I am glad you saw the main point...

I have ten years experience as a Transcriptionist and type 90 wpm but only in 5-6 specialties.  I've never done cardio, ortho, oncology, OB.  In addition, its been a month and I'm STILL getting new docs for the first time.  There are about 50 total and they load randomly, not even one specialty per day or batched together at a time.  I've haven't even heard half of them yet so back to square one I go to read/research their little quirks each time a new guy rolls in.  Too much to learn and not enough training time invested for such a large account IMO.

I kept asking for backup accounts and for weeks couldn't get any, despite there being several accounts with OT on them.  Talked with upper management and finally got 2 backup accounts, neither of which had any work on them.  I was getting tops 20 hours a week and that was having to sit in front of the computer for 12 hour stints and check every 5 minutes to see if a report came in. I was working 7 days a week and trying all shifts to get in lines, so it wasn't a matter of me not making an effort.

Enterprise has lots of bugs in it and despite promises that the most current update would take care of the problem it never did.  I would lose jobs, the system would freeze up and I had to reboot.  All the while you are clocked in so your line count goes to heck.  The system was so slow most days that I would sit a minute in between reports, which affects your line count because you're on the clock and not being productive.    They have nice incentives but because of the above there was no way to reach them.

They denied overhiring, but they did way overhire and they lost several good MTs about the same time I left because there wasn't enough work.  Lots of people were frustrated and posted on the boards here and then we were reprimanded for doing so.  The internal boards were so heavily monitored that anything the least bit negative was deleted.  Talking to my STM was like banging my head against a brick wall, so basically there was nowhere to go.  We also got several e-mails with the threat of having to go to India and I wasn't going to have that dangled in front of me all the time.  I was doing my part.

I cried every single day I was there I hated it so much. 

I've worked with MedQuist, Keystrokes, Lee Perfect, AAA Transcription, You See Solutions, using a multitude of platforms - Scribes, Word, WP, Emdat Inscribe, etc.  I've worked as an IC and employee.  I've used 65 character and gross lines.  I worked in the heyday as did many when you could easily get 12 cpl as an IC and employee, but the facts are the facts.  I know earn 9 to 10 cpl, character line since that seems to be the most prevailant.  I do not like it, but I do it. I've left companies because of crappy platforms (at least in my opinion - others loe them) or issues with being paid.  My time is valuable and I will hunt down and find the place that I can make the most.  It's time consuming but worth it in the end when you find your niche.  It can be frustrating and rewarding in the end.   I've earned anywhere from $25 to $50 an hour depending on account, platform, line counting, etc.  I'm currently making $30 an hour with a 65 character coiunt and 9.5 cpl. 

Just like with every career option there are some who are just better at the job than others.  That does not not mean that those who struggle are bad, but someone else can do better and that is not a bad thing either. 

Maybe some people are not truly cut out for  the job even if they truly want it.  Some have higher expectations than others and will never attain the high hourly average.  Some are happy just making $15 an hour.  Everyone has their own needs and expectations.

I do not see why anyone cannot make close to $25 an hour doing this job.  I've been doing it for 20 years - acute care, clinic work, high ESL, etc.  and I've always managed to make $25 an hour or more.  I do not even like the job anymore, but I'm good at it and I make a really good buck doing it.  When I finish my schooling for my next career choice, something I love to do, I'll leave the field knowing full well I will not make near the money I made at MT for quite sometime. 

If you are doing Acute Care with high ESL, maybe you need to switch to something else.  Regardless, the work is out there - you may have to look for it, but if I cannot average $25 an hour, then I do not want the work and I'll look  elsewhere until I find the right fit.  I've  had to do it before when a company changed platforms, but I eventually found something else and moved on.  My time is precious and I'm greedy.