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Just accept it. Apathy is the answer? I don't think so. SM

Posted By: QALady on 2007-07-09
In Reply to: Think this is a sign of the times - sm

I don't want to accept the demise of my career.  I don't want to move on to something else.  I may be studying for another career field in my spare time, but that doesn't mean I WANT a new career.  I love medical transcription.  I've always loved it.  We used to be respected, paid what we were worth.  Now, globalization of the work force threatens to end everything I worked hard to achieve and I'm supposed to just accept it?


 




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Apathy gets us nowhere
I agree. Not everyone has to speak up, but some have and hopefully more will. I'm just not sure I can any longer keep quiet.
What has kept me going - it certainly has not been the pay - is that I love MT work. All of it, even the most difficult dicators. No matter what I have done to make myself valuable, no matter how "smart" I work, there is not a raise to be had, and leaving MQ was a hard way to go, as most places offered a pay cut from 10 cpl to 8 and 8.5, no matter my experience and credentials (the CMT meant nothing to the majority of places I contacted).

I am disheartened, finally. I want it to be different. I can't sit back any more and "wish" it - AHDI is not doing a thing for us. They put all of this money, time, & energy into the visible black character (VBI) - this is for the MTSOs, not us. And is there any MT (besides those in the upper echelons of AHDI) who doesn't have a concern that though they SAY it is for more uniform billing methods for MTSOs, that it might trickle down to us?

Maybe I will put myself out there and at least be satisfied, as you say, to know that I didn't just sit back and blame.


All the more reason to call. Apathy such as
x
I am talking about OP's apathy allowing bad
x
Please accept a ((((BIG HUG)))) (sm)

And keep on praying...you know in your heart God will hear you :)  Life can be incredibly overwhelming sometimes, but He will carry you over the bumps in the road.  Here's the link to a website I've been going to for a long time...it really helps...


www.greatday.com


Hang in there


Why did you accept the IOU?
???????????  Still shifty if ya' ask me.  I can't believe a lawyer wouldn't take it if you had no scars or anything to prove you had the surgery as dicated.  I'm sure you were an inpatient.  They couldn't get a hold of those progress notes?  He never came and saw you in the hospital?  Just did the other two surgeries and sent ya' home that day?  Why would you want to work for a hospital that has these habits?  I wouldn't even want to be associated with that hospital.  Good luck to you.  You are obviously emotionally scarred.  Better luck next time.
They do it because we accept it.
I'm not transcribing for 5 cents per line. I can sweat shop telemarket at home for better pay.
Productivity pay does not even factor in things we do for work like computer repair, cleaning our work area, quick rest breaks and errands. We have to supply our office space and furniture.

The companies get away with this because most MTs are women. Men would never never never never accept it. They would say no and the companies would raise the pay or go out of business. The fact that we love MT'ing should not cloud our judgement to transcribe for sweat shop wages.

I can walk in Dr. x's office and make $8-$10 copying records or putting charts on the shelf. The skill of MT is much higher than alphabetizing or matching the ROI request with the patient's name!

BTW, I'm not *above* honest work. This isn't about refusal to work an unskilled low paying job. Companies are not even paying MTs 50% of the gross line rate and that is unacceptable.


Just accept it.......

I agree!  Change is difficult to say the least.  I remember my mom and grandma having to make lifestyle changes, but for some reason they modeled it for me with grace and dignity.  I guess I didn't inherit that trait because what's happened in the transcription arena bothers me a great deal.


If you want to remain in a viable field, however, might I suggest a law firm (medical malpractice, auto insurance defense, etc.) where medico-legal reports are done?  I took a breather from transcription in the mid-1980s and worked for an insurance defense firm where I reviewed medical records.  Now, if you want to debate anything at all, you should have seen the downright awful medical records I saw.  It was then that I truly understood the impact the medical record has in a court of law.  It was also at that time that the subject of MTs being named in a lawsuit if there were errors in medical dictation was brought up, and any damages awarded would be assessed under the MT's homeowner's policy.  I've never heard anything more about that since and hope it never resurfaces!  


I would definitely accept
the part-time position. From that you could end up with exactly what you're in need of.

I'd take it.


Only if you accept it.
I do not and will not make less than the greeter at Wal-Mart. I just won't do VR, as it doesn't pay enough. As long as people continue to accept these ridiculous wages, they will continue to pay them. I personally won't do it, as I believe I'm worth much more than that.
Thanks..unfortunately it won't accept password :(NM
d
I'm w/you on this one! It's crazy to accept LESS THAN 10 YRS AGO. And that is just what MT com

benefits and put them in their pockets and called them PROFIT.


They put us at home and said that was an excuse to LOWER THE BASE RATE OF PAY.


I tell you what, 4 years ago I was making $42,000 a year working for a hospital.


I had benefits along with that $42,000


I WORKED AT HOME IN MY JAMMIES.


I HAD FLEXABILITY OF TAKING OFF just like I always had in life.


Do you want to know what I made last year doing the same amount of work??


I made $14,000 and NO BENEFITS.


The company I have worked for (which shall remain nameless but we all know who it is) has managed to take away BONUS LINES, ENOUGH WORK, and NEVER GIVE ME A RAISE IN 6 YEARS.


If they think they have created a better medical record system they have lost their everlovin minds.  Reports are less accurate now than they ever were.  The hospital may have a PIECE OF PAPER back in their hands quickly, but it isn't worth a tinkersdam. 


So if you new MTs and even the older ones who now are on supplemental income or have a husband to back them up, us MTs who need to make a living to support our children - think again if you believe what we have been WORKED DOWN TO is a good deal. 


MTs at home have taken on the RISKS of transcription.  It is our personal time that goes unpaid while the company RISKS NOTHING.  We are the ones sitting around setting up computers, eating down-time, trying to learn new programs on our own dime.


THINK ABOUT IT


Why would you even accept that rate?
x
Why do you accept low pay for newbies?
I said it below but trascribing is a higher skill than alphabetizing.
The low pay for new MTs is unacceptable. Even after the huge discussion I do not understand the idea that putting in your time = working for low wages. I don't expect a new MT to make as much as an experienced one but they still should earn more than a file clerk or housekeeper.
Hospitals pay for *months* of training when a floor nurse goes to the OR. The floor nurse requires one on one training in the OR. They also pay for months of training for OR/"scrub" and anesthesia techs before they are considered productive. I don't understand why a new MT should work for $9/hour when a file clerk earns more than that. I understand the file clerk is productive after a few hours but the hosptial pays training time for other positions.
I am honestly asking this. I do not want a MT strike, MTs to type their initials on screwed up reports or a MT sit in at the medical director's office. Why is it accepted in the transcription community for a new MT to earn less than anyone else in the doctor's office?
I wouldn't accept it unless
At least 50% of the reports are templates ... import document and fill in the demographics. You can make $50 to $60 an hour with those. Otherwise, I wouldn't accept it ... and I've got almost 30 years in this business.
Yes, if WE DO NOT accept VR jobs that pay next to nothing,
it eventually will have an impact and VR will either pay better or disappear altogether.
The problem is there are too many who will accept it.
So what happens to those of us who value our skills and won't work for low wages? We will soon be out of work as I don't see wages increasing any time soon. So it will come down to work for low wages or be out of a job. I have already started planning for my next career.
What do you do when you accept a job or give someone your word,
and then your circumstances change overnight?  I don't want to bail on anyone, but I don't feel any loyalty at all to people who haven't been completely honest with me.  I need to take care of myself and my kids, especially with the cost of everything skyrocketing.  I feel so used and taken advantage of.  Everyone says not to burn bridges, though.  I just can't do it any more.  I need some "give" here instead of "take, take, take".  An opportunity has come up that I would be stupid to turn down, but I feel guilty dumping people who "need" me.
Most pediatricians accept kids until they are 21. sm
Internal Medicine will accept teens at the age of 13.
It depends on what you're willing to accept.
I don't have as much experience as you (only 5 years), and I was just raised to 14 cents per gross line from 12 cents. I would think someone with your skills and experience should be able to command a better line rate than 8 cents. Good luck to you. Even with my relatively low experience, I wouldn't get out of bed for 8 cents a line.
Look ...accept the fact that you are not in any other MT/mom household!
You can argue the "not 100%" junk all day long, but are you at home with any MT/mom all day? Not with me! So, you have no idea what goes on in my house. You can have your opinion, but you are not in our homes. In my house, I happen to do it all. I don't hear my kids, my husband or my MTSO complaining - only you -and you don't count!!
I actually DID accept a 6 cents per line
job. It's not much but I can do the work in my sleep (and probably have on a couple of occasions). But, you're right. I'm not going to accept 6, 7, or 8 cents a line for the "large teaching hospital" accounts with 95% ESL physicians, hundreds of dictators including residents so you never get the same dictator twice, graveyard shift, weekends, and holidays, with someone watching over your shoulder 24/7 to make sure you are working.  No thanks. I'd make more money working at McDonald's. Employers think that, because you have experience, you should be able to do the work that no one else wants to do. Gee thanks. Great to see we are being rewarded for our years of experience. Give me the mindless stuff that I can do in my sleep.   I don't want a "challenge" anymore.  My marriage is challenging enough! :)   My job is for paying the bills.  
Isn't there Okay or Accept, etc. at the top on the right at the Ctrl/J window? Need to do that af
d
If you accept that, you ARE putting yourself *on sale*. (nm)
/
I only accept digital files.
I don't have time to courier tapes. I use Express Scribe to play back files. Doc upload to a commercial, secure website. Completed documents are uploaded to the same website to be downloaded by the docs. (I pay $30/month for this.) No software/licenses for the docs to buy but they do provide their own digital recorders, which I have found to work best since they take better care of things they have to pay for.

There are several websites available that offer FTP stores space (some FTP knowledge is required by the office staff) as well as other sites that allow for "drop and drag" upload/downloads. Some bill a flat fee per month, some bill according to the bandwidth used.
Medication can help you get past the things you can't accept
in this life. You need to seek help.

People have to let go of what bothers them at some point. Carrying around that baggage with you isn't healthy for you.

I didn't bring up anything about my future -- someone else always does because they are so fixated and obsessed. Now that's the biggest funny of all. HAHAHA

Interesting and typical. Accept responsibility for nothing
He's a loser
(((RadGuy))) Death is never easy to accept........
But it does sound like he enjoyed a very full life and that is some consolation, I hope.

RIP, teach.
I'd be honest and wouldn't say less than you are willing to accept. It is a waste of your tim
x
I think part of the reason many people accept -
such low rates *to start* is that they don't realize that very likely, other than maybe gaining a little speed once they're familiar with the software & their accounts, that is all they're going to get. Merit or cost-of-living raises? Nuh-uh.
The few places that accept satellite are inside. May

MQ, Opti-Script, Precyse, Probity, Transform in Wyoming, TRS, and WebMedX....nm


Thank you. As long as we accept payment like that, they will continue to do it.
If we do not accept jobs that pay without spaces, then they will realize that we are not going to continue to do something for nothing. How many of you do several things throughout the day at no charge? Now this...
Depends on the definition you choose to accept
It can be "the particular occupation for which you are trained" or simply "a person's job or profession." I choose to think of mine as a career, also. I have not failed to increase my income each year, albeit by a relatively small amount, each year for the last seven. I think maybe the main difference between categorizing MT as a "career" or a "job" is one's contentment with where they are and what they are doing.

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=define%3A+career
Just didn't want to have to spend money to accept a job.
I was offered the perfect job (for me), but I just realized that gearplayer is required to do the files.  I'm broke as it is........didn't want to spend money I didn't have to just to "work"........sucks, because now I have to turn the job down and I really needed it.
And you're willing to just accept that? Ever had your identity stolen? I have. It's no treat.
the police have made a report but whoopee, that's not getting my credit back on track.  Talk about stress and grief.  No one ever cares until it happens to them.  What a shame.
Am I willing to accept the US government outsources my tax return? Are you nutz?

What the bleep do you expect US citizens to do?  Overthrow the government?  It's the friggin LAW the politicians made. 


Regarding identity theft - ANYBODY can steal your identity.  It doesn't have to be someone overseas.  Welcome to the real world.


 


Sorry about that. It doesn't really matter what the "R" stands for. Please accept my apolog
being catty. Hope you have a good evening.
You can accept checks or money orders, but it's more convenient

to use PayPal, BidPay, or some of the other services.  You don't have to sign up for the premiere or business account on Paypal that takes fees out.  In fact, I use Paypal for bank fund only transactions and don't accept credit card payments. 


It's pretty easy to sell.  I find that I have better luck by including a digital picture, starting the auction low, and being completely accurate in the description.  I used my scanner to do pictures for a while before I bought my first cheap digital camera off of ebay.  ebay has tutorials on their site so you can read up on how to do it.


I'm in Joyce's boat - what companies accept satellite, plz?

I've been waiting for DSL for years now -- it was supposed to be available locally in September, .... then "end of November" ... now, not returning e-mail (will phone next week) ... but I'm not hopeful anymore


actually in my area, satellite costs "only" $400 for set up and $60 a month ....


only advice for joyce is check out what company is servicing your sherriff/post office/library/schools ....  bigger can be best and most likely to be expanding their service area ... good luck.


But can't a company say I need these jobs by X time? And then the IC can accept or decline?
:+
You can accept the changes or you can shape the changes. THOSE are the choices. Reactive versus Pr
I choose to be proactive.  Apparently, the consensus here is to lie down like a dog and just let it happen.
Just accept that it is you opinon and let it rest. We all read all of the posts, yours included sm
and all taken into account.
A simple google search will give you your answer...I'd give you the answer,
but how would that help you learn to research on your own...and I'm in a rush to get to the next post. 
They think they're smart to accept it, but they're
m
Answer

Yes, of course I'm half afraid if I leave him I won't find someone else and half afraid that I will!!  I'm old enough and had enough good and bad times with men that I really don't think it would be the end of the world if I lived the rest of my life alone.  It's maybe what I would not choose but it might have some positives in the long run.  At least that's what I tell myself when I'm feeling good, during the middle of the night is another story....


Break-ups are tough.  How do you stay on course.  You get lonely, you miss him, you doubt your judgment, you want to try again, you tell yourself maybe you were too hard on him......


I think I should go to a counselor, it's just that it's quite expensive and as I said, I'll be paying for it out of pocket.  I think they will tell me pretty much what you have.


It sounds like things have worked out for you.  I thank you for your insight and help.


Answer
The payperiod I average 16,000 lines is a bimonthly payperiod. It runs 1st through the 15th and 16th through end of the month. It is WAY more than the minimum requirement. I am EXPECTED (with that employer) to do a minimum of 6000 lines per payperiod but the incentive is just too good to pass up.

See my post below if you want to know more. Or ask me. I'm not hiding anything. I'll tell you straight up what works for me.
Yea.. I used to think that. Now, for me, the answer is, no.

but again, you should go for it.  You might love the challenge and have a really great team that will help you not have to roast over the flames.  Its always possible! 


Godspeed my friend, do it if you want to.  It really might be the best thing you ever did!  Or not, but either way, you will know for sure! 


I can only answer for myself. sm
I never applied for a supervisor's job.  When the super quit because of stress I was asked (no begged) to take the job (in the office) until a qualified supervisor could be hired.  Time dragged on until I finally had to say either a supervisor was hired in 2 weeks or I would be quitting in two weeks.  I never enjoyed being "the boss," don't know why...I just didn't. Another thing.....I abolutely HATE being told lies.  I was told by an MT that she couldn't cover her 3rd shift assignment (guess who did cover it) because her grandmother had died...that was the 6th time AFTER I started counting, no telling how many grandmother's she had all told.  I guess some people enjoy being the boss for one reason or another.
my first answer is, of course, neither but (sm)
if I HAD to choose, I guess I'd say A...rather give it to some poor children than some rich b****.
a better answer would have been

leaving off the "jerk" comment, and recommend that people contact the MQ office they are affiliated with to see what that particular office wants them to do.


Anyone doing DQS...please answer this for me.

When I need to enter a NEW HEADING, I type it in, then it brings up a new box that says "type in new heading"...I finish typing it, hit OK or whatever, and it puts the new heading in my report.


BUT...it doesn't KEEP The new heading!  ARG!  It stays on the drop down list of headings for THAT REPORT ONLY but then when I do a new report, the new heading never shows up.


What am I doing wrong?  Help!! 


answer
I don't quite understand what you mean by the style they prefer, I worked there 4+ years, it is either feast or famine, not a very honest bunch.  You can make money for short periods of time until they over hire and run the account out of work and make promises to you they won't keep.  They don't have very good communication and rarely return calls or emails.  Their platform is not too bad, seen better, but easy to use.  I would like clarification though by what you mean by the style they prefer?