Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

That's so true. It's unrealistic to think otherwise.

Posted By: Sadly. on 2009-05-16
In Reply to: It could all change any day now. My company - me

x


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

How is that unrealistic?

If you had any other job and didn't meet the expectations of your employer you would be terminated.  What makes this job any different? 


But very unrealistic!
;*
How unrealistic to say they are not going to get
This is just not true and such a blanket pessimistic statement.  Of course they can do better. MDI was not the end all of end alls, and to have your attitude, well, of course they will have no options. Might as well just throw in the towel according to you, and give up. What a terrible way to look at life and how sad for you.Of course, you'll reply that you are just fine and dandy, which is BS. Why come on here then and spread your doom and gloom. Say something encouraging, why not?? As I said, I've worked for MDI before and they were OK.  They were very nice and very accommodating, but they had no work.  No work equals no work. This was not just one time, either, but over a period of several years.  They treated me like gold, but were always short of work.  Before you bash me, I am a top notch MT who types anything and everything, can handle any number of accounts, so it was not me.  I can still write to staff today and they are friendly and would give me a job, but truly MDI was not the best game in town and certainly not the only game.Now why not encourage the MDI MTs some more?? any more doom to toss at them? 
I don't think it is unrealistic at all and I am a very
were, for the most part, top notch MTs.  But if you haven't noticed, MT has been on a downhill slide for a while now.  The writing is on the wall, and that writing just got so big a blind man could see it with the aquisition of MDI.  If I am wrong, I'll come back someday and say so.  But even with my own accounts and within 20 years of retirement, I am preparing for another my exit from MT. 
Whoa, please be very careful. Their ad is very unrealistic
nm
The powers that be at JLG had unrealistic expectations.

May of 2008 is when they went live with their SR program.  They hired a bunch of the QA people that were fired from Focus in their shake up in early May.  They hired everyone in at hourly pay because the SR supervisor told mangement that there would be a learning curve for the SR engine.  In other words, the QA people hired at the beginning would be teaching the SR engine by making corrections to the reports typed by the SR software.  We were basically transcribing entire reports in an effort to teach the engine.


Within two weeks of starting the program, JLG management was crying about losing money because they were paying us hourly and we weren't producing where they thought we should be.  The supervisor again tried to explain to them that as the SR engine began to learn, our production would increase significantly because we would need to make fewer corrections.  This shut them up briefly.  Then they began to cry again and said all SR people need to be paid on production even though they had contracts with each and every one of us stating we were to be paid hourly.  So the decision was made to put everyone but the team leads on production. 


Still JLG management wasn't satisfied because they weren't lining their pockets well enough or quick enough.  They kept pushing and the SR supervisor turned in her resignation.  They in turn told her she was terminated as of that day instead of letting her work her final two weeks.  They then cut her off completely and told her to not have contact with any of us.  Within a week of her departure, the team leads were then contacted and told they had to go on production as well.


Still not satisfied, management began to scrutinize each SR editor, putting some on 100% QA and bombarding them with email, making them feel as though every move they made was being watched.  It was a very stressful situation.  Management played games such as cutting off work so there was no work in the SR queue for anyone or putting in some phantom editor who was doing SR at a rate three times faster then the rest of the SR team.


Some of us were producing upwards of 3000 lines a day on SR and still were made to feel it was not enough and if we were producing enough, then our quality was called into question.


Now this.  Now they just pull the plug.  We put our blood, sweat, and tears into making SR work for JLG and they have had no intentions of letting work --> well at least one person specifically had no intentions of letting it work.


So there is the sad saga of the JLG SR fiasco.


Unrealistic view that a lot of MTs do not understand. The offshore companies sm
have very deep pockets and make it attractive for companies here to use them. Even if every smaller MTSO refused to do it, do you think we would be able to compete with Spheris and C-Bay just to name two of the bigger companies that use the offshore transcriptionists?

Hospitals, unfortuneately, often care more about the bottom line than the perfection we expect from ourselves. Many doctors do not read the reports (most from what I understand) and just care that they have satisfied JACHO requirements by having a record in the charts.

Offshore transcription is not going anywhere. Sad but true. I do not support it but I am a small tree in a very, very, very big forest.
Totally unrealistic as long as Indians make it worth their while.
nm
At first I was thinking that you were being unrealistic, not thinking about taxes, benefits, etc. bu
surprised to find that you are not asking the moon. Let me clarify a few things: Rates charged are not as high as 0.25 per line, but no one that has U.S. employees goes as low as 0.115 or they would not be able to pay their bills. A more realistic range is 0.125-0.165, and that top end is hard to find, most falling at 0.14-0.15 per line.

The rates of pay you propose are very reasonable IF the following is true: These are seasoned MTs who do not need a lot of hand-holding, QA or blanks filled in, unless a very difficult/impossible doctor.

How about a scale based on experience and accuracy of 0.09 - 0.105 per line (acute care), and $1.15-$1.30 per report (radiology)?

The VR one is tough as everyone, MTs and MTSOs and facilities are still feeling their way on this. As an MTSO who was an MT, I feel that VR editing is as difficult to do as regular transcription. I don't think that it should be substantially less pay or charged less as the end product is still the same.

Funny thing here? My company already follows that scale. We should work together, not at odds, to reinforce this industry and bring it back to where it should be, right here in the U.S.A. with a decent paycheck.
Glad that's true for you for 8 years. Not true for many. I love the company, but I do run out of
as do many others. Wish I were as fortunate as you.
Not necessarily true. That is not a true test of skill.
Do you know how many people get others to take tests for them? It happens and it happens more often than you might think. The only skill that shows anyway is that you can do it.

We are actually more than a transcriptionist. We are specialists in our field and we are supposed to know some things regarding anatomy and physiology as a working base. That's how we can judge if a physician dictates something in accurately and many do because they can't pronounce or just are not thinking. That's why our skills of basic knowledge come into play and that means basic knowledge of body parts. If our job was just to sit there and type without thinking about what we are transcribing, then all patients are in trouble and this is just based on what I see as a QA person.

It's more than just knowing how to transcribe and some of the companies have discovered how to know what your basic knowledge is based on what you have picked up with your experience by utilizing your references etc. Hopefully that utilization of your references has taught you something that does stick in your head.

Beliefs like yours are just so far off base. You have to know what you are doing. It's not just about being able to listen and type. Base knowledge is a very important thing and the services have to find a way to know that knowledge base that is there in your head.


This may be true... and that is philisophically true, but
and pay bills while being screwed? This is what I think the OP is scared of... I certainly agree and honestly think it is unfair to put people in this precarious position... on one hand be grateful you still have your job, or a job, and on the other, immediately there will possibly be a cut in pay, for which you may have to give up your home, or medicine or reduce your budget for food. I don't know if I am the only one, but I think the OP still has a good head on her shoulders and that may be the problem...at least for employers out there who are switching to VR.. and their employees
It is True
When really negative things are posted the company can request that they be removed from this site and it will be done for them. Take it from someone formerly on the inside. :-) I know.
Not True!
If you are working for CorT then you were invited to the meeting that we had today at 1:00 EST. They told us everything upfront and were completely honest. Focus chose not to have anyone representing them on the call. CorT is not being properly paid for the work that we have done and they are paying us themselves. I'm tired of hearing everyone badmouth this company, especially those that do not or have never worked for them. They are absolutely wonderful. They give every newbie a chance to earn while learning and our newbies are doing spectacular work...I know because I QA for CorT. If you choose to leave the company that is your decision, but they are going above and beyond the call of duty for those of us that work for them and the management is awesome. I plan to stay with them because they have been totally upfront and honest with us. Unlike some companies that I have worked for who never let us know anything until it was too late.
that's not true...sm

I post positive about MQ all the time, but I'm not a recruiter, or even management. I'm just a lowly MT like the rest of ya! So, nope, your theory is wrong!


That's not always true

Some people won't be able to edit as fast as they type.  The CEO said that himself in a conference call when he said that high producers in typing WILL NOT be able to produce as much in editing as those who don't do as well in typing.  If a person is typing 350-400 lines per hour now they're taking a pay cut. In all the con calls they've had I haven't heard of anyone being able to produce 600 lines per hour in full editing.  If you're mediocre in typing you should be able to increase your overall line production per pay period, but even then unless you're able to increase your overal production by 40%, you're taking a pay cut.


You are so right - everything you said is true!
Communication is nonexistent! They do not respond to questions nor listen to what you tell them. Many cons with this company. I'd say stay away!
That's very true.

If you don't normally type a high volume per hour, you will definitely increase your production in editing.  If you type 400 lines or more per hour, there is no way that you can edit 750 or 800 lines per hour, yet you will still receive the decreased rate for editing.  For some people who have been on the accounts for years all they had to do was pull in their self-made templates with the jumps programmed in and fill in the information.  With editing, some reports need to be corrected almost entirely or at the very least have full paragraphs that need to be corrected or moved.  The people making 2800 lines per day on editing are only doing minimum editing, which makes for an extremely sloppy report.  Ask some on the Forum about their QA scores in editing.  In a recent conference call people got low QA scores even though they followed all the instructions given to them about not changing certain things in the report that they had been correcting before.  They were told they were over-editing.  So when they stopped doing that their production went up, but then they got low QA scores.  Something has to change.  That means that either QA is going to change and allow sloppiness in the reports or people are going to have to start editing more closely to make sure that these errors are corrected.  That means closer inspection and more editing time. 


What is she saying that is not true?
c
Not true if they are an SE.
.
Not true......
I calculated my line count for a week, use normals all the time and got paid for everything.
It is true?
When is the takeover supposed to take place? Are the hospitals currently at Heartland staying with Spheris?
Not so true
I am not sure where everyone is getting their info from....I work for MDI-FL and never run out of work.
That's definitely not true....sm
There is plenty of work to be done, including some new accounts. I'm getting e-mails asking for overtime commitment not asking people to take off and stop working!
Very true...

So not true
only production and PTO time is accountable towards those 40 hours
__________________________
I'm wondering if you have all worked on the new platform?

When you fill in a timesheet, you write in your "down" time, your productive time, etc. If you are reviewing QA returns, DOCUMENT IT, you're paid for it.

Why not wait and see how the new plan (which is not really new for some of us it seems) works out? As I've said, I've watched this company for 30 years and this is a GOOD move.
That is not true. Many use 37.5, I have seen as low as 32
And insurance companies let the employer define "full time" so it is not for insurance purposes.
SO TRUE!
scary!
Very true. I am.
x
thats true sm
they dont bother you as long as you work your schedule. always work to do also. each time you run out, you let them know and they set you up right away with another account; just gotta learn each hospital's specs.
thats true too dr
and with that said, i also have been looking elsewhere. dang, for a while, i thought it was just me
now - I'm not sure if this is definitely true or not - sm
but I believe the current issue of For The Record does state that TRS does do some offshoring. I haven't read the article, just heard about it in our department today. cover of magazine showed tropical picture so we jumped to the article. Have to finish reading it though.

Heard the QA is good.
That is very true
I base my gross line count on Courier New, 12 pt. with 1 margins. My client can have any font, size, etc., but my fee is based on the above. I also include printing and pick up and delivery of tapes/transcription (and have for 10 years but that may change soon as I believe I may have sold the OM on going digital).
true
you are right, BUT there are some companies that offer benefits to their PT employees :)
This is very true. Also this is why (sm)
there are a lot of A MTs that are coming to GIMT. I do not blame them at all. The bell definitely tolled for me. Very bad company!!
Not true..sm
I have been there for 3 years and I like there. I have never been lied to about incentives, etc. I have gotten plenty of them over my time there. I don't agree with the offshoring of work, I'll admit, but it has never caused me a lack of work available to me. I say go with them! There are not many companies out there that have mentor programs for newbies and you will certainly benefit from it. I have seen the posts on here regarding some of the people employed there. I have never had a problem with any of the people mentioned...haven't even had any contact with them other than an the emails regarding account specifics. Pay is on time, incentives offered often, and have no complaints with any of the people I interact with there. Good luck on your job search!
Very true
Yep. I was in a situation recently that was soooo demeaning. I KNOW that I am NOT an idiot but these companies sure go the extra mile to make you feel that you certainly are.
This is true. (NM)
x
that's so true!
And the worst part is, I've found that when I try to use a pen to write something manually, I'm like a 1st-grader just learning how to write!! I try to go too fast and my writing gets really atrocious! We're just so spoiled to computers, shortcuts, etc.!
Sad but true ...

I hate to agree but must.  Hospitals neither have the time, money or investiture in keeping their physicians in line when all the focus is on the bottom line.  We have not only outsourced but we have changed the face of treating physicians practicing in our country by allowing so many ESL physicians to treat our citizens.  They have no investiture in our healthcare system for heaven sake.  They are sending money to Fidelity or Waterhouse and getting the h.... out of here when they can retire.  We have limited funding for young Americans to attend college and so exactly who can afford to foot the bill for med school and when they get out do they want to be indentured servants of insurance companies who dictate all.  In greed and stupidity we are sinking to the third world and once the slide starts the momentum grows and grows .. faster and faster.  We don't train medical people, we don't support farmers thus we can't feed ourselves, we purchase oil primarily from the mideast because of agreements that make a select few very rich, and we close our eyes and ears to what is happening until an election year.


Pretty soon the Give us your poor and huddled masses will not be about those who want to come to America to follow the dream .. it will be about us here already who wonder what the hell went wrong!


sometimes true for some
s
It IS true!
I personally experienced this last September. If you would look back in the archives, you will see the discussion that unfolded on this board. I have been reading this board for more than a year and the very same statements have been posted over and over again.

I was offered a position and had forms emailed to me. I completed the forms, faxed them back and got an email confirming receipt of the docs. I did not hear anything else for weeks. I had to followup by sending an email to the recruiter and the person who emailed me the forms. I STILL did not hear anything for another few days.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF NERVE coming here to say that people are lying when they say this.

How can you speak for everyone in your office? How do you KNOW what they did and did NOT do? You probably don't even work in the office at all.
Yes, it's true.
Yeah, right.
It is true.

Is this true?
Where can I view the article on this as it is very upsetting? Thanks!
Also, if this is true...
why not get up a petition, or signatures, and go to the government site. Someone posted a while back about possibly being able to get help from the gov as 'displaced' workers, or losing your jobs to overseas.

if they tell you you do not qaulity, I would see a lawyer, and do this in groups...the more people the better...

remember, there is strength in numbers...

be proactive, and do something
So true!!
The absolute worst company!!
It's true
They are starting to off shore. And the reason you have heard bad things recently is because it's going downhill. I'm not trying to bash them...I work for them. No communication, not told things in advance, work has been scarce, then find out after training for editing the reason why. Jobs have been going to VR and we didn't even KNOW. Didn't know once we were trained for editing we were immediately editors and not MLSs. I know you can't trust everything you read, but I'm telling you the truth. Been working for them over a year and still am not up to FT. Alway some reason you can't get to your lines, beyond your control. We have a forum and believe me...very, very unhappy employees right now. One got canned via e-mail, not even a phone call, for expressing her opinions about things on the forum that were only the truth. I'm very disappointed and broke. Made over $35,000 at my previous job, took a job with Transcend to work at home again with everything and anything promised...didn't even make $10,000 last year. I'm looking at the moment for some place else...since you can't believe everything you read, I am probably going to go back out into the working world where you get paid by the hour and not production. Anyway, to confirm, yes they are starting to offshore work. They say it's just a trial, but I don't believe it and neither do most of us. Hope this helps.
Because what nm said is true!
nm
True. LOL!!
nm
This is so true!! I do know that they have gone over a certain
size now for employees which will allow a better health insurance plan when the current one expires. Maybe transcription companies should offer health club benefits! Not that it would do me any good. I belong to Curves, Bally and a local one and still don't go :)