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Good point. I've never done the Cobra because it was outrageous. I also did what you call a "b

Posted By: Insurance know-it-all on 2007-08-14
In Reply to: If you leave one job and get a so-called bridge policy for your SM - MT

overlapsed. I liked a cheap individual policy up ($7500 deducticle) before I lost my coverage..and kept the cheap policy until the new kicked in..


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Again, call Cobra. Google for #. You are not the
x
Shop around before getting cobra. If you are leaving a job, you can get cobra. I am in the process
Cobra is almost $600 for you and children, I found a month to month coverage by shopping on internet, covers 2 visits a year (I only need it 3 months) and is less than $300. Less expensive coverage than cobra is out there
No, the employer doesn't pay COBRA, you pay COBRA directly.
:(
Whole point...Told you have the job...Call back, oh sorry, I guess not
You just don't tell someone they have the job, then call back and say, oh I didn't check your test, you didn't do good enough for the job. Sorry.
You've got a point there.

I went to college and set a goal for myself to have a certain job.  My husband did the same.  However, once we got into those industries, it was not what we wanted for our lives.  Both environments were completely negative.  The company was doing things to the other employees that I didn't agree with ethically.  We both were putting in long hours and had overnight trips at least monthly.  My oldest kid wound up babysitting all summer long, for which I paid, but the kids couldn't have anyone over or go anywhere that often.  It wasn't worth it.  Someone here slammed me before because I made the comment that we gave up having a bigger house and a Cadillac Escalade to simplify our lives.  I also got slammed for doing MT instead of my old career field.  People just don't understand.  The rat race isn't worth it.  No amount of money in the world is worth sacrificing your happiness or your family.  I'd rather work parttime, putter around the house, have my hobbies, and be the Mom than to have money.  We make it on 1/3rd of what we used to make, and that's "enough".


You've never gotten my point. "A friend" was
THAT IS STUPID, DANGEROUS, IRRESPONSIBLE.


You've missed the entire point!
Duh!  It's the docs who don't want to pay my dear. You're really expecting to get blood out of a turnip, aren't you?  Quit blaming the MTSOs and look at the entity who's calling the shots - The doctors/clinics who hire the MTSO.
you raised a point I've been thinking about
With the use of Expanders becoming the norm now - at least from our end of things - I can't help but wonder if eventually that could really backfire on us.

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if a lot of docs, hospitals, etc. really don't have a clue that a lot of the line counts they're being charged for really weren't transcribed -- and when/if they do find out, I wonder how many will have the same reaction as your doctor.

I know expanders are necessary to meet line count quotas, but where are we going to be if the clients decide they only want to pay for actual keystrokes.
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!
You've made my point with your inspid argument
And clearly if all you are doing is "correcting doctors spelling" you are not a transcriptionist..not sure what you are doing. I stand by my demand for appropriate compensation. Ya'll be happy being categorized as typists and making your $8.00 to 11.00 an hour. Unbelievable you would justify this...simply unbelievable.
You've got a point there. I haven't had a problem since I deleted Norton
and installed a different program.
I've had that dreaded phone call twice before. Once was
a lab error, and the other time was precancerous but was resolved with in-office cauterization (painless), and that was 20 years ago!!!  So, don't worry - very small odds of anything really bad. 
I don't think 14 CPL is outrageous, but...
being in Minnesota, it depends on what the going MTSO is there. Here on the West coast, the rate can go up as high as 14 CPL, but we are a high-priced area. I am betting 12 cpl is perfectly reasonable and a good compromise.
outrageous

I see job listings for experienced hospital MTs at 7 cpl subcontractor status.  Ladies and gents, don't take it. I hope  nobody applies for these jokes of a job.


Outrageous!
This really ...how disgusting...and eye opening...I am livid!
Good point!
nm
Good point.:)
nm
Good point!
.
Good point
m
Good point!
Several times I have figured out a blank in the body of the report because they say it again in the impression.
good point
When I was a waitress during college and had to stay for a dead shift, I think I remember something about getting paid minimum wage if I had no sales/no tips. We normally made $2.13/hr as the base pay so without any sales we were below minimum.
GOOD POINT ....

I'm glad you brought that up.  You are absolutely right.  What a major slap in the face to the city.  So here's what these brilliant show people did:  not only did they NOT use local talent, they didn't even use AMERICAN talent, and they didn't even use YOUNG American talent . . . they used an OFFSHORE DECREPIT old name. (Can't even use the word "talent.")  I should clarify about "young," because had they used Smokey or Aretha well they are not exactly teenyboppers but they are COOL AND AMERICAN AND WAAAAAAAAAAY TALENTED!  They are giants and legends and Mickey could not hold a candle to anything Motown had to offer. YOU MADE AN EXCELLENT POINT!!!


LOL...good point! nm
nm
That's a very good point!
However, the doctor should be aware of what the dictations contain before they go onto a chart, right? This is so scary.

Another thing that's just wrong is the fact that these administrators are dictating to the docs how medical records should be managed and many of them are not competent.




Good point
That is very true. I didn't think of that as I have never done these types of reports before. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be. I do regular VR editing and even then it is impossible sometimes to hear what the doctor is saying and he is at least TRYING to talk clear (if he is a decent dictator). I can only imagine trying to listen to a bunch of mush-mouths talking all at once. :)
Good point
nm
Good point, D. ....sm
Personally, I have lost a few accounts to India. The funny thing is that I was typing for a large cardiology office who decided to go to India except for one doc, who is from India. He saw firsthand how many mistakes were on the reports, and decided to fight for me to continue doing his work. I try to explain to the offices that regardless of the "cheaper" rates, how cheap is it, really? I mean, by the time they have to go through and edit the report (thoroughly), present it back to the doc for his review, and then get it back to India to correct the numerous mistakes; what's it really worth?
Good point.....
Isn't that both amusing and interesting?  In all my years in the MT field, I've only found a few physicians who actually care about their transcription and where it goes with many stating "we'll just have to like it."  I guess when it comes to a hospital or clinic purchasing new MRI or CT scanners transcription just takes the last back seat in the yearly budget.  It's always been about money and that will never change.  With each year that passes, I only hope that someday we will all hear of a reverse trend and India will have to re-outsource our work back to its "country of origin!" 
Thank you so much, very good point. sm--

I found it difficult to try to include all types of transcription.  Per project transcription is so much different than regular or medical transcription.  I will change the 50% fee up front to state that it is for per project transcription (not for medical).  I do not want to accept a transcription project from someone I am not familiar with without covering myself with getting at least 50% of it up front.  For that type of transcription I do not think it is an unreasonable request.


I've also tweaked it using suggestions from the other MTs here.  I added no job too big or too small, took out some of the petty charges to make that simpler, added a couple of pics (will tweak that more later), and included a paragraph about my rates as compared to other companies who may send work overseas.  I lowered my rates 1 cpl and added that they were negotiable, but generally I think that what I am asking is fair and I do not want to lower my rate, as I want to stress quality and would rather have a few accounts paying that rate and be able to handle them well than be overwhelmed with cheap paying accounts.  I feel like if more MTs stuck with charging what they are truly worth, it would help all MTs and the MT profession, so I will do this as best I can. I also did change it to a standard 24-hour TAT. For that I had been thinking of projects possibly taking longer, but I could put that on the estimate if need be.


Thanks again all who replied for your assistance!


I think you have a good point
I was there once. Where I lived at the time was a small town. Those commercials make it seem like it is so easy to get work as an MT. Not 15 years ago in a town with 1 small hospital and maybe 6 docs it wasn't.

I absolutely hate those commercials because they are not realistic.
good point.

Old dog . . . . . new tricks.


The Smartype Expander doesn't work in Bayscribe, so I type in Word and then cut and paste.   Plus, if you have all your stuff, say in a Bayscribe expander, what happens when you leave that job and go onto another one.  Do you lose your shortcuts?  How does that part work?


Good point, ours have never gotten that bad as yet, hope they never do! - nm
x
Good point re: insurance, but also...sm
remember they collected $50 per month for computer rental from SE's, but not from FT employees.

That was on MedRite when I was there, but do they charge computer rental with their new platform (DQS?)? If they don't get that rental money anymore, they might be eliminating SE's. Just a thought.
I concur. Good point...
The entertainment value is what I question. Who is being entertained? I'm mildly amused by the ridiculous nature of the shows and the strange ideas they come up with, but I don't live for them. I will admit, I do like Survivor. Don't they lose their punch when the people come back and tell what "really" happened? I hate that.
Well, IF I still had an appetite (good point below)
then either than Mexican food and margarita that someone mentioned below, or some sort of seafood or seafood/pasta.
I concur. Good point. (nm)
x
Very good point here about memory - XP uses a lot - sm
you would probably be better off just buying a new computer. Many offer their credit card and 6 months no interest. That is how I bought my Dell 2 years ago, paid it off in 6 months, no interest. I love those deals, we buy all our major purchases that way, have never paid interest yet.
Ooooh, good point!

You make a good point
Keeping track was doable but you have to keep track. I still am not making that much hourly counting lines though. I'd better invest in some new tools.
Good point. I had another thought also...
I was wondering if maybe some of the work is actually being sent overseas for cheaper labor for a few days or so to help save the company money in this ailing economy.  Have known this to happen with a couple other companies.  But, as you said, if something major were to happen, there would be an MT influx into other companies and maybe back into the hospitals.  I have mixed feelings on this...it's nice to work at home, but hospitals usually have decent/reasonably priced benefits that do not depend on line output.
Good point - I'd rather spend my
time than my money on clothes, gas, etc.
Very good point! I say go for more characters!

Good grief. The point is that it
isn't 'whining' to state that MTs have to have much experience & knowledge, and there are a lot of physical effects and mental strain, and considering all of that, the pay is really lacking in our profession. Those are the facts. An IC at 8 cpl is AWFUL pay, by the way. Just because you don't think you deserve any better than that doesn't mean the rest of us feel that way.
you brought up a good point. sm
Sometimes we would get compliments back then. I remember the first place I ever worked at. We had a neurosurgeon who was known to be horrible (and was). We kept samples in order to be able to do his dictation. I came in one day and there was a handwritten note on my typewriter from this doctor for a job well-done! I still have it all these years later. Today it seems like the "human factor" is gone from this profession and it has all become about production and money and the patients have been forgotten!
Can anyone say OUTRAGEOUS! I can think of a pile of things better
on that crummy CMT exam that isn't going to amount to a hill of beans for anyone!  Why do people keep taking it?  The only people who benefit from it sit in the Modesto offices!  Heck, they even rake in the dough off offshore MTs getting "certified." What a big bunch of HOOEY!
Already did. They are outrageous cost-wise

I have to pay $60 a month for LOCAL service only.They don't have DSL where I live. They keep saying they are going to get it here, but it's been 4 years since that statement was made..


Thanks for the suggestion, though. It seems that these companies think everybody lives in a progressive area and make a lot of money. I live in a rural area and the phone company has no interest in being #1 where I live. I have a choice of Comcast or Direct TV and that's it.


What is your point? These folks have a perfectly good right to use
VR if they want to. People have been telling us for years the technology was improving. I don't see anything new here.
yea, good point, I'm nonpublished, been 4ever..NM
x
Good point. If she left then she is taking the

younger child away from HER father and there is much less chance of finding a third man who is going to love and raise both children the way they should be raised.


I think it's best to try to work through it, maybe try some counseling and try to make DH realize that he has to fill the role of "dad" for both children.  If he is basically a good man, then this is not the end of the world. 


Also, OP states she's not making much money.  She would be putting both her children in a situation of financial disaster, plus no father for them.  Bad idea.


Good point! You're funny! :-) (sm)
She is a mess, however, my best girlfriend heard that she just signed a contract for 3, count 'em, THREE more years. How can this be?? Simon will make this his last year unless they offer him another mint to stay. I can't imagine.
Good point about their "new tools".
By the way, I'm emailing and don't have to print them.  Thanks everyone!