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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I thought initially "how hard can it be?"

Posted By: AgingMt on 2007-11-26
In Reply to: I was one of those people - telling the truth

It's not that I didn't respect the field, I just didn't anything about it. I had done legal transcription and figured since my mother was a nurse, I was pretty familiar with medical terminology (ahem).

By some miracle I got a transcription job in a small clinic and started to be trained. After the first week my thought was "Well, I guess I found something I CANNOT do!" =80 But my trainer was great, I picked it up quickly because even though it was hard I loved it from day 1.

That was 23 years ago and I've come a long way. I laugh at myself then. I was so clueless!


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Have you watched "How I Met Your Mother"?
It's on Monday's, I think. All my days run together, forgive me. It's not reality, but it's really refreshing. Good writing. I enjoy it.
"How to off-shore MT to China?"...
Why in the WORLD would they be involved with something in China, unless they are planning to assist them with taking MORE of our work?????  I can see it now . . . first China, then India, Pakistan...on and on.  We can pay to watch them put us out of work.  Yipee.  "American" was taken out of the name for obvious reasons.
Neither can you, lol. Mispelled "how" in your post.
x
I did mine initially in MS Publisher, but I

switched over to MS Word with an Excel object pasted in the center of it that has formulas for multiplying rates out.  I have one guy that does a bunch of weird stuff, so I bill him by the project.  Sometimes it's a per page rate, sometimes it's hourly, and sometimes it's a flat fee.  MPCount didn't work for billing him either.


If you'd like to leave your email address, I'll delete my info so you can put yours into it.


Tried this initially per tech's suggestion. Thank you!
dd
Don't spend a lot of time initially trying to get

a blank.  After you complete the dictation go back and relisten to see if you can fill in the blanks.  When I get a new ESL dictator it sometimes takes me a while to get his accent so I don't spend a lot of time trying to fill in the blanks initially.  Usually by the end of the report I have gotten the accent and can fill in most blanks.   I also have the experience to know what the blank should be in most cases, and that also helps me fill in.   If you get QA files back make copies of them and start your a notebook.  If you have the ability to relisten to files after they have been signed off when you get QA back relisten to the dictation and see if you can hear the blanks then.   When I first started doing ESLs I was so stressed because they were hard and I left a lot of blanks and I just don't normally leave blanks.  After getting QA back and relistening it seemed so clear what they were saying and I couldn't believe I had struggled so much. 


 


I went that route initially and lost 60 days

and ended up listing my house with a regular real estate agent.  In my post below about the soft market, I also mentioned not to go with a for sale by owner agent.  Help-U-Sell and Assist-2-Sell are what I'm talking about.  Yeah, the list on the MLS and yeah they give you a lock box but that's about it.  With a bulldog real estate agent and company they will go the extra mile for you.  That's what my agent did for me and my house is sold.  We close on October 9th. 


Regarding the lock box, your better agencies have them now that will email your agent when someone comes in a shows your house. It's a good way for your agent to followup.  For sale by owner agents don't do that. 


Be careful about these flat fee agents, because you get what you pay for.


Good luck!


Gentle stretching and ibuprofen initially,
then as it gets bearable, take up walking AT LEAST twice a week. Walk at a good speed with good posture, about 2 miles/45 minutes. The most logical way to keep a back working right when you sit in a chair all day is to walk regularly.

I'm 44, and thankfully all I get are muscle aches. At times there will be actual point tenderness in one of those (2) little dimples on your sacrum, you know, right in that area where a lot of tattoos are put? If you get that, you can massage that spot. It indicates a muscular problem, which is good, and it means you are too tight and need more exercise and especially stretching. The most important direction to stretch (since we are curled up in a C position so much of the day) is exercises that arch the back, so learn safe and effective stretches for that direction. What trainers are saying about stretching lately is stretch after exercise, not so much before, and hold each stretch longer. There are some muscles that don't even engage in the stretch until you've held it 30 seconds. I think piriformis is an important stretch.

It's very relaxing and restorative to stretch the right way.

Hope you are feeling better soon.
Pretty kewl...like the "how popular is your name" thingy, too (nm)

Here in the South, it's "How y'all doin' today?"

"How do you remember all that stuff?" Cuz I's smart. I has a brane. nm
x
someone just e-mailed me "how to write a letter to your Senator" -
I responded to this e-mail and attached a sample for her (Sarah) to send to her Senator, but came back as not deliverable. Just speak from your heart when you write. Be respectful, "Dear Senator, thank you for representing our state" And then tell your story so to speak, how things are effecting you. That bringing IT jobs (not just MT, but anything that contains our private information, credit card processing, debt collection, etc.) would not only deter the rampant increase in identity and medical identity theft, but would bring American jobs back to America, American MONEY back to America to be spent in America! Good luck to all
Were documents signed initially that focused on such an event?
dd
At least you "twiddle." Initially, I develop laryngitis from begging
.
Yes at PHNS-- this was a few years ago....was paid initially on how many lines you averaged an hour
the highest you could get was .085 which is what I averaged, however they restructured and it plummetted to .07.....you could get .085 again but you had to really work your butt off (something like +1500 a day).  I was PT so I was only doing 500 lines or so a day, at most 1000, so it basically sucked after that.  Plus the company totally changed, they started to outsource to the Phillappines, work dried up big time and we fought over the lousy crumbs.  Many of us left and moved onto to better things though!
I resisted it initially. Much to my surpise, line count has improved. Lots of backspacing being do
dd
This will vary depending on dictator style and speed, but the average to shoot for initially shoud b
around 3 times the length of the dictation. So, if the dictation is 5 minutes long, you should be able to complete the transcription in roughly 15 minutes. Again, that can vary, but it's a good rule of thumb to go by.
If it rains hard, the wind blows hard and there are trees
nearby, it snows heavily it will mess up the signal.  The speed is not constant, sometimes as slow as dial-up, but at least still connected.  Many companies will not allow satellite. 
So, you think it is okay for hard-working MTs to earn 7-8 cpl for their hard work?? nm
:{
Or after a boring weekend when working at a hospital someone asks "How was your weekend?" and

"How dumb am I" to lose a CD-ROM? Oh, about as dumb as the rest of us. nm
x
It is hard but only at first...

I have 2 children and did it with both of them.  I am also a nurse but after trying part-time out of the house work combined with MT-ing to stay home with kids as much as possible, I ended up strictly at home 2 years ago. 


It's not the easiest when the children are infants - but it's worth it once you get past that phase.  I actually used to type with my daughter breastfeeding in my lap!  I had some crazy, crazy days and nights.  Don't expect to get 3-4 hours straight - be ready to get an hour or 2 when you can throughout the day.  It can be frustrating, but once they reach a certain age and are sleeping well you can work at night and during naps.  (My kids did not take to naps too well, so the night was my time.)


Now my kids are 8-1/2 and 4-1/2 and it's wonderful.  I'm finally past the crazy hours and grabbing an hour whenever I can - never at the same time.  (I am fortunate to work for a company that does not require set hours.) I type while they are at school and then on occasion after they go to bed at night.  I volunteer at their schools once a week, coach my daughter's cheerleading team, and am baseball, soccer and football mom.  I had an RN office job part-time about 2 years ago that I loved, but I just couldn't take not being able to be there for their school activities, after-school stuff, etc.  Nothing beats the flexibility of MT-ing. 


Good luck.  There will be smooth days and not so smooth ones - keep in mind how lucky you will be to be able to attend everything you want to with your child - to not have to call in sick when they are, to not have to ask permission to run that lunchbox to school when they leave it in the car, etc., etc.!


hard to say - sm

I sure hope not.  I don't want to think that God would punish many for the actions of few like this either.  Probably purely coincidental. 


The sad thing is that those who demanded that these religious monuments be removed are probably not even from the south but chose that area because of the spirituality and religious folks that make the south their home.  


I personally find the removal of these markings truly abominable.  They are a simple reminder of what this country was founded on, faith, hope, and freedom. 


Southerners are devote and proud. They will get through this with time and help from the rest of us.  This is what American grit really is.  Help from others or no, we have to stick together and pull ourselves up from the muck. 


 


 


I really would like to know why it is so hard

to let someone ask a question if they want.  You do not have to read it, think about it, address it, whatever.....what difference does it make that the topic was brought up at some past time?  This board is for communication and nobody is forcing you to read redundant posts. 


Just PLEASE stop making folks feel stupid.  Go onto the next post or start one yourself. 


You are being to hard on
Not stop it - you are just looking at your own reflection in your monitor! You really shouldn't be so hard on yourself!
How hard is it to get a job?
I'm considering getting a Medical Transcriptionist Certificate at a local college.  I was wondering how hard it is to get a job after graduating?  I've noticed on the Job Seekers Board that most of the jobs require experience.  Any advice?
Having a hard day

I'm having the hardest time working today.  My best friend is having surgery at the Cleveland Clinic today.  She is only 28 and has grade III anaplastic astrocytoma.  She was only diagnosed three months ago after she had a seizure and this is now her second surgery.  She is so far away (we live in Kentucky) and I really want to be there.  To those who are reading this, I am asking for your prayers for my friend, Jenny, and her husband and two young children, that they may all be together this Christmas.   Please also pray for me to have the strength to help her and her family through this terrible time and difficult road ahead.  Thank you all.


don't be hard on yourself for the

decisions that you've made.  we all want to believe what our spouces tell us and hope that things will change but in the end it never does and in the meantime you're raising your kids in an environment that will effect them the rest of their lives.  i've been through a lot of what you're going through and there's no good or easy answer to help anyone through it.  I used to be very confident, strong and able to do anything and now I don't have the confidence to make the most simple decisions because my x was so abusive.  my family didn't believe me about the things that would happen and I was too humiliated to tell my friends.  when I finally got the courage to make him move out I was recovering from neck surgery, couldn't ambulate by myself, didn't have a full time job,  had a 1 year old, and  he had wiped out the savings.  it's been 2.5 yrs and I'm almost back on my feet.  there are state systems that can help you but be prepared for a battle there too because you will have to nag and nag to get help in a somewhat timely manner, just don't give up.  start checking into things as quickly as possible because I found out that it's usually first-come first-served type of thing.  call you local police department and ask what they can offer and what steps you need to take to keep yourself and kids safe. what I finally realized was that I didn't want my son growing up in an environment that was unhealthy and unsafe not to mention I didn't want him to think that it was ok to treat people, especially women, in the way he was seeing at home.  I'm a firm believer that God gives you what you can handle and you will be a better person once you've overcome his challenges.  I also believe that it's my job as a mother to do anything I can to protect my son for as long as I can.  no parent, not even a step-parent, should ever be jealous of their child for any reason especially health reasons and needing more attention. I know I'm on my soapbox but I believe that you can find the confidence to do what is right for you and to be stronge for your kids.   try to remember that abusers never change. (feel free to email me anytime you need to.)  there's lots of us out there that can relate to what you're going through and although there's nothing to make it easier it helps to have people just to vent to.   my prayers go out to you and your family


Most MT's tell me it's hard to get 9 to 10 cpl now...nm
x
Not hard at all

I set up my Linksys wireless router myself and it was pretty much self explanatory.  The Linksys help line is pretty good too, in case you run into trouble.  Might have to wait a bit on the phone depending on what time you call. 


This is hard for me to believe
I guess I am stumped as I do 180 to 220 minutes per day.  To me 60 minutes means I am hardly working.  I am not trying to  put this down but this is definitely part-time and so you should be able to do it unless they make you do it at specific times and you like to make your own time to work.  You just need to work toward goals and reward yourself for every 20 minutes you do.   But if this is an account you will be on all the time, you should be able to whip out 60 minutes in less than 2.5 to 3 hours.  You can do it.  How many minutes/lines do you do a day now?  You must not need to make money to pay bills, that is my biggest incentitive -- no money - no food or ability to pay bills.    Patti 
It is so hard
I feel so bad for you.  I had to do the recently.  I still shudder when I think of that horrible day.  I don't know how I got the courage to do it, just knew I had to.
Was that so hard?
THAT is more along the lines of what I was trying to find out - not getting bashed just because I already have a great career and make pretty good money.

I never said I was looking to swich careers. In fact, I specifically stated that I already have a very fulfilling one and was just looking at MT as a part time thing. My husband and I recently had our first child and all of a sudden I find myself at home ALL THE TIME. She's a great baby, and I have quite a bit of free time on my hands at home and thought maybe I could fill it with this after a co-worked suggested it.

After sifting through all the available information online I couldn't make a clear deduction on whether I wanted to invest money in training, and if I did invest what kind of training is best.

I love having an office and getting out of the house to work every day and am not looking to change that. I am on a computer pretty much all the time and wondered if I could turn that into some cash - nothing else was intended from my initial post!
Are Ops hard to do?

It seems some MTs love to do them, but why do they seem so ominous? Are some harder than others? I've heard of MTs making normals out of them, thus, good money. They've just always scared me for some reason.


Thanks!


Hard to say
If you are getting way too much, it could be a sign your skills are poor. Seriously. But on the other hand, some of these QA people are totally anal and frankly a little power goes a long way...

You ask them: Am I receiving an unusually high amount of QA?

I have 20 years in the business and for some companies who completely change the "rules" (style, etc.) I can get a lot of QA trying to get me to do things "wrong" which ya gotta do for the paycheck!

Conversely, other accounts don't seem to monitor closely enough...

What kind of errors are you getting corrected? Minor picky stuff or major (dropped words, wrong words, etc.)?


It Would be Hard...
You'd be completely starting from scratch like the first time touching a keyboard, basically. Think of how long it took you to learn QWERTY and times that by a few :o). I guess you wouldn't be starting from scratch but worse; you'd be forcing yourself to throw away something that is 2nd nature to you by now.

Of course, it's possible :o). I'd love to learn, too, but I seriously doubt I have the patience and determination to do so! If you go for it, good luck!!
it's hard
It's hard to get any acute care experience without working inhouse.  It is also very helpful to have other MTs there for assistance, cuz like you said acute care IS A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME.
very well said...It can be done but it is very hard...
definitely have to manage time wisely for sure...
It will be a while. Don't be hard on yourself. Take
xx
It is possible but hard to get - sm
you have to file a claim and your employer the files their side of things and they usually win 9/10 times. My SIL was "fired", wrongly, filed, her former employer fought it and won. Of course if you can prove you were fired for no reason or they had no grounds then you have a better chance at getting it, but it is still hard. It is basically for people who get laid off or otherwise lose their job through no fault of their own.
It's so hard to lose a pet
I'm sorry for your loss. My own old girl Tildy died on April 21 and I miss her so much. Last week, I finally adopted another dog, and we are going to be great friends I know, but I still miss Tildy. I probably would have put off adopting a new dog longer, but a friend of mine sent me a *comic strip* called "Shelter Stories" - it shows this dog lying there with his eyes closed thinking "I'm afraid to open my eyes. I'm afraid yesterday was ALL a dream and I'll wake up and still be in the shelter. "Sigh, okay, I've got to open them. Here goes...one, two, three! it's a picture of this dog lying there on a nice soft bed and when he opens his eyes, there's a person there too, just smiling at him.

Sometimes we're all each other has. I hope your heart feels better soon.
Thanks guys! It's just hard. . .sm

Very small neighborhood.  Houses are very close together.  We've lived here almost 7 years and we all know each other and chat and the neighbors help each other out, no matter what. 


These people just scare me because everything is drawn up tight and the "skinny" woman of the house seems very nervous.  I've only seen her "husband" once and he looks as if he may be the thing that makes her afraid.


I have gotten to the point, however, where I will make some phone calls.  The poor dog finally stopped barking, but my daughter went out back with her friends to swim in the pool (behind an 8 foot stockade fence) and all you can hear is "yap, yap, yap."


Geeeeeesh.


verbatim is hard for me too
It is very hard for me to deliberately type wrong words, phrases, etc. It makes me think someday someone is going to read that document and say "gads where did they get that transcrptionist!" not knowing we have to type it as dictated.
I'm sorry, but I find this hard to believe sm
You actually expect us to believe that you work part-time and still do 16,000 per pay period at MQ.  How? What's your secret? You must be superwoman or something! Cause I work full time and can't do that many lines! Boy, am I jealous!
I still find it really hard to believe.
There are hundreds of thousands of people who will be just throwing their TVs away because they'll refuse to pay for cable or dish.  What about all the elderly people?  No way are they going to pay for something that's been free since it was invented.  I do have basic cable, but it's mostly smut and garbage on there.  I only keep it for PBS and Disney channel right now, but we've been seriously considering cutting it off.  Every time we try to watch something on TV, the ads for other programs are just not something we like to expose our children to.  If we cancel cable, I guess we'll just watch DVDs and not have TV at all any more.  (Or watch it through the Internet like we listen to the radio now.)
If it is very hard to get your lines at SS, which is
happening with everyone as SS seems to be stealing their lines, you'd be better off with Accustat. 
It is a hard thing.....

But I started my son out in life by telling him I would support him in anything he did and any decision he made as long as it was good, was lega and didn't hurt anyone else!!  I feel you must trust you son in this.  Perhaps something happened that he is not yet willing to share with you.  Putting pressure on him now regarding that scholarship could be a very bad thing.  Sounds to me like you have raised a good and responsible son.  I don't think you should question him too strongly?  I know, money may be short and it may be his only way into a good college but what is more important? 


It is a hard thing; we parents only want the best but so often we tend to see the end of the "dream", (is it our dream or your child's dream?), without seeing all the ramifications that the child endures.  Trust in your son.  Of course, speak with him occasionally, try to find out what may have happened to cause this change....I would think something apparently did happen.  You may never know....he might not even be able to pin point it himself.  Again, trust in the fact that you have raised a good son and that he will do well in whatever he endeavors.  Let him lead his life; just keep the reins tight enough that he does not stray.


I only say these things because I've been through it.....teenagers are a real challenge, (the terrible 2's are nothing!!).  They are growing into men and/or women and becoming the people that they will be forever.  Please give him the chance to find himself and to be the person HE wants to be.  Don't cry, take pride, you are a good mom and he is a good son. 


Is the testing hard?
/
How many of you ICs have to work really hard to

make double your money in one week in order to take a vacation for one week.  I'm forever finding myself wanting to go on vacation, working doubly hard to make up any money I will lose while I'm off either before I leave or when I come back.  Is this the way everyone takes a vacation or is it just me?  I can't seem to give myself a break and just take off any time without making up my money that I'll lose.  GRRRR. I think I need a break!



sorry you are having such a hard time...
but I honestly do not know what you mean. may I ask who are you talking about.

at some point, people have to stand up for themselves, that is, in my opinion, what
"this country is based upon." thank heavens some people felt they were worth more than just working for the government, and left to start a new life here.

if you are upset about the postings regarding MT profession disintegrating, then I disagree with you.

we do perform a very important service, one that helps our 'fellow man' every single day, in the over-50 reports we probably transcribe each and every day while people wait to have surgeries or need emergency care.

we are typing those reports to create a legal document with our names attached to them as well.

this is not "pissing and moaning" but active dialogue with the hopes something good can come out of it. sorry you feel that way, and I am sincerely sorry you are being touched by those problems because of a natural disaster...
Trying to find the way out? It's not THAT hard...
get another job! GET ANOTHER JOB! GGGEEETTT ANNOOOTHHHERRR JOOOBB!!!! ROFL

OMG, you really can't be serious with that line, can you?! Trying to figure it out? TRYING?

You apply...you interview...you accept another position...you work both jobs until you're up and running with the 2nd one and then you QUIT MQ!

And since no one at MQ seems to have any work except MY office, then that should be a real breeze for ya!! You're obviously not working anyway! OMG how many brain cells are you actually utilizing to stay where you have no work or they crap all over you like you claim?!

Oh, that is SOOOOOO hilarious!!!!!!! I do appreciate the humor, people! Really, I do!!!!!