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If gross lines average is 1500 nm

Posted By: BayGirl on 2005-09-19
In Reply to: typically 1000-1200 /d nm - ntk

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1500 lines
I think 1500 lines a day is realistic as long as the work is there. So it's kind of a mixed message I guess.
1500 to 2000 lines if doing
medical.  If on radiology, 2000 to 3000 plus.  I have done as much as 4000 on  radiology but that depends on which radiologists I get.  We have 5. And no, I don't use a lot of macros, and we have 2 ESL radiologists and probably 90% of our medical dictators are ESL or otherwise horrible dictators. 
Well, I just transcribed 1500 lines in 3 hours. sm

I work on the same account every day, same dictators, lots of templated reports I did myself and put them into auto correct.  I get up early, start at 7 am and today I was done by 10 am.  Cleaning the house now.  Also, the line pay is slightly higher than most, so 1500 lines is fine for me today. 


On harder days when the account is really behind,  I get up and vacuum the house after 3 hours of transcribing then come back for 1 hour.  If things are caught up, I stop for the day.  If not, I will go back in the evening. 


I can't sit for 6-8 hours straight.  Making $160 bucks in 3 hours is good for me and enough.   Tomorrow is another day!


Use templates and short cuts - that will help!  I have whole reports in my auto correct, but you have to listen through and change and correct things as each patient is a different case. 


I do have to tell you, I do not get this many lines every day in such short a time.  It just happened that today was a good day.


 


Hope this helps.


I won't quit until I have 1300-1500 lines a day.
slow days take longer
I type no less than 1500 lines in 7 hours

On my slowest day, I will not allow myself to get less than 200 lines an hour.  Depending on the worktype, I can type up to 400 lines an hour.  It is hard for me to consistently stay at that speed as I have orthopedic issues!!!  I also can type extremely fast, (120 wpm).  I also use a lot of Expanders and shortcuts. 


1500 lines per day? Is this a realistic line
count to be able to make daily in the current MT climate? I have been in MT field for 30 years, with last 10 as QA.  I hate it, and can't wait to transcribe again. I am still really fast, never lost my skills thankfully, and can easily hit 1500 lines per 8 hour shift IF the work is there, though.  That is the target I would have to hit to even come close to what I am making currently as QA - things are tight on this salary, and can't get much tighter!  Do you think most companies have this sort of workload to offer MTs?  I used to work for 2 companies 15 years or so ago. Maybe do you think it would be more realistic for me to try to work for 2, or is 1500 lines steadily daily not a big deal?  I'm just so used to getting paid hourly, and never having that gut-wrenching fear of running out of work.  I don't need benefits at all, so IC is a big possibility.  I hope you understand, and I really appreciate your thoughts.   I'm so scared, but have to get out of my current situation at "you-know-where" before I lose my "you-know-what"...   Figured I'd peddle myself off as an MT rather than QA - worry about that down the road at a good company.
Aaahhhh, now I get it. Gross lines vs. Character lines. I guess I've just been conditioned to
think in terms of character lines.  One of the perils of working as an IC for somebody who defines what a line is versus owning your own company and defining it yourself.  After working for someone else for 15 years, maybe it's time to bust out on my own.
Gross lines include all lines containing
printable characters, so a full line and a line with one word on it are charged equally. Straight lines are basically the same as gross lines, but with this method of counting the blank lines are counted as well (again, equally). I have only had one company pay this way, and they are a middle man. I would think the charge would be about the same as for gross lines, and that not too many offices will want their lines counted this way (the one I worked on was probably inherited from someone who had counted the lines that way, so just continued).
No....only if you are doing gross lines- nm
xx
gross lines
One can do far better in a day when counting gross lines rather than character counted -- especially if very familiar with the accounts (of course, that helps either way :).
I do gross lines

I go into file, properties, statistics and that gives me my gross count.  Very simple and easy as long as you are using Word, no program to buy.   I am surprised that the company you are working for did not show this to you.  Also gives you characters if you are paid for characters divided by whatever your line is and not gross lines. 


Patti


gross lines
Hey everybody, gross lines are TOTALLY different than a 65-character line.  I used to have a gross lines account doing operative reports and I did at least 2000 a day in about 5 hours.  Now I am on a 65 character line and I struggle to get 2000 in 8 hours.  If I had my old account and worked 12 hours, I would be getting AT LEAST 4200 lines a day.  You gotta compare apples to apples.  :) 
Raw gross lines will pay the most sm

If you type in word.  You simply highlight the entire document and do a word count using the tools.  Once you have your line count, you would times that by cents per line you charge.  65 character with or without spaces will be doing your own math for each document and takes more time.  Go mid range in this instance if you use raw line count.  Be sure to have a contract agreement or at least a Memorandum of Understanding and provide them with good turnaround as stated in your contract.  This makes you look very professional and worth the going rate.   Congratulations!  NOTE:  And to think there have been statements made like "everything is going to voice recognition".  Your "new account" says NOT!!!  Have fun!   


Is this for gross lines or sm

65 character lines?


I think that would make a big difference.


More than me with gross lines

That is more than me with a gross line count, checked a couple of documents.  Except for when I do a lot of consults/letters and I am about to count from date to signature for gross lines.  But if you do mostly chart notes, it is good.  Just check a couple of your documents and see what it is versus 65cpl at 12 to 13 cpl and then gross line at 12 to 13 cpl and see where you stand.  Again, I used to be paid 1 cent per word and did well until it comes to letters.    Also, only you know what you make per hour and if it is good for you.


Patti


 


Gross lines
count lines equally whether there are 65 characters or 2 characters, or any other number. Each new line is a line whether it is full or not.
I know about gross lines however
if you are using an Arial 10 font and margins are .5 and .5 then you are putting about 90 characters on a line which is way too many for 6 cents per line.  That is all I was saying about which font you use and what your margins are.  I use a smaller font for my accounts but when I do my line count -- I count gross lines -- I change it back to a 12 font and 1" margins at the sides as when I quoted my price it was so much per line and my definitiation of a line is 1" margins and using 12 font.  So that is why I was asking about what font and what margins you have. 
I don't - try to average 500 lines a day - I'd have too much - sm
going on to try to do more -- though some days I do about 800 between my 2 jobs, varies from week to week.
Average lines/day
How many lines do you average a day or how many lines do you need to type in a day? Just curious to see what everyone types. Thanks. Happy typing!!
Average lines

Where do all you guys work ? I am looking for a good company.


Question versus gross lines versus 65-character lines....

I have always charged or been paid by 65 or 60 character lines or per letter or space typed, but have never been paid or charged per gross line.


What is the advantage of this?  If I were to charge 11 cents per 65-character line including spaces, what does this figure out to for an average line rate and how do you do this calculation? 


I'm wondering if it is financially beneficial for me to bill by gross line or to keep it the way I have it.  I do know some accounts will only pay per 65-character line, as this was the deal my first own account I recently acquired.  They were adamant on a 65-character line, but didn't specify with or without spaces and I personally would never not charge for spaces.


Thanks for explaining this.  I appreciate it and hope everyone has a speedy day.


Are your lines 65-character, gross, or
other? Just curious as I do clinic work and in my area the going rate for gross lines is about 12 cpl, but more like 15-17 cpl for 65-character lines. I have heard (don't really know how reliable it is) that hospitals are charged up to the 22 cpl range. (I assumed that was on 65-character lines.)
Gross lines vs. 65-char

A gross line is anything on a line IS a line - usually the standard is Courier 12, 1 inch margins - that way, if a doc wants Arial or Times New Roman or any other font, he will know that it will always be counted in Courier 12 regardless of the font he uses.


 


65-char means based on a 65-char per line basis, lines are counted, so it is not a "line" unless there are 65 characters on it - the counting programs that count this convert the document to one big long document without returns, etc., linking all the characters in one long line and counting them that way.  Clearly you can see how many fewer lines you would get by this method.  When this was brought into the business it was touted as a "fairer" way of counting - but the only one it is "fairer" to is the doctor - it cuts the lines vs gross lines an average of over 30% - for example, if you are making 7 cpl for a 65-char line, you are in reality making 4.8 cpl gross lines - quite a difference. 


Gross lines - possibly
I have two surgeons and when the do a lot of consults, hernia, breast cysts, etc. I have been able to get 600+ an hour but that is gross lines and I have physical templates set up for each type of problem.  I have done 1100 in 90 minutes but again it was gross lines.  I have been doing them for almost ten years and I know what they are going to say before they say it.  My only Expander though is  auto  correct and I often think what I could do with another expander but it is hard to teach this old dog new tricks though after the 1st am going to look at a couple of expanders.  But I share with my friends on how I count and try to show them how to increase their line counts so ask her.  I am always up for sharing my experience and tricks of the trade as long as I have the time and they don't steal my accounts.   Good luck. 
and I count gross lines

I do not cheat, I count gross lines and from top to bottom but I make sure that it is fair so my price per line is lower and it all equals out in the end.  On chart notes, it is the total amount of lines which includes 2 spaces between patients which then helps to pay for the cutting apart, sticky paper and delivery.  But my accounts are aware of this and again it shows in my per line charge. 


that is an average of 9 lines a report, were
they that short? I'd be moving on too!
The average lines per day at most companies (SM)
is 1200 lines (or 150 lines per hour). So, I respectfully disagree with the poster below.

I think about 75 lines per hour would be more realistic for an MT student. Don't forget, they need to look up a lot of words and their ears are not trained yet.

Good luck to you and your students.

Chickadee
I average 300 lines per hour
for acute care, mostly OP notes, 65/char line, which would be 19,500 characters per hour.      
For my work, it seems to average out to about 10-11 lines per
I can very safely do 20 minutes of dictation in an hour, sometimes 25-30 minutes of dictation in an hour.

There are times it is slower but not often.

Now many lines are there in an average page?

M


I average only 1100 lines per day (sm)

Does anyone know some ways I can increase my productivity.  I have many expansions...maybe not enough.  I do a variety of clinics, so there are not many norms or standards (which would help).


 


Thanks for any info.  Have a great day!


Need to count gross lines only w/o spaces, sm
Used Sylcount free download but it expired.  Any alternatives.  Did not like Practicount.  Need to count gross lines only.  How do I do that using MS Word? 
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.
Hmm, I use gross lines and Sylcount is always higher
I've compared Sylcount with several different line counting programs and Sylcount was always higher, even if it was only by 10 lines. I did find that PractiCount is the same as Sylcount and I ended up switching to that since you don't have to convert files to rich text format, but other than that, I always found Sylcount to be the best.
8-9 cpl for Gross lines, easy work ....
Where? Where?
Gross lines versus 65-char, etc.
I think the above poster misunderstood me. I was trying to simplify the difference between counting a gross line and counting a line via character - which IS basically blowing out the document to full 65 character lines (with or without spaces)and counting them, versus counting anything on the line as a line.

That is true, though - the best way to compare documents is to look at the gross line count (after changing margins and font to 1" and Courier 12 respectively), then taking the character count and dividing by 65. Many who have never been paid by gross lines or have not really compared the difference would be amazed to see how many less lines you get on a 65-char count.
When it comes to gross lines, font does make--sm
a difference, as well as the margins. I was doing gross lines at 0.675 cpl with courier new 12 font with 1 inch margins side to side and 2 inches at the top. I grossed almost 50k this past year, so to me, gross lines are much better. we recently had a management change and are now doing 65 cpl at 0.09 cpl. I figured that would be about 500 a month less and 6000 a year less. that is a big difference, to me, anyway and I am not happy about it, either. This is just to give you some idea of what gross line pay is like. good luck to you.
Gross line is actual lines. sm
9 cpl if count is by 65 chars is not too much, IMO, for an experienced MT. If counting by gross lines, 7.5 c on a gross line equals about 9 cpl on a 65-char line, so if they use gross lines, it might sound low per line but it equals out in the end. A gross line is any line on the page. In other words, you can use your finger and count each line on the page that has words on it, and that's your line count. Most don't count blank lines. However, a lot depends on what they are including in that line, regardless. Are spaces included if 65-char line? Does the line count software count formatting changes (such as bold, underline, etc) If so, that will increase total line count. If not, it will decrease it. Gross line is usually a better deal unless the company is using a size 9 font or something or decrease the side margins. 11-12 size font with 1" margins is good with gross lines. The only thing that affects gross lines is the side margins or the font size. With 65-char line, font and margins don't affect it, which is why most go with that now. You take total characters (incl spaces if they pay for them, as someone else said) and divide by 65 to get total lines. Another thing to ask, if they use templates or normals, are the lines in those included? If not, that decreases total line count, too.

It's really hard for someone to say "this is the rate you should ask for" though, because there can be so much variability from company to company as far as what they count as a line. Also, is it clinic or acute care work? If clinic, generally easier and same docs all the time, so even at a lower line rate, you might make more in the end if you use expander, normals, templates, etc. Is there a platform or can you use Word and your own expander? If acute care where you have different docs all the time, a lot of ESLs, clunky platform, no Expander program, etc., it might slow you down so even with a higher line rate, you might not make as much in the long run. Therefore, you have to take all of that into consideration to arrive at what line rate you should charge or ask for ... almost have to adjust to each different company or client, really. For clinic work, 8-9 cents per 65-char line can net some good pay. For acute care, you might want more like 10-11 to get the same pay. Hope this all makes sense!
10 cpl for gross lines is pretty good for Rad.
x
What is the average lines per hour for radiology?
A lot of companies are now paying per line now rather than by report or per page.  I just wondered if it differed from other transcription as I do both but do not have a line counter for radiology in the system I type into.
I average 600 lines an hour on ES - editing, sm
transcribing 400 lph.

I have been working this platform for about 3 years now.

Using the shortcut keys and not the mouse helps tremendously in an awesome line count average.

Hope this information helps.
I average 1800 lines per 8 hour day, but have
been doing this 20+ years and have zillions of expanders. I still do lots of research and add expansion asll the time.
Average about 2300 lines in 6 hours but
this is a mixed bag of editing and straight typing. The split is usually about 75% editing and 25% typing, If that helps any.
What is an average amount of lines to edit per day?
I am new to editing. I have done straight typing for 2 years in general surgery clinic work. I was canned and put on overflow work because my computer messed up twice in one month. It put them in a bind, which I really had no control over, and they took me off the account as lead MT and put me on overflow only. Well anyway, I got another job doing editing on the Editscript platform. It is acute care. I am not used to acute care that much. I only did it for a few months before. I am not used to editing either so I was wondering if someone could tell me what is an average amount of lines to expect once I get used to it? I have heard nobody gets double the line count editing. So is it one and a half times the line count or what? What is your experience with lines editing versus typing straight?
it's got to be gross lines or lots of canned text (nm)
x
Help! Is this a good deal? .09 gross lines with a font of ...sm

Times New Roman 11 and 1-inch margins.  It will be op notes, but I have a sample report and there are sure A LOT of characters on those full lines.....


Calling all ICs. Just curious. How many lines and reports do you average per day at

whatever company you are working at currently? I'm wondering because it seems like I work A LOT (I should actually start counting hours, but I don't) and at the end of the evening my line count is so low and it will say 8 or 9 reports, even though it feels like I have done about 20 or so (this is DQS, but you can answer with whatever co. you work for).


 


Thanks so  much!


About how many lines are expected to be typed each day, minimum, on average? NM

Psychiatric transcription - average # of lines/page
I had an interview with a local MT firm that specializes in psychiatric transcription. The pay rate is .05/line for the initial training period (no timeframe given - training ends when owner feels employee is ready to work independently at home - could be 3 months) & .06/line after that. The owner mentioned that reports sometimes average 10-15 pages, but didn't mention how many lines the average page includes.

I'm trying to figure out what my pay would be. During the training period, the owner wants employees to train out of her house (20 miles from where I live/one way). With the price of gas, I'm trying to figure out if this is a good move financially. The psychiatric transcription definitely interests me, but I'm trying to figure out what my pay would be like. I'm guessing that while I'm in training, I won't receive large reports. The employer is supposed to make her decision within the week, so it's not like I've been offered the job. I just want to educate myself as to:

How many lines the average page of psychiatric transcription might have.
Does 10-15 pages sound right for the average psych report?
Does .05/line during training & .06/line after training sound fair. The owner doesn't give out pay raises or paid time off (I would be an employee, not an IC).
Does it sound reasonable to be in training for 3 months & then be able to work from home after that?

Can anyone help me or direct me to where I might be able to figure this out. I'm currently going thru MT training, so I don't currently have MT work experience. I do have 11 years administrative work experience & 7 years technical writing work experience, so I'm pretty proficient on the keyboard.

Thanks for your assistance.
On average 1000 minutes equals how many lines?
nm
Our department does 1200+ reports a day. They average 11 lines. nm
This is for 2-3 line normal chests to MRIs. They look longer, but if you take 65 characters with spaces, you will be surpised. Here's an example:

CHEST:

INDICATION: Chest pain.

FINDINGS: Heart size within normal limits. Lungs are clear.

IMPRESSION: Normal chest.

This is 116 characters with spaces, which is 3 lines (if you round up - actually 2.55 lines). If by the line, you would make $0.30.

Something to think about.

Do the same with an MRI of the knee. Copy and paste it into word and count it. A very long one I had was only 15 lines.