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There are a few accounts that do not need high speed. I am on one. It is clinic.

Posted By: KS MT on 2006-12-09
In Reply to: Keystrokes and Satellite - minIL

Best bet is to send it in anyway and be up front about it!


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DVI or high speed internet?
Well, this kind of depends on other factors as well.  Our hospital has used SoftMed for a long time.  Those living within the phone line area were fine with the DVI system.  However, now they are upgrading and it requires a high speed internet. So if you cannot get that where you live, or the direct phone line service, it could be a problem.  Hope for the best for you.  I am not so lucky.  I cannot get DSL where I live. :(
you don't need high speed internet to use an FTP--sm
you can use dial up connection and still use FTP. However, you DO need high speed internet in order to use some companies online platforms, typing into their systems.
It's just like any other high-speed internet. sm
I work for Medquist and it works great. I have had regular DSL and it's every bit as fast. My dad has cable and it's only a smidgeon faster; even my dad is impressed with my ISP. The only drawback is, it is expensive. My package costs $80 a month.

It's not available in many places yet. Until it showed up, I was stuck using satellite, which was terrible for my platform (DocQscribe) because of latency and I can see why some companies won't allow it (although it worked okay and was much better than dial-up).

You can search national ISP databases (just Google ISP and your city) BUT...they're not always up-to-date. I heard about mine because we received mailings that it was available but my ISP wasn't in any database anywhere. What I would suggest to you is find the most well-known computer store in your area (preferably privately owned instead of Best Buy, etc.) and ask them if they know of any in your area. They're usually pretty savvy.

However, if there was one in your area, you probably would have received a mailing or a visit; they want to get the word out.

Satellite is available just about everywhere but again, most companies won't allow it.

The purpose of my original post was to rid companies of the outdated notion that cable and DSL were the only reliable, fast ISPs out there. It's 2007, not 2001 and technology has moved past the old cable/DSL monopoly.

If you can get fixed wireless (not the kind at Starbucks, for example, which is not secure and not fixed) I would get it. I simply love it.

Best wishes to you.


Most misunderstood high speed ever!
Debbie, if you're referring to the high-speed broadband received with antenna and directed to router,there should not be any problem working for those companies that require DSL or cable. I have same system and have worked for several DSL only companies. The real problem is that it is not a very common method of receiving broadband and I find many techs have never even heard of it. However, it is not susceptible to the problems common to other wireless systems, it's much more stable. I just tell them I have DSL broadband and have never had a problem with setup or use, and have worked for TT with same system, no problem. Hope this helps!
need IC status and can't get high-speed access..sm
I need to find a company that will hire IC and using dial-up (can't get cable or DSL in my area).  I have over 20 years experience. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Vonage uses your DSL high-speed lines.
Doesn't affect your local service at all and won't replace it, either. It's the same concept as having your DSL and regular phone service.
I have found that high-speed is the norm and if SM
you can use satellite or dialup, they will specifically state so in the ad.
I work on one that does not need high speed but have been told sm
that there are very few like that.
They told me that high speed was mandatory. sm
I think that most hospitals require it of the services now. Some programs don't work with dial-up.

Not many companies use dial-up anymore.


Their new program utilizes high speed internet
so you no longer need unlimited LD, just a foot pedal.
The reasons companies require high-speed

internet can vary, even if you can download via FTP.   It seems like a lot of companies use a platform now where you have to be on-line while you work as you are typing live into their system.  Other companies may have only a couple of lines to be able to download so they want you to have high-speed to make it quicker.   If the company has an FTP you aren't accessing a phone line and can download even at a very slow dial-up speed.


I've seen companies advertise and say you need a C-phone and a high-speed connection.   I don't know that just because a company may have an FTP site for you to download that it will eliminate the need for high-speed depending on what their platform is. 


Will companies allow AT&T high-speed internet via satellite? (no msg)
x
Many hotels are offering free high-speed wireless now.

 I've seen some of the major chains also have rooms setup for professional people where they have jacks for whatever equipment.  Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Panera Bread have free or low cot wireless, truck stops have low cost/free wireless. 


If you are staying in a campground many campgrounds (at least the bigger ones or ones in larger cities) are going wireless, but most at least have some type of central location where you can use dial-up.


If you know where you are going you can check the chain hotels in the area and find out if they have wireless.  There are sites that tell you where hot spots are - if you Google open hot spots you'll probably find it. 


It isn't near as hard as it used to be to get connected, just takes a bit of planning.   If you are on the road for along period and want to work going down the road if you are using a wireless card it will have a light that comes on when you hit a hot spot or you can get a hot spot finder for $20.00 or less.  I have one but it only searches for about 5 minutes and then I have to push the button again.  But this would allow you to pull over in a parking lot and download/send work. 


There are other options available, but aren't cost effective unless you travel frequently.


Enterprise slow even with high-speed conn--have used 4 other systems that were much better..
most supervisors okay, couple aren't, like everywhere. It's an okay company...certainly not great.
Don't they give you 30-60 days to get up to speed? Can you ask for clinic? nm
x
Well, I was a high producer when given accounts that -sm
were easy to build lots of large templates for. Although I must say that was rather boring. Now I have more challenging work that I really like, keeps my mind stimulated, but alot of it is state-of-the-art oncology for a couple different clients, and their work just doesn't lend itself to templates, or even very many macros. Also more time is spent finding info. on drugs & equipment that is often too new to be in the Stedman's books.

Although I'm sticking to my production commitment, on this type of work I need more lines/day to live on. So although I'm supposed to work an 8-hour day, 5 days a week, lately it's turned into a 10-12 hour day, 6 days a week.

I AM interested in learning new things, the more specialties I'm doing, the happier and more well-rounded an MT I am. But I think if that variety results in slowing me down, if my work is still coming in accurately transcribed, it should pay better.

I think that as a supervisor, you would find more people interested in taking on more challenges if they were REWARDED for doing so, instead of PENALIZED by a reduction in take-home pay.

JMHO
Webmedx has difficult accounts. High ESL.
More power to them if they've developed a program that can handle those high-ESL nightmares. They have the toughest accounts I've seen in 25 years of transcribing. Yeeeeuck! Would hate to be doing VR on those!

I have a friend who works there in management. I will have to check with her to see what she has to say.
On clinic accounts, sure. nm
Grateful to have my job, though.
How do you know there is high turnover? The companies I have worked for get new accounts. sm
They hire because of having more work, not because their current MT's are leaving.

Some of the companies hire constantly because of turnover but most do because of growth.

The BS that MQ has done over the past few years has opened up a lot of new business for many good companies and it looks like that will continue for a while until CBay either runs it to the ground or converts all the accounts they possibly can.
yes, IC only, clinic accounts, great co.

Keystrokes used to for some clinic accounts nm
.
are your accounts acute or clinic?
nm
Yes, but their internet accounts at the moment are high volume ESLs nm
m
Clinic accounts going to India or SR, that doesn't
xx
Wmx has acute, clinic, radiology and ER accounts. nm
.
Does MDI-MD have clinic accounts or only acute care? nm
nm
Unless the company just has clinic accounts, they usually require
that you work one weekend day and there is no differential for that.  There may be a differential if you work both days.  I get shift differential for working outside first shift hours.   There are always exceptions to the above, though more and more companies are going with a weekend day required. 
That is only for ortho and clinic, not HIM and radiology and only certain accounts. sm
I am Mon-Fri. I have not worked a weekend in 3 years with the exception of one Saturday because I took off on Monday and switched with someone.
That account has now added clinic and there are 2 other accounts moving to it. Not sure why they
want the experience, except maybe they need to get them started quickly, and that is easier if they know it in advance.

BTW: The account did get easier as they added work types.
specify, clinic/acute, IC/employee, national/own accounts,
nm
I'm high level 4, all acute care, high ESL, many years exp. and highest QA grades...
In case you are wondering...All acute care, all specialties. I request new accounts, and yet they all run out of work...not just during usual slow periods...
I'm original poster and a high level 4 as well with high ESL accts, which I've always had...sm
My accts (10+) for the previous 12 years were all in the LA area. I consider ESL at Webmedx easy, even though my WebmedX accts are supposed to be high ESL. ALL of my STMs accounts are low on work--quite low. I've added more accounts. Not helpful if all are low in work. My supervisor at MQ was more helpful than my Webmedx STM.
They are not MT, but general transcription. Pay not very high. at least not as high as MT work.x
x
Two are hospitals, one is a clinic. The biggest one is a clinic that only does sm
oncology. We cannot post account names here and do not give out that information until confidentiality forms are signed.

I can tell you that a very, very large oncology hospital will be starting on March 1st that will need 30+ transcriptionists to run smooth.
TA Speed sm
I don't use TA Speed, I use Instant Text, so I can't answer your question about imports into it. However, I do use AutoCorrect for correcting my typos, and I have no problem with it. Your original AutoCorrect file will still be there, even after you install your software. I don't see why you couldn't just continue to just use your AutoCorrect if you wanted. During my initial training, I told the techie-type critter that I wanted to use my Instant Text (and not the TA Speed), and I *think* he went into the system and did some kind of techie voodoo, so keep that in mind (and mention it to the tech if/when you do work for them). =)
It took me a while to get up to speed
I do acute care only. I know when I was hired, I was told I would not be paid for any carbon copy information, but I don't remember about demographics...Demo information would only be a line or so, anyway at most.

I do know the computer strips out any hanging spaces at the end of paragraphs, but a lot of companies can do that with their platforms as well.

If your headers and footers are embedded in the template, I don't see how you could be paid for that as it would not be something you produced as part of the report.

As far as lines per pay period, I print out a copy of my schedule, jot down my line cout for the day and total it out at the end of the pay period. When I get my check, it always matches what I have calculated.

If you are limited in what type of work you can produce, you probably will have a hard time making lines. The more diversified you are, the more likely you can be cross trained and placed on backup accounts.
ASR Speed
Had to give you a pat on the back, ndmt. Excellent, excellent point. Why doesn't someone stop the madness?
Speed

Reading this board, I am being disabused of the notion that I am any good at MT at all.  Been at it about 15 years and I'm a part-timer; always have been.  I came to it when I was over 45, as a retirement job.  


I don't get to use a lot of templates or normals, so this is not a factor.  On a good day, with really 'clean' dictations (good sound quality, clear dictator who is not constantly correcting himself) not having to spend a lot of time looking stuff up and with the wind at my back, I can produce maybe 250 lph for 2-3 hours.  I always thought this was pretty good.  Then I get fatigued and drop to 200 or so.  With really bad dictators/sound/subject matter, I get as low as 150.  I believe my knowledge and accuracy are good, but obviously my speed sucks. 


On this board I am seeing claims of sustained speeds of 300-400 lph or more.  So I'm thinking that maybe VR could actually IMPROVE my production. And as my company seems to be phasing this in ,account by account, I will soon have the opportunity to see for myself.   


I would like to take an informal survey of speeds and VR vs straight transcription.  Anybody willing to weigh in on this subject?


Speed
Been on VR for a year, been an MT for 25, have also been a book editor/manuscript proofreader. None of that matters one bit. And, no, VR does not learn and improve--at least not the platform I use. My top VR so far is 350 lph, average about 200-250. Main problem is reports with no punctuation, SR guessing at words, having to insert numbering, but my absolute favorite is docs taking personal calls while microphone is still on. I've heard everything from 2 docs discussing whether to seduce a woman with wine, candy, flowers, a skiing trip, etc, and then one of them calling in midst of same report to ask some chick if she'd sleep with him that night, that he was having dinner catered, also docs talking to their stockbrokers and car dealers, wondering whether to buy the green or the black Jag, and docs screaming at their kids and/or spouses--all this goes into SR and the old SR gremlin tries to turn it into part of the report, just as it does when the doc says--Go back and insert so and so under the diagnoses and take out so and so from the med list and add 3 more cc's, ad nauseum. All that stuff and more will slow you down terribly. You can never count on getting good clean SR reports for a whole shift. I think I need to get a job selling SR/VR systems but I couldn't stomach that kind of dishonesty to promise that MTs would be doing 600 lph in no time.
actually, the typing speed...
is not as important as learning to use an expander to do the work for you.  This is the REAL key.  I type perhaps 300+ words a minute using mine.
How long did it take you to get up to speed (sm)
As to the 300 lph? I'm pretty excited as I've been offered a position with them. Thanks for the info.
Why is it so hard to get speed
with that company, are they on a slow system or something?
Speed vs. Accuracy
Medical transcription in the 21st century emphasizes production and speed. While your medical background is a big help, you will need to crank out the lines if you have any hope of making money, especially as a newbie. Please keep in mind the time, effort and energy expenditure versus the financial return. Finally, I would keep my options open, and not limit them to medical transcription. Good luck.
Voice speed

I can't help with that as when I fix the voice through Express Scribe it stays that way.


 


 


speed rate
to the person that e-mailed me, my e-mail has not been working correctly but no to your question if it is working.  good luck!
Speed is a big issue

10 cpl is more than I make, but I'm pretty fast.  My base rate is 7.5 to 8 cpl depending on which of my 2 accounts I'm on, but since I do enough lines daily to qualify for bonus, I acutally make  9 to 9.5 cpl per line.  I average about 1500 lines per day.  Production is what drives pay, so that's why I'm making what I do.    I think it's unfortunate that years of experience isn't really compensated in this business, but years of experience doesn't always equal what the employer wants, which is speed and low error rate.  Everyone brings a different set of skills to the job.   In the end it's what you produce and not how many years you have behind you that the employer cares about.   Fair or not, that's the nature of this business.   


changing speed
go to the transnet player, click more at the bottom right, and it gives you options you can change.
adjust speed
tech dept could even help.  They gave me another phone number to address this problem and never even got a call back.  that did it for me. 
adjust speed
I did this and it did not work for me.  it would not budge.  I'm not there any longer.
Speech speed?
You are so right. If you have lousy dictators it is easier to type them from scratch than to correct the system errors made because of them. I had to go to speech and my checks are down 40%. What system were you using? The one I am on is awful. It types every grunt and entire phrases the dictator did not say. For me it is easier to do ESLs than speech, at least with the system and dictators I have. Is there a better system out there?
LPH and increase speed

As I mentioned before, I am struggling with speed.


I am curious what most people start out typing (LPH) and how quickly you increased to your max (many mentioned they are 200-300+) lph.  Anyone who will share on this?


I appreciate it!