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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I did legal transcription using the old vinyl belts. A LONG time ago. LOL

Posted By: I meant on 2006-11-26
In Reply to: huh? - nm

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Vinyl belts. Thanks for the memory, Mine was legal, but all the same.
x
In the "old days" of dictation on vinyl belts, the quota was do to 15 minutes an hour. sm

To me, it seems realistic, but then again, each situation is different.  On account I know, I can usually do 30 minutes an hour, although being money-oriented and paid by the line, I usually gauge things by lines.  I do 250-300 lph, but those little dinky reports ARE an irritation -- no argument there -- hardly enter the header info and *poof* the dictation is over.  Would be hard to make a decent line count that way.


But ... surely your employers understand there are variations on such things.  Maybe you average 8.9 one month and 12 the next ... I would think it would even out.


Anyway, i'm into that gray zone where I know nothing about, but I wish you good luck.  To me, in the days when I was supervisor, if I knew someone was doing the best they could do, that was all that mattered to me. 


Oh I know, I've studied legal aspects of med recs, too, been in this a long time. sm
I totally get everything you say, and I don't argue with any of it.
But I work for a national that has had the same errors in the same normals for YEARS, so we're talking probably thousands of charts by now. I can't fix years of apathy. If I was in charge, you betcha I would.
The doctor's name is what's on the document, it still comes down to him/her.
A lot of legal transcription and legal jobs in
xx
Legal transcription
Has anybody transcribed legal notes?  If so, did you find easier or about the same as medical?  Just curious.
Legal Transcription
It depends what type of law is involved. Patent/tax is dull and boring. I worked for years as a legal Transcriptionist for an auto company in product litigation. This was not boring. As far as difficulty, medical transcription has much more to learn.
Has anyone ever done legal transcription? sm
Just wondering what it is like, how you get into it.  Thanks for any info!  Have a great day.
Legal Transcription
Yes, I have done legal transcription before I became an MT. I absolutely loved it! It wasn't just depositions (which weren't that bad to me), but letters, all court documents, everything involved in a legal office. I had no problems with it. This was about 10 years ago. It was a temporary position, and I was later offered a permanent position with them which I would have taken in a heartbeat had I not been pregnant for my now-9-year-old son and in the process of moving. Actually, at the time I worked there, it was considered a legal "word processor" but most of the work was transcription from tapes. It was great!
Legal Transcription

Hi,


How would a person go about getting into legal transcription from medical transcription? Would you have to go to school for it or is there an easier way? 


Thanks in advance.


Legal transcription
Excellent idea. I think I'll consider it as well! Insightful perspective, especially if MTs have to carry some sort of Errors/Omissions insurance as was talked about in AAMT.
Legal transcription?

Talked to my friend.  There are books for it too.  Not as hard as medical transcription! 


I too want to get into legal transcription
Could you email me the service you work for? Or direct me in the right way of finding one. I think I would be more productive in legal/general transcription as that is where I got started.
legal transcription

I am so burned out on this MT stuff, with all the work going elsewhere, etc.  I also have an associates degree in legal but that was MANY years ago.  Any idea about some online class to take for refresher course, etc.  Is there any more work in the legal field than medical? 


I do not live anywhere near a community college to take classes so that is really not an option.  Anyone hear anything about being a scopist?  I did take a couple semesters for that some time ago, but maybe it has changed since then. 


Thanks for any information. 


legal transcription

I am so burned out on this MT stuff, with all the work going elsewhere, etc.  I also have an associates degree in legal but that was MANY years ago.  Any idea about some online class to take for refresher course, etc.  Is there any more work in the legal field than medical? 


I do not live anywhere near a community college to take classes so that is really not an option.  Anyone hear anything about being a scopist?  I did take a couple semesters for that some time ago, but maybe it has changed since then. 


Thanks for any information. 


Does anyone know of any legal transcription forums

I did legal transcription for about 10 years. The

divorce or something like that).  I just finished CareerStep's course in February, and I already have a job.  I do recommend taking some kind of medica transcription course.  While you may have developed your "ear" for transcription in general, there's a LOT you need to learn about medical language and procedures.


Good luck to you!


Online WAH legal transcription!
Check it out!
Legal Transcription Work
There is definitely legal work out there. I do legal transcription as well as general transcription. There are quite a few legal companies out there. The thing I like about them is the TAT is usually very long. The company I worked for had a 14 day TAT.
I did legal transcription for 10 years befor MT. sm

I like them both.  Depends on what part of legal you do.  For example, I hated doing probate work. Booring!  Loved civil, criminal and domestic stuff though.


But court reports sound really great. That's something I could really enjoy.  Good luck.


Per page rate for legal transcription
I don't do legal, but do general transcription for a local college and charge $5.00 per page using Verdana 9 font or Times New Roman 10 font (they like it small). I do over 200 pages a month, so it works for me.
as long as it is not a legal document, who cares?--nm
nm
Per page rate for legal transcription - what should I charge?
I have only done medical transcription and we charge by the line, not by the page. I have been approached about legal transcription work for template documents such as wills, estate planning, etc. I have been asked what I charge per page...I live in the Northeast/Connecticut area. Can anyone advise me what the current rate per page would be?
It's been a long, long time since I've used a C-phone, sm
but I do think jobs can be paused.
I had a problem with this for a long, long time sm
I have always worked days, like from 6-3. Over the last few years, it didn't matter how much sleep I got, I became real groggy between 7 and 11. Really shoots the day. Talked to my doctor and he said my blood pressure pills were the culprit but he refused to change me to another brand or dosage since I have multiple aneurysms (2 in the brain). My BP has been stable for a long time and he wants to "keep it on the low side". I tried taking them before I went to bed instead of early in the morning, but then I had headaches all day. So, I am changing to a night shift for a few months so I can sleep when those pills kick in and so far it is working pretty good. I stay mostly awake during my shift and die when I hit the bed from 6 am to 10 am, then I lay down again later in the afternoon for 2-3 hours. I still get 6-7 hours of sleep, it's just split up during the day, plus I am mostly awake now when I sit down to type. I don't have to deal with the heat in my office, either. It tends to warm up real fast in here with the south sun on the house and 2 pc's running all day, even with the air conditioner on.
Way back when, a long, long time
ago and in a galaxy far, far away, I had my own accounts also and some years cleared $75,000.  Yes it can be done, but you need to have your own accounts.  Also lots of delivery, and other duties involved.  I work for a large national now and make much less, but I got tired of accountants, having to deal with hardware problems, deadlines, driving deliveries, printing, printers, etc.  So I decided to simplify my taxes and stay home and just type.  Don't have to worry about computers either, because the company will just send me a new one. 
I've been doing this a long, long time...

I used to make $70,000 and up a year and did so for most of the late 80s and 90s (one girl used to make six figures a year working 7 days a week!)  Because we were making more money than the supervisors and Medical Records Directors in hospitals, they began to switch to transcription services which were sprouting up all over the place.  Plus AAMT came into existence and even though in the beginning it claimed it was to fight for transcriptionists (although assured us it was NOT a union), they eventually morphed into an organization that was more management friendly.  They developed the "guidelines" and the 65-char line.  That was the beginning of the end for those high-end wages.  Then all those mickey mouse transcription schools popped up, and now outsourcing overseas.  YES, we're complaining. 


Been in this biz a long, long time, 30+ years and....sm
I love/loved MTing. However, things have changed so much during these years. The job definitely gets easier; don't have to look up much, can decipher ESLs much easier, in other words, you get pretty comfortable with things and you have confidence in yourself. The more experience you have the easier the job, but....

I actually made more money 10 years ago!! We didn't have speech recognition and you actually got paid for headers/footers, demographics, carbon copies, etc., you got paid for what you did fairly; today, I am not so sure.

You will feel burned out at times, but that passes and you find you like your job again.

Good luck to you!!
I need to know the best unlimited long distance company to use for transcription PLEASE. sm
I have unlimited long distance that is residential.  Any suggestions on which company is best for unlimited long distance to use for transcription?
A long, long time ago, I was going thru
a really bad time emotionally and physically. I was suffering, and my transcribing suffered. I assure you - if you are to the point of not paying your rent, literally, and needing food stamps, there is something else going on in your life than current transcription rates. We are all in this industry and many are thriving, most getting along comfortably. If you are literally to the point of food stamps, you honestly would be a fool to continue. I blamed it on my job, on my line rate, on everything but the honest truth that I was ill and was NOT working as I should or could. It is a really sad thing that you keep spreading this propaganda that MTs in our culture are doomed and now destined for food stamps. Food stamps are not something to toss around lightly, as you would know if you ever had to use them. Please let's not be quite so dramatic. Again, if you are really in those dire straits, you really need to face that MTing is not the fit for you, personally, and do something about it rather than blame our industry. You dwell on the past, but we can't do that. While you may have made other wages 20 years ago, may I remind you that we were pounding away on IBM Selectrics using layers of paper and bottles of white out, going crazy trying to rewind tapes over and over to get that dang word, with no idea what an Expander was. Technology is fantastic. Things have changed, but things are still great in this industry, and in this world. Those who change and can adapt will be fine, but you need to recognize that most of us are not ready for food stamps.  
On-Time Transcription

Anyone have work experience with On-Time Transcription Company?  Thanks.


 


On-Time transcription
Does anyone else work for this company? 
On-Time Transcription
Does anyone know anything about On-Time Transcription? Good or bad??
long time - nm
nm
long-time MT
I MUST do it this way. I don't trust myself otherwise. I've transcribed on typewriters, etc., and I just don't trust my eyes anymore. I'd rather take the cut in pay than trust my own document to be error-free. I also must read the report OUT LOUD to myself, otherwise I just don't catch the mistakes (grammar, etc.). We're talking some 4 and 5 page reports/documents the docs are transcribing, so I have to heavy proof myself. It's just that way anymore. I'd rather do that than some VR machine doing my job!
Yup, and have been for a long time (not me). nm
x
Did take a long time to get used to it? sm

And, I must confess to a bit of stupidity ....... the description talks about foot switches or whatever -- what's that about? 


Thanks for sharing! 


Now that was a long time ago

wow that's a long time on QA (m)
My daughter was a newbie, went to work for a company and does only private offices. She was off QA in a very short time.

I think you could ask when you might be off QA but if they want to QA you, let 'em. Who cares?
THANK YOU! A long time ago I
somehow shrunk my font using the internet, but had no idea how. It stayed that way. I can barely read certain pages. It is now fixed. Thanks! :)
I have been at this a long time

I try to encourage new MTs to learn as much as they can from their experiences.  The reason that companies do not hire new MTs is because they worry about production and having to utilize their QA staff.  I know it is a catch 22, but that is why it is best to try to work on-site for at least a year to gain some experience.  Most companies require a certain line count each and every day, which can be tough on a new MT that has to research and look things up.  I'm with you, not against you, and wish you all the best.  With anything, take the good advice and leave the bad advice alone. 


That is how it was for a long time, then someone
came up with this and we all got scr#wed. That's where the pay cuts started. Then came the slave labor competition (overseas workers who can't speak English to save their lives but apparently good enough to type our medical records! But ever read any? LOL) and speech recognition (so easy even a computer or data entry person can do it! Again, ever read any?). Bottom line is this is no longer considered a profession and nobody gives a rat's behind about the quality of medical reports as long as they're done quickly and inexpensively. But I guess that's what happens when a bunch of suits are in charge that wouldn't know a salpingo oophorectomy from a slapping pooperectomy (stole that one from an ASR Editor on this board - HA!) It's pretty scary, isn't it?
A long time ago I did

I was working for an attorney and he wanted me to get into court reporting so I would be able to travel with him as his private court reporter in his cases. I checked around and there was only 1 school in my state. It was a 3 year course and cost $10,000. Of course, I had to say no, as I couldn't afford it.


I had also checked at our county courthouse for transcribing the tapes and they showed me the ins and outs. For a job there, I didn't need schooling, just the smarts, was told that type of job is solid once you get in the door, but not to depend on it (waiting), as nobody quits. They retire...and the girls I talked to were my age, so that bummed me out, too. Gave up that idea, too.


MT was my 3rd choice. It's okay, but too stressful anymore.


 


That's what i use too (v. long time MT)
x
been doing MT for a long time!!
I still love the world of medicine and the language of medicine. I think if you don't have that love for it, you will not be able to suffer through the highs and lows of this field, and there are plenty. I am in my 16th year and have done everything from MT to QA to teach, to supervising, and I still love to sit down and transcribe. If you have a good company or a good hospital to work for, there's always plenty of work which makes for the ability to make plenty of money. You will get faster and faster as the years go on, and if you don't have a ShortHand program yet, get one. You'll never make money without one.
it has been a long time since I used sm
a C-phone (dictaphone) and it seems to me that the setting depended on what the platform had set up or something. I know I had a couple different accounts and depending on which one, the setting was different. I can't remember either one right now though.

Depending on your C-phone, sometimes you can go on line and do a search for an owners manual for that particular C-phone.

Sorry I can't help further!
Poll time: How many different transcription
I have worked for 3.  Curious about everyone else.
belts
Same here. Then went to IBM MTST (sort of like a computer. It was huge and had a desk of its own. I could not even use one now if it existed. To me, it went down when the big companies tried to take over more and more hospitals. When the small companies or individuals had it things were much better. Also they were on tapes. I used to drive up to 120 miles for one hospital to pick up overflow. Yes, I would love to go back! Even then you never knew when you would have work or some one would undercut you, but it was better.
Answered A LONG TIME AGO - DUH. SM
I guess we can assume you only answered it to be able to put down the original poster? I hope you get the same one day, I really do. Wish I could see it happen. You are hateful.
Then how is it that you have time to post here all day long?
so transparent
I hear ya long time-MT

My cuz kept telling people to call me because I worked from home...they would ask how easy it was to make 2300.00 partime from home (you know all those ad's all over the place).Grrrrrrrrrrr.


I finally just got fed up and when folks would ask what I do I'd tell them that I was a medical language interpretor!  ha shut a lot of them up caus they can't scratch their heads and be rude at the same time.


That's a long time! That's excellent.
I had been a "chicken only" eater for years, but 2 years ago I read something from PETA that completely changed that, needless to say! It's been great eating new and exciting dishes that I never even thought of before. Could you tell me how the Tofurky tastes (I think that is the name?) Last year I just ate sides, no substitute for the meat. By the way, the new issue of Vegetarian Times has some excellent Thanksgiving recipes in it.