Amanda, you sound like you
Posted By: good for you on 2006-09-04
In Reply to: Are You Serious? Tips inside. - Amanda
know how to make a buck stretch, and I congratulate you! Most of my life, especially when young, I was always making my dollar stretch as far as it would go. I was a young working divorced mother of two, having to KNOW how to live on a song and a prayer. Nobody can do it for you. I am probably quite a bit older than you, probably old enough to be your mother, and I have noticed that a lot of young women today just don't know how to make good suppers from nothing, I mean without the best of cuts of meat, without all of the amenities, and how to make it taste fit for a king. Been there, done that. As far as ice cream, candy, and sweets, that was far and inbetween, mostly saved for the Holidays. My kids didn't even care for candy and sweets, really. They would have rather had green peppers, carrots and fruit, and to this day, they still don't eat a lot of junk food. They have healthy teeth and strong bones it didn't hurt them in the least not to have all the junk that kids get nowadays, and way better off. Don't mean to offend anyone but just use common sense. If you only have X amount of dollars, and that includes more than the other way around, then you have to do without some things, and it won't kill you! Well my 2 cents for what it's worth...
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You are right Amanda (sm)
It can be very difficult to work at home with children. I hear this a.m. "all you do is work, work, work, Mom". But, when we are doing other activities such as swimming at the community pool all afternoon in the summertime, I don't hear her say "All we do is swim, swim, swim, Mom". Kids will be kids. When you are working, you feel you should dedicate your time to your children. When you are dedicating your time to your children, you feel you should be working. I am fortunate in that I have chosen positions where I do not have to sit in front of the PC all day to meet a line count. In my personal opinion, that would make me crazy. I like the flexibility. However, working on-site, you must still have to ask to leave if you child is sick or you need time off, so... lesser of two evils? 
I must be the 3rd Amanda
I haven't responded to this thread and there are already 2 Amandas?!
Amanda,
I could have written that post myself today and I have been doing this for 23 years!!! There are some days I can produce a lot and other days where I STILL have to look everything up. What specialty are you in? Some are a lot more difficult than others. Maybe finding the right specialty for you is the key. It does take a long time to get all that information in your head. Some terminology is easy because you hear it every day. Other terminology is more difficult because it is seldom used. Stick to it. My kids grew up with me doing this at home and they still say they loved having me here when their friends' mothers had to go to an office.
Thanks Amanda
Amanda, thank you for your kind words. I would type on my head if that is what my client told me to do. I have been on this account from the beginning, and I have not heard from QA in probably 2 years. Like I posted before, we have always been instructed to type "the patient." This is highlighted in my account instructions. Jane Doe was just a random name I used here, thought that would just be understood. There were other things wrong, but I really do not feel it is worth going into here to just be told what a crappy MT I am. I have addressed my issues with QA but have yet to hear back from them.
Are you the same Amanda?
Are you the same Amanda MT who types over 400 lines per hour?
Hi, Amanda
Ok, Amanda, I am sorry, but the last 2 years something is really wrong with this profession, outscourcing, ASR, EMR, etc....
? for Amanda
Thanks for a possible ray of hope during a frustrating time for MTs these days. There is definitely no harm in trying. I was just wondering during your experiment how much time you would spend on looking up for defi''s and such. Some times between looking in my reference bks and googling for an med,etc. 10 minutes can easily fly by. Whats your take on that.
Amanda......
Again, sorry, I feel with you,
My point is:
Can we keep up with all those changes, pushing ourselves harder and harder. It is so sad seeing so qualified and excellent MTs having to give up a job in which they are so efficient, having to resort to little tricks to compete with the new technology.
MTs who have been in this business for 20-30 years taking tests and being rejected. I read this on this board. So sad.
That's what I mean.
Thanks to Amanda
Thank you Amanda for posting this. I, too, have found this to be true. It is one of the traps of working at home. I forget that I am still supposed to be working and get distracted by the things going on around me. then I would wonder why I wasn't earning as much. simple answer: I wasn't working as much. Once I eliminated all the extraneous activities I did during my "work" hours, my income rebounded. Those posters who are criticizing you here are the ones who think they are entitled to do personal things on "company" time.
From the other post I quote
"No talking, no emails, no telephone, no nothing? When do you eat and pee?
Don't you have a husband or children, who want to interact with you? What's the advantage of working at home, if you work like this? This is a 'sweatshop', what a life! No, thanks"
Okay, I would like to understand this. Is this person working or not. If you are working, then work. If you are talking, emailing, eating, interacting with your husband and children, then don't expect to be earning much! Those are choices you are entitled to make but you are also responsible for the consequences. We would all like to get a check every week for spending time with our families and friends but it isn't going to happen.
For me, the advantages of working from home are many and include the fact that I don't have to drive anywhere. I don't need a wardrobe. I don't get caught up in the office politics. I don't have to eat the donuts every Friday morning!!! I set my own hours. And many, many others.
Again, Amanda, your post is a breath of fresh air on this predominantly negative board. I am glad I still like my wok!!!
Thank you, Amanda
I applaud this sentence in your comment:
' I am going to college to get into another profession and be done with all of this.'
And for THIS I say 'Thank you, Amanda!' . For being so courageous and honest. 
Thank you, Amanda
I applaud this sentence in your last comment:
' I am going to college to get into another profession and be done with all of this.'
And for THIS I say 'Thank you, Amanda!' . For being so courageous and honest.
Thanks Amanda!
I was just thinking of doing this same thing myself but have forgotten to pick up a timer. I just added it to my grocery list. I get distracted a lot too and end up not being as productive as I could be. I've complained alot about this job but taking a step back I have realized I am not working smart because I have been mad because I'm not making the amount per line I was making 10 years ago. I like working at home, I like taking off when I feel like it or going on vacation for 2 weeks at a time without someone telling me I can't so I'm going to try to make the best of it. Thanks again.
Amanda
 I appreciate your challenge!!!!! I think you were very kind to post this and I personally am taking it to heart. You did nothing in malice at all. You just posted a challenge and a suggestion. I am not a new MT. I have been transcribing for 20 years. The first 5 years in acute care, then 14 years of psychiatric/psychology, and now another year of acute care. The change from psych back to acute care you can imagine has been challenging. I am doing whatever I can to get my production up. I had never used Expanders other than my autocorrect. I am now doing this and it has helped tremendously, and in that frame of mind, I accept "your excellent challenge" as you so kindly suggested. I find myself being distracted a lot, and I am sure when I take this challenge I will see this.
I love being an at-home transcriptionist. This profession has been wonderful to me and my family. I raised two children being an at-home Transcriptionist and never took time away from them in doing so. I would get up and work an hour before I had to get them up and ready for school, get them up and off, and then work while they were in school, throwing in a load of laundry here and there "on my breaks", etc. When they got home from school I was done and spent time with them. In the summer, I changed shifts and worked nights while they slept. You tell me what other profession gives you that type of flexibility. None!
Yes, things have changed for us as MTs, but as a working mother and wife, I find that it is still the best. This being said, I also just plain love it. I find it challenging, mind-stimulating, and I am always challenging myself to do better, which to me makes it a FUN profession as well.
Again, Amanda thank you for your post. I am one MT who is going to take this challenge to see where I can IMPROVE myself. We will never arrive to our potential if we do not challenge ourselves. The challenge is on!!! THANKS!
Good for you, Amanda! sm
Are you going to take the CMT when you are able, Ms. RMT? 
Question for Amanda
Amanda--low long would I have to live in Georgia in order to take advantage of this great program?
I really LIKE this, Amanda, thanks for sharing
I did this a few years back and it did help so am trying it again - great tip
Okay, I took your challenge, Amanda. SM
ME: Below-average typing talent. Sad but true. I'm a clutz. Use an expander, though.
I'm paid good but not top-level industry rates.
I work 35 hours per week, not 40.
So-so account, lots of ESL, mixed transcription and editing.
CHALLENGE: Worked in my usual manner for two hours of average work flow, i.e., not fast or slow. One coffee-refill break.
RESULTS: 291 lines per hour X my pay plus incentive = $32/hour = $56K/year for a 35/hour week.
IF I worked 40 hrs/wk, that would be $64K, but I prefer not to. Like you, I do prefer to work fairly intensively while I am working as a tradeoff to a shorter workday.
Good post, Amanda! Back to work now.
Amanda's Challenge
Until two days ago, I had several accounts. One of those accounts I used to smile and call "butta." (As in butter). I've been an MT for close to 30 yrs, Amanda, and this account that was taken away from me had tons of challenging ORs, not colonoscopies, etc. I made great line count--now I have an account that is populated by physicians who don't organize their thoughts before they start dictating, open their mouths and spew absolute nonsense (and the patient's safety is OUR responsibility-HAH). One doc in particular says each sentence at least three times and changes each version subtly (on a verbatim account, yet), leaves sentences dangling, hops all over the place and in general is a pain in the butt. You know, Amanda, I challenge myself every working day and with this latest smack in the head by my employer, I'm thinking of asking my doctor for antidepressants. You're a Republican, Amanda, and you have to act like this general mistreatment of MTs over the last five or so years is our own fault. Sorry, honey, the Obama sign stays on my front lawn.
Are you the eTransPlus Amanda?
What happened?
Thank you Amanda, what a boost you made for me.
nm
Yeah, like Amanda said, mine works on ...
COM1, 3 pedal, but you could try what she tried too - VEC, 3 pedal. I just tried all until I found one that worked.
I call for Amanda's head on a platter!
 Just kidding! Geez, people! Amanda tries a little experiment and shares who results with his and people start jumping on her like a pack of lions on a zebra (okay, I watch too much animal planet).
She makes a very valid point and obviously has hit very close to home for a lot of MTs judging by the tone of the posts below. Be honest, people! None of produce near where we would be producing if we were in the office. In the office, there are no husbands bothering us every five minutes, no kids wanting mommy to do something they are capable of doing themselves, no phone calls from mom or sis to fill us in on the latest gossip.
All Amanda is alluding to is we should all take a little responsibility for our careers and our paycheck. What's wrong with that? Sure, sometimes the deck is stacked against us and we aren't being paid what we are worth and the dictators mostly suck. But a lot of the time, we get interrupted, piddle on the internet, and I myself will get distracted in a good game of Solitaire!
So instead of jumping all over Amanda, take a good long look in the mirror and just accept a little, tiny bit of responsibility for your paltry paycheck.
Okay, Amanda, you've made your point..sm
How about giving it a break and get on something else? Other would like to be heard, too!
take Amanda's challenge. it's down a lot of posts with a fire tag.NM
no message.
Amanda, did my 2 comments help you? Mine is working,,,nm
nm
I agree with Amanda. How many people reading this should be working right now?! nm
x
Hi Amanda from WV (I once lived in Morgantown!). No drivers to download, has a USB optical device.
:)
Has anyone disconnected the internal sound card and replace with another sound card?
I am having problems with my sound on one of my computers. Several different ExText program have been on it so I don't think it is the program and the sound is just now as clear as on my other computer. Has anyone switched (disconnected the internal sound care and replaced) to a new sound card? Did it make a difference.
Everyone on this board is so knowledgeable, I really appreciate you. You have helped me many times.
You do sound FAT, but you don't sound RICh.
Go live in Iraq or something.
it does sound like a lot of
racil feelings are coming out in this thread...and that is a shame.
I know! You all sound like me
We might have to start our own MT group --the morning, noon, and night MTs or something like that.:)
I know your time is scarce so won't hold you. Just have to come here to give my ears a break from the dictation but back to work I go...
you sound like a 2 and 3 yr old
playing house
It does sound bad, but I think
We have these things going on all the time around us, but we just hear more about them now. And it seems since I have been watching Nancy Grace that there are many more unsolved murders and teens missing.
This may sound very odd...
but have you tried rubbing heated Castor Oil on your sore joints?
I know. It sounds strange. My mother has severe arthritis and she read that "somewhere" and tried it and now she swears by it.
Just trying to help.
Ohh, I like the sound of that lol Tell me more.
How do we find these hospitals?
You can still have that sound!...sm
You can download a free program and choose the sound you want your keys to make! They even have tap dance that my 11-year-old stepdaughter loves!
http://colorpilot.com/
I think it's a trial program, but I like the clickity click so much that I may purchase it. This was posted under the production category because it seems to make you type faster. It helps me with my rhythm I think.
NEED TO SOUND OFF!!
First, please don't think that I don't believe in helping others because I DO. What I can't stand is for those you try to help to just take with no appreciation and then turn around and harm those in our community who try to help them.
Just before Christmas while watching the news the top story was of an elderly man who worked doing custodial work at a local hotel. He was severely beaten and left for dead one night by 4 young males just because he asked them to quit tearing down the hotel's Christmas decorations. Now when I say left for dead, I mean left for dead. This man is still in the hospital and is still unrecognizable. His doctors have said that he will need countless surgeries to rebuild his face ENTIRELY and will need 50 or more screws to hold it together. Last night it broke that 2 of them were in custody (turned in by family members) and they picked the other 2 up today. What is do disturbing is at least 1 of the 4 males is a Hurricane Katrina evacuee that had come to our city for shelter and assistance.
It is acts like this that make us weary about who we help and how we do it. The beating of an elderly man is bad enough by itself but then to tell us it was someone who came to us for shelter and help responsible is just appauling.
I apologize for any typos but it is late and I am tired. I just needed to sound off before I try to sleep.
They both sound better than
any doctor I've heard. "Living my life like it's golden..." :)
You sound exactly like me. My mom is
pretty much a workaholic, self image totally tied into her accomplishments, and I vowed I wouldn't do that to my kids either. I'm torn often though as of course I've got other personal ambitions, having some of my mom in me I guess, but I just can't imagine not being there for my kids.
That said, short of being some sort of consultant or having your own accounting business or something like that, I'm not sure what else a person could do to have this kind of flexibility.
Oh, my! You sound like me!!! . . .
I say it over and over again . . . VERIFY. Do not transcribe what you THINK you hear. If you don't know it with CERTAINTY, VERIFY it!!!!!
I try to be tactful and kind, but when the same things are done day after day, it isn't easy to be "nice." I know sometimes I am rather short and to the point, but when some don't learn and don't change anything It becomes very, very frustrating.
I could fill a book with the not-so-funny errors I see daily.
Thanks! It does sound like fun. nm
nm
You sound just like me, always know where everything is,
am the only one who can find things even if others look, and certainly don't ask, just do it myself. :)
How does this sound for QA?
I'll only be doing QA on each person for 2 weeks. They offered $5.00 per MT and then a $25 bonus when they graduate from having to pend items to me. I'm also training and get $10 per person, which is fine with me because I can train 10 people at once. Any feedback is appreciated!
You don't sound old...
saying everything I was thinking...thank you! It's a job, plain and simple...go, do your work, go home, and forget about it...Life's way too short to stress over this...God bless!
Do you know that sound well?
x
you sound like me
my dog goes with me too, numerous places. He is fun to have along and it all goes away until I come back to sit down and work again,but I feel a little relieved. I always keep my eyes and ears open for other opportunities.
Sound
Can you provide more info. on Sound Medical Transcription? Do they have a website and/or how to contact them? Are they flexible? Thanks!
You sound like me...sm
I have been an MT for a year now. I do clinic but I did acute care for a couple of months and then the account got real slow and they put me back on clinic. I liked clinic a lot better. It is a lot easier. But it is good for you to do acute care because you are getting a wide variety of experience. My acute care account had tons of dictators on it. The only thing to do is keep at it. Or you may want to find another job with easier dictators. I am not the fastest typer either. But the only thing to do is hang in there and everyone says you will get faster and faster and you will learn more and more of the words you are having to look up. I do the clinic and only have 3 dictators and they are really good dictators. That is what I was offered and I have been doing that same clinic a year now. I really like it. But right now even on clinic I only do 100 or a little more than 100 an hour of lines. My friend told me she started out slow but she said you will keep picking up the speed.
What exactly are these? Is the sound better...sm
than regular headsets?
Sorry about your mom. You sound like
x
You know, you sound exactly...
like 'southernmt' above... the one who is trying to get the taxpayers to pay for her unplanned pregnancy. Yeah, let everyone else work the crappy hours so you can take care of your kid. Then you have the nerve to come on here and complain about your situation. No wonder you can't find a good job.
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