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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

You're thinking of Paradigm.

Posted By: mt on 2009-06-11
In Reply to: I think I did... - I think

I worked there too. Yes, they were both very nice. They paid me a really good cpl and I loved my account. When I moved I had to give back my C-phone. I have seen them advertise here in the last 6 months or go.


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You're not thinking about... (sm)
They may very well be requested to sign no-compete contracts. That is, do not get into the MTSO business for X number of years, do not contact existing clients, etc. :-((
there is no MDI-IT, you're thinking of MD-IT (nm)
Z
If you're thinking of QA, don't be
are times you'll be working around the clock on backlog and expected to jump in at the drop of a hat. 
Yes, you're right. Thinking of QA.
Haven't done that either. I'll be screwed if ever I have to do something other than straight transcription.
If you're thinking of quitting

I rarely ever post but I just wanted to let people know what happened to me so they can avoid the same experience I had. i'm not gonna mention the name of the company here,but anyone who works for this company knows the problems they've had with their payroll and getting their direct deposits on time.. and how the owner is uncaring about how many bounce fees she causes everyone to have to pay, or how people can't pay their bills when their DD doesnt show up until Monday. She just turns off her IMs and doesnt answer emails. Really great person to work for..   Well.. aside from those problems, i just wanted to warn people that when you do decide to finally leave the company, just be sure she doesnt owe you anything before you leave. Do a slow down, so that she owes you as little as possible by the time you quit, unless you don't have any equipment, like a foot pedal or anything, that she sent you that she can use to justify holding your final check(s). She has done this to a few people I know of..and I'm sure there's lots more I don't know. I can't say if she pays right away if you don't have equipment,.she probably does ...but I know what happens if you do!!


I had a foot pedal that belonged to her, and she held my final TWO CHECKS on me. She owed me one full check and for two or three days into a new pay period and held them both. When my next to last check didn't show up as expected and I called to ask her about it, she said its "company policy" to roll all money owed into one final check. She happened to be on vacation, so I returned the equipment,but still had to wait from the 4th of April until the 26th when she returned from vacation.. I waited and still didn't receive any money from her, so I emailed her multiple times with no response.. Then i happened to check my bank balance and found out she had deposited the check for the 2-3 days in my account..but the full check she owed me wasn't there.  I had expected a paper check from her, so I didnt check my balance for a while..I just happened to check it. When i emailed her about the money, she didnt even bother to answer me to say she had deposited it, so its a good thing I checked or I'd still be waiting.  I finally called her. since she refuses to answer emails, and she said she would look into what happened with the other check first thing Monday morning...This was last Friday.. today I FINALLY got my money from her.  only more than a full month and 266.00 in bounce fees later!!   So, the good news is she will probably pay you..eventually...but who wants to wait over a month with no check?  I know I had extenuating circumstances because she happened to go on vacation, but she also did payroll early, and there was no way I could have gotten the pedal back to her before she did payroll. She knew she was going to hold both checks and didn't bother to tell me that when I emailed her to tell her I had mailed the pedal back and would be expecting my check as usual on April 14th.. so I got a nice little shock when my DD just didnt show up on the 14th.  Maybe others get their money a little sooner, but still ..who wants to wait for their checks for that long.  Well anyway, I decided to let people know what happened to me, just so they can avoid it happening to them.


You're right. I was thinking TransTech Solutions. Sorry.
Not sure what another TTS would be.
Wonder if who I'm thinking of is who you're talking about? That would explain a LOT. sm
This person gets away with so much, I don't know she's kept her job this long. Getting a timely response from her on even the smallest issue is impossible, and she always has an excuse for why she couldn't __________. And, she seems to lose her internet connection more than anybody I know, and it's always conveniently for a 3-day weekend. Or she'll take 9 days off to go to a 4-day convention. Or she'll take a long weekend and then conveniently be sick on her return day. I've never seen so many excuses. She gets away with it, though. It's not like she's even a good manager on the days she is around; she doesn't know anything about site profiles or have any client contacts. About all she does is forward emails from other managers who have taken the time to actually do their jobs.
Does any of this sound like your triple dipper?
see post below "if you're thinking of quitting"
that's the one.
you're right, about SE taxes; wasn't thinking about IC status with that.
nm
How can you KNOW what you're doing without THINKING you know what you're doing?
/
We are in a paradigm shift sm

In my opinion the problem is that we are in a transition - paradigm shift - between the old way of communicating and the new.  We all transitioned to the computer and now we can work from home in our PJs if we want to instead of having to get dressed and go to an office and work from tapes. 


A similar thing is happening with our phone communication and it is going digital...you will have to get used to it because we ARE going to change.  Most of the rest of the world is way ahead of us on this front.  The technology is trying hard to catch up but meanwhile as we have to have long distance now to work in many cases (see above!) and if we use VoIP/digital we may have to make a few concessions for a bit.  Otherwise, we pay through the nose, have to sneak around and switch phone lines, stuff like that.  I predict it will get better, just like our cell phones got better, our computers got better, etc.


Don't blame the companies we work for...maybe they could help us figure out options but it isn't their fault.  Keystrokes was very upfront about the need for unlimited long distance when I hired on there. 


 


Is this Paradigm out of Atlanta?
If so, I worked for them about 5 years ago.  They were wonderful, paid very well.  At that time I lived locally to them and only quit because I was moving out of state (I know, these days you don't have to quit because of moving) and they were my second job.  I would go back in a second if at all feasible.
A paradigm shift

Well said.  Your post has presented some interesting issues.


There's another way to look at the issue, as well.  How would an MT feel about the offshoring issue if she were to collect commission on every report that were processed overseas?  In other words, the job market is not limited, but the industry is opened up to international profit for all.


While this option for the medical transcription industry may not be open to those of us who are not MTSO owners or stockholders, there are other industries that allow us to profit from the global economy.  I recently joined a company that does business in India.  If I want to, I can recruit Indians and sell my product in India and earn commission on the same.  At this point, my point of view regarding the global market has changed because I now can profit from it rather than lose because of it.


So, regarding the offshoring of medical transcription work, the only ones who do not like it are those who lose money on the deal.  Those who gain from it are not going to stop as long as the payoff is there and it continues to be legal.  Congress may have the control over this activity if they decide to levy heavy taxes on companies that offshore.  Otherwise, MTSOs will continue to do whatever brings them the most profit.  Let's face it; the profit is the main concern. 


So far, I haven't heard of a single company that puts the needs of its US-based workers ahead of profit; at least, not for long..  Have you?


No matter what their objective, no MTSO has the right to treat any of us like equipment.  We certainly need to put a stop to the lies, deception, and oppression that goes along with it.  This business of being required to show up to work to watch an empty queue is absolutely ridiculous.  I sure hope that those who are employees and are entitled to partial unemployment benefits, be sure to apply for those benefits appropriately.


 


Has anyone heard of Paradigm Solutions?
zz
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.
Hope you're enjoying those slave wages you're earning.
.
So you guys feel you're getting paid what you're worth with VR?
I'm not trying to be snarky. I've never done VR, so I'm trying to understand.

You're happy with your paycheck with VR? Do you find the files to be as bad as the original post implied?
So you're telling me, basically, they're bad news?
They offered me 0.095/line and you know - it sounded too good to be true, but I SWEAR the recruiter told me they do not outsource. Oh brother... I just wish they'd be honest. I really don't know what to do.
Not the OP, but they're supposed to take out all the other taxes as you're an employee with th
s
No, they're not losing money....they're gaining!
If a company charges their clients by the line, I'm sure that line rate does not go down even though the MTs pay does.

ASR pays about 2/3 normal line rate to its MTs. Their ultimate goal is to have the MTs do twice as much work. Therefore, the client is getting their work faster, but paying their normal rate, while corporate gets that money and the MTs get the lower line rate.

Whether the newbies want to realize it or not, MTSOs have not increased MTs' salaries in the past 10 years. They still start out at the same pay as the last century!

This used to be a very lucrative profession. Nowadays, most MTs are considered to be paid at the poverty level. You don't believe me, look it up!
Hey, you're in luck then. They're hiring! (nm)
x
If they're in Nebraska, they're www.medigrafix.com nm
m
If you're an IC, you pay all your taxes. Otherwise you're an SE or employee. nm
s
If you're PT you're required to work

8 of your hours in one weekend day.  There's no extra pay for it though. 


The face we're wising up is exactly why they're
xxx
We're not 'so scared' of it. We're trying to help
you to not make a huge mistake, but I guess you're determined to learn the hard way, so good luck with that.
If you're in the 37% tax bracket, you're making over
100K per year. Quit complaining.
That's exactly what I was thinking
I didn't see anything about 10 cpl for ESL accounts.  Thought I was losing it.
Could you tell me why you think this. I was also thinking of looking into them.
:
What I was thinking!
x
Exactly what I was thinking.
nm
I am thinking that..........
I am thinking this is a former disgruntled employee who acts like they are still employed.  According to other posts in the past it seems some on here post info as such.  Possibly they are trying to stir something up.  Search it out on your own to find out fiction or fact and make own judgement.
i was thinking...
if it was a total of 150 reports and they paid the $3 for only the first page of those 150 and the $1.50 the other 149 pages, that would still equal almost $230/day. Did I do that math right?! Sounds good to me!

that's what I was thinking
NM
Thanks.....that is what I was thinking too.
This is for a hospital
That's what I'm thinking and

y


Thinking of doing ASR

I've been an MT for about 20 years - 7 years with MQ.  I used to do on average about 300+ lines per hour on my primary and made a pretty decent living.  With ASR, I've gone down to an average of about 239 lines per hour.  Plus, they pay us about a penny a line less on ASR after you do a 60-day trial.  I tried quitting the ASR, but if you do that, all you get is the really crappy dictation, so the ASR becomes the lesser of two evils. 


My theory is that, since the ASR system apparently learns as we make corrections, that MQ is going to keeping sending it to us while we teach the system.  Then, when the ASR system has learned all it can and is doing perfect work, they'll ship all the work to India and pay them (the Indian ME's) 2 cents a line to edit it. 


If I were you and I were making a decent living doing regular transcription with a high line rate, I would not consider ASR.  I think the only ones who make any money at the MT's who did not produce huge amounts to begin with!! 


I would NEVER recommend MQ.  They're all about the bottom line and I guarantee, MQ ASR will be going to India -- just give the machine enough time to learn. 


 


That's what I was just thinking
They sent me an attachment that had a bunch of questions like what version of MS Word do I have, version of windows, etc. They even asked me if I would buy a foot pedal from them for $60! On the top of the attachment, it had my full name and state that I live in. Hopefully I don't hear from them again!
I'm thinking....sm
I have been an MT for 10 yrs.  Been on a 5-month break and just recently started hitting the job search more seriously.  I've already been off for five months so what's another few weeks (hopefully no longer) when I could just avoid the exasperation of the last couple days and not embark with them at all.  Just received an e-mail that they once again cannot locate an attachment I sent them, which I have sent TWICE.  This is just too screwed up to even dabble in while I keep looking.  They drained me.
that's what I was thinking, too.
nm
Not yet. Thinking about it though
I'm just afraid of change, whether it will be better somewhere else. Things have been okay for me at OSi up until now, but things are changing. Things have gone on the last several months that have really started to take away my enthusiasm for my job there, and now this. There are people there that I really like, and then there's one that has made things not so nice anymore. I've gone places there, so leaving would be a step back in a way, but with what's going on now with the new partners, and with what I know is going on with certain accounts, I just am not comfortable staying here anymore. I think more changes are coming, so I probably should just go now. I just don't know.
Thinking about what I want

I heard back from a position I applied for.  The person is asking me about what I want in an MTSO & I thought I'd share: 


No micromanagement.  I will work the hours I say I will work and if I’m doing so, leave me alone.


I don’t want to hear about everyone else’s mistakes in a nasty e-mail where you threaten to dock everyone’s pay.  Address the issue with the individual.


 


No demanding I work overtime & then being unwilling to pay extra.  If you ask me in a civilized manner I will see what I can do to help.


 


No new and creative ways to rip the MT off.  I don’t care about your VBCs.  I want to be paid for my time and typing – including templates and spaces.


 


A company which pays on time.


 


Low ESL, while I can do ESL it doesn’t mean I should have to do so continuously because everyone else has cherry-picked or they just can’t do it – they need the practice, I don’t.  While it’s true I can make money on ESLs because they tend to say the same thing over and over, when they don’t, they are a royal pain in the @ss.


 


Pay equal to my experience level.


 


State of the art equipment – No DOS!  No cumbersome software wasting MY time looking up patient demographics.


 


I think I might prefer ER or clinic, I can make more money with those than with op notes, even though they pay less per line.


 


A company that DOES send positive e-mails and keeps its MTs up-to-date with feedback from the accounts and abreast of latest terms.


 


 
Anyone thinking about going IC?
Just wondering if anyone is thinking about it, or is doing so soon?
Exactly what I was thinking....sm
I am so hurt over it and I keep thinking....what am I going to do if this credit check becomes the norm? I will never be able to pay the bills then. Also, I used to be employed by them many years ago and did a fantastic job for them and was sought out by them, tested very well, and then offered a job, did the paperwork, and then apparently kicked to the curb without even letting me know why or the fact that I didn't get the job afterall. It's not the correct way to deal with anybody, good or bad credit! Merry Christmas.
What are they thinking?
Glancing at the job board just irks me.  This Denise Workman with SW Transcription offering a whole .06-.08 per line for exp acute ESL work.  Pulled up their website out of morbid curiosity to see no where on their site is a physical location, which normally means they not US based.  Of course they want US employees for acute work because their .02 per line employees can't hack it yet.  Shows on their site they charge .10 to .12 per line to their customers.  My feeling is this company is an Indian company disguising itself as an American company.  It's either that or these two women running the company are disgraces to the American transcription society.  That's my feeling. 
Yes, that's what I was thinking too
This is a relative of mine who has told me this story. I knew it didn't sound right. I also had a feeling she wasn't working her schedule, so I wouldn't be surprised if that was it. She seems pretty devastated today about the whole thing, but I'm not sure she should be surprised.

I've been accused of never believing what she tells me, so just wanted other opinions on this. Thanks to all.
That's what I'm thinking
I'm thinking I have the ability to do more work on my own schedule rather than just 8 hours with one.  I appreciate your perspective into this as I needed to hear from others that are doing it already that it is the right thing to do or at least plausible. 
I was thinking that also...sm
I'm trying not to worry so much like I did at first. I've only been doing radiology for 6 years and it's my favorite so I hope I can do this. Right now, I'm just glad I got the position. Thank you for the assurance.
I was just thinking that before. An old saying my mom
would tell me, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Funny how as we get older these cliches seem to make more sense to us!
I was just thinking that... a lot of it has to do with me
because as I have aged, I have had a lot on my mind, and also having a family with more responsibility took some part of my brain power. When I was single and up to about middle age the sky and energy and time I had to work was the limit. So was spending money on me, me, me. But now that I have gotten older, I have slowed not only because of age, but because of other things taking up my brain waves. On the plus side, my quality is much better so I provide better service to the patient. It is hard to come to the conclusion that sometimes we make less if we are slowing, but at least I still earn a decent living and know that I am providing good quality care to the patient. That must account for something, but does not necessarily pay the bills.
Thats exactly what I was thinking
what is in store for us now....I hate the unknown.