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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I had trouble keeping up with my

Posted By: lines at Precyse. see message on 2005-11-27
In Reply to: Not arguing, haven't started yet. Just trying to get the whole picture here. - Your input is valued. Thank you. nm

The QA department wants to proof everything before you get paid, therefore what you typed may not be what you get paid for.  I couldn't ever figure out how much I was going to receive.  People were real nice, accounts good, but there was room for dishonesty in line counting in my mind.


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What is the problem? Are you having trouble keeping up?
nm
who tried keeping me down....sm

First, I got rid of the husband who consistently tried keeping me down and shooting me down, and my sanity comes first, in 1991, and then in 1997 I made up business cards, and every Thursday (my only day off) I solicited another medical center.  I sold myself and only walked into the offices of which work I wanted to do.  I got 5 doctors and surgeons that first year.  I went down to 2 MDs/ surgeons (one went into receivership which is a form of bankruptcy and 2 witches I dumped) , and so in 2000 started *moonlighting for MQ*......and still working for MQ and have 4 surgeons.


But every single Thursday I went and solicited another center in my area(s).  And if I ran out of work again today?  I'd do the exact same thing.  *S*


Best of luck to you......*S*


 


I'm keeping it...sm
But I won't use their uninstall software. I'm computer saavy enough to figure out what to uninstall on my own and that will leave on everything I need. They aren't getting off that easy.
just one more way of keeping us all
and make sure nobody's work is worth giving them a raise. rather ingenious when U think about it, albeit unethical.
Actually they are keeping
companies are offshoring and laying off or cutting pay, Transcend continues to grow it's US MT workforce and retain pay rates.  There is a reason they are in the ranking they are. 
Thank you. I have been keeping a notebook
but have to email jobs, not fax, daily so thought it would be easier to do in a word document. Did not know about the Alt+tab, that should be of great help! Thanks again!
TT time keeping?
Do you punch in and out during the day for breaks, lunch, etc.   Do they have a built in time clock on their system or do you keep a manual log and if so how exact do you need to be.  Do you make a note of every potty break, etc.?  Do they use these minutes against lines to figure your LPH rate like MQ does? 
IMO, MTSO may do this as way of keeping MT in
x
You are right!!! thanks for keeping it real
KK
I have been keeping a list ... SM

I am sure these are not all the Escription companies, but this is what I have noted over the last couple of years.


Transcend, TTS, MVTS, Superior Global, Deventure, Proveros, Focus, DeVenture, AlphaMed, Sten-Tel, Medical Ink, Chase, Lee Perfect, Spryance, Milner, Central Transcription Services, On Point Medical Transcription.


Keeping it fresh
Okay, now don't everyone jump on me here.  I've read the posts and I know the hardships we all face every day, BUT how do some of you keep it going after all of these years.  I mean sometimes I think that if I have to type one more report I'm going to go nuts.  Some of you have been in this longer than me at 15+ years. I have to do this another 15 years!  I live in a remote area so I can't just go get a job anywhere.  Some of you have done this 30 years.  What keeps you going?
Have you considered keeping the job you have
while working for a new company, that way you can decide if you like the new one before jumping all the way in. Your old job can be your safety net. Just a suggestion. Good luck to you!
Thanks so much for the info, Fran, keeping it under my hat!! NM
nm
Keeping TT benefits question

TT says that we must work 80 hours in two weeks to keep our benefits.  Obviously I know this and am scheduled to work 80 hours in two weeks.  However, when running out of work is an every other day thing now, can they take away your benefits if you work say 72 to 75 hours?  I know they tell us there is always work at night or on your one weekend day off, but I picked my Tue-Sat schedule for a reason - because I have a life outside of work and don't have time to work nights or my days off!


It's not you. It's the Universe keeping you safe
My mom always said, If it's for you, you will get it. There is something better right around the corner. Good luck to you!
Good Luck Keeping Your Job at Heartland!!

I think I have had enough! Yes, I admit, I currently work for Heartland and truly thought they wanted a domestic team. I didn't think much of the managment changes and truly thought we (domestic MT team) would be okay even if HIS was sold, well think AGAIN!

We are being fed a load of crap from the new President (Dennis Paulik)!! The below was sent to me annoynomously. I think that all US-based MTs for HIS should up and leave! Why wait, obviously, he has "other" intentions that don't include us - the USA TEAM!!!!!!

Heartland Information Services, Toledo, Ohio, which employs 1,400 to 1,500 foreign transcriptionists in three cities of India, may help explain why. Dennis Paulik, Heartland's vice president of sales and marketing, says that HIPAA standards are applied to all transactions, including anything outsourced. The company leases private, transoceanic lines, so all transactions are encrypted from the time the information leaves the hospital, to the moment it is dispatched from Heartland's U.S. offices to a transcription center in India, until processing is complete and the medical transcript goes back to the hospital.

Paulik says he hears time and again that there aren't enough U.S. transcriptionists, and that those who do still work here are an aging population--the average trained American transcriptionist's age, he says, is about 59 years. It's one reason his company was formed, he says.

"You're going to have a growing need, and fewer transcriptionists," Paulik says. "It reinforces that point that people have just got to go overseas."


I can understand keeping tabs- but I work for them
and if I take a bathroom break, get a drink of water, etc., etc. I don’t hear about it. I can only think if you are gone from the computer for a period of time, say 30 minutes and leave a report on, sure they can know. I don’t worry about the foot pedal coming up and down and them counting because I always try to have it on and fast forward. I know they know what you have worked on, your line counts, and like that, but if you take a bathroom break, come on now!
Not many..but I got mine for the satisfaction of having it. Keeping it current is my pleasure..
nm
sounds like Medquist keeping track of all times
my company does not do that
Anyone know whether Transcend is keeping the same insurance this year or changing?
thanks
Then we ALL need to start keeping track of our hours and anything that falls
below minimum wage - we need to start reporting these companies - don't care if this is caused only because of a decrease in starting VR or whatever causes it, no work, downtime if not paid, EVERYTHING included.  I do believe that might get the MTSOs attention.  They can't fire us all.  Looks like India MT situation might be in trouble so the MTSOs should be very cautious that perhaps they can't rely on offshore forever in the future.     
My 1 cent (keeping it low so opinion doesn't get offshored).
I agree with a lot of the other people. I will say, though, that I would be A-OK just working on Word since I'm assuming getting a the DocQScribe set up for a bunch of people might be cost prohibitive, at least at first.

Also, since you are talking hospital transcription, that is going to mean 7 day a week coverage. If the need arises, I would rather see rotating weekend coverage rather than requiring everybody to work every weekend.

Also, while cross-training is great for vacations, sick days, heavy work, it would be terrific to be able to get an account and not have to chase the work across 6 different accounts in a crazy MT version of musical chairs. I guess that would mean not over-hiring.

It may be unpopular, and it's probably easy for me to say because I've been at this for so long, but since we don't really establish seniority at a company, I would love to see some sort of reward for years on the job. I think I bring more to the table than someone with 2 years, and it would be great to be rewarded for that.

I'm sure I'll think of more...it's been so long since anybody asked what could make my job great that I had given up even thinking about it!
so, keeping in mind that decent means acceptable standard,
nm
What about keeping a timesheet? Is that required since you just meet a line count? SM
Do you have to keep track that you worked at these certain hours each day, or do you just log on and work and meet your line count and not care what time it is?
Have to agree ... keeping the lights turned on, food on the table, and sm
a roof over my head is pretty good motivation!  Plus, I do not want to exist.  I am single, but I want the same things my married friends have with 2 incomes.  Since I haven't found the seeds for my money tree yet, I work.  As I mentioned below, I have been an MT for 30+ years, but I have worked the last 10 years or so at home, and it is MUCH different than having to get dressed up and drive over town.  Working on a Saturday or evenings or anything is not so bad when you can sit wearing a t-shirt and shorts and have your doggie curled up under the desk. 
There is NO Medical Record keeping in India for hospitals/physicians.
//
What I read was that they opened a center in India BUT were adding work for them and keeping their
domestic work force as well.
Workin, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that one of the suggestions will work for you too. nm
nm
Yes!! I have been having trouble with that
for some time now. I am just not happy with them because I am on two accounts; one I can get 300 lph on, but they give me the bad one, which I can only get about 120 lph on. I dunno why they do this. I am looking for work elsewhere. It stinks and it will not change obviously. I have been with them a year and am so sick of their games!!
I did not get in trouble...
and I did not get a reply, but I am complying with the email to restrict email at HIS to business only.

The MT who emailed me was just mad at what I had written and she expressed that she felt that what I said did not represent her feelings.
not a bad rap?? Huh - what about the trouble they
got in for not paying overtime? How is it that some people get to be on the same account all the time, while others had to jump from account to account throughout the day? Maybe you are on one of those hospital accounts that is paid through the hospital and not Diskriter - because that is the only way you would be happy and THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT DISKRITER will leave you alone to do your job. I can't tell you the number of phone meetings I had to take part in, away from my line count production to listen to garbage and stupid pep rally crap. I'm glad I left when I did, because others I know left as well.
well I have had no trouble with them.
xxxx
I had the same trouble with them.
I've posted this before.  She had to put her dog out that kept barking in the background.  She wanted to know why I left my previous job on-site (duhhh).  It does not take rocket science to figure that I wanted to work from home.  I would be skeptical to give out office/physician names of your accounts if you have any.  It makes me wonder if they want some of this information so they can target the offices you work for and go in for the kill.  Is this just me being paranoid?  This can be a real cut-throat profession.     
D&L is in trouble, better get out
while you can.  I would call tech (if they still have a tech guy left) and then Donna... For your own sake, get out while you can... They have no intensions of paying the people they owe.  I would not let them get behind in your pay.. when the excuses start, stop typing.. I should have long before they owed me three paychecks.  Good luck.  Does not sound good though.  Are the phones still on? 
Of course they got in trouble (sm)
As you said, they were dictating ALL parameters .  Did you take a few minutes to read the article that I posted?  It clearly states what an IC contract should include, which in part is the definition of the project, the deadline for when the project should be completed, and the rate of pay for the project.  It also states that a company can refuse work from a contractor that is not to standard.  The article confirms everything that I said from the beginning of this conversation.
Trouble too, not just you! sm
I also have had trouble making my line count! I don't think it is just you. However, I have been with many, many companies in the past few years and I just keep running out of work at all of them, so I'm staying put for now because at least if I run out here, I get paid. I keep track of every minute I am out of work. I was just switched to a new account (quite difficult), but at least I always have work and I think I can get used to the difficulty. Oh, how I miss the days of doing 300 lph and actually having money, though!
Have you had any trouble getting -
I recall a couple of posts in the last month or so claiming DV doesn't pay. Have you run into this problem yet?
You trying to cause trouble sm
I am here working today. I have not received even a single email telling me to work, not a thing!

I didn't have work the first hour today, but I went and did something else for an hour, came back and I have had steady work since. I even have some of my favorite things, which is unusual in the morning.

If you could just hear yourself!
why go through so much trouble?
I don't understand why the company went through so much trouble, risking their name/reputation, and the chance of a law suit, knowing that it could be proven that you did not send the email yourself if you indeed didn't.  Why didn't they just let you go.  If any of what the previous poster stated is true, they had reason for dimissal, if you frauded your timecard, if you constantly complained to co-workers, etc.  If any of that was true, they could have fired you for those reasons.  Why would they go through such drastic measures to fire you, that's what I can't understand. I'm not saying I don't believe you, just seems hard to believe a company would go through all that.  What's your thoughts, why would they do this instead of just letting you go?
Not much, it seems, except cause trouble.

The trouble with VR
VR in and of itself is not a bad thing. It is the idea put forth by the slick salesmen that MTs can produce twice as much in an hour as they did by standard typing. But the going rate is 3 cpl which works out to 6 cpl if you were to extrapolate out the exchange rate for standard typing. Ya follow? So now we are at 6 cpl. That is way below what the going rate for straight typing is. But they deceive you by offering 8 cpl for standard typing and 3 cpl for VR. But there is very little standard typing so you end up making 3 cpl and in an hour you may make 6 cpl. So how did they arrive at that price? Because they push the envelope as far as they think it will go.  And as long as we let them, they will continue the abuse. 
sorry for your trouble. sm

I think I would just get the line counts figured and merely mail it in now, albeit late, you should get it eventually one would think. Just include - please notify me when the compensation can be expected, so you know what is going on, or not going on. 


 If not, and since they benefited from the lines, and can be verified you actually did indeed do the work, merely contact the labor department..


No trouble here...
... not at all. And I don't run close to the wire, either....
Having trouble understanding

your post, but if it was supposed to mean that we "could" have the option of transcribing and/or using VR, perhaps at this very minute in time you do, but that won't last much longer.


From the wording of your post, I'm having trouble believing you're a living, breathing human being.  Are you instead a VR program looking for a home?  If so, maybe you'd better fine-tune your voice-recognition ability to correct that "good" versus "could" voice conflict you've got going on.  If you are a human being attempting to convey a thought about "bad" MTs, take a good, long look at your own post and tell me where they should begin the "weeding-out" process. 


I personally think they should start with MTs who type sentences such as, "I was under the impression that we good straight type, do VR or both!"


FLO'S QA DEPT STILL IN TROUBLE
So many QA people are getting fired, and she is still hiring replacements for them long before they have a clue that they are about to get the ax. She is not keeping anyone who knows more than she does.

Speaking of which, did you see the email about the account manager position? Only 2 years experience as an MT is required. Two years experience. Unbelievable! Cheap-cheap-cheap.

That is what is wrong with OSi. Nobody is qualified to do their uppity jobs, including the QA Director, except the MTs, who continue to lose work to India via outsourcing!!!!
Anybody having trouble making
Amphion?  I have been with them 3 months and still have not hit my 1200 line goal. Would like to know if anyone else has had this experience.
trouble with software

I am still having trouble with the ExText software.  I know TT is doing their best to get everything smoothed out...but I am concerned because it really slows me down and is very frustrating...I just get all geared up and ready to have at it...but the software gives me nothing but problems.  It cuts me off after I complete a report and then I have to sign back on to get dictation.  Sometimes the system does not recognize my foot pedal, and I have to crawl under my desk undo the USB connection and reconnect, then it will work.  All in all this is very frustrating.  Also I find some of the doctors are difficult to understand...I think they are speaking too close or too far away from their microphone, etc.  I know my line counts thus far are not good at all.  I like the company...they are all very, very nice to work with, especially QA.  I have been on the account about 3 weeks now...I sure hope it improves soon.


Thanks for your input.


I only have trouble on Sundays - sm
But, I've never gotten yelled at for not making my quota. Did you explain that there is no work?

You got in trouble for that email? sm
Puhleeze. It was what Paulik and everybody needed to hear. They were just mad because the truth hurts. I was waiting to see if he had the guts to reply.

You haven't offended me at ALL. You've spoken for so many of us! Are you part of the email group of ex-HISers?
causin' trouble is more like it! nm
z
TROUBLE GETTING PAID...
FOCUS HAS TROUBLE WITH EVERYTHING !! RUN AWAY FROM THEM AS FAST AS YOU CAN : )