MTStars :: Medical Transcription Forums

to be shot!!!! They said "it will be fun, we don't work you too hard." Yeah, right! Fun! Ha! Double ha! The only ones laughing were them. The only thing not hurting right now is my little toe. They work you and work you some more and then work you some more until you just want to drop dead.

I have only worked straight internet/platform transcription and I am curious how the Dictaphone works? Does it connect to the phone line? If so, can it connect to my cable phone (ie Sunrocket, Vonage, etc)? Any help is appreciated.

able to function with contacts? I need new contacts. My optometrist says that he can make my contacts function so that I don't need the granny glasses, but so far I feel like my eyes are zooming in and out like the lens on a camera trying to focus. I also have glasses, but I need a stronger prescription and if I have to go back to glasses I have to get bifocals. I really don't want the lines, but have heard from several people that they have problems without the lines. My DH has bifocals without the line and he says it makes him dizzy sometimes. Optometrist says he just needs a smaller frame/lens.

I've got to do something soon as I'm getting daily headaches, but just can't decide what to do. I am legally blind without correction and my lenses are about $300/pair without any of the extras. Fortunately I have good frames and won't need new ones. I really would prefer contacts as my vision seems to be so much clearer when I'm looking far off, but up close I just don't know if I can use them.

Yippee!!!!!!! I am jumping around like a little kid!! Did someone finally get the message through?? I CAN NOT SEARCH THIS ACCOUNT FOR PATIENT NAMES!!! (or is it just a fluke?)

How many independent contractors here ever been stiffed by a doctors' office when you didn't have a written agreement? Just did business on a handshake? What did you do to collect payment or did you ever collect payment? I'm being stiffed and know I won't take this sitting down. I worked too long, way too hard. Invoice is teetering 7K. Any help/advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

I apologize to you then MQx4 if all these posts were not yours. It is very difficult to determine who is who anymore.

Although, in those crazy people's defense, I actually did find those posters rather hillarious! I am just your average MT and no I am not disturbed in any way, just enjoy a raw sense of humor now and then. Please don't bash me for saying that, it is just my opinion. A raw sense of humor is not grounds for being in the psyhiatric ward. A good laugh every now and then does wonders for the body (burns lots and lots of calories you know). With that being said, we should welcome everyone here and as long as I am personally not being threatened, then I really am up for any conversation and/or jokes or whatever.

It's nice to know who you are talking with, so MQx4 thanks for being consistent with your name. Sorry if I addressed some of those posts to you!

I was wondering if there was anyone out there was was willing to share their contract verbiage for YOUR contract that your MTSO signed. There was a wonderful lady who emailed me with some great ideas, but understandably she was not willing to share her contract verbiage because she had paid a lawyer to draft it. I totally understand that! I was just wondering if there was anyone who had drafted their own who would share with me (identifying info could be removed, of course)

I would have money to pay a lawyer if my rackin' frackin' MTSO would pay me, but I'm still without the paycheck I was due on Monday! Anyone who has done this themselves and who would be willing to share, PLEEEEEEASE email me with it and I will be beside myself with thankfulness.

I have only been doing MT work for a little over 6 months and I am already burned out. I am tired of typing and listening and rewinding, etc. The only part about the job I like is that it involves the medical field. Does anyone feel like this? I don't know whether to try a different area of MT (thinking maybe I am bored with the specialties I am doing) or to get out of this field and do something else. Does anyone have any ideas for other jobs where I could use my medical knowledge and not let it go to waste?

SOLDIERS NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"

Your web browser is NOT capable of playing Music

"Merry Christmas, My Friend" by LCpl James M Schmidt, USMC, 1986

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,

In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.

I had come down the chimney, with presents to give

and to see just who in this home did live

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,

no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.

On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind,

a sobering thought soon came to my mind.

For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.

This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,

so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.

And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,

Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,

Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.

Was this the hero, of whom I'd just read?

Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.

I soon understood, this was more than a man.

For I realized the families that I saw that night,

owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

Soon around the Nation, the children would play,

And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,

because of Marines like this one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,

on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.

Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.

I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,

"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice

I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.

My life is my God, my country, my Corps."

With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,

I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still.

I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,

and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.

Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,

with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,

and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.

I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,

this guardian of honor so willing to fight.

But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,

said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."

One look at my watch and I knew he was right,

Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as may people
as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and we should all be aware of
where credit for our being able to celebrate these festivities is due.
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
Please, do your small part to plant this small seed

Is it worth it. Are there many people out there that have landed new accounts this way? Most MTSOs that have been in business for a long time say it is by word of mouth, but what about MTs like me who have been doing this five years. I feel I'm ready for my own accounts and am not sure if this is the best route.

I got a LinkSys router at Wal-Mart and with tech help, I got my Vista computer and other computer going at the same time; however, I unplugged the cable from the phone jack one night, as it was storming, and could not get both computers back on line after that. I actually have returned the router and doing without for now.

I would like your experiences and any help that you could give me. I have used cable router before, but not for phone line -- DSL. Thanks.

I'm thinking of changing careers and becoming an m.t, but I have some ?'s...I've been reading and researching MT careers and I'm a little concerned about Voice Recognition Technology. Do you think it will have a serious impact on this industry? Also, what about work going off-shore? Those are my two main concerns. I don't want to invest a lot of time and $$ and not be able to get a job

Salary.com listed the average salary somewhere in the high 30K a year range...does that sound about right?

Last but not least, what program is best? I've been checking into several. I've been corresponding with a very nice lady from medtranscription.com. Does anyone out there know anything about this program? They're not an ahdi approved school, but they do provide actual transcription for you to do, so when you graduate, you actually have bonafide transcription experience. And they've been in business for quite some time. It sounds good to me, but I need some advice from "veterans"

Anyone use ShortHand and docuscribe together? With my old company i was using Word and shorthand. I had a macro set up to take me from blank to blank. I am lost on this new system. Any ideas on how to set this up? Thanks in advance!

I originally posted this on the "Company Board," but one kind soul there suggested I repost it on the Main Board, so here it goes:

I'll tell you my personal take on this. I'm a very small MTSO and am fighting like heck to keep my jobs in the good old USA - hiring only Americans, etc.

We face stiff competition from companies who offshore, use EMR, etc. I charge my clients what the market will bear. I've already had to lower my rates to 2 of my largest clients because even at the lower cpl rates I was charging them at the time, they were ready to walk to India, and in fact were testing out some Indian MT companies - this after I had, in fact, already lost 2 other doctors' offices to offshore Indian companies. I feel I am fair and pay my IC transcriptionists 2/3 of whatever I make from my clients. But whenever I advertise for experienced transcription help, I am pretty much told to go jump in the lake with the rates that I'm able to afford to pay, even though it's good, steady work. So the bottom line is that I really find it difficult to get any competent help from American MTs. Not that there aren't many around, just that I and many like me can't afford them. Not blaming the MTs (American OR Indian) for wanting to make a living either, I'm just saying this to demonstrate the dilemma I find myself in. I suspect it's the same for other small MTSOs. Can't really raise my rates, because from prior experience, many doctors offices have no scruples about sending work offshore. I've never resorted to offshoring anything, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted.

Not singing the blues, just telling the facts. Personally, I'd rather be selling hotdogs on the beach.

Do any of you have a prefrence for transcribing your radiology reports? i.e. software program, shortcuts, etc.? I use IT and Syngo, formerly Novius, and just can't seem to get the hang of it, IT does not dock at the bottom automatically even though those boxes are checked. Any suggestions? TIA.

When my friend was is Houma earlier this week, some of Houma had electricity and some of them did not. I do not know the latest though. If I hear anything else, I will let you know.

2. My self-employed husband goes for open heart surgery. Thankfully, he's doing good, but the insurance only paid 1/4 of the hospital and doctor bills, even though it states up to $100,000 per event. They refused to pay the ambulance, didn't pay the doctors at all, and only paid the hospital 1/4 of what they charged. Why bother to pay for health insurance if they're going to renege (sic) on their agreement?

3. My credit rating has gone from excellent to fair since I am the only one working. I can't pay all the bills now until my husband goes back to work and then we have to wait 5 weeks for a paycheck from him. In the meantime, his truck payment, 2 mortgages 1st & 2nd, truck insurance, etc. must be paid to the tune of $3500 a month. I don't make that much a month plus I need another $500 for utilities and $1000 for life, health, disability insurance.

4. His brakes failed on his pickup when he was coming down our hill. Thankfully, he has the knowledge as a big truck driver, so he was not injured.

5. I decided to sell some extra things I have around here to make some money to help. I screwed it up and now am afraid to try again. Yet I have a houseful of "trinkets" to sell. I'm even thinking about selling some of our antique furniture, but am afraid I'll get ripped off.

This has not been a good year. I am trying not to break down in front of hubby, but I'm having a hard time keeping back the tears today.

Medical Transcription Discussion Forums:

General Discussion Forums: