Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Great comparison! Just like dogs, we have to train our men!!

Posted By: MT on 2005-08-03
In Reply to: why your men cheat - Transcender 2

It might take years, but it does pay off in the end!  Been training mine for 30+ years now, and he's about halfway there! But I would sure boot his butt out if he cheated - and he knows it!


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

That's great news! Dogs respond to clear leadership. (nm)
(nm)
I think this poster has hit the nail on the head with advice -- My dogs all get along great except

when it comes to dinner, treats or toys.  They have to be separated during dinner, separated to be given treats, and sorry to say, don't have much in the way of toys.  The rest of the time they can be practically right next to each other and nothing has ever happened.  Two of my dogs are greyhounds, so one little scratch can send us off to the vet's office, so I've learned to be very careful!


They train online, right? That means they train
x
Probably staining the new fence we put up to keep our dogs in and other dogs out.
The neighbor dog won't stop trying to attack our dogs, so we put up a nice big fence. Should do the trick. Doesn't keep the rabbits out, though. We'll BBQ, too. Can't go far. Hubby is on call for the weekend with his job.javascript:editor_insertHTML('text','');
javascript:editor_insertHTML('text','');
Thanks for the comparison..
They sound one in the same.
A little comparison.

Option A: National: Two hours of emails, faxes, unpaid headers, using expander.  Total income $9.60 in two hours.


Option B: Small MTSO: One hour of straight typing with only one researched name and address.  No emails, no faxes, paid headers, no expander.  Total income $20.00 in one hour.  I just wish they had more work!!!!


Comparison
I think there are some variables here. Our company went to VR and there are some who are making more and some less. I am one of those who is making less, but I made a good salary to begin with and am a fast transcriptionist. If you do a lot of editing when you do straight transcription and put in lots of punctuation, and edit A LOT, changes are VR is not going to work for you. I love it, but then again, it all depends on what platform of VR your company uses.
what a perfect comparison
If I had pictured you as anybody that would have been the perfect choice, quirky, funny and cute in the boy next door way.
that is a ridiculous comparison!
dogs, birds, cats, etc are all different animals that required different diets and have different needs. You can't even compare 1 dog breed to another b/c every breed has its different needs, so that being the case, how can you possibly compare dogs to birds?? That is just ridiculous.

I posted a comparison...

within the last week here on the Main Board (MTSO ratings) that shows how the clients of some of the top MT companies who offshore rate the quality of both onshore and offshore transcription.  There really was not a big difference, according to those clients, between the quality of both. 


Cents pay comparison for VR editing
Non-VR (IC) at 10 cents/line x 200 lines/hr. = $20 / hr.
VR editing (IC) at 5 cents/line x 400 lines/hr. = $20/hr. (a 0% increase)*

Non-VR MTSO charge at 15 cents/line x 200 lines/hr. = $ 30/hr.
VR MTSO charge at 15 cents/line x 400 lines/hr. = $ 60/hr. (a whopping 100% increase)

If you deduct the $20 to the MT from $30, MTSO still makes $10 per hour per MT.
If you deduct the $20 to the MT from $60, MTSO now makes $40 per hour per MT.





(of course these figures do not include MTSO overhead and other costs)

*Note: VR editing requires MTs with extensive experience for detecting and correcting errors.
Looking for conversion/comparison chart sm

I'm getting paid gross lines right now and my company is going to be using new software which will use 65-char lines.  I'm looking for some sort of chart that shows the difference in $. 


Any help will be gratly appreciated. 


Thanks


office lighting comparison
Everyone's talking about the compact fluorescent lighting saving hundreds of per year in energy costs.  That's swell, but I have tried using these bulbs in my office, and the lighting is not at all adequate.  In my experience, the CFLs do not come close to light output of incandescent (standard) bulbs.  I'd have to buy extra lamps with CFLs to equal the amount of light I need and can get through standard bulbs.  I have my office lights on for 10+ hours a day.  I turn them off when I take a break, of course, and at the end of the day.  However, my power bill is through the roof already, as Ameren has dumped another rate increase on Illinois.    So:  Need the best lighting option for the lowest price possible.  Any ideas?
Wow, I did a line count comparison...sm
what one of my accounts paid me for and what my other account would have paid me for with their counter and only came up with a 15% difference.  A 50% difference is pretty hard to stomach.  I have no ideas except for some really crooked software.
I work for both ... my comparison (LONG READ):
HOURS/CLASSIFICATION:
MQ: You have a choice of FT with full benefits -- 39-40 hours producing average of 150 lines/hour minimum; FT with limited benefits -- 39-40 hours with less than 150 lines/hour average but more than 100 lines/hour; PT with limited benefits for 8-16-24 hour schedules all averaging 100 lines/hour.

Spheris: FT is 37 to 40 hours a week, with 10,200 lines required by payperiod's end. PT is 20 to 36 hours a week, production is 5100 lines/payperiod minimum.

OVERTIME:
Both companies structure overtime the same way; averaged in the same manner; requires approval, must be in addition to 40 hours WORKED (PTO, DT do not count).

SCHEDULES:
Both require a schedule with the offer of "flexibility".

TIME:
MQ: Time sheets are used; MTs fill them in manually and submit.

SPHERIS: Galaxy is used -- you clock in and the system punches your time for you. Day's end, you see how much you've worked and allocate your time accordingly (productive time, PTO, meeting with mgrs, etc.).

BENEFITS:
MQ: You see the benefits in the Harmonization booklet. The employee's cost of insurance benefits is assigned by the state you live in (as well as which/if coverages are available to you).

SPHERIS: Med/Den/Vision are offered. Employees all pay the same amount for amount of coverages (EX: All employees wanting EMPLOYEE ONLY coverage pay the same; all wanting EMPLOYEE+ONE CHILD pay the same). It is available to all employees. Cost is not region-specific.

EQUIPMENT:
MQ: Use your own or they will provide. The current rental charges will no longer be effective in January; as well, the internet reimbursements will not either. I don't know if there will be a deposit for those just coming into the company after Jan 1.

SPHERIS: Must use their computers. No rental fee but there is a refundable deposit. You can pay it at once or have it taken out in 6 paychecks. Refunds to you when equipment is returned in good working order.

PTO:
MQ: You see the new PTO offered in the plan and can read online the PTO calculation formula.

SPHERIS: Same type of calculation formula; averaged quarterly and you receive a notice of what your new downtime/PTO rate is and what period it covers. Limit is $20 an hour tops for PTO. Lowest is $7.50. Amount of PTO depends on status and length of service and ranges for FT from 11 days to 21 days a year and PT 2.5 to 7.5 days a year.

HOLIDAYS:
MQ: You can read in the Harmonization booklet.

SPHERIS: Thanksgiving and Christmas are designated holidays. If you are scheduled to work on it, you can take PTO instead. If you work it you will earn double lines those days.

QUALITY:
Both require 98%.

PAY CYCLES:
MQ: Pay WEEK is Su-Sat; pay PERIOD is bimonthly 1-15th and 16th-end of month with paydates on 10th and 25th. Direct deposit available.

SPHERIS: Pay weeks are same as pay periods and are Su-Sat with every other Fridya as paydates. Direct deposit available.

BASE RATE:
MQ: With the new plan, you have your current base rate and it is the same on all work (unless you do part radiology or ASR).

SPHERIS: Your base rate depends on the level of the account you type on. If you type on a really easy account, you will get less pay; more difficult accounts, more pay. Each account level has a new-hire hourly associated with it. Levels go from level 3 to 10 with line rates 0.065 to 0.102. With Spheris, if your production earnings do not add up to at least minimum wage for the hours you worked, they will pay you minimum wage. However, you will not stay with them long if you cannot produce enough to keep you off the minimum wage payments.

INCENTIVE:
MQ: We know that incentive is achieved on a daily basis -- after you produce 1200 lines. Tiered so that you earn incentive ONLY on the lines produced AFTER 1200. It barely puts change in your pocket for mid-range producers. Only rewards high producers.

SPHERIS: Incentive is base on each week's production (Sun-Sat). So you can have a really bad week and only get your base and then next week have a great week and get incentive. Once earned, incentive applies to ALL lines typed and ranges depending on FT or PT status. FT: 5200 lines start at 0.002 and increases up to 7000+ lines getting 0.015 cpl incentive. PT: 2700 lines = 0.001 and increases up to 7000+ lines = 0.015 cpl. Whatever incentive you earn that week is applied to ALL LINES PRODUCED THAT WEEK. Spheris also has special teams that pay higher base rates.

SHIFT DIFF:
MQ: 11pm-7am = 0.01 and 3pm-11pm = 0.005

SPHERIS: 4pm-8am CST daily = 0.005.

NO WORK AVAILABLE:
MQ: This is not specifically addressed per se; however it is not listed under downtime definitions at all. I doubt MQ ever pays for no work situations.

SPHERIS: Has a policy: "MTs will not receive compensation for "No WOrk Available" situations. If an MT runs out of work, the MT should immediately notify their Supervisor or follow th eout of work situation guidelines for their team."

Hope that helps.
My comparison of homeschooling to MTing at home.
"A full-time job isn't finished in 3 hours (like the abbreviated day many homeschoolers boast about). It's about being there on time, sticking to it even though you may not feel like it, and getting along with people you may not care for, and avoiding those who are not good for you."


DANG! And that's why I got into medical transcription. LOL I didn't want to work fulltime or stick it out in an office. And that whole getting there on time thing, oh, I've never been good with that one.
What a dumb comparison - apples & oranges
Geez. A lot of people can't spell, and they sure as heck don't belong managing a QA department for medical transcription - correcting other people's mistakes!
Anyone using DirectTV- what are the pros and cons in comparison to cableTV? nm
nm
I have the most recent version of Corel WP, but it pales in comparison to (sm)

Microsoft Office Small Business 2000 (MSWord, Excel, Outlook, IE5.0. ) This software works as flawlessly as the day I purchased it.  Patches never required.  No hang-ups or crashes.  The only alteration I have made to it, is that I am running the most current version of IE.  However, most of the time I use a tabbed browser for my web experience. 



Editing at home is tough. No comparison to the office, and much, much harder
than transcribing at home, especially with kids.  Wish I could help, but I can totally sympathize with you!
train

I have done "Chicago" on the train.  From here, MS, its an all night ride but has sleeper cars.  Nothing interesting to see on the way.  But as corny as it sounds, Chicago is a great place to visit.  Zillions of Museums, fountains, outdoor art, great music, great transit system, ghettos, SUUPPPER shopping, fantastic restaurants........We did they family thing when I was 9, 11, 12, 14 and I did it bymyself when I was 21 going into my senion year of college.  Coming back with on the train with the college crew was a hoot.  Spirit of New Orleans is pretty cool, however, N/O is really not children friendly - a lot to see and do in the daytime, but the kiddies need to be in by dark.....AhhhheeeeeeeO TA


To train VR

That is pretty scary.  I have been curious about VR - wondering how it really works.  If the doctor is doing the dictating, how can the Transcriptionist ever get it really trained? Doesn't the doctor actually have to train the program?  I do one doctor as a side line from my full-time transcription job and was wondering if that is something I would want to use for his work.  When I saw Dragon Program at Best Buy, the box said it would type it at about 160 lph.  Is that true?  If so, not so hot as I type faster than that.  However, in the future, I may want to save my arms/carpals and use it.  So am curious to know more from someone who has used the programs.  If adviseable, what programs are the best ones?


TIA


about to train soon
so I don't know any hot keys for this program yet, I worked on Meditech before this and DocQScribe before that. I'll give it a little while to get it down, hopefully it won't take that long
Had to train my male (sm)
Started by keeping the box really clean with that nice scooping sand that they like. Then I would walk over to the box and say, here kitty, and invite him to go in.
After his pee pee in the box, he gets a treat!
We still have an occasional problem, but only when the box is dirty. The pee pee in the corner means he doesn't like that dirty box!

Been married 29 yrs, get more now than ever but I say it took me 18 yrs to train to where he knows
:O
I know they are in NJ. You have to train for a long
times - weeks?? - in the office. They have super long testing, and I remember one person, the owner, I believe, was very nice to deal with, while the testing person was horrible. In this day and age, I certainly don't have time to drive 4 hours round trip for a week or 2 to train! Told them "no thanks"!!
WOW, look at your train of thought. All sm
evil wrongdoers ----------------- right? Why don't you throw in the adulter, the priest pedophile ---------- and the bigamist, the serial killer. Do you know any gays? I would hazard a guess and say no. I hope I am wrong. But then again you probably know some and just don't KNOW that they are gay-they are too busy HIDING from judgemental dogoders like yourself who demand gays live the lie to suit the society that worships the almighty dollar and war instead of each other. Are you against violence films depicting killing or only films which depicting loving individuals and their problems? Please respond, I am really interested in this. I used to think like you a lifetime ago but having a gay relative opened my eyes to a lot of stuff hopefully you will never see-having a loved one lie for 25 years about who he really is and die from a horrid disease alone because people couldn't handle the truth. A death most robber, thieves, serial killers and rapists deserve but don't get as they get fat in prison on my money.
Again, its because you did not properly train him!!
nm
Train in one day the Dr. Phil way.
http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/264
Thomas the train is there sometimes too
We went a couple of years back and my 4 yo loved it! 
The best husband is the one YOU train!
x
There were train bombings in
and I do not feel India is secure at all, let alone for medical records.  But I have noticed a lot of bashing of American MTs here lately.  I don't understand why.  Just because one MT is not reliable, that doesn't mean we all are.  It just seems to be the thing to do.  Also, it said as low as 9 CPL.  Well I would transcribe for and do at 9 cpl with over 20 years experience.  We are not necessarily more expensive, just the service overhead jacks up the price so much for their big CEO salaries and benefits, they don't want to pay the MT much.
Why are companies willing to train
offshore MTs but refuse to hire American entry level/new grad MTs?

Hold the train, here!
You actually feel justified to stoop to this level of vile hatred against Tinks personally?

Not nice, not nice at all.
Don't have to train them - they've already taken it
Editing their work is nothing like transcribing it from scratch. I just do the bare bones basics (look up patient info, correct obvious grammar errors, spell check, etc.). I work for a large department in a large medical college, and if they don't care, why should I? I'm in it for the 26+ years of benefits I've accrued, and I'm not leaving until they force me out. On the other hand, I have a second part-time REAL transcription job that keeps me very happy. It doesn't pay nearly as well, but I get a huge amount of satisfaction from this job.
Working? Where did you train?

I'll be training with CS through EvCC.  Just wondered where everyone trained and if your working.


Thanks so much!


Christy


1. Train at home. 2. I don't do that.

3. Wonderful.


4. Yes.


5. Yes.


6. Sometimes.


7. Yes


8. Yes.


9. Yes


Contact through the board only, please. 


It is much easier to train a new QA
to break the bad habits of an old QA that believes they are infallible.
Gravy train?

I wouldn't call it ever being a gravy train.  We are highly trained professionals who work hard at what we do and we do it darn good, thank you very much.  It's not like we sat here eating our bon bons and getting upset because the banging away at the keyboard ruined our new manicure!  To say it was a gravy train is downright insulting, IMO. 


That said, I don't have 30+ years in this profession but I do have 15+ years including working in-house and remotely from home.  My first at-home was around 1997 for a small company doing straight transcription, none of this VR stuff, which lasted only about 4 months until the work dried up.  The pay was good while it lasted though and there was 24 TAT, no punching a time clock and sticking to a strict schedule. As long as the work got down within 24 hours it was fine.  That same company is still around today as a national but not huge like others out there.  I ended up having to go back in-house and was there until about 4 years ago when I signed on with a very well known national that screws people to the Q, if you get my drift.  I don't know when the MT biz as a whole went into the toilet, but up until 2 years ago I had no problem.  I was working hard all the time as work was available basically 24/7.  Never did I get NJA except for an occasional week or two around the holidays but very quickly the workload would start to pick up.  I had a GREAT supervisor who made working fun and made us feel like we were a real team.  The company always had bonus incentives with quirky little games.  It may sound corny but it actually made us feel valued and brought some fun into it while making good money at the same time.  Then about 2 years ago, things started changing for the worst and it's been going downhill FAST every since.  Maybe the offshoring and technological advances have something to do with it, I really don't know.  One thing I do know, I DO NOT advise anybody new starting in this profession now.  What once was a professional and lucrative career has basically been made into a sweat shop scam for the so called "training programs" and large nationals to make a nice profit at the expense of the MTs.  It is such a cut throat business with accounts going to the lowest bidder just to save a few bucks.  I only hope that things will turn around some day soon and MT can be the professional career it once used to be.


Please don't say it was a gravy train.  Thank you.


just cuz the crazy train always stops at your
now pick a personality already and stick with it.  Maybe up the meds or take a nap or something.
Train? you really think those folks get your feedback?
x
probably train MDs in private practice to use VR
(only kidding)


Anybody else have what I call Freight Train Flu?

I call it  FTF (Freight Train Flu) because it hits you all of a sudden like a Freight Train. Not to worry it's definitely an "Express."  Whew!


It's intestinel. I started feeling really tired and just plain yucky at 4:00 p..m. yesterday.I'm thinking "okay, Christmas stress, right?"  By 5:00 my temp was 101. Chills fever, stomach cramps, aches and pains. 


The good news is, I put myself to bed at 5:00 p.m. and though I was a little wobbly this morning, I'm feeling almost normal. I managed to work my shift and I'm headed out for the old "last minute" items.


Choo choo.


28 years - OJT. That was the only way to train way back then. nm
x
because it still takes too much time to train
it may be that they don't see potential in your work, i.e. poor grammar, accounts have too much ESL, etc.
Are there any other companies that will train on Escription? (sm)
Thank you for your information.  If there are any other companies that are willing to train a "very seasoned" Transcriptionist on the Escription platform please let us know!
your mentor was paid to train, im not
so there

how much work do you do for free?
Im sure you are a peach to edit but I don't train, sorry
Im sure you are a peach
I had to train hubby 1st that working FT is (sm)

working FT, even when at home, so just like we balance household chores when I'm out working FT, we do when I'm working at home, too.  Not saying it's 50/50 -- ooh!, not at all - but I refuse to be a superwoman just a super woman!   Then I had to train all of our friends and family.  Took 'em a while to get it, but once I stopped answering my phones and knocks on the door, they got it.  And didn't lose any friends in the process.  Just explained it later...nothing personal, etc. 


Also, I keep the home office door closed when anyone is visiting during my work time and even when hubby is home; with his job, he is home between service call to local customers.  Love that he comes home during the day, but really puts me behind some time.  This is not as much of a problem with me working 3rd shift, but still a balancing act.  How can I shut up a hubby that wants to talk about his day and cook  


We don't have any kids (yet), but lots of family and close friends in the neighborhood.  I started working 3rd shift, and put of a sign that says, basically, Day Sleeper, and unless you have an appointment, don't knock or ring the doorbell, have a great day!  Also, I learned how to say no, no, no, and delegate.  I follow a fairly strict schedule, to allow for social time, etc.  So far, so good. 


BTW, at one point hubby big-time slacked off on his part of the house work (vacuuming, mopping hardwood floors, and dishes [we have a dishwasher]), so I hired a housekeeper and told him I would take it out of his part of the spending money.  Not much $ because our house if fairly small, but still $  Needless to say, Ms. Housekeeper was disappointed when I didn't call her back.


No one said you have to train them. You just have to grow up and be above the bullstuff.
This is the difference between a good QA/mentor/Editor and a "QA person" -- I'll take my time and help someone if they need it, and I *am* a "good QA".
I agree, we train the VR systems and when
they are perfect (maybe this will never happen), then VR replaces us. Duh?
How can this be an incentive for MTs?