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"For 30 years, I've transcribed things by what is..SM

Posted By: oh boy... on 2005-07-13
In Reply to: Very frustrated - About to give it up, I think.

correct."   This is where the problem is.  Do you know that some of the most stubborn, difficult, argumentative, inflexible MTs I have ever met in the course of my career are the ones who parrot that particular sentence?


What was done or has been done for 30 years is not necessarily the correct way now.  Language has changed.  With the advent of VR, the way we transcribe is now more of a verbatim way than ever.


These 30-year MTs are still adding 's on to Down syndrome, still typing out the word "centimeter" even though it is no longer accepted as anything but line-padding....get my drift?




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    I've been doing this doc for many years, so I've learned how to function with him. sm
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    No expander, I've just been using the autotext for a lot of things because

    in my opinion the 'stupid' errors I make are transposition of a letter in words or leaving off/adding a letter at the end of a word.  Like "does" vs "dose" or along vs alone.  When I go back to read over, its like my brain is not really "seeing" what's there....because it already knows what I'm 'mean" for it to say, if that makes any sense.


    To be truthful, none of it makes sense to me becasue like I said its only a few reports out of many that I do in a day...so you figure, If I can do majority of them without the stupid errors, why not all.


    That is one of the strangest things I've ever heard.
    Only 1 USB port on a *new* computer? Did you ask how many ports it would have when you ordered it? I just can't imagine this.
    That is one of the strangest things I've ever heard.
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    nm
    I've also been known to throw a party for the littlest things...sm
    1. Son's 1st soccer game.
    2. 1/2 parties. You know. My son is turning 4-1/2, so come and join us for a party!
    3. Husband's coming home party (he was only gone for a month).
    4. Come and meet my mom party (she lives in another state).
    5. Of course ALL the big parties: Baby showers, (never done a wedding shower), graduations, retirements.
    6. Hunting parties. If your husband hunts, come on over and join us for lunch with the kids so we can talk about how lonely it is during deer season.

    So, any major occasion is a big occasion....You don't even want to know what Christmas is like over here.
    I've heard of things like the "boosteroo" mentioned above ... however...

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    Target (and probably everyone else) carries these. I suspect teens and gamers and music mixers "need" these to "fill the room with sound"... Amazon has some computer speakers that are over $300)


    I have terrible TMJ and cannot wear my headset all the time ... the sudden loud noises (like beepers brought up to chest level)  just kill my ears.


    Good things take time. (this is addressed to OP, BTW) My first 15 years or sm
    so of MT was without the benefit of using an expander. When Expanders became the norm, I was reluctant to try, thinking that it would be more cumbersome than by not using it at all. Was I surprised and pleased I had ventured into the Expander world.

    Since you're at home you can add entries on your free time, even if you do 5 or 10 at a time, when there is no pressure on you. Start out with expanders for "the patient," "-year-old," the names of your doctors, anything that is repetitious. You will be surprised how much time this will save you. My initial expander, PRD, actually calculated saved Keystrokes and productivity. Back then I was saving 30%!

    The expander is especially helpful for those crazy terms that are hyphenated or have camel caps, those that I always had to look up to check myself. Create your brief form by just using straight lowercase, for instance, duoneb for Duo-Neb (or d-n).

    Speed will come, don't worry. Good luck to you!

    (Posted in the wrong place--I always do that!) This is in response to OP.


    you've been an MT for four years,
    so, based on this information, that would imply that you are a grown woman. If this is true, does your handsome husband know how immature you are? Does he know that his hot wife is on this board making juvenile and childish remarks? Just curious, what makes a babe such as yourself do something like this?
    gee, I've been doing this nearly 27 years

    And the clients have always liked my work.

    That is the only CORRECT in my book ... he who signs the paycheck.


    I've been doing this for 25+ years. SM

    My problem with changing accounts was not the terminology, the dictators (I do 4 big hospitals even now), but it was shuffling around to remember account specifics. That is ridiculous.


    It is another case of an MTSO (not the client, the MTSO) treating the MTs as a cost center instead of a revenue center. The "money" was for the suits and the editors (no offense) and the MTs who did the work were at the end of the money line.


    I've been with BTS for nearly 3 years now.

    I've never run out of work, been slow at times, and asked for more.  If you are a well-rounded MT the work is there.  If you are limited to one or two specialities well, work is limited as would be anywhere.  As for the pay, my check was been screwed up twice in 3 years.  I had the difference in my hands the next day, the fedex the check to me. 


    Question to you?  How did you treat BTS?  Where you there to work if and when they needed you?  Was your work 98% or better and within TAT?  Most employers will treat their employees they way they are treated.  It's a give and take situation people.  I sign on do my work, send it to the clients and have no problems.  If they need extra help somewhere I usually (but not always) say sure (who can't use the extra money anyway).  When I want time off, they say no problem. 


    Did you ever try talking to the owners about your problem with pay or work or to your manage?  You can't complain if you don't try and solve the problem first.!!


     


     


    I've been using it for at least 4 years now and never
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    I've been in this biz for over 10 years

    and can honestly say I've never had a background check to my knowledge.  They really should let you know beforehand and I guess it is possible I've had one and not been aware but highly doubt it.


    I've been using an erg for a few years.
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    I've been at it for nearly 15 years
    I consider myself seasoned, not because of my years of experience, but because of how many different types of work I have done. I think that being flexible, versatile, and maintaining a good attitude is what makes a seasoned transcriptinoist.
    I've been doing this for years...sm
    I have been saying this for years.  If they would just contract it themselves.
    I've been doing it for three years
    I don't really have anything special I do. It's just something I'm used to. I work between 13-14 hours Monday through Thursday and take Friday nights off. I do have to have the TV on though. If it's too quiet, that's when I get tired and start to fall asleep. I don't like coffee, but I make sure to take some form of caffeine. I'll get up and walk around every few hours though.
    I've been doing this for 20 years

    Been in healthcare since 1972 :)  Got halfway through my Masters in HealthCare Administration and stopped because I was NOT passionate about that.  Got into this instead. 


    I am still passionate about my house and everything else I do.  I'm 55.  I'm not naive, or dumb.  Passion comes from inside you, if you're not passionate, it's because you make yourself that way.


    Thanks for the tip, but I don't have anything to get over.  I don't waste a lot of time whining and complaining though.  :)


    It's been a few years since I've

    been IC, but one of the things I did was to have my husband claim zero and at the single rate.  If you're already doing that and it didn't help, you might want to have him pay in a little extra per pay or pay estimated taxes yourself.  I thought with federal income tax, my employer did take it out because I was considered a statutory employee but still IC status.  I think I had a little extra taken out and claimed zero and married at the single rate.  A lot of things go into determining whether or not you owe taxes. 


    You say you adopted a child this year and will get that tax credit, did you have any children before?  If not, then you likely didn't have much choice except to pay estimated quarterly taxes and have both you and your husband claim zero and the single rate.  We have 3 children now, which definitely helps, but even still we continue to claim zero on our W4s just to keep ahead of the gov.  We like that little "bonus" we get back for vacation, etc.


    I know I always paid estimated state taxes.  In some cases, you can end up paying penalties if you don't.  Talk with your accountant.  He/she should be able to give you ways to avoid having to pay in.  You probably can't reduce what you make anymore than you already have.  It sounds like you've got your deductions covered.  Your only option may be to pay estimated.  Good Luck!


    I've been doing it for many years.

    I work a few hours in the morning before kids get up, spend time with kids, do housework, fix dinner, etc. and then I work a few hours after dinner.   I get up at least every 2 hours and do something, may put on a load of laundry, may lay something out to thaw for dinner, may take a power nap, etc.  I couldn't sit for an 8 hour shift if my life depended on it.


    It works for my and my family.  My husband works 12-15 hours, a lot of them overnight and he is home by 11 most days, so my schedule works for him too. 


    I've actually been doing this for years!
    i produce 500 lines an hour consistenly and average 3500 lines in an eight-hour day. Anyone who does not believe is jeolous, but that's JMHO.
    I've been doing this for 28 years
    And I get paid less now relatively seaking than 20 years ago. I've seen line rates as low as 5 and as high as 13-14 (if you're lucky).

    MTs are not getting paid according to their experience, not anymore. Our pay has been so undermined by offshoring, if you find a company paying 10 cpl and up, good luck to ya. It is frustrating I know but that's the truth of the matter. I wish I could sing you a better tune.
    I've done MT for 35 years, don't know how to do
    to learn a new career, I'd be a 70-year-old "newbie". I don't think I'd get any job offers.
    I'm with you. I've been doing this 20 years and
    was a supervisor for semi-large company at one point, and I don't think it's possible to consistently do 4300+ lines of straight transcription per day...
    After you've been an MT for years, have
    experience with all the different foreign accents & high-speed/mumbling dictators & develop an ear for them, memorize the BOS rules, JCAHO, etc., then you'll be qualified to do what you're suggesting.
    I've been in MT 15 years & have never
    paid AAMT/AHDI a dime and never will because they're right in the big middle of selling us out to India. And you know what? Not having my CMT has NEVER been an issue because I know my stuff, have the experience, and test well. They need to rename themselves the Indian Association of MT.
    Yes, I've used one for years

    Ever since they first came out I have been using.  I prefer some of the cheaper knock-off brands to the MS though.  Does anyone remember the Wave keyboard?  It was the precursor to the MS and also there was an actual split keyboard and one time, where the keyboard broke in half so you typed with your hands vertically instead of horizontally.  I also tried learning Dvorak and that was an interesting experience!


    I have an MS at work and one at home.  My hands hurt less and my shoulders are not as tight.  I can't stand to use a regular keyboard as I tend to hunch over and my shoulders get tight, not to mention make all kinds of errors!  I don't know about using the "B" with your other hand though.  Never heard of that.  I just use a standard technique.


    I've been doing this for 3 years
    and have never made anywhere close to $31,000.
    I've been saying this for years. Unfortunately,
    all too often, whenever an employer pulls another fast one on us, or in the case of Acusis, pulls the rug (our paychecks) right out from under our feet, we're furious about it for a few days, and by about the 5th or 6th day, we suddenly become complacent and unwilling to stand up and fight against the status-quo.

    That fight doesn't necessarily mean quitting your job (or getting fired). Fighting back can be done in your spare time. It can be done on your cellphone on the bus. It can be done next time you're in the waiting room at your doctor's office. A revealing and poignant letter can be written to a local newspaper's editorial page, an internet blog or chat room, a state governor, a congressperson, a hospital CEO, etc. The number of things we can do are limited only by our imaginations. If every MT in the country sat down and wrote a letter to Congress or their Senator (not a cookie-cutter email that gets deleted the minute it's received, but a real, hand-written or hand-typed letter that tells your personal story, of the stories of people you work with, or that you chat with on MT Stars, maybe someone with more clout and a louder voice than we have will see it, grab onto the story and run with it. When a country goes to war, it ultimately boils down to each individual fighting his own personal war. When the state of affairs in our field reaches almost-rock-bottom, which is where it's at right now, the only way for the MT species in America to survive, and not be wiped out entirely, is to network, talk to or write to as many MTs as you can, set up chat-room, or send out emails when possible, and help MTs start a movement. It takes time for a movement to build up momentum, but every little bit helps towards that goal. Even one letter is better than no letters. One person in your doctor's waiting room told what's happening to their medical records, and the quality of their care when their records are offshored, is better than no one told. We need to start making our voices heard. Not too many of us are going to last another 2 years in this business at the rate it's deteriorating.
    they've been doing this for years and years (nm)

    IMHO


    Becky, I've been an IC for seven years now without
    any type of liability or error insurance at all.  As the other poster said, the physician is the one that's responsible for reviewing and signing off on the reports.  If you don't believe me, go to Google.com and type in "transcriptionist sued" to see how many lawsuits are out there where doctors sued their transcriptionist.  Zero.  It's not going to happen.  Besides that, technically you are a SUBcontractor for softscript, so it's their butts that are going to be on the line no matter what your employee/IC status is.  THEY are the ones that signed the contract with the hospitals or physicians, not you.  Also, if you search the MTstars archives about that company, they don't get rave reviews.  You can find a better company where people actually know what they're talking about.
    I've used it for 2+ years, no problems.
    x
    We've been doing this for 1-1/2 years. It's no surprise. nm
    nm
    I've used Speedtype for almost 2 years
    and I love it!  I have verson 8.  It's very easy to use, particularly when changing dates every day, etc.  Once I'm at the beginning of a new month, just delete the whole prior month and begin again.  It's easy to format anything.  If I have one word or a small grouping, it's easy.  If I have a large chunk of dictation, that's easy too.  The woman who sells it is extremely helpful.  I've never had one bit of problem since it was installed. And does it help with productivity - absolutely!
    I've used Bytescribe but it was years ago
    and I currently use Stop/Start for an overflow account.  Depending on the file format S/S will do a conversion and it may take 15 seconds or more to run the conversion depending on the size of the file.   I had trouble with Bytescribe, but that was years ago, and I don't remember much about it.  Both Bytescribe and S/S play many file formats.  I've never heard of PowerPlay so I can't speak for that one. 
    I've worked for MQ for years and
    have NEVER been given the opportunity for bonuses.  Those who have gotten them have been lucky.
    I've worked for MQ over 4 years now and
    I have never been told how many spaces to put or not put after a sentence; I have never been paid for spaces, by my count at least. I occasionally check my reports. I do not get spaces.

    I'm not sure why, or actually by the anonymous stature of posters on this board, IF anyone has really been told to limit spaces to one after a sentence.

    If MQ really isn't paying for spaces, it wouldn't make any difference monetarily so I cannot see that they would make a stipulation like that.
    I've been doing radiology for 4 years--

    and I think it's great.  It can get a little dull because you tend to hear the same things over and over, but you can get good line counts with it. 


    I've been doing qwertyuiop for 30 years. sm

    and transcribing for 20+


    I can't imagine stopping to start all over again. It scares me to think that the "hunt and peck" types are now being catered to instead of learning the keyboard the way it should be learned. But then again, I'm an "old timer."


    When I learned qwertyuiop it was on a manual typewriter.  The manual typewriters are what gave us old timers our speed. It also gave us concentration when you had to flip the handle on the left and push the roll back into place for the next line. Not to mention exercise when you pushed it too hard and the whole roll flew off and landed on the floor.


    Heck, I used to do MT on a very old electric typewriter with a bottle of  White Out handy.


    My top 5 minute timed typing test for a job interview was 138 wpm on an old electric and that was almost 20 years ago.  I think I'll stick with the old stuff.


    And, by the way, I have no wrist pain, finger pain, etc. Guess I'm either lucky or it's because of the fact that I'm ergonomic, do my CTS exercises, and wear wrist supports when I type.


    I've never had a pay problem in over 6 years. NM
    x
    I've been there almost 2 years. Best employer
    I've had in my 12 years in the business. Good software and lots of work to do. Lots.
    I've been a broker for 22+ years and . . .

    every listing contract should say the listing agent will use "due diligence" in selling your home (or something similar).  My suggestion would be to contact the agent's broker, tell them what has transpired and ask that another agent take over the listing.  With your complaints known, I would bet the new agent will give you much better service.


    As for reporting them to your state's division of real estate, depending on what state you are in, most likely nothing would be done and a case would not even be opened.  They are after fraud-type cases and rarely, if ever, get involved is situations such are yours.


    I do. It's the "new way" I think. I've been doing it for years. SM

    I have a macro that goes back and double checks for two spaces and changes them to one.


    Then I have another (for an old-timey account) that goes back and finds period space space and exchanges it for period space.


    That way I don't have to remember.


    I'VE USED IT 2 YEARS AND LOVE IT!!

    I find it to be a really easy platform to learn and to use. I've used it for 2-1/2 years now. It has its own expansion program and I also find it really user-friendly.


    That's not true. I've been an MT for 25 years and
    seasons.  It's absolutely NOT true that it is slow this time of year.  I also have had my own hospital accounts/surgery center accounts.  A lot of times it is BUSIER at the end of the year.  The reason there is no work is that MDI overhired.