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've worked at home for years and mothered sm

Posted By: Missouri MT on 2006-05-11
In Reply to: being productive with an infant...? - Jenn

4 babies during that time. Buy a battery-operated swing and put it right beside your desk. I breastfed all of mine, too. They would swing and sleep, then when they woke up I'd take a break and nurse and then put the baby back in the swing. Get one that reclines and the baby will be very comfortable. That battery-operated swing allowed me to continue working. It was worth every penny I paid for it, and then some! Good luck and enjoy your little sweetie. She will grow up much too fast.


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

My DH worked from home for about 2 years

I felt like a hermit when he went back to a conventional office job! 


I take it your husband isn't working at the present time?  Did I understand you correctly?  How the heck are you getting bills paid? My DH makes 3 times what I do so I couldn't imagine living on just my pay as an MT.  Just curious!


I've worked in-house and at home ....
I find that even when you're in-house, with the nature of the job, there's no time for chit-chat.  When I worked in-house we had production minimums and there was incentive to earn if you produced, so who has time to talk?  I'm with you.  I'm happy being here in my comfy clothing without all that aggravation.  Let is snow, I don't have to drive in it!
That's exactly the reason I worked at home for 15 years.
Very annoying and petty.
I worked for a hospital at home for 4 years. sm
We had to work set hours. My advice is allow youself 1/2 hour for lunch, and at least two 15-minute break periods. Work 2 hours, take a break, work 2 hours, take a lunch break, etc. Otherwise, you may find yourself having back, shoulder and hand problems. Working 9 hours may seem like a drag, but not being able to work at all is even worse. Remember, if you were working on site, you would not only have to work 8-1/2 hours, but would have travel time on top of it. Just my experience.
And I disagree with that. I've worked home and in-house,
Everyone is different and some people don't rely on jobs to provide social interaction. When it comes to my job, I prefer being at home working independently without a lot of interruptions and enjoy the freedom of working from home. If I were stuck in an office with rigid hours, then I'd be resentful. Personally, I loathe being stuck in an office full of catty backstabbers and love the solitude of home. When I want to socialize, I call one of my friends.

You also have to be able to let QA remarks roll off your back a little, but that only works if you don't have the threat of being docked or terminated as a result of those QA remarks. Find an MTSO that doesn't hold those things over your head (yes, they do exist).

I do think the key IS where you work, but not home versus office - it's finding a company that values MTs, not sees them as mere production machines. They are few and far between, but they're out there. I lived through my share of bad apples in this biz before finding the good ones, so I speak from experience.
I've worked for MQ for years and
have NEVER been given the opportunity for bonuses.  Those who have gotten them have been lucky.
I've worked for MQ over 4 years now and
I have never been told how many spaces to put or not put after a sentence; I have never been paid for spaces, by my count at least. I occasionally check my reports. I do not get spaces.

I'm not sure why, or actually by the anonymous stature of posters on this board, IF anyone has really been told to limit spaces to one after a sentence.

If MQ really isn't paying for spaces, it wouldn't make any difference monetarily so I cannot see that they would make a stipulation like that.
I've worked on a laptop only for going on 7 years.
I do use an external keyboard the majority of the time though.   The USB WiFi does not accept a card, it is small, plugs into a USB port and acts like your card does, you don't use a card.    Go to  a website like best buy and search for Wireless USB adapters and you'll see what I'm talking about. 
I've been at home for the last 16 years...
and feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity.
We supposedly have Labor Day, but I've worked it for years.

I do respect those that have serious religious holidays though and only hope that the company that they work for understand.


At first I kicked myself for picking Mondays as one of my scheduled work days, as most of our holidays fall on a Monday. But  the kids sleep in because they have no school, so it always works, as I only have a 3 hour shift and I'm done before they get up.


I do. I've worked closely with these people for years,
nm
I've worked weekends for 10 years, now I want to move onto a company
that does not require at least one weekend day.  I realize hospitals are open 24/7 but you would think that companies seeking good MTs would be more willing to offer a M-F shift.   
I've worked on a Dell Inspiron 8600 for 3 years
I've heard they're not as good as they used to be, but so far (knock on wood), I haven't had any problem except last week my AC power pack died. They mailed me a new one within 3-4 days (I was under 4 years parts warranty). I use a USB keyboard and mouse and don't bother to try to use the scrunched up laptop keyboard.

I've been home working with my kids for 10 years now sm

I worked outside of the house for one year after my first boy was born.  I hated leaving him.  So I was home working by the time he was a year old.  I really enjoyed it.  10 years later, I'm still working at home, and have a 6 y/o boy too.  Both my kids are in school.  I'm so thankful to be home so that I can get them off the bus, attend parties at school, go on field trips with them.  I can take care of house chores and keep and eye on my three dogs.  The only thing is sometimes I miss being around people, being able to leave my work at my job (at home it's here all the time).  My hubby works midnights, so he's home during the day too, but sleeps.  Sometimes I feel like I have no "me time".  After my boys get a little older, I may get out of the house to work.  Sometimes I would like to actually change my career to sometime more hands on with patients.  I love the medical field, I've been doing transcription for about 14 years.  Another plus for working at home with kids is if they are sick, you don't have to call out of work.  You can do your job and take care of your kids.  You don't have to look your best either, on those days or any days.  I'm guilty for sitting here in my PJs a lot, not having any makeup on or hair fixed. 


Good luck in the future. 


my take is that she worked inhouse, not at home, and now wants to find out how to work at home. nm
x
I got up early, worked during naps, and worked when DH got home.

You have to be disciplined to make yourself work when baby is napping instead of maybe watching TV or doing housework, etc.   


I might also go the route of having a teen come into your home, or either trying a mother's morning out program at a local church/daycare.   I've been home since my youngest was born and he has never been in all-day daycare, but I did have him in a mother's morning out program 15 hours a week at a local church.   It didn't help a lot with my work schedule because I had an older son in school and was a room mom and tutored other kids, but that might be an option.  The only problem with the mother's morning out program is they are around other kids and tend to pick up every germ.  I finally took my DS out of the program because he stayed sick.  You were supposed to keep them off if they had green nasal discharge and I did, but no one else did.  Every time I got him well after 2 to 3 days back he would be sick again.  Other than that it was very good for him because he would not have had a chance to be around kids his age otherwise. 


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.


I worked for Cbay for 3 years. I was also part of their lay off back many years ago. sm
Even though I got stuck in a lay off era, I still love the company. They paid well then. The people were nice (exception of 1 person) and if I had the opportunity I would go back again. Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how u look at it), I have a great paying job right now, so I am not looking for a change. I do know that at one time, they asked management to accept late paychecks, but never sure of the reason why. My check was never late.
Worked inhouse for years and years
Inhouse transcription from 1973 to approximately 1992 and we had no downtime for answering the phones and when the physicians came into the room (or others) needing some assistance, just part of the job. I did not feel bad about doing it then and I dont see why you would either. You don’t realize that probably you are making right now more than if you are outsourced, right? You have hourly salary plus incentive. Guess how many of us have that now? Probably inevitable about outsourcing so I would say just enjoy while you can. The pay our here now sinks further and further. I make, for instance, 4 cents a line for voice recognition and 8 for straight. Now, more complaining?
My mom worked outside of the home
because she had to. She raised 4 of us on her own with no help at all. I grew up just fine and learned a great set of values that people seem to lack in these times. My kids are being brought up the same too. You can be a working mother and still be a good mother. There are plenty of people who do it and do it well. The problem is when the mom does not participate at all in that child's life or doesn't have a dad who does either, especially when the kids are being given everything handed to them and not given any structure.
You must not have worked outside your home, ever
because you would not have to ask a question like this. If you worked in an office, do you think you would be allowed to have all these outside interruptions. No, not at all. No family, pets, hubby, etc., etc. It is a wonderful thing to be able to work from home and you should work, not do other things that are not part of your job description. I know lots of us work on production and we should not take advantage of a very good thing. Be a responsible worker. When I work I take the time only for a drink of water or a bathroom break, nothing else. I do no housework, no cooking, no playing with the animals because I take my work seriously.
I've been doing this doc for many years, so I've learned how to function with him. sm
I can tell what's a stutter, what's another word, what's just an "uh." Years of experience will get you through a lot.
Wouldn't want to do his charts all day, of course, but a few per day aren't bad. I haven't had to send his to review in a long time, but they do take a little longer to shuffle through.
I've worn contacts for 30 years. I've had both
hard and soft.  My vision is much better with the soft ones than they were with the hard ones.   When I first started trying contacts soft ones were still new and they couldn't get me to 20/20, so I went to hard.  Hard were okay until my eyes started changing shape and then I could no longer wear hard ones.  The soft should give you better vision as they conform more to the shape of your eye. 
My EX worked for 10 weeks from home.....
the summer BEFORE I kicked him out.  Why you ask?  Because he was LIVING with a woman he met the previous time he was sent to that location.  I could never get him on the phone and he said it was because he was working nights and had the phone unplugged.  I eventually smelled the GIGANTIC rat and called him onto the carpet.  He eventually confessed.  Saying that he's worried about you driving is a handy little excuse, but I wouldn't necessarily buy it.
worked in a funeral home
I used to be a secretary in a funeral home and this is not uncommon at all.  Its been years ago, but I think a family would contact the funeral home and the funeral home would then get in touch with the cemetery and make the necessary arrangements with them.  I think as far as costs go it was just the opening and closing of the plot.  Like I said it has been well over 10 years that I worked there, but call the funeral home and they should be able to take it from there.  Hope this helped.
before I worked at home and for services

and when you physically *see* 3-year-old kids with leukemia or others kinds of cancer, it can very well break your heart but you see  how brave they are....in dealing with their illnesses.  I couldn't take it after about 5-6 years in both radiation oncology and then surgical oncology....


and started working for MT service right after my stint and then from home.  I absolutely love transcribing oncology even though it's sad, it is not as sad as physically seeing the patients in person.....


JMHO.....


 


When I worked at home for a hospital
I had all of the benefits, but the hospital I worked at did not go by production.  They just basically paid per hour.  They did not expect a certain amount of work be done in a certain amount of time.  I had access to the software the hospital used.  This probably won't help you, but it has only been 2 years since I left the hospital.  I make way more with my own accounts.  If the benefits you are seeking have to do with retirement, then you may be better off setting up your own retirement account because if you are older, you will need to be vested before you even begin to think about a pension. 
I worked as a nurse in a nursing home before
getting into transcription. I do not ever remember a case where medications were placed on the MAR (medication administration record) based on a transcribed report. Ours were based on handwritten orders from the transferring facility. There were times when phone calls had to be made in order to clarify or get an order for a correct dosage based on the handwritten orders. EVERYONE involved in patient care has to strive for excellence, from the doctor to the nursing assistant.
I worked at home for the local hospital here.
It was fine. They paid hourly and provided equipment. We had plenty of work and had to stick to a set schedule. They do use a service or two for overflow, but it is strictly overflow. The hospital still has employees working at home. They don't ALL outsource. (And ironically, some hospitals are taking back their transcription and hiring in-house and at-home MTs!)
that is what is being worked out, and has been worked on for the last few years already...only
why are we just hearing this now? I know voice recog has been around, but this is entirely different. This will also make coding and billing obsolete.

Don't know why, but it just bothers me that one of our 'own' is the one pushing this...and she is also connected with AAMT. Do they support this, and if so, what is their advice I wonder to the MT?

Perhaps that is one question for their website (I do not subscribe to their mag or credentials...)

Thanks, for the input!
My kids were out of control before daycare, when they were home with me while I worked all day.
Are you against school too?  I guess you are going to homeschool...... 
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.
I surely lost out on that, worked from home for a hospital
for 2+ years and required to come in house for meetings and never, never paid for my gas nor my time down and just asked to make it up. After that we got outsourced to a company and guess what again? Meetings at their place and again no pay!! I bet others who see this probably have had the same thing happen to them. Your place exceptional.
I've worked for both

I think there are two big differences.  (1) Benefits should be much better than the national, and (2) in working for the hospital, you will only be working on one account (which makes a BIG difference in my opinion).  I averaged about 225 lines per hour working for national on a main account plus a couple backups.  I am averaging 300+ with the hospital.


The only advantage with going with the national might be better job security.  If you lost the account, at least they could move you to another one.  But personally, I would take the hospital job in a second.   Good Luck! 


    


I've worked with one of their
products. It was an excellent transcription product; they basically bought another company and added the product to their line. I've read some about the owner of the company. He seems like a very above-board kind of guy. He values the special knowledge that MTs have, and we used the product without VR, BUT ... he won't be happy until his VR product is worked in to the transcription process. (I think they might focus on radiology only). He is just SURE it can improve turnaround time, but he admits that VR on its own is not very impressive and reports will always need to be tweaked by a knowledgeable MT. What he doesn't realize is that the transcription process is much more active and able to catch errors when the MT is immersed in transcribing the report. I don't believe 95% of MTs could in a time-efficient way get the complete gist of each report and catch as many dictator errors, history errors, as she could when her mind was completely involved in the transcription of every word. Doing radiology, how many times is there just the briefest pause from the dictator and the MT's mind is already filling in the next word or phrase, and then the dictator says something else, and you think - wha?? and then the radiologist realizes his blunder and corrects himself at some point. Or if he doesn't, the MT's mind is reasoning out what is right or wrong and can bring any problem up with that report. Because of noticing, that report will get corrected before it goes out to the referrer and causes a phone call from an angry referrer.

Radiology needs to go out at 100% accurate, and IMO, insisting on the use of VR will lower accuracy rates and won't improve turnaround time much at all. When I was doing radiology, the better radiologists could dictate a note in a quick and efficient manner and the MT would get on and do it within about 3 minutes. Every 20 minutes the good radiolgists would sign a batch and the reports would go out. So it was about a 30-minute turnaround time for those reports that didn't need a different radiologist to read them. Turnaround time had everything to do with which radiologist was reading and how many specialty reports there were and how efficiently the off-site radiolologists were getting on to dictate. It seems like the VR guys think the MT is the slow one, but IT'S NOT THE MT - SPEED IS UP TO THE RADIOLOGISTS.


I worked for MQ for 11 years.....
and about 5 years ago was fired for not meeting my line count requirements.  I started there when they were still sending out typewriters to work on and sending tapes back and forth by FedEx.  I worked for the Warminster office.  If I got work on a daily basis (even 11 years ago!!) I was lucky.  The girl that was supposed to pack up my envelope daily "forgot" to send me stuff at least twice a week.  As they moved to computers and internet, etc. they still were so unorganized it was pathetic.  The account I was on NEVER had work.  And it was the big hospitals in Philadelphia.  I would try first thing in the morning, all day and half the night to get work, but there was never anything.  And yet they fired me for not getting my lines......go figure!
I worked as an IC many years ago
and paid my taxes yearly instead of quarterly. I am going back to IC as I cannot make a living as an employee. Can you still pay your taxes yearly? Anyone know or can anyone tell me how they pay their taxes? TIA.
I have worked for BTS for 2 years
And have really enjoyed it!  Pay is always on time, they are very thoughtful (like sending Christmas gifts to ALL employees and MT day).  As an MT, I've had arguements with QA, but think they (QA) are great overall, as is the company.
It's been about 2 years since I worked there--
but my whole family was covered. There was a prescription plan. I can't remember how much copays were, but not more than $30, I'm pretty sure it was less than that. You could also get dental and vision.
I worked for them 5 years. They won't, lol.
nm
Not sure, as I have not worked in WP for years, but....
I think if you hit the Windows key (one with the Windows logo) twice it will release it.  Hope this helps. 
never ever worked for MQ. I have 16 years
experience in medical transcription - both in hospital and doctors office/specialties.
I worked for them a few years ago...sm
I believe the owner's name is Lisa - she was nice to work for.  Platform seemed a little slow, but it could have changed by now.  I would go for it.  The work was pretty easy.  I was an IC and she had in mind what hours she wanted me to work, which didn't work for me.  Left because I was interested in becoming an employee somewhere. 
I have worked for 2, 13 years for the first and 3 for the second. nm
x
Yes you can. Worked that way for 3 years. nm
 
Have worked for co several years and this 1st
x
the doc i have worked for for 4 YEARS
still spells his name at the beginning of his dictations. And when i talk to him I joke with him about it... he STILL DOES IT!

(I am the only MT so that's not the reason that he doesn't know who might get his work)
i worked for them for 7 years too...
LOYALLY, skipping vacations and not taking on new accounts, just to keep my "favorite" office up to date with a 24-hour TAT for the 3 doctor urology practice.
It was very very upsetting and a total slap in the face and the minute I realized, nobody cares about us...

You are probably right about employee status being unhappy, I probably would be too. I know I am lucky as an IC... however that comes with paying the price too, absolutely NO benefits... and constantly being nervous now that my job will be taken away and given to cheaper people... :(
Years ago, I worked for a guy who actually said

I should consider myself his wife at work!  He expected me to take dictation in ShortHand (revealing my age here), fetch coffee, and told me that if I gained weight, he would lay me off until I lost it because I was projecting the image of the company (it was a pasta manufacturing company).  What a PIG!  I was 18 years old and totally naive and sooooo stupid.  I quit the job after a couple of months.


Your post made me look back and thank GOD I'm sitting at my desk, looking like a complete slob on my slightly fatter rear and don't have to deal with creeps like that anymore!


all the ones I've worked with (6) were gay. Go figure.

The only male MT I've worked with is now ...
one of the MDs I transcribe for now. He worked as an MT for the same small service I did while he was going to school.