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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I use the enclosed for my meetings with new clients. May be able to use some of them--sm

Posted By: Dee on 2006-02-21
In Reply to: Help! Have face-to-face interview for at-home hospital job tomorrow and ....SM - MT looking

Spec Sheet

„Ï How many doctors? ________. Names and credentials exactly as wanted for signature line.
„Ï Clinic hours_______________________
„Ï Does office close for doctor¡¦s vacation?
„Ï What is the estimated amount of dictation in minutes per day?
„Ï Turnaround time__________
„Ï Is there ever any STAT work needed? If so, what are the expectations for that work?
„Ï
„Ï Pickup time___ if tape is not ready at this time, TAT is no longer in effect.

DICTATION

„Ï Micro cassette___________ C-phone______________
„Ï Return cassette unerased?
„Ï Will patient log sheet be provided for name spelling/acct #?
„Ï Will office sign for returned work? _________ POC ___________
„Ï What font?
„Ï How do they want you to flag blanks or questions? How to flag for any questions/inconsistencies
„Ï
„Ï Samples provided?



PRINTING
„Ï How is transcribed data to be returned? Printed_______Floppy disk ____
„Ï If printed, client____ service _____will provide paper, letterhead, envelopes.
„Ï If I have to call the office to determine proper spelling of patient's names or doctors¡¦ names the turnaround time is no longer guaranteed.
„Ï Typing letters and envelopes or just actual medical reports. If addresses are not provided for recipients of letters, there will be an added clerical service fee for my time of $0.25 per letter/envelope.
„Ï
„Ï Faxing or mailing reports to third parties will not be done.


BILLING INFO

„Ï What kind of invoice is preferred?
„Ï Billing date: ___________ Payment date: _____________
„Ï Reprints for transcribed data delivered in the past and signed for by office staff will be charged at $0.75 per page.
„Ï _________________________________________________
„Ï Reprints¡Xreprints of reports with an error made by me will be provided at no charge. Reprints of reports with corrected errors by the doctor will be provided at $0.75 per page.



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Meetings transcription
How would you charge for the meetings dictation, would it still be the 65 cpl, per page, gross line. 
Sounds like all the doublespeak inflicted on us at our employee meetings. Finger-pointing, no const
.
see enclosed

I recently signed up for a health insurance savings type program called Equal Access, where you are covered for prescriptions, get some sort of credit for doctor's visits, etc. for a reduced rate.  If you want additional information, let me know.  Apparently, participating doctors give reduction in rates for people using this plan.


seen enclosed-sm
http://home.adelphia.net/~ktm58/links.html
see enclosed sm.
Tools, Macro, Record new macro, box will come up to name macro, choose toolbar or keyboard. I use keyboard F12 since that is easy to get to. You will see a box somewhere on your screen that looks like a cassette. Do Ctrl F, in the find box, I use the ^ as my code, but enter whatever you want to be you code. Find next. Close. Stop record.

You will need to go through you document and insert you code where you want them. By pressing F12 or whatever you set as you key, it should go from one to the next.

If this does not work, e-mail me and I will try to help furtehr.

This is also a good site for Word help---http://textware.com/board/msword/index.html
site enclosed--sm
http://www.transcribers.com/product5.htm
try enclosed site-sm
http://www.mt-resources.com/sample_contracts.htm
Link enclosed
dangerous abbreviations should be avoided.
Go to the enclosed web site.

http://www.komando.com/index.asp


 


This girl really knows here stuff!!  look up her shareware.  She has a radio program and gives lots of great free advice. 


Web site enclosed
http://komando.com/tips_show.asp?showID=8854
try enclosed site--sm
http://www.prounlimited.com/compliance-questions.html
The enclosed link will help you out - sm
http://www.medicalese.org/line_count.php
check out the enclosed site--sm
http://www.mt-resources.com/sample_contracts.htm
Christmas link enclosed.
Here's a really great site that somebody shared with me.   Merry Christmas to all.
link enclosed for trial.

 


http://www.pcshorthand.com/dnload.html


 


This is where I downloaded the free 30 day trial from.  It also says you can order a trial CD if you prefer.  So far, I am enjoying playing with this expander.  It seems like it offers a lot!  Wish me luck..


Enclosed cached link has
at the bottom.
check out enclosed site--sm
http://textware.com/board/wordperfect/index.html

Someone there may be able to help you. Other than copying the macros from WP document into Word document and then creating the macro again, I can not think of a way to do it, though there probably is a way.
yeah, my friend sent enclosed link...sm

and I had just posted this on the *other* board....to get their minds off of their problems.  I, too, feel like I have lost a family member, especially because I knew her nephew years ago, Perry....same last name as hers prior to her changing it......


very sad, indeed........she never made a movie that I didn't like........


 


http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/14/obit.winters.ap/index.html


Check the enclosed site. May be able to find what you need there--sm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=HIPAA+guidelines
Opinions/impressions, please, on wording enclosed.

Please help me with the wording of this letter that I am seriously considering sending to one of my offices:


Please inform Dr. XXX that in the future any dictations that are done in the swimming pool area, karate room, cafeteria or other public venues will not be transcribed by this service.  This decision has been made due to the fact that the dictation is difficult to hear and understand because of the amount of background noise.


Additionally, I believe this to be a breech of the confidentiality of patient records that are mandated by HIPAA and I do not agree to be a part of such violation.


Any future dictations that are submitted by this physician which have been done in the above-named situations will not be transcribed by this service and will be immediately discarded.


Thank you for your understanding in this matter.


Sincerely,


(end)


There is a new doctor in one of the practices with small children and she's one of those who is trying to be supermom. (That's a whole other issue.) I have transcribed for two other (male) doctors in this practice for over 15 years without anything like this. I have twice now asked the office manager to tell her about this situation and it improved for a short while but today I had 18 minutes of very loud swim practice in the background. Her solution appears to be talk louder and I've got one HUGE headache after listening to her. I don't understand why she has to be right there instead of even finding a quiet spot to do this while the kids are occupied but she apparently thinks they can't be out of her sight. (I know they're unsupervised, either; I can hear the coach shouting.) Among the reasons listed above, I really want to say that I think this is just flat out disrepectful of both patients and myself but I don't think it is wise to get that personal. I really don't want to lose this practice but I honestly am not willing to put up with this nonsense from her anymore, either.


Thanks in advance for any HELPFUL suggestions you might have. If you're not willing to help, that's fine, too, but please keep the mean stuff to yourself.


check the enclosed link to see if that hels you--sm
http://speechrecognition.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/front-end-or-back-end-speech-recognition/
Get a Google Toolbar, description and link enclosed
I have a Google search toolbar at the top of my browser.  It's a small line like the address bar but it says Google beside it and I just type in my searches there instead of going to Google first, etc.  I've found it very easy to use.  Of course, as with anything there are extra parts to the program, I just added the basic tool bar and went to options and only kept the parts of it that I wanted on my toolbar.  It makes searching a whole lot easier, all I need to do is bring up the internet and my search is at the top.
I got the enclosed by accessing Help, typing in template. There are more options--sm
other than this one--

Create a memo
Show All
Hide All
On the File menu, click New.
In the New Document task pane (task pane: A window within an Office application that provides commonly used commands. Its location and small size allow you to use these commands while still working on your files.), under Templates, click On my computer.
Click the Memos tab.
Double-click Memo Wizard.
If you do not see this wizard (wizard: A feature that asks questions and then creates an item, such as a form or Web page, according to your answers.) in the Templates dialog box, you might need to install it.

Follow the steps in the wizard.
Notes

For more templates and wizards, visit the Microsoft Office Online Web site.
You can use the Memo Wizard to create a memo for printing, e-mail distribution, or faxing.

Hope this helps.
I'm just putting my clinics on digital too, check out enclosed links - sm

http://www.hthengineering.com/sst2.html


 


http://www.hthengineering.com/pdf/DigitalGuide.pdf


Enclosed are the steps involved, my point of view only. Very long post. sm
1. Make sure you have the qualifications. If you have EXCELLENT spelling and grammer skills, good typing skills, complete attention to the smallest details, and willingness to work HARD and learn constantly, you may have what it takes.

2. Realize that you will not learn this career in 1-2 years. That is a good beginning, but then you will have an "apprenticeship" period. This runs anywhere from 1-3 years, depending on the job you get, the training available there, and your ability to branch out and absorb a constantly changing field.

3. Do your homework on the training schools. Some schools offer a program that will actually help you get a job when finished; others have a reputation that will allow you to hire with some companies as a "newbie." Don't waste money on a school that gives you a certificate and sends you out on your own. You may find it difficult to get a job without experience, and can't get experience without a job. I am not recommending a school. DO A LOT OF RESEARCH. Every school has "lucky" graduates, so get a consensus from MANY graduates.

4. If you expect to make a fortune, look elsewhere. You will find "exceptions" that make anywhere from $50 to $100 thousand a year. Most of us with a lot of experience make anywhere from $30 - $50, depending on your speed and stamina. Without stamina, you'll burn out or develop physical problems in a couple of years.

5. VR will never replace transcription. However, it takes a lot of knowledge to "proof" VR reports, and as the machines get smarter, we also must have more experience to catch their errors. I do not foresee us being replaced by machines. It is possible, though, that the wages will not go up because of this, and most MTs will stay on a plateau. Not easy, when cost of living keeps going up, but right now it is a reality, so consider it.

This is my view of the MT field, and its future. I have 18 years experience and have worked on the web for 9, since being outsourced from a hospital. It's a rough field, but not impossible, and I'm happy with it. I only have 10 years to go, though. I'm not sure I would start it now, if I were younger. You have to have a lot of determination. Good luck to you.
To get own clients or not....
I have thought about getting my own clients, but working for a company, if I want time off, I can easily arrange that and know there will be co-workers to cover the accts.  If I get sick, the company will find someone to cover the accts.  I don't have to worry about the billing, tech support, trouble-shooting, complaints.  Maybe someday I will chose to give up what life I have and get my own clients, but for now I like being an IC for a company.  This way, I am a great employee and an even better boss. 
My clients...
Consist of clinics.  They all get 48-hour turnaround time guaranteed, and anything STAT (a TRUE emergent STAT) they need, it's done at no extra charge.  Radiology gets four to eight-hour turnaround for obvious reasons.  The rest of the clinics don't need a 24-hour turnaround time because let's face it, their staff basically sit on it, and I'm not going to break my neck so they can just sit on it....
Clients
Hello!  I'm new to the board but not to MT.  I've been working from home for my own clients for 10 years.  I wondered if others who do the same have ever experienced a situation I just encountered and wondered what your thoughts were.  I had a client whom I transcribed for for two years, then he moved and started back up in his practice and called me and I've worked for him for an additional year in that new practice.  When I noticed recently that I hadn't received his dictation as usual, I questioned it, i.e. was he on vacation, did they lose a tape or what?  The receptionist said he must not have dictated yet.  I found this off as he usually dictates each day he's in the office.  A week had gone by w/o work so I called and asked and the same girl said she'd have his wife (who works in the office) call me because she didn't know why there wasn't work, etc.  At this point I got suspicious and had asked the recep. if there was something going on I should know about. She said they're working on this new software and maybe they just got behind.  New software? I talked to his wife and "I" mentioned this software.  She didn't.  I asked if this affected my workload and she said 'yeah, probably quite a bit.'  I asked if she would please let me know AHEAD of time if they were going to make this transition so I could prepare and plan (she had just made it sound like they were just looking into it and kind of testing it out, NOT that they'd by any means started using it full-time).  She said oh certainly they would let me know ahead of time.  Then I pressed a little more and finally she told me he'd already been using it for his patients and when I asked if I should replace his work, she said yeah, probably because he really seems to like it and will probably use it.  I don't know what the software is but I hate it just because it took a big client from me.  But I"m also wondering if this is common practice for a physician just to outright not tell an MT that they weren't going to use their services any more.  I mean, not only did they not give me notice beforehand, but they hedged on admitting it when I came right out and asked.  I find this incredibly rude and inconsiderate, especially when I've been a faithful MT for them for three years.  I"m just dumbfounded at this behavior.  Has anyone experienced this?  So now that leaves me in the lurch with bills to pay with an already tight budget (hubby in college, two kids, high heat bills, blah, blah, etc.) and me looking for work to fill in the gap.  Sorry I ranted and rambled.  I'm just really upset by this and wondered if anybody experienced being treated this way and/or knows what this software might be and if it poses a threat to any of us.  Thanks so much!
Own clients
This has been discussed many times with many different opinions/ideas.  You might do a search as there was quite a heated debate on this about two months ago.  I have a brochure that I send out with my card.  For those I am very interested in I do stop by in person or if anyone calls inquiring I stop by in person.  You have to be prepared with equipment to do tapes or digital and some may inquire about a call in system.   You may have to pick up and deliver, provide your own paper.  Be prepared to do any type accounts.  Your rate will depend on the area you are in and can be anywhere from 11 to 16 cpl from what people say on this board.  You have to be prepared to have some back up if you get very sick or have an accident and for vacations.   You will not get any benefits, will not getpaid when the doctor takes a month off to go to Spain.  It will be a tough go at first until you esablish a rapport with the office staff.  But I like it and have been doing it for 18 years.  Just did a report and have made 4K more this year than I did last year so things are looking up for me.  Good luck.   Patti 
One of my clients for whom I have done only
tapes for has given me a CD to load onto my computer.  I haven't put it on yet but I'm wondering if you all can help.  It's an Olympus CD and looks like it's for .wav files which is what he intends.  He says I should be able to load this onto my computer and then after that, he can email me voice files.  Now, is this correct and what will I need to have in order to play and transcribe his voice files?  I have a Bytescribe pedal. Please tell me I won't have to buy a different pedal for this! Thanks in advance for any help!
want to get own clients

Hi Everyone,


 


I have over 2 years’ experience in medical transcription and really want to get my own client(s).  I feel that I am finally ready to take that leap.  The question I have is – how do you go about talking to potential clients?  What is the best way?  Mailings, calling, just going in?  Should I make business cards?  Unfortunately all of my doctors offices (family, ob/gyn) husband's GI doc and daughter's pediatrician are all EMR.  Ugh.  So that's no help. 


 


I’m not really afraid of what to charge or contracts, the rest is what has me stressed the most.  Should I buy a program like DocShuttle or will they basically tell me what they want?  I have been with nationals and small  MTSOs alike and just am not sure how to go about everything myself. 


 


You can feel free to e-mail me with any advice also.


 


I really appreciate the suggestions/help!!!


Getting own clients
I am currently transcribing for GI docs who are using the EMR system, I love it. There is barely any paper for me to handle, I fax everything right from their system to the referring physicians, once in a while I will get a physician who doesn't have a fax and so I need to mail. The final copy goes right into their system. I am currently working from home through my business. They had the equipment installed at my house, fortunately for me, I was with them for four years before I went on maternity leave and have been doing it from home for the past two years.

I also transcribe for ENT docs in my area, before I went on maternity leave I asked them to use my digital phone in system (really didn't expect them to since they were 'set in their ways' but they agreed).

As far as getting new clients, I would get some business cards printed out, and some fliers stating what equipment you will use, i.e. tapes, digital; will you be dropping the finished work off, and also turn-around-time. Then if it were me, I would take these to local doctors, speak with the office manager and offer your services, may be you can start off by offering to cover vacations (I know how hard it is to get coverage for yourself on vacation. You might have to start small and work your way up, but at least it is a start.

Well that is all I can think of, I hope this is helpful to you. Good luck!!
Best way to get clients? sm
I want to market my service in my area. I have gone to offices before in the past, but they sometimes get annoyed. I have also done mailings and get no response. Is there another way to get the OM's attention that maybe I overlooked? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Some clients won't go there
Some doctors have such rotten dictating habits they know running their reports through ASR will result in utter garbage; they have TAT to meet and they know if they take the time to have those reports extensively edited post ASR its just an extra step.  Some clients know for them it will be a time and money waster; it is the MTSOs that are pushing for all ASR, not the clients.  Many hospitals have tried ASR inhouse and end up scrapping it and going back to MTs.  Its a lot like outsourcing in that many people are on the bandwagon, but there'll always be some that refuse to ride it.
Clients have the right to not have an
MT transcribing that reports if that MT continually makes mistakes. Not talking about the ones QA catches, but the reports that are sent straight through without QA and they catch the mistakes on their end and have to send it back. The client I am assigned at my MTSO has said that certain mistakes will not be tolerated and those that make those will not work on their account. They have the right to pull the account from the MTSO if their wishes are not followed by the MTSO.
getting own clients

Does anyone have a sample letter that I can look at to try to get my own accounts?  I would really appreciate the help if there is anyone willing.  I just need something to get an idea of what to cover in a letter just to get my foot in the door.


Thanks in advance.


I don't have any of my own clients...sm
so I have never had this problem. They said you were no longer transcribing his letters. Does that mean you are still transcribing other types of reports for him or is that the only type of report you did for him?
If the secretary called you before and asked questions about "How often ARE you coming to get work" or something to that effect, then it leads me to believe he was not happy with you for some reason. Sounds like he found someone else to do his work. He could have found someone to do it cheaper, who knows? I hate to hear you lost this client. I know money is tight.
Why not just get your own clients?
Just curious why you would rather subcontract when you could just get your own clients and make more money instead of paying a middle man.
I just heard clients are now
very interesting, indeed.
Finding Clients
I had gotten my previous clients when I worked in a hospital Medical Records Department as an MT. The docs just came to me and asked me to do their work at home. I am going to have a professional letter and business cards made up now to send to local doctors, just anyone in the phone book who looks good, but mostly cardiology, neurology, neurosurgery and orthopedic docs. They seem to have the most consultation letters.
Contracting own clients
It's actually two units attached and working together: A Sony BM-890 microcassette dictator/transcriber and a DTI-800 phone interface. I bought the unit (years ago) for about $1,300.00. The top unit (BM-890) is where you put the tapes in and is like a regular Sony transcriber. (I transcribed the tapes on a separate transcriber, though). The unit gives the doctors the option of pausing and backing up to listen to their dictation and make changes if needed.
Contracting own clients
I agree - to make good money, you need to get your own accounts. My long-time cardiology group account just got EMR with VR, however, so I need to find a new account now. This one was really nice in that the doctors dictated over their phones to my Sony answering system, and then I would just e-mail the completed work back at the end of the day for the office to print it all out there; I never had to do any pickups of tapes or delivery of hard copies. Just wondering now, is this very unusual, or do others here have similar arrangements? Thanks.
None of my clients have no idea what a CMT is...
Seems like they should spend more time/money educating doctors about the mere existence of CMTs instead of rolling out another level of certification.
Ditto! What do clients think when they -
It appears as though the majority of this company's managers don't even know how to type! Must look awful if they use emails to communicate with clients!
I would just tell your clients that you have expanded, now
having 2 branch offices and that all invoices are being generated out of your new office and that is where payments should be made.
One of my clients uses Chartscript
It is a little confusing at first, but once used to it, it is a breeze. You just have to be careful because the system is picky about what it will accept, such as no % signs, but rather spelled out, etc. Not hard. If I can do it, anybody can. :^)
It COULD be a lot worse. And clients and QA are much more likely
to comment on obvious padding than grammar errors, so I'd keep my head down if I were you. Just do it the right way. You say there is no QA, but if you get yearly reviews or anything, do mention you would appreciate any feedback on quality that they were able to provide. But I'd rather work with somebody who is padding their reports a bit than somebody whose work is full of grammar errors or real medical errors like I've seen so much of in the hospitals where I have worked.
For people who have their own clients....

Do you bill monthly, twice monthly, or bi-weekly?  I have work from a hospital coming soon and wondered how most people bill.  Also, while I'm in the process of making up a contract, what would you say is the norm in terms of the percentage you would charge if they were late in paying you?  About how long after you send the bill do you expect to be paid?  I know all of these things are negotiable, I would just like some feedback on what others are doing as this will be my first contract.


Thanks a lot! 


 


"stealing" clients
Actually I DO believe what you did here was unethical. And it is the exact reason that noncompete clauses get created. Any MT who is contracting with a service has no business going straight to a client UNLESS they have been asked to do so by the service they work with. To do so and then make an attempt, successful or not, to take that client away from the service does smack of ethics that I wouldn't want to be associated with personally.
These are not local clients.
They are nationwide clients. I provide digital dictation access.

I also have QA contractors that are included in my overhead costs as much as the MTs.


It's always been my experience, with your own clients...sm
you can produce many more lines per hour (as you become so accustomed to them, you know what they'll see before they even do). On the other hand, when I have worked for nationals, my production is way lower because I have always been tossed around to different specialties. Those account specifics for each specialty (worked for hospitals through nationals, combined with the templates, looking up referring physicians, etc. will your eat your productivity up. You have to weigh the pros and cons of having your own clients or working for a company. My wrists, hands, and neck are starting to wear down after over 20 years of this. I certainly don't miss the overhead costs of having my own clients, estimated taxes, etc. I used to be able to whip out 2,000 lines a day easily with my own clients, now I do 1,000 per day with a company, and I am quite content with that because I can no longer stand being strapped to a computer for hours and hours. I think my kids (now grown), thought the desk and computer were a permanent body part of mine!