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No, I do not feel that way, but I understand. A few years ago, I was feeling similar, but

Posted By: ExpMT25 on 2006-02-06
In Reply to: anyone feel a sense of urgency in regards - to leaving the MT field? sm

when I look at what I make an hour ($30-40) who is going to pay me that without a Masters? I have it pretty darn good and will see it through until retirement - about 30 years from now (hopefully if I live that long) LOL.

You just need to find a good paying company or hospital and you will feel much better. The healthcare industry is here to stay, whether it be VR or offshoring. Most hospitals are bringing MT back in house. Not all hospitals agree with offshoring out of the country. There is a big world out there - go get em. Don't be discouraged.




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I completely understand that feeling. Praying for this family. nm
x
Don't understand why not. I thought I've seen other posts similar to this before. I'm not t

cause any problems, but as I work for DSG, so I'm naturally curious. As I said, I liked working with them both. Is it a secret?


 


I too am feeling the same.. almost in tears and really feel like quitting altogether!! So you are n
x
thank you for posting...I feel similar to how you do (no message)
xx
My ears are feeling so horrible that I can't stand the feel of my headphones.
I have URI symptoms, saw the doc yesterday.  Has anyone ever not used their headphones and used the speaker instead.  I'm concerned that I won't be as accurate.  Any suggestions for me?  Thanks.
I did something similar about 7 years ago
I live in the Philadelphia area and charged 12 cents a line.  I also had a few private clients and that is what I charged.  I think the average is 12-14 cents these days for the standard 65 character line.  Make sure you get it in writing.  Also, if you are going to bill them and not be on payroll, be aware that hospitals somethings are not too great with paying on time, maybe 30 to 60 days.  Make sure to bill in small increments weekly or biweekly so that if they ever default you can take them to small claims court.  If they owe you too much money, you would not qualify for small claims court.  I am not trying to be negative.  I just wanted to give you some info that I have learned over the years.  I also added in my contract 30 days notice of termination of the contract, how much I would charge, mininum amout of work expected, how I calcaluated a line, when payment was due, etc.   I hope this helps.
I did similar about 20 years ago
I'm assuming the statute of limitations has run out, but you never know. I was on maternity leave as a high risk OB and in the 2 months before & from 2 weeks after delivery to 2 month, my husband was officially the employee while I did work and also collected either unemployment or short-term disability (not sure which now); at that time, my employer was aware although that was back in the small company days. Ethically and legally I suppose it was wrong, but considering that up to that point I had paid into it for 10 years without using it, and since then another 15 plus years without using it, I don't lay awake at night wracked with guilt.
I understand exactly how you feel-
I even find myself not wanting to go ANYWHERE. I don't even want to take movies back or make a quick trip to the post office. I have found that if I force myself to get out of the house a little bit each day, it does help me to not feel quite so isolated. To add to those feelings, I am now going through a horrible divorce. My husband refuses to agree on anything - he won't even move out!!! Most days I feel like pushing him in front of traffic. I worry a lot now about working from home and how I will ever meet people - not just other guys but making new friends too.

Here's something to consider. The thing that helps me the most is that I have a couple of friends who have computer jobs, and they are always just an email away. I try to send one particular friend of mine a quick email every day just to say "how's your day" so that I know that I'm not so alone all day. I also think you should try to run 1 small errand or something once a day just to get out of the house. I think that would even rebuild your tolerance level, especially if you have to stand in line at the post office or wait for someone who doesn't know when to get moving at a 4-way stop sign! Trust me, I feel your pain.
I understand why you feel bad.

That had to be a hard thing.  However, it is done.  The decision made.  There is no reason to tell them as that would only cause unnessary hurt. 


Doctors change services all the time and someone benefits from it.  If you were in the "real" world nobody would have blinked an eye about you working for the other guy.  Just move on and keep doing the work they apparently like.  Good luck!


I understand how you feel, but
It's her money and she can do what she wants with it. If it was me, I'd use the money to pay off bills, but she must think differently when it comes to money.
30+ years, and similar experience to yours. (sm)
I just quit a clinic I'd been at for over 25 years. Was treated like dirt, and when other employees got a COL raise and I did not, I was told I had "worked there too long." Nice, huh?
I was in a similar situation a few years ago, I got divorced. nm
xxxx
I understand how you feel but try being flexible

or go to a different company.  I'll be the first one to admit I am an employee and rarely work my schedule.  It is NOT a problem with management, in fact it is a plus.  Why?  Because when the work runs out, I have two other hospitals to back me up.  If they are low, I log out, do my laundry, run my errands and sign back in after dinner when the work has built up again and there isn't anyone willing to work those hours.  I log in  on the weekends as I often get notes from my account supe advising everyone who is scheduled to work but are NOT working how behind the account is.  My committment is to my accounts because if I take care of my accounts, those accounts take care of my employer and when that happens, my employer takes care of me.  Patients don't always need treatment and/or dictation is not always done when you are scheduled to work.  This is the nature of the beast and being miserable is no way to deal with it. 


Over the last 10+ years, this attitude has been rewarded many times over by being a very valued employee and have appreciation shown in many ways that have made my life richer, in addition to providing an income that exceeds the average MT.


d~


I understand how you feel completely.
I worked for what I thought a very reputable company, and kind people after I came from a hospital setting. I had not worked for a service before, and I had to switch because I moved away from the hospital area (insurance reasons). I am not lying when I say I worked for 2 years with this service, and I actually went to a psychiatrist because I thought there was something wrong with me. I went from doing 2K lines a day minimum 1500 on a bad day, down to 1500 lines on a 10-hour day solid. No kidding. I got so burnt out that I was doing 700 to 900 a day and just bringing enough home to eat after paying for insurance. A little over 2 years of exhaustion, I was switched to another account (a hospital system) and my lines were up to usual immediately!!!! It was NOT me! It was the way the service fudged the lines on their own system. When my lines shot up they took me off the account saying there was not enough work and I was to go back to my old account. No way. I did a minute analysis versus lines and found out I was being paid 40% less. Something was definitely fishy. I find out then it was not me. I was not being paid for any spaces, and probably (though I am not completely sure) Expander use. I told the doctor and he told me he knew it was not me all that time, it was just that I questioned myself. I have no problems except I have to believe in myself and stop being so trusting of dishonest people. Once I do that my life will turn around. So, please take a lesson from me. Don't wait 2 years, go broke, go to the doc, get put on meds for no reason. Trust your instincts. Get solid proof of the cheating, and get a good job. Same with life. Please trust your instincts. Cheaters look honest, but if your gut says something is wrong, trust your gut. Good luck to you!
if you feel like that after 12 years, and I feel like that after six months
what hope is there?
Thank you! That is all I wanted was someone to understand and be kind! You made me feel better with
future and get better, just BAD luck so far. 
Been doing this for 25 years and understand!! sm
Been where you are many times over the years. You need a day off here and there. Believe me - it really does wonders for your mind, soul and body! Take a day or 2 to rejuvenate yourself. It works. That is what I do and I get back to speed in no time.

The day or 2 you take off will be well made up for when you return with a new attitude and outlook!
Oh, I've been doing this many long years, so I understand what SM

you're saying. I've been dept. supervisor, QA, all of it -- all long enough to realize that I am not infallible, for sure.


What I will say is that spending two hours reading reports aloud is not going to help me in any way, shape, or form. If I thought for a moment that it would make my work better, I'd be willing to sacrifice the time and do it.


It's really sort of like a tic, what I do when I transcribe, and I can't help it. I have tried to let stuff sit there and have the spellcheck catch it, but it's like a reflex action. I've backspaced to it before I had time to think about it. I know that I'm not really using my resources very efficiently.


I think I said in my first post that I started on typewriters and went from there to a computer with just a keyboard and monitor, and the only editing tool available to me was the backspace key. Mercy, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I transcribed that way until 1993 (? thereabouts), when I got my first spell check and word expander.


I only have 4+ years but I feel some of it is
dependent on the MT tools like spell checkers, electronic dictionaries, etc. Also, you may learn to do everything the first year and hire on with some company that has a limited amount of specialties or no variety in the type of report you type. Or maybe you are totally correct in some cases. Just thought I'd offer another perspective.

byyye:)

I have been an MT for 15 years. I feel burned out, SM
and was wondering how others deal with it. I can't seem to get my momentum back.
Don't feel bad. For the first time in 2 years,
I didn't get my lines or hours. Work has been low lately. I've usually been way above the required production.
Dummy, don't feel bad. I've been doing this for 16 years
NM
I feel your pain. I have 30 years experience,
MT and QA, but have found it takes so long to go thru the whole testing process before even speaking to a human - while I love working at home and online, its one drawback to me - having to apply amongst apparently thousands of others, and you are just an email address for most of the process. Very tiring. And the testing? Horrible! There are some programs that help you hook up your foot pedal - Express Scribe? But still its so awkward. I easily transcribe 300 LPH without a sweat, but on testing? Its so not user friendly. I would apply at so many companies, but just get overwhelmed at the thought. At least I'm just looking for part-time work, though, so it is easier to put it off.  Hang in there! And I know what you mean about not hearing from them. I have always tested perfectly, and often don't hear from the companies for months - other times, I will have an offer within 2 minutes. Just depends on the companies, but to hear nothing is so disheartening and unprofessional.
Thank you for your answer! That helped me a lot. I have been an MT for 4 years and feel i should ma
n
I feel people who feel like this post
needs to a) either be a stay at home mother and not work or b) realize that she is no queen bee and I could care less about a degree. What company out here that you know of compensates for having a degree? Means nothing to them. Your working and being there when they assign/need/require/whatever is what you should do IF YOU WANT A JOB in this field, otherwise get out and do something else or become that babysitter.
I'm so sorry you are feeling like this! I truly believe it is because
of your illness right now that this is all happening - the way you are feeling. About a week before any kind of sickness is starting in my body I go through the same exact thing. You must be paid hourly or salary because no one should have to cover for "free" and not get paid overtime! The phone co. tried to do that with my DH and other salaried workers and there's been a federal law passed that any unpaid overtime MUST be paid from Oct. of last year until now. You must gaid paid overtime even if you are salaried. Look it up and see if that is not correct.
Anyhow, good luck. LIke another poster said, get plenty of rest and I promise, next week you will be doing better.
Been there.. know the feeling
I think we start them so you and they school sports are SOOO competitive nowdays, that the kids give it all they have and then finally burn out. My son did. He played everything from tennis, golf, football, soccer to basketball. He did finish playing through high school (had finally limited it to only basketball), but did not want to play when it came to college. It broke my heart. For one thing, I was not ready to not get to see him play anymore and, secondly, how to pay for college now?  However, I didn't want to push him into something he did not want to do. We have survived college so far (he's in his third year), but now he plays sports only on a recreational basis and is very happy. He is even pursuing a degree in Sports Management and wants to be a sports agent, so he still has the love of the game. I'm just glad he didn't lose that through it all.
Feeling Up Mom...

This is simply too funny!


http://www.askmen.com/video/current/index.html


thank you, feeling better.

I know the feeling
I tell them up front what work types I like and that I don't want the very high rates for the crappy accounts. My company, Etransplus, lets you choose what work types you want to do and I bet you I don't get an ESL but maybe twice a month. I had also checked with them for a friend of mine and they do need ops people only.

I always tell companies that big line rates don't pay off in the long run when the accounts are so bad.
i had the same feeling..
I really had admired his class throught the whole show and he certainly came down a peg or 2 then
I'm feeling old!
I worked for a doctor in high school so had a tiny bit of training, first job for transcription company was on an IBM selectric.  I worked in our dining room and it almost drowned out the t.v. in the next room.  My daughter, who was in junior high at that time, tore my perforated pages for me when i was finished.  Funny thing, money didn't seem so tight back then, did it?  Now I have to beat my fingers to the bone to get 2000 lines a day!
I'm feeling down
I work for a clinic making about $13.00 hr to work for 5 doctors and 2 nurse practioners. I have to transcribe the dictation, file all that I type into the charts (and charts are scattered anywhere and everywhere), send out all the referring physician copies (which sometimes can be 3-4 a report), and be anybody's "typist" that wants me to type whatever. Also have several other "clerical" duties the boss thinks that I should do. This is a very busy practice with around 200 patients a day. I have 30 years experience and am a CMT. I have been reduced to what I feel is "clerical" staff and my pay certainly reflects that. They constantly come in and wonder why the work is behind. I forgot to add that 4 of the 5 are "TERRIBLE" dictators that could do better but won't. I'm constantly having to find the referring physicians to type on to the report because they won't give it to me but want it typed on the note. I feel that I am giving these people their money's worth. The management will not listen to anything suggestions to make things run smoother and just want done what they want done, no matter what it means to me to do it... then they wonder why it gets behind. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but today I'm wondering, "WHY DO I DO THIS?"  Is it for the retirement plan, cause not many of the services I have checked into even give benefits. I just want to get my purse and walk out and never look back. Ever felt that way??  I feel I am a wasted talent here and always have been, but I feel that the MT field has suffered many disappointing changes over these last 30 years. I've been here at this clinic almost 20 years. Before that I worked at a hospital where I was top producer for the 11 years that I worked there. I have no one else to tell this to who would remotely understand my feelings and I appreciate your letting me sound off on this board.I just don't know what to do next and was feeling down. Thanks for listening!
Feeling like we might be getting somewhere.
UPDATE:  We got our tax money back and beginning to pay off bills so I won't have to take them with me.  Only the ones in my name though, his credit is ruined, so he says he's not worried about them.  Also, he paid off my dresser and is getting me some things to set up my home office.  He is really taking this well.  I'm so excited.  Keep those good vibes coming.  They must be doing something.  Thanks, Jodi Lynn
I know the feeling
They take a set amount out of our checking twice a month. We should have all of our credit card debt taken care of in 4 years. The credit card companies lowered the interest rates on our cards substantially once we enrolled with CCCS, and I feel as if we now have a handle on our credit card debt. I believe it does go on your credit report, but the fact that you are trying to find a way to pay your bills and not just ignoring them looks good.
I know the feeling
same thing happended with my largest account. My group of doctors went to EMR, most of them are sticking to struggling by to fill in templates, etc, but they do dictate also, but very little. The office basically needs only one Transcriptionist now, where was before there were four. The doctors really are not as satisfied with the EMR as they thought they would be, but they have invested such big $$$, they will stick with it. The system they have is point and click using templates, etc and the transcriptionist also does alot of that, they fill in the blanks, etc. I worked on it a few times and find it very, very different from transcribing, you cannot get any "flow", therefore if you were paid by the line, way less $$$ than I can make transcribing. Since the system is just getting up and running they needed people to input data into it (scanning documents, etc), not difficult but time consuming. I did that temporarily too, but unfortunately the pay would not compare to transcribing either. I know on their system they could set up a transcriptionist from home, but they never got around to that part partly because they really did not have enough work to justify that expense. Of course the data entry would have to be done there as it required scanning multiple charts daily into the system and the office did not want to be without their charts for any period of time, etc. Of course each EMR system is different and each doctor uses it somewhat differently, if you previous physicians really dislike it, they may just dictate as in the past, but I would look for them to try to use the EMR as much as possible because of the $$$ invested into it. Keep in contact with them and keep your foot in the door, so to speak, they may tire more and more of it, but it will probably take awhile, then again after time they may adjust to it more and more. It's a gamble either way.
exactly my feeling too -- and to OP,
feel free to e/m me for my thoughts and experiences relating to your question.
That's how I took it, and I know the feeling
since we just moved and my son will be going to a new school with new friends, and this will be my daughter's first year too.
I know the feeling!
We have custody of our daughter's 2-year-old son; what a difference between boys and girls!! He is SOOOO active, and it's really hard to get my hours in at work, but I'm trying! Congrats to you and God bless!!
I'm feeling so much better
So many positive responses ! Thank you all so much for the encouraging feedback. I am the type who "likes my own company" so hopefully I'll get used to the quiet pretty quickly, but I am so close to my kids too - I'm going to really miss them.
Know the Feeling
I worked for a top criminal attorney in my area for 14 years and made great money, but I went back for a visit a few weeks ago, and boy, am I glad I'm home as an MT now. He was giving the secretary orders to do this and that by tomorrow, etc. and I thought to myself, boy I don't miss this at all. I make less money now, but to me it's worth it to be at home doing MT.
Ahh..someone who knows what Im feeling!
Thank you for your nice post. I certainly don't see why some got ruffled, everything I have said is valid.

These work at home jobs are supposed to be marketed for women with small children, but if you set the job up with unfair expectations like typing 8 hours, then you diminish the whole reason for women working at home in the first place...FLEXIBILITY!

It's really hard, but I'm trying. I just know if I had a better way to work my hours, this could work out for me.

Thanks for all your advice and it feels good to know I'm not alone!
I know the feeling!
Some days I just don't feel like working. It's so boring and monotonous. I have to challenge myself by setting dollar amount goals or line count goals. Just like the other posters, I type for an hour and then take a break to do housework or something. I set up rewards for myself. Get this done, and THEN I can surf the Internet or go shopping. I've even gone as far as blocking my favorite Internet sites from my work computer so I don't surf while I'm working. The other thing that helps is looking at my bills and setting up payoff goals. Now if only I could find a J-O-B so I could set some goals.
hah, me too. My cat is feeling
disenfranchised now that i've got this keyboard in my lap, she was used to snuggling inbetween my belly and the keyboard :) Both my cats like to be up here with me while i work too!
I have a feeling that we should either

be working with a company we love right now, or look quickly.  I do believe that whatever happens to our MQ friends has a lot to do with the rest of us.  There are what, 8000 to 10,000 MTs there? If something were to happen and there were a lot of resumes going out to all of the companies and hospitals out there, odds are the influx of great candidates versus the jobs would become a supply and demand issue.  This may be happening already, as there were 500 people surfing this board the last few days since the MQ platform has been suffering problems. Does anyone have this feeling too? I don't think we should panic, but I am making sure to do my job with my present employer (personally) and hold onto my job security.  If anything should happen to this giant employer, the few companies out there which are really good to their employees will have their pick of thousands, and I for one do not want to worry about my benefits and my job.  Any comments on this? Thinking it would make for interesting conversation, seeing the balance of the MT workforce does depend on what this failing giant (MQ) happens to do.


 


 


I know the feeling

I'd done MT for approx. 20 years too - tired of the pay going down instead of up & tired of crappy ESLs/sloppy English speakers that only got worse.  My solution?  Do MT part-time to "keep an iron in the fire" just in case.  I'm now work full-time in the quality systems program for a small medical device company.  I'm SO much happier, have a 401K, benefits, vacation/sick pay and am SALARIED.  No more sweating for pennies on the line and I am actually respected for what I do.



I know the feeling...sm
When I have a lot of work which hasn't been that often lately, but when I do, it seems that my mother who lives next door will come in or my daddy will drop by. You don't want to be rude but sometimes I just have to say I have a lot of work and just not get up and go in there and they will get the hint and leave.
My feeling also
We all know the story of the golden parachutes these guys get even in the face of the companys going bankrupt. They take their millions and run not giving the employees a second thought. No one wants to be a victim of this type of scenario but it may start unfolding in the next few months to a year. We need to be prepared and aware of what is going on.
Oh, I'm feeling ya.... :) nm
nm
Most of the time 80, 79 or 78 if I'm feeling hot....sm
luckily for me I'm on the cold-natured side so during the summer heat I'm not sweating too much in the 90 degree outdoor heat.  In the winter I keep the thermostat around 70 and if I feel cold I'll go up to 72.
It can EASILY cause that feeling and yes, it is ...
working from home that does that.

It nags on you because it is "never completed", there's always more to do.

You need to get out of the house and do something OUTSIDE and something WITH OTHERS. That is why I volunteer (see my post a few threads below under "Answers").

You have to really keep a tight rein on disciplining yourself to keep a firm wide boundary between your home life and your work life because they are BOTH at home.