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I used character count, 65 characters. What I

Posted By: see message on 2008-08-19
In Reply to: Did you use the word count (m) - MT

personally like about The Abacus is it will create an invoice for you, listing each document and the characters, lines, however you want to count it. It gives you choices on how to count.


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0.12/cpl, macros count as 2 characters, backspacing is given to us as 1 character. No spaces. Aut
dd
A 65 character line is 65 characters
on a line. If have 650 characters in a document, that is equal to 10 lines, then multiply that by whatever your cpl rate ie. If 0.10 cpl then that would be 650 x 0.10 which would equal $0.65, if 6500 characters, then that would be 650 lines x 0.10 which would equal $6.50. This is if it is a 65 character line including spaces.
A 65 character line is 65 characters
on a line. If have 650 characters in a document, that is equal to 10 lines (650 divided by 65), then multiply that by whatever your cpl rate ie. If 0.10 cpl then that would be 650 x 0.10 which would equal $0.65, if 6500 characters, then that would be 650 lines x 0.10 which would equal $6.50.
Take the character count divded by 65 and that will give you your line count.
x
You can count your lines and characters yourself sm
even if you have no counting program. You can copy and paste into a word document or clipboard and count the characters in Word. At least you will have some idea of what you are being paid for. I have done this many times and if it doesn't add up to what the company's count has, I was right on the horn and sometimes even quit because of it. I will not be cheated in any way by any one.
Do both count the same # of characters per line?
If they're different (65 characters per line, 55 characters, etc.), then you need to let us know what they are before anyone can give an objective answer.
Character count
I have no tip, but my co is also doing that. UGH!
Character count tips
The hospital/clinic I work for is changing the counting method from gross lines to character count.  Does anyone have any tips on increasing production using total characters?  Thanks
New here & ? regarding byte vs character count

Hi everyone. I am new here but not new to medical transcription. Very happy I stumbled upon this board.  I am always looking to compare notes with other MTs. 


Now, I know this question has probably been asked a million times on the site arleady, but since I am new and don't know my way around very much, forgive me for repeating.  


Now my question/situation:  I was asked to submit a proposal to a clinic yesterday. I found out that their current company figures lines based on bytes/65= 1 line, not my typical characters/65= 1 line. It has been a very, very long time since I have dealt with byte count - can someone refresh my memory and help me with ideas on how to address the difference with the new clinic?  


Thanks in advance for your assistance, and I look forward to reading more posts on the site.  Hope you all have a great day.


How do I figure out what the character line count is--sm
if my document has 1,086 characters and 56 lines? 
And don't forget you have to divide the character count by 65 :)
x
That's true - I could just total the character count sm
and just divide by 65 once. D'oh!
In Word, take the character count (with spaces) divided by 65... SM
that will give you an accurate line count, but you'll have to write the character count down for each and every report before you finish and send the report.  I put a button on my tool bar that I just clicked to bring up the document counts and then I just kept a log that wrote down job number and character count for each report.  Then at the end of the day just add up the characters divide by 65 and you've got your line count for the day.  Kind of a hassle, but worth it in the long run.
If they pay by character, they pay for numbers. Numbers are characters, silly.
x
usually one "word" equals 5 characters, so it's still being paid by characters. nm
d
A gross line IS a gross line regardless if it's 90 characters long or 1 character long... SM

I'm very sorry that your lines are 90 characters line and you get paid by gross lines.  You are cheating yourself - that's not my fault.  You cannot change the definition of a gross line.  So I gues I'm not understanding what you are trying to say.  Now if you are trying to say that your line equals 90 characters and that's how you figure your lines, than you are not using gross lines.  You have defined a line to be 90 characters, whereas most MTSOs define a line as 65 characters.  If that is the case, then I must say again, you are cheating yourself.


So which is it, do you get paid by gross lines or by a 90 character line?


Quick question! Is 10 cpl with benefits at 74 character line better than 9 cpl at 65 character line?
Thanks
it does not count gross lines...I count 37 and it counts 67.
x
13 cpl 65 characters. nm
x
more characters
well, if there's not enough lines available, there's just not. However, most employers don't mind if you add "articles" such as "and" and "the" when the doctor may not exactly say it or you can make complete sentances out of incomplete ones. as long as your employer or doctor's preference is not verbatim, that's fine and most of them prefer it actually. you'll eventually "train" yourself to do it automoatically. most employers don't mind you adding a few "the patient" in there either as long as it's not excessive.  word Expanders are good too. i use shortkeys. also, if not already in place, maybe 4 characters for the year (on the date) would add some. may sound like little things, but it adds up! good luck!
Also get 2 more characters if use okay.
x
Nope, not a higher count. Actually, the count is the same...
I use a word count and not a line count, but because you mentioned it, I ran a few documents using line count, and the count is exactly the same. However, Flashcount has a lot of nifty features.  I like it.  :)
characters (with spaces) / 65
xx
Is 11 cpl 65 characters good pay for
for an IC doing discharges with alot of difficult to understand ESLs.   Just started with a company that I thought I was going to be doing mostly Ops, but that has not been the case.   Do you ever get to learn and perfect the ESLs.  I hate leaving so many blanks.  Any suggestions?
how many characters per line?
http://www.medicalese.org/line_count.html
Usually 2 cents more, so same as 11 cpl 65 characters. nm
x
90 characters per line SM

It's a long line.  However, when you are finished transcribing the 90 character lines you take a character count and divide by 65 and that's your line count.  It doesn't matter if there are 120 characters on a line, as long as you divide the character count by 65 and multiply by 9.5 cpl, that's how much you get paid. 


Clear as mud? 


90 characters per line
I just started working for a new company and was told I would be paid for 65 characters per line, including spaces, at 9 1/2 cents per line.  I noticed when I was transcribing that there were really 90 characters per line with spaces.  Has anyone ran into this problem at their jobs?  I'm not sure what to make of it. 
Number of characters used

Wondering how many accounts are charged/or pay a per line rate based on a character count and if 65 is always the # of characters per line used or can that vary?


 


Thank you.


It said my speed was at 600 characters. (sm)
Make sure you reset it and then take the speed test.

It thought it was kind of neat how it showed how much it is typing for you and how much time you save.

Totally cool little feature on there!
Characters per line - sm
With all the discussion going on about CPL, I wonder what character count ICs use, that is if you have a choice.
Without spaces, what line is that on? 65 characters?
t
It would mean NO spaces included if it's only the B/W characters. Better ask for sure! nm
s
About 8.5 cpl 65 characters including spaces. nm
n
65 characters w/ spaces = ? lines
Anybody know any valid convertions?  I would really like to know how many characters w/ or w/o spaces 1,000 lines converts to.  Thanks for your help!
Pay by line versus pay by characters; what is
nm
Depends. How many characters per line?
nm
Visible black characters (VBC)

As of the recent AHDI/AAMT annual meeting, it appears that the method of line-counting known as VBC (visible black characters) is becoming a trend.


All MTs should read the following report from Perspectives in HIM, February 14, 2007.


http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_034023.html


To summarize:  counting by VBC results in a 31.5% reduction in line count, compared to the traditional 65-line (with spaces) count.


Thus, to avoid a pay cut, any MT now earning 9 cpl should be raised to 11.8 cpl if line counting is switched to VBC.


This is a critical issue, and it does not appear that AHDI is taking any action to promote fair pay for MTs under VBC compensation plans.


You are paid for all characters that appear on the "screen".

Line count includes all the characters that print out, not what you typed in to get that result. Keep using that expander; you've already seen how it has helped improve your productivity.


Boy, if it worked the other way, I'd never use an Expander again and would make even more money with the typos!



Very good point! I say go for more characters!

can you put bold characters in autocorrect?
ss
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think courier 12 gives 65 characters

is less characters since it's larger.  So you probably have a 60-character line instead of 65.  You are probably making more money this way.  Plus a gross line usually pays if there is anything on a line...not just 65 characters.  Each line is counted separately so if it ends with one word, you get paid for a line.


When I was taken from a gross line count to 65 characters, I estimated a 15% reduction in lines.  That's just a guess.


Think about .07 a line ---IF a word is considered 5 characters - sm
So that would be 5000 characters/65 (if a 65-char. line), gets you ~77 lines. Divide 5.5/77 and get .07. Now are spaces included? If so how is that factored in? Presuming from the offer that spaces are not included, .07 is fine if just starting and probably the average if less than 2 years experience.
how many lines does 90K characters equal out to roughly?
I'm thinking 1300 or so! That would be 90K divided by 65 characters = roughly 1300. Am I correct on this? 
Gross lines are not counted in characters.
A gross line = any number of characters on a line counts as a complete line. The actual number of characters per line will vary.
Bytes versus characters? Does anyone do their billing this way? sm

If billing by bytes do you divide this by say 65 (standard line), same as for characters?  Thanks so much.


 


 


Formula is: Characters PLUS spaces / 65 = lines. (nm)
nm
65 characters constitues a line, no matter where
they are arranged on the page. You'd count all the characters (and spaces, if they are included in the count) in the document and divide by 65...that's the number of lines.

Hope that helps!
Yes, you are paid for every line whether it has 1 word or 65 characters
I would think so anyway if it is straight gross, paying. Remember you physical sometims have short lines, family history, etc.
It depends on how many characters constitute a "word."
If it's 5 characters per word, that's a 55 character line. So 1,000 lines per day would work out to be 55,000 characters. You'd make $65 for the day.

Take that same 55,000 characters, divide by 65 cpl to get 846 lines times $.08 equals $67.69.
If you go to HBO they have chat area and someone predicted they will kill the characters off (sm)
one by one, and a few other predictions.  I'm really going to miss this show.  I guess the last one in August 21st.  I will say that since all the TV companies seem to be ending the shows I watched the most, it'll make it easier for me to give up TV this fall, dang it.