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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Home Depot or bust

Posted By: yakaback on 2005-09-06
In Reply to: Frustrated - horselover26

well, you expressed my sentiments exactly. I just hate to see those ads that are pulling in people to take transcription classes by saying that they will be makings lots of money -- not these days!! I do the same as you do -- tell anyone who asks my opinion about becoming a MT that it's not worth the time and money and very stressful.


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home depot
Hi there! I used them about 4 years ago. They did a good job. Still intact!!
You could go to Home Depot and start out
.
Home Depot carpeting sm

Has anybody purchased carpeting from Home Depot and had it installed by their subcontractors?  Wondering if I should take a chance using their services. 


Thanks for any comments.


Another good idea is Home Depot
My friend used to work in the travel industry, which has also gone down the tubes pretty much as a result of technology.

She's a very talented Martha Stewart type of person and always has a yard that's the envy of the neighborhood. She's seriously thinking of applying at Home Depot's home and garden department to give people advice about their yards. She said it pays well and the same with the benefits.

If you're talented in any type of home decorating, home repair, or horticulture I'd say apply at the Home Depot or maybe Lowe's!
Home Depot far more reliable than Lowes...sm

and as I know it, Home Depot does not use *subcontractors*..........


Home Depot all the way!!! 


Answer is get out of the house. Gym, dances, Home Depot.
zz
I worked at Home Depot awhile back
for 3 years in the paint department. I have done them all and also taught the classes on Sundays. You might want to call your local Home Depot and ask when they have their paint classes. Lots of information, and they should let you try out the techniques as well.
Try Home Depot. Got it in 2 days. Great computer with XP too!
x
I think the night was kind of a bust.
I always enjoy Elliott. He makes my hair stand on end with that smooth voice. I can't wait for that Kellie to go home, but it won't be tonight. I thought Taylor seemed nervous for the first time. Out of his element. Mandisa could have picked a better song, but it was country, so what can you do? Kenny Rogers, wow, he's a trip.
So glad I didn't bust my a^^ to make the 10,000 lines!!!!!!!!!

their employees ANYTHING?


MQ acts like we are the ENEMY instead of the people that generate the


junk for their ungawdly profits.


I got mine at Office Depot for $100 sm
It does have armrests, but I'm sure they have models without armrests. As a matter of fact, this chair can be adjusted in about every way imagineable, including raising and lowering the armrests. You can lower them to the point that you can't reach them while you're working.

There are chairs out there that don't cost a whole paycheck! Keep searching!
I had a very similar experinece with Office Depot. NM
/
Office Depot has chairs on display U can try before you buy. sm
Got mine there over 5 years ago, fully adjustable, I think it was $129, still good.
Are the $30 lumbar supports from Office Depot
nm
In our area, Office Depot has the largest number of
s
Check out the back-up batteries at Office Depot -
I have very short power interruptions every single day, so having a back-up power supply is a must.  I have two now, hooked to different pieces of equipment.  I can work for nearly an hour without external power if need be.  I can hear it beep and click on and then off when power is restored again, which is literally just maybe 10 seconds or so.  As far as a generator goes, I have no idea, sorry.
Target, Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Staples, OfficeMax, Office Depot
etc.
My kids have suffered greatly from me working at home with them home. SM
I have been working at home as an MT since my two kids were born. They are now 4 and 5. In the first few years, I had no help whatsoever. Their father was a bum who didnt work or take care of them while I worked. Your children get neglected while you work basically. And babies and young children desperately need your attention while they are home with you.

My kids have so many behavioral problems right now because of their neglect. I would try to set them up with things to occupy themselves, like coloring or a movie, etc.

I finally put them in day care and things have improved, but there are still a lot of issues because of the damage that was done. They still try to seek attention by doing bad things and they dont listen to me because they are so used to me letting them get away with a lot of stuff because I was too busy typing to discipline them in their early years.

If I could do it all over again, I would definitely have put them into day care from the very beginning.

My advice would be to seek PT care for your baby. Maybe you can do some work around her schedule a little when she is home, like when she takes a nap, and then bang out a bunch of work while she is in day care.


I enjoy being alone at home, but I've got one home sick from school already.

One on one with a kid is nice, too.


This summer has been absolutely crazy.  I haven't had a moment to myself for three months because all of my kids were home traipsing their friends through the house and yard.  My husband switched his work schedule, too, so he's around more than usual.  However, I like not having to do two loads of dishes and four loads of laundry a day.  There are no toys or clutter dragged out everywhere.  I can clean the house first thing in the morning, and it stays clean until everyone gets home at night.


I even got to relax with a cup of coffee and watch TV for half an hour this morning, something I liked for a change instead of cartoons or kids' movies.  I signed up for an online class that I've been wanting to take.  I can exercise without being interrupted.  Yesterday, I went to the mall and spent all my saved up gift cards.  I got some clothes, books, bath stuff, and a new coffee mug.  My work gets done a lot faster, too.  Call me nuts, but I've never had the luxury of being alone in the house for 14 years.  It's kinda nice.  I love my family with all my heart, but I love having a few hours to myself each week, too.


Except now the cat and dogs have been acting weird since the kids went back to school.  They must think that I need someone or something to clean up after and correct behavior on.  They're getting into everything and racing around the house behind me.


my take is that she worked inhouse, not at home, and now wants to find out how to work at home. nm
x
Forget "per line." Your take-home pay should be taking home SM
roughly what it was before. If it is not, is it because your current pay rate for editing (which in many companies keeps changing as the VR system is developed) is too low or is it because your talents and skills are more for speed typing than speed editing?

If the first, discuss it with higherups, and go get a new job if you don't get the response you need. My last MTSO was secretly refiguring how production was counted to pay us less. I can accept hard reality, it was the secrecy that burned. Sometimes, though, it's just that the learning curves of individual editors and that of the system aren't in sync, and you end up temporarily making less.

If the second, though, recognize it as soon as possible and change to straight transcription work, in your company or a new one, for as long as you can find it.

As for why we aren't paid more for a higher skill, that's just the way the labor supply ball bounces. Best wishes.
I think she means she has wireless TO her home, not IN her home..nm
x
hospital at-home -vs- national at home

I have an interview today with a hospital...work in-house for 3 months, then go home, paid on production. I don't know as of yet what they pay production, so my question is to anyone who works for a hospital at home AND has also worked for a national at home...


Which would be the best to choose? The hospital offers great benefits, but the national I work for now also has benefits, not as good as the hospital, though.  Any input would be most appreciated!



Ditto for me. Have done both outside the home and in the home. We all have
bad days, but I sure would not want to trade working at home for anything. Just being here for my kids is worth every bad day!
Does anyone use VR at home? nm
---
yes, I use VR at home
nm
At home may be possible
My husband has sleep apnea (although, since he lost some weight, he no longer has it). Depending on where you live, you may be able to be tested at home. We live in a populated area, and my husband was tested at home. A technician came to our home, showed him how to hook up the wires, and then picked up the machine the next day. He did, indeed, show sleep apnea (interrupted breathing spells many times a night), and was prescribed a sleep apnea machine. The machine is not a big deal, except maybe getting tangled up in the cords. Good luck!!
I have XP Home.
It is Works 2005 that came with my new Dell computer.  I had Word that came with another version of Works that I had on older computer with XP.  I don't think Word came with the first version of Works that I bought for an even older computer.  I bought it separate for a Windows 98 OS, so maybe Works programs are different. 
Help! I'm new with the home job!

I quit my job at a local hospital approximately 2 months ago to help care for some ill family members.  I took a job with a home company and started out by having nothing but technical problems for the first few weeks, so I was unable to make any money.  Once the technical difficulties were fixed, then there wasn't enough work!  I finally gave up and quit the company after two full months and am getting ready to start another company in a few weeks.  At my hospital job, I was making close to $15 an hour and unfortunately it doesn't seem like I can make even close to that with any home company unless I have been doing for 30 years!  Any suggestions from anyone out there on what to do?  I am still working "oncall" at my hospital position and can work as much as I want out of my home and be paid HOURLY rather than by the line, but this won't last long.  How can I be compensated well and still have the flexibility of working out of my home? 


MT from home
I understand how you feel, however if you were in my shoes and wanted to get back in the business, but this time from home, some info would help. I'm still keeping my other job, however I really enjoyed transcribing when I did it long ago and would like to be home a little more. Please, if you can refer me to anyone that can guide me to begin this venture, I'd appreciate it.
mt at home
46-year-old female
to my WFC/PS's home.....nm
x
yes, you can get a job after doing a home course - sm
I did just that with no hospital experience, however depending on who you go to work for it is like being thrown to the wolves and it is either sink or swim. But home study is probably how most people do it as it is. As Lil states though if you did not do any practice dictation (lots of it) then the odds are you wouldn't pass the tests anyway. Things also depend on the school you "attend", some have great reps, others poor. Choose wisely.
At home
Working at home is much much much better - definitely - choose your own hours - go for a walk and get some fresh air whenever you please - spend more time with the kids.
Who Goes Home
Supposedly Nigel from AI (one of the producers, I believe) was on Ryan's show this morning and he said basically we're in for a shock tonight. A lot of people I've talked on my AI list think Taylor is the one going home tonight.
wonder why it was in someone's HOME??
x
your home

Maybe this will make us all think more directly about what we do for a living.  Remote employment is wonderful until it isn't any more!


QA at home
I am curious about doing QA at home.  I am an RN and have been a medical transcriptionist, in the past, for 30 years.  Any info for me please?
ER MT: Did you cat come home yet? Let us know. nm

It was my very first day home as an MT SM

I started in-house at Medquist in June 2001, and Sept. 11, 2001, was my first day working from home for them.  Needless to say, I got very little work done that day.  We were getting the kids ready for school and my husband was in the bathroom.  I yelled, "Oh my gosh!  Someone bombed the World Trade Center!"  I didn't know it was a plane.  I was watching the news when the second plane hit the south tower.  I was in shock...I felt like the world turned upside down...totally lost all sense of security.  It was very surreal.


Chickadee


Going home

I used to work for a local hospital as an employee and worked at home but eventually they outsourced all of work to the good ole MQ and we all lost our jobs.


The situation is very similar. The home MTs had to type 100 minutes per day and as long as we produced this, we made the top of the pay scale.  Eventually, the in-house MTs went on the same production requirement and pay scale but they never did their amount of production required.  This was the reason the work was outsourced. 


They provided the equipment and we clocked in on the phone.  We had no set schedule.  This was an IDEAL position. 


I loved working at home as an employee for this hospital but I ended up coming out to the National scene. 


I am lucky because I work for a GREAT service, make GREAT money and have GREAT benefits.  I think that I am in the minority of MTs who appreciate their job working for a national. 


So, be careful on what you wish for and think long and hard before giving up your hospital position!!!!  A good company is very hard to find.


Good Luck!!


At home
Your post really resonated with me and I am sure with others. Years ago in the inhouse environment, it was a pleasant place to work and make friends. Then came Y2K, the infamous Y2K and we were all shuffled out to make room for more profit oriented patient care services. They brought in the CEOs and "got rid" of the transcription managers who knew their jobs well and the industry as a whole. We then were  given the "privilege" of working at home. Most of us knew our jobs well and could probably write books on the subject but were nonethless shipped out to home with cpl and we knew then we would be like hamsters on a wheel, going nowhere fast. We are better off at home. The inhouse atmosphere with the competition it created by being paid by the line was an umentionable horror scene. People you knew for years as your friends quickly became your arch rivals, trying to cut you off at the ankles at any chance they could in order to present themselves as superior in every way. It didn't matter if you were the best MT on the planet, this was WAR baby.    Being in the shelter of our homes and out of the hospital trenches has brought us some peace and solace but it divide an industry that used to be friendly, amicable and very fertile ground for learning the ropes  of MT.   Suffice it to say "divide and conquer."
At home........
I am chosen to be on a committee to decide on guidelines for us to type at home at the local hospital where I work. We have been waiting for this for a long time. I hope everything works out well for us as it has for you. I would love to be at home. Department politics - you can only take so much.
at home
I have been home for about 3 years now -went back to school to be an MT when my youngest was7 months old.. I was lucky to work for a small service right away and now I still work for a service and have my own account. I tried working nights in a hospital for more experience, but it was just too hard with 2 small children. This is much better and so flexible..I love being home
Will you be doing it from home then?
I once interviewed for a position, but they had an odd system. I'd be working in-house, and in addition to doing pathology dictation, they expected the MT to type in the lab techs' notes. The techs had access to the computer, were IN the computer doing their work, but it was too much work for them to type in 2-digit results for their lab findings. They wanted to write them and have the MT put them in the system as a separate step. To me this was babying the techs and was a way for the techs to be off the hook if they recorded a result wrong. It was very inefficient since I would have to find the pathology report after the fact and add these other findings.

I don't think they could do that to you if you're working from home.

You'll need a lab book, that's for sure.
I don't know how any of the MTs at home with - s/msg
small children manage to stay focused enough to do a full day's work! My cat is constantly wanting this or that, or purposely sitting in front of my monitor so as to obstruct my view and force my attention. If it's so hard to keep a cat out of my hair, I can only imagine (and shudder) at what it must take to keep a toddler occupied while trying to work. And I've been doing MT for a long, long time. Trying to learn new software, deal with the inevitable glitches that go with getting dialed-in to a new job, and trying to look up words, addresses, listen, decipher what an ESL neurosurgeon is mispronouncing, build a word-expander and macro base, etc. etc., all while having to keep tabs on a small, active child, would be very demanding. If I wanted a "fun" sideline, I myself would probably consider art, jewelry-making, or maybe writing poetry or children's books. Or else possibly starting a blog site. But medical transcription? Nuh-uh.
little one at home
I also have a son, he is 3-years-old.  Busy body...wow, what a change in life....some stress over menopaus, I laugh with kidopause.....tell me how you work around him.  If you don't mind.  I am hoping that Jaedyn will be in school soon...but as far now, he is learning from me....
from home

I work at home on a Dictaphone platform, which I have personally found to be the best quality. 


Go home
If you have been typing for 10 years, then getting another home transcription job is no problem. If this one does not work out, start applying with reputable companies and still stay home. I wouldn't miss my kids' young years for anything.
How is the pay? Can it be done from home? (nm)
x
They get more out of me from home.

I transcribe more lines now that I am home than at work.  At work, there were constant distractions.  I was asked to answer phones, perform other duties as applicable, etc.  This goes far beyond just us.  What about physician offices having a sign-in sheet?  I've read names before me at every appointment I go to on those sheets!  What about the pharmacy yelling people's names when their meds are ready for those of us sitting there waiting? 


The only way to protect our healthcare privacy woud be to use social security numbers and birthdates instead of patient names.  Just my idea...  But, one number out of whack makes for a mess just like the poor John Smith or Mary Jones who almost always have some form of mix-up.  I don't know the answer.