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Dummy, don't feel bad. I've been doing this for 16 years

Posted By: and never heard of it! on 2005-11-05
In Reply to: What's a SOAP? - dummy

NM


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if you feel like that after 12 years, and I feel like that after six months
what hope is there?
I've been doing this doc for many years, so I've learned how to function with him. sm
I can tell what's a stutter, what's another word, what's just an "uh." Years of experience will get you through a lot.
Wouldn't want to do his charts all day, of course, but a few per day aren't bad. I haven't had to send his to review in a long time, but they do take a little longer to shuffle through.
I've worn contacts for 30 years. I've had both
hard and soft.  My vision is much better with the soft ones than they were with the hard ones.   When I first started trying contacts soft ones were still new and they couldn't get me to 20/20, so I went to hard.  Hard were okay until my eyes started changing shape and then I could no longer wear hard ones.  The soft should give you better vision as they conform more to the shape of your eye. 
I only have 4+ years but I feel some of it is
dependent on the MT tools like spell checkers, electronic dictionaries, etc. Also, you may learn to do everything the first year and hire on with some company that has a limited amount of specialties or no variety in the type of report you type. Or maybe you are totally correct in some cases. Just thought I'd offer another perspective.

byyye:)

Don't feel bad, Hayseed, I've been

covering most of the household bills since hubby had his surgery...that's a year ago last month...and I can't continue to keep it up. He only pays the mortage(s), electric for his garage, car and house insurances, plus anything his truck needs.


I pay groceries, heat, electric, cable, life,health, and disability insurances, and charge cards which were racked up when he got sick.


He is back to work, but the work is not there this year.


We switched from oil to coal last year because we couldn't afford the oil anymore. This year's contract is 300 gal. for $719, and they changed the contract.it used to be if the price went down, you got the lower price. No more. You pay the contracted price this year, but never over the stated price per gallon. Big deal. A lot of oil companies around here went in the hole because of the high prices, and they're trying to dig out.


I don't know what the cost of coal is this year, but it will sure beat oil.Warmer too. I was snug as a bug in a rug for the first time in 10 years. We spent $300 last year and still have about a ton left. Plus the stove can also use wood and we have a pile of that that we cut a few years back and never used.


Hang in there...things may change for the better some day...sooner than later, I hope.  


 


I have been an MT for 15 years. I feel burned out, SM
and was wondering how others deal with it. I can't seem to get my momentum back.
Don't feel bad. For the first time in 2 years,
I didn't get my lines or hours. Work has been low lately. I've usually been way above the required production.
I feel your pain and I've already QUIT! s/m
After 17 years in this field, the last 10.5 being at home, two weeks ago I just "quit." I have zero discipline, am so burned out, and my whole family has been begging me to get out of the house. I'm a people person, am very out-going, and being cooped up in the house day in and day out, working all night at times has made me irritable and depressed. I actually had to start taking Adderall about a year ago just to try and stay focused. My doctor actually told me that if he had my job, he'd be taking it. When you have to take a drug to do a job, it's time for a change.

I have grown to absolutely detest transcription. Not only has it affected me mentally/emotionally, I am receiving radiofrequency ablation from C2 to T4 due to several back/neck problems. There's no challenge and it's just brain-numbingly boring!

I actually qualify for disability, but I'm only 37. So, I could go back to school with the government paying my tuition. I guess they'd rather pay for a few classes than give me a check every month for the rest of my life.

Even with tuition paid, my husband isn't at all supportive of me going back to school because he wants to build a house...jerk. So, I guess I'll try and find a job in a doctor's office. At least it's M-F, no holidays or weekends.

Good luck to all of you taking that brave step of tossing away the headphones!
I feel your pain. I have 30 years experience,
MT and QA, but have found it takes so long to go thru the whole testing process before even speaking to a human - while I love working at home and online, its one drawback to me - having to apply amongst apparently thousands of others, and you are just an email address for most of the process. Very tiring. And the testing? Horrible! There are some programs that help you hook up your foot pedal - Express Scribe? But still its so awkward. I easily transcribe 300 LPH without a sweat, but on testing? Its so not user friendly. I would apply at so many companies, but just get overwhelmed at the thought. At least I'm just looking for part-time work, though, so it is easier to put it off.  Hang in there! And I know what you mean about not hearing from them. I have always tested perfectly, and often don't hear from the companies for months - other times, I will have an offer within 2 minutes. Just depends on the companies, but to hear nothing is so disheartening and unprofessional.
Thank you for your answer! That helped me a lot. I have been an MT for 4 years and feel i should ma
n
No, I do not feel that way, but I understand. A few years ago, I was feeling similar, but
when I look at what I make an hour ($30-40) who is going to pay me that without a Masters? I have it pretty darn good and will see it through until retirement - about 30 years from now (hopefully if I live that long) LOL.

You just need to find a good paying company or hospital and you will feel much better. The healthcare industry is here to stay, whether it be VR or offshoring. Most hospitals are bringing MT back in house. Not all hospitals agree with offshoring out of the country. There is a big world out there - go get em. Don't be discouraged.


I've heard you can normally expect about 3 months before you feel comfortable on a new account. n
x
Dummy invoice on its way. :) (nm)

Just search a little further, ok, so you don't really look like a dummy?
x
You don't sound like a dummy.

How the network is set up will depend on the building configuration. Some networks are wireless and others are connected via cables. If you're going with an inside IT person, they will choose how to do this. If you're going with an outside contractor, you can ask for estimates and go with what fits your budget.


The main thing you need to know is that your network must be secure and that there must be one hard drive that can be shared by all computers on the network.


1 person can only dummy down herself. If
x
Hey! My Mom's a manager at K-Mart! She's no dummy.
Retail management is something to be proud of as well, especially after having Martha Stewart hose her out of her retirement, corporate HQ trying to get rid of the older, higher paid employees in favor of youngsters willing to work for peanuts, and WalMart and Sam's trying to shut them down.
please help a math-dummy calculate

trying to figure cell phone plans (pay as you go type)....do i divide minutes by dollars, or dollars by minutes to get the cents per minute...


and more so, how does one know which way to divide other things of similar nature (not necessarily dollars vs minutes).


mega thanks .


Can you run a dummy invoice and email it? We would like to see if there is a problem & if so

Email attachment to either webmaster@mtstars.com or admin@mtstars.com


Thanks,


Administrator


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
had any problems. I love it. It makes it so easy and it's a lot cheaper than paying someone to do it. You can load it on as many computeres as you want as you don't need the disk after it is loaded so me and my mom always go in half on the deluxe version so that we get state taxes included.
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.
It took a while to get used to but it did help with wrists. I have a really hard time typing on a regular keyboard now.
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


Yes, I am a complete computer dummy, but where is the battery and can I replace it myself?
x
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.