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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Okay, am I completely loopy, or was there a post about cherrypicking?

Posted By: fuzzyMT on 2006-01-13
In Reply to:

Just curious, because I responded, or so I thought, and now I do not see any mention of it...anyone know? Thanks!


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I was referring to slamming the cherrypicking post
nm
The post above you completely correct
and why do you have to get up on the wrong side in order to state what is the truth? You have no rights per se to work from home- it is their job and like her, I would be very glad just to have had the chance to work from home. The job owes her absolutely nothing other than to pay her for her work. A reality check is indeed in line. Too many prima donnas here thinking they should be given the ability to call the shots. Ha!
Post not EXCELLENT, but completely out of touch with reality

like you think the MT's control the pay in the MT world? Either you need the job and you take it for the pay or you have another option. MT's without another option will take the job at 6 cpl, or 4 cpl or whatever. When working at McDonald's becomes an option that is equivalent to MT work, then MT's will choose McDonald's. 


The Transcriptionist is just ONE cog in the wheel of the whole industry. If people continue to look at only the MT's part, they miss the big picture. If all it took were people saying Let's all stand up together and demand better wages, then why couldn't the cashiers at the grocery stores across the US do the same thing? They can't. Because it they don't cashier for $8 an hour, there's somebody else who will. Same thing has happened with transcription. If you don't take the job at 6 cpl, somebody else will. It might be somebody from India (which you so quickly discounted) but I'll let you in on a little secret. The people from India who are doing MT typically have 2 master's degrees. They are hungry for work. They are intelligent, competent individuals, willing to work hard. They might have a little bit of a quality issue right now because of the language barrier, but it won't be long before you have lots and lots of Indian MT's with 2 years experience, who have learned from their mistakes, who have learned American idioms... and then you are really going to see the bottom drop of out the market.


cherrypicking co-worker issue (meant to post it on this board instead of MQ board) sm...

I need opinions please...I work on a very small account with just a handful of ladies.  Because of the nature of the software (trying not to get too specific here) we can see who is working online and what reports they are working on in real-time...



We have one cherrypicker on the account.  Instead of using FIFO method, she retrieves the reports by author ID - usually picking the better dictators of course.  She knows I busted her and she did admit to it in on our work e-mail (not too bright) which I am saving just in case she gets out of hand - so far I'm still able to make money since really most of the dictators aren't bad. 



But every night it's starting to wear on me since she's screwing up turnaround time.  I don't really want to cause a big uproar being that it is such a small account and I need to work with her almost every night usually one on one.



What would you all do?  I want to handle this as delicate and professional as possible because we can't really afford to lose anyone on this account.  In other words, I refuse to stoop to her level by cherrypicking right back.


My boss has asked me several times why so-and-so does so much more than I do...I just bite my lip at that point but one of these days I think I might explode and just open up a can of worms....


As a whole, creative souls are usually loopy

as a rule.  They see the world in a different view, which is why they are oftentimes so successful in their creative arena. 


I think she is just a highly emotional individual. Nothing wrong with a few tears, it is good for reviews!


I thought Shane was a little loopy!`
Terry told Danielle if he won immunity he would give her the immunity idol. I honestly cannot blame him for keeping it so long that tribe has really stuck it to him. Of course I thought it was rude of him to shove Ares last night.
cherrypicking
what company are you speaking of? kc1
Cherrypicking
You are correct about Cherrypicking. It should not be occurring. If you believe that there is a problem with Cherrypicking, you should contact your technical support person and tell them to change the settings for the "Q" button. If they don't fix the problem, you should be sure to contact eScription. They have a method to stop Cherrypicking.

Good luck!
cherrypicking
That is horrible advice. We don't all do it and it is the fastest way to lose respect of your employer and your fellow workers. You have to take the good with the bad and every good, seasoned Transcriptionist knows that.
cherrypicking
I do not think that cherrypickers can get away with this for a long time, because every report has a trail to see what happened with it.
cherrypicking
I need to vent. I work for a really nice company, have been with them for several years, and really like my work. Lately a couple of new people were hired, and it is obvious they are cherrypicking. Tough dictators get refused/sent back to pool. On our platform, we can tell when a job is sent back. If you are one of those people, why do you think you have the right to pick and choose your work and leave the crap for everyone else. it is only fair to take the jobs as they come. We will all get some good, some bad. Would you like the shoe on the other foot - you get stuck with all the crappy dictators? I am asking here, please do the work as it is assigned. Play fair, will ya? I have seen people post on this subject before but had never experienced it. Now I know why prior posters were so PO'ed about it. It kills the line count for the day, every day, while the new kid on the block is raking it in. Whoever you are, I hope the boss confronts you and assigns you all the junk for a while or fires your butt so those of us who have worked there for years can continue with the jobs we have loved for so long. You are ruining it for everyone else. Okay, vented. back to work. wonder what is in the pool now.
cherrypicking hurts EVERYONE sm
you are supposed to be part of a team! Do you even know or care what that means?  As the other poster stated, SHAME ON YOU!
Cherrypicking at end of shift
What about when you just have a little bit of time left on your shift and you want to shuffle through and pick up some short jobs instead of the 25-minute psych report or the long consult that will put you way over your shift?
Another fine cherrypicking day.
Man, would I love to go on all day about this company and the cherrypickers here.  This is totally 100% unbelievable that they let people do this every single day. 
No cherrypicking allowed here, but....

I know some reports do get shot back into the pool now and then.  Luckily for me, they're nearly always LONG reports by my favorite dictators (ESLs are my specialty), so I don't complain at all.   However, the rule here, which is hard to enforce, is that any skipped jobs or cherrypicking is grounds for being severely chastised for the first offense and immediate termination for the second. 


IMO, why not just type it and be done with it????   Doing that takes less time than anything else, and time is $.


I agree that it's cherrypicking. sm

I don't mean this to be harsh, but if you're going to be a Transcriptionist for a company instead of having your own accounts, you need to be willing to do ALL of the dictators. Why would it be fair for you to pass over the difficult authors, take just the easy ones, and leave the hard work for the others? What makes you think anyone else wants to do them either?


Question about cherrypicking...

I'm on a new account that uses the Lanier. I really think there has been some major cherrypicking going on the past 2 days, but I have no clue how. I'd like to ask my boss about this, but am afraid to stir the pot as I'm so new. However, this is very, very frustrating. I thought I'd start out and see if anyone knows if people can cherrypick such a system. If not, it is all in my head then.


Any advise would be appreciated.


Cherrypicking by proxy...sm
 All good and well in a hospital setting: Everyone knows what work comes out, when it comes out, who has done what, etc. What about home MTs?  I know for a fact that my account (a rather large one encompassing 2 or 3 hospitals and seldom getting the same dictator the same week) has predominantly good dictators for the Basic 4 and at the beginning (about 2 years ago since I started) made a pretty good line count.  Now it seems my shift (late evening) has virtually 99-100% ESL dictators.  Now some of these were just dictated, some were dictated 12 hours prior....but whoever gets to assign them assigns a high priority number rating so we can't skip over them.  I don't mind doing my share of bad dictators as long as everyone does theirs, and if even ONE MT gets to reject a particular job or "cherry pick", EVERYONE should be able to do it.  But I'm not going to be singled out to get all the crap dictation at the whim of the work router when I know this is only a small percentage of the work available on that account. I wonder who gets the good stuff?
They are not griping about just cherrypicking, the point of this
whole post was how can an MT who works for Softscript get that many lines when the rest of us had our SPACES TAKEN AWAY AND LINE COUNTS ARE FALLING, WITHOUT BEING TOLD WHEN IT WAS DONE.  We are told on an almost daily basis that the "line count" server is down and will catch up.  GUESS WHAT, IT NEVER DOES.  Although, apparently it does for a select FEW, aka the positive posts on here.
It sounds like you need to look for another job. I do not tolerate cherrypicking at all. If a

company I'm working for is allowing it and I find out about it, I'm gone.  I work too hard to put up with a services poor business habits.


Jane Harner


You are one paranoid woman (?), rather obsessing over cherrypicking.

Her post had not the slightest to do with cherrypicking, you have egg on your face, and you SHOULD apologize. Though I doubt you will, as you get to hide behind your anonymity.


Why does it have to be cherrypicking? The person just asked a question?
x
that should be sympathize, man, my eyes are bad these days...also, about the cherrypicking...
how do people know that, if they are not doing it themselves...in my experience, those who complain the worst about that are usually doing it themselves...

that is my opinion.
my apologies...I agree with you on THAT part about cherrypicking...
had that happen first-hand my first year of transcription...supervisor took all normals, easy dictators, etc., all to score points with the Medical Director - constantly making everyone think she was some kind of wizard on the keyboard (haha, it is funny now, but all of us in the office knew exactly what she was doing...)
My thoughts on cherrypicking - newbies please read

Cherrypicking isn't right for the obvious reasons.  But another thing, and this is what I decided early on, it's best to just sit down and learn to do those hard dictators, especially if there's QA or somebody else around to help you.  Because someday you may be in a position where you HAVE to type that dictator, either because it's assigned to you or it's a stat and you're the only one available.  It's too late to say you can't do it, especially if you've been on the account for a long time and are expected to know the dictators by then.   I don't ever want to be in that position.  That's just my opinion. 


Cherrypicking - such a cute description for theft.
cc
and let's not forget cherrypicking! That'll boost your lines way up nm

maybe you oughtta try cherrypicking too...force the co. to deal with bad dictators! nm
1
Cherrypicking didn't make our line rates less -
the lower line rates are what started people c-pickingin the first place, so they could make enough each week to live on. Back when I was paid by the hour (and lots more than I'm getting now per hour, I did whatever came along. But I'm sorry, I'm not gonna GIVE an employer a chunk of my change for the 'privilege' of doing a 40-minute report by a gum-chewing ESL with static on the line, partying nurses, or crying babies in the background, that I just plain can't understand, when I have the option to choose something that is at least transcribe-able.
It was rude in nature. 'Thanking' people for cherrypicking was uncalled for.
/
I have heard so many people rationalize cherrypicking and seen too many supervisors not deal with i
It's a scourge on this profession ... like the folks who gratefully accept absurdly dreadful line rates because -- "it's better than nothing"

It's why we're all making LESS than we did 10 years ago, 15 years ago ... made worse because that's even without adjusting for inflation ...
there a note on the company board from QA regarding cherrypicking and they mention "line padding&
This is a new one on me.  I've heard of cherrypicking but what constitutes line padding?  Isn't everybody typing what the doctor dictates?  How can you possibly add extra????
Should just post all their open positions in one post and only be allowed to post one of those a day
nm
I had one of those. If you have a completely sm
level back yard, you should do okay with yours. My yard had a slight slant to it which made the pool lopsided which made it very susceptible to collapse. Since I lived in South Florida at that time, I could never use the pool past May because the water was as hot as bath water.

They require a filter change weekly and lots of chemicals. The rim will easily get holes in it, so be very careful, especially if you have dogs that like to jump in and out. And never sit or lean on the edge, or your pool will quickly collapse. If you expect heavy rain, better drain at least 2 inches out of it beforehand.

Strongly advise getting a cover for it!
They are completely different - sm
Smartype is geared toward medical transcription specifically and is much more user friendly than Intellicomplete.
While VR won't take over MT completely,
With VR, one MT can do the work of 2-3 MTs doing straight transcription. So while there will still be MT jobs, there will be less of them. At the same time, you have MT schools churning out new grads willing to work for 1-2 cpl just to get their foot in the door. One MT company is so actively recruiting they are placing ads on Craigslist to get new students. Meanwhile, they have a ton of new grads complaining on their forum every day that they can't find a job. Things are definitely changing in this industry and it is not for the better.
I completely agree
These ESLs work hard to learn the language before they come here, many learning it through their school years, come here and legitimately and legally set up their practices (I haven't heard of any doctors complaining that their jobs are being taken by foreigners), and they still have to fight for any respect.
you are welcome and I completely agree with what you are saying!
it seems that so many like to twist around the Word or leave parts out that are uncomfortable. 
I disagree completely. Please SM
It is MY job to ensure MY work product is as error-free as possible. Just because I get paid piecemeal does not give me license to just send it to QA for the sake of make a few extra pennies.

As far as your statement on the influence on our paychecks, you're right on -- but for a different reason. Because of higher quality, you will qualify for incentive plans, be offered more variety in worktypes, and when the chips are down STILL HAVE A JOB.

I NEVER want to be paid by the hour again, regardless. Minutes are NOT tick-tocking away at my pay! I'm too fast AND skilled to ever limit myself in that fashion again!
Completely understand now -- wish
I was still in house.
I understand completely...
Every morning she jumps onto my desk, goes behind the monitor, on top of the printer, comes down the printer (which by now is beeping from her stepping on the buttons), then she steps in front of the monitor and bumps her head into mine. She will not let me work until I get up, go into the kitchen, and open a can of the most gosh-awfulest smelling food.

This is a ritual...what a way to start the day! :)
I agree completely!!
When I first started typing for MedQuist, if there was a difficult doctor, I would skip over it. As time progressed, the more typing I did, the better I got and didn't want to skip over reports, I wanted to be able to type whatever came up! If you NEVER type these heavy accented doctors, you will NEVER learn to do them. I agree with you "Got the Letter" and am waiting for my phone call!!
I agree with you completely

when EVERYONE criticizes how the government is run and how they do things? Why put your life and those of your family in jeopardy waiting on the government to help you. What happened to PEOPLE helping each other?  People seeing that their elderly neighbors get to safety? People pulling together to solve these issues? Why do so many seem to be waiting to see what the government can do for them??  The government has enough problems!  I certainly would not rely on the government for ANYTHING!  Do these people want to government telling them what to do in their everyday lives?  If so, move to a country with no democracy! 


 


  I'm finished for the time being.. but WAKE UP PEOPLE!


I agree with you completely

and believe me, they don't give a patient a discount because they feel guilty. They don't give the employees yearly raises. While they (and the 2 office managers) get their bonuses and go buy brand new cars, SUVs, boats, vacation homes and, yes, even airplanes, they have plenty of employees struggling to make ends meet. One employee (that I know of, a newly divorced woman) recently took bankruptcy and our insurance is so bad that most of us can't afford to even go to the doctor as we have $2,600 deductible for a single person!  I would NOT feel guilty one bit!  


  


I completely agree with you . .
Did you see Tanya Tucker's reality show? I loved that. There's one about roller derby girls and a new one is coming out about rodeo cowboys - sounds exciting to me.
I completely agree - sm

I love it when they say thank you.  It makes me smile every time.  It also makes me smile and chuckle a little when I get one that will laugh at themself when he/she gets tripped up on their words.



I agree completely
Sad but so true.
This is completely not true

If you read the instructions of any of the federal returns about the issue of filing for an extension, it will tell you that you can file a form to ask for time to get the finished return in to them (until August 15 I believe), but you must send in what you believe you owe with the form filing for the extension.  If at the time of filing the actual return, you still owe money, then the issue regarding penalties and interest comes into play.  If you fail to file a return or an extension request and you expect a refund, you have up to 3 years to file the actual return with no penalties.


Just remember, you still must pay what you believe you owe when you file for an extension.


Have I just completely lost it?...
Sometimes when I am working if I get a doctor with a sexy voice I try googling him to see if I can find a picture.  Every now and then I do find a picture but most of the time I am disappointed with how they look.  Does anyone else do this?
That is completely unethical.

That service found you that job. They trained you on that job. They did your QA on that job. And now the doc's office wants to go around the service and hire you direct, and obviously cheaper?!  First of all, know that if they can replace you cheaper, they will. Second, I hope it's a really, really good stable job, because you will be blacklisted among MTSO's and never work again... Talk about ungrateful.


Clueless but not completely
I’m somewhat clueless and really don’t know what to do.  I have over 5 years of distant (1973-1978) orthopedic experience, before MT was a hot item and have been working as an IC for one person for 2.5 years, doing mainly Urology and Urology-related Radiology.  I have not had formal MT training.  In reading all these board messages I don’t totally get it, i.e. Acute care, what is it? I just found out what the Basic 4 are.  I feel like a moron even though I know I’m not.  Nonetheless, I’m not getting enough work, have submitted a few resumes to a few sites.  Am wondering if I need to get formal training/certification.  I was lucky to get what I did without the certification, but I’m ready to go further in terms of specialities, OP reports, consultations, etc.  But, I am apprehensive about the whole enchilada.  Is anyone out there who has been in my shoes?  Any advice and/or recommendations would be appreciated.