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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Okay to work for more than one service.

Posted By: pcpeanut on 2005-10-26
In Reply to:

Is it okay to work for more than one service at a time? Do you have to be IC to do that, or can you mix and match with employee status?  Is a small service better to work for, generally, than a national?  If you work for a clinic can you also work for a service at the same time? Thanks for any input.


 


 




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That's all I will do. Every service I work for. nm
x
Does it bother any of you who work for a service
I accepted a job with a company not knowing that they outsource offshore until today and I have mixed feelings about whether I should continue looking for a different job or stick with this one.

Baffled
I work for a service, a rather large one sm
They probably, or possibly, keep the records for awhile, in Echart.  But as an IC, I would think that legally, you would be limited to the amount of time you are allowed to keep patients medical records, and I would bet it would be around 30 days, not more. 
suggestion for those who work for a service
I had problems earlier this week when I had to reinstall my Java and ended up with a weird word processing program that also attached itself from Sun and also when I STOOPIDLY downloaded a Bittorrent file and of course could not "remove" either through the usual way and of course, it caused my system to almost have a nervous breakdown and after hours of "trying to figure it out myself", I ended up calling a remote techinical service.

The name of the service is HiWired and I used them in the past about 3 years ago when I was having problems with my desktop. The initial person that I spoke to told me the charge would be $73 and I told her that would be okay. The tech installed AVG Free on my puter and told me about the horrors of the bit torrent files etc. He also installed another free antispyware program on my machine and in all, spent about 2 to 2 and a half hours the other night working on the machine. When everything was back to normal, I checked my account and sure enough, $73 was all that I was charged -- NOTHING was added to the bill like some places that will "give you a rate" but the more work that is done, then the bill goes up."

Also, the wonderful thing about HiWired is that they are based in MA, they work 24/7 and all their techs are AMERICAN technicans.

Sorry for the long post.


With the service I work for at home, we also
have access to the patient's electronic record to verify dictation.
Do you work in a hospital or a Transcription Service
Office? It is a hospital there should be a manager that you can go to or an administrator. Production is key in hospital work, and it is important you have the quiet you need to produce.
does anyone else work for a service where you have to get your line counts from a website?(sm)

I presently work for two services.  For service A our line counts post to the company password-protected website.  However, that isn't a problem as the program we use shows us our line counts as we go along.  Also, the line counts are available to us, from the program, within five minutes at the most after finishing the job.  It also posts to the website within that time frame.


However, for service B we have to completely RELY on the website for our line counts.  I'm not sure how the site works or how the jobs/counts get posted to that site but there are ALWAYS times where this site is down (usually around the end of the payperiod so we can't tell how much we've typed at any giving moment.)  Also, we cannot verify whether those counts are right because we do not have access to what is considered a line (other than the standard "65-character-including spaces").  Does anyone else work for a service where you have to get your line counts this way?  What do you all think. 


Ahhh, so you've chosen to work for a service
There are others who are still gaining their own accounts.  Sometimes, you have to seek and you shall find.  The larger companies and even smaller for that matter are gaining accounts to prove that voice recognition is not the majority.  Just because you chose to take less does not mean that everyone in this profession has.  So, your opinions are fine for your situation, but to state that everyone's salary and this profession has gone downhill is simply not true.  I, for one, have a lot more now than I have ever had in my lifetime, and I have a lot of experience.  The in-house position was holding me back.  When you get paid per hour instead of production, it seems you get jipped.  If you work production and are good at what you do, it is not too bad of a salary.  Everyone has a different situation.  MTblab is getting out, which is great for her since she is moving into another phase of her life.  Of course, she is going to post that it is a horrible profession because she is not happy with what she has been served.  Misery LOVES company.  You do have a choice in what type of work you take.  If not happy, again, seek and you shall find.  I am so happy to be , because I make the rules.  Okay, I am off of my  now.  Take care. 
Ugh, another reason I'm glad I work for a small service...
in QA. ;) I actually change it on the sly without trying to explain it to the MT. No markoffs for it.

I used to be able to explain it to people "face to face," the way the veteran MT explained it to me, but I threw up my hands at doing it in writing.

Yet another reason I wouldn't do well at a national; I don't take "wrong corrections" very well at all, and have never had to work a verbatim account (shudder).
I work for a hospital that has Cerner Classic Radnet and a service that sm
uses Cerner Millenium Radnet. The two are completely different. The Classic version does EXACTLY what you described with ShortHand but they found a solution at the hospital. I will look at it on Wednesday when I go to work. I'm embarassed to say that I have used it for so long that I don't pay attention anymore and can't remember the name of the program.


That is okay. Yes I do work for a service. The doctor uploads directly to me and he is pretty reg
Thanks for your input.
We have decided to add this to our current service not have a new service. It will be easier to sm

keep track of and will just be a different department. 


It looks like we will work out details over the next 6 months, talking with community college program directors as well as a few of the distance-learning course leaders to work on the recruiting end.


We will train current staff to mentor if they would like to do so and want to work in the office.


We are still working on production requirements, goals to set, pay, benefits and other fine details but we have 6 months to get it all in place with three months to pull it together after that with a tentative start date of 09/01/06.  We need to build the building as well, although that is already at the blueprint stage in a spot next to our current office. 


We did not want to cause flames and bashing by listing the company name as there are always so many negative people on this site, but we are national with over 200 transcriptionists, located outside of Chicago (40 miles west) and have the best team of transcriptionists around!


We will have an "official" announcement after the first of the new year. 


Thank you for all of your feedback and suggestions!


My telephone service is VOIP, but it s through my cable service, along with my cable internet. .
We have had VOIP for about a year now and I love it. I really can't tell a difference in traditional service, except the price. One of the best calls of my life was to Bellsouth to cancel our service!
I am not asking for a service, I AM the service looking for recorders
nm
It is a service job and they should
help parents with small children and also the elderly. I think a normal healthy person with "more than a bag or 2" should not have them help them out to the car. It causes the cashier to have to bag, therefore delaying the progression of the line.
PS on Cox service
Did anyone ever receive any surprise charges from Cox, as this is what I plan to use to offer online service to others, i.e., long distance, etc.?
Do you have your own service? I ask because
that it is possible, especially since she has some educational background in the medical field. I certainly would not waste money on an MT course in this day and age (at least not if I am gauging the career opportunities available to MTs by what is said on this board).

I am NOT saying that just anyone can sit down and type, and being an MT is as easy as that. We all know that it is not. However, I was able to break into the field almost seven years ago by having a mentor from a local transcription company (I am in GA too, btw). If you are planning to provide her with work and review her work, provide feedback, etc., then there is no reason why she cannot do it, unless she is just not cut out for it, which you would both know pretty quickly. If she is cut out for it, then it sounds like it could be a great opportunity for both of you, if you are wanting to grow your business. If you are not going to do this for her, she will likely have a really hard time finding a job, unless someone else is willing to do so, and if you are working for someone other than yourself, then you likely do not receive a high enough rate to be able to pay her a decent wage and still earn something for editing/mentoring. (Certainly not saying that you don't -- I obviously have no idea what you make, but not many people who are transcribing for others make enough to share that way :).)
My service is actually going to be (sm)

Comcast here in the next couple weeks.  Verizon is offering a 30-day free trial.  In the meantime I will keep my cable internet just in case I'm not happy with Verizon.  My cable internet service has been very frustrating for me, as far as not being available at least once a week for a couple of hours, always during my normal working hours.  So, I guess it's worth a try. 


ASP Service
Finally :-)I am negotiating with one doctor to be my direct client. For that I need some ASP service where he can dial in as toll free and I can get dictations thru FTP. Anyone please recommend some best ASP with minimum per line cost & reliable. Thx!
do you still do this service?
If so, are you happy without the middle man?  Right now I don't have extra money to fall back on so maybe I should work PT with my present company and try do 1 account for now until I feel comfortable doing my own.
So what service do
you use for your car?
Could you tell me what the name of the service is?
You know, if it's "AT&T Small Business Plan" or something. I just want to ask for the right thing. About how much do you pay total for it? Thanks so much for the help!
Which service you are using?
I am interested, if it's .07/min.
Every service does it different.
I have found what is correct with one account, is wrong with another. Also, I try to give them what they want. They hired me for my help with their work and they are the boss. If I feel I am making good money, they can have it the way they want. If they want to be that picky, go ahead, as long as it is worth the money for me.
Have been looking into another service as well (sm)
I have Comcast and it is on and off sometimes, depends on if they are working on it. I am dreading the winter weather, because its out more than its on it seems. I looked into FiOS with Verizon, it is not available here yet, but their high speed is and they want a 2 year contract. Won't go that route to lock myself into something I may not be happy with, if u find something, let me know, but Comcast isn't the answer in Bucks County area
I don't know if it's possible with a service. nm
s
How's that for service?

A strange thing happened today.  My husband, who is a hospital-employed MT who works at home, got a phone call from a doc at the hospital.  It seems the dictation system was down, but he needed to dictate.  He proceeded to dictate over the telephone while hubby transcribed.  He dictated both an H&P and an OP note. 


It was strange, but kinda cool.   


LD Service
You may want to try magicJack (visit www.magicjack.com) - the service is $20 per year for unlimited long distance.  Phone plugs into your PC via USB port.
For the fax service on your
computer, you have to pay a monthly fee which can add up. If you do a lot of faxing, it may pay off. If you do not fax often, just buy a fax machine. Bought one for $39 recently, saved 70% at new egg.
AT&T is the worst service, but what else do you
expect. It is all handled by those dumb east indians that think they have everyone fooled by making up American names.
Not in the service but hubby is...sm
Im sorry that your husband is in such a mess but there are other ways of handling it. My husband is just finishing up a 20-year career and I know very well the things that go on. Your husband should have used his chain of command...that is what it is there for. My guess is he will get a court martial, probably go to the brig for a while, and get a dishonorable discharge.
Working for more than one service.
Thanks for all the input. I appreciate the help. I don't like to put all my eggs in one basket.

Sale of MT service
Can you please post contact info? Possibly very intereted here. Thanks
Looking for dependable DSL service
I have had Adelphia and now have Bellsouth both with connection problems. It seems everytime I turn around my internet is down and not in my area but with my puter. I have to use Bellsouth webmail cause my outlook is always getting hung up. I call and they have to set me up with a new ISP# to get connected again. Very frustrated. Anyone out there have a good DSL to recommend. TYIA.
Is this service in Wisconsin???
x
IC vs SC vs Service continuation see sm....

I was reading the posts below....I've been an MT for 14 years with 22 years of medical experience.  I am working for less than 9 cpl on some of my accounts.  I would love an explanation of what the difference is between IC and SC.  I take work from another small company..they do not EMPLOY me nor do they offer me benefits but I have always assumed I was an IC in this case.  In reality I am subcontracting from them as they do not pay any taxes or anything for me, right?


I would love tips on how to increase my production.  The company I was working for lost my major account so I need to make some changes and would love to email with other MTs who could offer me some advice!


Thanks in advance!


Unlimited LD Service - sm
I use Verizon Freedom.  I am wondering if anyone who uses this service and has had it for quite a while has had any problems with them, as in not wanting to cover their usage or receiving an expected phone bill for usage.  I use about 8 hours per day. 
I use an independent tax service myself.
He charges by the form and I have the usual business use of home and other deductions. It has never been more than $200. I can do it myself, but I like the fact that he guarantees if there are any questions or audits HE WILL represent me and be present for any questions. He has some sort of extra certification but I would have to pull out the old papers I have to know exactly what they were.
I had a doc tell me the other day that they were paying a service 7 cpl...

x


customer service

We tried for five solid weeks to get signed up with Vonage.  Wasted well over six full hours over the telephone (we just have a plain old residential house, some question of a second line coming out of the house, but no other complications) with 99% ESL's who could not communicate properly with us.  The savings were the carrot in front of our face, which is why we were so patient with having them try to get us set up, but because of one fiasco after another with JUST TRYING TO GET US SET UP, we decided it was not worth it.  We will wait until it has been perfected.  Also the 9-1-1 was a very important factor, as was Privacy Manager for us.    Weigh your options.  Best of luck to you.


Why is that so surprising? If the service SM
is $100, $20 is really 20% (a normal tip). 
Try Kayak service. sm

I used www.kayak.com online service last year for motels and car rental. Got decent rates on both.  Good luck!


 


 


Beware, you may not have 24/7 911 service. sm

In my area, Central FL, a little girl died because her parents had Vonage and did not read the fine print that indicated 911 service was only during normal business hours and that you have to take other action if you need emergency assistance during off hours. The parents just kept trying and trying, instead of using a neighbor's phone, etc., and so care was delayed and their daughter died. So, if you get it, read all of the fine print.


PC Online Service
Anyone there have any information about PC Online Service. My phone charges really high and would like to have something little more inexpensive. Reliable? 
$50 for their service, if you decide to use them.
x
Yes, it does and it came around and bit that service in the behind, didn't it?
xx
No, you don't need their internet service, just
some internet service - cable type. I got all the equipment I needed from Vonage. Also their equipment is a Linksys - that's it. You just plug it into your cable modem, and my Vonage Linksys had ports allowing me to network all 6 of my computers at home. Prior to Vonage, I was only able to network 3 off of my cable modem. Its very, very easy to figure out. The only old down side used to be that you could not get all the usual features of 911 in an emergency. You would have to dial 911 and say your address. That has been rectified now in all areas, as far as I know. I also have a cell phone anyway, 24/7, so on the rare occasions that power has gone out, I use my cell phone if need be. I have never been so happy with a phone company - been with Vonage about a year now. I had tried them all, and been burned by all - Verizon, MCI, Sprint. I lasted with Verizon the longest, but again, I paid about $80 a month for their biggest plan - Freedom plan, with all unlimited LD, call waiting, voice mail - every bell and whistle one could get, and the bill always was $50 to $100 or more higher than promised. They would tack on all sorts of garbage every month. Finally got sick of them and switched to Vonage. It was scary at first, but so worth it. Again, when I work, they have a feature where you can set your phone to not even ring - just go to instant voice mail. You get an email that you have a new message, or your phone blinks and lets you know. You can go right in your email and look and see who the # is that called, so you know whether to listen to the message or leave for later. You also can access all your phone stuff thru Vonage.com. You can listen to your voice mail via your work headphones, or you can listen to the messages via your phone. Online, all your calls are saved permanently. I am just so pleased with them, though was very skeptical at first. They even have a new neat thing called a virtual phone or something, and its a screen you can bring up on your computer which is a big phone. You use your mouse to dial the numbers and just talk thru a computer microphone or headset. Its really cool. I don't need it, but it sounds like a fun toy!
For customer service.....
Someone filled me in that if (when) you get somebody from overseas, all you have to do is ask them to transfer the call to somebody in the states.  That way you don't have to try to decipher what they are trying to say, and you get someone from the U.S.  I tried this, and it worked well with no problems. 
Looks more like an escort service add!!
x
In over 10 years at a service (sm)
that had over 80 tape accounts, we only had one that used minicassettes, two to three who used standard size and the rest used microcassettes. In my experience, the minicassette players are expensive and hard to get service for. After 15 years and 5 players, we ended up with only one survivor that would work; even the Lanier guy couldn't revive the others. We finally had to tell the stubborn account that we were not going to guarantee that we could transcribe the minis in a timely way anymore and they (amazingly!) coughed up the money to get their MDs new microcassette recorders. Snort.

However, even those days are waning, I understand, since digital recorders are becoming very affordable. It may be that you won't need tapes at all.
reliable LD service

I am feeling totally frustrated. 

I was using Vonage with little problems, but switched back to AT&T Call Vantage 'cause is was $20 less and I was supposed to get a second phone line. Well, never got the second line and I've had problem after problem. The main problem is with the Express Enterprise system that I call into "communicating" with my C-phone. Sometimes the call is disconnected. Sometimes it doesn't "hear" the key pad when I press the numbers (i.e. to sign off on a report). Sometimes it will suddenly rewind to the beginning of a report.

I thought the problem was on my end, so I shelled out $$$ to replace the foot pedal, headset, and C-phone ... nope, that didn't solve the problem. Called AT&T and they said the problem was with the DSL line. Had that tested and was told it was working correctly. Purchased another DSL modem (another $100) and that didn't solve the problem.

Called AT&T for tech support and they said "The C-phone is not supported." Well, gee, it was before!!!

Anyway, you can see why I'm grumping.

Is there *ANY* service out there which won't kill my wallet but won't give me the problems I'm having. Again, Vonage was pretty good, but it still was quirkly, and it cost $65/month. A dial-up service (www.onesuite.com) is terrific (no problems), but it's 2.9 cents per minute, which will be $200-300 per month. Don't want to spend that. And AT&T .... yuk!!!

I'm open to any and all suggestions. What's reliable without breaking the budget?