Advice Needed

I am an IC MT.  My MTSO continually loses files that I have already sent her.  I am paid only for what I type per line, not doing secretarial work.  Just today she said that she needed me to resend EVERYTHING I have done for her since October 15.  That's going in, in separate emails so I don't crash her computer, and sending separate emails with each day's work.  I just spent over an hour doing this.

Saying anything will get her irate, because she doesn't understand the concept of IC versus employee paid by the hour. But does anyone have a good sample email for how I would basically say, "I spent an hour on this.  I bill out at $25 an hour, so further resending of previously sent work will be billed at this rate."

That will probably get me fired.  Any better way to put it?

• Advice Needed - Frustrated MT
  • THANK YOU to everyone for your wonderful advice! (sm) - Frustrated MT
    • you can use incredimail to get the receipt function, works with most normal emails by popping or how - LMT
      • Excellent idea, I like the 0.25 per resend. I will implement that the next time she does this. THA - Frustrated MT
  • What I would say - MT
  • Why not use the receipt function in OE? - SM
    • the receipt function is only as good as the person --sm - nn
      • Yes, that is true, the person can decline to - SM
      • Files are emailed with password protected zip file attachments done in Word...(sm) - Frustrated MT
  • Do you normally send your work each day as 1 email ? - sm - XXX
    • Saving sent emails,,sm - none
      • I just use Outlook Express, so my emails - sm - XXX
        • I also use Outlook 2003 with Office, but - nn
          • Yes, I understand all that, but in Outlook Express - sm - XXX
            • yes. outlook 2003 has a sent folder also, but--sm - nn
            • I use Gmail, which has a huge storage capacity and search function (sm) - Frustrated MT
              • Gmail - mtathome

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 I was offered a home-based MT job as a direct employee of the hospital with an extremely good per-line-rate.   But yes, it was too good to be true!  Apparently on further consideration, the administrator now says it is too costly (technically) for home set-up; mentioned something about the Lanier DVI desktop and how costly etc. etc.  and some other MT has the license (?what's that about?); also mentioned "Cquence" transcription software program.   They already have 5 other off-site MTs.   Anybody out there with opinions and/or constructive advice...please.  

Thank you for posting this and thanks to all for your words of encouragement. I thought about giving up also but I paid too much money for my course to give up.

It was good to read that others failed before they succeeded.

Thanks again.

Pam

This is, I know, an old and overdone question BUT...Please, please other than coffee, protein, water, energy drinks, herbs, and Provigil, please does anybody have a way in which I can stay awake in between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. during my shift? My shift is second oddly going into third.  I am fine when I do third shift going into overnight and early morning.  But, it is absolutely the worst struggle between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.  I would gladly give my highest paycheck to the person who can help me stay awake at that time. That is if I could LOL. Appreciating your replies.

Problems on this job have me seriously considering making a move if there's no improvement soon.  Last night I started to polish up a resume, and realized I'm not sure what to do with references.  I am not ready to tell my current employer that I am investigating my options, and I would rather not have them called for references until I'm in discussion with a company that looks like a good fit for me.

So what to do on the resume?  "Available upon request"?  I have a number of reference letters from when I was an IC that I can attach, if I really need to have references on the resume itself.  Do you think many companies actually followup on references before they interview?  Any thoughts/experience are appreciated!

My friend and her boyfriend of 5 years recently obtained custody of the boyfriend's now 7-year old daughter.   You talk about a handful of trouble, that's exactly what has been packaged into this mini sized monster child.

Bear with me because this will be quite lengthy.  I  will call the girl by her nickname, Tater.

Tater was 5 when my friend (S) and her boyfriend (D) started with the custody proceedings.  Every time Tater would come for visitations, she was full of these wild stories that were quite alarming to S and D.  She would come and tell them how her mom walks around the house naked all the time with all of these different boyfriends, how one of those boyfriends held a pillow over her (Tater) face one time, and how Tater and her baby brother were often left alone for hours at a time and sometimes overnight while her mom was out "getting drunk" with her boyfriends.

Naturally, S and D were really upset by these stories and so they got an attorney and really pushed for custody.  They got custody in March 2005 and their life has been a living hell since she has come to live with them. 

Less than a day or so after she moved in, she started telling them how one of her mom's boyfriends "did things to her" so S and D were once again in an emotional fit because they thought someone had molested Tater.   They called a psychologist and the police.  Had her evaluated, everything.  Even had Tater talk to a detective that works child abuse cases.  His findings and the psychologist's findings were the same.  She had not been abused and, in fact, had a severe problem with delineating fact from fantasy. 

Tater now sees the psychologist once per week.  The goal of the treatment was originally to get Tater to understand the difference between telling stories and the truth, along with dealing with the fact that her mother now has absolutely no contact with her.  It's been rough for S and D as well as Tater. 

Things went well for a short time, then school started 3 weeks ago.  Since starting school, S and D have been called to the school numerous times because Tater has either said that she couldn't do her homework because her daddy was "all drunk", that when S dropped her off at school she was "drinking wine from a bottle in the car" (it was green tea in a glass bottle,) and that they don't allow her to talk to her mother, which is not true. Her mother has supervised visitation but chooses to opt out. 

She has told her aunt and uncle that S killed her cat on purpose when it was actually her aunt who accidentally ran over the cat but Tater didn't know that.  She told one of the neighbors that her mommy had her (Tater) picture taken once and was in a naughty magazine because her mom got money for it and Tater would get it when she was old enough.  OMG yet?  Yeah!  This kid is something else.

She also made a little boy cry in class by rudely saying how he was so stupid and slow during outloud reading time.

S and D have tried all of the things the psychologist have recommended, taking her toys, taking her TV, radio, making her write apologies and hand deliver them, and sit directly behind the bus driver (for even more trouble on the bus.)

She also missed the bus home purposely last week because she was going to go to a friend's house.  Her grandmother had to come all the way into town (they live about 10 miles out) to get her.   When D and S questioned her about what she was doing, she screamed at them that it was "HER LIFE" and she could do what she wanted if she felt like it.  Remember folks, this kid turned 7 last month!

Now, a few minutes ago, S called me in tears.  She got another call from the school because Tater had told some of the boys that another boy was threatening her and making her scared (which was a lie) so she wanted them to do something about it.  These 3 little boys proceeded to gang up on the other boy and he was hurt.  Not seriously but that he was hurt is bad enough.  These 3 boys and Tater are now suspended.  These are first graders and this is a very small town.

S and D are ready to snap.  I don't know what else to tell her.  The psychologist told S and D that she was afraid that Tater had multiple personality disorder but couldn't make that diagnosis on a definitive basis because, as of yet, there are no clear cut documented cases in children of this age.  They usually don't start developing these tendencies until they are in their mid to late teens. 

I have looked online for any kind of research or specialists that can deal with this but it's very difficult to find information even on pre-adolescents that are out of control. 

I am asking for your help.  If anyone knows of a professional or group that can help S and D with Tater, PLEASE post here ASAP.  At this point, I'm very concerned about THEIR well being. This kid is a serious danger.  There is much more but I think I have told you enough already.   We are in Washington State too, just in case anyone has any ideas where to go for help.

Thank you so very much if any of you can help.

I have been working with a national company for 5 years and have enjoyed it but a friend called me recently stating she had a doctor who is despirate for a new MT and she recommended me.  I talked to the doc. today and she is very interested.  I have a meeting with the office manager next week to work out the details.  I have a few questions and would appreciate your advice:

1.  Doc. did not know what type of dictation system they use, but it sounded like a C-phone or DVI system.  Currently I do everything on line, is there a way to dial into a C-phone system through my computor's modem?  I know that this is probably wishful thinking, but it can't hurt to ask. 

2.  Do you draw up a contract?

3.  Are there any questions you would recommend I ask (we have already discussed pay and vaccation/sick time as well as turn around on the reports)?

I am a bit nervous about striking out on my own but the company I work for made a lot of changes last January and it just is not working well for me anymore.  

Thanks for your help,

Mariah

I guess I've been lucky to work with some wonderful MTSO's in the past! I've been an MT for over 10 years, but am just now looking for new work and have not worked for big, national companies before. I posted the other day about testing with companies, and I did and got 2 job offers. Yea!...you'd think.  Ha! 

I thought I'd get offered a decent wage, for starters. Two companies offered me positions, one at 6.25 cpl and the other at 5.5 cpl. Both of them say they go up, the more lines you have. Unless they go up...like double...forget it! At least one of them additionally charges a fee if I don't make my anticipated line count during the payperiod (and I had to make my schedule a month in advance), as well as a bi-weekly service fee for using their software.

Is this what I have to look forward to????? I guess my head has been in the sand, because I had no idea this is what people's contracts had in them. No wonder no one is making any money. Honestly, is this standard? Sorry if I seem so out of touch.

I worked as an IC for a company with questionable business practices and who treated me like a dish rag for about 8 months this past year and when I finally could not take any more, I quit.  In the end I was stiffed for about $1900 in pay but I pretty much knew it was pointless to even try to get my money and decided to leave it in the past. 

Well now, they have just sent me tax papers, evidently they never got my signed forms or lost them or whatever.  My question is do I really have to fill them out and send them back, or should I hold out for my back pay, or what?  I really don't feel like I should do anything for them even though I know that it is wrong.  Does anyone know if I can get in trouble for not returning this form?

TIA,

Still angry MT

Hi, I'm trying to start my own small local MT business, and I'm just wondering if anyone knows what contracts/HIPAA paperwork should be signed between Drs. and myself.  I'm clueless on where to begin!

Thnx,

Rachel

I have been an MT for over 10 years.  I also am getting burnt out, tired of my job, day in day.  However, I do love transcription and make excellent money at it, have grossed over $50,000 per year the last 5 years.  I decided to go back to nursing school and am very happy with my choice.  However, over these 10 years of transcription I have had my ups and downs.  My biggest issue with being at home working is lack of socialization, being home day in and day out with just the kids and the animals really gets to a person, sure hubby is home at night and thinks working from home is the easy life, thus the return to school and boy has my overall enjoyment of life changed once I realized I was the problem, not everyone else and I needed to find myself again.

Anyway, my biggest advice to you three-fold:

1.  Get into counseling for yourself, find out who you are and what your needs are, whether or not you think you need to, I sense you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone other than your family to talk to that can be nonjudgmental to your feelings and needs.

2.  If you're only making $100 after you pay preschool you can either keep doing it and be miserable, or quit because you are lucky enough to have a husband who can support the family without your income. (See how fast his mind changes just by losing the income you do have as to whether your job means anything.)  Or look for a different company or office that you like more and are more productive if you really want to do transcription (lots of fish in the sea as far as companies).

3.  Find a local "mom's" group where you can get out and socialize.  MOPS (mother's of preschoolers) is an excellent one that is nationwide, they have a website.  Also Mom2Mom is in a lot of areas.  They provide a once a week time for moms with kids the same age to get together, socialize, (some offer spirtual guidance some don't) and each week a different mom takes a turn watching everyone else's children at the facility that hosts it so the other moms can talk about things they have in common.  Every stay-at-home and work-from-home mom needs to socialize with adults, without their kids, or they will have a nervous breakdown eventually no matter how much they love their kids.

Sorry so long but it does get better but you have to take the first step at making yourself happy.

I work at a clinic part-time typing into EMR's as well as running my own company.  But now they are loading Stedman's spell check and work expanders onto Word so that I can type in word and then transfer the info over to the electronic chart.  I type faster in word.  They found that it is faster for the doc to dictate rather than type into the chart and not only that, insurances were questioning the "standardization" of the chart notes.   Too similar.  So I do make sure that even though I use expanders, and macros, I do make some minor changes to "standard exams" so it does not all look the same, but this is with the approval of the docs.  But they can see at least 4-6 additonal patients and dictate all the notes rather than type then and are able go home at 5 o'clock instead of 7.   Also the TAT is 48 hours and not weeks as the docs would never finish the notes.   So we will still be here just typing under a different format.

x

Because I will probably get a Dell laptop pretty soon.

Thanks again for the help

It was much good of yous to care!  Thank you so much for pointing that out. 

I don't spellcheck or audit what I type for postings on the internet.  Maybe I should?  After all, I am posting this for myself, not my employer, but you are right, I should care enough. 

I think the MTs that Crabby was talking about in her post ought to care too.  I am burnt out from working 14 hours a day to make up for the $$ that I am not making because we all haven't had a raise since 1988 and I believe that MTs with poor skills are part of the reason why all MTs are not getting paid what they deserve.  Are we the only profession that has not had a cost of living raise in practically forever?  

I have worked as an IC and employee.  For every some companies, you need WORD 2003.  I could not understand why 2007 would not work, but they swear that it would not work with eScription.  Some people told me that they spoke directly with eScription who said it would; needless to say, I had to purchase a very outdated copy from Amazon.com for about $200.  I was also told that it had to be the full version of WORD.  If you are working with eScription, I am sure that part is correct. 

You will have to get a foot pedal, and I was told by last two companies that I was working for (simultaneously) that I had to have a 9-pin foot pedal with a USB adapter which is different somehow than USB alone. 

If you are working from a C-Phone then you can rent this equipment from the company.  This would require the unlimited long distance.

Most require highspeed internet.

The other important thing to know is preparing for self-employment taxes.  That is the big one.

I had the hardest time finding good headphones (which you may already have) but finally found the best ever and VERY inexpensive at dictaionwarehouse .com. The salesman was great help and talked me into the less expensive set which was their best seller.  I had already planned on spending $200 for a good set and only spent $25. (Spectra-RA twin speaker headset).  They have these in digital w/USB, stereo, Dictaphone and many other types of connections.  I am now an employee for a specialty clinic and had to go back to tapes and needed mono-headphones, but I am sure the others would be great also and again VERY inexpensive, but the salesman will be honest and tell you for sure.  I just had to share this after the long drawn out hunt.   

Thank you. I appareciate any help you can give me.

I have been told by attorneys and accountants it is  not needed.  The doc signs off on what he dictates and if he does not, I put in "Dictated but not read".  It is his responsibility not ours.   Been at this for over 25 years and never been questioned on if what I typed was what the doc dictated.  

Imagine a country whose citizens--maybe even its leaders--are brave, calm, and open towards each other; a country whose people realize that all human beings belong together as one family and must act accordingly; a country guided by common sense. To the extent to which we show ourselves not hateful but grateful, this becomes reality.

But gratefulness? The very word seems utterly out of place, even offensive, under the given circumstances. And yet, that we speak of “given” circumstances is significant. Whatever is given is a gift, and the appropriate response to any gift is gratitude. But what could be the gift in this case?

The gift we were given by the wake-up call of September 11 is an unprecedented opportunity: to wake up, wake up to the madness of violence and counter-violence. What happened to New York was as much and as little a first as what happened to Hiroshima. After all, we witnessed merely the most recent link in a chain of revenge for revenge. This recent retaliation is certainly not the first, but it gives us a unique opportunity to wake up and to make it the last.

Strange though it is, many of us were able to ignore the vicious circle of violence against violence--our own and that of others--as long as it was happening far away. We were asleep. September 11 was a rough awakening.

What now? We can show ourselves grateful for the wake-up call by staying awake, by acting wakefully. A danger recognized and faced is cut in half. The danger is violence regardless of who commits it, terrorists or legitimate governments. No rhetoric, no posturing can any longer obscure the fact that violence breeds violence. We must break that cycle of madness.

Violence has its roots in every heart. It is in my own heart that I must recognize fear, agitation, coldness, alienation, and the impulse to blind anger. Here in my heart, I can turn fear into courageous trust, agitation and confusion into stillness, isolation into a sense of belonging, alienation into love, and irrational reaction into common sense. The creative imagination of gratefulness will suggest to each one of us how to go about this task. I will list here five small gestures that have helped me personally to show my gratitude for the wake-up call and to stay awake.
But gratefulness? The very word seems utterly out of place, even offensive, under the given circumstances. And yet, that we speak of “given” circumstances is significant. Whatever is given is a gift, and the appropriate response to any gift is gratitude. But what could be the gift in this case?

The gift we were given by the wake-up call of September 11 is an unprecedented opportunity: to wake up, wake up to the madness of violence and counter-violence. What happened to New York was as much and as little a first as what happened to Hiroshima. After all, we witnessed merely the most recent link in a chain of revenge for revenge. This recent retaliation is certainly not the first, but it gives us a unique opportunity to wake up and to make it the last.

Strange though it is, many of us were able to ignore the vicious circle of violence against violence--our own and that of others--as long as it was happening far away. We were asleep. September 11 was a rough awakening.

What now? We can show ourselves grateful for the wake-up call by staying awake, by acting wakefully. A danger recognized and faced is cut in half. The danger is violence regardless of who commits it, terrorists or legitimate governments. No rhetoric, no posturing can any longer obscure the fact that violence breeds violence. We must break that cycle of madness.

Violence has its roots in every heart. It is in my own heart that I must recognize fear, agitation, coldness, alienation, and the impulse to blind anger. Here in my heart, I can turn fear into courageous trust, agitation and confusion into stillness, isolation into a sense of belonging, alienation into love, and irrational reaction into common sense. The creative imagination of gratefulness will suggest to each one of us how to go about this task. I will list here five small gestures that have helped me personally to show my gratitude for the wake-up call and to stay awake.
All gratitude expresses trust. Suspicion will not even recognize a gift as gift: Who can prove that it isn’t a lure, a bribe, a trap? Gratefulness has the courage to trust and so overcomes fear. The air has been electrified by fearfulness these days, a fearfulness fostered and manipulated by politicians and the media. There lies our greatest danger: Fear perpetuates violence. Mobilize the courage of your heart, as the truly awake ones are doing. Say one word today that gives a fearful person courage.

Because gratitude expresses courage, it spreads calm. Calm of this kind is quite compatible with deep emotions. In fact, the mass hysteria rampant all around betrays confusion rather than deep feeling--superficial agitation rather than a deep current of compassion. Join the truly compassionate ones who are calm and strong. From the stillness of your heart’s core reach out. Calmly hold someone’s hand today and spread calm.

When you are grateful, your heart is open--open towards others, open for surprise. In the days since the wake-up call we have seen remarkable examples of this openness: strangers helping strangers often in heroic ways. Others turn away, isolate themselves, dare even less than at other times to look at each other. Violence begins with isolation. Break this pattern. Make contact with people whom you normally ignore--eye-contact at least--with the agent at the toll booth, the parking lot attendant, someone on the elevator. Look a stranger in the eyes today and realize that there are no strangers.

You can feel either grateful or alienated, but never both at the same time. Gratefulness drives out alienation; there is no room for both in the same heart. When you are grateful, you know that you belong to a network of give-and-take and you say "yes" to that belonging. This "yes" is the essence of love. You need no words to express it; a smile will do to put your "yes" into action. Don’t let it matter to you whether or not the other one smiles back. Give someone an unexpected smile today and so contribute your share to peace on earth.

What your gratefulness does for you is as important as what it does for others. Gratefulness boosts your sense of belonging; your sense of belonging in turn boosts your common sense. Your "yes" to belonging attunes you to the common concerns shared by all human beings. After the wake-up call, nothing else makes sense but common sense. We have only one enemy, our common enemy: violence. Common sense tells us that we can stop violence only by stopping to act violently; war is no way to peace. Listen to the news today and put at least one item to the test of common sense.

The five steps I am suggesting here are small, but they work. It helps that they are small; anyone can take them. Yet, if we do so, calm, courage, and common sense--a growing circle of light--will radiate all around us. Who would have foreseen that gratitude could shine forth with new brightness in these dark days? May it light our way.

Bro. David Steindl-Rast