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Ya know what? I started doing VR about 5 years ago mixed with standard and

Posted By: MTIAM on 2009-06-09
In Reply to: Current TT MTs - MT4Eight

really did okay, bout 80% VR.  Not sure what it is but lately the reports are coming in such a mess and such bad quality I am now not able to make a decent line count.  I believe  the push was on and they added facilities way too fast without everything being in place and lots of docs needing to learn how to use the durn thing and the system not used to the dictators (and with some dictators never will) that these accounts are now really so bad MY counts are even way less on VR  than they were 5 years ago.  The system has to have so many reports in to make the words come up correctly in future reports but is supposed to eventually get used to things.  But like I said, way to big a rush and push for VR and I don't believe companies or the system were ready. 


BUT the sellers of these systems who make quite the profit don't care and the MTSOs certainly don't care that we make such a pittance being paid by the line or if we can pay our bills and probably never will.  As MTs, we are certainly taking the brunt of all of this.  Pathetic.  Wonder what they will all do when more and more MTs move on to a job they can make a living at and the hospitals tell them they can't offshore??? 


 




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I have 15 years in. I just started with them
4 months ago and was started at .10/line.
I started at 10 cpl also- 20+ years experience
NM
I started at .09 with 5 years experience.
I only work part time, not sure of full time requirements
back some 15-16 years ago when I first started
MT, wasnt the AAMT at the heart of changing the name of 'typist' to 'medical language specialist' and werent they involved in raising the pay scale etc, because cant we do that now what they did back then? How did they do it? I remember the old typewriters and being taught by a CMT, and they told me it was not more a few years beforehand that they were just a typing pool but when I started they already had their own office, their own 'respect' in the hospital. However that happened, we need to do that again because I feel we have regressed, even past that point of a 'typist' -

My last couple of years working in the hospital setting (which then I could not wait to work at home!?) are filled with memories where especially at holidays the doctors would send flowers, gifts, candy, toasters, I mean they treated us pretty good.

Now we are treated less than human beings, this has to change. I realize the doctors do not control the money anymore, and that is a big part of it because in my opinion I think they spread the money around a little bit more than the insurance companies/government who now control it. We will never see any of it...

I would not mind getting involved, either, if you have any ideas.

Know what you mean about the coffee - speaking of which, gotta run and get mine too!
I always have enough work on it and have been on it since it started 3 years ago. sm
I do a minimum of 100 minutes every day. My goal is 120 minutes every day but I am not as fast as I once was. I do not run out of work on there but I work 2nd shift, which might be the reason. Glad you got an account you like better. I personally love this one because of the doctors, except one.
Umm, AAMT started years ago for AMERICAN MTs. You

seem to be implying that since AAMT happens to be located in the US then that is why the association is named the way it is.  You are incorrect in your implication and it is not right to post it in that manner on a public forum where new visitors get the wrong idea. 


Established company, started six years ago. They have
not grown at all through acquisition but rather just plain old fashsioned good business.
I have worked M-F day shift since I started MT-ing 3 years s/m
ago. Is it really that hard to get? (Just asking, because I never had a problem).

I work at Webmedx M-F day shift. I asked for it, and they gave it to me. That being said, it may have been because I opted for a 90% ESL account. (?) Who knows. Good luck in finding what you need, though. It is out there.
Be careful, this is how it started with MQ a few years back
when they cut VR pay. I saw a tremendous cut in pay and I did leave after really trying to make it work for me. I think the only ones who are able to earn the same or near are those on a different VR system than MQ and have extremely easy accounts with easy formats and extremely clear dictators. I actually think you need to be a more experience MT to do VR reports well and I'm sure lots of inaccurate info gets through because of just reading and not really transcribing. I did it for many years and it sure didn't progress for me, only less money to do it.
I worked that shift for 7 years, ever since I started doing
MT work. Fortunately, I was always able to juggle events, etc., by being able to flex during the day, taking a PTO day - they called it that even when I was an IC, or switching for another day during the week. I also made more money on the weekends, so I didn't mind a whole lot as the money was a huge issue when I started this job.

It wasn't until this last year when there was no work available on the weekends that I couldn't justify every single weekend any more. There definitely seems to be more staffing on the weekends than what is necessary, and I think MTSOs could easily switch to a weekend rotation every 4 weeks. As someone else said, there are many departments that are not open on the weekends, so having a full staff of MTs seems a little ridiculous.

If you reconsider the offer, I would ask them if they can guarantee a full day's work EVERY day on that schedule. If you start to get the song and dance about not knowing when doctors dictate, etc., I would make my point that 1 weekend a month is plenty given that hospitals and clinics also run a light staff on the weekends.

I started 18 years ago and gave up a very good career
at a major medical association where I was just starting to move. I was 26, married three years and having my first child. I wanted desperately to stay home with him, but back then, my husband was not making quite enough to keep us afloat.
I just fell into MT when I saw an ad in the paper posted by a local MTSO. I thought, I've worked with doctors before and I know how to type. Well, I failed their test, but they were running an in-house class that cost $100 for six months, and the promise of a job as long as I could pass the test at the end. We had $123 in our savings account, and against my husband's wishes, I invested $100 of it in that course. It was well worth it!
Socially, it was hard at first to be isolated at home with children and work, but it's great now that they are all teenagers. I've always known where my kids were and been there for them when they needed me. I worked part-time for many, many years, and that gave me the chance to relax, not be stressed, go on hikes in the afternoons, or have a paddle in my kayak occasionally while the kids were in school.
I have a bachelors degree from Temple University and majored in marketing. My husband is a CPA, and we'll be married 22 years this January. He is now a partner in a small firm. He gets very good medical benefits and insurance, but no vision or dental plan. I'm sure that if I had worked for 20 years and attended to a career rather than a job, I'd be making six figures these days. I certainly don't make that doing medical transcription! But, I worked hard at raising my kids, and I have three great ones! I've saved bushels of money because I've not had to buy an office wardbrobe, pay train fare to the office, or send my children to daycare.
I have been very, very fortunate in that we no longer need my income to survive, but now I have the time to work full-time, the kids need me less, and I can still be reasonably flexible and unstressed. And, I'm still here when my teenagers need me, even though that's not as often as before. Yes, the industry has changed, but if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing!
HELP!! Started VR yesterday after 30 years of straight typing

How in the world do you guys make any money.  I am thinking of calling company up and telling them no thanks.  I trained for 2 hours then was let go to work another two.  Did 350 lines at 4.5 cpl.  What are the keys to making money with VR. I am using Dictaphone Express Editor.


In REPLY TO: What do you call 6.5 cents?? - Geeze, when I started out 15 years ago, I made 8 c
6.5 was the offer for one place and the second offer was 9 cents. I chose the second offer :). Rough out there indeed! There are even places paying per report now... I saw 75 cents, $1.10, $1.15 and $1.25. Ain't good for Rad.
Mixed
I worked there quite a while, email me privately :)
Mixed up a little? (sm)
You complain about MTSO's wanting to tell you when to work and how they will pay you, which is pretty standard in this industry, but then you complain about companies not paying a decent wage and no raises - now hear this - as an IC, you have to be willing to work when the work is available, for the going rate, and there are no wages and certainly no raises. You trade wages and raises for the freedom of not being an employee. It's like when you hire a plumber (an IC) - you don't want them coming to fix your sink at 3 a.m. just because they couldn't sleep, do you? Do you hear them complaining about their wages and asking for a raise? No, it's a business. Try acting like a professional and quit whining.
Not mixed up...
It's not an IC thing here...you try to pay all MTs low wages, like what we were making 20 years ago! What are you saying, you pay your employees more than your ICs? WRONG! You pay as little as you can to everyone to make more $$ for yourself.

And by the way, it is EXTREMELY professional to want to be paid what our skill set is worth...why do you think plumbers make over $25 and hour!?
You must have this mixed up with
/
I know she has me mixed up and I sm
have told her several times. Obviously she doesn't have enough decency to admit she made a mistake. I guess they just like tearing people up. Sorry, but nobody raining on my parade today!!!!!!!
there have been mixed opinions
but I have had nothing but a great experience working here. I am very happy with them.
ExecuScribe: Archives mixed...sm

In response to my query on MT Stars, an Execuscribe recruiter contacted me inviting me to take their online test.  I decided to search the archives for info about this company before going through the testing process.  The result was mixed reactions, but mostly positive.  Can anyone out there give me any current info on this company?  For one thing, do they still require you to have a C-phone?  Thanks in advance for your help!


ExecuScribe: Archives mixed...sm

In response to my query on MT Stars, an Execuscribe recruiter contacted me inviting me to take their online test.  I decided to search the archives for info about this company before going through the testing process.  The result was mixed reactions, but mostly positive.  Can anyone out there give me any current info on this company?  For one thing, do they still require you to have a C-phone?  Thanks in advance for your help!


You kinow, I get mixed messages with that.
There have been job applications that want to know every single thing, even what were you doing when you were unemployed, and they want the dates for that. I have had people complain when I didn't. However, I would rather put job experience pertaining to the position I am trying to get.

can be a bit confusing
I got the call, too. Mixed feelings here, too, but (sm)
my deep-seated distrust of all large companies of any type causes me to be worried. The call was upbeat, but I guess all we can do is wait and see what happens. This did kinda ruin my day, though.........
do they still have the cphone accounts mixed in
with internet accounts? Thank you. 
major mixed messages!
I think Larry must have left that one out in the conference I was in yesterday. It is hard to know if issues are purposefully being clouded (so we don't leave right away) or if like you say, they just really don't know. I would like know to the truth about whether CB, DJ, etc did only find out a few days ago. I guess ultimately it really doesn't matter does it.

Yes, and even if they are saying IC and SE are available, you are right, everything is followed with the foreseeable future disclaimer, or I think or I believe. I know with MQ, eventually SE gave way to IC which gave way to total employee no choice, stay or go. .... ....
Your message is too mixed. Either you want to know the good, or you want to know the negative. Pick
one topic and maybe you'll get more informative responses. Otherwise, you're just setting the stage for more battle by your wording, and everyone is just tired of fighting right now.
I was hired and started in 1 week. That is not a long set-up time. When I started with our local h
I needed to get a physical and go through orientation at the hospital which is only given two times per month. This is a 900-bed hospital, so it cannot be an unusual process. MQ took 2 weeks. KS took 1 week. SoftScript never got me started even after repeated calls and emails.

I have only been with KS for 9 months but would never put them in the same catagory as the others you mentioned. They are the best company I have worked for, and unfortunately, I have bounced around a little in the last 5 years.
I was hired and started in 1 week. That is not a long set-up time. When I started with our local h
I needed to get a physical and go through orientation at the hospital which is only given two times per month. This is a 900-bed hospital, so it cannot be an unusual process. MQ took 2 weeks. KS took 1 week. SoftScript never got me started even after repeated calls and emails.

I have only been with KS for 9 months but would never put them in the same catagory as the others you mentioned. They are the best company I have worked for, and unfortunately, I have bounced around a little in the last 5 years.
I was hired and started in 1 week. That is not a long set-up time. When I started with our local h
I needed to get a physical and go through orientation at the hospital which is only given two times per month. This is a 900-bed hospital, so it cannot be an unusual process. MQ took 2 weeks. KS took 1 week. SoftScript never got me started even after repeated calls and emails.

I have only been with KS for 9 months but would never put them in the same catagory as the others you mentioned. They are the best company I have worked for, and unfortunately, I have bounced around a little in the last 5 years.
tera nova transcription? Good, bad? Mixed reviews. nm

 


 


Fast Chart pay. Anyone know if they pay decent? I have heard mixed reveiws and not sure what to
think.  Do they pay on time?
I've heard mixed things about MediTech platform...can anyone weight in on (sm)
its pros and cons? I'm going to be learning it in my new job soon. I couldn't find much in the archives that is very recent. Thanks.
If you do a search on here you'll find mixed responses to the experiences people have had with th
nm
I spoke with recruiter 3-4 wks ago and was told mixed acute care & clinic, no ops exclusively. Low
s
That would be for standard
transcription, editing is less.
The standard used to be.. SM

10 lines for every minute, so if that still stands, then that would be correct


60 = 600.


WE CAN SET A NEW STANDARD!!!!!
All right, calling ALL MTs!!!!! It's time for a very, VERY important step in getting our industry back in line with the skill set it takes. From now on when looking for more work or a new job, JUST SAY NO! to low line rates. If we keep letting them jerk us around and try to pay 1990s wages, they'll keep doing it. There are enough of us here to start the ball rolling in the right direction, and if we don't, we might as well get a job at McDonalds!

It's time to set some standards that are realistic for what we bring to the table. If you have 5 to 10 years of experience, 7.5 to 8 cpl should be the rock bottom. At 10+ years 8.5 to 9 cpl should be the standard, etc. MTs UNITE!

NOW HEAR THIS, MTSOs...it's time to start bidding work higher because within the next year, you'll have MTs who will only laugh and ask, Are you SERIOUS!??? if you try to offer us the wages we were making 20 years ago. I mean come ON...no one in their right mind works for less money than when they started out way back when.

Fellow MTs, it's up to us to change the industry standards. If you aren't up to the task to be proactive, it's time to stop whining and take the beating. I don't think any of us professionals are willing to do that...at least I'm not!


300-400 lph standard?!
I am in the same boat you are, I can type standard at around 240-260 on a good day. I also do VR and can do up to 500-600 lph but VR you get paid much less.

All in all I like standard much better, it does hurt like *&%$ at the end of the day but time flies by for me and I have a chronic problem of boredom when I work VR and I keep checking the clock and my lines just waiting to be done.

I make the same whether I am doing VR or standard, trust me, I have checked, I just earn more with standard because I get in a zone and type like a madwoman and like I said, time goes by very fast which I like.


VBC Standard
Katherine, I am just passing on information in case there are those MTs that have not heard of VBC. You are not expected to do anything. This was merely an informational memo. NO PAY CUT NO ADDITIONAL ACCOUNT, Just trying to do a good thing by giving info where none might not be available. Thanks Linda
No, it is not standard. Those are
the crappy companies with horrible pay. 2-3 cpl is most definitely NOT the standard. Geez people.
I was offered what seems to be the standard.
Considering it will be an OP account, I figure I can make good use of normals, etc. and make some good money. 
Your standard response ... sm
I've seen the same reply for years. Yet the chaos continues.
I think the industry standard is using
independent contractors and you get neither vacation or sick pay. 
Why would they? The standard is by the line.
x
I think this is probably the industry standard
.
I think this is pretty standard, unfortunately. sm
When I worked in-house we the option of A) Work an 8-hour shift with only one 30-minute break or B) Work an 8-1/2-hour shift with a 1-hour break (or two 15-minute and one 30-minute). I think, however, most places require you to work 8-1/2 if you are going to take a 30 minute break...seems like that is against the law, but I don't know. I thought you were entitled to two 15-minute breaks for an 8-hour shift.


Actually, with computers, it's a standard to only
Two spaces were used with typewriters to make a document easier to read, but computers have proportional fonts, so the extra spacing after punctuation is no longer necessary. One space has been rule in desktop publishing and it's actually easier to read, IMO, than 2 spaces. It's definitely hard to get used to at first, but it's actually easier once you do and saves keystrokes. Of course, if you've been using 2 and getting paid for the extra space, you'll lose out, but most places seem to prefer one space now. You can sometimes set grammar checks to watch for 2 spaces and alert you so you can change it to only 1. I know Word has that option and it does help when you are transitioning.
standard keyboard
welcome aboard
standard lines
Okay - I have posted about this before when we first found out our company PM was going to start paying 2 cpl for ALL standard lines including headings!!  A couple of days ago this really started and I am really iritated!  Is this a common practice now for MT companies?  Yes the headings may come up in the software automatically, but we are also having to spend lots of time changing the templates to the correct ones, changing info that is entered wrong like dates of service etc. and also Emdat is sooo slow half the time between notes!!  So, I was under the assumption that even though you have headings and they, for the most part, are standard lines, that it kind of helps cover the time it takes us to fix the templates and stuff like that!!  Am I way out in left field here?  What do you all think?  Im not going to be able to work for a company that does this, it will really cut our pay quite a bit!!  Not too mention a letter was sent out to all explaining that they could lose the accounts because of off shore lower prices, whatever if they did not change to this.....but in the same email they slipped up and said that they have always given the doctors the 2cpl rate on standard headings and had not passed it on to us until now....well then they just screwed up because if that be the case they were not in danger of losing the accounts when they were already giving them the discount, they just wanted more money in their pockets and taking it away from the MT in this economy, seems pretty crappy to me!  It seems like do more and we will pay you less, definitely time to find a new job!!
standard lines
They are paying the regular 8 cpl for what you straight type, but headings, templates, macros etc. are considered standard lines and are paid at 2cpl.  So you still lose money because all of your Chief complaint, HPI etc. are all paid at 2 cpl.  it will add up
double standard
Since you're so knowledgeable about how to treat people and what's insensitive you surely know that you came off looking like the bigger jerk with your condescending, bullying way of making your point.  There are ways of educating people without making them feel bad about something that was unintentional to start with.  I don't know if you actually have a double standard or are just a bully, but I have much more respect for the OP as a person since she admitted her mistake and apologized and you still wouldn't let it go.  You may be an expert on PC, but it seems a little phony when you present it in such a hateful way.  Grow up.