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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I would take it. That would pay for food for the week

Posted By: mt2 on 2008-09-25
In Reply to: I put in 5 hrs. of overtime last week, and - only got a lousy $100 for it. Pffffhhhtt!

and maybe something better than the usual mac and cheese and hot dogs we have been eating. Uggg. I would perhaps even try to buy meat like chicken or steak for a change. LOL.


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Food for thought. What if...SM
I think helping to clarify the pay rate in this scenario was important for others to understand. It does show that the company is willing to try and compensate fairly for this transition, or at least it appears that way on the surface. But, what if there's more to it than meets the eye. What I would like to see us do as a profession is look at the bigger picture. Where does this all end? I see the potiential for it to end in our eventual professional deaths.

What if, for example, a significant enough number of MTs start doing the VR editing and do realize a reasonable increase in their base pay for their efforts. What I see is that, for an extra $200 bucks a pay period, they're getting us to help put them in the driver's seat. Small price to pay to ensure one's ability to eventually be able to cut out the "middle man" and have the whole profit margin to yourself. And once their feet are firmly planted on our ground and we have no where else to turn and no leg to stand on, what do you see happening to that extra $200 bucks a pay period then? I see it potentially turning into a scenario of: "We'll pay you whatever we like, and if you don't like it, hit the door. There are plenty of other hungry ex-MTs out there who would welcome a chance to come back at these lower wages just to have a job." Not a pretty picture of our collective future, but it could be an accurate one if we don't stand up now while we still have some ability to make a difference. What if?

Really, are the long-term results worth the minimal short-term gains in pay? At this rate, they're not only getting us to help them kill us off, they seem to be getting us dirt cheap to boot. From their perspective, the idea is to give us a couple hundred extra bucks dangling out there like the proverbial carrot while we help them work out the kinks, and all the while were really just lambs being led to the slaughter.

What if the way this particular company seems to have just sprung this whole deal on everyone was a glimpse of the boldness and in-your-face attitude to come? What if?
Food to munch on

Thank you guys so much for all your input.  Yes, we do have the advantage of knowing our docs, etc.  We are now using tapes, so we are not familiar at all with the service's platform.  There were four of us in-house transcriptionists.  One has already been deleted due to not having DSL in her area.  One is doing the unemployment route and going back to school, as she said she did not feel secure with going with the service, and this would be a perfect opportunity for her to advance her education.  So, there are 2 of us left and we are undecided due to the issues discussed.  Our CMO, who is Indian, would just throw a fit if we do not go with the service.  He has refused over and over again through the years to outsource transcription.  He only wants us doing it.  My doctors have been told that we are going with the service, even though nothing is set in concrete.  The docs have only been okay with this transition knowing this.  If the two remaining transcriptionists do not get onboard with the service, I think my company will have mutiny on their hands - - IT WILL NOT BE A PRETTY PICTURE THAT IS FOR SURE. 


The MT who wrote the newspapers and such - - YOU ARE MY HERO!!!  Way to go. 


You get to a point where you are tired of being #%#@@#.  That's where I am.


 


 


Why have cable and little food. You don't say
internet.  But like you said you get your priorities straight. 
Transcender who doesn't want to go on food stamps
How is Spheris as an employer?  Are they hiring?  Are they fair?  Do they have benefits?  Can someone make a decent living there?  If their employees give them everything they've got, is Spheris loyal to them?  TIA.
Praying doesn't put food on the table.
I'm back in school getting the degree that will get me out of this crappy business.

Complaining doesn't change anything, but neither does putting your future in someone else's hands and "praying things just work out."

Gotta take the bull by the horns and take action or the world will run you over like a steamroller.
Can you use a food pedal with on-line tests, or do
nm
Oh yeah! A food pedal would be great..just think..
Supper time would be so easy..just hit the left pedal for the microwave, the right for the fridge..just push that pedal to the medal and whip up some potato salad and green beans..
Does that $0.9/65 Independent Contractor job come with food stamps?/sm

Does that $0.9/65 Independent Contractor job come with food stamps?

































































INDEPENDANT CONTRACTOR


 


EXPENSES


$0.09/65


 


$0.11/65


lines/8 hr day/40 hr wk


1200


 


1200


$/day


 


$108.00


 


$132.00


$/wk


 


$540.00


 


$660.00


$/yr


 


$28,080.00


 


$34,320.00


Health Ins @ 60+


$12,000.00


$16,080.00


 


$22,320.00


2 wk off/pd vac/PDO


$1,080.00


$15,000.00


 


$21,240.00


op costs


$1,200.00


$13,800.00


 


$20,040.00


minus taxes


$2,760.00


$2,760.00


 


$4,008.00


 


$17,040.00


$11,040.00


NET


$16,032.00


 


Does credibility put food on our table, gas in our cars, and
clothes on our backs?

We must have been credible at some point in time. After all, we made good incomes because we were paid higher wages, we started MTSOs that were later bought out by the big boys with the big bucks, and we loved what we did and the product we produced. When did we lose credibility? Maybe when the big boys started offshoring? Do you think credibility will be brought back when the big boys bring our jobs back into our own country? Huh? Huh? Huh?
The company is not putting food on her table,
SHE is putting the food on the table?


The company is not putting food on her table,
SHE is putting the food on the table?


Sadly, I make $300 too much to get Food Stamps
I was going to bite the bullet and get them. So obviously I'm overpaid. Time to switch companies.
If poisoned pet food and toys doesn't keep people (sm)
out of Wal-Mart (and it doesn't seem to, read the blog Behind the Counter), I can't see it stopping offshoring.

Not to excuse it, but I've watched the trend over the last decade, and I honestly think a lot of companies offshore only because of the bottom line; transcription is one area that hospitals are always trying to cut and the pressure to drop line rates is tremendous. I used to take several calls a month at the small MTSO where I used to work requesting us to drop our per line rate. It ranged from whining and pleading to outright threats of losing the account if we didn't comply. It was a constant aggravation and stress.

I think some companies dipped a toe into offshoring just to try to keep up and then it trapped them into continuing so as to meet expenses and the TAT. JMO on the mid-size MTSOs; not sure how it worked in the big ones.
There are, Food Shelf, Goodwill, Salvation Army. LOL! nm
.
Praying most certainly DOES put food on the table! I am extremely offended by your post.
t
If they invented a food pedal, we would never be allowed to take a lunch break, lol.

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. 
Transtech no work situation putting me in the Salvation Army food line?

This is utterly ridiculous -- NO WORK/LOW WORK.  It is not even the holidays yet.  D. giving the title of an email Census does not make that the reason for the low/no work situation at Transtech!  There are other reasons OTHER THAN CENSUS.  That is so sickening all the time.  The greatest need of us MT's is honesty from their employer --- from the very beginning of employment to the end!


Even a child could see through their excuses for NO WORK. 


Full time with Transtech is both. 40 hours per week and 5500 lines per week.
x
Nope .. email on 1/18 promised "within the next week." Here we are, 1 week later and no info.
x
The minimum is 5500 per week, NOT 6600 per week. I think you made a typo. :)
NM
i clear over 800 a week, 40/week; 30+ year experience. (nm)
x
I get my paycheck every week - that is enough for me! Happy MT week everybody! nm
x
I got laid off for MT Week. Happy MT Week to me!
x
Good last week - Slow this week.
I hope this is not an indication of things to come.  I am getting 1,200 lines a day but it is taking me all day to do it.  We seem to be out of work from 9-12 every day this week.  Hope things pick up after Labor Day.
16 hours a week or 8 a week and get
401 K.
Why would anyone work 8 hours a week. The poster above said 16 or 24 hours a week.
:
MQ--week end pay

i think the NE is the only region that does not pay for week end and holiday pay. the Ohio office offers not only week end and holiday pay, but also shift differntial pay--and this is all without asking plus the MT's that were transferred there are getting all the lines they need and to top that off, they are in ONE acct, not like 4 or 5 in the NE


 


that is why it is a great office to be working with--


First week on DQS.. Please tell me it gets better. (sm)

It was only for half the payperiod, but WOW.  When I finally did a count to see how much I had done it was a real surprise.  I know I still have to look up instructions now and again and need to keep building my shortcuts, hope to heck I don't go bankrupt before I get it down to an art.



How long did it take the rest of you to get up to speed? 


About a week or two
I actually cannot remember but I think it was a week or two.....

This is the end of my first week
All kinds of problems, very discouraged, tech problems.
last week....
they stopped taking aps/resumes because they had a lot (mtjobs). now they are hiring again. i went ahead and applied but makes me wonder what they are really looking for because of the notice they had about not taking anymore, and then all of a sudden they are.
But they say they pay once a week.
Dont they?
More week this week than last week, which
suprised me.   I thought maybe some practices would have scaled back for Spring Break/Easter, but if they have, several MTs must have taken off too as we are nearly out of TAT and I have been doing an extra 600 lines a day. 
MT week
MT week is May 14-20
mt week
you can see what the MTs at Heartland got for Transcriptionist week!!
Like they would have done anything for us for MT week anyway. lol nm
x
MT Week
WebMedX sent candyjar filled with chocolate kisses and midge tootie rolls.  Quite cute!
What did you do for your MTs for MT Week?
?
Me 2 - per week,not every 2
nm
800$ week??
Man, tell me which company I can make that much and I'll apply ASAP!!!! YEA RIGHT!!!!!
About a week
The offer letter was faxed the next day, as were initial startup paperwork. The foot pedal arrived in 2 days, I think. The software was installed by their IT department the next day. All in all, I think it only took about a week.

Welcome to Keystrokes!
About a week
I received the job offer, had to fill out/sign and fax back all of the paperwork that they e-mailed me, and then I had to wait for them to ship me my equipment. The whole process took a week, and then I started.
I'm going into my 3rd week
I like it.. some things are not the most convenient, but every company has quirks. I am not ready to go postal, so that is a good thing. :) We will wait and see what the paycheck looks like.
About a week but it took about
two weeks to get equipment, ID from hospital and then another week before training began.  But everyone has different experiences.  Good luck!
Also a week here
They contacted me the same day that I sent in my resume, and it took a week from that day to start.
It's the 3rd week in May
xx
MT week
MDI/Transcend sent us all coffee mugs, thank you cards and a calendar, not to mention online Happy MT week
3 DAY WEEK
I bet if you offered to work Friday, Sat and Sun or Sat, Sun and Monday for 12 hour shifts, someone would allow you to work 3 days a week. Don't know of any offering 3 days say like Tues, Wed, Thurs or anything.
Took me about a week
I knew the platform and studied the specs before I began, so I was all set to go when I started. Familiarizing the different docs and places seemed to be my problem.
Don't you mean 12-hr 3 day per week? sm
I think those are higher paid positions for weekend coverage.