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I find it varies widely by dictator

Posted By: Another WMT on 2009-09-28
In Reply to: Question for webbies - anon

Caveat up front: I've only been on VR less than 6 months. More experienced MT editors might have a completely different VR experience.

That said, I notice the big factors in how many LPH I can do with it are (1) how long the dictating provider has been using the VR system and how many times s/he's been through readaptation, (2) whether the dictator is ESL. The software so far seems to favor native speakers over ESL's; it 'gets' the native speaker's speech pattern faster.

I am looking for quality, myself. The temptation to 'skim' is there with this kind of work, but I'm too afraid I'll make critical errors that way.

If I have a good dictator who's been readapted a few times, I can get by with little editing and average 400 lph. Most of the editing I do in that capacity is formatting, and a few good ShortHand entries can make a world of difference in speeding that up. I'd say definitely visit the Community page Training tab if you haven't already.

With a new and/or ESL dictator, though, I admit it: It's faster for me to straight-type it. So I do, because I can get between 300 and 350 lph that way. Editing might easily drop me down to that 200 lph ceiling you're struggling with. I don't know if that will always be so, or if, as I get more used to the rhythm of editing, it will become second nature and go faster. But right now, if the report's bad enough I simply transcribe it.

Again, just my experience so far.


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It varies widely. Most companies pay per line.
I've seen it as low as 3 cpl.  Some companies pay per hour, some as low at $10, others up to $16.   The ones that pay the lowest is probably off-shore work and in that case is isn't enough because you have to 100% edit and correct half of it- could also be VR work. 
I had a dictator like that once. (sm)

At first, I found it to be very irritating, but then I started to feel sorry for the guy.


Then, a couple months ago, I had a ministroke and now have intermittent difficulty with, not so much stuttering, but stammering/stuttering sometimes when I speak, as if the connection has broken somewhere between my brain and my mouth.


It happened to me recently when I was on the phone with someone from my doctor's office, and I started crying because I was so embarrassed and frustrated.


In something as important as dictating a patient's medical record, I think someone should gently bring this to the doc's attention, though maybe it embarrasses him as much as it embarrasses me.


On the other hand, with some USA companies outsourcing American work to foreign countries, obviously somewhere along the line, somebody stopped caring about accuracy (and confidentiality and HIPAA laws, etc.), IMHO.


ESL - SPANISH DICTATOR
AND UNFORTUNATELY NOT AN 800 NUMBER FOR DIAL IN TO GET THE DICTATIONS. Hospital will not invest the money to make the wave files available either. I just read this posting. I didn't see the others that were posting bad things about me until tonight. Some people just don't accept that you need excellent skills to make top money. Nothing comes easy. Thus my offer to pay more just to get this guy done. Thank you for all of your help. Karen
Not necessarily-if you get a bad dictator -- sm

your production is hurt whether you are experienced or not.  Fast production not only depends on the MT's ability but the quality of the dictator and how fast or slow they speak or how clear the speak.


A person with more experience will leave far less blanks but will still be limited on how fast she/he is.  Thus they deserve to be paid more than 7 cpl.


SR is not the problem, the dictator is
The problem is not with the product (SR) but with the person using it. You can't just install the program, start dictating, and see perfection appear on the screen. There's a lot involved with the training process, which never ends. It's really no different than building up an expansion program. The more time and effort you put into make entries, the better your line count will ultimately be.

I also work with SR every day, but I use the product instead of the keyboard. Previously, with the use of an expansion program, I had to kill myself to hit 1800 lines in a 9-hour day. Now, I can whip out at least 3000 lines in an 8-hour day (6-1/2 to 7 hours of dictating and about an hour of proofing). Any mistakes which I do have are my fault ... I did not articulate/enunciate correctly.

SR was once a product I wanted to use, 'cause I thought it would make this work more enjoyable. Now, it's a necessity. More than 30 years of MT has led to repetitive stress injuries (bilateral CTS and right cubital tunnel syndrome).

Sometimes I wish there were MTs who lived close to me, 'cause I would invite them over so they could see how well SR works, when it's been trained correctly.
But if that is the type of dictator that you will be doing, isn't it best for both of you sm

to know how you will do?  If you can't do whatever kind of awful dictation they have, then they need to know.  AND, most importantly, if that's the kind of dictation you would be facing every day, then YOU need to know so you can say no, thank you.   I know if I tested and had Mr Dream Doc for the test and then started working for the company and had Mr Devil Dictator every day, I'd feel like they did a bait and switch.


Just my opinion.  Good luck! 


Yes, very serious; however, 700 lph is not the norm every day. It just depends on the dictator. Th
Sometimes the reports are 98% accurate and sometimes, depending on the dictator, they are 90% accurate. As you know in this field, it depends on the day and dictator. The daily average, after all is said and done, is about 600 lph, 700 is on the very high end and not a consistent average every day.
Will the dictator change? Could end up being a foreigner (sm)
talking over that incessant sound of running water I always hear in path reports.  I wouldn't do it.
I truly think that if every doctor or dictator had to spend
was forced to listen to themselves for a period of time...say an hour or two, I would almost bet the farm that a lot of mumblemouths, yawners, eaters, and people who dictate in the bathroom while they are flushing would change their habits radically. Or sending their dictation EXACTLY the way they say it...um...uh...uh...ummmm........hmmmm.........dead air....You know the ones.

No one will ever convince me differently. LOL. IN a perfect world maybe. in the MT world??? Not!!!
Thanks for that info! No way am I muddling through a dictator like that
xx
As I said, it is going to depend on the dictator's style.
My doctors dictate a lot of lines like:

MEDICATIONS: None.

ALLERGIES: No known drug allergies.

That is why I was saying it would be good if you have a lot of short lines. It also would depend on the page format. With the page format we use, each line is approximately 65 characters, so if the doctor dictated a lot in paragraph form versus the short lines, then it would indeed be a paycut. All I was suggesting was that you really can't judge the pay rate as there are so many variables that go into it. It ould be decent pay with the right conditions. As I said, with just the one report, I would have made $3 more. Times that by the 20 reports I do a day and that is a huge difference.

I agree though about the software. Not going to take the chance of buying expensive software only to find out that the job isn't going to work out in the end a month or two down the road.
Everytime I start this dictator she has a mouthful
of gum, candy, ?? swishing around in her mouth. How rude can you get? Even if she is not sucking, chewing or whatever she is rolling that crap around in her mouth and then there is this physician who cannot pronounce her medical terms and yet she seems like she needs to snort something back every sentence. Just gross!!
YES! I will get numerous reports from the same ugly dictator

8 times in one night -- these H&P's being 6 plus hours old, and each dictated with plenty of time in between, my knowing that there were other dictators dictating in between his -- so know that they have been holding them for me after the day shift gets off. They don't delay H&P's getting out for this many hours, so it is so very obvious what is taking place. I don't like companies manipulating the system for their favorites.


I absolutely despise this practice by a company.


You're assuming this is a sweetheart dictator ... sm

With a good dictator that knows what he/she wants to say and says it, without all the ...uh....ah....mmmm.....ah.....ugh, ad nauseum... rudely shuffles papers while you're waiting for the next sound ... without the courtesy of shutting the machine off while they steal even more of your time....yes, without all this inconsiderate behavior on the part of dictators...the above equation would probably be correct.


I agree that the dictator on the 1st test file...
is difficult to hear in places.  I'm going to try and re-record it in WavePad to see if I can't boost up the audio a bit.  I could hear the 2nd and 3rd files much better.  I've still got to proof my files and then will send them in.
We worked out of a pool, and when a report came up from a cruddy dictator (sm)
they would hit "1" and send it back to the pool so the next Transcriptionist would get it.  It was so obvious, as soon as you went on in the morning the first few reports you got would be from the most God-awful ESLs and you can see that they were dictated the previous day, but then all of a sudden you start getting jobs that were dictated just an hour before.   
Yes, if gross line count and easy dictator
to start with.
Thanks. Again I'm not asking what you CAN do because I know that it varies quite a bit with
platforms, but what is required to maintain your FT status, i.e. 1200 per day for an 8 hour shift, etc. 
Probably varies, just ask them
/
It varies
from work type to work type as far as ESL.  I do not feel it is too bad.  We have some difficult docs just like every other service.  As far as pay per line.  I feel it is decent.  They go by your experience.  Gulf Coast is completely Independent contractor, no benefits, as of now.  However, they are working on trying to get insurance for us :-).  I enjoy working for them very much.
6 cents a line for surgical reports for an ESL dictator? Are you NUTS??

I'm just absolutely appalled and disgusted...


Varies from one account to another

I'm assigned to work on four different accounts, and two have demos (we call them census) and two do not.  Of the two that do, the screen usually comes up with most of the information, and then you just have to select the right visit, which you can usually do with the date of service.  I work in a Word-based platform, though it's not actually Word.  I also use ShortHand and autocorrect for expansions (though this wasn't asked, just thought it would be helpful to know).


I hope I didn't miss any questions!


From what I recall, it varies.
I think the low was something like $12 a PP (with a high deductible plan), and I forget what the high was. All of their plans had fairly high deductibles, with the lowest being $1500, I think. They start 30 days after probation, which means 120 days; a little too long for me.
Its odd how much the job experience varies

I left Spheris for almost identical reasons to those posted above.  Going to Webmedx was the best thing for me - I love it, my supe loves me and I've made more money this year than ever before in my life.


Just goes to show that each experience with a company is so varied that no matter how much advice for and against a company is on these boards, you never really know what your own experience will be until you're there.  No job is perfect for everyone.


Renee, it varies from job to job, sm
whether with benefits, inhouse, hospital employed or at a service. I'm guessing the average is 9 cpl/per 65 w or w/o benefits. Advise shopping around FL for the best deal. Good luck. I'm looking for greener pastures, too.
Mine varies but on VR usually
anywhere from 3000 up over 4000 per day. I also do some straight.
Mandatry varies by account needs.
Of course they hate demanding it.  On my account they more often than not ask for help first, then offer incentives before we get to the mandatory stage.  If we had a few more good people, maybe it wouldn't happen so often.  Maybe we can interest you
No, only that work varies over the pay period sm
I see my primary account in week 1 of the 2 weeks. By Tuesday of week 2 of 2 weeks, I see my secondary and my primary and as the week wears on I have less and less of my primary and more of my other 3 accounts. I guess I know that some people are making up their lines, but that is now how I work.
The count varies, but today
in my first 2 hours I had over 1000- I think only 58 of those were straight and the rest VR, but according to the work, I have done over 700-800 an hour. It is possible and if you know the work, easy to get at least 500 per hour.
Probably varies by account, but 24 to 48 hours
x
It varies. Once an MT is comfortable with the software and the account, and...sm
QA is pleased with the quality of work, then an MT can be released from full QA.  Lots of factors involved, no set time.
I believe the speed setting varies with platform
Some are actually able to increase the speed more than other platforms, I believe. That might explain the difference.

I use the Escription/Editscript platform and love it. I have to admit I am blessed with a great account that has some truly excellent dictators and I've no doubt that makes a huge difference.

I think VR is something one either loves or hates. I'm apparently in the minority that love (as do my hands and wrists and shoulders!).


A majority want 600 lpd for PT. Being able to put in extra hours varies from place to
s
Yes we do get bonuses. It varies. Line and a half or so much $$ for so many reports.
NM
Your line count varies based on QA score.
nm
I suppose it probably varies with each account. My primary has been slow sm

since the holiday, but I am able to get my lines.  I'm hoping it picks up soon.


Hope this helps.


The setting your own schedule thing varies. For example, physicians who work in the ER may be
independent contractors, rather than employees, if they are moonlighting on weekends or whatever. But notice they are told what hours to work... There's no way to keep a transcription service alive with people working whatever hours they feel like whenever they feel like. That's just not reasonable.
Actually Transcends pay varies greatly depending on negotiations, accts, etc
x
Did find a Wright Watson Sten-Tel in Austin if their site isn't old. Find 'em with Google. nm
s
Easy platform, PTO if you are employee, production incentive, direct deposit, work flow varies on
different accounts, but usually have enough to keep busy, lots of QA feedback.
Trying to find info on Encompass on this board, can't find any recent. sm
Anyone have any current info. Any employees out there? Give me the low-down if you can! Thanks a million.
That is not true. It varies from account to account. I have
several internet accounts and on some you do have to input the patient information.
It varies from state to state
nm
I'm sure it varies from company to company.

There are a lot of companies who do not use mttest, but with mttest you can submit your resume and then do the testing immediately.  This way the company has your resume and your testing to look at  at the same time.    I have submitted resumes via posted ads, or I have just posted my resume on the job wanted boards and have been contacted.  I was offered one position without any testing at all and even no interview prior to the offer.  My current position I was contacted from posting my resume and then they asked me to test. 


I'm sure companies don't have time to read all the resumes that come in because they can get upwards of 200 resumes when they post an opening.  I was once contacted by a company to submit my resume (don't know  where they got my name).  I did submit a resume and they sent me a letter via snail mail saying that I did not have enough experience, even though I had 10 years of experience more than they require and they were the ones who contacted me.   Some companies say they hold resumes for 6 months.   With so much competition for jobs I think companies now take the most experienced and the others get filed or tossed.  It is rare that a company contact you to let you know you didn't get the job. 


Varies from state to state
My own state recognizes partial unemployment, too, when your work gets cut down to half of your regular workload/income.
If you find
someone who is hiring for psychiatry and/or psychology, please come back to this message and email me.  I have made this post a couple of times before and have not gotten a response. 
How to find JUST Ops, not H&P, DS, etc?
Any ideas?
you will probably have to find sm
a company in your country.  The companies I know of don't hire MTs out of the country.  I don't want to be rude, but just for some information, I wouldn't describe what I wanted as wanting to do reports in my spare time.  Very unprofessional.
How do I find it
How do I find it?
Please tell me if you can find a
I would like to know too, but I am not holding my breath either.
I cant find anything on them. nm
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