Medical Transcription Discussion Forums:

• Main Board
• Job Seekers Board
• Company Board
• Word Help Board
• Classifieds
• Medquist
• New MTs / Students

General Discussion Forums:

• Gab Board
• Politics Board

I was reading the posts below....I've been an MT for 14 years with 22 years of medical experience.  I am working for less than 9 cpl on some of my accounts.  I would love an explanation of what the difference is between IC and SC.  I take work from another small company..they do not EMPLOY me nor do they offer me benefits but I have always assumed I was an IC in this case.  In reality I am subcontracting from them as they do not pay any taxes or anything for me, right?

I would love tips on how to increase my production.  The company I was working for lost my major account so I need to make some changes and would love to email with other MTs who could offer me some advice!

Thanks in advance!

Is it possible to use VOIP as an extra phone line instead of investing in a second land phone line?  I'm going to be working at my mom's a couple days a week.  She has one phone line and DSL.  At my house I only have dial-up. I have an account that requires two phone lines with no DSL, one for dictaphone, one for Meditech.  I really hate to ask her to pay for another land phone line and was wondering if I could use VOIP.  Thanks for any input.   

I have had my own transcription service for several years now.  All of my doctors are local and everything is dictated on microcassettes.  I am looking into going digital and I have heard that there are phone in services that you can go through for a charge every month.  Does anyone know who would be a good service to use or how this works?  If anyone has any info on this I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

In other professions like nursing, nurses can just sit around for hours on end and be paid the big bucks while you have to struggle through every line/minute for your pay. We should not tolerate being treated like this. We should be paid by the hour or at least paid a decent wage.

I am in need of some advice.  I have been dealing with a trigger point in my right trapezius area for the past 2 to 3 years.  Two injections with no relief, and now physical therapy with minimal relief.  Anyone out there have any suggestions on how to either deal with the pain or eliminate it?  Obviously a long vacation would probably cure it, but that is absolutely not an option.  Even my physical therapist is frustrated.  He's been taping my back to correct my posture.  Using a TENS unit.  Went yesterday for probably my last visit and it has tripled in size since my visit earlier this week on Tuesday. 

This thing is just unbearable to live with.  I love my job and not willing to change vocations, but this pain is out of control!!  Someone has to have some advice for me!!!

Desperate for advice!!

night I saw part of Grey's Anatomy and I loved it.    Can someone fill me in on what is or was going on with the black doctor and the Asian-looking doctor? 

I used to watch ER years ago, then it was Chicago Hope.  ER now isn't what it used to be.  Of course before all these shows there was Emergency.  

I saw the post below and looked at the Kinesis Classic keyboards.  Wow, they are very different looking.  I wonder how long it takes to get used to working with one of these...

What ergo keyboard do you like?

How long did it take to get used to it?

Any advantages over other keyboards?

How long until my wrists and hands stop hurting?

I'm seriously debating making this investment, but I have on idea where to start.  Thanks so much for taking the time to help.

I just read an article regarding a new e-mail worm that is showing up. Hopefully, we can all be aware of it before it presents itself to us.

The article was at: http://forum.sitefever.com/viewtopic.php?id=38.

One of my accounts want each pt in an individual file and this looks like a great answer.  I've searched the archives and found nothing negative about this program, only positives.  I downloaded the free trial and it looks pretty simple.

Is anyone currently using the program?  Do you like it?  Are there any negatives?  Any helpful info to start with?

Thanks!

Can anyone tell me what the average pay is for an MT with one years' experience.  I am an IC getting paid .08 cpl on a 65 character line with spaces and can type pretty fast, yet I'm only averaging 7-8 dollars an hour.  I have a multispecialty account.  I also have templates and macros set up.  I have pretty much hit a plateau as far as production.  I thought MTs made fairly decent money.  How long does is take to make better pay?  Any suggestions?  TIA.

and I was going to use Shortcut, but do I need to?  Would the auto-correct feature of Word work just the same, or is there an advantage to using Shortcut?  I am an old PRD+ user, and am now using Bayscribe, which uses an Expander similar to PRD, so now am having to evaluate options.

Thanks for your input.

I've been thinking about your problem and recommended some possible answers, but something else has been nagging at the back of my mind.  There is also the possibility of a keystroke logger that is intercepting your Keystrokes before passing them along to the screen. 

A keystroke logger can be a physical device placed between your keyboard and your computer, or it can be even be installed inside the keyboard.  It can also be a bit of software that intercepts and records keystrokes.  Sometimes this is a commercial application (like parents use to watch what their kids are doing online), but it can also come surreptitiously in the form of malware called a "rootkit" - which you can think of as a "supervirus" on your computer.

I suppose it's also possible that a spybot (another form of malware) could also be doing this.

Bottom line:  Be sure you're using good antivirus and antispyware software, keep them updated, open NOTHING that comes in your email that you don't specifically recognize, and don't follow links that come in emails you don't trust, no matter how "official" they appear to be (like, from your bank or credit card company). 

Now they have confirmed that only the 1 young miner survived and he is in critical condition.  This just is a horrible tragedy on tragedy with these families being so elated for hours. 

Now more than ever, these families need as many prayers as possible to get through this horrible tragedy.

QA/editing, MT job to go with this start-up publication?  Well, they asked me to write my first article.  Yesterday was my day off.  I had to write an article on Easter.  Nerve wracking.  On top of all of that, not sure if ya'll know who Chris Tomlin is (popular Christian singer), they wanted me to interview him while he is on tour in Atlanta Friday night with press passes, tickets, photographer, the works. OMG. Anyways, his public relations assistant contacted me Monday to cancel the interview because of Chris's tight schedule, BUT in return, is sending me his new Amazing Grace CD?? and another signed CD, plus tons of info and pics on Chris to write or publish a story in this new publication.  The editors are leaving this totally up to me.  Unbelievable.

Had another meeting today where I presented all of my info I've been working on for them including my Easter article - 1,000+ words = Editor scanned it over lunch (there were 4 of us there), my palms were all sweaty, and he says, "This will work.  We'll use this."  Again, unbelievable.

All of these doors are just swinging wide open. Big, huge corporations and companies are advertising which is great for this business.  We are all Christians and I'm finding that as long as I keep this into perspective and not focus on me, but God and allowing Him to use me, there is nothing I can't do.  The same goes for you, too.

I know some will be happy for me and others not. I'm so sorry if I sound like I'm rubbing this in your face.  This post just shows that there is life after MTing, although I'm not quitting my day job yet.  I am, however, going to ask to go down to just 3 days a week, especially since I spent 12 hours writing yesterday. I can't do both.  I still have little kids at home!

Will update later - I know a few people asked and I wanted to share what I decided to do and what this publication wants from me = little, ole, unqualified me.  God is so good.  He can promote and He gives you the knowledge and wisdom you need to perform your job.

So.....Nuance bought Dictaphone or Dictaphone changed their name...?  What is the website for dictaphone....Nuance? 

Thanks!!!!!

I am bringing my question to the top from my response to someone's post below.

I live in the country and do not even have cable available - only dial-up. 

I recently purchased a laptop and it only came with an ExpressCard slot (which it is my understanding that laptops in the future will be built with these and not PC slots). The ExpressCards have not hit the local Verizon or Sprint stores yet but I hear they are to soon and I plan to try one. I hope to be able to drop my dial-up ISP and just use my laptop for my on-line job. I also have my own local account where I pick up tapes and deliver their transcription and I can continue to use my regular PC for that work if I choose to.

Anyway, I would really appreciate knowing how you like your "card" for connecting to the Internet and how well it works out for you. Do you know if Verizon or Sprint has more coverage area? Have you traveled much with yours to see if you are able to get connections? How reliable has this been and how fast of a connection rate do you get on average?

I sure would appreciate any info you could share regarding this. Thanks so much.

Sandi

numbers on the suspended license notice this morning and was told to go to the courthouse, which I did. I told them I was contesting the ticket because it was not me who got it but I know who did get it. I explained what my sister did and the lady told me to go to DMV and file identity fraud charges where I fill out a form saying someone is using my name and give their name if I know who. That's done! She also cleared my name in the computer and gave me a copy of the ticket which says issued in error. The ticket was issued at 3 in the morning so she's lucky she didn't get a DUI on my name. The ticket shows her car and her license plate number. Gee, wonder how that happened? I now have a court hearing middle of September where I explain my case and the officer who wrote the ticket will be there. You can bet I'll be bringing life size photos of her to show that it wasn't me. Now I can breathe again, at least until September.

Can anyone give me information on AbleScribe?  Good, bad, flexible hours, etc.

I got an e-mail with an attachment for a typing test.  When I opened the attachment I took about a second and screen went into my player but the job was not there to transcribe.  I never had this happen before.  I was resent the attachment and the same thing happened.  I have had problems before with the foot pedal working but also had the voice portion so was still able to test.  Any suggestions ?  TIA.

Hey, everyone.  We have all been so worried about VR and India taking our jobs that I think we may have let something slip by that is so very much more dangerous. 

My uncle had to have a procedure at the local VA last week, which was an education in and of itself, but what was perhaps most interesting was that I was able to watch his doctor work with the VistA EMR system.  For those of you who are not aware, VistA is the EMR system the VA uses.  It was created by them for use throughout the VA system, and basically it is a click and choose transcription system, minus the transcriptionist.  It uses templates and normals, and if the doctor needs to add more specific information, they simply type it in.  As I sat there with my uncle and watched his doctor type a few words, click some boxes, ask some questions, and do a completed preop report in the time it would have taken him to dictate the darned thing, I was astonished.  It is a very slick system, very impressive to see up close and personal.  From the perspective of patient care, it is wonderful.  The doctor pulls up the report with a few clicks, the patient signs off on it with a little electronic signature pad, and a nurse approves the whole thing with a code.  Very slick. 

So why should this scare us?  Here is the kicker.  The VA/Government/Medicare system is giving this program away.  That is right, GIVING it away to any doctor who wants it.  The problem is that it is extremely difficult to install and set up for proper use, and hard to learn to use initially.  It is also hideously expensive, both for the equipment used to run it on and the installation, though for a large practice probably no more cost prohibitive than paying a team of transcriptionists (2-3) for a year.  Okay, now add to this equation that Medicare is encouraging doctors to learn and use this system, and the date 2014 has been thrown out there as a target.  Skeptics say that 2014 is not reasonable but I am not convinced.  Here is why.  I think we can all admit that the transcription workplace is most definitely not what it once was.  Part of the reason is that it is getting harder and harder to find decent, qualified transcriptionists.  I know there are many, many hard-working transcriptionists out there who know what they are doing and take pride in their work.  I also know that there are many folks out there who like to call themselves transcriptionists, people who think the job is nothing more than typing and see no need to further their educations and stay on top of things once they have obtained a job.  This is not a problem that is confined to our profession; many other areas of employment are suffering the same malady.  However, most other areas are able to weed out the bad seeds, if you will, before their business has been harmed and find the hard-working people they need after searching at length, but medical transcription is not one of these areas.  Because of the nature of the beast, the seriousness and responsibility of the job, if a Transcriptionist messes up people have the potential to die.  With wages decreasing over time and companies becoming more desperate to hire anyone who can type, experienced transcriptionists are moving away from the job, not being able to support themselves on the lousy wages companies are paying.  The dwindling experienced work force is being replaced by a new generation of transcriptionists whose only experience with doctors' offices is when they visit their own primary care physician.  They are educated online, and while there are some schools out there truly committed to producing qualified workers, most are fly-by-night operations.  This is why, in part, doctors are trying to find other avenues of getting the reports they need.  Two of the VR perks that are pushed by companies are cost reduction and accuracy.  The companies that are promoting VR are using our inaccuracies and poor performance to tout their new baby, and they are succeeding.  Because they still pay us a minimal pittance to edit the VR after it is dictated, the doctors never see the product beforehand and therefore are under the impression that we are, in fact, inept, and that VR is a much better system than using humans. 

Now, imagine this if you will.  Transcriptionists are already on the hot seat and so, when the government starts promoting its EMR VistA system, it appeals to doctors.  Not only does it eliminate the need for transcriptionists, it costs about the same overall as they are already paying in wages/fees.  It gives the doctor complete control over the reports they produce, and they have immediate gratification because in the time it takes them to dictate the report, it is finished and in front of them.  The impression one gets from reading all the articles and forum posts pertaining to transcription these days is that doctors are becoming frustrated with the services they are being provided, and are ripe for being swayed into something else that is more productive.  This is the perfect time for doctors to begin transitioning to EMR, and the proliferation of companies out there who have developed EMR systems is testimony to that fact. 

Do doctors look at the EMR as a potential end to the careers of tens of thousands of workers in the United States?  No, probably not.  They only look at how this is going to affect them, their practice and their patients.  Congress is supporting and pushing this initiative, as are certain presidential candidates.  The concept of losing this many workers to EMR is apparently not something they are concerned about.  Implementing this sort of system will make them look good, and the importance of image to politicians is a given. 

While there can be no doubt that outsourcing has hurt medical transcription, as has VR, I strongly believe that our biggest threat is coming from our own government.  I think the EMR system is, within the next 5-10 years, going to put 80% of transcriptionists out of business.  There will be holdouts, and I am sure not all types of reports will be producible from this system, but if a doctor is given a choice between paying for a transcriptionist to possibly do a report correctly and perhaps get that report back within 24 hours if all goes as it should, and using that same time they would be dictating to produce the report themselves, with very little actual work on their parts, which will they choose? 

Need some advice, please.  I am starting a small company and I want to market myself to be able to take overflow work from larger companies (or hospitals/clinics/medical centers) to give and send out to my group of MTs and QAs.  I do not want the hassle of trying to approach the large hospitals, clinics, medical centers, themselves and I do not have the capital to purchase my own dictation system or program. 

I was thinking of going to the MT conventions and networking there but was not sure who/what companies attend these conventions.  Does anyone have any ideas or can anyone point me in the right direction?  I would appreciate any advice anyone could give to me.  TIA

Maria Maz

I posted a message yesterday on the New MT board.  I haven't seen a response.  Can anyone give me advice?

I am disabled and need to train in a new profession.  After some reading and researching, I wonder if I should learn MT.

With so many jobs going to India, Philipines, etc is there really work (and I mean work that will pay me enough money to more than survive) in the US?

With Dragon, is it easier for non English speaking persons to transcribe?  I am really nervous.  I can't waste time and money learning something that is no longer offered here.

Is it worth it?

Hello to Everyone in MT Land:

I pray that everyone will have a productive and fulfilling day.  Please know that your work is important, and you are helping countless people.  I encourage you to become better and better at what you do.  Have a great day!

what the heck is going on with the main board?  people asking about companies etc?