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Minutes vs. lines

Posted By: MaryMary on 2009-01-11
In Reply to:

Can anyone please tell me what 75 minutes of dictation should yield in lines (65 char).


TIA




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minutes vs. lines
In my experience, as I get paid per minute, depending on what you get paid per line, let's say anywhere 10-13 cents per line then by the line is the way to go especially if you have a lot of normal reports. I have a speedy radiologist and sometimes get paid nothing for a report because I barely get the name recorded and study recorded.
130 lines in 15 minutes?
Wow!  You are fast.  That would be 530 lines an hour!  I thought I was doing good at 250.  At that rate you can make a lot of money, but I think it would burn me out typing that much every day. 
minutes to lines
I recently started a new job and was told the formula is 100 minutes of dictation equals 1000 lines a day, approximately. Hope that helps.
probably about 100 minutes/1000 lines
15 years ago, I worked for a company that paid by the minute.  we got 87 cents for 1 minute.  I did 200 minutes a day and it was in the ballpark of 2000 lines.  it varies depending on your dictators but that's a good average.
OH! ER notes - that is where you can rack up minutes/lines!
Just fly 'em out the window, dude!!
Info on minutes converted to lines
Hi everyone.   I have a potential job offer and two of us are going to split the minutes.  Does anyone know what 100 minute's worth of dictation would equal in lines per day.   I know there is probably a formula for converting this, but I cannot find my information that I used to have.   Thanks
On average 1000 minutes equals how many lines?
nm
How do minutes dictated equate to lines typed?
In other words, if I commit to type 30 minutes of dictation, how many lines would that equate to (for 150 lines per hour for example)??  Or put another way - how long would an average Transcriptionist take to type 30 minutes of dictation (from an "average" dicatator)??
Wow, 600 lines from 30 minutes of clinic/chart notes - sm
The most I would squeeze out of that would be 350 probably. You must have one fast talking doctor. You are also very fast if you can do 600 lines in one hour, or else you have it macroed/expanded to death and there is very little actual typing so that is why you can do so much in such a small amount of time.
approximately how many minutes dict. equals 1000 lines?sm
When I worked in-house, I pure typed all day (8 hrs) 1/2hr lunch..2 10-min breaks and we were applauded for 70-100 minutes (we weren't paid by line but by hour). We didn't have Expanders and such..no normals..just typed. I don't know how many lines I produced, but 100 minutes dictation was a lot of work. Now it seems everybody looks at 1000 lpd as low normal.
One of my employers told me to just add a 0, i.e. 30 minutes would roughly equal 300 lines. sm

Of course, if someone talks fast, you'd get more lines, and if you get one of those guys who stops and turns pages and/or talks slow, the lines would be less.  Seems to be a pretty good rule of thumb for me.


As for the length taken, when I started doing MT work 30-some years ago (back in the days of the vinyl belts and carbon paper -- eek!), the quota was that you should be able to 15 minutes of dictation in 1 hour.  However, I think anyone with experience would probably do it in much less time. 


Hope this helps.  


I used to say he nursed for 30 minutes every 30 minutes. I was trying to figure
out a way to strap him across my chest so he could help himself while I went about whatever it was I had to do.    I really miss those days too.  
ATT- I was paying $320 for 7000 minutes, I am now paying $175 for 5000 minutes in CA. nm
nm
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.
That is a lot of work/lines for 2 people. I do 3000 lines per day sm
if you times that by 30 days that only comes to 90K lines a month, that is working 7 days a week including weekends. I don't think 2 people can handle that.
900 lines is below 1100 lines, where the bonus starts.
x
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).
The norm is 1 minute = 10 lines; 10 min = 100 lines - sm
granted this varies per dictator. More lines if a fast talker, less if a slow talker.
I went from 2400 lines to 1800 lines

a day when I switched from clinic (through an MTSO)  to hospital work. Not only was the clinic work easier with more macros (and less providers to learn, 12 vs 300+), but I was typing in straight Word (as opposed to Softmed/Chart Script).  So you see, it really varies depending upon the type of work as well as the platform used. That said, I am so much happier typing the 1800 lines per day (I make over $15 per hour plus an incentive for any lines in excess of 1200 per day) plus a great health package/benefits, AND approximately 5 weeks of paid time off per year.  In my opinion, hospitals really are the best employers WHEN they appreciate the work we do.


My advice for you is not to judge a job by any one criterion but rather the entire picture. The 'extra's can really add up.

Good luck in your job!


Which is the one where they are sc*&ing us the standard lines or the qualified lines? SM
Mine show up as STD when I pull up my transcription log.  But I see now there is STD/QT....  So which is the one where they are ripping us off, standard or qualified?  Need to know.  I am about to switch companies and I will not do if they are actually taking lines from me.  Thanks guys. 
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.


It has taken me 20 minutes to look up
addresses for one patient report.  That's a whopping four lines there.  Someone mentioned earlier making sure that the platform was user friendly.  It's simple enough to use, but this looking up information has got to go if I'm going to make any money at all.  I wish I could find something where I could just cruise.  Any ideas on companies without all the extra research done for free?
60 minutes

Depending on which account but 60 minutes to me is about $100 to $175 for me.    If it would be my surgeons would be over $200.  Sure they did not mean for 60 minutes of transcribing -- $40 per hour?  Even dividing by minute that is less than $1 per minute.  Way too low. 


 


So, you are saying then that 90 minutes sm
would take approximately 4.5 to 5 hours?
I think 60 minutes and all of you should
Enough already!  I'm sorry, but quite frankly your energy could be spent on much more important issues than offshoring medical records.  Let's bring the fathers and mothers home.  There are still physicians/facilities that use U.S. MTs.  JMO. 
minutes
Anywhere from 175-250 depending on account.
It's on again in about 45 minutes.
Should be, anyway.
i had an 800 # before and yes we had to pay for minutes used. sm
i am sure there are different options out there and this was 5+ years ago though. could you rerecord and send to her via net?
I just saw one a few minutes ago
x
I sent it to 60 Minutes
I sent the link to 60 Minutes. If I hear anything back, I will let you all know. Something needs to be done. To be truthful, I feel almost as bad for poor Indian workers being used by US companies and paid nothing, when they don't have the ability to do the job they are hired for. It's bad all around. I am sure there's plenty of work in their own country where they would at least be able to do a halfway decent job. It sure would spare us in the US having to re-do their reports before they are acceptable to send to clients.
5 minutes (nm)
nm
Since about 1994 off and on and about 15 minutes

I've been a transcriptionist off and on for years, probably 5-6 years FTE. I've always thought about getting the certification, but it used to be somewhat involved to do the testing. Of course, it's always been expensive with limited payoff.


I was applying for jobs about a month ago, and all the potential employers asked if I had my CMT. That tells me they think it is worth something even if we, the workerbees, don't.


I didn't really study for it. I opened my notebook and looked at Latin/Greek pluralizaiton rules, and then put the book down. I figured if I didn't know it yet from my day to day work and from college, I wasn't going to be able to learn it in time. Really, I don't know how a person could study for it. The questions came from such a broad area. I really think AAMT has come up with a good test.


I'm glad I took it, and I will do the CEs to keep the designation and to make me better at what I do.


It took me 30 minutes to look-up a patient.
x
80-100 minutes of dictation
Can anyone tell me approximately how long 80-100 minutes of dictation takes to do with variables I know of a good or bad dictator but on average.  A 60 minute microcassette tape on both sides of 120 minutes, is that something to compare this to? Thank you.
Mine only last 30-60 minutes,
but they sometimes come daily for a couple of weeks. My eye doctor said there's not much you can do for them.
Walking 30 minutes per day sm
with the dogs (all 160 pounds worth!) has my back and the leg cramps have nearly disappeared as well as the lower leg edema. I can actually sit longer now and don't need so much in the way of pain meds and no heating pad for the leg cramps. And other benefits too, lost 5 pounds, concentrate better, sleep better, fresh air.
"Oh, Mom" every ten minutes

/


Mine just had one a few minutes ago!
nm
I take on anywhere from 90-150 minutes almost every weekend - sm
every now and then I take off or take on less to give myself a break though and to be with the kids.  They think I work all the time (which I do it seems) and are surprised when I don't.  Trying to work smarter so I can spend more time with them, I don't want them to remember their childhood saying "well mom was always working". 
minutes vs. per line
I've always worked in-house radiology by the hour.  Now, I'm considering going elsewhere but I have no idea what I average as far as lines/day.  I know I average 15-20 minutes of dictation an hour, but what is that by the line?  And what is a good radiology cpl pay with 4-5 years experience?  Thanks for your input! 
They just showed it about 5 minutes ago
They said Ryan gave the wrong number to punch when people called in and that they also heard he'd had two offers from well-known bands, including Van Halen.
Yesterday, I did 45 minutes in
an hour (that was my average through the day).
Up to 5 hours to do 60 minutes- since you have to -sm
look up stuff, etc. If it was straight typing I'd say 3-4 hours to do 60 minutes.
Wow! If you do 240 minutes of dictation in...
8 hours, that is great!  Congratulations!
Where I work 90 minutes is FT- but I am an IC so - sm
it does not matter in terms of benefits. Though they are changing things some, basically if you work FT you get a better line rate than the PT people.....I am in-between (60-75 minutes a day depending on life) and luckily quite valued so I do okay.
OMG!!! Why do MT's come here and spew every 5 minutes?????
Go to work. Or something.

60 minutes of dictation
I take about 60 minutes of dictation each day and make between 50-60 dollars each day so yes, to me that is low.
60 minutes of dictation for $40
worth it or not?
1000 minutes
1000 minutes, 1000 lines at 65 characters
I think that is fair -- it is only 80 minutes in a day.
At my hospital, we have to type 120 minutes a day as our BASE!! We don't even get incentive until we PASS 120 minutes a day!

That's also 6 time turn around time.
minutes per hour sm
I am old school. I still cannot figure out how they can assume you can type so many minutes per hour when some dictators are horrible and some easy. I think quality has to be of utmost importance. How about the double speed tapes, some get twice as much on a small cassette as others and try explaining this to the docs, and boy do they know how to take advantage of you on this subject. Some won't understand, but the old timers will, you can dictate in either speed and they'll try to tell you it's only a "half tape" when they know they're getting twice as much on there. Shouldn't be "timed", it's quality that counts if you want to be worthwhile in this business IMHO.