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I was just giving examples.

Posted By: Hawaii MT on 2009-03-23
In Reply to: Understandable. - Frustrated

I didn't see the posts in question where people were complaining about only making $20/hr. I was just trying to point out that all of us have various issues, and there is no way to know why someone can't make it on $20/hr. It isn't always pure greed. Sometimes I think it is just to easy to judge someone on a forum when we don't have the full story, especially this one where everyone is completely anonymous. We don't know the posters issues and why they are having trouble. Most people don't share their whole life stories on an open forum. Some just want to vent somewhere where others are facing the same issue.

If you want to hear complaining though, you should hear to the millionaires around here complaining that they had to sell their jet or their 3rd vacation home because of the money they are losing in this economy. Poor things! LOL.




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Examples
thanks sm.  Which other mt board are you talking about?  Thanks for the help!
ok..examples..sm
Ok, admittedly, my Expander was huge, containing many sample reports which I type over and over almost word for word such as in op notes, etc. Most of those are now gone; but, also gone are those such as prz for prednisone, ARMC for Auburn Regional Medical Center and others such as that, along with my capital I which i really depend on to be sure i get a capital I when I need a capital I....pd for per day, and I could go on and on, but you get the point. Just wondering if anybody else has lost parts of their expander?
Any examples?

Could you give me any examples of questions asked?  I am just curious.


Thanks!


I believe all of the examples you have here are

more examples....
*j* would be used such as "precj" for precaution, or *prcj* for procedure.  *z* would be used such as *stabz* for stabilization.  I should have put these examples in my earlier post.  Also, I use *g* for words that end in *ing* such *bgg* for beginning. Have other words such as reviewed as *rvd*, reviewing is *rvg*.  But as stated, I have been using abbreviations for about 7years. Some of my abbreviations don't make any sense, but I remember them that way!! LOL.  Words that I don't like to type get abbreviated!!!  Hope this all helps!  Good luck!
some of my examples...
One thing I do is use a j in place of -ion. For example, hos = hospital
hosj = hospitalization

I also use a 2 to make everything all caps - for example hpi2 = HPI chf2 = CHF

If I have a PA dictating for a doctor I have their last name with a 4 to spell out the signature line; for example - brown4 is Joe Brown, P.A., dictating for Jane Doe, M.D.

I also use the first letter of each word for long phrases such as tpcit for the patient comes in today...

Hope some of these suggestions help!
examples?
what are some of the things horrid QA people do? I lucked out by getting a good one back when I had QA years and years ago... i'm just curious...
Examples of flyers

I am looking for examples of flyers to in the physican's boxes at the hospital for medical transcriptionist services.  Does anyone know where I could find some good examples....or does anyone have something they would like to share with me (from someone that is not very creative making flyers/resumes).  If you have something you wouldn't mind sharing you can email me at norma_OK@yahoo.com.  Thanks for the help.


some examples of errors

You did not specify how many examples you wanted, so I included quite a few, hope it helps.  All of these are from one group of radiologists, all american.  In answer to your question, unfortunately most of these I believe to be the result of laziness.


THREE-VIEW RIGHT HAND


There is decreased relative small of the distal aspect of the 4th metacarpal. (There is diminished size of the distal aspect of the 4th metacarpal.) Otherwise, the hand is unremarkable in appearance for a patient of this young age. 


MRI LUMBAR SPINE


 


This is best visualized from L3-4 through L5-S1 where there are actual images in addition to the sagittal imaging through the entire lumbar spine.( This is best visualized from L3-4 through L5-S1 where there are axial images in addition to the sagittal imaging through the entire lumbar spine.)


 


 


ABDOMEN, THREE VIEWS


 


The colon has lost his Hounsfield markings in the transverse portion and splenic flexure. (The colon has lost its haustral markings in the transverse portion and splenic flexure. )


 


CT ABDOMEN W/WO CONTRAST


There is a small left inguinal hernia with fat within the hernia sac but no bile (no bowel).  No inguinal lymphadenopathy.


 


NAME OF EXAMINATION:  Sinuses.


FINDINGS:  Paranasal sinuses demonstrate generally some metric pneumatization.( Paranasal sinuses demonstrate generally symmetric pneumatization)  No bony abnormality is seen.


 


MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE


 


Compared to December 23, 2003, there has been no objective change in the L5-S1 left posterolateral disk herniation. It causes narrowing at the left lateral recess. It doe snot produce central stenosis. ( It does not produce central stenosis.)


 


OB ULTRASOUND COMPLETE


 


There is no polyhydramnios. However, the fetal kidneys are abnormally hyperechoic. This has been associated with polycystic kidney disease and so I recommend a postnasal follow-up study.( This has been associated with polycystic kidney disease and so I recommend a postnatal follow-up study.)


 


MRI OF THE HIPS WITHOUT IV CONTRAST


 


The muscles about the shoulder show normal signal on all sequences.( The muscles about the hips show normal signal on all sequences. ) There are no soft tissue masses.


 


RIGHT HIP TWO VIEWS


 


DISCUSSION: There has been destruction of the right femoral headache and femoral neck.( There has been destruction of the right femoral head and femoral neck. )


 


AP PORTABLE CHEST


 


EXAM DATE: January 22, 2005 at January 12, 2005 hours(January 22, 2005 )


 


 


MRI ANGIO ABDOMEN BEFORE AND AFTER IV CONTRAST


 


TECHNIQUE: 3-D time of flight MRA of the abdominal aorta and renal arteries was obtained following contrast administration. In addition, evidence of the kidneys was also obtained before and after IV contrast.( In addition, imaging of the kidneys was also obtained before and after IV contrast.)


 


TWO-VIEW CHEST


 


FINDINGS: Left apical pneumothorax measuring 1-2% is stable. Left lower lobe maxillary sinus is again demonstrated.( Left lower lobe mass is again demonstrated. )There are no other findings.


GALLBLADDER ULTRASOUND


 In the porta hepatis, there is a consistent with echogenic lesion measuring 1.1 cm.( In the porta hepatis, there is an echogenic lesion measuring 1.1 cm) This could represent a lymph node in the porta but also could represent an exophytic hepatic meningioma. (This could represent a lymph node in the porta but also could represent an exophytic hepatic hemangioma. )


OB ULTRASOUND COMPLETE


 


 


DISCUSSION: There is moderate dilatation of the left renal pelvis. There is mild dilatation on the right. However, neither uterus is abnormally dilated. (However, neither ureter is abnormally dilated. )


 


 ULTRASOUND OF RIGHT BREAST


There is heterogeneous echo texture in that region compatible with typical combination of breast parenchyma and fatty/femoral tissue, but a discrete mass lesion is not identified. (There is heterogeneous echo texture in that region compatible with typical combination of breast parenchyma and fatty/normal tissue, but a discrete mass lesion is not identified.)


AP PORTABLE CHEST


Underlying fusion is suggested, again worse on the left than the right.  (Underlying effusion is suggested, again worse on the left than the right.)


LEFT SECOND TOE


 


There is an old, healed fracture of the proximal phalanx of th cleft third toe.( There is an old, healed fracture of the proximal phalanx of the left third toe.)


 


TWO-VIEW CHEST


 


There are remote compression fractures involving the right 5th and 6th ribs.( There are remote fractures involving the right 5th and 6th ribs. ) The lungs are otherwise clear.


 


THYROID ULTRASOUND


 


DISCUSSION: In the left lobe of the thyroid, there is a moderately large maxillary sinus that measures 2.2 cm in greatest diameter and is mostly sold and have a cystic center. (In the left lobe of the thyroid, there is a moderately large complex mass that measures 2.2 cm in greatest diameter and is mostly solid and has a cystic center.) The remainder of the left lobe is normal.


 


There is a small 6 mm nodule in the inferior aspect of the right lobe. The gland itself is not overall enlargement. (The gland itself is not overall enlarged.) The gland is heterogeneous overall in echogenicity.


 


 


TWO-VIEW ABDOMEN


 


No convincing evidence of small bowel obstruction, although developing shortness of breath could theoretically give this appearance and follow-up is recommended. (No convincing evidence of small bowel obstruction, although developing small bowel obstruction could theoretically give this appearance and follow-up is recommended.)


 


 


OB ULTRASOUND


 


DISCUSSION: There is an intrauterine gestation with a large yolk sac. However, the crown-rump length measures 7 mm and this corresponds to an estimated gestational age of about 6 weeks 4 days. However, there is no detectable cardiac activity. The amniotic fluid volume is probably normal of ra fetus of this age.( The amniotic fluid volume is probably normal for a fetus of this age. )    The placenta is closed. (The cervix is closed.)


 


 


EXAM OF LEFT FOREARM


 


 


FINDINGS: No fracture. There is prominence of the anterior fat patient which suggests effusion. (There is prominence of the anterior fat pad which suggests effusion) No other findings.


 


MRI LUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST


 


Tip desiccation of L4-5. (Disk desiccation of L4-5.)


 


 


TWO-VIEW ABDOMEN


 


FINDINGS: Findings of right chest, cardiac size is normal, no infiltrates or effusion. (FINDINGS: Upright chest, cardiac size is normal, no infiltrates or effusion.


 


 


TWO-VIEW CHEST


 


Stable right breast opacity, likely represents


fibrosis.( Stable right basilar opacity, likely represents


fibrosis.)


 


AP CHEST


 


 


Picture of congestive heart failure/volume


overload not significantly changed from


exam 4-hours earlier.( Features of congestive heart failure/volume


overload not significantly changed from


exam 4-hours earlier.)


 


 


RIGHT SHOULDER


 


FINDINGS: The patient has history of a right humeral fracture, plus surgical fixation noted.( The patient has history of a right humeral fracture, postsurgical fixation noted. ) Alignment is intact.


 


IMPRESSION


1. Postsurgical change involving the right


proximal femur.( Postsurgical change involving the right


proximal humeral.)  Alignment is anatomic.


 


 


 


OB SONOGRAM


 


FINDINGS: Transabdominal and transvaginal evaluation of the pelvis was performed. An intrauterine collection and yoke sac is identified. (An intrauterine collection and yolk sac is identified. )


 


 LEFT HIP


 


 


FINDINGS/IMPRESSION: Two-view left hip demonstrate a fracture of the neck of the left humerus in varus angulation.(  Two-view left hip demonstrate a fracture of the neck of the left femur with varus angulation.) No additional fractures identified.


 


 


THREE-VIEW ABDOMEN


 


In this since, bowel gas pattern slightly improved since the 14th, but otherwise there has been no significant change. (In this sense, bowel gas pattern slightly improved since the 14th, but otherwise there has been no significant change. )


 


NUCLEAR MEDICINE CHOLESCINTIGRAM WITH GALLBLADDER EJECTION FRACTION


 


.After initial accumulation of tracer within the gallbladder, the patient was given solid bolus intravenous injection of CCK and additional anterior sequential imaging was obtained.( After initial accumulation of tracer within the gallbladder, the patient was given slow bolus intravenous injection of CCK and additional anterior sequential imaging was obtained. )


 


MRI BRAIN BEFORE AND AFTER IV CONTRAST -


 


 


There is confluent periventricular signal abnormality in the lungs bilaterally consistent with chronic small-vessel ischemic change.( There is confluent periventricular signal abnormality in the pons bilaterally consistent with chronic small-vessel ischemic change.) Probable remote lacunar infarcts noted in the left posterior frontal subcortical white matter.


 


THREE-VIEW ABDOMEN -


There is gas within the large and small-bowel. No distension. There is a round calcification in the pelvis which probably represents calcification in the wall of a cyst. There are no suspicious calcifications. No pathologic skin or nipple alterations(this sentence does not belong in this report). Mild hypertrophic change in the lumbar spine.


 


 


TWO-VIEW CHEST


 


 


REPORT: Bones free of consolidative infiltrate.( Lungs free of consolidative infiltrate.) No pneumothorax or pleural effusion identified.


 


LUMBAR SPINE SERIES


 


 


REPORT: There is very mild levocurvature of the cervicalium spine. (There is very mild levocurvature of the thoracolumbar spine.)


 


THREE-VIEW ABDOMEN


 


No evidence of bowel destruction. (No evidence of bowel obstruction.)


 


 


CERVICAL SPINE SERIES


 


FINDINGS: There is a fracture of the CT vertebral body inferior to the junction of the dens with the body.( There is a fracture of the C2 vertebral body inferior to the junction of the dens with the body.)There is retrolisthesis of the dens in relation to the CT vertebral body. (There is retrolisthesis of the dens in relation to the C2 vertebral body. )


 


What are some examples of deductions you use?
nm
Which ones, give some examples.....
We are NOT talking about TYPOS here, there is a difference between TYPOS and not knowing the right spelling.

You should know the DIFFERENCE !

Give some examples of posts with wrong SPELLING, IF YOU CAN!
Which ones, give some examples.....
We are NOT talking about TYPOS here, there is a difference between TYPOS and not knowing the right spelling.

You should know the DIFFERENCE !

Give some examples of posts with OH, SOOO TERRIBLE SPELLING. These are mostly just typos.

I noticed that there are a lot of matron-MTs who have NO, absolutely no idea where to put commas, so that I was pondering if they have a keyboard without a comma key.

Example: MT way tooooo long and others too.
I'd be interested in some examples. There are absolutes, and then there are
nm
I would use hyphens in the examples you provided. sm

I would put 32-year-old male, but no hyphen if it's something like *Patient is 32 years old.*  (Same with 11-pound weight loss vs pt has lost 11 pounds.)  I can't quote the rule on this offhand, but whatever the rule is, I personally I think the hyphens make it easier to read/understand. 


Can you give us some examples of the contradictions?
It's pretty normal to be really freaking stressed out when starting a new MT job, let alone being a newbie with a new MT job. However, I'd like to know specific examples of what they are doing to help with advice. Good luck!
We try to set good examples for our kids. We rarely

drink, don't have alcohol in the house except for cooking wine/sherry, don't smoke, don't do drugs, are honest, hard working people.  My oldest son has "friends" who smoke, who put vodka in their Coke cans, cuss, steal, etc.  My son is a good kid and no I'm not naive and he isn't doing this stuff behind my back because we spend lots of time together.   My son is a health freak and won't allow anyone to smoke around him.  We've also tried to explain to him that even if he isn't drinking if someone he is with is caught drinking then he is guilty by association and he knows he needs to avoid these kids.  He has come home before upset that kids were using seriously foul language.  The "F" word at our house is spelled f-a-r-t. 


We live in a country club community.  The kids around here get new cars when they turn 16.  The parents don't keep up with their kids, just give them money.   My son has to earn his car with saving $$, keeping out of trouble, and good grades.  I don't keep tabs on him 24/7, but I know where he is at ALL times so that if I need to find him I can.  He even asks me if he can get on-line so I know he isn't using the computer for porn.  He is concerned that he doesn't have enough testosterone because he isn't wanting to sleep with anything that stays still long enough.  Don't know that his friends are, but they talk a good talk anyway.  


I think you are wise to be concerned and just need to keep open communication with your kids and hope that he makes good choices.  My son was a follower when he was younger and I had serious concerns about how he would be growing up, but now he has become a leader and I'm very proud of him because so far he is making good choices. 


Regarding the Advance article, here's how I would have handled the examples

I'm curious how other MTs would have handled them?


1. Hemoglobin 9, hematocrit 39. (I would have flagged this with a blank for the hemoglobin and sent to QA).


2. The nose and mouth were suctioned on the perineum (during a C-section dictation).  (I would have changed "perineum" to "abdomen" and sent it on).


3. SKIN: Without lesions, rashes or scars (Patient has HIV and kaposi sacroma).  (I'm not the doctor.  I did not examine the patient.  Therefore, I would have transcribed as dictated and sent it as usual).


4. Left atrium is normal, measuring 4.6 cm.  (I don't get paid enough to second guess the doctor on whether the LA is "normal" or not.  You get what you pay for.)


5. VITAL SIGNS: Heart rate 70, respirations 18, BP 120/70 (in an 18-year-old with a comminuted ankle fracture).  (Again, the patient may have gotten pain medication by the time the doctor saw him, so perhaps he/she didn't have pain at the time of examination and so the vitals were normalized.  I wasn't there, I don't know.  Type verbatim and send it on!)


We need actual examples of patients harmed by outsourcing
to take to the media. Then we could probably get enough interest for someone to do an expose on it.
quality as in ethics/morals/education/parenting/will to do one's best and set examples for others
qualities as to working hard to make your life better and not settling for second best so you can drink your six-pack and rent videos while your kids run wild. you know what i'm talking about. quality as to have no grasp of consequences of one's behavior.
I'm not giving up

Fortunately, even once I return to work outside the home my child will not be going into daycare.  Even if I  did MT at home and he wasn't there, my family-my mom would take care of him.


I'm not giving up,  i'm just not willing to put all my eggs in one basket right now.  I'm sure I will keep my day job, get my MT training and try to find something PT for 3-6 months.  It will probably take me longer to find a PT job at home for a newbie, but this way I can get some experience under my belt and still be able to have a stable income.  Once I have gained the much need experience, I'm willing to do this FT.  I think I will have my mom keep him 4 hours while i'm working and then do 4 or more hours of work while he is asleep or napping.  I think this would work better for me.


 


You will end up giving him away if you don't
You need to train him to accept being in his cage.  If you don't do something about this situation, I can betcha you will soon be looking for a home for him.  Which would be more humane?  Taking the time and energy to retrain him or give him away to strangers?  Also, neutering him may help.  He is at that age where he is beginning to notice girls, and this may be contributing to the problem.  ALso, when you try to find him a new home, it will be easier to give away a neurtered male.
For those giving up MT
what will you do next? Is medical billing the next logical step for MTs, or is that a bad gamble as well?
how is giving you that information

She isn't giving you the whole story on pay...
There are many different account levels. Each level pays a certain rate per line for transcription and per hour for training.

If she's at 6.5 cpl, she's on an account so easy you could do it in your sleep, literally.

Account levels go as high as just over 10 cpl as a base rate.

Spheris wants a certain level of knowledge whether you are new or not. Not all accounts have positions open at all times so you may well have 10 or 15 years experience but if the highest level account with an opening pays 7 cpl then that's what you get hired into. You can always bid off on other positions and even other platforms once you've passed 90 days.

I have 3 accounts...one I rarely type on. I switch myself back and forth on my other 2 accounts. One is easy and the other a little more difficult. While the easy account doesn't pay as much, I can do a lot more work on it with no effort so I make better money on it.

And, 127.5 lines per hour is how they base what you should be doing to get your lines in the minimum hours you can work for your status. Even at 127.5 lines for 20 hours a week as PT, you're making $8.28 an hour. That's NOT minimum wage. I agree, it isn't what I want/need to make (and I make much more than that), but you're statement that "...what you're talking about is not even minimum wage..." is completely wrong.

If you're going to give the story - get it right and give it all.
giving notice
Depends - either wait until you have a new job, if that's what you want; or, just tell them you quit and do they want you to finish out the week or? I guess I don't see the problem. If they wanted to fire you, it would be "bye bye now."
Giving Notice
I feel you should treat them the same way they treated you. Did they try to work with you or did you ask them/tell them their reports weren't your "cup of tea"? Myself, I am very professional, but an MT's job is different than an office job. They're like McDonald's; either they won't even replace you or they probably have 50 resumes to pick from and hire the same day. So my answer is no, don't give notice if they were tacky. I wrote an email and asked for a shipping label form a large company. They finally sent the slip after two requests and are open to hiring me again!! So I feel any more, MTs are a "dime a dozen." If you are ethical enough to sit there and type two more weeks while you could be spending your time finding a decent company to work for ASAP, I think it would be stupid to waste your time on them ... depending on your circumstances of which I know nothing about.
RadGuy, you are giving your age. I was only 11 and had no
:)
Giving up? That's their fault then!
Sorry, but where survival is concerned, you don't "give up". There's always a way. I've scooped dog pens, I've delivered phone books, I've cleaned houses. That's a lame excuse and people like that don't get any pity from me.

I eventually went back to school and am out of debt, own my home and both my kids are college educated, with me being the next to graduate from a major university.

I've been kicked in the butt financially, health-wise (lost my job, got fired because I had cancer and chemo made me "throw up too much"), divorce due to domestic violence.

I never gave up. I will never give up.

Life is YOUR responsibility. If you give up, that's up to you but there's no one to blame but yourself.
Sounds like she is giving you
certainly need it.  You might be making $22 an hour, but your are being grossly overpaid if you don't know these things already.  These are all standard and basic things any MT should know.
Nevermind - I'm giving it to you anyway! lol
For a REALISTIC but FANTASTIC job, here's what I think:

-- limited ESLs but completely accessible samples (meaning, a secure website that I can go to in the middle of the night when I'm typing and get all the samples I need)

-- Word Expander of my choice on YOUR provided equipment

-- Weekly teleconferences with my entire mgmt team and coworkers to discuss how we did last week, what we see coming up this week, what's on our mind, etc.

-- Base pay commensurate with worktypes: clinic and ER = 0.10 cpl; acute care w/o ops = 0.12 cpl; ops = 0.15 cpl; specialties (neuro, ophth, cardio, path, hem/onc, etc.) = 0.15

-- Production incentives based on that day's lines-per-hour averages; the more you type, the higher the incentive tier

-- Shift differentials of 1 cpl for 2nd shift and 2 cpl for 3rd shift if you work 4 or more hours into the shift

-- Difficulty pay for weighted ESLs and difficult dictators (not all ESLs are bad, some US docs are hideous) up to double lines

-- Weekend incentives of 3 cpl for 1000 lines or more on Sat and Sun

-- REgular QA feedback

-- Qrtly bonuses based on percentage of QA blanks sent and quality on regular QA analysis of my work

-- PTO rates averaged every quarter

-- PTO of 15+ days a year -- commensurate with yrs of svc

-- PAID HOLIDAYS (paid hrly if not worked and double lines if worked)

-- Mentor program -- pair up proven exp'd MTs with newbies and pay the mentors a flat fee per month

-- Let me earn a few extra rewards for top production and really high QA and not missing work and keeping my schedule and good communication

-- A $50 "thank you" during MT week

-- Never promise anything you cannot or will not deliver

How's that?



How about giving us some tips?
I do envy that ability. :)

How about some tips on how to work up to a level like that? I mean, aside from being glued to the chair and shortcuts (the obvious). Do you have to think about each letter as you are typing? How do you type so quickly while avoding typos? Are there exercises one can do to help with this?
Giving notice
I think it is a kindness. After all, they will need to replace you, and possibly need to train somebody for your account. Otherwise they could come up short on turn-around time. However, if they have been extremely unfair with you, I would give 2 weeks and tell them if they did not need 2 week's that I could to leave at any time.
Sooy, but I am not giving out the

name because it is small (at least compared to the mega companies I worked for) and they are not hiring right now. I just want to say maybe it is not that MT is a dying profession, as I see posted on the board here sometimes, and but maybe it is the companies out there causing some of the problems with MTing.


I am glad I stuck it out and did not quit, but searched around until I found the right placement for me.


IMHO these big companies don't care about quality, they just want quantity, and the MTs are just a number. I can't work like that. They are not concerned with patient care.


 


 


Giving notice as an IC...

I have been an IC for multiple years at a clinic and wish to resign due to extremely long hours and very little time off.  I rather have more time off and a smaller income, rather than no life with more money.  I would like to leave on a friendly note too, but I am confused on how to tell them.  Do I tell them in a letter or speak to them in person?  I also want to give them a few weeks notice.  All opinions and advice are welcome. 


 


Thanks again~


thank you for giving me insight on this
I can see now about your point on the certain days there is more work because this company does handle clinic work.  I really don't want to sell myself short.  I have been looking a year if that tells you anything!!  it sounds like they didn't have much to offer somone.  She did tell me "her ladies that work for her do not have that much experience."  Thank you for listening.  I don't feel quite as bad now about marking yet another off my list.
THANKS!!! Giving me the page...
.. number was what I needed.

(((((hug to you))))
I'm not giving my clients away, plus
up tapes twice a week; neither one of them will go digital.  You would like the pay on one though; they pay me for blank lines, which is great.  I do wish you luck on your search.  I didn't say they were "pain in the butts," but just simply stating that 8 cpl not to have to deal with the administrative end can be worth it sometimes.  I'm on the East Coast. 
Giving myself a raise

I have been working for an office for 2 years now at the same line rate. I would like to increase my per line rate, but want to know how I should go about doing that.


I feel that I do good work for them and need some type of raise since I am an independent contractor and do not get bonuses, etc.


Thanks for your input.


No instead of giving a pay raise,
they would rather hire someone new at the same rate they are paying you now or even a lower rate.  They don't care anything about loyalty anymore.  It's really sad. 
Giving out SS# for new contracts

Is there anyone else, besides me, who's very hesitant on giving out your social security # to new contracts?    Am I better off trying to get a Federal Tax ID # and using that instead?   


Well, I'm probably guilty of giving

more negative than positive feedback not because I don't appreciate good work but just because things are so busy, I only take the time to point out something if the client points it out to me or if i happen to see something that really is wrong.  I try to be fair and not nitpicky and only bring something negative up if it really needs to be addressed.


Honestly, I probably don't make it that obvious when I am thinking an IC anymore, I'll just use them less and someone reliable more.  A lot depends on their attitude and willingness to work on problems.  If someone asks me, though, I will always be honest with them about how I think they are doing.  You should talk to your MTSO and just tell her you're wondering how you are doing, whether there's anything she wants you do to do differently, etc. 


 


Thank you for giving us a voice - sm
It is a good starting point.  THANK YOU!! 
Sometimes those giving the tests

deliberately give you a difficult dictator or bad-quality dictation to see what you will do.  When in doubt, leave a blank.  It's not such a big deal, as you will become familiar with the dictator/account & will have samples to go by.  I'm always curious though if I leave a blank and will ask and either say, "oh that's what it was," or "I'd have never gotten than in a million years, what in the world?."  Good luck on your test!


I'm slowing giving up my perfectionism...SM
in that I won't search and search and search for a new/unfamiliar term. I'll do a quick search in my books and Google and maybe ask on the Word Board, but if nothing comes up, I flag it. I used to spend WAY too much time wanting to find these things, mainly because I'm pretty anal, which is generally a good thing in MT but can end up costing you $$$!
What are your thoughts on giving notice?
I've only been with this particular job for less than a month, but can already tell it's not for me. Seems like a good company, but the accts and work are not my cup of tea. I'd like to cut my losses and get on with it.

Does the 'real world' etiquette of two week's notice apply to the MT world as well? I've always given 2 weeks at my outside world jobs, but am really tempted to just give a week's notice since I just started there. I don't think it would leave the company in the lurch too badly as they have many other MTs and are still hiring.

What do you think?




You did the right thing by giving her a gift -
Now it is up to HER to send a thank-you note. These things tend to take a while for some reason these days. Yes, I also waited a year for a note saying how much they liked receiving the gift I sent. Another bride had her notes out within a week. Just sit tight and see what happens. :-)
Yes, it's my opinion and realize you were just giving her
.
How much you download isn't an issue with the 10 gig. They are giving
you web space so you can create your own website, independent blog, or store photos on-line.  The 10 gig doesn't have anything to do with how much you surf, how many websites you visit, etc.  It won't come into play with how many songs, wav files, etc. you download. 
I say I'm giving 2 wks, but then ask if I can leave now. Only had 1 place say to
s
is giving notice required?

I'm having a debate with my husband right now. 


I know when you're an employee that it's customary to gives two weeks' notice, but what about when you're an independent contractor? One of us says that two weeks notice is customary whether you're an employee or IC, but the other says that you don't have to give any notice if you're an IC. Who is right?


The loser pays for a dinner at Olive Garden.  


Giving up Health Insurance

Does anyone know what happens if someone doesn't have health insurance and ends up with huge medical bills?  Can you just pay a little every week/month (forever) or will you lose any assets you might have?


I am upper middle-aged and might have to give up my insurance because I just can't afford it right now.  I have paid for years (and rarely used it), but I am terrified something major might happen if I give it up.


Thanks for any input you can give me.