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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Why have cable and little food. You don't say

Posted By: me on 2009-09-28
In Reply to: Follow up to my original post - anon4now

internet.  But like you said you get your priorities straight. 


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I have Charter Cable for phone, internet and cable and love it. No worries about big bills. sm
Their service is not great but I have not had to call since I was set up 2 years ago, so it does not bother me. My whole block uses it and we are all very happy!
You know don't you that you can get cable modem without having cable TV. It costs sm
about $10 more a month for it but you can get it without having cable TV if cable connection are in your house and if they aren't, you can have them put in.
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.


 


 


I would take it. That would pay for food for the week
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.
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.
dsl/cable
I live in the Panhandle of Florida.  If any of you live in this area and use DLS, have you noticed that getting on the internet is slower than usual?  I think this is due to internet traffic.  If any of you have had DSL before and now have cable for internet access (or cable to DSL), can you tell me which you thought was better/faster?  Thanks in advance.
Cable or DSL
I thought wireless was DSL.
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
.
No DSL access or cable either
where I live. Have satellite access, but hospital will not allow us to use this. For the past 10 years been using dial-up at 28K only, which can be frustrating at times, but I try to hang in there.

My goal is 1400 lines a day (7.5 hour shift), which I accomplish most days, but I do not have any little ones at home.

Hospital installing new web-based system soon, which they say will be much better!

I work for a large corporation with multiple smaller satellite facilities -- I work for one of the smaller facilities. Do you think we work for the same corporation?

I would encourage any experienced MT to work for a national sometime during their career. The experience and wealth of knowledge gained will last a lifetime. It takes an exceptional multi-tasker to be able to transcribe multiple accounts all in a day's work. But, DSL is required by most nationals.

Have you ever worked in a home-based setting?

If not, it takes a lot of discipline to work from home. I also encourage you to keep little ones in day care unless you can arrange to work while they sleep.

I personally am a little on the hyper side, like to move at fast pace and would rather be up working around the house. Warm sunny days are my worst -- love to be outdoors! So, I work in 2- to 4-hour blocks.

Wishing you the very best!
Cable reimburse ????
Whenever TT has an ad on the Job Board here, nothing is mentioned about cable reimbursement...I don't think they do this.
Is cable reimbersement for FT only? (nm)


cable phone
I have also run into problems with the phone companies unlimited long distance but have had cable phone for a couple of months now and no problems. I asked before I signed up if it was truly unlimited or sort of unlimited and they said truly unlimited.
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. 
The cable company is contracted
with the apartment complex where I live. The complex is more than 20 years old. The cable company did not lay down lines to support internet connection in this STATE (how 'bout thinking ahead, eh?} I can get satellite but most MTSOs won't let you use it.

To the companies that require cable or DSL

I have no access to cable and never will because of the area I live in.  I also have no access to DSL and do not know when that will happen, if ever.   Companies that required cable or DSL should know that they lose out on many experienced and qualified transcriptionists because of that requirement.  Like Diskriter--ever since I started job seeking a few weeks ago they have had post after post looking for transcriptionists.  I cannot apply because they need high speed internet.  What exactly needs the high speed?? Downloading voice files, uploading voice files.  I am curious.  I work for a company that I downloaded the voice files via internet, typed the files in Word and then uploaded them via internet site and/or FTP.  Easy to do and no high speed required.  Can anyone enlighten me?


 


I need a job like yesterday but my options are very limited.  I put a query on the board looking for companies that are okay with dialup and got only two names.  That is very disheartening.  Anyone out there with company names that do dialup still would be very appreciated.  Email me if you want, whatever, something.


 


Thank you all.


Their ad states cable or DSL, I think, but once in a pinch sm

I used dialup when my cable was out.  It was INCREDIBLY slow retrieving jobs and loading the demographic information, but it did work.   I don't know about WiFi -- guess you could call and ask them.   The people in the office are very friendly and helpful.


Good luck!


Satellite transmission and cable/DSL are like sm
apples and oranges and something you're not understanding.


Just to be sure does anyone actually use Charter Cable and it works? Thanks! (nm)
nm
I have mine through my cable internet

company.  It only works if you have high-speed internet. 


On another board people are using a device called MagicJack.  You plug it into your USB port and then plug your phone into it.  It is about $40 the first month and then it is something like $20/year after that.  You also have to have high-speed internet for it to work. 


 


 


Ha! Who needs cable when all of this entertainment is available for free!
x
Lanier and Cable Phone
Lanier works with cable phone?  Last time I tried to use a Lanier with cable phone (Roadrunner) it would not work.  I'm starting at MDI next week.  Not on a Lanier acct but its nice to know thats an option if I need more work.
Sorry for the bother . . it was my DSL cable got unplugged Ugh! Thanks n/m
n
As far as I know cable phone or Voip is the
only true long distance.  I had it through TWC in my area (we don't have Comcast).  AT&T has a 5000 minute limit, which if you only work PT would probably be enough.  I know someone who got 2 phone numbners, had unlimited on both, used one for half the month and then switched to the other.  She ended up paying more than I did for my digital phone service. 
Cable reimbursement! I completely forgot about that!
My former employer did not pay for that, and I completely forgot that TT pays! I have never submitted a bill for reimbursement. SHEESH! What a space cadet I am!!!!
Thanks for the input. I have cable Internet. Do you ever get raises?
Line rate seems a little low. Thanks.
Does anyone use Charter Cable? Did it work? Thks! (nm)
nm
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. 


Internet DSL or cable...heads up to prospective employers sm
I see many employers insisting upon cable or DSL internet only as a prerequisite for employment.

These are not the only two reliable, fast ISPs anymore, folks.

I have fixed wireless, also known as wireless DSL. I have a package right now at 768 kbps, with the option to go 1 mbp. My ISP is every bit as fast as regular DSL (I know; I used to have DSL) and is, in my experience, more reliable. Fixed wireless is NOT satellite (and again, I should know; I used to have satellite, as well). Fiberoptic is also out there and from what I hear, beats even cable.

Technology is progressing by leaps and bounds and I hope prospective employers do not rule out any great MTs because they do not realize that cable and DSL now have company...and competetion: Fixed wireless and fiberoptic.


yes, I use Lanier with my cable phone just fine (I don't have Roadrunner)
x
Annudder is right. I used ExText a couple of years ago, and my cable sm

went out and in a pinch I took my computer over to a friend's house, and she had dialup and it was AWFUL .. everything was incredibly slow, from downloading the files in my queue, to anytime I accessed the internet.  Of course, dialup compared to the cable or DSL is slow anyway, but it was very time consuming.  The only thing I can say was it was better than not working at all. 


Good luck! 


Do you have Time Warner or any Cable Company providers in your area?
That is who I used and I don't have any issues. 
I don't have a second phone line ... cable modem for the internet, regular line for my C-phone.

If anyone wanst to get through to me while I'm working, they have my cell phone number.


And, as I said, some accounts are using wav files -- no doubt soon all of the accounts will convert.  Hope so ... would make it easier (less expensive) to work when traveling.  :-)



Lots of good companies out there -- hope you find one that fits :)