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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

are they paying you for the normals?

Posted By: they should be. on 2008-03-15
In Reply to: I am right there with you - Texas girl

 


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When I am renting, I am PAYING; when I'm working, THEY are paying ME. sm
Seems I should be running a credit check on the potential employer to see if THEY are responsible with their money, not the other way around.
Normals
I have a lot of normals for my primary account but not as many for my secondary as it is a large teaching hospital with more dictators rotating in and out.
Normals
All accounts are verbatim.  What I mean is I have many, many macros set up for PEs, operative reports, etc where the dictators basically say the same thing every time and then I will edit as needed.  Both of my accounts do have a few normals set up in BayScribe by administration for some doctors.  Those are usually operative reports.
There are normals? Never saw one. nm)

can you still use normals?
thanks for your honest feedback.  i appreciate it.  More positions open on your side according to email this morning.  Guess you guys have a lot more work - I have gotten NSA 5 times already this morning! 
Normals/templates
I let my IC's use them especially in my psych accounts.  However there was a time that one of the gals forgot to change the name on the header and I was gone and it went to the doctor directly with the incorrect name on the Header and big, big HIPAA violation and the doctor almost pulled the account since he did not catch it either.  So I understand where your MTSO is coming from but again, I would not keep the help that made these mistakes rather than make the other MT's pay for the incompetent ones and be unable to use their autorcorrect, ShortHand or whatever normals/expanders that they use.  The account stayed with me but we do watch the names closely now.   Why make all suffer for the mistakes of a few.
Expanders/Normals sm
As the poster below states, the way this is possible is by working an account that uses many normals and that you can utilize your Expanders with.

Chances are whatever national MTSO you work for will begin to use VR technology sooner rather than later.

After all, if you can use your normals/expanders to make astronomical line counts due to the repetitous nature of the accounts, it will be much easier for those accounts to go to VR.

I wish Normals had what I needed.
Most the time, what I am looking for can't be found in Normals, Alt G, or even Echart. I have enough experience on my primary that I know the usual sayings, it is just that I struggle with the not normal sayings that a dictator rambles off so fast, while chewing, yawning, etc. These things can't be found in normals (trust me I look every time before I submit a blank) and so far consist of way more than just 7% of my monthly dictations.

Whatever. I should just quit complaining. I do really like it there other than this part. I know you are trying to help, but I just wanted to point out that I use ALL the resources I can and still send over 7% to QA.
One job I worked for did not pay for normals at all.
They had loads and loads of normals and the docs used them consistently. When I would check my line count it was not where I thought it should be. When I asked I was told they did not pay for normals. That was something they did not tell me before I was hired. It was a company in Florida.
We DO get paid for expanders & normals
nm
I bet they billed the client for normals
You can make alot of reports nothing but normals if the patient has a normal exam.  I bet that company bills for those normals too.  That is like asking a waitress to work for low wages, and she can't keep the tip!!!!!  What will they think of next?
Yes, their normals, not yours. Not all places are like this apparently. nm
xxx
Do you get enough repetition so that one could create/utilize normals? Nm
nm
All accounts are VERBATIM, so there couldn't be any normals.
x
My MTSO sends us normals for those few doctors

that you them.  They are usually a fill in the blank type thing with the doctors only giving the blanks, so there isn't much to mess up.   We do have a few normals that need to be modified and there are only a few MTs that get these dictators, because of the same issue your MTSO, that changes are not made, etc.   I am allowed to create my own normals and do.   If I have a doctor that needs to have the same normal, but occasionally does change things, I only have my normal including what is ALWAYS the same and then I have macros for statements that are frequently dictated that I can use to piece together the rest of the document.


I can't imagine my company forbiding us to use normals.  My company wants the MTs to be productive, because if they are producing they are making money and if they are making good money they are happy and the MTSO will have good retention of MTs, which they have had.  It also benefits the MTSO to have high producing MTs, so that they can have fewer MTs and less costs/hassle.


 


 


 


I used to be a supervisor and we allowed all MTs to make their own normals, BUT...

it was the responsibility of the MT to listen to the dictation and make sure that the normal reflected exactly what the physician dictated.  And any QA issues specifically attributed to an MT's personal normal resulted in a three-phase disciplinary action, i.e. written up for the first offense, written up and forced to come in-house to work for a determined period of time for the second, and finally termination for the third.  Also any incentive money the MT may have earned for the day of the infraction was forfeited.  It seems extreme, but we had such a problem with QA issues and many complaints from physicians especially with radiology normals that we really had no choice.  We needed to make it clear how vital quality was over quantity.


Now that I work as an IC MT, I create and use my own normals, but I listen to every single dictation and if there is even one tiny, seemingly insignificant change such as the physician says the instead of a, I change it in the report.


I think a company forbidding their MTs from using personal normals will end up costing themselves money in the end.  The solution is to institute very strict policies regarding the use of personal normals and enforce them.  Let the client know that these policies are now being enforced and if they see any mistakes whatsoever, to please let the MTSO know.  It's hard being an MTSO, I'm sure.  Assuring the client that their concerns are your concerns and making the MT's feel respected and appreciated for their hard work is like walking a tightrope sometimes.  The sad fact is that you can't make everyone happy all of the time and in the business world, you have to schmooze the one who writes your paycheck - that goes for MTSO's and MT's alike.


Keystrokes makes you count out for normals.
nm
Why do MTs who are paid by the hour cherrypick the normals off accounts.

Line counts shouldn't be that important to them. 


Employee. 0.09 cpl, 100s of normals, and downtime paid.
x
Co I work for, large national, allows normals. Of course, you must listen
zz
I have normals, lots and a huge expander glossary sm

I also have 20 years in this business, which helps.  I am not a fast typist really and I can't type at all without the expander, not anymore.  I have a photographic memory for terms and how they are spelled...see it once, know it forever. 


There are exceptional MTs and there are very good MTs, there are good ones and ones who can just about pass muster.  Don't beat yourself up trying to be exceptional.  I think exceptional MTs are born, but very good ones can be built from scratch.  There are MANY MANY facets to success as an MT.  You have to have quite an ear for voices and even the very best of us can't do every accent.  You have to either be a great typist and/or Expander user, and you have to know it well (I have used my same one most of my career).  You have to know your terminology inside and out.  You need to know how to properly organize your normals so that they are consistent and easy to use.  You have to have an excellent platform to work on, preferrably a Word client.  You also have to have a company who stands behind you and makes sure you have enough work with QA people who can and will take the time to teach you what you don't know.  My favorite QA gal is a font of knowledge, a BOS2 expert and she even corrects my emails for grammar.  I have learned a lot from her.  It helps to have someone on an IM who can answer questions on the fly for you.  I have had those in the past and now I am one of those who does the answering. 


Most importantly, do your very best at whatever mode of work you are doing.  Show up every day, give it your all.  Don't worry about what the rest of us are doing, be the best you, you can be.  Things fall into place when you do that, I know because this is how I had to approach the early stages of my career.  Persistance pays off.


I get paid per gross line. I utilize normals and macros
as much as possible, though I could do more than I do.   I also type 100+ wpm.  I don' t have demographics to fill in, just patient's name and I type in straight WP5.1, so no cumbersome formats.  I download via FTP and I batch my work insteading of having save each individual report.   I make 8 cpl per gross line.  
Sorry to hear that because that was a good account with great normals. Hope
you find a new home where you will be appreciated and with good line counts!
Disagree with this. Every company I've worked for paid for normals.
x
Yes they are only paying me 8 cpl. sm

They will pay an incentive but I am on too many accounts to get the line count I need to get that.  All the patient censuses make for a lot of clerical work that I don't get paid for and I am so outta here as soon as I can get out!


If we don't know how they are paying us...
when we transcribe, how the heck will we found out how they pay us for ASR? Do you have a clue how they are paying you? Or will you be THE ONLY ONE asking. This is almost funny but not-when I got trained on DEP one girl had the courage to ask questions about how they would be paying us, why everyone is complaining that their line counts go down, etc. The trainer kept repeating "7000 MTs are using it and LOVING it". I wish I was 1 of them.
Still not paying?
My understanding from posts on this site is that only MTs on a certain account were out of work and not paid etc due to losing account? You mean MTs on remaining accounts are now quitting and not getting paid either? Is this the case? Wow.
She also tries to get out of paying you
when I called her on it she told me I was not mature enough to work for her! Whatever homer! If wanting to get paid makes me immature - sobeit!
they cannot get away with not paying OT

if they asked someone to work OT.  Geez, c'mon sense.   BTW, anyways is not a word. 


not paying
Please tell your friend to get in touch with the attorney general's office/state where this MTSO is based, Better Business Bureau of her state and MTSO state and the labor board, and for her not to work any more for this person.  Labor Board will tell her the same.
DIT is not paying

My last three paychecks have bounced. I have been given excuses and promises and nothing has been done yet. I do not work for fun. My family needs this money I make. After the third check bounced on Friday, I told them I would not type another case until I have a check that is not rubber. Anyone else having this problem?


DIT not paying
I don't know who DIT is, but I am having the same problem with NU Transcription in Maine. They have not paid me anything and I started working for them 10/31/2008!
DIT is not paying
Are you still typing cases for them? I did for a while because I was foolish enough to believe they were going to fix it. I've been with them for almost two years and enjoyed it a lot. Since that third check bounced, I just cannot work for free anymore.
Is it just for KS not paying for OT, or does it
include shorting on line counts?
Then I'd go with the better-paying job.

Are these companies that are paying less for
reports done by VR and paying 50% or so to the MT also reducing their charges to the hospitals by 50%?  I don't think so.  I think you all bought lemons and are trying to recoop your losses at our expense.  
Me too. I'm still paying LD and they are hiring
What's up with that? 
The MT paying for it is not a bad idea.

Only the MTs who are really good and really competent would consider it worthwhile to pay to have the test on file.   So it would weed out the MTs with skills that are not so good and the employers would not have so many to weed through.


I actually think it should include the whole kit and caboodle - test, resume, all pertinent information that ane employer would need to make a decision on whether to extend a job offer.  That way the MT just does all that once (a year) and then can just sit back and see if they receive any offers.


I too think it would be a good idea to have the tests proctored.  I hadn't thought of an MT having someone else take the test for them, but you have a point there.


I also think that an MT could list on their file that they will not consider offers from certain companies they do not wish to work for, or from offshore companies, or offers for under so many cpl, etc.  I certainly wouldn't want to be bothered with a bunch of offers there is no way I'd even consider so best not to waste anyone's time on either side.


Ever think about paying incentive to
high producers who are accurate and send very little to QA? That would be a very fair way to handle that situation. It would probably cut down the need for part-timers (not completely, but some) and also reduce the cost of QA.
They have a history of not paying MTs sm
I would not recommend them to my worst enemy.  Stay far away.  Very unprofessional, late/bounced checks, excuses, excuses, excuses.  Look elsewhere unless you like this kind of thing.
Obviously, you were not paying attention...
I corrected myself before you could. BUT, you're the type that likes to rub things in another one's face. I REST MY CASE LOL HAHA
Would you say that the company is paying
attention to what each Transcriptionist is typing, paying her according to what works out best for her, by the line or by the exam?
That would be a switch!
COMPANY NOT PAYING
I am posting as a follow up from earlier about PJ's transcription out of Iowa CIty, Iowa.  I am one who never recieved pay for my work for her.  My check was in the mail, then must of gotten lost according to the owner.  Then I recieved a 1099 showing that I had recieved pay from her.  After reporting to IRS and contacting her to have a new one by February 15, I did receive a corrected one today which is 2 days late, after recontacting IRS because she missed her deadline.  However, it is funny that my pay got lost in the mail, but this did not, as I still have never seen money for my work.  Oh well, at least she can not claim the money as a payout on her taxes!!!!!!!!!! 
Where are these companies paying .10 cpl??
I just quit my job about 10 minutes ago...woohoo!! I'm going to enjoy what's left of the summer with my only child and then I'll polish up the resume. In the meantime, I have a few things I can sell on ebay. lol
AND 5+ years ago they were paying 10 cpl.
More for CMT. What's wrong with this picture???? In another five years will it be 5 cpl? Time to get out of this field for sure.
They have a problem paying their MTs, don't
know anything else, though that is enough to keep me away. 
I was paying $400 per month
when I was on-site supposedly catching that large hospital network break.  His insurance will go down, but he just went full-time from part-time.  Pre-tax and his salary far outweighs that deduction for health benefits.  I supposedly had great insurance , but it only covered clinic type settings.  I couldn't even have blood drawn where I worked.  I had to go the ghetto.  What a joke!  He works for a smaller company, but I'll gladly pay to go to the better doctors.  Also should mention we're on the East Coast.  Maybe health care is cheaper in other states.  I think the salaries are higher here than other areas as well.  More things to consider, I guess.    
Issues with OSI paying

 


I also had issues with getting paid what was owed to me.  I kept their equipment and then they threatened me with a civil suit.  When it came almost time to go, I called Sherry Ponder, the OSi HR Manager, and she gave me what I was owed.  Then, I sent their equipment back.


No, I said I didn't know what they were paying currently
Not what I made, which to be precise was 7 cents a line....I didn't want to post the exact amount because things could have changed. I'm only trying to provide information to the person who asked.
Paying bills have nothing to do with it...
If you disagreed with what the poster was saying about productivity versus quality, and, at the same time claim 100%, you should show it. How can you state a strong opinion like yours, but still do what others do, like, gee, I don't know, make mistakes?
There is a company out there paying .10 per
Not sure how to correctly translate this, but does not seem quite right to me. Especially when I make .095 per 65 character line now.

Can somebody tell me how this translates??? Just wondering.