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From what I remember many years ago, the retiring or leaving MD would offer or sell his practice to

Posted By: Spice on 2005-08-26
In Reply to: What happens to pt. records if an MD closes his office?? - Does anyone know??

another local physician, who would keep the old records until the patients decided to followup with him or someone else. In my case, my old GYN passed away and his practice was "sold" to another local GYN with all the patients records. I found out by chance and called the old number, which was being forwarded to his old office manager, who in turn would refer you to the new doc or get the medical records sent to whoever you wanted. If there is no number or you have no idea, you may want to try and contact your local Medical Society and see if they have any info on where to locate the old physician. In some instances, the records are just permanently destroyed. Hope this helps a little bit.


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I worked in a rural physician's practice for years.
He eventually ended up joining a group.  He still has his office in the same place, but is financially part of that group.  Unless they join some sort of group/organization so that they can get group rates on lab, insurance, etc., it is really hard for them to survive.  The community lost its hospital several years ago.  You said your community has a hospital, but is it a full-service one?  Our next nearest town with a hospital is about 35 minutes away.  Now the 2 hospitals in that town each have satellite physician clinics in our little town.  When I was working for this physician, we had a total of 4 doctors in town.  Now, through these satellite clinics, we have a good number.  Before this physician joined this group he recruited numerous physicians over the years.  Unfortunately, he was not able to assure them enough of a salary and benefits to keep them.  There is simply not enough money coming into these small clinics.  They have to satisfy Medicare and insurance regulations, just like the big clinics.  The recruited physicians all eventually left for greener pastures after being actively recruited by other facilities.  One physician I remember tripled his salary when he left there. 
Decent money won't be there until you've had years of practice. Maybe do
s
Toth was actually my 1st job offer years ago.
I applied and they almost immediately emailed me back. It was the guy and he asked me to call him on his cell phone. I called and he seemed distracted, driving his car, asking me questions over and over. I talked to him and his wife several times (as they asked). They tested me. I explained to them that I was just out of MT school. They said they preferred that and would be patient with me. I figured the 5c per line thing was ok at the time since they were going to help me get started. However, they were just the opposite. One of them would speak to me, not knowing the other already had. Communication was awful and confusing. It was my first offer so I felt I should just go with it until my husband finally convinced me something was not right with this company and I should tell them "Thanks, but no thanks".  I did and explained to them why. I then got some crappy note from the guy who then ordered me to pay him 80-something dollars for the setup of the website for me to work for him. I felt intimidated by him, finally sent him a check to get him off my back. In looking back years later, I feel like a total fool. I am SO glad, though, that I moved on and found something much better.  They dont deserve to have loyal employees, in my opinion.
I can use the deduction now, and when old and ready to sell, hope sell price is high enough won't
matter.  Also, I think there is a time frame of not working that negates the job deduction factor. 
I did that a few years ago, can't remember the name of it though,
They did "publish" my picture in a book which I bought and when I saw the picture that won the prize, well I don't begrudge anybody anything, but come on, it was a picture of 2 sneakers. I think they just picked a name out of a hat. Anyway, I wouldn't say it's exactly a scam, but it was nice for a little while to say I got a photo "published" and recognized even if it was only by the rest of the people who had pictures in the book as well. They kept changing the name of the book mine was in too as I recall. I almost didn't realize what it was when I got it. Then reality hit and I realized it's just pretty much a vanity thing and it was quite a let down. Most of the pictures (my own as well, I admit which looked a lot better to me before I sent it in), had absolutely no professional-like quality to them at all.
After 8 years, I can remember most of them
which shows the prompts for the ones I'm fuzzy on. It is based on MM's abbreivation list which is now public domain. The idea is to use phonetics to make abbreviations.
What do you hear when you say "abdominal pain"? abpa
What do you hear when you say "the patient"? tp
What do you hear when you say "lower uterine segment"? lus
What do you hear when you say "the patient was taken to the operating room"? tpwt and then ttor

It is as unlimited as your imagination!
I remember everyone asking that question 15 years ago,
.
Actually I remember hearing this years ago, only it was the year 2000.
It is not only for physicians. Medicare and the insurance companies have been pushing for this for years. They want to be able to just log in and get the information they need without having to send a request for it.
At this for 30+ years. I think the thing to remember is yes, it is a business, when I am home to w
working. One thing I do to start off is treadmill every morning 30 minutes, just walk, no vigorous jogging too old, just enough to get those endorphins working and then start with my cup of coffee. I don't answer the phone for anyone unless its my mom. She only call is if something is wrong, otherwise I let the machine pick it up. I will if I have personal calls for myself take time when no work or do that rather than lunch for 40 minutes or so. I do the hour stretch. I also use weights, free weights by my desk I use to lift and stretch out my neck and arm muscles. I also use a ball twice a day to lie on and roll out the shoulders. This enables me to keep at it. No house chores. After I am done I do those. My kids are raised, but this job always enabled me to be here at home for them. I worked nights for a long time too broke up my work time when they were younger. So everything at home is workable with the right approach. Just remember, you are working, just because your home don't take personal calls. I don't think I would have done this for this many years if it was not work the $$. Be creative in your own routine have fun with it and make it work enjoyable. We can go out and have coffee in the sun on the deck in our PJs for our breaks, so remember the flexibility factor there.
Are you retiring or? NM
nn
Retiring transcriptionists
I retired at age 62 after sixteen full time years and twenty part and full time years. I worked in a fast-paced institution doing all types of transcription. Believe me it took a toll on my hands and wrists. I now suffer burning tendinitis in my right wrist with deQuervain tendinitis in my thumb.
yep, IC..and looking forward to retiring!
Hoping to get off the merry-go-round next year, am very hopeful anyway.... My New Year's resolution....LOL.
While I'm not going to crucify for retiring, for

whatever reason, I don't understand quitting work if you can't afford to.  I raised two children while working FT.  I now work FT plus homeschool my children.


If deployed you get extra funds which should be enough to pay for childcare if children are not school age and also help catch up bills.  There is also a liason to help out under such circumstances so there is help available. 


No, not retiring, just quitting this BS..sm

of a profession.  Can't pay my bills, hungry and can't afford to buy groceries MOST of the time.  I will just go to work as a waitress at the local casino as they even make more than what I have been making. 


Offer 1 week notice, but willing to offer 2 if they would be in a bind. Also, (sm)
make sure your resignation letter is written with class.  Never good to burn your bridges.
So you can fix it up enough to sell it-- then do so
and split the money with the sister. So what if she didn't help. You should be able to get at least 5K if you clean it up. So work two weekends, clean it out, sell it and take your half of the 5K, which is $2500 which is more than enough to cover the $1000 you need. And think of it as a blessing for his sister.  Plus $2500 is a nice chunk of change for house de-junking, don't you think?
Maybe if you practice what to say
before talking to her and then try to keep your cool.  It is much better to be friends with your neighbors.  Having a difficult neighbor can truly make your life miserable.
How is she going to practice? Does she have
s
practice, practice, practice
Apparently not being distracted by internet surfing and concentrating while using Expanders is the key.  I haven't done more than 300 lph myself, but I don't have a lot of expanders. 
Actually, if you did turn around and sell

the computer and stole the SS numbers, don't you think you would be arrested and maybe go to jail or even be fined. 


Sure, ya could, but would ya!


We have stood behind what we sell.

How many times should we exchange the pedal before she tries to troubleshoot it through the software or the computer?  We exchanged it even though we did not feel that was the problem.  When the original pedal came back to us it was confirmed that the problem was not the pedal.  The pedals we use are widely considered by the transcription industry to be the most durable pedal available.  They are Infinity pedals. 


Do you have property you can sell or
borrow against? A house you can take an equity loan on??

Bless your heart. I feel for you.
Don't sell yourself short....
I charged docs/clinics 12-14 cents/line 5 years ago. They had no problem with this. Being paid by the hour in Canada at home where I work for a local hospital I make $18.33/hr plus 14% in lieu of benefits plus 4% vacation pay ($21.73 per hour) For contract work MT's in my area charge $25 per hour or 14 cents a line. This is not through MT companies - just for docs asking for extra help and our Physiotherapy Depts that do independent medical assessments contract it out to local MTs. Hope this helps. I'm in Ontario
Don't sell yourself short.

If you think that you need to "lower" your rate because you're not driving and picking up, then charge .10/line; otherwise, I would stick with the .11/line and consider it a "raise" if you get the job. Honestly, if the OM is happy with the quality she'll get at .06/line, then you probably didn't want that account anyway because I have found those OMs are the biggest pains and you're better off without the aggravation. JMO.


Anybody sell on Ebay? If so...
I've bought dozens of things on Ebay, only one item there.. today.. then it tells me I have a second chance offer. Not sure what this means, even after reading what it said about it. Any help appreciated !
Yes, yes, yes. Go IC and sell yourself. Get out of the house sm
and actually DRIVE to places where transcription takes place.  Leave a business card, a brochure, etc.  Usually, you'll have opportunity RIGHT THEN AND THERE to meet one of the doctors.  Two practices I stopped at made me WAIT in the waiting room while they got the MD to meet me because they were DESPERATE to find someone who KNEW what they were doing.   I have turned down work in  the past year because I was not able to keep up. One of these days, I might think of operating a small company. For now, I'm quite content.
Sell the furniture if you have to
You can always replace it later. I once sold a bedroom suite to come up with a mtg payment when I hit a low period in my life.

My fear is that your home does not sell for 30G. In Calif., real estate market is saturated with homes not moving and this is not the best time in the world to "flip" a house.
Sell my own stuff.
I had to take my site down for a while because I've been too busy but I make soaps, candles, rice socks, bird houses...lots of stuff.
I'd just get a new computer and sell the old one.
You can get a new computer for $299 when Dell or HP has their closeout model sales or refurbs. Otherwise, you can buy RAM cheap and install it yourself. It's pretty basic. What kind of system do you have? You need to make sure you have an open slot for additional memory.
Should I sell my Lanier?
I have an older Lanier transcribing machine.  I do not plan on ever working for a company that uses it.  I'm not officially selling it yet, just want feedback from my fellow MT's what I should do.  I work after hours using regular mini-cassette tapes for local companies and another company uses Gear Player.  If there's an MT that can use this one, I'd gladly help out!  Thanks in advance...
Don't sell yourself short
Hiring seems to have slowed down quite a bit over the past couple of months (from what I've seen). I have four years in and have been looking for a second company and I can't even find one right now. I know four years is nothing compared to most, but still. I could take my pick in companies this past spring/summer...this always happens though. There will always be a slow down depending on the time of year.

Give it some time, you will find a company THAT PAYS.

Good Luck!!
Partners in Practice
Partners in Practice does outsource.
Practice dictation
Does anyone out there know of a website where I could get some practice dictation?  Have been away from transcription for a few years and want to get my "ear" back and some speed before trying to get back into it.  Thanks for your help.
Family Practice

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on what you should charge per line for a Family Practice of 4 physicians?  I am interested in working for this practice that currently has been doing their own transcription (oh heaven help! lol), but did not know what would a fair rate to charge per line...thanks for any input!


 


practice tapes sm
As usual, your answers are so much appreciated. I love this site, helping others is so important, I do it whenever I can as well. I believe in karma. Thanks again!
Practice dictation sm
This is a crazy question but I've had to take time off and feel really out of the loop. Never worked from home before. Is there any company who would forward some sample dication to let you kind of play with for awhile before you formally test for them? At this point, I don't think I'd pass the test although I've had plenty of acute care and specialty experience. I know it sounds really unprofessional but I thought I would at least ask. Hate to fail, spent too many years being a perfectionist, I guess. Are there any sites you could recommend for someone returning to the profession after a few years taking care of family business?
It's good practice.
I know it hurts at the moment, but it will help you in the long run to have a bigger variety of dictators and specialties. When I was doing radiology there were only about 15, and all but 2 were quite good. Now doing acute care again I may not have a repeat all day. It does make a big difference in production.
Practice tapes from?
I have heard practice tapes some give out that are almost perfect dictation- definitely not what you run into when you transcribe. Are you doing the "goodie" tapes or are they the real McCoy? The practice ones I have heard put in their periods, paragraph. Ha, very seldom hear that in real. What kind of work will you do, speciality or the 4s? I have my equipment as fast as it can possibly go and my salary has gone down in the past 4 years 20,000$ from the constant outsourcing the companies are doing. My speed is between 130-140 wpm and I make good only because I have my nose to the grindstone most of the day. By the way, independent as well but my company asked me for certain hours and which days. I have seen numerous posts on here saying you do not have to do it -but I wanted to work for this particular place and I accept it.
practice tapes from...
Practice tapes are real; slurring run-on sentences, gurgling muffled words, you name it.  But, she gave me the printed reports to go with them, so if I really get stuck, i can look at them and find the answer.  If you don't mind my asking, how long have you been in this, and what's your cpl?  You work for an agency?  Yes, my speed is concerning me.  Thanks for your reply.
If you are an employee at this practice sm
then it is not your decision who they hire.  It is probably in your job description to train new employees.  You may want to ask for a copy of that before heading into Dr. Whozewhatsee's office to complain.  The other thing is even though you have a background on this girl that does not mean she is terrible (innocent until proven guilty).  In my opinion, when I read your post, I am hearing "this job is mine, mine, mine, and mine".  "I am to make all of the decisions because this job is mine, mine, mine."  Sort of like a 2-year-old.  In saying that I'm sure it will really make you mad.  I am hearing from your post that you really do not want help but you want to be off to have surgery, etc.  The practice cannot just back-up their work but unless you are a supervisor (25+ years does not make you that), it is the decision of the office manager on who to hire.  You may be better off with this young girl as opposed to an outside service.  The outside service may very well take your job by underbidding and letting the practice know that they can get the job done and do not take off for back surgeries, etc.  You may want to keep the waters smooth until you get back.  I would do my best to keep this girl going on a steady pace.  JMO.    Good luck.   
What a rip-off! That practice keeps their profits UP
$
Practice dictations
I am at a hiatus in my transcription career, but I do not want to lose what I know, or lose my speed.  Is there somewhere you can purchase practice dictation tapes, or digital downloads?  I would prefer digital downloads of voice files if there is such a thing.  Just wondering.
private practice
Cardiology in PA, $17.00/hr, 6 weeks vacation, employer funded pension plan 10% of salary yearly, been here 15 years.... longing to be home and a full time MT.. good luck coming back to the jungle.
MT and practice are both at fault sm
Have had this done to me more than once. The PT office should have said, no way, if she approached them. She should have said, no way, if they approached her. You have been hurt, and it's not only common courtesy but a stab in the back. Keep them as a client until you get really busy with others and then drop them. I would not keep her, not for one moment. I had to let go of both a friendship,, a client and an employee twice because I do not tolerate this type of sinister behavior. You should not either. Fool me once, shame on me; foll me twice, shame on me. You should be flaming mad, you have every right, you were scammed by both.
Outsourcing may not be a bad practice,
but in my case that is why I have no benefits. Hospitals/clinics outsource so they do not have to provide facilities for us to work in and full-time benefits to employess to do the MT work. If they are paying the MTSO less that what they were paying the former employees, who eats the difference? We do.
depends on practice
For the most part, my platform fills in the ADT for me BUT...there are some practices that do not provide electronic ADT, therefore I have to enter it manually, which I hate because it's time consuming. There are even a few of my practices where I have to enter it on one screen then enter it again in the report, but I only get paid for entering it the report.
this is common practice ....
in hospitals.  What our hospital HR told me was that they save all the applications until they have an opening, they then will advertise that opening in-house and if none of their employees apply they will take out the applications.  So, it's quite a long process and really the luck of the draw.  Since hospitals cannot be without the necessary staff even for short time, they stock pile applications ahead of the need.  So often they will advertise and in reality there is not an opening.  Hope this helps.  btw, I'm 64 and just got hired by a wonderful and company working at home.
Speed comes with practice
It may take several months to reach 150 lph. I agree with the other poster that an Expander is not necessary. Fooling around with the expander to load in abbreviations takes a lot of time. In spite of what expander-sellers say, you can easily reach 2000 lines a day without an expander if you are efficient. MTs did it for years on typewriters.

When you have done enough dictation to begin recognizing that all doctors say the same things over and over, and when you can recognize those things in spite of individual doctor differences, you'll begin to fly. It's a matter of learning what they ought to be saying so that you can understand them.

It's also a matter of focus. If you are trying to load up an expander, eat, do laundry, do daycare, fool with pets, you will never make progress. If you keep checking IM, email, and answering the phone, you'll never make progress.


Hot keys and practice.

How long have you been on this account?  My average is typically between 550-600 lines an hour but I have bad days too, today is only 394 but that is with the kids home and lots of distraction.  At night is when I get my good lines in.  I use the shortcut keys, keep it mouse free, try to keep the audio speed increased whenever I can and do my proofing as I do my spellcheck and throughout the report.  I also still use my autocorrect a lot during editing for common mistakes that must be typed in (usually the same VR mistakes every time). 


I know that when starting a new account and still checking on specs and such it does take time to get that number up.  There are also days like today myself that typing just seems to be faster.  It happens.  I also noticed when I did a short sting on a clinical acount on Escript that it had horrible lines.  I much prefer Acute Care with VR. 


why would you sell, take the money, then not provide (sm)
 sounds like a scam to me
well, sounds like you're trying to sell something