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I've always thought the difficult dictators should be

Posted By: Busy MT'ing on 2005-09-30
In Reply to: FINAL update on "Direct hit to cherrypickers." - MQGuy

weighted at the very least to compensate the MT at a higher rate for their effort. I think the cherrypickers, if they are not going to be stopped, should at least get lower pay for their reports.

Of course, if you paid 2 cents more for Dr. ESL's work then you'd have to set a limit to how many blanks could be accepted period or the cherrypickers would do them and leave nothing BUT blanks to get the money.

It would have been better for them to have never tried the "send back to pool" block than to let the complainers overrule and win. Sad.



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difficult dictators
I'd advise to stick with it also, even the difficult ESL ones. That's how you get better.  Just plan on not making much money initially but look at all the experience you are building.  I made peanuts when I first started out and I'm sure a lot of us did.  It'll pay off for you in the end when you are able to pick and choose your jobs because of all the experience you have under your belt. 
difficult dictators

I think the difficult dictators - the ones who speed through stuff and you can't understand them - have an arrogance about them.  That's the way I interpret it, anyway.  My guess is they are the ones with the STATs because they are much too busy and/or important (at least in their own minds) to actually dictate when they should.  Then when they get hammered about it and are under the gun they run through it so they can get it over with quickly and it's a stat because it's so late.


I worked inhouse for a large oncology clinic for a while.  The transcription manager was asking one of the radiology oncologists to at least give us a birth date and medical record number when he dictated.  Their stuff wasn't always on the regular schedule that we saw so we had to hunt for it.  His response to her was classic.  He said something along the lines of it wasn't his job to have to put that information in, she and her staff were just going to have to look for it.  Her response was even better.  She told him we didn't do research - that was another department.


 


Difficult dictators given with only 3 wks job experience in anything and everything!
Killing some time, had to put last job back into the work pool, because it was a difficult dictator. This is crazy, I am only making about $10. to $18 a day!!!
Beginner given most difficult dictators out of 300 docs who don't know that ESL
I agree that one needs ESL dictators, but most the most difficult dictators in the beginning.
I thought the test was quite difficult
How long does a certification last? I know of a few MTs that got their's years and years ago. Things have changed quite a bit since then and I don't see how their certification could be worth anything anymore, even if you have to do a few hours here and there of continuing education.
I've run across dictators that
actually dictate the exact same vital signs for every patient. It's on the dictator, not you. Just make your normal and count your lucky stars.
I've proofread legal documents; not difficult, but extremely dull.
In addition to MT QA, I worked for a large law firm proofreading about 15 hours per week. The pay was good. The work was incredibly dull. The terminology was new and different at first, of course, but there are resources on the web for legal terminology just as there are for medical terminology.
I've heard that most of their dictators are..

ESL?  True?  And bad dictation.  Just curious.


Thanks


I've thought about it---
It's just that I know people in the Whitehall-Twin Bridges area-- they have all been keeping their eyes and ears open for me. Also, I love the mountains. Eastern MT is a lot more flat, hotter in summer and colder in winter. I did like Miles City when I was there for the Bucking Horse Sale a few years ago. We'll see---.
I've thought about it
After having the taxes done, I was so disappointed. I made really good money, but after the deductions and then figuring the hours I worked, it wasn't so great after all. I'm tired of working weekends and holidays. I'm tired of the nightmare I go through every time I take a day or two off to get caught up.

I would think the benefits alone would be worth returning inhouse ... if you get them. Sick Leave. Vacation Leave. Retirement. Insurance. No more self-employment tax.

And no matter how hard I emphasize that I am not to be disturbed when working in my home office, there is always the interruption for "just five seconds." I'm tired of the lack of respect for my career and my working hours.

I say, "GO FOR IT." Good luck!

i've thought
-- if i didn't have to work at home -- that it would be "gravy" to do the dictating for a physician -- at least we'd know how to pronounce things correctly and what things are important to the MT on the other end. Don't know how lucrative it would be tho...
yes, I've thought of that ....
but it is a union position and their hands are tied, as per HR. My boss would give me more $$ if she could. Our sister hospital is NOT in the union and that MT makes $4 an HOUR more than me! Aagghh!!
Well, as for me, I've always thought sm
intense heed is very important, don't you?
LOL. Wow, you've thought about that one a lot, haven't you?

It's good to have a plan, I agree.  I'd like to set up an SEP retirement account for myself because I know social security won't be there for me.


No, I'm just really tired of job hunting.  My perfect job would be parttime with regular steady hours.  I don't care if I'm SE or IC.  It's not about only wanting to work when I want to.  I know that the company needs coverage.  However, I'd like to be able to take a day off when I'm sick instead of being told, "No, we need this work done.  Nobody can do it except for you."  I could even make up my hours, but IC seems to mean you're not allowed to get sick or anything.  It just seems like you sell your soul to the devil just for the "luxury" of working at home.  I'm so extremely tired from everyone demanding from me all the time.  I pitch in all the time when they're out of TAT or someone else is absent, but I'm not allowed to have needs of my own.  The more you give of yourself, the more everyone wants.  I feel as if there's nothing left inside of me.


I've thought about it, but am usually too burned out ..(s/m)
.. at the end of the day to want to do more transcribing. But that may be a good way to get my feet wet... maybe filling in as a part time IC for someone who is on sick leave or vacation, so it would only be temporary.

Thanks for your thoughts!
Do you have a bachelor's degree? I've thought about

but the lack of a bachelor's degree is really the main weeding-out tool/stumbling block for me, darn it.  I didn't realize it was such a major requirement for this type of job too ... as far as http://www.fdch.com goes, anyway.  I thought maybe not having experience in court reporting/CAT machine transcription would be the breaker, actually.


Interesting, but.... (sigh)


I've always thought that podiatrists are trying to trump themselves up into something
s
Great idea...I've often thought of doing some...

thing similar.  After all, AAMT was started by individuals with an idea.  Unfortunately the original, most likely that *good* idea has been long lost.


So, form a new organization.  Set up testing.  Issue a credential.  Actually represent the American MT.  What a concept. 


Don't understand why not. I thought I've seen other posts similar to this before. I'm not t

cause any problems, but as I work for DSG, so I'm naturally curious. As I said, I liked working with them both. Is it a secret?


 


Not always. Tongue stumblers. New dictators. Speedy and lazy dictators.
D
I've thought about sitting in the camper or locking myself in the bedroom before,
but those wouldn't work either.  I've been trying to take a nap all weekend due to lack of sleep and a nasty cold, but every five minutes, someone's pounding on the locked bedroom door and whining for Mooooommm!!!!  Cripes, sometimes I can't even use the bathroom or take a shower without five or six interruptions.  As much as I love them, my entire family has been driving me apestuff this past week.  My office is currently in the living room with the phone, TV, video game system, stereo, front door, and most of the household foot traffic running through.  That's going to change soon when we turn the old dining room into a private office with soundproof walls and a locking door.     
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I've seen quite a few names, first and last, of people
mgmt on this board in the past, in similar situations, which is why I felt I could post this question. I certainly don't think I was not being tactful to the people I asked about, as I complimented them and enjoyed working with them. I wouldn't mind my name being on this board if someone said something nice about me. 
I've thought of doing it too! Anyone remember the ROS School of Transcription? The lady that SM

started that school was an MT working out of her home.  She ran the school out of her home too!  It was a distance learning program.  She contracted with CMT Transcirption Service to let her students type some of their accounts.  CMT in turn employed a mentor who would basically train the students, check their work, and give them feedback.  Once they graduated the program, CMT usually hired most of them if they had enough work.


I know because I used to be an IC for CMT as a Mentor/Editor.  Pretty good job at the time except once everyone got trained, there was very little left for me to edit.  That's when I started thinking "hey, maybe I should start my own school!"


Now with ROS defunct, I was thinking about again.  There really is a need for a good school created by MTs and run by MTs where the sudents are mentored by real MTs.  But that's just me, I'm always full of big ideas, but can never really figure out how to make it happen, ya know? 


?? Bad dictators are bad dictators regardless of their mother language.

wonder when people will just get over it and do what they can and move on. 


I use EXText with my current job and I've used at a couple of other jobs I've had. I've ne

used DocQscribe, but I have used Meditech, Cerner, Vianeta, the Precyse platform (I can't remember the name), Dolbey, and  Lanier platform I think was called Cequence (?). 


Out of all the different platforms I have typed on, I have liked EXText the best.  In my opinion, it's very user friendly, easy to learn, and I really like ESP which is the built in abbreviation expander.  Plus it is very easy to create your own normals which I love.  My fingers literally never leave the keyboard because there are macro keys for everything.  You can use your mouse if you prefer or learn the function macros.  I love it.  I think I'm more productive on EXText than with any other platform.


I've thought about coding. My DH does medical coding and I think with an MT's medical termino

background and anatomy and physiology knowledge, a transition into coding wouldn't be hard at all.  From what I can tell by looking through my husband's books, an MT would have to learn insurance regulations and legalities.  We've basically got all the medical background down or we should be if we're worth our salt as an MT.


I even contacted AHIMA and found that the qualifications for taking the CCS or CCP coding exams are completion of the a coding program, RHIT program, or RHIA or related work experience.  Transcription is part of HIM, albeit the red-headed stepchild of the HIM department, but a part nonetheless and so satisfies the qualification of having work experience.


The test is tough though.  My husband didn't pass it his first time out and I think I read something like only 20% or so pass it the first time.  So it would probably be best to take some sort of formal coding class, in my opinion.


For me, it 's more difficult after 2 p.m.
doesn't matter what it is. But that's only because I've been doing it since 4:30.
It can be difficult...
to know the right thing to do. So many companies are unfair to their MT's, but is it right to dish it right back to them?

I would say it depends on how they treat you. If they are great to work for then be fair to them. If they are awful to work for then, well, use your best judgment.

If you do lower your rate just be sure that they understand this is your rate for THIS account of mostly macros. If they want you to do an account with straight typing they need to readjust.

Good for you for having high values in an industry that is getting more and more amoral every day :-)
Not difficult for you maybe
But obviously she wouldn't have posted if she didn't have feelings of uncertainty about it. I know when I have had to make a decision about something being right or wrong I find it difficult. You have a clear opinion on this, she didn't. I was just trying to be supportive. I WAS NOT making a blanket statement that it is difficult to treat a bad company badly, or playing the SAME GAME that your company is playing. Geez!!!!
Not only is it the most difficult sm
it is also extremely depressing, or at least it was for me.  I used to work for M. D. Anderson years ago and did a lot of Peds.  Also, the protocols change faster than you can keep up with them so expect to spend a lot of time searching but internet would probably make it easier.  Good luck and I hope you like it...somebody has to do it but not this body anymore.
How difficult is it to set up?sm
Also, what equipment do I need? I have a Linksys wireless broadband router.
Yes but difficult! nm
x
I was LPN 30 yrs ago. It is more difficult now. SM
I would encourage you taking the course, but then try working in a doctor's office, clinic or private duty. Most definitely, not in a hospital.

I remember loving the course, but hating it when I got out into the real world.
So difficult
It is very difficult for me too sometimes. So many tragedies.

It seems life is often so tough. My views and understanding of where and why we came from have been changing over the last few years, and I am having a very rough time trying to make some sense of it.
I don't know if any particular field is more difficult
than the next, if all you do is type one speciality. I think ER and Psych are mentally hard because with ER a lot of the patients die and it is depressing and then psych is depressing because of the severe dysfunction of the patients and/or their families. Oncology can be depressing too cause outcomes are not always great and like the previous poster said frequent new meds.

I used to transcribe for a teaching hospital connected to a medical school and that dictation was very hard, much more technical than your normal hospital, lots more dictators too and a new crop every July.
It's difficult but necessary to be in control
Otherwise you are simply allowing little Hitlers to grow up and become *adults* - your job is not to be their friend, your job is to be their parent.

Why would you allow your kids to have friends that you wouldn't allow in your house if they were your friends?

Why would you allow filthy language, out-of-control behavior, and downright liars even on your property?

Are you afraid of your kids? if so, why?

Good luck
It is so difficult for MTs these days
With voice recognition, hospital cut backs, and companies overseas. I have been doing this 30+ years and have enjoyed it up until now. I can so relate with you. I have been looking at a company SilentType? Any input on them or any others who do not consider you an IC, I don't mind paying my own cable or DSL as I have that for home anyway.
It is difficult, I won't deny that.
I stretch quite often.

I take breaks, too, or I couldn't do it at all.

I won't be doing this more than about 2 years so I can hold out.

I'm not kidding though, I have to work hard and I'm not bouncing around like Tigger at the end of the day. I'm tired and sometimes sore. I can't make this kind of money from the comfort of my home anywhere else though!
Was very difficult to learn and there are
still some things I cannot get the hang of. But, it is the only Expander I am permitted to use so had to bite the bullet after resisting for a few months. Takes about three months go use it effectively. Try using it for a few hours every day. When you get frustrated, close it and type everything out. On short-fuse days, skip it altogether. Over a few months, with this method, you will begin to develop speed and each new problem will be solved one by one so your line count will not get suffer greatly. Using IT requires doing a massive amount of reading initially. But, I have to say, I love it now (and am still learning how to use it six months into using it).
Difficult to remember
I also have struggled with that. I have been trying to think of a creative way to remember, but I keep coming up empty. If you think of someway to keep it straight in your mind let me know.
Why would you find this so difficult to believe?

Especially considering that Brad PItt - famous movie star - had the world by the family jewels with a beautiful wife, Jennifer - multimillion dollar mansions and $$$$ coming out the ying yang, yet he up and left it all to be with a woman who's a lesbian, Angelina Jolie, PLUS he adopted her two orphan children to boot, as well as knocked her up. 


Now .... who do you think has more power over Brad - his mother or Angelina?  Think about it, not that it needs a lot of contemplation...Angelina can do things for Brad his mother never can, if ya' know what I mean, which is why I told the original poster to LET IT GO because she's FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE SHE CANNOT EVER WIN.


Radiology is not that difficult ...
it does take some extra study of anatomy, and a good radiology word book, and there are websites where you can learn a lot about radiology. I do both acute care and radiology, and I like both.
Almost always the first except if a difficult dictator. (sm)

Then I am constantly listening again to make sure I have it correct.


Difficult decision

Hi,


It sounds like, despite all the problems, that you love him and want to remain a family, particularly for the sake of your son. 


Without disrespecting that, what I would suggest is that you tell your husband to either grow up already (and pull his weight around the house while he is at it) or please go ahead and divorce you and marry his mama. 


In the meantime, make sure that your name is not on his credit card bills, etc. and that you DO expect him to provide child support while he is absent from the family, the home, the marriage.  If he fails or refuses, take him to court--that should make him wake up and smell the coffee and grow up fast.  Otherwise, let mama figure out how to manage his payee check with that new expense. 


HTH. 


It isn't that difficult to create your own...

Yes, it will take a bit of time, but you will then have a test that belongs to you.  Any that you might find on the internet are most likely not meant for the use of others. 


 


You have a very difficult situation
and I wish you the best. For many who work outside the home, they can stop and forget for a little while the problems they have at home. They are able to socialize, confide, and have outside relationships. You have made a hard and a valid choice for your priorities. Stick to it. Be proud of the choices you made. As for the family, pretend they are just background noise and turn down the volume.
another difficult thing for me...
...is the fact that relatives and friends just don't understand the obstacles we have to deal with as an MT. They think we have it made "getting to work at home" and that we are just typists. Do they realize the constant battle to stay focused and remind people that even though we are home, YES, we are working, and quite hard at that, I might add! No, we can't babysit, we're WORKING! No, I can't talk on the phone, again, I'm WORKING! We probably work harder than a lot of people since we are paid on production and live and work under that stress - we can't have a "bad day" where we just take it easier at work if we don't feel good or had a fight with our husband. We have to be on at all times or our income suffers. My husband doesn't get it when I get really stressed and in a bad mood and fed up when I get horrible dictator after horrible dictator and my line count suffers and I have to sit there for longer than expected; nobody does. Thankfully we have each other - we're the only ones who TRULY know what it's like.
Most difficult: Americans!
I absolutely cannot get the American accents in which the doc sounds like he/she is running an auction. At least with the ESLs I can get into the rhythm. Not with these guys. Although once I figure out what a grunt or a cough means I make a normal LOL.
I understand that they are difficult
and it's frustrating, but why are they low class? There are probably few MT jobs without ESL.. they are  here to stay.    
very difficult business
I think that is another reason why I am attracted to this profession. Since I am an IC, this is my business, and I have always wanted to be self-employed. It is very challenging, but that is what also motivates me to succeed.
It is still difficult to get assistance. SM

I would say give it a try to the OP, but don't be surprised if very little or no assistance comes.  I may be reading more into this than is there, but OP probably needs assistance with house/rent payment, keeping up utilities, etc. and the public assistance people will look at it like he or she will be well in XX weeks, things will work out.  Unfortunately, people who truly need short-term public assistance can't get the help they need to get them through trying times like this.  OP may be able to get emergency food stamps fairly easily though.


I would also suggest, if OP is a member of a church, letting the church know what's going on and seeing if there is help there (they are usually quick to respond) or trying Catholic Charities or another faith-based organization set up to help.  You don't have to be a member of that particular religion to get help.  The key is to reach out NOW while the situation is unfolding and not wait until things get so bad you are getting forclosed on or evicted.