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I think mainly the larger companies have

Posted By: me on 2006-03-16
In Reply to: Incentive plan?... sm - Val S.

incentive plans, or the companies that have an unfriendly system so that it is hard to get lines, or horrible dictators so that MTs do the minimum and no more.  From what I have seen of the incentives there are a lot of strings attached and a lot of times the company finds a way to get around them, others make the line counts so high that is is near impossible to get the incentives without working 16 hours a day.  My company offers incentives if they get in a bind and get too far out of TAT.  They pay a 20% for any lines over your normal line count, so that anyone is able to reach the incentive level, just how much depends on how much they are willing to work extra.  I am an employee, but the ICs are offered the same incentives.  I have worked for other companies that did not offer an incentive until they got in a bind. 


I think some companies try to confuse you with an incentive, so that you think you could make more than 7 cpl, but then the incentives aren't that easy to make and you'd have been better offer spending the extra time living instead of working. 




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not MQ, not SS, but see, most larger companies are ALL doing this...
everyone is trying to cut costs...

my question is, when the hospitals cut back on staffing (for example, the entire transcriptions departments, most all ancillary departments, nursing, etc.), the salaries/pay for all these Jobst, where did all that money go?

all I hear is how 'broke' supposedly hospitals are etc etc, but with all these cut-backs, all throughout the country, even in government, WHERE is all the MONEY?

why are we now to want all the savings to go to the heads of these corporations (hospitals are now businesses as well). they do not want to share the earnings anymore with employees, and we are supposed to like it?

benefits no longer have to be supplied by employers, etc, and every chance they get they are now making them contingent with hours worked or production...

well, where is all the money from all the savings?

it does not go to the patients (in the case of hospitals) because they do not even get to have nurses anymore, and are pushed out of the hospital immediately before they are even well.

it does not go to the employees, it does not go to the community, because none of taxes seem to go toward community programs much anymore...

where is the money?

why are we made to feel 'bad' about wanting more in our paychecks?

just not getting it here...I am worth every penny I get, and more, and deserve to have benefits and everything I used to have. rather, I am making less than I did 10 years ago in this business, plus less benefits...

sorry to go on about this...for those who are making tons of money right now, you obviously do not have to worry, but I am old-school, I guess. too much has been taken away from when I started...
Do you like the larger font?
/
Yes like the larger font. Thanks.
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Probably why the larger Nationals have their own
qq
10 is smaller not larger than 12, so it would be more than 65 cpl- nm
xx
Yes, a larger font would be more comfortable. Thx! nm
,
Yes I like it larger..helps my old eyes! nm
nm
Can't please everyone although we try. The majority like the larger font.

Does anyone know how to make the text larger in Word?? TIA
nm
larger text in Word - start by
to preview and select what suits you best. Toolbar should be showing at top of screen, pull down where is says what font type is in there. Otherwise, you can to either go to Tools to select the "formatting" toolbar, or go to View, then Font. Since my old eyes are going, I also choose the option to increase my page view to 150% (also on the toolbar at the top of your screen displaying some kind of number) by dropping down the menu (use the arrow next to it) and select the % that suits you best. Hope this helps.
Making text larger in Word
Ctrl+A to select all text, choose font size from format menu. Also make sure view is at 100%.
Yeah, we just moved and got a larger house...
so we have brought the dogs in the house now. I love having them with us and I know they are loving it, but the hair is just horrible. They are labs too, so they need lots of attention.
EMRs already in place and working well in larger institutions
The midsize MTSO I edit for uses an internet-based transcription system. Our programmers re-wrote some of our proprietary software so we could interface with one of our clients' (university hospital) EMR system. What it amounts to for us is that the dictator now dictates only the objective portion of the procedure/op note or followup note. The demographics, history, etc., are already in the record. In other words, what used to be a 150-line job is now less than 50.
I connect a larger screen - having two desktops is nice. sm
Just got my laptop cooler with its built-in USB hub, so I am adding other things.

Of course, the greatest thing you can do is take your job on impromptu vacations and not have to worry about approval from the boss.
keyboard shortcut/make letters larger
Somewhere I saw a simple keyboard shortcut that would make the letters in a program appear larger without changing the font size. I have a program I have to access at work and the letters are hard to read, but I'm not allowed to change the size. Does anyone know about this? Thanks!
If starting with a larger service, yes, you'll get training... sm
...sometimes one day, sometimes 2, 3, or more days, depending upon how much depth they go into. You should get account specifics for your account(s), as well as their expectations as to style, procedures, etc.

Of course, the depth and quality of the training can vary, both with the company and with the trainer (and, to some extent, can be determined by the others in your training sessions and how much instruction they need).

If starting with a smaller MTSO, I have no idea what to expect; but, with a larger company/national, there's usually a couple of days plus a period in which you're on 100% QA so they can monitor your output and let you know what you may be doing that needs changing, etc.
Softer touch, clicky, yet larger size keyboard.
Don't know if you'll see this, but you may want to try the "cloned" IBM keyboard by the company I mentioned previously. It is the same size & layout as the IBM, "clicky", and yet there was a subtle difference in the "touch". I felt it "was" a "softer" touch compared to the original IBM. Wish I could offer a better explanation, but it's such an "individual" thing that it's hard to describe. What is comfortable for me may not be for you. I have the one I bought from them years ago boxed up for repair, so I'm just recalling this from memory. Haven't used it in quite a while, but do remember I did get comfortable with it in the interim without my IBM keyboard.

Oh - the memories - I'll never forget the "mag card" & how the part-time worker at night never failed to wipe out the "negatives" I had stored on "certain labeled" cards everytime she worked at my desk :o)

Well - if I do run across another keyboard I think you might be interested in, I'll address it to you as "me" & hope you'll see it.
I don't work for one of the larger nationals, but a good-sized national and

in 5 years the hospital system has been down twice and my company wasn't able to pull work and the company's system was down once for a hurricane and once the power was out for part of a day.   I never went a full day without work.


I think maybe some of the nationals are poorly managed and they use "server down" as an excuse for no work.  For a company that depends on their servers for their livelihood I don't believe they actually have the much down time.  I don't think most companies pay for downtime. 


 


Most larger drug stores carry a selection of OTC braces and will order others, too. nm
s
MT companies negotiate with the insurance companies until they get what they want

It is strictly up to the agreement between the employer and the insurance company.  Your new employer can tell you what the pre-existing clause is in your new policy.  Some require proof of insurance for the past 12 months.  It may say something like if a diagnosis has not been made NOR treatment received within the last __ months.  Not good when companies negotiate with a pre-existing clause in order to get a lower rate.  Better check with your HR with your new company before doing anything.  It really gets hairy !


Most companies do no use their only files (HIPAA). They use files provided by other companies, serv
If you can get through the test files, then the sound quality on the actual company files is better. And, the dictation is never as bad as the test files, plus you have QA to help with hard blanks.
MT companies
Hi, there are many MT companies out there, and there are some that you should steer clear of. The one company who scammed me real good for 2 years was amatrans-am out of Valrico, FL. If you see an ad for them run in the other direction. Or just check the BBB. They have really scammed a whole lot of people unfortunately....but there are better ones. But just stay away from the ones that ask you to do like 1,000 lines a day. You won't be able to do it, or if you could you would be dragging yourself off to bed, only to have to get up early the next morning to begin it all over again.

After a couple of years, I am now working, but mind you, I am really a semi-newbie, and I only make 4 cpl. The money won't make you rich, but the experience can be very rewarding, and what you learn keeps your mind working. If you want any more info, feel free to e-mail me brooklyngirl1112@hotmail.com
Gaile
Are all companies like SS?
I think I will stick to my day job god....
Why is it okay for other companies
to be informed about and not this one. My heart bleeds for these MTs. Obviously, it is not just one employee posting here. Can you imagine the frustration of watching your fingers move more and more and your paycheck go down without being told or informed why. They have a right to vent and warn. I want to be warned ahead of time before I make a mistake. No slander involved, facts are facts and that is it.
What companies, if any,
. . . hire and actually promote professionals who have forgotten more than many MTs know, have years and years of experience, work when needed, don't rock the boat, and produce excellent work?  At my company, the editors and managers usually have just a few years of experience as an MT, if any, and many have no management experience.  Some managers have never even seen a typed document.  That doesn't make sense.  What companies give one a chance to actually grow with them?  Any of them?  How do the promotions go to those who took an on-line class and have been an MT for 2 years?  Kudos to anyone who could answer this . . . Bewildered 
USA companies only for me.
 USA   Overseas.
companies

What are some of the best small companies that you have worked for?  Does anyone live out in the sticks and is on dial-up?


MT COMPANIES

do u like working for this company.  Do they treat you fairly.  I was told to download and they will give me first files to fit me with proper account.  They have been great.  Does this continue?  Please let me know.  While on the subject does anyone have any information on Amphion, Medware, QTmedical, Orion and Transhealth.  Any information appreciated.


Does anyone have any information on smaller companies hiring at this time.


 


 


 


What it is with these companies?
I am now on my third job since deciding to work at home August 2005.  What is it with these companies?  Don't they realize that without us (transcriptionists)  they have no business????   I have been lied to, nit-picky QA'd to death, had money taken away from me, treated like crap, and received nasty emails.  Every time get familiar enough with account to start making some real $, guess what?  Get switched to another account.  I have always worked for hospitals, clinics, etc. 20+ years and never have I encountered such treatment.  It is just amazing, actually no, it is pathetic.  This third job is it.  If this does not work out, going back to the hospital.   I have a lot of admiration for those of you who tough it out and are still working for these amazingly unprofessional companies.  Maybe that is why there is so much outsourcing.  Workers in other countries will take their CRAP. 
MT companies
Does anyone know of any Canadian medical transcribing companies that are looking to hire people to work from home??  Thx

MT companies
I'm from BC.  How about you?
which companies use
I had asked on the company board and no one answered.
Thank you.
There are companies to go with...
There are companies to go with that are at home business that are selling a product and making money without having to put a lot of your own in it. Tell them before they try this company to go TheFreshAirShop.com
Why do companies always do that?

Don't they realize the more familiarity an MT has with a certain dictator or group of dictators, the more accurate they are going to be in their transcription and the faster they will be able to produce lines?


Or is it that transcription companies simply don't want MTs to make a decent living?


I don't get it. 


if so many MT companies are bad...

i.e. don't pay on time, lousy platforms, too many ESLs, etc., how on earth do they manage to stay in business?


Ever wonder how companies
come up with their minimum requirements of experience, 1 yr, 4 yrs, 7 yrs, etc. Is there some sort of table/formula they use? ;-)
Yes, and a lot of companies are
at least trying it out. There is a board here called voice recognition and you can also look at the jobs on www.mtjobs.com - usually you will see a posting for "editor" which is a little deceiving because sometimes they are QA jobs and sometimes voice rec jobs. You will always be able to tell by the line rate though :-) I have see an average about half what you normally might expect for transcription.
There are a lot of companies like this. They

live in feast or famine.  It's better for them when it's famine because the work is out fast (too bad for us trying to be consistent, huh).  Top that off with people who don't work the whole pay period, just towards the end which is when the work tends to run low (too bad for us trying to be consistent, huh).  So during the time when these don't work, you get overloaded and need to work as much as you can to make up your time (too bad for being consistent, huh).  I know, I live in those same shoes, buried and then scratching and scraping for work to do.  Gotta love it!


Companies
Does this sort of thing happen a lot? I was just curious. I am a student in Medical Transcription, and I was just wondering if anyone had some good tips for job hunting. I don't think I want to start from home. That is something I would be interested in after I have had some experience. Any advice is welcome. Thanks.
MT companies
Hey, don't be discouraged by what you're hearing here. Disgusting. So, SOMETIMES, in my experience, yes, companies are constantly looking for MTs because they are a bad company and can't keep typists. Sometimes their standards are impossibly high, sometimes they are rude to the employees, etc. SOMEtimes it's because they are vibrant and expanding, but beware that some companies expand too fast, and can't keep up, and end up folding because of it. CONTACT them, ask them, go fishing. The only good advice I heard in the whole post thing is, keep looking. You need to be able to evaluate each company based not only on postings and web site evaluations and word of mouth, but also by personal contact. YOUR evaluation will be different from MINE, and you might be comfy working for a company I would hate. So, in that respect it is personal. And the "good" company of today, can fold tomorrow. The terrible company of today, can change it's spots. Find the fit for YOU.
Run away from those companies. sm

I paid $350 a month through Consumer Credit Counseling for over a year and they sold my accounts to Money Market Management and never told me.  They never paid a thing on my Sears bill because they were still waiting for Sears to accept their proposal, which Sears never did.  I was never told that either. 


I don't know where all of the money went because when I dumped them, my $200 Home Depot credit card bill was suddenly almost $600. (Late charges and over limit charges).


Work with your creditors.  It worked for me, at least for the most part.  Sears doesn't usually budge, but you'll find that in this day and age, creditors are willing to work with you and settle for a certain amount a month if you are willing to do direct debit (even $20 a month) from your bank account.


Good luck.


I would like to use this - what companies
x
What companies
Being a Christian, I would not work for any of them because the antics I have seen displayed in the industry would be at odds with my ethics. I will be consent to raise my child and leave the boardroom to someone else.
I mean getting other companies to allow
us to bring them to the office!
Best companies
Me too.  I'd love to hear about some place that treats their MTs well.  Is FOCUS a good company    ?????
The best companies are . . . (sm)
Transcription at its Best Get Back Jack BestPRN (Florida) ProScript (Florida) AccuStat (Wisconsin) In general, these are all companies with fewer than 100 MTs, so they treat their MTs like humans. The downside is you will frequently have to invest in a specific foot pedal or FTP program or even, ugh, C-phone and long distance. (See, that's what the IRS means when it asks whether you can lose money at your business.) These smaller companies also require a lot more communication and better work ethics than the big nasties do. If you can't do your assigned work, you'd better find a sub that can that very day. If you don't like communicating with the service owner frequently and keeping fences mended, you're better off with the big anonymous you're-a-number-to-us services. Best advice? Search through the old pages of the Company board and go to mtjobs.com and search the old listings. The companies who have just advertised are working their way through the average of 300 to 500 resumes that each ad produces. (Makes you wonder about those big nasties who keep advertising, doesn't it? Why so much churn?) I've had excellent results both with that and with "cold calling," meaning cold-emailing these days. Make your resume short, sweet, and effective; design an effective cover letter, and don't forget the outstanding subject line. Research the service and emphasize those of your qualities which exactly fit what they're looking for. Bonnne chance!
Some companies do.
You may want to try and find a company who is willing to work with a new MT. There are companies out there who will help new MTs gain experience and not pentalize them for their errors.
Companies?
What's the consensus, TransHealth or Precyse?  Thanks in advance.
There are still a few companies that will allow

dial-up.  I've seen a couple within the past month on the job boards but can't remember which ones.  She could get a job that uses a C-phone or Lanier, though she may also be required to get unlimited long distance too.  Most companies will rent the equipment or you can frequently find it on the equipment board here or e-bay for a reasonable charge.   There is a thing called an Air Card.  Verizon has one and I believe Sprint may have one - not sure.  I have used a laptop for many years and don't know if a desktop has a slot for the card to go in or you can use something internal.  The card is a couple of hundred dollars and the service is approximately $49.00/mo.   Some cell phone companies offer some type of data transfer that might be an option provided she isn't so remote that she can't get cell service.   In my city we have a new service called ClearWire.  I think it is along the lines of a cell phone transmission.  You plug the modem into an outlet and you can move it from room to room.   They don't have it in my neighborhood yet though so I don't have more particulars.   They may have the same service by a different name in your friend's area.


There is also satellite, although some companies will not allow it for security reasons and because the speeds are inconsistent.


That is all the options I can think of right now. 


I don't know if it is the Companies trying to rip off MT's but
I can tell you this - it used to be nothing to bid a job at 14 cents and walk away with it because you had the best service at the lowest price - now I routinely can bid 11 cpl and get underbid by someone else who is also offering 24 TAT and faxed reports.  If the MTSO can't get 11, you sure can't pay 10. I think that's why prices are starting to stick around 6-8 cpl for the MT's.
Two Companies
I just work for one company as an MT, but I also work as a Transcriptionist for an insurance company, so yes, I do work two jobs, but they're both not as MTs.