Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

PS - check out the VR versus transcription

Posted By: NoLieMT on 2005-07-07
In Reply to: Keep in mind, this is only ONE company: See inside... - NoLieMT

...a physician's study, on the right under in the news...

Still think we have a future?




Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

speech versus transcription

Hoping to find some input/wisdom here---I have been offered a positon where may of the accounts are partially voice rec--I have never edited this speech stuff--but I am wondering if you can make the same amount of $$ doing that as you can transcribing it--all the speech rates seem very low, around 4 cents a line--is it actually that much faster than transcribing?  I would think it would be a lot quicker to actually do the transcription--has anyone any experience to share in this regard? thanks for any insight.....


Transcription versus Billing
Before doing MT at home, I worked in an office for over 10 years, many doing fulll-time billing.

The office job I had certainly paid more (and it was guaranteed despite productivity).

I am now employed at home dut to family situations.

I guess my answer would be that you have to determine what is most improtant to you. If it is flexibility you desire, go for MT. There are very few billing/coding jobs based at home.

Should you choose to pursue billing, immediately get certified. Many places are now laying off employees who are not certified, depsite years of experienc.

I have done both. If you have any questions, feel free to email. I will let you know what books etc required and the CPC sites.

Many have helped and encouraged me on this site. I would be happy to return the favor.

Transcription-Versus-Editing, Particularly RE: Tendinitis
A couple of questions for you editors out there.  Is it really worth the "promotion" from Transcriptionist to Editor if you are a very efficient typist who can make $20/hr typing?  Also, as someone who is considering this change due to tendinitis, is editing really any easier on your body than high-production transcription?  Any input much appreciated. 
own contracts versus what is happening with transcription field
can any of you out there who do transcription for local clients give me some insight here. Is it still worth it today to try to go out and get local clients versus working for a national or even in house?  I am so tired of working my you know what off and struggling just to make $12 an hour. When I first started my per hour was not so bad and then other changes came a few years later and I just cannot go on like this and waiting for the good to happen because I am just not feeling it with my company even though they say "those who stick it out will be glad"  I am sooo tired and worn out. Any info regarding on this would be helpful or any advice at all for that matter.  Thanks all. I need a break now. 
transcription buddy versus express scribe
Which one is better?
Pros and cons on SOAP transcription versus MediVoxx? nm
s
IC versus employee, accounts, transcription type, platform,
nm
Have you Heard of American Transcription Association? Check it out!

I am copying this from the MQ board and feel it is so important that it belongs here!  We may have some new muscle here.  At least there is hope....


"I found out about this by reading an MT blog written by Jay Vance, CMT. This newly formed organization is addressing off-shoring of transcription work. Membership dues for the first 500 members is free. American Transcription Association. Check it out here:

http://www.ataus.org/


Check around your local area for clinics or transcription companies
That's what I did. I first started out working for a very small MTSO and worked at their office for a couple of weeks and then they moved me home and I started working on a single speciality account. I'm still working for the office after 5 years (altough the MTSO closed her business).
65 character line versus gross lines versus pay by word

I am checking into other options for transcription.  Can anyone tell me how to compare all of these types of lines & also payment per word?  I know companies use different scales, so I wondered how they compare.  I have been paid on a 65 character line with spaces, but I may be making a change in the future - don't want to get burned.


Thank you in advance!


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.


Check at a local nursery/garden center for varieties that are bred for your area, then check online
s
Agree, verbatim transcription equals poor quality transcription.
x
Check the connections from where the cable originates to wear it comes into the house. Also check t
had a similar issue with TWC and they had done some upgrades and the modem I had was no longer compatible.  The tech knew what the problem was the minute he saw the modem, only it took me about 3 months and threatening to cancel for them to get out here. 
No brainer here. Stop payment on first check before you issue 2nd check.
:+
Know AIM transcription system, never heard of Hull transcription. Are you sure
you are not thinking about DHull who is a recruiter for MDI-FL?  They use the AIM system. 
I have had a check bounce over a boo-boo in the check book...NOT A DEADBEAT!!
c
DID you check with Social Security& does your son receive a check???

Go to SSA.gov and research the payee options.  You may have to use the search engine, but your answer to this particular issue should be there.


I am disabled and while my kids were minors, I had to fill out a form each year on how I, as the payee spent each and every penny of the money they received.  I don't see how his mother can justify how she spent his money for things that you normally would pay.


That said, he is getting Social Security right?  Is your son receiving a dependent check?  Under law, if a parent is disabled and has minor children, each and every one of those children also receive a check until they turn 18 or graduate from high school, which ever comes first.


The check is a percentage of your husbands, so for 800.00, your son should receive at least 350.00.  If you have not been getting this, they would pro-rate it back to when your husbands disability started and that in itself, could solve a lot of your financial problems.  You can also find this out on their website,  HTH


no - don't check out wildblue. check out hughesnet. sm
i was on wildblue. i absolutely HATED it. i paid $400 for install and equipment and bill was $51.51 a month for smallest plan. no bills, had to be direct debit from credit card or bank. wasn't a lot faster than dial up and i frequently went over my download limit so i had to upgrade to the $80/mo plan. speed was no faster on their "fastest plan". they had a 1-yr contract and only 1-yr warranty. well 20 days (kid you not) out of warranty my tria (the eye on the dish) went out and it cost me a total of $275 for replacement and tech call (had to wait a week and a half before tech could come and then he no showed and rescheduled for the next day stating he didn't have the equipment he needed to fix me and the repair order had been in for over a week by that time. no call to say he wasn't coming either, just no showed). they TRIED to sell me the entire package all over again to get me locked into another 1-yr contract and i declined. it was best in their book so your warranty and equipment would be "new". i had to tell them for 5 months to change which credit card to debit from, never could get it right. had to tell them for 3 months when my phone number changed. i could not wait until the day my 1-yr contract was over. have heard really good things about hughesnet. i think it is a tad more a month, but supposedly a lot faster than wildblue and not near as many problems from what i have heard from others. wildblue was down for an entire week at one point throughout the year i was on it. always got lost signals and page cannot be found multiple, multiple times throughout the day. i used wildblue with VPN (with transtech) and could not keep a connection enough to get a decent line count as i was dropping signals too much and it did slow it way down. i finally got clinic work rather than acute care where time and speed wasn't a factor. research message boards for complaints about wildblue and hughesnet before deciding. also hughesnet i think told me a 2-yr warranty rather than only the 1-yr with wildblue.
Check the classified board here and check
E-bay.  Some companies will provide them for free or a small rental fee. 
PPD versus ppd

Ok - maybe I am having a brain fart - the dictation says the guy smokes 1 "ppd"  (pack per day) should i do ppd or PPD??  It is verbatim.


HELP!


x versus X
I need to know if it should be x or X.  IE  8 mm X 7 mm.
CMA versus CNA
Medical Assistants ARE allowed to give medications and injections, and have been taught properly by their MA schooling how to do this. CNA is all patient care, changing beds, changing clothes, bathing, taking vitals (maybe), but no giving of medications. They were not schooled in this and legally should not be doing it...and that is probably universal through all states. That was what I was taught when taking my MA courses. LPNs can, FNPs can, RNs can, PAs can, but not CNAs. Totally different area of care.
RMT versus CMT - sm

The RMT (Registered Medical Transcriptionist) credential that is for those MTs who have just recently graduated or have been working but do not have the required 2 years of acute care experience to write the CMT (Certified Medical Transcriptionst) exam. 


You can find information about the CMT and RMT exams and credentials at http://www.aamt.org/scriptcontent/creddesig.cfm.


RE: cc versus ml
We were told cc was on the "Do not use" list, according to
Joint Commission for a couple of years now.
CVA versus CVA
One is an infarct in the heart, the other is an infract in the brain, but I agree with other posts. Many times it will be dictated in the body of the report and you can determine the exact differentiation between the two. However, if you absolutely cannot do this, you cannot guess in a diagnosis and have to simply leave it as CVA, or possibly defer it to QA, in which they probably cannot determine it any more than you can, and they would probably leave it as CVA.
MT versus MLS
How about the MTSO Company who now refers to their MTs as Medical Language Specialists.  Does anybody believe they get more money for being an MLS instead of just a plain ole MT?
MT versus becoming RN



















































Hi all.


I did a search in my area to look at RN salaries.  I know working from home I can make $52,000 with some effort.  The having to pay my own taxes is offset by not having to drive to/from work.  Just curious of any of you have decided to go to school to be an R.N.  My husband thinks it would be a good idea, but since I have been at home for over 10 years, it would take some convincing!


 

Base Salary $59,036 70.4%
Bonuses $150 0.2%
Social Security $4,528 5.4%
401k / 403b $3,670 4.4%
Disability $947 1.1%
Healthcare $5,328 6.4%
Pension $2,486 3.0%
Time Off $7,740 9.2%
Total $83,883 100%

Well, I'm not sure that you really want an answer of HOW to do it versus
just defending yourself, which is fine, by the way.  Well, if you want an opinion on your situation, you see the problem yourself. You admit that you didn't discipline them and let them always have their way, which you feel is responsible for today's behavioral problems. Chances are they would have the same problems were they not with you 24/7 cause its your parenting skills that are at issue. Know what I mean?  No, being an MT at home and raising your kids is NOT equivalent to what you, yourself, admit you did.  You can't sit and type and let children run the house free will. You have to use your head and multitask, as the other poster said! Plan your days, plan activities, have a schedule for them, etc. Not trying to be mean, but that's really obvious, isn't it? You realize it now.  Why not say something encouraging, like, Gee, I'm sure it can be done, but not the way I did it. I messed up.  Rather, you post your negative experience which YOU caused and act like it can have no other outcome. It can.  I have 3 kids, and all 3 different personalities.  My oldest and first was the most demanding.  I basically set up a Little Tykes playground for her in my office, and STILL she didn't want me to "type", as she grew to call it. Constant battle of wills, but guess who prevailed? Me! I'm the parent! She grew to understand that she would have her fun time AFTER my work - i.e. going to the park, movies, etc. My second child was an angel and would just sit on the floor playing with fuzz if that's all there was.  My third child was a boy, and enough said there!  I had no help whatsoever - unless you can include a bunch of negative relatives who mocked me rather than offer a hand in help, but it CAN BE DONE, and we were SO happy together.  It is SO worth the effort - these are your children - your legacy - your LIFE.  If they aren't your life, then my words are falling on deaf ears.  I work around the clock - still do - typing hours here and there to have MY FAMILY as my #1 Priority.  All my employers have always understood that and been more than willing to work with me.  Also, I had stayed away from working for some companies that demand a set schedule because I refuse to work a set 8 hours shift with kids.  Know what? Every single company said they would let me do "my own thing" on hiring, so while everyone else complains about having to work a straight 8 hour shift, I didn't have to! It can be done, even with the strictest companies! They respect where our hearts are, if its with our kids!  Again, sorry for what sounds like a horrible experience for you and your kids, but you, yourself, admit it was your own fault.  You are not the majority, though, again, the posters on this board are definitely anti-kids, so you've found your niche in that regard, so to speak!  And, also, now that your kids have behavioral problems, severe, I believe, per YOUR words -- is the solution going to come from an outside source? From a stranger? Or from you?  It doesn't sound to me like its working now.  Only YOU can really fix your mistake and change your kids. As long as they're still with you, no matter how old, there is hope.  But passing them off to the school system, or counsellors, or some "expert" is probably not gonna be too successful. Ground Zero is Mom, good or bad, positive or negative.
melena versus whatever
You are correct - and heaven help us all (including the patients) if that's the kind of QA you're getting on your job.  Just to get more confused, check out "melanosis coli"  which refers to dark pigmented lesion in the colon - NOT to bleeding or melena.
IC versus employee
I have been an IC/MTSO both married and divorced for the past 15 years.  I feel that I bring home "more" of a dollar than if I were making the same amount as an employee.  I do have quite a few write offs as I do have a real "office" in the home, I take my depreciation on the house as I feel when and if I sell prior to dying, will deal with it then.  I do deliver and pick up so have mileage.  I save for my vacations and time off.  I have the flexibility to take time off during the day if needed --work at night true but I CHOSE it not someone else.   When married I just had my husband over withhold a  little more and did not need to worry about the "tax bite" on April 15th.  I planned and planned so I knew what he had to over withold.   But again, when I make over $50K and end up paying SS on only $15K or so, it is well worth it to me.   I did take a small "in-clinic" employee status this year to get out of the house as with no hubby - thank the Lord, and no kids it gets me out and I take out more of my taxes that way.  But when I did not do that, I just took 5 to 10% out of each check and put it in a special account and it was more than enough to cover my taxes.  Truly look at your paychecks as "employees" and see what you really bring home but everyone thinks that because your "employer" pays those taxes FOR you, you are not really paying them.  So you just have to do the same.  And you have to add the two salaries together even as an employee so that also hurts.  But again, I feel being self employed or IC is the only way to go.  Even when on vacation I stop in a local transcription company or a couple of clinics or hospital and talk to them about providing services so I can count part of it as a write off.   Also look for seminars in cities you want to visit.  I go to Vegas every year for the "electronic show" to see what is new for my company.  Again, if you look carefully at deductions and plan, plan, plan it is better - at least to me - financially to be an IC.    Patti -- e-mail me if you wish
IC versus employee...
Am thinking about going from employee to IC - what is involved with being an IC? Taxes, etc...would appreciate any advice from IC's. TIA
how did they come up with 40mg versus 40 mg?....
i was taught not to do it that way. i understand that every company has "their own departmental specs" or "preference" if you may, but that is a little bit to much for me.
MTs versus RHITs
From my experience with RHITs, the resentments and hostility was and is because our profession is based on production. While the RHIT has traditionally had a fixed salary, we as MTs are paid mostly by production. I cannot tell you the amount of hostility and resentment from RHITs because of this issue. Now, I'm not saying all RHITs are bad people, but whenever an RHIT can see an MT was able to make more money, well, that had to stop! The attitude from RHITs was that we were typists. No clue as to the intricate details our work demands of us. I can tell you from experience when Edix was formed, those RHITs that were the managers in the beginning could not wait to whip those transcriptionists into line! They wanted their foot on every transcriptionist's neck to show them whose boss!! Same old, same old!!
Subcontracting versus IC
At some point this becomes about who makes more/does better. Right?
8 cpl IC versus employee
No I mean money wise what is the difference once you take out the taxes. 8 cpl as an IC is less money than 8 cpl as an employee when the employee pays half your social security
IC versus employee
I was following you until you said "my regular scheduled hours". Um, if you are IC, you shouldn't have scheduled hours, only a set amount of production within a specified time period (say 2000 lines in 24 hours). I'd say you are already crossing that IRS rule of who has control without even considering the OT issue.

But, to answer your question, they can ask for help and you can say yes or no, but you are not under any obligation to do it. As the other poster did point out, preference might be given to someone else at a later time, but IMHO, not working "every weekend" is acceptable. You can give yourself permission to take some time off. No, they do not have to pay you overtime, but you could ask for incentive pay for the work you provide on days you are not already comitted to (they will probably tell you no).
cpl WITH versus cpl WITHOUT spaces

I really don't want to open a can of worms about poor pay, but I am really trying to compare these two options.  I need to make a decision about which company to go with.  Since I have no idea which has the better platform or better dictators I'm pretty much flying blind.  The obvious difference is that one pays for spaces and one doesn't (I didn't know there were still companies that DIDN'T pay for spaces).  Both are part-time IC.


Company 1 -- 7.6 cpl with spaces, no headers or footers


Company 2 -- 9 cpl with headers and footers, no spaces


Any insight would be very welcomed.


IC versus Employee
I am trying to figure out if going from employee status to IC is worth it.  Anyone have any opinions?
ic versus employee
Hate to burst your bubble to but you are better off with your own accounts. Most of the nationals out there want strict hours and a requirement of how many lines you are going to do. Some do pay a little extra for holidays and weekends but not always and most you will get stuck working on weekends as well.
MTs versus MTSO
I don't know what MTs you hire, but I have always given 100% to my jobs. Right now I type an average of 2000 lines a day, 98% accuracy, willing to change my schedule so I can get work...........but its been the MTSO that have let me down. Right now I am struggling to get work becuase they have overhired AGAIN and this has happened with every MTSO service I have worked for. (4 to 5 in the last 4 years). Finally I am returning to a local hospital where I don't have to worry about running out of work.

By the way, I am not saying there aren't sorry MTs out there........I am just not one of them. I work my butt off, 1.) Because I like the challenge of transcription and 2.) Because of a little thing called bills, responsibility, and family. 3.) Satisfaction and the end of a long day.
Hot key versus pedal
Hot keys are the F function keys and they do the same things as the pedal. Personally, I don't like having to take my fingers off keyboard to start/stop using the hot keys.  Much quicker for me to use the pedal, like driving a car, and I can regulate the dictation so that I am typing smoothly and continuously. However, when I am editing, I like the hot keys better cause I can ff and reverse quicker using them. 
Pay versus quality
I understand that experience warrants more pay - however, if working means I take a lower rate, and work up to a higher rate - than I take it - it does not mean I give less of myself - Being a Transcriptionist I take pride in my work and work hard at whatever the rate. Too many jobs going over seas for a much much lower rate than 7 cents a line - if we want to get it back, and / or continue working than you do what you have to for the time being. I have companies that pay me 7.5 and clients that pay me between 7 and 14 - and thank goodness I am busy enough to make a decent living. I am not a prima dona who picks and chooses - I have a responsibility to my family to make money, and a desire to work and maintain a household.

However, I will not work for someone who does not pay at all, bounces checks or disrespects me in any way - but my quality never wans for any reason - that is my reputation on the line not any one else's.

So, yes we should make more money - but if this is what is out there, I will take it.
VR versus typing
For straight typing I get 8.5 and for VR I get 4.8 with 6 years experience.  I usually produce around 170-200/hour typing and 150-200/hour VR.  I loath VR. 
ic versus employee
True definition straight from IRS is that they can make you commit to so many lines a day between so and so hours but if they say you have to do this many lines between this and this time than employee.
vr versus straight
I make more money doing straight typing as well. Boy, is this an offer from TTS in NH?
Experienced versus New
I have to admit that even though I have 19+ years of experience, this article is strikingly true.  I am not saying that a new MT has the experience in that they can make a decision in an instant as some of us with many years, but they are trained now to follow AAMT, which I had never heard of until I set out on my own and came online to find work.  I also have seen posts on this board of people that have worked in a clinic setting for 10+ years and have no idea about what else is available to them online or how to set that up for themselves.  How many times have we seen posts that someone has worked on one platform and never anything else.  I don't think that article is a plug for that school.  I think that article speaks for what is going on today in the MT industry.  I think someone who has just finished school has been shown a lot more than what we all have had to learn on the job.  I could probably type faster and know more about terminology than any new MT, but a new MT should know BOS and be more computer savvy than I was starting out. 
IC versus employee
Employee is definitely the way to go. I too was new a year ago and found a company paying .12 a line, .13 for nights. Taxes hit me really hard this year. I have to paid time off, no 401K, no sick days, no insurance. I would rather work for .10 a line and have benefits. No one should work for less than .10. I you ask me, experience transcriptionists should be making .15 a line.

I worked in Radiology and quit a job making almost $16.00/hr with six weeks paid time off after 29 years.

Now I make less, have no time off, no benefits and work harder with more hours as an IC and they don't offer employee status.
IC versus Employee??
Hey everyone. I just finished school and am doing the job search thing. Great fun right. javascript:editor_insertHTML('text','')
Anyhow, I know that I have a better shot of getting hired if I work IC but I don't know exactly what that would mean for me? Anybody have current info. on how it all works?

Thanks =0)
IC versus employee

I have to agree...it's very concerning how companies try to save $$ by hiring you as IC and not as an employee, yet try to exert much control over when and how you work.  I don't think transcriptionists are aware enough of what/how much control a company can technically exert before they are really treating you like an employee and should be paying you as such.  The IRS website discusses "behavioral control" and I would be willing that many transcription companies exert much behavioral control over the ICs, which would technically classify them as employees. 


 


Whatever the word you used versus
what it is supposed to be, apparently it was wrong. Since you will not tell us the word, we have no way of knowing. Maybe the QA person misspoke by telling you not to guess, as they would have no way of knowing, but--did you use the wrong word or not????