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

I'll agree. Have had the bait n switch happen to me several times. nm

Posted By: This job isn't what it used to be! nm on 2007-04-21
In Reply to: But most of them are. - nm

s


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

OSI bait and switch
I probably would have stayed with OSi but they did the same to me.  I got the contract signed it with the accounts they were assigning me.  Started working noone ever gave me the list of people in my group so I could chat with someone when I needed help etc., supervisor would never follow through with promises, was given accounts I had no information for and was not even in my contract.  BREACH OF CONTRACT on their part.  Keep looking there are some out there. 
OSI, bait and switch
Want the name out in the forefront.  Don't want to mislead anyone.
Bait and switch.
You have a right to be .  It is nice to vent here too.  We are routing for you!  
Bait and Switch
I hear you loud and clear. My take on this current trend is that when you state what you want (job types) you are showing weakness for what you don't want (unfamiliar ground). Employment is tight now so they want people that say "bring it all on as I have no favorites. I like the variety and challenge of new territory instead of same old, same old.

They are favoring people who can step up to the plate without whining and do it all and with a smile. They are sick of catering to some MTs who cherry pick their way to a paycheck and leave their left overs for whomever.

So bite the bullet and start learning something new and get good at it. If you don't someone else will come along and only be too happy to do it for you.

Yea, it's a little bit of a heads up I would say. It's happening across the boards now. You are not alone.
This sounds more to me like bait and switch.

company offering clinic work exclusively.  This sounds like gravy work for newbies, and then switching them into something more difficult. 


I don't mean to sound unkind, but if you are working for an MTSO, then no account belongs to you.  The accounts you transcribe for belong to the MTSO and not you the transcriptionist.  The only time an account belongs to you is if you contract the physician him or herself and give your rates.  Once in a while you'll find a physician or facility to employee you as an MT, but they usually expect you to work on-site.  Good luck in your endeavors. 


Most of the time, an MTSO is not out for the MT, but for the client and making money for themselves.  They don't really concern themselves too much with whether the MT can make any money or not.  It's just not high on their list. 


Bait and Switch, tired of it!

Oh, I just had to come here and vent. So, thanks in advance for listening!


I have had 1 employee job and 2 IC jobs since Christmas-time and have been bait and switched up and down in all 3!  Applied for certain types of work type, certain types of benefits (the employee job), and got zip.  Then, went IC and again, applied for certain work types, certain accounts, hired and promised the world, and then never ever got the work types, instead got all the ESL and all the resident's ESL discharge summaries and that is it. 


What is the deal? These places think that when we don't get the benefits promised, the paycheck promised, the work promised (I will do all work types mind you and am very flexible, just hired for certain kinds of work and then only put on the very worst ESL discharges at all jobs), we will be broken down because we are afraid of not having a job, or not having the ability to get another?


I am truly burnt out at this. I worked for years at one hospital, and when they cut incentive and sent work to outsource, since I have been in the world of MTSOs, bait and switch up and down. And this includes the very well thought of and highly rated companies here from last fall (you probably can guess the ones).


Of course, perhaps they think the MT needs to be quiet and be happy to have a job (which by the way, all 3 ran out of work and slim pickings recently) since everything is going to India.  Is this some kind of scare tactic? Shut up and put up? Really. I am interviewing as an employee again, and hoping to stay because I just cannot take this bait and switch, no promises kept, demeaning treatment anymore... Thanks again for listening, and hope there are people on here who do not have the same sob story, who actually get the pay, benefits and work types they were hired for and promised! Have a nice day.


Yep, I hear ya! They pulled the bait and switch on me before I even got started!
Unreal - Recruiter promised one thing - got the instant contract through email with the exact opposite!  Bailed before I started! Sorry for your bait and switch.
Be cautious...great bait and switch routine, you can do much better...
they also outsource overseas (a percentage). you will do well if you have low self-esteem. everyone great until you get thrown to supervisor...hehe, you'll see.

my opinion, my experience.
ER is the epitomy of acute care. How is this bait & switch? Were you hired for op notes only? nm
nm

I have had this happen many times and I finally figured out that it had to do
with ExText and Shorthand. If you close ShortHand and then restart Shorthand, the caps all the time thing will go away. Unfortunately, every time it happens you will have to do this.
It'll happen. You'll find your fit.
You might have to kiss a few frogs first, though.
ask if there is a charge for local calls. I have had this happen a couple of times. I take an egg
xx
It'll take until you switch over to Shorthand.

HAHAHAH.....bait, bait, bait
Laurie is too happy, happy, happy to take the bait.  Besides she is waiting for her doctor to finish chewing and swallowing.  His cookie. 
Get a KVM switch to move from one CPU to the other. You'll need a separate email for each, but
s
It'll never happen.
Sorry but I think you are being naive. In this day and age, the only thing that matters for these businesses is saving money and paying an MT 15 to 18 cpl just isn't going to happen. They don't care about quality any more. It's all about the almight DOLLAR.
Also, at times I'll skip a job due to length, not
If I know I've only got 30 more minutes to work and have to leave, I'll skip over a 25-minute long file, regardless of the ease/difficulty factor, so I like that we have the option. I can finish a few more shorter reports for the client that way whereas I might have otherwise logged off altogether. BUT, I also do my fair share of the hard ESLs and long files at the beginning of shift. I used to be 100% against skipping any files, but OTOH, if someone knows they can't do that ESL's work, maybe it's best for someone who CAN to take them on so the reports are more accurate. I would at least hope that the MTs have given it a good effort first though. I agree this might not be abused as much if MTSOs would pay for difficulty factor, though.
Agree. LOVE Switch and use it all the time.
x
I do QA too and happen to agree with above
I get paid a decent line rate - and can make decent money if I can just give it a quick read and fill in the blanks - believe me I'm not getting rich here..... but when I have to fill in every other word - normally English words - because the MT can't go back and listen to it 3 times like I do - or she puts in contractions - or she does not use the samples provided her and does not follow the format - these things are very irritating.  I'm not QAing - I'm training - there is a HUGE difference... but there are not that many QA jobs out there so I'm not complaining.  I realize sometimes we see more of a doctor than the MT does - especially in these large hospitals - but you can tell when an MT is trying... and lots of these MTs are not trying very hard.
I agree, sounds like a server problem with your employer. I helped with the switch over when SM

we installed EXText where I worked and I learned that there are a certain number of channels or ports per server, meaning on one server an allotted number of dictators and transcribers can connect to the server at one time.  The more channels in use, the harder the server works, and that will slow connection speed.


I also learned that if all channels are in use, any other would be users trying to connect are sort of placed in a holding pattern waiting for an open channel and that can cause hiccups in the server as well, i.e. disconnections, lock ups.


We were told by the IT department that although we may have 20+ channels available for use, we shouldn't schedule 20 MTs to be on at the same time just because we can.  We have to consider the dictators who need access, etc. 


So basically your employer may have too many trying to connect at the same time and the server just can't handle it.  You might ask the other MTs if they are experiencing similar difficulties and if they are, then its a better bet that it is a serve problem.


I happen to totally agree with her
and there is no need to get personal and/or nasty about it. I had my CMT also and it was as useless as the paper it was written on. The only ones who seem to put any value on it are the AAMT as they are the ones who get money in their pockets when one of us takes the exam...(oh excuse me the AHDI - I forgot they took MT out of their name!) Anyway, I totally agree 100% - a waste of time and money.
Ouch. I happen to agree with her. 15 years sm
here - and I would not recommend this field to anyone. She asked for opinions and we gave ours - we did not "make" our problems anybody else's.
I agree. In today's times, not just with this business,
nm
You are certainly titled to your opinion. I do not happen to agree. I assume sm
that those of us who do not share your viewpoint are entitled to our feelings and opinions.  Or is it no longer politically correct to espouse anything but viewpoints from your mind set?
I agree, and O'Reilly marketing his books and novelty times
a joke and sad that old folks down in fla watch it and get brainwashed, much like old people get tricked by contractors and other things. I hope I don't lose my marbles when I get old.
I'll agree with that one

If over, say, 10 years you worked for three services ... how many times can you write, "transcribed pathology reports." ("we get the picture already").

Get (and hold onto) their attention right from the start. You can always list the companies and dates of employment later on.

Also, make sure you don't use white paper. That blands in too much with other people. You don't want to be "one of the crowd." You want to stand out. Make the paper soft gray if you're printing in black or soft beige if you're printing in brown.


Agree....sad. We'll soon be outnumbered. nm
s
I would agree with HP being good. I'll only
is better in this profession because most won't accept Vista anyhow.  The OP might want to try a secondhand computer store and then just purchase the Office Suite you'd like.  I did this and have good luck so far knock on wood with Office 2003.
Agree, especially if you'll need them as a future reference. nm
s
I agree, fishy. If you're an IC you'll have to take out approx.
30% on top of the 25% they're going to keep, but will you have to claim earnings of it all, even their 25%. Hmmmm, I think I'd be asking a LOT of questions because why aren't they just saying you'll make 9.75 cents instead of 13 cents that you'll really NOT be making.
Ant bait
Raid has an ant bait that is pretty good.  It looks like a roach motel and you can put it on the counter, etc.  Also you have to really scrub with bleach or a product like it.  The ants actually leave a chemical trail behind them so their fellow minions can follow their trail.  To really get rid of them you have to obliterate the trail.
I agree with MOMT, but be careful not to print company names or you'll

p


Terro bait traps
Terro is the best thing I have used indoors.  It is especially good in places like the kitchen because I don't like to spray in there.  We found the fireants coming in around the kitchen window one night a few weeks ago and I put some out, the next morning the ants were all dead.  Just to be sure we found their nest  outside just under the window and sprinkled it with Orthen powder.
Just dont bait them. There are gonna

Funny thing, I knew I could bait you.
Call 1-900-555-5555 for more information for just $10.00 a minute.  I can tell you your future as a sucker will go nowhere.
They must be so frustrated. Gnashing their evil-doing teeth. Trying new bait, tossing out the line.
But we're not gonna BITE! Have I mentioned to you that rabbits bite? Some do, though I don't think they particularly mean it...
It'll be the most expensive magazine subscription you'll ever get! No point in joining. nm
s
I'll go! I'll go!! I won't take hormones and will be ready to defend your honor :) n/m
.
No. It'll be the most expensive magazine subscription you'll ever get, and it's unnecessary
s
You'll get used to it. It is keeping the right leg propped up at the same time that'll be the
When I broke my ankle, I was just grateful it wasn't the hands. Without our hands we'd be totally screwed.

I broke my right ankle slipping on ice and was lucky to have gloves on because the palm of the glove was totally torn up and my hand was okay.

Good luck and be sure to do your exercises when it is time.
hit left Shift key 3 times, then right Shift key 3 times -
nm
Oh she'll spice it up alright, she'll be
placing hidden cameras in the other ladies' dressing rooms! LOL!
continue your goal; he'll/they'll get used to it/over it
nm
I'll vent and I'll sign my name sm
I have two IC contracts right now. I recently went back to a job I had quit earlier in the year to work for the other company I am still working for.

The newer job has 80% ESLs. I transcribe OP notes primarily and I can fill in other work types as the opportunity arises. I am frustrated with this particular situation. After 6 months, I am making less money and working longer hours. I am past the learning curve and I should be doing better, at least in the number of hours I am spending doing the job. We have run out of work for 24 hrs at a time at least 5 or 6 times since December 1, and in November it was more than that. I have a friend who worked for this company as well and she was having similar difficulties. The only thing that we can figure is that they are shorting us line count some way, because after 6 months at it, it should be easier/faster/more money, but it is less and less every single pay period. It is not a nice thing to accuse a company of doing, but it SEEMS that way to us. I am fed up with being expected to type every single OP note that comes in 24/7 and meeting the 6 hr TAT for them on weekends, evenings, holidays, wee hours of the morning...

I took back a job I held for 2-1/2 yrs. The team leader has changed and this gal thinks that I should be on call 24/7 for whenever she has work. I might have some at 7 a.m., or perhaps not until 6 p.m. or later. I can't plan my personal life and between these two IC situations, I find that I am not eating on a daily basis, not showering on a daily basis and not sleeping more than 3 or 4 hours at a time. I have lost weight and I don't feel very well. I woke up today with a rip roaring head cold (my first in nearly 8 yrs) and it has already moved to bronchitis and I am expecting pneumonia by the weekend because I develop it very easily. I already have deep pain in my back.

Yes, I should call in sick tomorrow, but I really can't take the fallout. The job I took back I am covering for another gal who wanted vacation over the holidays and if I have to call in sick, the team leader will call me and pitch a fit about how this is my responsibility. It IS my responsibility, I did say I would do it, and I will do it, despite being quite ill. In the past, when I worked for this company, they would not allow me to call in sick for a "cold" without a doctor's note. I worked through many illnesses with them and only called in sick when I developed West Nile Fever and while I was sick for over a month, I only called for my last 12 reports one day when I could no longer see the computer screen because my head hurt.

The problem is that yes, many MTs lack work ethic. They don't take their responsibility seriously. This is not a work as you please career, not even for an IC. I can see the MTSO's point of view, I truly can. Like finding experienced, reliable and capable MTs, for the MTs who are these things, finding a company will treat you like a human being is equally difficult. I sit here, feeling lousy and like I am an utter slave labor with no consideration whatsoever. I know that my work needs to be done, but when I am this sick it is better that someone else do it for the sake of the work, for accuracy and for speed of getting it out. I know that I am needed, but to be the MT these companies need me to be, I also need to look after my own health.

I will also mention that when I have asked for vacation, I have been approved for the time, but the MTSO queues up my work and calls me then I am not on the system getting it done. I have told them I had been approved for time off, but the MTSO didn't schedule anyone to cover for me and I am told to get on work, vacation or no, if I want to keep my job.

Thus, I work 24/7/365 and have for years. I work sick, I work when I am in pain (I have an AI disorder), I work exhausted from staying up all night covering for others who are allowed to call in sick and have vacations when I can't have either. I work having no health insurance and not being able to afford the $125 a month to buy some with a high copay so I can see a doctor. I work without breaks for breakfast, lunch or dinner and I sometimes come close to having an accident because if I leave my desk to go to the little girls' room I get nasty calls about where I am at and what I am doing.

Many MTs are mistreated, and I am one of them.
Has anyone had to switch from MT...
because of problems with carpal tunnel or other wrist issues?  I have been offered a job out of the house doing something other than MT.  I would not even be considering the position other than I have started having a lot of problems with my wrists even though I have the ergo keyboard, wrist supports, etc.  Has anyone else considered or left MT because of this? 
You only need the KVM switch if
you only got the CPU and it is expected that you will use your own keyboard, monitor, mouse.
KVM switches have nothing to do with internet connections.
Are you going to have to switch to VR soon? sm
I was under the impression that it was not an option to just do straight transcription.  Thanks.
KMV switch?
I have not heard of that.   What is it used for?
KVM switch
I used to use a KVM switch.  I never had any trouble connecting to the internet.  I found it very easy to set up and use.  Good luck with it!!
Do you mean Alt Tab to switch to another app? nm
xx
...a KVM switch for the 2nd...nm
s