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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Feeling connected again...thanks!

Posted By: CalMT on 2008-07-03
In Reply to:

Back in the job search mode after 14 years, this forum has been a wealth of information, from company reputations to thoughtful discussion on topics of mutual interest.  In the olden days when I worked onsite, my fellow Transcriptionist and I were there for each other for support.  With the trend toward working at home growing over the years, we can feel isolated, and this board is an antidote.  Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts, and I look forward to sharing mine! 


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I have no problem getting connected
OE just won't send/receive my E-mail. I just get "error". It worked fine yesterday. I have tried shutting down my computer and only opening OE with nothing else open (no web pages and/or Yahoo), and it still will not work.
Do you have a phone line connected? sm
When I first got DSL, I couldn't fax, either. I discovered that I needed to have an adapter that plugs the phone line to the computer. It's a little box that has two jacks and the DSL line is connected to it and then you run a separate line from it to your computer and then you can use the fax utility. I will see if I can find what that adapter is called as I forget right at the moment!
If you are connected to the internet, anyone can access your
You need serious firewall protection.

P.S. If you've never connected to this server before sm
there is a lot of info you will need...your MTSO will have to supply that.
I am constantly connected to internet, during
s
Make sure you are connected to the Internet.

I have XP and can run 4.15 version without problem. The .dss codec should automatically download after you have loaded a .dss file and try to play it, at least it did for me the first time I tried. After that, the codec was there.


You should be able to do a search on the NCH site for .dss codec to find the appropriate file if the above doesn't work for you. Keep us updated.


I wish NCH would fix that 4.16 version!


I have both my computers connected to my DSL modem and no router
and both computers connected to the KVM switch, but maybe my DSL modem is a modem/router or some fancy thing like that.  It does have a bunch of plug-ins in the back.
I found OneSuite would not stay connected to hos. system... went with ATT
x
Oh well I cannot stay connected, but my sister uses same provider and has no problem
nm
I had head if you were connected to a VPN your computer could be searched without your knowledge ??
nm
You need an air card to connect to the Internet. Once you're connected, you can do what you norma
do.  I have Sprint PCS and like their service.  There are different plans you can choose from.  Some give you the air card if you sign up for their better plans.  Hope this helps.
Usually work "live" on a Cphone, while connected. There are ways to record & work off line, bu
s
I'm so sorry you are feeling like this! I truly believe it is because
of your illness right now that this is all happening - the way you are feeling. About a week before any kind of sickness is starting in my body I go through the same exact thing. You must be paid hourly or salary because no one should have to cover for "free" and not get paid overtime! The phone co. tried to do that with my DH and other salaried workers and there's been a federal law passed that any unpaid overtime MUST be paid from Oct. of last year until now. You must gaid paid overtime even if you are salaried. Look it up and see if that is not correct.
Anyhow, good luck. LIke another poster said, get plenty of rest and I promise, next week you will be doing better.
Been there.. know the feeling
I think we start them so you and they school sports are SOOO competitive nowdays, that the kids give it all they have and then finally burn out. My son did. He played everything from tennis, golf, football, soccer to basketball. He did finish playing through high school (had finally limited it to only basketball), but did not want to play when it came to college. It broke my heart. For one thing, I was not ready to not get to see him play anymore and, secondly, how to pay for college now?  However, I didn't want to push him into something he did not want to do. We have survived college so far (he's in his third year), but now he plays sports only on a recreational basis and is very happy. He is even pursuing a degree in Sports Management and wants to be a sports agent, so he still has the love of the game. I'm just glad he didn't lose that through it all.
Feeling Up Mom...

This is simply too funny!


http://www.askmen.com/video/current/index.html


thank you, feeling better.

I know the feeling
I tell them up front what work types I like and that I don't want the very high rates for the crappy accounts. My company, Etransplus, lets you choose what work types you want to do and I bet you I don't get an ESL but maybe twice a month. I had also checked with them for a friend of mine and they do need ops people only.

I always tell companies that big line rates don't pay off in the long run when the accounts are so bad.
i had the same feeling..
I really had admired his class throught the whole show and he certainly came down a peg or 2 then
I'm feeling old!
I worked for a doctor in high school so had a tiny bit of training, first job for transcription company was on an IBM selectric.  I worked in our dining room and it almost drowned out the t.v. in the next room.  My daughter, who was in junior high at that time, tore my perforated pages for me when i was finished.  Funny thing, money didn't seem so tight back then, did it?  Now I have to beat my fingers to the bone to get 2000 lines a day!
I'm feeling down
I work for a clinic making about $13.00 hr to work for 5 doctors and 2 nurse practioners. I have to transcribe the dictation, file all that I type into the charts (and charts are scattered anywhere and everywhere), send out all the referring physician copies (which sometimes can be 3-4 a report), and be anybody's "typist" that wants me to type whatever. Also have several other "clerical" duties the boss thinks that I should do. This is a very busy practice with around 200 patients a day. I have 30 years experience and am a CMT. I have been reduced to what I feel is "clerical" staff and my pay certainly reflects that. They constantly come in and wonder why the work is behind. I forgot to add that 4 of the 5 are "TERRIBLE" dictators that could do better but won't. I'm constantly having to find the referring physicians to type on to the report because they won't give it to me but want it typed on the note. I feel that I am giving these people their money's worth. The management will not listen to anything suggestions to make things run smoother and just want done what they want done, no matter what it means to me to do it... then they wonder why it gets behind. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but today I'm wondering, "WHY DO I DO THIS?"  Is it for the retirement plan, cause not many of the services I have checked into even give benefits. I just want to get my purse and walk out and never look back. Ever felt that way??  I feel I am a wasted talent here and always have been, but I feel that the MT field has suffered many disappointing changes over these last 30 years. I've been here at this clinic almost 20 years. Before that I worked at a hospital where I was top producer for the 11 years that I worked there. I have no one else to tell this to who would remotely understand my feelings and I appreciate your letting me sound off on this board.I just don't know what to do next and was feeling down. Thanks for listening!
Feeling like we might be getting somewhere.
UPDATE:  We got our tax money back and beginning to pay off bills so I won't have to take them with me.  Only the ones in my name though, his credit is ruined, so he says he's not worried about them.  Also, he paid off my dresser and is getting me some things to set up my home office.  He is really taking this well.  I'm so excited.  Keep those good vibes coming.  They must be doing something.  Thanks, Jodi Lynn
I know the feeling
They take a set amount out of our checking twice a month. We should have all of our credit card debt taken care of in 4 years. The credit card companies lowered the interest rates on our cards substantially once we enrolled with CCCS, and I feel as if we now have a handle on our credit card debt. I believe it does go on your credit report, but the fact that you are trying to find a way to pay your bills and not just ignoring them looks good.
I know the feeling
same thing happended with my largest account. My group of doctors went to EMR, most of them are sticking to struggling by to fill in templates, etc, but they do dictate also, but very little. The office basically needs only one Transcriptionist now, where was before there were four. The doctors really are not as satisfied with the EMR as they thought they would be, but they have invested such big $$$, they will stick with it. The system they have is point and click using templates, etc and the transcriptionist also does alot of that, they fill in the blanks, etc. I worked on it a few times and find it very, very different from transcribing, you cannot get any "flow", therefore if you were paid by the line, way less $$$ than I can make transcribing. Since the system is just getting up and running they needed people to input data into it (scanning documents, etc), not difficult but time consuming. I did that temporarily too, but unfortunately the pay would not compare to transcribing either. I know on their system they could set up a transcriptionist from home, but they never got around to that part partly because they really did not have enough work to justify that expense. Of course the data entry would have to be done there as it required scanning multiple charts daily into the system and the office did not want to be without their charts for any period of time, etc. Of course each EMR system is different and each doctor uses it somewhat differently, if you previous physicians really dislike it, they may just dictate as in the past, but I would look for them to try to use the EMR as much as possible because of the $$$ invested into it. Keep in contact with them and keep your foot in the door, so to speak, they may tire more and more of it, but it will probably take awhile, then again after time they may adjust to it more and more. It's a gamble either way.
exactly my feeling too -- and to OP,
feel free to e/m me for my thoughts and experiences relating to your question.
That's how I took it, and I know the feeling
since we just moved and my son will be going to a new school with new friends, and this will be my daughter's first year too.
I know the feeling!
We have custody of our daughter's 2-year-old son; what a difference between boys and girls!! He is SOOOO active, and it's really hard to get my hours in at work, but I'm trying! Congrats to you and God bless!!
I'm feeling so much better
So many positive responses ! Thank you all so much for the encouraging feedback. I am the type who "likes my own company" so hopefully I'll get used to the quiet pretty quickly, but I am so close to my kids too - I'm going to really miss them.
Know the Feeling
I worked for a top criminal attorney in my area for 14 years and made great money, but I went back for a visit a few weeks ago, and boy, am I glad I'm home as an MT now. He was giving the secretary orders to do this and that by tomorrow, etc. and I thought to myself, boy I don't miss this at all. I make less money now, but to me it's worth it to be at home doing MT.
Ahh..someone who knows what Im feeling!
Thank you for your nice post. I certainly don't see why some got ruffled, everything I have said is valid.

These work at home jobs are supposed to be marketed for women with small children, but if you set the job up with unfair expectations like typing 8 hours, then you diminish the whole reason for women working at home in the first place...FLEXIBILITY!

It's really hard, but I'm trying. I just know if I had a better way to work my hours, this could work out for me.

Thanks for all your advice and it feels good to know I'm not alone!
I know the feeling!
Some days I just don't feel like working. It's so boring and monotonous. I have to challenge myself by setting dollar amount goals or line count goals. Just like the other posters, I type for an hour and then take a break to do housework or something. I set up rewards for myself. Get this done, and THEN I can surf the Internet or go shopping. I've even gone as far as blocking my favorite Internet sites from my work computer so I don't surf while I'm working. The other thing that helps is looking at my bills and setting up payoff goals. Now if only I could find a J-O-B so I could set some goals.
hah, me too. My cat is feeling
disenfranchised now that i've got this keyboard in my lap, she was used to snuggling inbetween my belly and the keyboard :) Both my cats like to be up here with me while i work too!
I have a feeling that we should either

be working with a company we love right now, or look quickly.  I do believe that whatever happens to our MQ friends has a lot to do with the rest of us.  There are what, 8000 to 10,000 MTs there? If something were to happen and there were a lot of resumes going out to all of the companies and hospitals out there, odds are the influx of great candidates versus the jobs would become a supply and demand issue.  This may be happening already, as there were 500 people surfing this board the last few days since the MQ platform has been suffering problems. Does anyone have this feeling too? I don't think we should panic, but I am making sure to do my job with my present employer (personally) and hold onto my job security.  If anything should happen to this giant employer, the few companies out there which are really good to their employees will have their pick of thousands, and I for one do not want to worry about my benefits and my job.  Any comments on this? Thinking it would make for interesting conversation, seeing the balance of the MT workforce does depend on what this failing giant (MQ) happens to do.


 


 


I know the feeling

I'd done MT for approx. 20 years too - tired of the pay going down instead of up & tired of crappy ESLs/sloppy English speakers that only got worse.  My solution?  Do MT part-time to "keep an iron in the fire" just in case.  I'm now work full-time in the quality systems program for a small medical device company.  I'm SO much happier, have a 401K, benefits, vacation/sick pay and am SALARIED.  No more sweating for pennies on the line and I am actually respected for what I do.



I know the feeling...sm
When I have a lot of work which hasn't been that often lately, but when I do, it seems that my mother who lives next door will come in or my daddy will drop by. You don't want to be rude but sometimes I just have to say I have a lot of work and just not get up and go in there and they will get the hint and leave.
My feeling also
We all know the story of the golden parachutes these guys get even in the face of the companys going bankrupt. They take their millions and run not giving the employees a second thought. No one wants to be a victim of this type of scenario but it may start unfolding in the next few months to a year. We need to be prepared and aware of what is going on.
Oh, I'm feeling ya.... :) nm
nm
Most of the time 80, 79 or 78 if I'm feeling hot....sm
luckily for me I'm on the cold-natured side so during the summer heat I'm not sweating too much in the 90 degree outdoor heat.  In the winter I keep the thermostat around 70 and if I feel cold I'll go up to 72.
It can EASILY cause that feeling and yes, it is ...
working from home that does that.

It nags on you because it is "never completed", there's always more to do.

You need to get out of the house and do something OUTSIDE and something WITH OTHERS. That is why I volunteer (see my post a few threads below under "Answers").

You have to really keep a tight rein on disciplining yourself to keep a firm wide boundary between your home life and your work life because they are BOTH at home.
looking/feeling younger
Actually I say more power to them. I think it's great that an older woman wants to keep up instead of wearing those polyester pants and orthopedic shoes. I see several woman a lot older than I wearing ankle bracelets, toe rings, capris. I say go for IT. I didn't know there was a rule for how old you have to be to wear certain clothes.
feeling badly

I feel kind of sick mentally, someone recently hurt me and in my childhood things happened so i've developed this habit of cutting myself or punching myself.  I just cannot handle my emotions sometimes they get so overwhelming, and truthfully it helps get my mind off of it, but then later I see what i've done to myself and I feel guilt and sick over the whole thing and the cycle starts again.  Just wondering if anyone has ever had the urge to do this? 


Just feeling badly today, I would post on the depressed board but no one ever goes there.  I don't feel like I  can talk to anyone in my life about my problems either, so I just needed to vent that out a little bit.


Feeling guilty
Believe it or not your condition is more common than you might think.  However, it is very serious.  If you do not feel comfortable talking to someone you know then I suggest you speak with someone like a doctor, crisis center or even a local church pastor.  Pastors have a lot of connections in the community and can get you the help you need, most times free.  I wish you well and please do not think your crazy.  Many people deal with stress in very different ways, some are more extreme than others. There is help out there! God Bless.
Tired of feeling ill
Anyone ever feel like this - just no energy, headache, and kind of achy for days now.  Any ideas what this is caused from - maybe a virus? 
About feeling guilty

Speaking of feeling guilty, if I hit the lottery tomorrow, I'm going to feel a little guilty that I hit it instead of the poor guy who's worked for minimum wage all of his life, but does that mean I'm going to refuse to accept the prize or give part of it back to the state in which I won it?  I don't think so! 


I understand what you're saying, and I agree too that she must do what she feels is right.  If it were me, though, I'd charge my normal rate, and if the client came back to me with a "WHOA!!", then I might negotiate a "little something" out, but remember .... whether an MT types everything out by hand or does a few clicks and "viola" (sp), she still has to meet turnaround time, which means you'll find her sitting at her desk day in and day out.  I personally would not transcribe at substandard line rates just because doctors choose to work smart and use macros because for me to do so would mean I'm not working smart.  JMO.  


To: Feeling guilty? From below. SM

Maybe something is escaping me and I don't want to be rude to anybody. I'm trying to understand.


You are an employee who signed an 8-4:30 contract, right? Are the people you are mad about employees, or did your MTSO hire additional IC folks? If she/they did, then that's who you should take issue with.


If these are other scheduled employees who are doing this, you have a choice. You can either do what they do, tattle on them (I probably would), or work elsewhere.


If they are extra IC help, what can you do? Can you make them feel bad about team spirit? I don't think so. Do you think McDonald's feels team spirit with Burger King? An IC is a business owner, in competition with others.


Are the other people employees?


Sheryl, feeling this way about your job
can really be damaging. It hurts emotionally, spiritually, and even physically sometimes.

If money were not part of the equation in any form, what would you enjoy doing with your time, your energy? If it is something other than MT work, try to put a plan in place to start working toward a career in that interest. Even if you have to continue working in MT for a while longer while you get started in a new direction, you will have some measure of comfort in knowing that you will not be doing this without end. Just that knowledge can help.

It is important to be happy, satisfied, and proud of your work and your investment of time, energy, and intellect into it.
I've been feeling like this a lot lately, too.
However, marrying a rich guy is not the answer. Money isn't everything. Can hubby start a side job or something that might work into self-employment since he can't find anything else? Is there alcoholism or something in the mix? Or do you guys just live in a city or state with a lousy economy? What about moving to a different area?

Are you paying for your son's college education? If so, why? Did your parents hand you a college education on a silver platter? Your son should be working at least parttime to pay for college. I told my kids they could stay with me while they went to the local college but they have to work, pay their own groceries, help around the house in exchange for rent/utilities, and I'm not incurring their student loan debt.

Something else that helps me get through times when I'm down is to make a gratitude list and write down my troubles to put in my higher power (God) box. Let someone else carry the load. Put it out of your mind for a while. Is your husband good to you? Has he been faithful? That's worth all the money in the world.

Start yourself a little savings account and slowly increase the amount. Pay to your savings as if it were another bill. Cut back your budget if you can.

I wonder, could you work fulltime at transcription and make as much as at your other job? You'd certainly have more time to yourself without that commute.
Glad I'm not alone. Feeling much better, but

Still going to bed at 8:00. I forced myself to go finish odds and ends today.  It wasn't fun, but I'm done. Put a fork in me :)


I just had the "gift card express run" to do today, which I always save for last to avoid the crowds.


MACK truck or freight train, no matter how you see it, this thing just makes you say, "Ruh ro! I do believe I'm sick!!!!!!!!!


feeling like this mama?
 

This should end all "3 Bears Stories"





Baby Bear goes downstairs and sits in his small chair at the table, he looks into his small bowl. It is empty. "Who's been eating my porridge?!!" he squeaks.
Papa Bear arrives at the big table and sits in his big chair. He looks into his big bowl, and it is also empty. "Who's been eating my Porridge?!!" he roars.

Momma Bear puts her head through the serving hatch from the kitchen and yells, "How many times do we have to go through this with you idiots? It was Momma Bear who got up first, it was Momma Bear who woke everyone in the house, it was Momma Bear who made the coffee, it was Momma Bear who unloaded the dishwasher from last night, and put everything away, it was Momma Bear who went out in the cold early morning air to fetch the newspaper, it was Momma Bear who set the table, it was Momma Bear who put the friggin cat out, cleaned the litter box, and filled the cat's water and food dish, and, now that you've decided to drag your sorry bear-butts downstairs,
and grace Momma Bear's kitchen with your grumpy presence, listen good, cause I'm only going to say this one more time.

"I HAVEN'T MADE THE PORRIDGE YET !!


feeling dumb......
when the doctor says dig level in the labs is he meaning digitalis level? my Expander expands dig to digoxin and I never thought to change it. I know digoxin toxicity is dangerous.  I have never gotten feed back on this potentially dangerous (?) blooper.
Your son wants broccoli? Is he feeling well?
I would know my kids were very ill if they ask for it!
Now I'm really feeling left out...still can't here anything.