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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Identity theft is a big in the medical field. nm

Posted By: MT on 2006-03-09
In Reply to: What could be an "additional" way MT would - be able to make $?

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Identity theft

I would have to wonder if there has ever been an MT convicted of identify theft?  I don't know but I doubt it.  However, that would make a good excuse for a company, not just MT, to invade the privacy of their employees.....


Obviously I'm not painting too many gourds today.  LOL  I'm coping with the retiree syndrome..........a pretty sad time really....and just feel like chatting but having a migraine trying to get a foot hold, I don't feel like going anywhere.


identity theft is huge
and always on my mind with these things.
Info posted on the net/identity theft
At least our county auditor has gotten smart and removed a lot of info off line.  He got slapped with a huge lawsuit after 6 people complained of identy theft relating to their divorce/traffic/ civil matter info being posted.  Heck, all a thief needs to do is go in and pick out an identity...you get all the basic info you need to become someone your not
Would a company ask an MT to commit identity theft?
Why would anyone do this or ask someone else to do this?  I do not understand.
I wonder if those places ABC was talking about selling bulk identity theft...
information online with the internet could be getting the information from health records overseas. The identity theft is sold in bulk to bidders on the internet from overseas. ABC I think had a special on it but never did identify where all of this information was gleaned. Something to consider I guess
I am 30 years old and have been in the medical field since
I was 19.  My first 3 years I worked as a certified medical assistant and then I fell into transcription and I have 8 years of experience as an MT.  Can I ask why all the personal questions, not that I mind answering?
The field of medical transcription

Why isn't there anything that we can do as transcriptionists to make our profession stable again?  I take this career seriously because I NEED full-time work.  There are so many companies out there that are using this forum to really take advantage of the members here and elsewhere.  I recently interviewed for a company who actually had the audacity to expect me to work for a week before being put on the payroll, and this was after extensive testing.  I have over 20+ years in this industry and thought that I had seen it all.  This encounter  nearly created a hardship because I would have had to give up another position.  When you apply for a TRANSCRIPTION job, unless discussed prior, you should be given a Transcriptionist job and not have editing at 4 cpl be given as your put up or get out.


Just my opinion, but I believe that MTStars should screen their employers before allowing them to post.  The content and frustration seen in the posts can attest to that.  We are real people who need to have an income.  If I was doing this for just extra money or wanted to be home with my kids it would be another story.  But this a matter of survival here. 


Thanks for listening!


Medical Transcription Field

Thank you for your response.  I have found that when a name of the company is mentioned in a negative way, the post disappears.  I am not a newbie at this, in fact, I worked for one of the major companies who actually tried to recruit me (for extra time after my QA job) to search the board to find out if any current MTs were complaining, etc.  I, of course, refused and luckily did not suffer any repercussions because of it.  I feel that this board is valuable and should not be abused, but you must be careful whose name you mention and in what way.  I am beginning to feel it is a never-ending battle to stay employed in this field with some of the stunts some are pulling.  A recent one was a degree in medical transcription?  I guess there possibly is such a thing now, but what are the rest of us experienced MTs supposed to do - lay down and die?  Where I live the majority of major hospitals including the one I currently work for are either outsourcing or cutting wages down, so many of us fall victim.


Thank you for just letting me have my say.


10 total years in the medical field, 8 as a MT.nm
x
Usually on visiting doc's office, they ask if I am in the medical field because
I can speak right along with them on most they say, don’t have to have it put in laymen's terms. I do not say I am but am asked if not in the medical field, countless times.
I have to agree with OP. I have several relatives/friends in the medical field...sm
doctors as well as nurses...my mother is a nurse...and they all rotate weekends.

I agree why can't we rotate weekends like everyone else. I have been working Sunday through Thursday for years and frankly I'm a little tired of it but this is what I'm asked to work so I do.

JMO...

And I have asked to rotate weekends but the supes just won't agree to it...I'm starting to think it's too much of a scheduling nightmare for them to try and remember who works when and that it's just easier this way.
My mom was a lab tech, so I grew up knowing about working holidays in the medical field sm

so it is no big deal to me.  I do not have any children, so I have pretty much always volunteered to work the holidays so that others can be with their families.  As someone pointed out, when you work at home for the holiday, you can jump off and on whenever you want, so it does not really feel so much like working. 


Sorry that you are unhappy about it, but unfortunately, people still get sick on the holidays, and part of being in the medical profession is accepting that you will work some holidays. 


Hope the New Year brings you lots of things to be happy about. 



Medical field is 24/7 work unless you work for a clinic or stand alone operation.
I just look at the other cool people working holidays and weekends in the ICU, ER, paramedics,and am glad to be there. When you work in a hospital for a length of time, it becomes a necessary evil to show up at the worst possible times.

Having a family or a life you'd miss from Friday at 5 PM to Monday at 8 PM must be hard and

I think that there is a place for you where they can meet your requirements (M-F). There are plenty of those jobs.
Thanks for confirming your identity -sm
Just what I thought. : )
ALL POSTERS READ - YOUR IDENTITY ON MTSTARS (sm)

I have addressed this in the past and, due to the content on the board currently, I believe it would be in everyone's best interest to repeat it on occasion.  Let's be perfectly clear about a few things on posting on MTStars and posting on any board.  There are 3 topics here each of you need to read:


1.  Your identity when posting on MTStars:   Your identity is safe on MTStars, including your IP address, your email.  Your IP address is not and will not be given out unless we receive a court order to do so.  Even if you receive an email through this board, ONLY if you reply back to that email will your email address be revealed to that person.  If you receive email through this board, the individual sending the email to you has read a post by you and is emailing you blindly - they have no idea who they are emailing. 


Anyone making any suggestion whatsoever that your identity can be determined or verified or retrieved from MTStars through actions by MTStars (other than through a US court order) is libeling MTStars and just trying to panic all of you.  It is a lie. 


2.  Exposing your identity on MTStars or any other forum:   This is something YOU do.  You do not have to list your name for others (individuals or companies) to recognize you.  If you give enough information, it can be very apparent who is posting.  So, you do need to be very aware of this.  Especially if you are discussing details which tie you to a specific situation with a company - if you talk about it, that company probably will recognize who you are.  This can happen on ANY forum - even private ones.  Who reads this board?  EVERYONE!   Anyone can read it.  Anyone can post here.  Individuals, companies...everyone reads here.  Do not think that your own company does not read this website to see what is posted about them.  Even private boards (where you have to sign up to be a member and then log in to post) can only offer you so much protection.  Anyone can become a member of a forum and then read all the posts.  So, again, if you give out too much information you are giving away your identity. 


3.  Posting on other forums:  I want to make sure that all posters here are aware of this situation:  No other forum, including MTStars can guarantee you they will never reveal your information.  Especially those that use free forum software and online applications to provide their boards (e.g., Proboards) as they don't even own their own board and domain!  All posts belong to the company they are getting their free lease from!  In any event, if a forum is hit with a court order, they will have to give up that information (and it can be given from the website host).  So, do not believe any other individual who promises you such safety - it is limited anywhere.  I just wanted you to be aware of it.


If you have questions about any of this, please email me. 


Moderator (Cher):  cher@mtstars.com


 


That is theft
If you sign a contract regarding equipment and do not return it, that is theft, and selling it is distributing stolen property. Theft over 500. is a felony.
That's fraud and theft
You need to report it.
Can you say "Identity Theft"
On MSNBC about identity theft. They woo stupid people in the US with marriage proposals and fake pics, then woo them to accept packages for them that are bought with stolen credit card numbers, then the US pigeons ship the merchandise overseas at their own expense because they believe they are engaged to someone who doesn't even exist.

If there is a re-run on MSNBC To Catch an ID Thief everyone should watch it. Amazing.

Imagine what these offshore MTs could do with the patients' SSN and birthdates.
Records theft

All the more reason why we should as MT's in this United States of America band together, go to Washington DC and protest!!!..I am more than fed up with seeing our skills and profession as a whole ****ardized by outsourcing.  I think it would be a good idea for us MT's on this board to seriously consider a sound strategy we can utilize to make our leaders listen to us and take us seriously.  Perhaps this is wishful thinking on my part but if we could put something together, I for one would be willing to WALK to DC if I had to (and with the price of gas out of control; I might have to) - to make ourselves heard. 


records theft

Amen


identify theft - not sure what world you live in
but they can steal your identify with resume information - all they need is name address and telephone number. With past employers, one phone call gets them anything else they need. It is the same information on an envelope they get out of your garbage can, or on a prescription bottle. We do not need to be paranoid - but you need to be realistic too.
It is in MOST STATES, called THEFT OF SERVICE, FRAUD - nm

*


You can't commit identify theft with general personal info
that is found in a resume. They would need to have more detailed info like ss#, which hopefully people aren't dumb enough to put in their resume anyway. Definitely if someone calls you asking for this, don't give it to them. However, as for the people that sent in their resume, it's not possible to steal your identity with the same stuff they could have just as easily gotten out of the phone book. Of course, I do believe that you should be cautious about your personal information, but there's no need to be so paranoid (like the Brian guy on the main page). People should be keeping a close eye on their credit reports anyway with the world the way it is now.
I would be worried about identiy theft, getting all your personal information, then that weird stuff
then all that wierd stuff.
Saw on the news that ID theft is big biz in India cause of the credit card industry sending their
NM
Getting out of this field -
It's just a matter of time before my company sends works oversees, and I REFUSE to correct Indian, Irish, Phiillipino, or any other foreigners work for half my pay.  It's just a matter of time before this all blows up.  Let them figure it out.  If they want us Americans back - they will have to PAY big time!  I'm looking into another field as well.
I'm obviously in the field too...
I've never seen all of these so-called problems you are talking about and I do plenty of those same reports everyday as well.  Slippage occurs when someone with a Lap-Band decides to eat so much they force themselves to vomit.  It's extremely rare.  I'm willing to take the risks rather than be morbidly obese and hardly living as it is.
I don't think it's just this field

I think it's human nature.  I used to hang out on the General Hospital board on ABC.com (I'm a soap opera geek) and it amazed me at how nasty some of those women would be to other posters who weren't quite up to snuff.  I've seen all out board wars develop.  If it was a full moon and I was PMSing, I enjoyed the spectacle, but most of the time I got a little disgusted with them.  Don't even get me started on how nasty it got before the election.  


I do get surprised at some of the negativity that is posted here, but I can understand how it's hard to be really super positive in today's world. 


You know what's going on in this field, right?
This is how MTSOs are going to squeeze ALL American MTs out of the field. We are an 'unnecessary' expense for them. They don't care about quality transcription. They care about driving quality cars and living in quality homes in quality neighborhoods. And who cares about the client, and screw the worker. The sooner they can price us out of the field, the sooner they can ALL go 100% to India.

If they do that, I think it should be mandatory that they, TOO, must leave the U.S. Set up their godforsaken offices in INDIA, and move there themselves. It's a travesty to our country that these MAGGOTS feel they even deserve to live here.
So that it narrows down the field when they look into

It really shouldn't be that hard to find out which female MLS started 4 months ago with 15 years experience and is making 10 cpl, since 10 cpl is NOT a normal starting wage at Transcend.  You are aware that discussing your wages is ground for termination, right?  You really have to be careful when trying to get those referral bonuses that you give accurate information.


That is the problem with the MT field...

Everyone is always bickering and knows it all.  I am by no means a recruiter.  I was just reading the posts, had been there myself, and thought I would offer some friendly advice, but some people think they know everything and try to discourage others from something good.  Sad world today.  Sad people.


Disgrace to the whole field!
x
I have been in this field for 17 years sm
and am still working one job IC for 8 cents, just because I like the company.  Only made 8 cents on my last full-time job, but did have benefits.  You can sometimes make more on an easy clinic account at 8 cents, than an acute care job at 10 cents.  Count your blessings.
I could have written this myself. I'm looking into a new field. nm
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Finding another field
My heart goes out to all you Heartlanders along with all the others in all fields who  have lost jobs to cheap overseas labor.  It looks like there is soon going to be absolutely NO JOBS for Americans.  Seems all the jobs that can't be offshored are considered jobs Americans won't do or there aren't enough qualified people,  the dandy explanations for greedy corporate America hiring illegals, or what is it?  HR2 visas? to fill the jobs that can't be exported.  America is in a world of hurt and God help those trying to raise children and give them a better life than you have, which is the true American Dream.
It is just a different field to break into now...
I have only been an MT for 4-1/2 years, and I am happy to hear that you found a job that you are happy with and making a good wage at.

However, to say that because MTs are not happy has something to do with their skills does an injustice to hardworking MTs. There are some of us who do 12-hour days, too.

The field is totally different that what it used to be. You can ask a majority of seasoned MTs, and they will tell you that wages are going down and the cost of benefits is becoming outrageous. It can take you almost 2 weeks to earn enough money to pay for family insurance. Couple that MTSOs who are making contracts with companies for acute care work when they have only hired transcriptionists with clinic experience, and you have some very overstressed MTs just trying to make a living. I have felt since starting I am being pushed to gain 10 years experience for each year I work. Some days you just wake up, go to work, and you are on a totally different account, totally different work type, and totally different part of the country with no warning.

Since starting in this profession, I have worked on over 20 different accounts in all areas of the country. Not only have I been required to learn medical transcription (and I have done all report types right through the OP notes), I have had to learn umpteen physician groups, hospitals in those areas, nursing homes, drug stores, county social service units...you name it.

I have consistently good quality scores, and I usually work at least 1-1/2 times my required production. I have been with my company close to 3 years, work nights and holidays, and have given up more family time than I care to consider. However, I just saw an ad where my employer is offering 10 cpl to do discharge summaries while I am doing consults for a clinic no one in the company wants to touch because of the difficulty factor, and they will not raise me above 7.5 CPL.

On top of that, I had to darn near beg today to have a technical problem taken care of that was preventing me from working. It was a 2-minute fix that took almost 40 minutes to resolve because our customer service kept telling me I wasn't even working as I had no jobs checked out and my boss kept switching her MSN messenger to say she was busy or away.

Do I feel disrespected and underpaid? YUP!

That is my reality.
yes, but when you have to go from field 1 to 20 it's "faster" to use
x
From out of left field....
Sent my resume to, received an email from, and then a telephone interview with Landmark. They made me a very nice offer which piqued my interest, so I went with them instead of either Superior Global or Diskriter.

Thanks so much for all of the advice on SGS and DR. I was seriously debating between the two when the Landmark offer dropped into my lap.

I started today and so far everyone has been fantastic. I'll keep everyone posted.

Thanks again!!!
"I have been in this field for over 3 decades..."
BUSTED!!!!
Just so you know - the subject is a limited field. SM
If you hit Post Quick Reply, put a little bit of text in the subject, SM for see message, and then put the rest in the box below.

Just trying to be helpful!
In our field of work, its never been openly
shared with the MTs what the status of accounts are, etc. Only time we hear things about account specs is when an account/client is unhappy or after they are gone. I've been in this industry for 30 years, and its never changed. The company who lost the client is not going to give you advance notice - its not to their benefit, and its naive to think they would tell you in advance. And as far as contacting the account and trying to work for the new company - think about it. An account often leaves a MT service due to quality issues - like they think the work stinks. So most times the account wants less than nothing to do with the old MTs on the account. If the client was all that happy about the MTs, chances are good they would not dump the service. I have known few accounts who took on old MTs, at least permanently. Sometimes they will screw the MTs as well and take on the old MTs just to get the account up and running with their company, and then all of a sudden, BAM, they don't need you anymore. Its the nature of our industry. And clients come and go and come and go all the time. I've lost many an account, and thought it was the end of my career, only to get a new account and be comfie for a few years. I'm not trying to belittle your upset - I understand. Just trying to point out the flip side and that you should get used to it. We MTs have to look out for ourselves. No company is gonna help us out these days - probably in all industries. Good luck!
Ummm, ever see the original MT ID field?
.
It's exactly this attitude that is allowing the MT field to go -
.
There's not much of a "choice" anymore in the MT field -
Then of course exploitation, cooking the books, cheating on lines paid, etc. etc. can run rampant because the left hand never knows what the right hand is doing.

So working at home is NOT 100% 'voluntary'. I'll quit my at-home job in a minute if I can find a full-time, benefitted inhouse job.
She can get better help at Spheris, but this field is dying. We all need
NM
Hostility in the transcription field

Hello everyone, I have been reading the posts on this board for the last couple of weeks.  Most of the postings are helpful, but there are some who just break out into an all out war with one another.  I have not been able to tell if it is the majority or not yet.  Why do you think that is?   


 


Do you think this field makes you feel that you have to compete one another?  Do you think that is because of the isolation?  Working at home is isolation, but even in a hospital setting you are isolated.  Let's face it, we have those earplugs stuck in our ears all day.   We have the ongoing pressure that we have to get our line count, or more.  Do you find that there is a lot of hostility in this field, or is it just because we are women?  Do you think it might be that we feel unappreciated?  We were even told by a coder, at the hospital I worked at, that we were nothing more than glorified typists.


 


Let's face it, with the amount of time that it takes to master this occupation we could have all had a degree in something.  Some of you already have.  If you work by the line - if you have the experience, the typing skills, use your abbreviation expander, and have a steady work flow - you can make a decent living - but based on the typing skills, work flow, etc. etc. it is not a guarantee.  That is a lot of pressure when you think about it.  That is a different kind of pressure than other jobs.  I am not trying to be negative, I just noticed that there seems to be a lot of hostility and I noticed that at the hospital, where I worked, for 15 years also.  I got along with everyone I worked with.  In order to be able to get along with the transcribers I use to work with, I had to become very thick-skinned, because basically they were just mean.   Has anyone else noticed this?  Do you think it is the job?  What do you think?  I am not attacking the transcription field, just something I have noticed over the years.       


 


 


I'm so sick of this field. Supplement (sm)
your income. Find a way. First work volumes are low. Now pay is cut. And we're making more than ever! Did you know that? Do you feel like you are?
Best on-line school for MT - Please I Have A Lot of Questions About This Field!!!!!

I am leaving my current job as a secretary at the end of August.  I have been in this field for 30+ years.  I have pretty much decided that I would like to become a medical transcriptionist.  My typing skills are excellent (approx. 100 wpm with 0 errors).  I would like to work from home.  Can anyone tell me which MT on-line schools are reputable?  How long does the course take of you are diligent?  I assume that after training it would be best to work for a transcription service before branching out on your own.  Please, any advice, information on on-line schools, wages, etc. would be greatly appreciated!  Working from home is a life-long dream for me!


Oh my goodness! But, there are CRAZY people in every field
I am stunned at how many, shall we say, "different" people there are in this world. This is too funny that a MTSO wants to do psych evals on their prospects. Wow!

To be honest, it would not bother me as I am very sane and have no "issues" in life. If you want the job and the pay is good, than what the heck. Go for it. Don't be afraid of some evaluation.

Maybe it is a good thing. If you do have issues and you are not aware of them, maybe it will help you in the long run. Hey a free psych eval may be just what the doctor ordered!

If I wanted that job and the pay was good and fit my needs, I would not hesitate!
"Any time I see OSi in a field, I skip over it. "
LOL
This field has the worst business owners. nm
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