, though anon, I feel like you are someone to take stock in and your opinion counts. I thank you for this post today. From an MT who wasn't sure what to do but appreciates so much your help. Thank you!
sorry - this above post is for Gourdpainter, the orig. poster. nm
x
I'll agree with Gourdpainter any old time
going to tell me what to say, or where I can say it. If they don't like our American freedoms, they should pack up and move the whole operation to India, Iran, Pakistan, or mainland China, where they belong.
So go stick that in your pipe and smoke it, gourdpainter, And before you ask, I am NOT mgmt.
ooooo
Seriously, gourdpainter, I have been in the same boat as these people, you are retired, remember?
When I had to work and make a living I took most things that were thrown my way, because I had to have a job. If my boss told me I had time off and then changed their minds and I did not have in writing, then that is what I went along with. I hardly think now since you are retired you have the ability to tell others about what they should do. I have retirees tell me they think I should retire but now I am saying to you, let these people decide on their own what they want to do and it is different when you can afford to sit back and say that. You get retirement, they don’t!
Gourdpainter - Aren't you the MT being sued by MTSO for slander/standing up? Yeah I need that.
x
No. Expect good things, and good things will come
x
I LIKE MDI. A few little things here and there
but for the most part, they are far superior to the others. (I even like AIM.)
thanks i will definitely try these things

Three things ...
1) I am an SE and I work my schedule, period.

2) I have never been out of work...even when others complain they are.

3) I have been not only allowed to work past my schedule but encouraged to. It's not my fault I'm allowed/encouraged to do so. It's more money in my pocket.

Look, I work as hard as you do. I don't know why you don't have any work but that doesn't mean it is my fault because I'm an SE. I also don't "hog" work. I take it as it comes...not like I can horde it away on my system and keep it in private while others sit without it. I can have only 2 jobs in my queue at any given time, just like everyone else.

Let's band together and not fight, ok?! It's not the IC's fault if the work is poorly distributed -- it is mgmt's fault.

I always ask things like that first, also pay
Make sure to ask before you test. big waste of time